Spreader Load for .410 H&R

[larryd1945]

We've got lots of snow and I've been on a "the way we were" kick of rabbit hunting by walking them up like when I was younger.  I took my father's old H&R .410 out and got a couple but were pretty shot up with full choke as shots were real close in brush.  Since I reload all my .410's in brass cases I got to thinking about it.  I use 2400, .450 card and 7/8 oz shot with glued 1/2 card at top.  I took some of the 20 gauge spreader inserts I got from BP, (plastic circle with a post that you insert in shot before you crimp 20's),cut them to fit the .410 case with a wad punch and loaded them over 3/4 oz in brass case.  Just as I've seen in the 12 and 20 it opened the pattern right up!  I'd estimate from shots in the snow that the pattern went from  full/ext full to almost an imp cyl.  Took them out rabbit hunting and worked great.  Got 4 rabbits in 4 shots in the snow and had a ball with Dad's old .410!  If you've got a full choke .410 and reload might give it a try.

[ruppster]

How do you resize your .410 brass? I have some and have not loaded it yet.

[larryd1945]

I curr use the CBC 2 1/2 inch brass and with rare exception you do not have to resize them unless I use them in different shotguns.  I have several .410's so I have color coded the base of the shells with markers for the diff guns.  I have probably fired some of these cases 20-30 times in the same gun w/o having to resize.  I originally made a resizing die from a pce of 1/4 steel with a drill and a lot of polishing.  I then found the neck sizing die on an old tong tool set for 45ACP was perfect.  that is what I use on the rare time I get a case that is a little tight.

I only use two diff powders for all my reloading in these cases.....herco and 2400.  I've never run thru chronograph but pentration and noise levels are pretty close to factory.  Same load for shot, bucvkshot and slugs. Birdshot loads do real well on rabbits and buckshot on coons in trash.

Hope that is helpful for you.

[ruppster]

Great info, thanks! I'm going to try to load 4 muzzleloader balls for some homemade buckshot loads.

[gcrank1]

I used to use 444 Marlin brass and had a FL sizer for it that came off a gun show table. I think I ended up not FL sizing when they got sticky by only turning it down far enough to let them chamber up again.
That was about 20yrs ago. I recently pulled Grandads IJ .410 out, threw some .444 based 7 1/2 loads in and it popped the can out at 25yd. right off. Full choke & pretty tight. Might try a speader.
Nothing fancy here, TP wadding over powder, the shot and another ball of TP on top, pressed in with a short dowel.
To carry in the field I just stick them up in the loops rather than down and carry spares in a lozenge tin.
I guess if I wanted to be more 'old timey' I would use black powder.