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Posted: 9/5/2008 1:46:28 PM EDT
I recently got a .410 shotgun for the kids to use and got a few questions about reloading for it...  Was wondering if I would recoup my equipment/tools cost, faster than say a 12ga perhaps, if I started reloading .410 shotshells because of their 'expense' at the local ammo stores. It costs a few bucks more for a box of these than the 12ga shotshells with twice the lead and it's killing me to pay that much for such a small round! Any ideas what I could expect to pay per round/or box to crank out 1/2oz #6 or #7 shotshells? Also, Would anyone care to give me any input on the MEC 600 JR MARKV 410 reloader I happened to see today??? It looked (and WAS) very cheap. I have no clue if MEC brand reloaders are any count and would appreciate any advice that may help me save some money. Not looking for a speed press here, just savings... I do reload rifle and pistol bullets currently but I am considering getting into shotshells as well... Looking for any tips or advice to help me get started learning about it.  Thanks guys!
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You'll save a ton on handloaded 410's and 28's. I'll guess the cost will be close to 50% of factory loads for .410. The hulls won't last as long as for 12 gauge, but I made a hull conditioner I can use in a drill press to spin the crimps and get them to close better after the third load. It's just a conical shaped piece of hardwood speared onto a mandrel made from a long #8 screw. MEC makes good loaders. I have three Grabbers for volume. Lots of folks load big bags of ammo on the single stage presses, too. I think a base sizer is a good idea, but you might be okay without that feature on the press, and a bench mounted tool is available. |
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I load .410 on one... I don't use it much because I rarely shoot .410. I've never bothered to figure up what it costs to load a box, but I know it's a heck of a lot cheaper than buying factory. I only load #9 shot with mine. The hull is small, so you can't get very many #6 shot into one. I could go look it up, but IIRC you only get around 100 pellets in a half ounce load of #6. Unless you plan on them using it for a squirrel gun, the #9 shot will work quite well at the distances the .410 is useful for. If you're close and have hulls, I'd be happy to let you use mine. It's set up for 2.5" shells and 1/2 ounce of #9's right now, but I have a 11/16 ounce charge bar for use with 3"...just haven't gotten around to changing it over yet. |
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Savings for loading your own .410 ga. are way better than buying off the shelf. _________________________________________________ Here is the calculator to find out how much it'll cost you to re-load........ www.trapshooters.com/reloadcalc.htm Aloha, Mark |
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You will save a ton of money reloading .410 and Mec is a very good brand. I would get the Mec Loader you are looking at without hesitation as long as you have reasonable expectations as to speed. When reloading for shotguns, you cannot interchange hulls and wads like you would with brass when pistol loading. If the recipe calls for AA HS hulls and you have old style AA hulls, you cannot use that recipe (and the wad it recommends). Also, every time you change components, you may have to change settings on the press. I would recommend that you stick to one brand of hulls (for .410, I suggest the .410 AA hulls) to avoid having to mak changes to your press. The Lyman Shotshell Reloading book is excellent and contains lots of good data as well. |
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Thanks for all the help and advice guys. I guess I am going to getting that MEC 600 jr and start learning to reload shotshells... I had an empty spot on the bench that was buggin me anyway!  The advertisment for this thing said it had no priming feature... Priming Feature: None (can be upgraded with the Mec 285 CA primer feed, sold separately) Can the shells be primed without this tool? Would a different tool be better?  I guess I need to buy that lyman book as well before I buy the wrong components. I currently have both Winchester super speed xtra 2 1/2" shells and some Remington 2 1/2" game loads and I can't tell by the markings for the life of me what sort of wads and stuff I would need to reload them... These hulls do not have the AA marking on them.  Got me some learning to do! |
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The Lyman book has color drawings to help you ID your hulls. AA hulls are made by Winchester and have a AA stamped on them. Once you get your hull identified, you look up the load you want to use (probably 1/2 ounce shot) and you will get several powder/wad combinations. I am confident that the MEC 600 Jr. has a priming station, put no primer feeder (you put the primer in the priming station by hand and then prime the hull). A shotgun loader is like a turret press, except it does not rotate. You just move the shell from station to station. |
As far as I know, the primer feeder is not compatible with the .410 press. They may have made some changes since I last looked though. I'm not sure why it wasn't compatible, I just remember seeing a disclaimer stating it worked with everything except the .410. IIRC, all of winchester's .410 hulls are identical. |
| Everything that I have read says that the primer feeder will not work on the .410 press (haven't contacted MEC about it). I have had my 600 Jr for 12+ years and haven't had any problems with it. The only thing that you have to watch for is that any shot larger than #9 has a tendency to bridge in the drop tube. I spray the tube with Hornady case lube and will shake the handle/tap on the tube when reloading #7 1/2 shot. I did the math last winter and am still able to reload .410 shells for around $4 a box. Yes the shot is higher now but 25 pounds will last you a very long time. |
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