Reloading Brass .410 shells

[ThaDave]

So I've been gone for a while but I am happy to say I'm back.

One of the things I've been having a lot of fun with is converting .303 into .410 shots shells, but I've run into an issue: after 3-4 reloads the case has swelled so much that it is almost too tight to fit into the chamber and makes it very hard to cycle in my old bolt action shotgun.

Do you masters of the reloading word have any suggestions about resizing the brass shotgun shells?

[too many things]

well best was is a Lyman super sizer. next is to trash the 303 and use 444 cases. I have used them for 10 or more times and they don't expand

[ThaDave]

I looked for .444 brass but came up really short in my area. .303 I've gotten from $2/20, $3/20& $15/20 (the $15/20 was at first before I really started shopping it around) so the .303 won by default because I could find and afford it.

[rking22]

45 Colt sizing die with no "guts" in it?? I will check if that might work when I get home.

[220]

My brass 410 formed from 9.3x74r got tight after about 6 reloads. A bit of measuring showed it was only the case mouth and about 1/4" of case that was the problem.
Base diameter of 30/06 & 308 family of cartridges is very close to mouth diameter of a 410. I ran mine 1/2" into a 308 die and it solved the problem.

[Catshooter]

I've used Mag-Tec all brass shell in both 410 & 20. When they need resized, I use the Lee shotgun loader. The old hammer style.

Welcome back to the forum.


Cat

[ThaDave]

.410 Lee loaders run $60-100 now that they are out of production. I'm really amazed that more people don't reload this caliber more; as expensive the ammo is to buy compared to the cost of reloading to me it's a no brainer.

[ThaDave]

Does anyone here have experience with RCBS custom die shop? How much did it cost was it worth it for you need? I'm thinking just a sizing die not a full set.

[kenyerian]

Try CH

[rbuck351]

IIRC I have been using one of the old 45acp sizer dies. The one that just sized and the primer punch was in the second die. It's an RCBS I think 1968 version. Or you could just get a 444 sizer die.

[ThaDave]

Try CH

What is CH?

[mac60]

What is CH?

They're a tool and die company founded by a guy by the name of Charles Heckman. I believe it's actually CH4D.

http://www.ch4d.com/


Top drawer stuff.

[kenyerian]

http://www.ch4d.com/products/dies/caliber-list?filter-col=caliber&filter=410 Sorry it took me so long to get back with you.

[kenyerian]

http://lane371.dotster.com/index.html Lane reloading makes some Reloading Hand tools that might work for you. They have a 410 resizing die for brass shells USD 15.00

[ThaDave]

I've looked at the Lane Tool and that looks like my best option.

Have any of you guys used any of these tools?

The fella I talked to at rcbs also suggested 4D but yeah wow you really pay top dollar for top shelf.

Rcbs said they could make one for me but that it'd be in the $200-$250 range for a single die (shut down a production machine retool cut the die shut it down again and set it back up for standard production again). But that if I wanted 50-100 it would be more reasonable. To me this sounds like a problem for the sales guys but I understand where they are coming from.

It just blows my mind that with how common and popular the Judge, Governor, various derringer Style Pistols are and the cost of .410 especially buckshot that more people don't have more interest in going this route.

[kenyerian]

I think that there is a lot of interest but no manufacture has picked up on it besides lane.

[tward]

I've had good luck using a Lee carbide 45 ACP die drilled out on top so you can size any length shell. Works with CBC shells and blown out 9.3x74R shells. I've also found that Winchester 410 plastic shot cups fit well in the CBC shells and converted 9.3x74R shells. I bet they would be a good fit in converted 303 British shells too! Tim :p

[ThaDave]

I think that there is a lot of interest but no manufacture has picked up on it besides lane.

Maybe we should start letting our voices be heard. Lol.

[ThaDave]

I've had good luck using a Lee carbide 45 ACP die drilled out on top so you can size any length shell. Works with CBC shells and blown out 9.3x74R shells. I've also found that Winchester 410 plastic shot cups fit well in the CBC shells and converted 9.3x74R shells. I bet they would be a good fit in converted 303 British shells too! Tim :p

Thanks for the input

[rbuck351]

Cut the top off or drill out the top of a 45acp die or use a very old RCBS die or if you are using 444Marlin brass just get a 444 sizer die. There's no reason to have something special made. You are only going to need the one die and you won't need it very often, maybe once every ten loadings using 444brass.

[sandman228]

I use mag tech brass 410 hulls ,ive tried 444 cases but they didn't work well In my Mossberg 500 I'm not sure how well it will work with 303 brass but I run the mag tech hulls through a 45 lc die .it resizes all but the last half inch or so ,seems to work fine for me

[skeettx]

And you can always push them fully into the naked 444 die by setting the lubed case on top of a #10 shell holder and running the ram up to seat the rim of the hull on the bottom of the die. Then take a push out rod and hammer and remove the hull from the die.
Mike

[nitro-express]

.410 Lee loaders run $60-100 now that they are out of production. I'm really amazed that more people don't reload this caliber more; as expensive the ammo is to buy compared to the cost of reloading to me it's a no brainer.

I thought so as well, bought a Mec Sizemaster and an adjustable bar, and did some reloading. Long story short, the press is now stored away. Loading 410 is fairly involved compared to 12 ga.

The LEE Loader, or Lane tools, are a decent way to go, not that much slower than a MEC, in 410. For 12 ga. any MEC is light years faster.

In fact with a few shop tools, like a socket and nail and such, not that hard at all.