410 shotgun reloading?

[WestKentucky]

One box a month or less. What makes the most sense for reloading 410?

I haven’t ever been into shotgun reloading, and really don’t much care to load for anything other than the 410 due to the cost of a box of shells.

I have seen lots of improvised loading rigs cobbled together for nearly no money by people who seem to have varying skill sets and varying degrees of bubba engineering mindsets. If I go this route I’m going to jump in with a few 7/8 bolts to put into my classic cast and drill/thread them to take the tooling to punch, seat, and roll crimp. Charging, wadding, and dropping shot will be done off of the press.

Does the brass head actually need to be resized? I see conflicting info on this point. Could I just use dies for something like 444 to accomplish this if it’s absolutely necessary?

Then there’s the dedicated machines. If Lee made a loadall in 410 I wouldn’t be asking this question, but I’m not even going to toy with the thought of a hundred bucks or more investment in machinery which will pay itself off at about 15 or 20 bucks a year.

 

[Patocazador]

This is what I would use. Maybe even find one used in good condition.

https://www.amazon.com/MEC-600-Mark...pID=31QjayiTgsL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

 

[STCL01]

I've been reloading rifle ammunition for only a couple of years, which is why I got on this site. However, I've been reloading shotgun for about 30 years. The only thing that I reload any longer is 28 ga because of the costs per box. However, I shoot more than a box a month. Unless you are really trying to get something that you cannot buy off the shelf, then I would say just continue to buy them. Reloading smaller gauge rounds is finicky, and your time is worth something. However, if you want to do it, then a single stage MEC as above is the way to go. The only cost savings that you will get now days is loading the .410 or the 28. Of course that is just my opinion, so take it for what is is worth. Oh, and yes, the brass head needs to be resized. You may get by with a few, but eventually you will have a problem if you don't resize.

 

[243winxb]

One box a month or less.

Shoot factory ammo.

 

[Average Joe]

Not worth it for one box a month. Lee don't make a load all for .410 because they are very finicky to reload.

 

[FROGO207]

I use 444 Marlin brass and the dies to make 410 buck shot with nitro card,felt wads, and glue in an overshot card. The dies are too small to use with regular 410 cases and the shell holder will not let the shotgun primer drop out I got a MEC 600 JR to make #4 game loads and it has paid for itself.

 

[rjbmjb]

I load 12, 20 and 410 shells using MEC presses, mostly because I enjoy reloading. 12 and 20 gauge are basically break even (not counting the cost of the press or cases), and if you hunt around for sales it can cost more to reload them. For 410, my component cost (not including hulls) is around $4.00 a box compared to around $10.00 a box if I buy in bulk on the net.

If you shoot 1 box a month, you can save around $70 per year loading your own, but the presses run over $200 new (you may find a used one for $150 or so, but used 410 presses are often hard to find), and around $30 for 100 empty cases to get started (depending on the case, you should be able to load them 5 to 10 times). There are a lot of discussions on this forum about the value of your time and should it be factored into the cost analysis, but at your volume its only an hour or two per year, so it won't make much difference either way.

Another factor to keep in mind is the up front costs of the components. For example, a 25 pound bag of shot is around $50, and you get 800-900 rounds out of it. Likewise, a $20 can of powder will last about two years at your volumes and a $30 box of primers will last over 3 years. The initial investment in equipment and components will probably run $350 - $400.

If you only shoot one box a month, it will take around 3 years to recover the initial investment. The guys on this forum who save a lot of money on 410 shells shoot a lot more than you do.

I never looked at improvised reloading setups, but you should expect to spend a lot more time loading each case, and you will probably have to spend $100 or more for a resizer- I wouldn't reload unsized cases.

If the cost of the shells is your only reason for reloading 410, I agree with the others who said it isn't worth it at your volumes.

 

[RealGun]

One box a month or less. What makes the most sense for reloading 410? <snip>

I wouldn't bother until you have a good collection of once-fired hulls. 410 uses magnum pistol powders, so that part's easy. #4 shot is what I chose for a good spread and all around use. Accumulating components is a way to ease into it before springing for a press decision and the expense.

 

[FROGO207]

OP you do not roll crimp in the traditional sense either. Ballistic Products makes a roll crimp tool that fits on a drill. That is the easy part. I bought a couple hundred Magtech brass 410 hulls, the correct sized nitro cards and fiber wads to start. I use those for Buck loads and the 444 Marlin brass with #4 for game loads. You get about 4 reloads average before you have to size the brass hulls. I tried standard roll crimping the brass hulls with a overshot card and that worked OK but the mouths cracked after 8 or so reloads. I now use Duco cement to hold the overshot card in and that 444 brass has at least 50 reloads on it with no signs of the hull failing. I wait until the brass will not fit into my tightest chamber to resize to save working the brass excessively. I ended up getting a parts only MEC 600 for about $40 and bought the caliber conversion for it to get into using plastic hulls on the cheap a couple years ago as well. You could get 444 dies and hone out the inside to work to size the hulls but I would just get Lee or whomever to make a custom sized die in the beginning if you go that route.

 

[Armored farmer]

If you have a nice .410, you might find a used mec 600jr (what i have). Be sure it either has both 2.5 inch, and 3 inch parts. If not be sure it is set up like you want.

I enjoy reloading, and came from a time that it was much cheaper to reload.
For 12 boxes/yr, i would probably try to do a good job of shopping, and buy them all at once, and forget the reloader.

 

[CJ8281]

For that few a year, you could be happy with a Lee Loader, if you can find one. They usually go for about $75 to $110. They do take longer but I find them kind of enjoyable to use.

 

[George P]

At one box a month, buy a flat (10 boxes) or two when Winchester has their rebates going on ($2/box) If you buy their highly regarded AA target hulls, you can then sell them for ~ .12 ea in once fired condition. Academy sells these all day long for $89.99/flat with free shipping. SO, $9/box to start, less $2/box rebate, less $3/box for selling the empties means $4/box actual cost when done. Post a WTS ad on your local shotgun club bulletin board and you'll get takers for the empties. Works well for 28 gauge also.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

One box a month or less. What makes the most sense for reloading 410?

I haven’t ever been into shotgun reloading, and really don’t much care to load for anything other than the 410 due to the cost of a box of shells.

I have seen lots of improvised loading rigs cobbled together for nearly no money by people who seem to have varying skill sets and varying degrees of bubba engineering mindsets. If I go this route I’m going to jump in with a few 7/8 bolts to put into my classic cast and drill/thread them to take the tooling to punch, seat, and roll crimp. Charging, wadding, and dropping shot will be done off of the press.

Does the brass head actually need to be resized? I see conflicting info on this point. Could I just use dies for something like 444 to accomplish this if it’s absolutely necessary?

Then there’s the dedicated machines. If Lee made a loadall in 410 I wouldn’t be asking this question, but I’m not even going to toy with the thought of a hundred bucks or more investment in machinery which will pay itself off at about 15 or 20 bucks a year.

One box if 410 shells a month will cost you under $10, is all that really worth your time and effort for that price?

 

[WestKentucky]

One box if 410 shells a month will cost you under $10, is all that really worth your time and effort for that price?

It is if I can do it safely, reasonably, and affordably. Besides I don’t have anywhere local which I am inclined to shop. Walmart here is a huge pain in the rear, and all the LGS vampires are jerks on top of having 150% markup. I have one shop near work that I will gladly give my money to, but they aren’t open when I’m off, so I have to go at lunch and our corporate policy is not friendly to stuff being on the property even if it’s just ammo or components.

 

[WestKentucky]

I think I may do this, with some tweaks to allow me to put 16s through it as well..... if I do I will be more inclined to use a 410 to hunt with. Much easier on the body than lugging around a 12 or 20, not to mention that it’s easier on the meat, and the 16s will keep my dads old store-brand pump alive since he refuses to pay current prices for shells. With the LCT coming in the mail though, I’m awfully tempted to make a crude die set.

 

[George P]

It is if I can do it safely, reasonably, and affordably. Besides I don’t have anywhere local which I am inclined to shop. Walmart here is a huge pain in the rear, and all the LGS vampires are jerks on top of having 150% markup. I have one shop near work that I will gladly give my money to, but they aren’t open when I’m off, so I have to go at lunch and our corporate policy is not friendly to stuff being on the property even if it’s just ammo or components.

Why you buy online from Academy; orders over $25 ship for free.

 

[Armored farmer]

I have mec 600jr in .410, 28, 20 gauges.
I highly recommend them.
If you do decide to get a reloader, it will open some new doors to guns of that gauge(caliber in the case of .410). Anyway.....with a reloader, .410 shells are dirt cheap! 1/2oz shot and a pinch of powder.
SxS or o/u in .410 are sure fun, and easily save your empties.
I have been tempted by the taurus judge, since i reload .410 and .45colt.
Shooting sporting clays with my 870 in .410 is humbling, but good practice.
Loading 1/2 oz of #5 shot is good squirrel and rabbit medicine in my savage 24 .410/.22lr
.....so if you get a reloader, you could easily end up shooting more than 10 boxes/yr!

 

[joed]

Few years ago I got a nice 410 at an attractive price. Didn't take long to realize why it isn't popular after buying shells. I looked at reloading for it but decided I was reloading far to many cartridges already and sold the gun.

I think the MEC 600 was what I was looking at. Almost wish I tried reloading shotgun now that I'm retired.

 

[cfullgraf]

I think I may do this, with some tweaks to allow me to put 16s through it as well..... if I do I will be more inclined to use a 410 to hunt with. Much easier on the body than lugging around a 12 or 20, not to mention that it’s easier on the meat, and the 16s will keep my dads old store-brand pump alive since he refuses to pay current prices for shells. With the LCT coming in the mail though, I’m awfully tempted to make a crude die set.

MEC 600jr are great shot shell loaders.

Changing gauges is not so user friendly. I have four of them, one each in 12, 20, and 28 gauges and .410 bore for when I was shooting competitive skeet.

Frequently you can find them used at a friendly price. If you find one with a good price in a gauge that you are not looking for, MEC should have the conversion parts. After making the gauge change once, you will not want to do it a regular basis.