BSA "Garden Gun" in .410

[newcastle]

I have one of these and it is really quite light and well balanced. Presumably made post WW1, and uses what looks like a Long Lee bolt c/w Bolt mounted safety. The chamber is pretty rough (410 shells do not chamber or extract easily at all) and I'd like any advice on how best to clean it up without professional gear /tools etc etc.

Information

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[rcathey]

I did something like the attached picture (random internet find) to clean a burr out of a Mosin Nagant chamber once. Back when they were $99 each .
Anyway, worked a treat and takes off very little metal depending on grit.

Attachment 93667

[breakeyp]

Chamber length may be for 2 inch shells, not 2 1/2 or 3 inch.

[newcastle]

It s definitely chambered for 2 1/2" shells - they do go in, though not easily and come out (though the same). Great suggestion on the dowel and Sandpaper. I'll start with 1000 or 600 grit to be on the safe side (more of a polish initially). Will report back.

[BillPredeaux]

Not strictly a "Garden Gun", they are smaller bore: ie Number 3 Garden Gun 9mm, number 1 Garden Gun .22 flobert.
Your .410 shotgun was made for 2 1/2" cartridge and available plain with Enfield bolt or de-lux with sliding safety.
This gun was also made as a "medium game" rifle in .32/40 cal.

[newcastle]

Really? I like the idea of a 9mm version - was it 9mm luger?

[wjw]

Believe the 9mm is a rimfire and still loaded in Italy/

[Daan Kemp]

The 9mm was a shotgun specific rimfire cartridge quite common 100 years ago for 'garden' use in Europe, ie birds for the pot or exterminating rats and snakes. Cartridges made in USA too.

If you really look you may still find .22LR shot cartridges.

[mrclark303]

.22lr shot cartridges, that really sounds like a pointless invention!

I would have thought effective range would be about 5 feet!

Might as well throw stones...

Trying to get my head around these tiny shot shells, 9mm etc.

When you consider that even the most potent game loaded 12 bore cartridges today have a "realistic" effective range of 50 'ish' yds, what was the range of a 9mm shot shell?

I think back in the day I would rather have used something along the lines of the relatively powerful (for the day) Lincoln Jeffreys .22 air rifle for Garden Anti rat use etc.

Saying that, they were post WW1 I think..

[Brit plumber]

I used to have 9mm rimfire garden gun, not much use to be honest, bought a box of 50 and sold the gun with about 1/2 the shells left. It was an off ticket gun that an old guy wanted rid of so after talking to Police HQ they were happy for it to go on ticket and registered. Had to add about 1” to the Butt as it was just under the legal overall length.

Also had .22 shot shells at one time, the spread was terrible and if you were shooting more than 5 feet you would hit nothing.