Reloading .410 shells

[kjohn]

I have a couple of .410 shotguns and would love to shoot them more. I advertised for a .410 Lee Loader a while ago and the only offer was for more than the shotgun cost me! Is there a reasonable way to reload .410 shells? Any ideas would be appreciated. I load shotgun, rifle and handgun ammo, so it is not a new concept. I just thought somebody might have some ideas. Thanks.

 

[mbogo3]

Some guys use .444 Marlin brass and dies to load brass shot shells for the .410 and lrg pistol primers.................Harold.... I picked up a set of Lyman dies on e-bay but havn't got around to getting the brass yet

 

[JBD]

reessurcting an old post

Bought a boito hiker from frontier and got sticker shock from the cost of 410 Buckshot loads. Approximately 2 dollars each. Fireformed with 4.9 grains of clays and a case full of cream of wheat topped with a piece of toillet paper. I had wrapped the casing with masking tape in order to align it in the chamber. The boito was capable of launching the TP to about 30 feet. First fireforming made the casing somewhat useable.

I then loaded the casing with 3.9 Grains of clays and 4 38 caliber round balls 82 grains each and plastic wads.

Please note that no gunnutz were harmed during any of these experiments. Also for anyone thinking about making a cartridge with a regular bullet for a 410 it probably will not work. I spent 50 bucks in a mold and 40 caliber factory crimp. The crimper ruins the 410 casing and a 39 caliber bullet necessary to pass though the choke will not remain seated in a 410 casing. Been there done that.

If you wanted shot you would need to buy it and squeeze a felt wad over it.

 

[kjohn]

jbd: I have a .410 just like that, plus and H&R Pardner. I will definitely give the .303 casings a whirl. Can you share exactly how you loaded the balls and wads. One wad for each, or just one wad. Plastic? I was thinking of making shotshells for plinking at milk jugs, etc, for kids and new shooters. I could very likely use cardboard wads for that.

 

[762nato]

Mec Junior or 600 would be the most economical way to go. You want to load 21/2" or 3" shells? Wads and powder are cheap powder goes a long way in the .410. 21/2" use 1/2 oz of shot.

 

[JBD]

I experimented with felt at first, worked sorta. I was getting slingshot velocities out of my loads. Plastic wads are the way to go and they were cheap. Loading was very simple pop off the spent primer. Put a new one in.

add 3.9 grains of clays, add the plasti wad Tap it down to the bottom of the casing with a cleaming rod. Add the lead balls one at a time tap each down with the cleaning rod. That is it friction held the buckshot in place.