Anyone reloading 410 Shotshells?

[ThomasT]

I just shot my Remington 22/410 combo gun a couple of days ago and just wents nuts over the 410 round. I have held off shooting a 410 because of the silly stupid prices for factory loads.

I don't shoot it that often and would like to have one of the Lee Loaders but those go for $90+ on ebay when you can find them.

If you load for this round what are you loading with and can you give a couple of loads for a 3" shell?

Do any of the die makers make a die set that can be used in my old rockchucker press?

 

[dmazur]

I'm reloading .410 with a Hornady 366. It only handles 2-1/2" hulls, so I don't have any 3" loads to share.

Due to the popularity of CAS, there are a couple of manufacturers offering dies that fit 1-1/4x12 thread presses for 12 ga brass shells, but I haven't seen anything in .410, yet.

I think Lee used to make a .410 shotshell reloading kit, years ago (The Lee Classic Loader "Whack a Mole" type), but I haven't seen one of these available.

The MEC loaders seem to be the standard tool.

(I had to get into reloading .410 to be able to shoot our 9410's without going broke on factory ammo prices. Lever action .410's are a lot of fun, but they do tend to burn up ammo. )

 

[Duckdog]

I made my own "kit" or reloading 410. I took a Lee de-capper for de-priming, then also made my own sizer by drilling a hole of the proper diameter in another de-capper base. For priming, I just st the primer on the table/bench and use a small dowel to tap the shell down on the primer until seated. I finish them off with a roll crimp. Works good. Just think about what you need, and the tools are pretty easy to make.

 

[NoAlibi]

MEC makes a solid single stage press, the 600 Jr., in .410 and it's available at Mid-South Shooters Supply for around $148.00 Shop Natchez Shooters Supply and MidwayUSA for competitive pricing also.

Don't hold me to this, but I think that the dies that come with the MEC press can be adjusted for either 2 3/4" or 3" shells.

If you buy Win. AA ammo you will spend a bit more than for most others, but these hulls have a reputation for the most reloadings before you have to toss 'em. There are some companies, possibly Ballistic Products, Inc., that may offer new and once-fired hulls for sale so you don't have to buy loaded rounds to start with. Hope this helps

 

[NCsmitty]

Don't hold me to this, but I think that the dies that come with the MEC press can be adjusted for either 2 3/4" or 3" shells.

The straight answer is yes, they can be altered to swap to 3" from 2 1/2" but it is time consuming to dial in the changes. It's requires trial and error to get the shells to finalize the proper crimp. You would be better off staying with one or the other sizes, or having two different setups. It doesn't take long to recoup your investment with the price of new 410 and 28ga shells at the retail level.



NCsmitty

 

[griz]

You might want to check out this site.

I did reload some 410 out of 303 brass like they outline. I did it for an old single shot as a way to put together some cheap plinking rounds. They worked OK, but for as little as I shoot 410 it's probably easier to just by a couple boxes of factory stuff.

 

[ThomasT]

I made my own "kit" or reloading 410. I took a Lee de-capper for de-priming, then also made my own sizer by drilling a hole of the proper diameter in another de-capper base. For priming, I just st the primer on the table/bench and use a small dowel to tap the shell down on the primer until seated. I finish them off with a roll crimp. Works good. Just think about what you need, and the tools are pretty easy to make.

Thats what I am thinking about doing. I have reloaded 410 like this before. I just didn't have a way to size the brass. I have a new complete number/letter drill set that has a proper size drill bit. I just have to get a small metal rod and drill it out. I will order a roll crimper from BPI. The video of that in action is pretty cool.

I don't know if I will shoot enough to merit the cost of the mec loader. I can buy a lot of factory loads for what one cost.

Thanks for the link Griz. I had seen that before but forgot about it.

 

[griz]

I have a new complete number/letter drill set that has a proper size drill bit. I just have to get a small metal rod and drill it out.

If you can get a 7/8-14 bolt instead of a piece of rod you could drill that and use it in a press. It would have to be centered though, kind of tough if you don't have access to a lathe.

 

[Grey Morel]

As long as your going to be shooting these shells from the same gun, just get a roll crimper. Its infinitely cheaper, and quicker.

You pretty much NEED to reload for .410, just from the point of practicality. Why limit yourself to 1/2 oz of shot from a worthless stump wad, when you could be pushing 3/4 oz of shot out of stitched wad? Your effective range can be GREATLY increased by reloading over factory ammo.

 

[oneounceload]

A used MEC 600 will run you about $50 and last 6 lifetimes - will reload MUCH faster than some of the ways mentioned here, give better reloads to boot.

 

[ThomasT]

I just ordered the wads, roll crimper and 200 primed hulls from BPI. I have a peice of cold rolled steel that I have marked the center on with a centering square. When I go to my buddies house I will use his drill press to drill it. I have a V-Block to keep it plumb.

I found some #5 tractor bolts in my quest today. I thought they might be a little on the hard side for drilling. I could use my buddies torch to soften them I suppose.

If I ever find a mec in 410 for $50 I will jump on it.

And Gray Morel the 1/2oz loads don't do much for me. The 11/16 to 3/4oz loads make more sense.

 

[oneounceload]

f I ever find a mec in 410 for $50 I will jump on it.

Garage sales, local paper, Craig's List and Ebay are your friend - I just bought a used one in 12 gauge with the Universal Charge Bar that was hardly used for $65.

Also - go to the local shotgun clubs (not the indoor ranges) - most have a bulletin board where folks are selling stuff

 

[zxcvbob]

If you use brass hulls, do they need to be resized?

 

[NCsmitty]

A used MEC 600 will run you about $50

You won't find 410 or 28ga Mec 600's for $50, unless they're junk. They're consistently around $100 used, on ebay. 12ga can be bought quite reasonably due to the number available.
If you shoot the larger Ga shells, Lee shotshell loaders are functional but slow, and are pretty cheap on ebay.



NCsmitty

 

[ThomasT]

NCSmitty you're right about the Mec loaders. There are none to be found on Craigslist, GB or auction arms. No matter now. I have my 3/4" bolt shank ready to drill. I have a board to make a loading bench out of and other goodies on the way.

As soon as I have the sizer drilled and the roll crimper in hand I will be ready to load. No more $15 a box 410s for me.

I forgot to add that the Lee loaders work just fine. No they are the quality of a Mec but for the $25 I paid for mine 20+ years ago they are perfect. You only have to make sure that you line up the folds on the crimp properly and they do a decent job of loading shotshells.

 

[pcz]

I do alot of quail hunting with 7-1/2 shot and have trouble with the bigger shot flowing into the cases. Some loads are almost empty. It is just way more time sconsuming than loading 12 or 20 ga. I have a lee multi stage ols as dirt. not even sure of the number..

 

[Barr]

I bought a Mec 600 used in 2005 for around $90 on eBay and thought (still do) it was a great deal. Instead of buying $15 boxes of ammo I load for around $3 a box. I bought mine to keep my great-grandfather's old automatic fed with shells and save me some money. 8 boxes of ammo and the press has more than paid for itself.

If you are serious about reloading .410 and shooting more than 2 boxes a year I would get a Mec 600 press new or used. You can no longer find them on eBay due to their new policies about 2 years ago.

My load is Alliant 2400 powder with 1/2 oz of 7.5 shot with Win wad and a Win 209 in a Win AA hull. There are not too many powder choices in .410 but there are 3-4 that work well. Alliant lists a load for 2400 or their .410 powder.

 

[Duckdog]

I've been roll crimping all of my steel shot loads now, and I can tell you this... the roll crimper from precision reloading is vastly superior to the BP one that I have. I have sero problems even rolling old fold crimps. They start out a tad ugly, but just tun into beautifull roll crimps in a matter of seconds. I still use the BP one in 410, and have found that you will do best by cutting off the old fold crimp... or ordering the new fiocci hulls, and using a counter clockwise slow rotation. In fat, they look and shoot better than facotry.

Like i said, I made my sizer out of a lee decapper base,( couple of bucks), and just drilled out the hile that was already centered there. I ordered 2 so I could enlarge the second base to allow decapping the 209 primers easier. This took all of a few minutes. For removing my resizer, I just use a small piece f 1/2" metal conduit that I had laying around. I set the sizer on top and just tap the shell out with my dowel until it is loose and then remove the sizer.

I looked at using a Mec and settled on this method. I rarely use my Mec of Lee anymore for even loading 1 ga, as I am roll crimping and do most of the operations, except resizing and de-capping, by hand, including adding powder and seating the wad and shot.

I have the bass shotshell and prefer this method better, as well as the final product. I personally have settled on the BP stretch wad and something like 18 gr of H110 in a fiocci 2 1/2 oz load. I would have to look through my data to get the charge if you need it. BP goes all of th way up the like 20 gr, but again, i would have to look it up. They do have that data on thier web site.

I made my own hull vise out of a couple of peices of wood with a couple of bolts and wing nuts. I bored it out to hold 12 ga and 410. I stole the idea off line by googling homemade shotshell vise, or something like that.

Let us know how this turns out for you!

 

[GP100man]

I use 444 marlin brass with just enuff milled off the head of the case to let the action close.

I down load for the girls to shoot , they love it & do there own loadin (with me present of course)

I use a lite load & resize after 5 shots , also we cut & use cardboard wads & glue em in to seal em .

$.02 worth.

 

[ThomasT]

I got my package in from BPI today. I ordered 200 Multi-Hulls and 500 wads. I also got the roll crimper and 500 overshot wads.

The hulls were primed so all I had to do was pour in the powder, add a wad and shot then the overshot wad and roll crimp. I loaded 50 3" loads with # 71/2 shot and 25 3" hulls with #10 shot.

It went pretty good except not ever roll crimp was perfect. Some looked like they were factory made and others were a little, um, flat looking. And yes I ran the drills in reverse. I started off with a battery drill then switched to a cord drill that has more RPM. That helped. Anyway they are all useable and feed through my new bolt action. This was fun to do.

If I keep up with the 410 shooting I am just going to buy a Mec loader and be done with it.

 

[Duckdog]

Try slowing the drill down. It does take a tad bit of practice and soon enough, they'll look pretty good. I run my drill at about 3-500 rpms and it work great. The 410 is a tough one to fold crimp, too.

 

[243winxb]

Mec 600jr

You will buy a Mec soon or later. Tips- 1. Newer units have a shell holder type bracket for the primer seating station, buy one if the old mec does not have one. 2. Shot bridging in drop tube. Push the charge bar slower & just before dropping the shot, move the ram up so shot free falls into the case. Just below the case mouth is good. 3. Fine powder may trickle out in the area of the charge bar. There is a brass ring that fits in between the bar and powder bottle, use one. But be aware, if there is to much clearance and with a little abuse of the brass washer, it will flatten and move. Its possible to block the powder flow, resulting in lite/squib powder drops.

 

[ThomasT]

I did some more reading on the BPI instruction sheet a watched the roll crimp video. The instructions say to run the RC tool counter clockwise. Then it says not in reverse. WHAT! I guess they mean point the drill at yourself and make sure it turns counter clockwise. Which means the drill is in foward.

The video shows the drill in foward direction. I loaded a few more with the drill in forward and also had 10 shells ready to roll crimp instead of doing each shell seperately. This kept the roll crimper hot and this makes a big difference.

 

[Duckdog]

Like I mentioned, the Precision Reloading roll crimper is like night and day terms of roll crimp quality! It takes even once fired hulls and rolls them down with ease. I run all of mine in reverse and it works well. The 410 has such a small surface area, one must be carefull to not let the tool get too hot, as then your melting the plastic.

 

[ThomasT]

Hey duckdog I looked at the Precision Reloading tool and if I hadn't already bought the one from BPI I would get that one instead. If I can sell mine to one of my loading buddies I will trade up.