Thanks for all the .410 lore. I always have used chamber length for a (very) rough guide to dating .410s. Works OK for the cheapest ones, not well for the better grades which may have gone back to the factory for re-chambering and re-marking.
I've seen all kinds of "experiments" done to/with cheap single shot .410s by country swains of all ages--shooting .30-30s and .44 Mags in them; reloading .444 shells with .410 components; reloading .410 shotshells with ball bearings, etc. Never saw one come apart, including some ancient "no-names" probably made by Stevens or IJ. Apparently there IS a guardian angel for farm boys and .410s.
