410 Reloading!!! 3 inch 5/8oz Bismuth loads. Duck, Upland Smasher!!! 410 Patterning

[@tangobravo8889]

I have been shooting a .410 for 60+ years and finally started reloading (2 1/2”) this winter do to the cost and availability. I have been saving my AA’s for years and decided to count my empty hulls before I started reloading, 2,000+ 😂 I was flabbergasted! When I was a boy, my buddy and I shared a Stevens single shot .410. We slayed many a pheasant, rabbit, squirrel, and crow with that little gun. I generally shoot .410, 28, and a little bit of 20 gauge. I am seeing more and more people starting to shoot .410. I always said that when I retired I was going to get a really good .410 because I liked them so much. The week I retired I ordered a Beretta EELL Diamond Pigeon (been subsisting on hot dogs since then) and I really love that little gun. I have two of every extended choke Briley makes for the .410 and am always experimenting with chokes/shot. My shots while hunting are close since I shoot over two great GSP’s. I also have stakes in the water at 30yards from my duck blind. This isa great channel, I enjoy watching the .410/ 28ga videos. Why don’t you use the shot/powder bar on your MEC? Every time I want to be humbled I watch the little 10 rear old girl shoot skeet on KZbin. “10 year old girl shoots perfect round of skeet, Clay Target Life youtube”

[@tompuckett9937]

Great and interesting video!!!!!!!! You’re 100% correct on each gun patterning different. I have seven different makes of .410’s. From used hunting guns$110, to new o/u sporting clays model at $2,600! If I load a new load and pattern the load in all my guns, it’s like a draw poker hand. You never know what you’re going to get on the pattern board. Actually only one gun shoots 100% patterns at 35 yards. It a High Standard pump plain barreled full choke (0.024” constriction) gun. Paid $175 at my local shop. Most of my guns have screw in chokes. I have over 30 choke tubes to choose from when testing loads. The tubes run from +.009” to -.038”. Very very rarely do the tighter chokes shoot good patterns compared to a more open choke, especially when the velocity is over 1,300 FPS. With the $175 gun I’ve broken 50-65 yard sporting clays too many times to my amazement! They were loaded at 1,225 fps using alliant 300-MP powder with 11/16oz of #7 1/2’s. My latest project is to load a vintage found in an old Lyman #2 manual, 1,500 fps 1/2oz into a Winchester 3” CF hull using 4198 rifle powder! I’ve also found the actual bore diameters vary from gun to gun and sometimes vary from the same maker. That old $175 Special has a .404” bore diameter and an unusually long forcing cone for a factory hunting gun. One of my fun’s has a bore diameter of .413 diameter, it also shoots some great patterns with certain handloads. Thanks for all your small gauge videos, especially your .410 videos!!!!!!!!!!

[@joseph6738]

You definitely cover the bases. Good video

[@nickepton6676]

Keep the sub gauges coming 👍 not many people doing it with the same in depth pattern work that you are posting up .looks more like a 30yrd setup to me and would probably go with 6 shot if I was starting from scratch but as you have mentioned all this non toxic shot costs allot of $ . Keep up the great work 💪👍 all the best from the UK

[@nickepton6676]

Would be interested in some 410 slug reloading if that's your thing not seen much of that ether

[@bullet225ho]

I actually have 4 different slugs to work with in 410 and 3 in the 28. I'm putting data together on them as we speak.

[@nickepton6676]

Great to know 😎 look forward to the 410 slug loads 👍👍

[@horn410]

@@nickepton6676 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIGxZY2NjZd9rpo

[@curtiseggemeyer5681]

You did a great job , there are several of you on you tube that really get the point across. I own a H and R Topper full choke a Mossberg Over and under Silver Reserve II (not sure on those fixed barrels what they are) and a 410/45 Colt 10 inch TC Contender. I know I am old school, love those Contenders. I would assume 15 to 20 yards on that handgun, but good enough for close in ground squirrels or rabbits. You just cannot help but love the 410. grew up on a 183B Mossberg 3 shot bolt action loved that gun.

[@bullet225ho]

Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching. 410 has a place in a bunch of folks heart I think.

[@geoffbaumann1063]

Neat video, the results are about what I expected. Those 30 yard patterns with #5 Bis will kill any duck or goose that isn’t shot in the butt though. If you keep experimenting with bismuth some things that I’ve learned is it really likes buffer, fairly tight extended chokes, and a felt under the shot seems to help. There also comes a point where the pattern just completely falls apart rapidly and the smaller the bismuth the closer that point is. 40 yards is about the farthest I can get #5 to stay patterned well in my favorite 20 ga load for that specific size in bismuth. Good luck with load development, and good luck in the blind.

[@bullet225ho]

Thanks for the tips. I may get some buffer and give it a shot. Yeah, the 30yd pattern with the extended mod choke looks pretty good and lethal. I'm working up 7/8 and 1oz loads in 28 now. May get some buffer before I pattern those. Thanks for watching!

[@geoffbaumann1063]

I can’t wait to see those 28 gauge patterns.

[@rceme74]

I am in the progress of reloading 3-inch, 11/16 load of #6 Bismuth shot. Mostly I use it for partridge and pheasants. I have read many forums that its ok to use 2.5 wads in a 3-inch hull. All my instructions are for 3-inch is to use 11/16 load.

[@joseph6738]

I'm shooting the same load with 6s. I'm shooting .263 and 10 grains of buffer. Patterns very nice with the stock mod choke in the Stevens 555. Less shot but way better patterns and don't over choke it full choke blew out patterns

[@davidbrennan869]

Excellent video and advice. I’ve got a mossberg 500 ,410 pump , with full choke, so I will eventually have to use Bismuth or something like it as they don’t recommend using steel through a full choke 🤠👍

[@bullet225ho]

Bismuth may work great out of your 500. I'm not saying you should, but there are some folks that get a new barrel and have it threaded for choke tubes on the 500's. Open's up that little guns opportunities for sure. I'm actually on the lookout for a 500 410 myself. I haven't seen any around my parts lately. Hopefully a shop will have one soon.

[@davidbrennan869]

@@bullet225ho I forgot to mention, it’s a brand new hushpower, so i don’t think I can open it out because of the moderator ? 👍🤠

[@davidbrennan869]

@@bullet225ho o ,,, and thank you for your reply 👍🤠

[@kirkboswell2575]

Nice video.👍. Back in the '60's they did a lot of testing on 410 chokes. The end result was that open and full were the two chokes that made a measurable and consistent change in pattern. While other chokes do make a difference, there was more difference between guns than there was between the chokes. However, with time and technology things can change, so thank you for visiting this subject again. Personally, whenever the subject comes up, I tell people "Whatever your maximum range is with a 12 or 20, reduce that by 10 yards when shooting 410. Your pattern testing reinforces that. I also tell people that the best sizes for 410 are #6 and smaller. There is a gradually reduced efficiency with larger sizes until you get into buckshot where the 410 picks up again (close in defense). I keep thinking about bismuth. I believe you have stimulated me into actually doing something about that. 👍. Factoid - the 410 was developed by skeet shooters who wanted a greater challenge. So, yes, it's an experts gun.

[@captainobvious1721]

Love all the work you are doing with the .410 shells, especially 3" length. There is lots of information on 2.5" but not 3". Perhaps you could do a video on where you find fired hulls. They are hard to come by.

[@bullet225ho]

I'd love to find fired hulls too. All my 3" 410 either come from hulls that I bought new from factory and shot, or new hulls that I have purchased pre primed. You sometimes will find those in stock at Ballistic Products or Grafs.com. I'm sure there are other places that sell new hulls. But once fired....Find a clay or sporting clay range near you and 1st become a member and then search every stand and barrel for once fired hulls. I have found a few 410 that way, just a few more 28s and then 20's...majority being 12ga.

[@mallardcutter7209]

A 410 is a great gun if you only use full or extra full chokes in it. Briley makes great chokes for a 410. Believe me we REALLY appreciate the work that you’re doing with the 410. If you get a chance check out Casa Rizzini and his videos. He probably knows more about shooting a 410 than anyone. Lots of ammo reviews he does I know that you’ll like his videos. I’m subscribed to your channel as of today !! Keep them coming !!

[@bullet225ho]

Thanks a bunch. Thanks for subscribing. I'll take a look at his channel.

[@andrewlaughbon9468]

Been reading that others prefer 8 shot in bismuth .

[@bullet225ho]

It really depends on what your target is. Clays, doves...I'd say bismuth 8 does well. Pheasants, ducks.....I'd say 6 or 5s. Just a personal preference.

[@paulhagans2140]

Would like for you to show the loading of Win HS 2 1/2” tss duplex 410. I saw the patterns but the actual loading would be helpful. Thanks!

[@davidheath2772]

Also 410 powder works real good

[@bullet225ho]

May try some loads in 410 and 300 MP

[@DougPattengill]

Can you show us how to load a 410 cf 3” hull with a cb wad or do you think the wad fit is a problem

[@Cemitch1000]

Have you tried adding buffer to this load?

[@bullet225ho]

No I haven't. I'm leaning toward getting some buffer and giving it one more shot. Also looking at maybe 6 shot also to up the pellet count a bit.

[@jacobzirkle9153]

@@bullet225ho8-6 in bismuth is where the 410 shines

[@NatureMan50]

My single shot 410 full choke I received as a 12th birthday present with #4 Winchester Super X lead drops a turkey at 40 yards better than my 12 gauge

[@bullet225ho]

That's awesome. 410's are special. Some are ok, some are good and some are great. Sounds like you got a great 12th birthday present. Thanks for watching.

[@mvec646]

I have played the Bismuth 410 reloading game. I could get it to pattern very well. But putting it into practice in the field. I was not happy with the results. To me 410 is a TSS gun turns it into a mini 12ga. Love your videos sir hope you keep them up.

[@bullet225ho]

TSS is a gamechanger for sure in the 410.

[@joseph6738]

Mod choke Try 15 grains of H110. Better patterns

[@DougPattengill]

25 yards max for a clean kill with 410 !thats why its for exsperienced shooters

[@wagner24314]

try that load with a tps wad

[@bullet225ho]

TPS doesn't have the volume for 5/8oz. Also don't need the TPS protection as bismuth is pretty soft and won't hurt the barrel. Pattern wise it may help.

[@wagner24314]

@@bullet225ho #9 tss under youre bismuth say 20%

[@wagner24314]

@@bullet225ho .125 oz tss #9 and .5 oz bis #5 would be 139 pellets

[@curtiseggemeyer5681]

Not sure if you are a member of Buck and Slug reloaders on fb. I posted a picture of how I salvage the 410 hulls that have been roll crimped and they wind up with the burned ends common with a 410 , Not sure how to post a picture here to show you I think you are a member of that group but no sure. I only take off .020 thousands to clean them up.

[@eduffy4937]

What unicorn pooped out .410 hulls and wads? I need to go extort that sucker!lol

[@bullet225ho]

There out there.....but yes unicorn territory for sure. thanks for watching

[@eduffy4937]

@@bullet225ho what brand hulls and wads are you using here?

[@bullet225ho]

@@eduffy4937 Win AA-HS wads and Claybuster 410 wads

[@eduffy4937]

@@bullet225ho can the claybusters be used with tss as well if i mylar them?