Loading .410 with lead balls

[kjohn]

Does anyone have any data or favorite loads? I have a .410 Lee Enfield and have 3" primed hulls, .444 Marlin cases, plus new Mag-Tech brass cases. I would like to load one and two ball loads. I also have plastic wads and fibre wad cards, fairly thick.

This would not be for Olympic long distance bullseye! I would just like to load some up for fun shooting. I have lots of 700X. I am thinking about 7 or 8 grains for 1 ball (.375 dia) and maybe 10 or 11 grains for two balls. Pressure wouldn't be a problem with a Lee Enfield action.

Anybody have any experience with a load something along this line?

 

[Goldenlakepete]

This is from the Handloader's Digest 11th Edition: 3" 410 shell, 6 OO Buck shot with 16 grs of 2400. The author says that all 6 balls stayed within a 12" circle at 20 yds.

 

[Longwalker]

700X seems like very fast powder to use in a .410, no matter if you use round balls or shot! I've always used and seen data for slower powders like 2400, lil gun, W296, IMR4227 etc.
My understanding is that one could use data for small shot and simply substitute the appropriate weight of round balls, as long as the choke is not an issue.

 

[fiddler]

I've loaded the .410 buckshot/balls/shot/slugs in every configuration imaginable. Depending on what wad you use, you might be able to five or six balls into a 3 inch hull. It doesn't have a lot of power or poop. I did all my testing with 296 powder. I don't recall the exact group size, but its much bigger than previously posted. It was fun to play with, but useful for nothing.