Sarge I have often wondered if one was to get brass shot shells and load them with a powder to push the 45 caliber bullets up to speed would they shoot better not having to make the jump. Just a thought. Thanks for your time . Cheers NC
Here's a thread with a lot of chronograph results using various loads... solid Tier Two 45 Colt loads (not recommended) barely cracking 800 fps and then only with 200 grain bullets.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/400500-45-colt-loads-s-w-governor.htmlIn order to take advantage of brass shotshell casings, a chamber cast would be needed and once your ideal case length was established, you'd have to crimp them to keep bullets from walking out under recoil. If I ever fool with a 45/410 revolver again, I'm going to scrounge a few 460 cases and start again there.
The howlers, bless their hearts, have a point, That damned long chamber and the oversize cylinder throats, often found in 45/410 revolvers, keeps them from doing any one thing really well. I am primarily a 45 Colt SA guy and I just can't warm up to any revolver that inhibits getting 950 fps from a 255 grain bullet and keep them on a groundhog at 50 yards.
In my mind, the current best options for a 45 ACP/Colt revolver are a Ruger SA with a cylinder for each or the Redhawk chambered to handle both. Given the poor patterns I got with 410 bird shot, I think you'd be about as well off with Speer 45 Colt shot loads.