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

Colt’s 1849 London Pocket
Colt’s 1849 London Pocket

I Have This Old Gun: Colt’s 1849 London Pocket

Encouraged by his generally positive reception at the Great Exhibition in 1851, and always anxious to gain elusive government contracts, Colt, in 1853, opened a London factory where he would make a number of revolvers, including his popular 1849 Pocket Model.

Springfield Armory Echelon Central Operating Group

Springfield Armory now offers its Echelon Central Operating Group (COG) as a standalone item for purchase.

Modern Cowboy Gun: The Savage Arms Revel Tactical

Savage Arms jumped back into the lever-action market in 2024 with its rimfire Revel platform, and this year, the company is expanding with a feature-rich Revel Tactical model.

Hunting with a Legend: Sierra’s MatchKing X Bullet

Sierra’s MatchKing is a highly respected target bullet, but for the new trend of long-range hunting, the design needed to offer improved terminal performance. Enter the MatchKing X.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 19, 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.

Review: Stoeger STR-9 Thinline

The new Stoeger carry gun loses nothing—except some weight and girth. This is the Stoeger STR-9 Thinline.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.