Reloading of 410 HS/AA Win Shot Shells

[bbuchanan]

I could not find much information about reloading 410, it seems there may not be a real big demand for this size shell. I just started reloading them because I was going broke buying new shells. I looked for many months and asked a lot of questions, I found that there are many ways to achieve the same results but once you find it, stick with what works. I bought a MEC Jr V and went from there, it has everything needed, slow but all you add are the ingredients. I reload Winchester Super X HS Silver Box, AA HS Black Box, 2 1/2 " Shells. I tried Claybuster Red Wads and found them to cause a short stack and wind up with extra room in the shell. I removed the inners from a Win Super X AA HS shell and found the Wad was twice the thickness at the base, so I loaded one of my shells with the Win Wad and shabang, it was perfect. I went on line and bought 500 Win WAA410 HS Red Wad 250/Pk each. They cost abought twice the price as the others but well worth using the real thing. So this is what I do, I load only Winchester HS, 2 1/2 for clays, 1/2 OZ - 7 1/2 lead, Win 409 primer, 15.0 Grains 296 Win Powder, Only Win WAA410HS Wads for AA-HS. The shells crimp up most of the time just right. Oh, I use a # 11 Bushing which gives me 14.8 to 14.9 Grains, I don't think it's neccessary to alter the bar. The 296 powder is what Winchester loads in the original shells according to information that the powder was made for their loading of 410's. The combination works because it's everything that Winchester recommends and It's on the back of the bag that contains the Wads. Don't you just love reloading? I wanted to share my experience with the jungle of 410, thank you.

 

[NCsmitty]

Welcome to THR. bbuchanan.

I also load for 410, and have for several years, and have dealt with the idiosyncrasies associated with that shell.
I originally started with Fiocchi hulls, Winchester primers, H110 powder (the same as W296) and Remington SP410 wads.

I've played around with different combinations over the years and the load de jour is Remington black or green hulls, as they load the same as the STS, with Win primers, Alliant 410 powder, Claybuster wads and a modified bar dropping 227gr of #8 1/2 magnum shot. It shoots and patterns very well in my Stoeger Condor O/U.



NCsmitty

 

[T Bran]

I also load Win HS .410 with a 600 jr only in 3inch using #6 shot and your right the best load ive found is on the back of the bag when you buy WIN red wads. They seem to be alot cleaner burning than the other loads ive tryed and the pattern with #6 is even and consistant enough that iuse the same load in the field as I do shooting clays. I cant otherwise afford to shoot my favorite little side by side Rossi.

 

[cfullgraf]

I still have a bunch of the old Winchester AA .410 hulls so I have not made the conversion to the HS hulls yet.

I have not bought any of the wads for the HS hulls but from my peering through the bags, I could not find any noticeable difference. That does not mean there isn't any.

I wonder if the red claybusters as similar to the old AA wads just with red color added.

Sounds like I will have fun when I run out of the old AA hulls. It may be a long time as my skeet shooting is way down from years past.

 

[bbuchanan]

You want be able to see much difference with your eye but what I did was to tear down a Win AA HS shell and duplicate the parts and it works like factory. I read up on the powder, primer, and wad used for the shell, bought the Win AA HS wads and bam, everything was on the bag. I bet the same would work on the Remington hulls, if you bought Rem Wads. Where is a good place to buy once shot Win HS hulls or even something new that works well? I really don't think I'm ready for brass hulls at this time.

 

[NCsmitty]

Well I'm giving away a good hull supply, but I don't mind sharing. Precision Reloading has decent prices on once fired hulls. In 410, I use the Piezo dimpled Remington hulls, and they work fine, but they also have standard hulls for a good price. Gunbroker prices are crazy.

http://www.precisionreloading.com/m...38ac5bd2e974ffd11f&Screen=SFNT&Store_Code=PRE

The green and black hulls load the same.


NCsmitty

 

[bbuchanan]

Thanks NCsmitty for the source of the hulls, I will check it out.

Bbuchanan

 

[oneounceload]

I could not find much information about reloading 410, it seems there may not be a real big demand for this size shell.

Load data can be found at Hodgdon and Alliant websites

I still have a bunch of the old Winchester AA .410 hulls so I have not made the conversion to the HS hulls yet.

I have not bought any of the wads for the HS hulls but from my peering through the bags, I could not find any noticeable difference. That does not mean there isn't any.

The HS hulls are shorter and of two piece construction - using older wads made for the CF type of hulls will result in crushed/bulged hulls

 

[Pete D.]

I have a MEC 600 set up in the garage for loading 3" .410s. It makes repeatedly perfect shells. Mostly, I use once-fired Winchester AA or Remington hulls and standard .410 wads, lately of the HS variety.
11/16s oz of shot, Alliant 2400. Win 209 primers.
Pete

 

[cfullgraf]

The HS hulls are shorter and of two piece construction - using older wads made for the CF type of hulls will result in crushed/bulged hulls

So, it sounds like the overall length of the HS wad is also shorter for the HS shell. I'll have to investigate. I was only looking at the base of the wad. But, like I said, it is tough to peer through the plastic bag.

I still have a half a case of brand new compression formed AA .410 shells along with at least a half a case of reloads. It will take a while for me to burn those up. Recently, I've been only shooting a 100 or 200 .410/year.

Thanks for the information.