Author Topic: 410 Shotgun Reloading (Read 4331 times)

KRex · « **on:** February 01, 2012, 07:19:13 AM »

Good Afternoon Everyone,
Just Got my Son a 410 and was wondering if it would be worth it to reload ... 410 shells are a little $. I currently reload for my riflles but this would be different. Is there any Simple Hand-Operated Reloading Kits out there for a 410. It would be a Simple Low Volume operation unless it peeks his interest and he wants to shot More ...

Thanks

tacklebury · « **Reply #1 on:** February 01, 2012, 12:29:19 PM »

Haven't use them personally, but have been reviewed well by many.

http://www.pacotools.com/tool_discriptions

jhammer · « **Reply #2 on:** February 02, 2012, 02:46:23 PM »

Ballistics Products makes a roll crimping tool and some excellent components for the 410. You can find everything you need on their website. It is what i use and i love it. i get excellent patterns out of my singleshot

jake

omegahunter · « **Reply #3 on:** February 14, 2012, 06:29:09 AM »

I like my MEC 600 Jr. Mark V. Had problems with the starter crimp coming off on the hull, but MEC sent me an replacement and was on the loader in 3 days.

Pat/Rick · « **Reply #4 on:** February 15, 2012, 08:08:57 AM »

LEE Loaders on e-bay.

Couger · « **Reply #5 on:** February 23, 2012, 08:50:37 PM »

Quote from: Pat/Rick

LEE Loaders on e-bay.

Yes indeed, but the latest one I saw just yesterday on eBay was bidding at $90. It finally closed. In the past I've seen them usually go for $65 to $75.

If a fellow is determined to find a .410 Lee Loader it might take some time, but a directed or 'saved search' will alert you when a seller lists one!

UPDATE: yesterday on the 25th, a 3" .410 Lee Loader sold for over $127!
That's nuts. Wasn't that long ago the previous one was on eBay, either.

CHECK OUT EBAY right now!
For a .410 MEC 650Jr currently listed #110 830 989 694

Couger · « **Reply #6 on:** February 24, 2012, 10:24:28 AM »

KRex, if you have a few extra $$$, hope you have time to see that .410 press on eBay before it gets away.

Don Fischer · « **Reply #7 on:** February 27, 2012, 05:55:06 AM »

I wouldn't fool around with any hand tool for shotgun's. The Mec Jr Mk5 is to cheap and does a good job.

Couger · « **Reply #8 on:** February 29, 2012, 07:05:29 AM »

Quote from: Don Fischer on February 27, 2012, 05:55:06 AM

I wouldn't fool around with any hand tool for shotgun's. The Mec Jr Mk5 is to cheap and does a good job.

Why not! Lee "hand tools" do an excellent job (with already fired hulls) if a fellow doesn't have the room or opportunity to set up a press.

One thing a press IS ESPECIALLY GOOD FOR is when loading STIFF brand new hulls that have never been crimped! Trying to use a hand tool in that case is tough to impossible for making NEW well crimped shells. And a press in that case will indeed form excellent new crimps, allowing the reloader to exert all the force needed!

But MANY MANY shotgunners I know or have met started reloading (learning the VERY BASICS) with hand tools.

Quite a few I've met also used the Lee Load-all tools too.

410's from either method works fine.

steg · « **Reply #9 on:** April 22, 2012, 12:22:06 PM »

I started out with LEE handloaders, both 2 1/2 and 3" they did a good job, but since picking up a roll crimper, their collecting dust, they worked well in my Ducktown SXS, but I don't know if they would cycle through my Mossberg 500, the roll crimps just slick right through it...............steg

flmason · « **Reply #10 on:** May 14, 2012, 06:22:14 PM »

What would you folks who shoot .410 say it's limitations are?

On the one hand, for things it'll get the job done for... it clearly uses less powder and lead than the other gauges. But if you *need* more you're outta luck. Yet I hear of folks taking dear with those little 100 or so grain slugs, with what to me, sounds like .380 auto ballistics? (Ok, yes, an *arrow* will do the job, but seems unconventional.)

So was just curious, where do you folks draw the line on their use?

omegahunter · « **Reply #11 on:** May 16, 2012, 08:27:40 AM »

.410 is plenty good enough for CLOSE in work on bushytails, bunnies, and birds. Why on God's green Earth anyone would purposefully use one to go after deer, I don't know. But they do get it done given the right shot opportunity... broadside and CLOSE!

kid_couteau · « **Reply #12 on:** May 16, 2012, 08:57:16 AM »

I use to use 444 Marlin brass to load for 410
Worked ok
Only fancy tool I needed was a sizing die for 444 to fix it up once in a while.

Kid

tony212 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 31, 2012, 01:01:08 AM »

Don't fool around, get the MEC 600 you will be happy for years to come. I've had one for almost 40years and no problems. Keep in mind though that the small diameter of the 410 case is a little harder to reload then the bigger 20, 16,and 12ga, but with a little practice you will do fine. As for effective range, unlike other shotguns which use a 30" circle at 40yards as a standard for pattering and choke determination, a 410 uses 25yards. Hope this is helpful.
Tony212

dakotashooter2 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 31, 2012, 08:14:56 AM »

The other option is to borrow a MEC from someone. I know a guy that has a MEC but has yet to load any shells on it. I borrowed it a few years back and loaded about 1500 rounds on it giving him a few for the use of the loader. I wish I could get him to sell it. I've almost given up trying to find a 410 MEC on Ebay. Most are selling for only a few bucks less than new and the conversion dies for $80-90 which is more than new price from MEC.

Couger · « **Reply #15 on:** May 31, 2012, 08:50:50 PM »

Quote from: dakotashooter2

..... I've almost given up trying to find a 410 MEC on Ebay. Most are selling for only a few bucks less than new and the conversion dies for $80-90 which is more than new price from MEC.

Have you done a "directed search" for that .410 MEC press on eBay? (really simple to set up if you're familiar with that feature!).

If you can't find a .410 MEC press, why not do a directed search for a .410 Lee Loader?

They're slow and a pain in the A** to use, but they make good ammo if you're patient. Of course I'm thinking if I was using one, it would be for fewer than 100-200 rouds per year. And that's only if I used a .410 in the first place! (A Contender .45/.410 is what I'd likely have with me in .410 ..... ever! Only things I'd shoot/kill would be ruff grouse, rattler, or hoss with a broken leg).

What does a 25rd box of 3inch .410's cost nowadays?

Lee Loaders on eBay seem to average between $60-$70 for a good useable set.

dakotashooter2 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 01, 2012, 08:17:41 AM »

Finding a MEC for 410 on Ebay isn't the issue the price is. The used ones are selling for only about $10-$15 less than a new one. While the 12 and 20 ga machines can often be had fo $50-$60 bucks.

darkgael · « **Reply #17 on:** July 08, 2012, 11:30:59 PM »

Another vote for the MEC 600 jr. Perfect shells.
I have a Lee Loader also (and in 12,16,20)....it is slow and I have never been able to get the same quality shell from the Lee set as I routinely get from the MEC.
Pete

BKS · « **Reply #18 on:** July 11, 2012, 12:30:55 PM »

Well with 3" 410 shells at 15.00 a box, I think it is worth reloading. My Dad bought us a Pacific DL155 when we were kids to reload our 410s, I hope to get it mounted up and use it. The worst part of reloading 410 is it is really hard to get a pretty crimp, when I start again, I am going to switch to a roll crimp.

This guy is making Lee Loader Style reloaders for 30.00 new. I have no first hand knowledge of the loaders
http://www.d1162079.dotsterhost.com/index.html

jcb67 · « **Reply #19 on:** July 18, 2012, 11:29:46 AM »

I recently bought a Mec 600 Jr. Mark 5 20 ga. loader. How hard is it to change from 20 ga to 410 ga? I have found the die sets for around $70.
Thanks,
John B.

tony212 · « **Reply #20 on:** July 23, 2012, 04:32:29 AM »

In my experience, I have had MEC 600s since the early 70s, its not worth the time or money to change dies. Put the $70 towards a seperate press for each gauge.
Tony212