Lee Enfield .410 Musket

[mousewallrat]

I've got one of these oddballs, and can't find any info on reloading it. Any help would be appreciated. Mine has not been rebored for the modern .410 shotshell. Thanks!

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Here's some info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee-Enfield#Muskets_and_Shotguns

If it is the Indian .410 musket, it sounds like the ammo will have to be handloaded from casings fireformed in the musket.

 

[FROGO207]

I remember reading about fireforming brass from 303 BR and/or using 444 marlin brass with shotshell components. IIRC they both fit about the same but the 444 was shorter and required less spacer wad material.

 

[bigedp51]

The original Enfield rifles with the enlarged bore (oversized shot out bore) used a .303 case that had not been necked down after the cordite powder strands were loaded. (straight sided .303 cases) These Indian made cases could not be purchased here in the U.S. so the importers bored the chambers out to accept standard .410 shot shells and make these riot control Enfields usable here in the U.S.

If need be you can fireform your own .303 British cases just as the .308/7.62 NATO cartridge was fired in the 30-06 M1 Grand chamber.



NOTE. Some of these .410 conversions were so sloppily done it was required to place a rubber o-ring around the .410 case rim to remove excess headspace and allow the fiing pin to strike the primer.

 

[mousewallrat]

Mine was not rebored for the newer .410 shells. It is a 1918 model converted in Ishapore. I have .303 brass, and will either fire-form, or use some kind of rod to stretch the neck. I'm looking for the type of powder and amount to use, plus amount of shot to go in it...I haven't had any luck so far. Thanks for the advise!

 

[Curator]

Making .303/410 shotshells is actually pretty easy. Start with new brass. R-P is good but Winchester is a bit thinner and more easily fireformed. Anneal the case mouths before attempting to form them. I stand the cases in 3/4 inch of water then using a propane torch heat the neck and shoulder area to glow dull red. Let them air cool. Load 6 grains of Unique or 5 grains of Bullseye/Red Dot. Seat a half square of toilet paper wad on the powder with a pencil, then fill the case to its mouth with Cream of Wheat cereal or cornmeal. Stick the case mouth into a block of wax or soap to create a plug that will keep the load in. Take them to the range and fire them straight up into the air. They will come out pretty much perfectly formed.

To reload them for shot or round ball I use a load of 12 to 14 grains of Alliant 2400 and circle fly .44 caliber wads. .410 commercial wads are too small for the thin walls of the brass case. .45 Wool felt wads will work OK as well. I have 20 cases I made this way many years ago. They have been reloaded at least 40 times and are still going strong. The .410 Enfield is a good small game gun but lacking a choke its range is about 30 yards. Double .410 round ball loads are accurate and effective to about 75 yards and can be relied on to harvest medium size pigs out to this range.

 

[mousewallrat]

Thanks on the fire-forming info...that'll be step one. Now that Alliant, is that powder or shot? I'll assume that's the powder, (I'm a reloader newbie), so what is the shot load for a bird sized shot? Also, could I just use info for reloading regular .410 shells? Seems the .303 pressures would be a lot higher, so the breech ought to handle the .410 pressures. Am I correct on this? Thanks!

 

[Curator]

Mouse--
Regular .410 shot shell pressures run about 24,000 psi which is very high for shotguns. However, the Lee Enfield was made to operate at about 42,000 psi, so there is a large safety factor. Nonetheless, following reloading manual loading recommendations is strongly advised. You can use published loads for "regular" .410 2 1/2" shells without any worry. A good .410 shot load for birds like Quail or Partridge or rabbit and squirrel, would be 5/8 ounce of #6 shot. Hunting Woodcock or Snipe I would use 7 1/2 or #8 shot. For Pheasant I would go up to #4s.

 

[Striker Fired]

Sounds like a fun way to go gamebird hunting.Now get that Enfield shoot'in.