410 bore reloading

Howa308

Howa308

New member
Anyone reload 410 bore shotgun shells.? I see LEE make a press for 410 available on their website but where can I buy the shells and wads. I assume the primers are a common size.? Never loaded shotgun before but keen to learn. I have a 12g too.
 
Ballistic Products and n MN is where I buy most of my components for 10ga, 12ga, 16ga, they carry hulls and wads for the 410. I used to load 410 in n the 1970s and 80s. I used a Lee Loader (wackamo style). I was loading for a sxs and then switched to using 444 Marlin brass on my metallic press.
 
If you are close to any Skeet Ranges check their for sale board for a used Mec 600 Junior or Mec Size Master 410 loaders. Or put a "wanted to buy Mec 410 loader" on the for sale board at Skeet ranges.

Do some searching on e-Bay for Mec 600 Junior and Size Master 410 reloaders.

A used 12ga Mec Size Master you maybe able to find at Trap, Skeet or Sporting Clays ranges. You will be able to save more money reloading 410 shells than any other gauge shotgun.

With one 25 pound bag of shot you can reload 355, 1-1/8 oz 12 ga shells. With one 25 pound bag of shot you an reload 800, 1/2 oz 410 shells.

Get on YouTube to see some videos about Mec 600 Junior and Mec Sizemaster 410 and 12 ga reloaders.

 
Interesting numbers you ran. I bought a used MEC and in the box was an 11/16 oz charge bar. I put together an 11/16 oz skeet load for my 12ga and it breaks clays great.
 
It would be a good idea to start with a reloading manual like Lyman"s 6th Edition Shotshell Reloading Handbook. It has good info and tables on shotshell reloading. The Ballistic Products Advantages manual has good info as well. Most of the Ballistic Products load data revolves around the european wads they sell which are good.

I don't believe the domstic brands Remington, Federal and Winchester are producing wads anymore...The Claybuster CB5050-410HS has become the standard easy load economy 2.5" 1/2oz lead shot wad in Lyman's 6th edition loadbook. You might come across some of the discontinued name brand wads here and there if you look around for them gunshows, Ebay etc..

Powders are Lil'Gun, 2400, 4100, H110, Alliant 410, and Win 296. There's also a handful of 3" 11/16oz loads with IMR-4227.

The 600Jr Mark V is good and is less $$$, but if you can spring for the Sizemaster as it has the sizing collet on the press. If you're loading for different guns it's worth the extra $$$, but you should be able to get by just fine with the 600 Jr.

ETA:
I was was wrong on atleast two of the domestic brands of wads. Federal and Winchester are still producing .410 wads.
 
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Foxpro.223 said:
It would be a good idea to start with a reloading manual like Lyman"s 6th Edition Shotshell Reloading Handbook. It has good info and tables on shotshell reloading. The Ballistic Products Advantages manual has good info as well. Most of the Ballistic Products load data revolves around the european wads they sell which are good.

I don't believe the domstic brands Remington, Federal and Winchester are producing wads anymore...The Claybuster CB5050-410HS has become the standard easy load economy 2.5" 1/2oz lead shot wad in Lyman's 6th edition loadbook. You might come across some of the discontinued name brand wads here and there if you look around for them gunshows, Ebay etc..

Powders are Lil'Gun, 2400, 4100, H110, Alliant 410, and Win 296. There's also a handful of 3" 11/16oz loads with IMR-4227.

The 600Jr Mark V is good and is less $$$, but if you can spring for the Sizemaster as it has the sizing collet on the press. If you're loading for different guns it's worth the extra $$$, but you should be able to get by just fine with the 600 Jr.

ETA:
I was was wrong on atleast two of the domestic brands of wads. Federal and Winchester are still producing .410 wads.
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Thanks for the info. Foxpro.223 - I got straight onto Amazon and ordered the Lyman 6th Edition Shotshell Reloading Handbook. Finding the shells and wads here in Australia will be a challenge - hopefully I can get them on mail order from the US without stupid shipping costs. Powder isn't an issue; we don't have the ones you mentioned but we do have the equivalent ones.
 
I load a bunch of 410 ammo. I have a mec 600 Jr mark 5 410ga. Loading 3 inch shells right now. 410 ga 2.5 hulls are alot easier to find than 3 inch hulls. I squirrel, crow, and quail hunt with a 410. I load 5's thru 7.5 shot. Did load 4's too. With the biggest shot. It will hang up. I lightly tap it. When i go squirrel hunting i grab the 410. Good luck.
 
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This place has what you need. They have a reloading data book. For 410 thru 20ga. I use it in 410 2.5 and 3 inch data. Also has data for my 28ga. It will have BPI reloading manual on the front. For sub gauge shotguns. They have everything for reloading.
 
280AI Shooter said:
I load a bunch of 410 ammo. I have a mec 600 Jr mark 5 410ga. Loading 3 inch shells right now. 410 ga 2.5 hulls are alot easier to find than 3 inch hulls. I squirrel, crow, and quail hunt with a 410. I load 5's thru 7.5 shot. Did load 4's too. With the biggest shot. It will hang up. I lightly tap it. When i go squirrel hunting i grab the 410. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Thanks mate. I'm looking at the MEC 600 Jr Mark V loader. I just bought a Rossi Cct Judge in .410 & 45 Colt. Like you I'll use it for birds and such. I reload for all my brass cals so would like to do it for my 12g & 410g too.
 
I reload 410 on a MEC 8567 Grabber. It's tricky, but can be done and will make pretty good shells. You can buy 410 hulls and wads from most of the same places you get the other gauges. I have also loaded 12ga down with 1/2oz loads, and they pattern better than the 410.
 
You didn't say what shotgun you are loading for did you?
I missed it while kinda speed reading. Reason I ask is a break open such as SxS or OU can handle shells from JR
But autoloaders can be finicky.. pump guns also can benefit from a properly sized shell. Speaking of the brass here. I use a Mec size master. But each to their own.
I would think you would want to be able to switch from 3" to 1 1/2" . I do this; I decide on a load and load as much as I want or have components for. Then I do a switch.
There is always some adjustments and tweaking to do.
Save your money and keep an eye out for a second press. That's the fastest and easiest. Set each one how you like.
 
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