The rifling of the HBBS barrel detracts from its all around suitability for a survival gun without a choke tube to reduce spin of shot loads. Choke tubes can be custom fitted to barrels to improve this. The rifled barrel and various slug loads and types make the HBBS very versatile. The simplest load requires only a primed plastic hull, powder, and a slug. HBBS 410 brass can be loaded to produce over 2000fps with 375 gr slugs, an extremely powerful load which could be useful in dangerous outdoor conditions where large predators may be encountered. Plastic hulls have been loaded to over 1500 fps with fantastic results but that is about the limit of velocity for plastic with the heavy slugs, still very powerful. The HBBS factory loads are compliant with specification for 410 bore pressure.
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The HBBS 410 is a rifled shotgun slug barrel. The chamber and bore fit in the recognized .410 ga. specifications. Most confusion about this comes from the appearance of ammuntion that can be fired in the barrel. Drop an empty 2 1/2 inch 410 hull into the chamber and you will be convinced.
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Current models are for Thompson Center Contender/G2 and Encore frames. If your gun accepts barrels for one of these frames our barrels will fit.
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The HBBS 410 is a proven combination. You can attempt to make a barrel as accurate and powerful as this but it will probably cost more than ours and probably will not be as accurate. We list and credit people and companies who have contributed to the success of this design by their execution of what they were paid for, excellent quality work, materials and products to our specification. If you want good work for your own project these people and companies are recommended. The specific details of the HBBS 410 barrels are proprietary and not available to copy.
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No, they are custom made for Hoening Big Bore Slug LLC by Match Grade Machine, a well known and respected barrel maker.
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Orders for stainless barrels are not being accepted as of October 25, 2008.
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HBBS 410 is currently only chambered for 2 1/2" shells.
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The HBBS 410 will handle regular 2 1/2 inch slug loads for 410 chambering. It is not recommended because of inaccuracy produced by the regular slugs. The HBBS 410 was designed with close tolerances and best performance comes from loads with components having consistant close tolerances and quality. Of the loads tested during development of the barrels, the heavy (300gr. or more) slugs having 1000fps or more muzzle velocity produced the most accurate loads. We do not know of any current production loads fitting these parameters (other than HBBS 410 loads) so no recommendation for factory loaded ammuntion. HBBS 410 versatility is great for reloaders and a great improvement over other slug barrels in accuracy and power.
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Hoening Big Bore Slug LLC manufacturres ammunition and it is available from Hoening Big Bore South, L.L.C.
You can buy components and load your own. Load data sheets are available with purchase of a barrel. HBBS sells components and there are many available elsewhere that are suitable. We recommend using HBBS brands to begin with.
Hoening Big Bore Slug LLC has custom reloading services available for loading or your hulls.
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We do not offer rechambering service. We do not authorize anyone else to chamber to our chamber measurements. The HBBS .410 ga. fits within the recognized 410 chamber specifications, it is however, a unique combination of features that produces extremely good accuracy. Part of this accuracy is from consistant loads that incorporate practices known to be associated with accurate results.
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This question is best answered by a competent gunsmith after an inspection of the gun and ammuntion in question. Laboratory pressure testing by H.P. White Laboratories, Inc indicate chamber pressure for our production slug ammunition within S.A.A.M.I. specs for 410 bore, but since HBBS 410 ammo does use a large diameter heavy slug its use in tightly choked barrels is not recommended. There are too many variables in .410 bore shotguns for us to answer this common question. Some prime items to consider are actual bore size, choke, action type and condition, steel strength, chamber length. HBBS 410 Loads were developed for use in a particular chamber, barrel, frame combination. Slugs and slug loads for smoothbore guns are being developed.
The Verdict TM Defense loads contain multiple slug pellets that are smaller in diameter than the HBBS 410 Slug loads. They are contained in a wad similar to other shot loads. The Verdict TM loads should not be used in other than Cylinder bore chokes.
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Check your state and local laws. The HBBS 410 is indeed a .410 bore slug barrel but we can not advise on the legality of hunting with it. There are too many different regulations and laws from state to state for us to keep up on. Regulations also change from time to time and for various reasons.
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There is no way we can answer such a personal question as this question. The HBBS 410 is very versatile with a variety of loads with excellent performance and various recoil levels. The HBBS .410 was designed for improved slug hunting and is not the typical .410 shotgun. It can be loaded with very mild to very powerful ammunition. Reloaders should be able to produce loads with suitable recoil and characteristics for many purposes. Also the addition of a muzzle brake will reduce recoil even more.
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These are two independant Limited Liability Companies with different membership, management and business focus. Hoening Big Bore South, L.L.C. manages and owns this web site and is the primary sales outlet for Hoening Big Bore Slug LLC products. Hoening Big Bore Slug LLC is responsible for the design and development of its products such as the HBBS rifled .410 barrels and HBBS line of reloading products.
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We charge a restocking fee for shipping, time involved, and checking returned items. We use well known manufacturers and their quality is known. Some items we sell are unique but the same quality is there. The higher restocking fees are to discourage purchases of items that people just want to check out and send back.
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Verdict TM Defense loads are suitable for use in 45-410 guns. Although the slug pellets are smaller than the usual HBBS .410 Slugs they are contained in a wad that should give adequate seal.
We do not recommend use of HBBS 410 Slug ammo in anything but HBBS 410
chambered guns and we will not make a determination for appropriate use
in other chambers. This is best done by a competent gun smith after inspection of the fire arm and proposed ammunition. The main reason for this in the case of 45/410 guns like the Judge is the oversize bore of the 45/410. The HBBS slugs
are on the large side of the S.A.A.M.I. specs for 410 bore but are not large enough to perform well in a .45 bore barrel. Also the powder used is selected
for performance in shotgun or rifle length barrels. Accuracy will diminish also with less than complete contact of the slug with rifling.
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