40 loaders
- Thread starter rodmkr
- Start date
fiver
Well-Known Member
just me.
but I'd go with anything but the LEE.
410 shells are hard enough to load, adding in the extra B.S. of the LEE loader isn't worth the effort.
the MEC will be trouble enough, but I'd just suck it up and go with it to start.
[actually I'd throw the 410 kit in one of my progressives, but you ain't got that option]
anyway.
410 shells cost enough you'll recuperate your startup costs pretty quick.
but I'd go with anything but the LEE.
410 shells are hard enough to load, adding in the extra B.S. of the LEE loader isn't worth the effort.
the MEC will be trouble enough, but I'd just suck it up and go with it to start.
[actually I'd throw the 410 kit in one of my progressives, but you ain't got that option]
anyway.
410 shells cost enough you'll recuperate your startup costs pretty quick.
Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
A used MEC loader would be my preferred route. If I couldn't find an acceptable used one, I would consider a new MEC loader.
The cost of loading 12 & 20 gauge shot shells has increased and the margin of savings gained from reloading is much thinner than in years past. However, for shells such as .410, 16ga. & 28 ga., there is still enough margin to make reloading worth the investment. I agree with fiver that you'll recoup your startup costs with .410.
The cost of loading 12 & 20 gauge shot shells has increased and the margin of savings gained from reloading is much thinner than in years past. However, for shells such as .410, 16ga. & 28 ga., there is still enough margin to make reloading worth the investment. I agree with fiver that you'll recoup your startup costs with .410.
Missionary
Well-Known Member
Now if all you want is ammo for economy hunting you do not nee much more than some newspaper, a wood dowel, deprimer nail and a hard flat surfaceto prime on.
Joshua
Taco Aficionado/Salish Sea Pirate/Part-Time Dragon
Oh tell us more. What’s the newspaper for?
I love this end of the road/end of the world reloading info. I’ve read your 12gauge pumpkin ball/small game load repurposing threads with much interest.
Josh
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
410 bore reloading is a bit more fussy than 12 and 20 gauge, but not absolutely impossible. Powders are more limited in number, historically dominated by Alliant 2400 (my favorite) and WW-296. These are the only two I have experience with, though there are others. I load only 3" shells, and use a MEC 600 Jr. to do this with. Rem hulls with their corrugations don't hold a star crimp as well as the Winchester Super-X hulls do. Stick to W-W hulls for ease of crimp-starting and setting. 11/16 oz of #9s does good work on doves and quail to 30-35 yards, but that is about as far as pattern density will stretch.
RBHarter
West Central AR
I have a gutted 45 ACP FCD to size the head as needed and could turn down a bolt for a decapping pin and primer seater for a MEC or D155 I have as a someday . Charging isn't a big deal , powder or shot . The real bugs are wad seating , start , and finish crimp .
Which is of course why so many people end up with 410 in 303 , 30-40 , 444 , and 9.3×74 cases . Then you only need a sizer if you do , a 303 shell holder , appropriate wad card mat'l , a 1/2" gasket punch . A roll crimp die for 45s will turn the mouth enough and 3" loads when held to 2-1/2" pressures fit fine in 2-1/2" chambers because the shot shell chamber is the same length as the open case .
9.3 PPU brass is like 72¢ from Graffs , bagged per 50.
410 Mag Tech brass cases are closer to $2 , boxed per 25 .
Sometimes you find you find discarded 303 , but it's only 2.0" ......
Which is of course why so many people end up with 410 in 303 , 30-40 , 444 , and 9.3×74 cases . Then you only need a sizer if you do , a 303 shell holder , appropriate wad card mat'l , a 1/2" gasket punch . A roll crimp die for 45s will turn the mouth enough and 3" loads when held to 2-1/2" pressures fit fine in 2-1/2" chambers because the shot shell chamber is the same length as the open case .
9.3 PPU brass is like 72¢ from Graffs , bagged per 50.
410 Mag Tech brass cases are closer to $2 , boxed per 25 .
Sometimes you find you find discarded 303 , but it's only 2.0" ......
Matt
Active Member
Check YouTube for “DIY .410 reloader”. Some interesting stuff. As some one said above stick with Winchester compression formed hulls, they last forever and crimp much better that anything else I’ve used. I only load 1/2 oz. 21/2” for an 1100 skeet gun. .410 is simple: buy W296 or H110, WW hulls, and Claybuster or WW wads, and #7 1/2 or smaller. I’ve been using the same load for a long time. Makes life simple. Now if I had a single shot or double .410 I’d probably look at the brass 410 hulls.........
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
None of the high-strength hulls at my house so far. All old-school AA or Super-X, and wad columns to match. I'll gather the updated wads when enough of the HS hulls collect here to make it worth while. I see Arizona non-res hunting in my future with the lead disallowance of Kalifornistan continuing.
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
I see this interest in the 410 all across the forums and uTube. Wonder whats up? Something innthe collective "water"??
But I to have felt the need after thirty years since my last shotgun loading! Hahaha
I have a few MEC presses as I found them used and cheaper and easier to swap them out then to Convert gauges. Anyhow I want to load the 410 again myself, I have been shooting it more and as long as I dont wing shoot with it.(Beyond hand thrown which its very good at)
Im wanting to experiment with large shot/small buck loads. I have been casting 24,30,33 & 36 balls.
CW
But I to have felt the need after thirty years since my last shotgun loading! Hahaha
I have a few MEC presses as I found them used and cheaper and easier to swap them out then to Convert gauges. Anyhow I want to load the 410 again myself, I have been shooting it more and as long as I dont wing shoot with it.(Beyond hand thrown which its very good at)
Im wanting to experiment with large shot/small buck loads. I have been casting 24,30,33 & 36 balls.
CW
Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
I don't believe the existence of a "movement" can be derived from observations of the internet. There could be interest in using a shell that uses a smaller amount of lead per shot in these times of shortages. Or, probably more likely, a few posts and videos spur additional posts and videos as people seek to join what they believe is cool. Trends have more to do with perceived acceptance than actual need.
The .410 is one of the most misunderstood shotgun cartridges. It is often mistakenly placed in the hands of beginners and novices. The .410 is not a beginners shotgun cartridge; it is an experts cartridge.
Because the guns for .410 are small and light and the shells are also small and light, there is an attraction to the .410. However, it throws the least amount of shot of any conventional shotshell. For a wing shooter, it is not a forgiving shell.
The cost of factory loaded .410 shells helps to keep the interest in reloading the .410 alive.
fiver
Well-Known Member
this is 100% correct.
the interest lies with the 410 now because of the revolvers available for the round.
people have found that the 45 colt alternative is a poor shooting option in them and have thus gravitated towards the longer case.
that and newer types of shot have made the 410 an option in the field like never before.
unfortunately that new shot is gonna cost you 5$ a pop to find out how much better it is, but it does make the 410 a viable 40yd. turkey gun.
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
They aren't very car-smart, that's for sure.
Like in bullet casting, I am kind of a Luddite when it comes to new ideas. Fiver--this new shot you speak of.......do go on, sir.
I saw yesterday while perusing the Winchester shotshell page that their 3" 410 shells not carry 3/4 oz of lead shot just like the 28 gauge AAs used to deliver. Of course, I have Cheddite shells and wads that deliver 1 oz in 28 gauge, too. The velocities are a bit reduced in both of these loads, in the 1100 FPS realm.
Like in bullet casting, I am kind of a Luddite when it comes to new ideas. Fiver--this new shot you speak of.......do go on, sir.
I saw yesterday while perusing the Winchester shotshell page that their 3" 410 shells not carry 3/4 oz of lead shot just like the 28 gauge AAs used to deliver. Of course, I have Cheddite shells and wads that deliver 1 oz in 28 gauge, too. The velocities are a bit reduced in both of these loads, in the 1100 FPS realm.
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
RBHarter
West Central AR
I don't know anyone that would try to get a 45 load out to the lands in a 45/410 ........
303 case , 45 cal Maxi ball like 8.0 Unique and some meat tray fillers held tight ........ Didn't shoot for beans with those 1/32" grooves and 3/8" lands ..... It looks cool though and at 25 feet I don't want to get hit with 280 gr of 700 fps sideways maxi .
303 case , 45 cal Maxi ball like 8.0 Unique and some meat tray fillers held tight ........ Didn't shoot for beans with those 1/32" grooves and 3/8" lands ..... It looks cool though and at 25 feet I don't want to get hit with 280 gr of 700 fps sideways maxi .