410 Reloads - Anybody tried using nickle or copper plated shot??

[BKS]

 I have a beautiful 870LW Wingmaster that was my first gun. I can remember many an afternoon sitting in front of my Pacific DL155 reloader reloading for it. and a bunch of squirrels, doves, and few rabbits it killed.

 Anyway I want to start reloading for it again, as shells are around 14.00 a box here. I was wondering if anyone had tried using the plated shot to improve the patterns any?

[Val]

Plated shot hardens the shot which results in better penetration on game. I've not heard that it improves the pattern.

[Graybeard]

Just use magnum shot and stay away from full choke and you'll get about as even an pattern as the .410 can deliver. I've never loaded anything else but magnum shot in my .410s.

[dakotashooter2]

Just a note of interest. I have a set of savage four tenners for my 20 ga. After some experimentation I found that a ex full turkey choke gives me a beautiful pattern. Better than some of the 410 single shots I have used. Just proof that it never hurts to experiment a bit.

[Frankn4]

I know this is a really old thread, but I am especially fond of the 410 and have been reloading the 410 for many years.

I copied this from a post on another forum:

"fiasconva wrote:
Before you give up on that 410 pattern some 2 1/2" shells in it. I've seen several posts about them patterning better than the 3" ones. I have no idea why but I'm sure some of the more knowledgable shooters here can tell you why. Good luck!"

Factory 3 inch shells are loaded with the same short wad/cup as the 2 1/2 inch shells. This leaves a very large amount, percentage wise, of the shot column unprotected to scrub against the barrel, deform, and fly erratically.

The 410 has a very "tall" shot column. The 410 also produces higher chamber pressures. When you have high pressure pushing on the bottom of that tall, therefore heavier per area shot column, you get deformed pellets that fly erratically.

When I learned, several years ago, that the 3 inch shot cup/wad was going to be discontinued, I bought all I could find, several thousand. I have loaded 3 inch Remington SP hulls, lower pressure charges, 3 inch wads, and 11/16, weighed, hard copper plated shot that would give patterns in a 25 inch circle at 25 yards that were very concentric and approaching 75 percent. They did, of course, still have the typical 410 denser centers and sparser fringes, but much, much better than factory loads.

I have loaded 2 1/2 inch hulls at chamber pressures in the 7000-7500 pressure range, 2 1/2 inch wads, 1/2 ounce, hard, copper plated shot that would approach 80-85% at 25 yards.

The copper wash on shot does not make it any harder. The antimony content determines the hardness. The copper wash actually smoothes the outer surface of the shot, making it rounder and therefore more aerodynamic, holds patterns better. The high antimony content helps it resist deformation from pressure and scrub.


 

[shotgunner]

I have also stashed a bunch of the old Remington 3" wads. I load copper plated 7 1/2s to hunt grouse and woodcock, with an old Winchester model 42 solid rib skeet gun. I get very good results. Now if I could find some data for a buffered load, it would be the best 410 hunting load ever. Shotgunner

[Couger]

I know this is a really old thread, but I am especially fond of the 410 and have been reloading the 410 for many years.

I copied this from a post on another forum:

"fiasconva wrote:
Before you give up on that 410 pattern some 2 1/2" shells in it. I've seen several posts about them patterning better than the 3" ones. I have no idea why but I'm sure some of the more knowledgable shooters here can tell you why. Good luck!"

Factory 3 inch shells are loaded with the same short wad/cup as the 2 1/2 inch shells. This leaves a very large amount, percentage wise, of the shot column unprotected to scrub against the barrel, deform, and fly erratically.

The 410 has a very "tall" shot column. The 410 also produces higher chamber pressures. When you have high pressure pushing on the bottom of that tall, therefore heavier per area shot column, you get deformed pellets that fly erratically.

When I learned, several years ago, that the 3 inch shot cup/wad was going to be discontinued, I bought all I could find, several thousand. I have loaded 3 inch Remington SP hulls, lower pressure charges, 3 inch wads, and 11/16, weighed, hard copper plated shot that would give patterns in a 25 inch circle at 25 yards that were very concentric and approaching 75 percent. They did, of course, still have the typical 410 denser centers and sparser fringes, but much, much better than factory loads.

I have loaded 2 1/2 inch hulls at chamber pressures in the 7000-7500 pressure range, 2 1/2 inch wads, 1/2 ounce, hard, copper plated shot that would approach 80-85% at 25 yards.

The copper wash on shot does not make it any harder. The antimony content determines the hardness. The copper wash actually smoothes the outer surface of the shot, making it rounder and therefore more aerodynamic, holds patterns better. The high antimony content helps it resist deformation from pressure and scrub. 

I agree with most of Frankn4's comments, plus many .410 shooters and reloaders forget that a .410 is best used with shot probably smaller than #6!  Copper or nickel plated #8's or #7 1/2's - 1/2 to 5/8th of an ounce -  are probably the best payload to shoot from a .410 on game up and including cottontails, squirrels, and 1 1/2 to 2-pound fowl (maximum).  I agree a .410 is usually a 25-yard proposition, usually for an 'eggspurt' or very experienced scattergunner to get BEST RESULTS!

Plus it beggars me why so many shotshell reloaders think a one-piece plastic wad is the ONLY way to reload a shell?  I first learned to load shotshells for my singleshot M370 .410 TTinnchester, with my pops supervising my use of the Lee Loader he bought my sister and me.  We used card and fiber-wad wads!  Ballistic Products still sells components.

As for a buffered load, I bet a reloader could add 5-10 grains of granulated plastic filler to the shot with NO real increases in pressure!  But with that teenie tiny bore I really wonder if the trouble to do so would be that beneficial??  But plated or "magnum" smallish shot (high antimony content like already mentioned) should offer easist and quickest results.  Twas me I'd use 3-inch hulls with 2 1/2in data (or 5/8ths of an ounce) approaching 1200fps  for best results!! Don't be afraid to design your own "wad column" either.

[Couger]

..... I have loaded 2 1/2 inch hulls at chamber pressures in the 7000-7500 pressure range, 2 1/2 inch wads, 1/2 ounce, hard, copper plated shot that would approach 80-85% at 25 yards.

The copper wash on shot does not make it any harder. The antimony content determines the hardness. The copper wash actually smoothes the outer surface of the shot, making it rounder and therefore more aerodynamic, holds patterns better. The high antimony content helps it resist deformation from pressure and scrub.

I'm not a .410 "fan" nor aficianado, but I bet Frankn4's results would be interesting to duplicate and not all that difficult!  Nor different - if one was careful and remembered that adage "less is sometimes more"

If a reloader really needs to have a plastic sleeve around his shot, Ballistic Products sells 'Mylar (wrap) Sleeves" (pieces of plastic squares /recangles) for rolling onto a shot column for 10 or 12 or 20 gauge.  With an E-acto knife and metal straight-edge could be cut to fit 5/8ths of an ounce of .410 pellets.  O-t-O-H, if I never needed shots beyond 20rds with the .410 (at squirrels for ex) or never anything flying, I'd forego that plastic sleeve.

[BKS]

Article in last months Guns Magazine on loading for the 410.
 
Got to order me some nickle plated 7.5s