Want to reload .410

[NMexJim]

I don't have experience with that particular "survival loader", but I cobbled one together similar a couple years ago. It works, and if you are only going to load a few now and then, it is actually okay. I got a good deal on Midway with one of their free shipping deals and got a Mec. It is a very nice machine. Your rounds won't actually shoot any better, but they sure load faster and look better.

410 hulls are a pretty rare "on the ground" find around me, so I pickup and use about any 410 hull I find, but my favorite by far is Winchester AA's.
They load beautifully and last for many reloads.

They are a pretty rare find. In 20 years I've only found a handful or two at any of my ranges.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I’m Uber cheap, so I made my own “survival” loader.

A punch for the obvious: punching primers.
A deep socket 1/2”, (I think) 3/8” drive
And a 3/8” wood dowel, for setting crimp. And seating primer against a hard flat surface.
I added a couple of Lee plastic dippers.
One for (Quantity) of powder (preferred H110, Lil’Gun or #2400 acceptable).
Second for shot (1/2oz 2.5” hull)


I’ve also used either.45Colt cases, .454Casull, or .444cases for assorted loads.
One involves 5gr of Bullseye, card wads (7/16” wadcutter) and .4oz shot or full case of walnut hulls for carpenter bees.
I mostly use 3-.375” round ball and 1-.360” Rb in a PC wad for a buckshot load. Out performs a slug from my Savage .22-.410 O/U.

The .410 is a versatile, useful utility gun!

 

[Appalachiannative]

I’m Uber cheap, so I made my own “survival” loader.

A punch for the obvious: punching primers.
A deep socket 1/2”, (I think) 3/8” drive
And a 3/8” wood dowel, for setting crimp. And seating primer against a hard flat surface.
I added a couple of Lee plastic dippers.
One for (Quantity) of powder (preferred H110, Lil’Gun or #2400 acceptable).
Second for shot (1/2oz 2.5” hull)


I’ve also used either.45Colt cases, .454Casull, or .444cases for assorted loads.
One involves 5gr of Bullseye, card wads (7/16” wadcutter) and .4oz shot or full case of walnut hulls for carpenter bees.
I mostly use 3-.375” round ball and 1-.360” Rb in a PC wad for a buckshot load. Out performs a slug from my Savage .22-.410 O/U.

The .410 is a versatile, useful utility gun!

Man I wish I'd asked about powder before buying. The lil gun is marketed as being made just for this but your the second guy to endorse that H110 and I notice it has a lot more data available. Oh well I'll get some of that next. I've got to come up with a some kinda safe storage cabinet for all this powder. I think I'm up to 4 or 5 kinds I smokeless and lots of black powder. I'm really interested in this stuff you guys are telling me about using old brass rifle cases. I'm dieing to give that a shot but can't find any rifle or pistol primers

 

[Targa]

Man I wish I'd asked about powder before buying. The lil gun is marketed as being made just for this but you’re the second guy to endorse that H110 and I notice it has a lot more data available.

I wouldn’t be concerned, Lil Gun will work just as well as H110.

 

[Nasty Canasta]

I got lucky when I started loading .410 as I had jugs of H110 for reloading 454 Casull & 50AE. Planning on checking patterns & velocity of my reloads compared to factory loads tomorrow. Hopefully I won’t kill my chronograph, never tried to put shot through one before.

 

[Bfh_auto]

Man I wish I'd asked about powder before buying. The lil gun is marketed as being made just for this but your the second guy to endorse that H110 and I notice it has a lot more data available. Oh well I'll get some of that next. I've got to come up with a some kinda safe storage cabinet for all this powder. I think I'm up to 4 or 5 kinds I smokeless and lots of black powder. I'm really interested in this stuff you guys are telling me about using old brass rifle cases. I'm dieing to give that a shot but can't find any rifle or pistol primers

H110 had been around longer. There will be more data for it.
If you have two hulls and primers. Be happy.
The brass was something I got to fill the gap until 410 shells come down in price. I may eventually shooting for a mec.

 

[MEHavey]

Lil Gun will work just as well as H110.

True, as will "410" powder.
But H110/W296 won't burn out the hulls as fast.

 

[Appalachiannative]

H110 had been around longer. There will be more data for it.
If you have two hulls and primers. Be happy.
The brass was something I got to fill the gap until 410 shells come down in price. I may eventually shooting for a mec.

I doubt the finished ammo will ever come down at all due to the low demand plus the greater amount of skill required to load them. I'd be willing to bet money that the guy who loads the .410 bore shells at the shot shell factory is the same guy who cuts the boards on a construction site, the most experienced worker there. As far as un fired hulls I'm convinced that American companies will be swamped Indefinitely with such demand for finished cartridges that we can forget about components from them. Meanwhile cheddite keeps on rolling working towards their goal of taking over the market world wide

 

[Appalachiannative]

True, as will "410" powder.
But H110/W296 won't burn out the hulls as fast.

Good to know I'll watch out for that. These are Euro hulls I'm working with so I don't expect them to last as long as their domestic cousins anyway

 

[TTv2]

Universal charge bars are the only way to go for me. I never wanted to buy a bunch of charge bars and bushings which don’t allow you to fine tune the load.
The old ones have been discontinued but BPI now sells one. Kinda pricey but I think it’s the only game in town for an adjustable one these days. Out of stock right now unfortunately.
https://www.ballisticproducts.com/Adjusta-Drop-Charge-Bar-single-stage/productinfo/ADCSS/


Wow! Maybe not! I just looked at eBay at used ones and they are $75-$100. Guess they went up when they stopped making them

as for making your own wads it will work but at a few cents each I think the wads help the patterns a lot. Cost more to shoot that squirrel a second time.

The general theme with .410 is that no matter what you try to do, the necessary components to reload it are never going to be cheap. I guess the reason is that the manufacturers know that even at a high cost people won't have to reload that much to break even over factory ammo.

Then there's also the significantly decreased interest by people regarding reloading .410 over the larger bores. Personally, I don't shoot enough 12ga to make it worth reloading, but .410 I absolutely do.

I guess I should start figuring out the budget to get started myself. I figure 209 primers are going to become more available and lower price than pistol or rifle primers will and be like that for 12 to 18 months.

 

[Bfh_auto]

The general theme with .410 is that no matter what you try to do, the necessary components to reload it are never going to be cheap. I guess the reason is that the manufacturers know that even at a high cost people won't have to reload that much to break even over factory ammo.

Then there's also the significantly decreased interest by people regarding reloading .410 over the larger bores. Personally, I don't shoot enough 12ga to make it worth reloading, but .410 I absolutely do.

I guess I should start figuring out the budget to get started myself. I figure 209 primers are going to become more available and lower price than pistol or rifle primers will and be like that for 12 to 18 months.

209s have been available for decent prices considering everything.

 

[TTv2]

209s have been available for decent prices considering everything.

I doubt Ukraine is using shotguns much in combat.

And yeah, I think Ukraine has sucked up a ton of our primer supply. We can blame them for the continuation of the primer shortage.

 

[Appalachiannative]

Well I finally got everything set up. I must say I don't care for all the plastic on the new fangled die sets. Both my presses had all metal stuff on them. I tried using a charge bar with a #8 bushing and found lil' gun just seems to want to get clogged BUT it meters beautifully in my lee perfect powder measure once you adjust it properly. #7 1/2 shot gets stuck in the 1/2 oz bar I forgot to order an 11/16 oz bar but now I'm glad I did. So using the powder measure for charges and measuring out the lead by hand after many hours of adjustment I think I've got it. Heres the results

The crimps could look better but they're improving all the time. Now I know what posters ment when they said with the .410 wads you have only a cup. There's nothing to stop you from ramming them in too deep and ending up with a hole in the crimps. Just gotta have finesse and keep the crimps finishers adjusted just right. Using Fiocchi 3 inch hulls with CB5050-410HS wads and 11/16 oz Pb

 

[Barbaroja]

Nice! I’ve found that polishing the inside of the drop tubes helped prevent bridging of shot or powder. Glad to see your set up for 410 now