New to reloading - .410 2.5" shotshells

821 Views 15 Replies 11 Participants Last post by bladesmith, 4 mo ago

jcalamis33

Discussion Starter · 4 mo ago

I'm new to reloading and I'm a little confused on the recipes, as there seems to be so many variations. I'm using Hodgdon's Lil'Gun powder, #9 shot, SG410 Sporting .410 wads, some old Winchester 209 primers I got from a friend, and my pre-fired Sterling Hulls.

Hodgdon's Small Bore manual shows the following recipes, all with Chiddit hulls, Ched209 primers, SG410 wads, and #9 shot:
1: 14 grns powder, 200 grns shot, 10,000 PSI, 1260 FPS
2: 11 grns powder, 218 grns shot, 8900 PSI, 1055 FPS
3: 16 grns powder, 170 grns sho, 9400 PSI, 1390 FPS

The bottle of Hodgdon's powder has the following recipes, same Ched209 primers and #9 shot, all for 218 grns (1/2oz) of shot, but different wads:
4: Fed460SC wads, 13 grns powder, 11,100 PSI, 1200 FPS
5: Fed460SC wads, 13.3 grns powder, 12,000 PSI, 1225 FPS
6: RemSP410 wads, 12.8 grns powder, 11,400 PSI, 1200 FPS
7: RemSP410 wads, 13.1 grns powder, 11,800 PSI, 1200 FPS

To play if safe, I opted for #6, but using my SG410 wads, I could not load more than 170 grns (3/8 oz) of shot rather than 1/2 oz. Is this a good load?

Any and all suggestions for a first-time reloader would be greatly appreciated.

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

D McMillen

· #2 · 4 mo ago

To me, #6 load is short on lead. Should be able to load 218-225 grains.

painter*

· #3 · 4 mo ago

You might be better off with the MG410 wad if you want a true 1/2 oz load.

Reactions: 1

Steve Y

· #4 · 4 mo ago

D McMillen said:
To me, #6 load is short on lead. Should be able to load 218-225 grains.

The larger the shot size the less a MEC bar will drop by weight because of more air space between each pellet, it just can not pack as tight.
Steve

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painter*

· #5 · 4 mo ago

Steve Y said:
The larger the shot size the less a MEC bar will drop by weight because of more air space between each pellet, it just can not pack as tight.
Steve

The OP is not using #6 shot, He's using #9 shot. The #6 was a load number reference.

Steve Y

· #6 · 4 mo ago

painter* said:
The OP is not using #6 shot, He's using #9 shot. The #6 was a load number reference.

Opps, Thanks
Steve

patch44

· #7 · 4 mo ago (Edited)

You definitely need a different wad. The SG410 is designed for light payloads around 3/8 Oz.

Get some Claybuster wads as the Rem and Fed wads are basically nonexistent in .410.

RGuill96971

· #8 · 4 mo ago

In some hulls- Rio, federal, cheddite you can get 218 grains of #9 with the MG wad, and get a nice crimp. I am currently using Troy hulls with the MG and load 191 grains of #9 and they have good crimps. The federal hull will also load the same, but will need to make some adjustments.
Rio factory load is 1/2 ounce of #6 with the MG wad, but I never checked the actual weight.

jcalamis33

Discussion Starter · #9 · 4 mo ago

Steve Y said:
The larger the shot size the less a MEC bar will drop by weight because of more air space between each pellet, it just can not pack as tight.
Steve

Santa brought me a Lee Load-All 2 (I didn't want to push my wife for MEC). I bought 3d tools on ebay to load 410 and they work great. I bought a Lee perfect power measure. I kept adjusting the setting until I had a charge just under 13 grns. Once set, I dropped about 10 charges and weighed each, and there was no variations. I bought a 3d printed 1/2 oz shot bushing but as I mentioned, it was too much for the hull. I measured the shot by filling all the smaller powder bushings with shot and then measured what it held. The 110 powder bushing held exactly 3/8 of an ounce of shot. So I cut off the tab on the powder bushing, inserted it into the 1 oz shot bushing and it fit perfectly. I measured the drop of shot from the loader, and it came out exactly 3/8 of an ounce.

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jcalamis33

Discussion Starter · #10 · 4 mo ago

painter* said:
You might be better off with the MG410 wad if you want a true 1/2 oz load.

I'll give it a try. Ballistic Products wants $20 for 500 wads, plus $12 for shipping. Can you suggest another online site? I'm in NY and we have nothing in the stores.

twohigh

· #11 · 4 mo ago

You can also try some Claybuster wads CB5050-410HS which is a replacement wad for the Winchester, Remington and Federal wads. Where in NY are you located? I was able to find wads in a small shop near Coxsackie NY. I've use the CB wads in Win AAHS, Remington, Fiocchi, Cheddite, Rio and B&P hulls. With the Cheddite and Rio hulls there's actually too much room (dropping 218 grains/1/2oz) and I've had to use an overshot card to take up the extra space.

AHI

· #12 · 4 mo ago

I have loaded Cheddite hulls in the past.(don't have any at this time). Claybuster wad CB5050-410HS is the only wad that I have used in straight walled hulls. IMO that's the wad you need.I will recommend you get a bag or two from Graf & Sons. If you can not find them locally.

CLAYBUSTER WAD 410ga 1/2 oz (WAA410-HS) 500/BAG - Graf & Sons

For use in 1/2 oz Winchester, Remington, or Federal Hulls. Optimum load is 1/2 oz. 5 Bag Limit or Purchase a Case of 5,000 Here.

www.grafs.com

painter*

· #13 · 4 mo ago

jcalamis33 said:
I'll give it a try. Ballistic Products wants $20 for 500 wads, plus $12 for shipping. Can you suggest another online site? I'm in NY and we have nothing in the stores.

The only other source I know of is Precision Reloading, but they won't be any less expensive.

I'd go with the Claybuster wad.

fmuguira_2369

· #14 · 4 mo ago

I m loading 13 grs of Lil Gun with Rem hull and CB AAHS clone. To get proper stack height / crimps I ve had to bump my charge weight to 225-228 grs so slightly over 1/2 oz. Chronoed at 1230 fps. I d say load number 6 that you ve picked should work nicely if you can get the correct wad/stack height and 1/2 oz of shot.
Good Luck.

WisconsinBuckeye

· #15 · 4 mo ago

jcalamis33 said:
I'll give it a try. Ballistic Products wants $20 for 500 wads, plus $12 for shipping. Can you suggest another online site? I'm in NY and we have nothing in the stores.

Try Recob's Target Shop. They have a website.

bladesmith

· #16 · 4 mo ago

Number 1 - you don't ever ask or tell when you want to buy anything to do with the shooting sports, be it a gun or equipment. Just buy it. That means either you take care of the check book or have your own stash for said purchases. Women have their place in the world, but it sure as all he!! ain't telling men what they can or cannot buy.

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