.410 bore 3 inch shell

flexible said:

I have 3 cases of Win AA .410 in #9 shot, I will save the hulls

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According to this, you already have 750 AA-HS hulls, they're just still full. Patience; I know you want something to do while stuck indoors, and reloading is high on my list, too. There are other sites to check:

https://recobstargetshop.com/product/law-shot-9-hard-magnum-25lb-bag/
Recob's has Lawrence #9's in stock, price is good.

Rotometal's prices are a bit higher for West Coast shot, but it is as good or better than Lawrence, and for two bags at $119, freight is included.
https://www.rotometals.com/west-coast-magnum-shot-lead-2-25-bags-50-lbs-size-4-9-freight-included/

Hulls, you'll have a harder time finding; like I said earlier, .410 2 1/2" AA hulls are like gold. File this site away for further reference, they are out now, though:
https://www.precisionreloading.com/cart.php#!l=HL

I'd even keep checking here,
https://www.gunbroker.com/All/search?Keywords=410 hulls
they might pop up from time to time. Once you start getting back to the gun clubs, check there of course.

Both Cheddite and Fiocchi primers are bigger than other primers. Here is info from Ballistic Products website

Part # 209 Primers Type & Use: Diam.
Fiocchi 616 multi-purpose 209 0.242"
Rio 209 multi-purpose 209 0.245"
Cheddite 209 multi-purpose 209 0.242"

CCI 209 small-bore & mild 0.240"
CCI 209 Mag magnum 209 uses 0.240"
Federal 209A multi-purpose 209 0.241"
Remington STS multi-purpose 209 0.241"
Winchester 209 multi-purpose 209 0.2415"

Another 600jr. 410 reloader here. 2.5" shells for quail season and fun shoots at the trap or sporting Clays ranges.
.410 and 28ga are my favorite to reload.

Lyman 5th Edition Shotshell Reloading Handbook.

I had a trick when I used to load large shot ( #5 copper plated ) in my 20 gauge before steel was mandated. After the shot is dispensed and as I was bringing up the reloading handle , I spun the drop tube with my hand to make sure that there was no bridging . With my MEC Grabber, I built a wooden box around the press out of 1X6 scrap boards. That way the lead spills are contained. It only takes a few seconds of lapse in thought ( NO radios or TV's allowed in reloading room ) to not catch any spills.

flexible said:

* MEC 600 Jr.
* I seem to recall the adjustable charge bar has some issues - best to stick with the bushings?
* I have 3 cases of Win AA .410 in #9 shot, I will save the hulls
* Clay buster wads?
* Powder recommendation please. I have Unique, Bullseye & Blue Dot I use for pistol.
* Win 209 primers
* Lawrence shot - #9?
thanks again for the help, am I close with this list?
thanks
flexible

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If you want to shoot competitive skeet, you will have to shoot the 2-1/2" 1/2 oz loads. If you are just shooting for fun, then you can shoot what you want but most skeet ranges limit shot shot size to no larger than 7-1/2.

The MEC 600jr is a good loader for .410. That is what I have. With my .410 loader, I use a universal charge bar but I built a spacer for the powder side so that the opening in the charge bar was more in the middle of the powder drop side. It seemed to help with powder drop consistency. The powder charge volumes with .410 are fairly small when compared to larger gauges. Using powder bushings, I found I could not get close to the desired powder charge.

While a MEC 600jr can be converted to another hull, it is not a pleasant task to do more than once. If you want to shoot both 2-1/2" 410 shells and 3" 410 shells, get two MEC600jr's. They are not very expensive particularly if you find one used.

I use Winchester 296 for my .2-1/2" 410 skeet loads. You need to look at loading data to see what powders are useful for .410.

Hodgdon and Alliant have shotshell data on line.

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/?_ga=2.68040209.16500648.1585742987-137895472.1585742987
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/default.aspx?page=/reloaders/index.aspx&

About any lead #9 shot will do. Lawrence brand is a good one. "Magnum" shot usually is a bit harder than soft lead shot and does not deform as easily when shot.

You probably have AA_HS hulls so make sure you get wads appropriate for the hulls. Claybuster makes wads that can be substituted for the Winchester 410AA-HS hulls. The Claybuster package will say what the hull is a substitute for. The old 410AA wads will not work in the 410AA-HS hulls.

Research loading data before you buy any components. Unlike metallic reloading, shotshell data must be followed to the letter.

I have to agree, just stick with one length instead of trying to change the press. Years ago I made a precision ground plate to reload 2 1/2" but you still have to adjust the crimp die. Another good idea is to get a used or cheap baking sheet to put under the press.

You can buy conversion kits for them. I don't know if you will be able to set up a different gauge press to load 2 1/2" 410 shells though. All other presses are for 2 3/4" or 3".

flexible said:

OH, forgot to ask about a loading manual - Ballistic Products has 'The Small Bore Manual'. is it worth is or are there better ones. thanks

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All the data you need is on the sites from Alliant and Hodgdon; use your AAHS hulls, Claybuster wads, Win 209s and a powder from one of those sites; this isn't difficult as far as components or processes, it is just that the 410, being so small, can lead to some issues while reloading - metallic analogy - comparing reloading 25acp vs 45 acp.

As to the UCB (Universal Charge Bar), I love them on my single stage MEC Jrs, prefer the regular bars on my progressives.

You will still need your metallic scale to weigh charges when initially setting up as MEC's bushing chart is notoriously off with how much a bushing is supposed to drop, thus the UCB where you can dial it in to whatever you want.

One thing to get IF you can find one, is the red plastic PC powder baffle - it helps make powder drops a bit more consistent.

flexible said:

My brother contacted me, he has a friend who is selling his whole MEC setup but for 28 gauge. If it's cheap enough I might buy it BUT! how hard is it to change from 28 to .410?
thanks
flexible

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It isn't that hard, but it is not something you want to keep going back and forth to do, so once you set it up for 410, leave it for 410

flexible said:

I have over 10 cases of Win AA in 28 gauge and I plan to shoot a LOT of .410 so i'll convert and leave it!
thanks

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Personally, I prefer the wads from ClayBuster or Downrange over the OEM ones from Winchester and Remington because the OEMs are twice the price.

Double check to see if the 28 gauge press will even adjust down to do 2 1/2" 410 shells. All the MEC press (except 410) are for 2 3/4" and 3".

I have a Mec 600 Mk 5 in 3" 410.........I also have the "Short Kit" and 1/2 oz. charge bar.......Take about 5 min to change from 3" to 2 1/2".......All you change is the charge bar and slip the short kit spacer under the shell holder plate. Taint nuttin to it!. I started loading 410's last February at to date I've loaded 4070 ea. of 2 1/2 & 3 " shells. I shoot a lot of skeet with my various 410's. I use a Mec #12 bushung that throws 13 gr. of #2400 and a Claybuster wad.