Best general purpose .410 load

#6 again, but make sure you pattern it so you know the effective range. I have been lucky with the 2 410’s I own but have seen some that would not pattern well at different ranges.
 
#6, as mentioned pattern the gun to see what's kind of pattern it throws. Look for a nice even pellet coverage. Paterning is usually done within a 30" circle at 40 yds. Shrink that down to a 18" circle at 25 yds and see what you get.
I think you will find 25 to 30 yds is going to be max. You need the 6 shot for greater energy per pellet over the 7 1/2's.

With my 101 skeet gun and a 2 1/2" load of #9's a coke can is perfectly safe at 40 yds.

I did alot of patterning, loading and testing years ago. In that 101 of mine 1/2oz of copper plated #6's dropped birds dead at 20 yds and under. That is if I had them centred in the pattern. In shooting with a .410 there are alot of "if's" that come into play.
 
i have seen rabbits taken at ranges of of ten to fifteen yards with number 4 shot from a full choke and they were as dead as if they had been hit with a twelve guage . as others have said you will have to pattern the gun with the ammo you will be using as it will change with different loads and brands and no amount of advice on our part will have any effect on the pattern your gun throws . experiment is the best advice and keep the distance down and enjoy the gun. i would go for the heavier shot all else being equal
 
I'm hoping to start loading soon(been saving hulls) and I'm wondering if
7 1/2"s might fill in the spaces in the pattern better than 6's.
Looking forward to experimenting on the pattern plate.
 
Bowie said:
7 1/2. I have found that my .410s patterned better with smaller shot.
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i also find 7 1/2 to pattern best. thats what i reload. i shoot full choke. i load them pretty hot. not that i can find any "hot"load data for a .410. i bumped from 13grains of "lilgun" to 15.5grains. they got alot of power and great pattern out to 30yrds
 
regulate34 said:
winchester makes 3/4 oz loads 3" in a hs hull still. they are pricey. i bought for the hulls. they thump good for a .410.
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That’s the problem I have with the 410 these days, price, 17 dollars at the local store for a box of shells. I can still get 12 gauge shells for a 1/3 of that, ok call me cheap, but to knock down a grouse or rabbit nothing is cheaper:).
 
I roll my own 2-1/2" and always use 4's for hunting and 9's for targets. 9's give a great pattern and 4's deliver more energy. 4's are also alot easier to dig out.
 
Found said:
That’s the problem I have with the 410 these days, price, 17 dollars at the local store for a box of shells. I can still get 12 gauge shells for a 1/3 of that, ok call me cheap, but to knock down a grouse or rabbit nothing is cheaper:).
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just gotta pay to be a little diffrent.
 
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