Why is .410 so expensive?

[Anteater1717]

Why is .410 so expensive? I can buy 25 12 gauge shells for about half of what I pay for 25 .410 shells. I mean it seems like it would be the .22lr of the shotgun world. It’s a common cartridge and lots of guns are made for it so there is a market. It seems to me that it would be like $3.50 a box as opposed too $8.00.

 

[GigaBuist]

Market size. While .410 is common, we simply don't shoot it as much as we do 12 and 20 gauge shotguns.

Things tend to get cheaper when you start producing them in larger quantites.

 

[Shell Shucker]

I can't buy the "low production" excuse for the price of 28 ga and 410 shells. I think it is pure BS! I have yet to visit a skeet range where most of the "regulars" (not a tournament) were not shooting 28 ga or 410. Guys that shoot 1-3 times EVERY week burn up a lot of shells. Not to mention that damn near every kid gets started on a 410......... That's a LOT of shell production! I KNOW that 28 and 410 are cheaper to reload; they use less shot and powder....... Even if production is less the component cost should offset it....... The ammo companies have us by the short and curlies; so they think. I think that a lot of guys would trash their charred hulls after 6 reloads rather than stretch them to the limit if the price of factory small ga was in the ballpark. Bottom line: if the factories dropped the price of small ga they would sell a hell of a lot more of it! If some foreign ammo company has the balls to sell 28 and 410 for $4-5 a box the big three will be scrambling!

 

[koja48]

Supply & demand . . . less of it made & 410 & 28 are a bit of a niche market compared to 12 & 20. Explains why the only shotshell reloading I do anymore is for 410 & 28 . . .

 

[Red Label]

My next reloader will be a .410. I've got a cute little Winchester M42 that just begs me to shoot it but the cost of the shells keeps it in the cabinet.:banghead: Nothing like a round of skeet with a .410 to liven you up!

 

[45auto]

I doubt the "machines" run nearly as fast on a 410 as a 12 gauge.

I've read that "target loads" are not the majority of sales compared to hunting loads. 28 and definately 410 would be minuscule compared to 12 gauge.

 

[lepmik]

Is it relatively cheaper to reload .410 as compared to 12 ga? Or do the components cost more for some reason?

 

[45auto]

Much cheaper because a lot less shot and powder than 12 gauge...and the cost is so high for new ones. Which is the reason for this thread.

I'd bet many people that stopped loading 12 gauge, still load 28 and 410.

 

[koja48]

Cheaper to reload . . . less shot, less powder. Gotta look around a bit for shot cups & empty hulls for 410 & 28 are scarce compared to 12s or 20s.

 

[boredelmo]

I cant push myself to pay 10% of the price i paid for my little snake charmer to shoot it.

 

[telomerase]

Why is .410 so expensive?

Some people would be happy that 12-gauge is so cheap. Of course, if you're set on being negative, then...

Seriously, there's just a lot fewer .410 shooters.

 

[siskiyou3]

I have around 85 assorted .410 shells about 30 buck, 50 bird, of that 50 25 are magnum, that I have no use for. Id be willing to sell them for less than market price, id rather have them go to someone who uses them than just sit around at my house. Send me an offer through pm if you are interested.
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