An Ammunition First

by
posted on August 6, 2013
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
wiley-clapp.jpg

The stock number “S41045PD” is for an ammunition product from Winchester. While the company has offered what shooters need since the frontier days, this product is a first for the company. Intended for use in a revolver, Winchester have combined two different calibers in one box. It is a combo pack of 10 rounds of .410 shotgun shells and 10 rounds of .45 Colt cartridges, intended for the very popular Taurus Judge and S&W Governor revolvers. Both rounds will fire in either gun and, at close ranges, the terminal effect is formidable.

A year or so back, I did a very detailed evaluation of special .410 loads for use in these unique new revolvers. After several shooting sessions, I was able to determine that this .410 load patterned better than all the others. It uses three solid “Defense Discs” atop 12 BB shot. The BBs tend to pattern around the point of impact of the discs. There’s also ten .45 Colt cartridges, in which we see 225-grain hollow points at 850 fps-a time tested recipe for stopping fights.

It’s very different packaging for special purpose ammo. Interestingly enough, the black, almost cubical box takes a typical twenty-hole styrofoam tray. Ten holes take the long .410 shotshells; the other ten are for the .45 Colt cartridges. Above the latter, there is a bit of extra space that the maker partitions off with folded bit of tagboard. Maybe even enough for a few rounds of .45 ACP; after all, the Governor is a triple-caliber defense revolver.

Some jurisdictions prohibit the possession and use of a shotgun/revolver, so check your local statutes before using one.

Latest

target with holes
target with holes

Resisting the Temptation of "Good Enough" for Firearm Performance

No matter what firearm you're using for whatever purpose, even if it's simply a trip to the range, always resist the temptation to accept “good enough” if there is the possibility of better performance.

Armed Citizens Stop a Lot More Criminals Than Most in the Media Will Admit

Since January 2025, the Crime Prevention Research Center has documented 16 defensive gun uses in which police say armed citizens stopped mass public killings.

Federal & Mossberg Collaborate on Autonomous Airborne Drone Defense

Federal and Mossberg are working with Palladyne AI in the creation of SwarmShot, a kinetic defense system that employs swarms of armed drones to shield troops from unmanned aircraft system threats.

Cold Performance: How to Prepare for the Uncertainty of Self-Defense

Defensive gun use is defined by uncertainty. You don’t know when it will happen, how far away the threat will be, how many threats you will face or what position you will be in when it begins.

Derya Goes Silent: The OBone Suppressor

In 2025, Turkish manufacturer Derya Arms opened a new facility in Florida, enabling the company to produce a number of new products domestically, such as its new OBone suppressor.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 26, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.