Saving money, Reloading 410 shotshells by hand. Is it worth it? Time will tell…

Trying my hand at reloading the tiny .410
Shotshell.
Using Winchester and Cheddite primers, Winchester 296 powder, Winchester and Remington Hulls, claybuster wads, and #6 shot.
They are more time consuming than 20 gauge or 12 gauge because I have the presses for those.

[@fanbatcher]

This would all be unnecessary if ammo manufacturers charged a reasonable price for .410 that truly reflected raw material costs to produce. Logic dictates.410 should be the cheapest gauge and not the most.

[@crankygunreviews]

Logic based on how much material is used, yes, but it’s supply and demand. They don’t make a lot because people don’t buy a lot. It costs a lot for a manufacturing plant to swap equipment and does over to another caliber, and they may run .410 2-3 days a month, where they run 12 gauge and 20 gauge 12-15 days a month (for example purposes)

[@rfswitch4530]

Late to the game here, but 1 year of time travel later, 28 guage is on every shelf to include Walmart and not a single brick and mortar store has .410. Future us have to pay around $20-$25 per box.

[@crankygunreviews]

@rfswitch4530 .410 around me pops up occasionally. But it’s like $19-23 a box usually. Reloading is so much better but the hot loaded .410 shells only last a couple reloads too

[@Timerman765]

The system is rigged guys

[@mikewright2917]

I understand supply and demand but I can’t buy 28 ga for 1/2-2/3 the cost of 410 and I only know 2 people that own a 28 ga but almost everyone I know has a 410

[@horn410]

In Russia, a 410 caliber cartridge costs 30-50 cents. I don't buy them in the store myself, I assemble them, I have a lot of components, and it costs 10-20 cents.

[@crankygunreviews]

I can assemble them for about 25 cents a round. Less with reused hulls

[@horn410]

@@crankygunreviews I really like to equip cartridges!!!

[@rbm6184]

Shotshell crimps don't have to be perfect. They just have to hold the shot in the shell. Even on my LoadAll 20 gauge press the crimps aren't great but the shells feed and shoot fine and the shot is contained by the crimp. They still have knocked down dove and quail and clay targets just fine. Thanks for sharing.

[@crankygunreviews]

Thanks for the vote of confidence. Yeah, I know they don’t have to be perfect, but I always try to make them the best I can get them. I prefer crimps to glue like a lot of guys do, just because they are more like a factory load

[@TriebsOutdoors]

But crimps do need to be consistent if you want your shells to be consistent. I have chronographed alot of shotshells in my years reloading and a person cant argue with the results. Crimp inconsistencies on shotshells can easily cause 200fps and upwards of 300fps variances. If you shop around you can find a old Mec Jr for $50 and the entire conversion kit for $100 or less.

[@crankygunreviews]

@@TriebsOutdoors I’ve got a roll crimper, and my shells are way better now

[@tonyv1695]

so enjoyed this video! your passion for reloading comes through loud and clear. just stared using a .410 o/u for skeet and loving it. (with the price if .410 shells i don't know how anyone who doesn't reload can afford it.) godspeed!

[@crankygunreviews]

The .410 is def pricey. I bought a case of 250 rounds last week, was $180. I split it with a buddy. Outrageous. $0.72 a round 😳 I bought it because I know I can reload it, and still don’t pass up .410 when I can find it.

[@robertswyers4420]

If you can pick up an Arbor press or make a simple one arm mechanical press would surely save your arms for compressing the shells more uniformly....maybe a pair of welding 'C' vise grips ?and a wooden dowel for pushing the wad onto the powder.One other thing is to cut a rifle/pistol casing to size to hold exactly the charge of powder required would save a ton of time....good luck with your adventure cheers

[@crankygunreviews]

I bought a roll crimper, that will fix my issues all together

[@PlayingWithFireOutdoors]

I went to a local hardware store 71$ Cdn for 25 rounds, so it is worth it here. Thanks!

[@crankygunreviews]

and really easy with simple tools!

[@Lawraven]

Turns out you can use Matt's Bullets .41 cal hollow base wad cutters as perfect .410 slugs. Cheap and they fly perfect and straight with 16 grains of 300-MP powder. Give them a try. Just use a nitro card over the powder, a 1/2" fiber cushion wad and then as many nitro cards as needed to get the column height right for your hull.

[@crankygunreviews]

I’ve made a few with 2 balls of 000 buck, and a 9mm hollowpoint in a wad and out of a shotgun they fly pretty straight even without rifling

[@billypirtle1443]

I have 3 of these mec 600 jr one set up 410 one 12 and one 20 I run numbers 6 shot in all my loads been doing this since 1980. All my hand guns and rifle loads I reload also been set up for years now.

[@crankygunreviews]

Yeah, since I made this video I got the same setup. 3 mec presses. My 410 press doesn’t alway crimp the shells right, so I now use overshot cards and roll crimp just the .410 shells. Need to tinker with it more I guess

[@naughtystep9856]

That’s a lot of work! My dad & brother are like you. If they don’t have an exact tool, they can make something that works. I’m more mechanically declined myself. Looking good!

[@Mark-ug6fx]

Very interesting my 410 Iver Johnson double barrel is expensive for ammo so definitely looking to do this,in South Africa

[@crankygunreviews]

Easy to do with some hand tools

[@baconvalley3577]

I have a variable charge bar , once you calibrated it you could use it to fill the funnel . Great video, thanks.

[@crankygunreviews]

I have since got a Mec 600 for 410

[@lewismitchell5367]

FWIW a number 5 shell holder for a Lee priming tool fits a 410 shell. I can prime a bunch of hulls while watching Utube that way at about 20/ minute. The advantage of the Lee tool is I can feel a loose pocket on a hull and examine the pocket. I already have the tool for reloading centerfire cartridges. I admire the way you set this up to use what you have.

[@crankygunreviews]

Thanks! I have since bought a Mec 600JR for .410, and it is a lot faster especially at volume reloading. But this was more of a "if I could" set up, and it worked great for what it is.

[@lewismitchell5367]

I just took another look at that, this only works with the all brass shells that take large pistol primers. Sorry it's been a few years since I loaded some for my son.

[@crankygunreviews]

No problem, thanks for the clarification @@lewismitchell5367

[@danielpollard3969]

Your not to bad on the crimp. Hey Rome wasn’t built in a day. Good luck and be careful. Your friend Dan from Jersey, “Defending the 2nd”🗽🦅🇺🇸👍

[@crankygunreviews]

Thanks for the encouragement. I think I will get the hang of it. If not, I can always do what everyone else does and use an overshot card and Elmer’s glue or wax. I try to do it the best way possible though.

[@maximous9993]

Very relaxing to watch.

[@crankygunreviews]

Thanks :)

[@joemorganeatmyshortschannel]

That's a pretty good setup

[@crankygunreviews]

It’s not horrible. I want to make a stand for the reloading components, but this works just fine for now.

[@skiphinson8620]

Why cut them to 2.5? I’ve loaded 3” .410s for decades on the bench by hand similar to your method. The only time I cut a shell shorter is if the crimps split too much to be useable. Most often I put an over shot card over the shot and drop a few drops of Elmer’s glue in to seal up. It work fine that way for a break open shotgun but not so much for a repeater.

[@crankygunreviews]

Because if I make them into 2.5” shells I can shoot them in all my guns- the Bond Arms derringer, the Governor, my AR410, Mossberg 500, and NEF break action.

[@killpidone]

Wish 410 got more love, my Henry axe is hungry

[@crankygunreviews]

I love .410’s

[@christinamoneyhan5688]

I feel the same way about the 16 gauge.

[@user-jk2er5vo2y]

Would be so much easier and quicker to just get a 410 die set. Have loaded many 410's and the press works fine.

[@crankygunreviews]

Yeah I know, but I don’t reload that many of them, I shoot a lot more 12 gauge and 20 gauge so that’s why I have reloading presses in both those calibers

[@beardedbowhunter6139]

I bet there is a socket in everyone's set that could work in the place of your specialty bicycle tool

[@crankygunreviews]

I’m sure they’re is! Just happened to be something I had lying around

[@Kaelland]

But it's definitely not the 10mm socket.

[@crankygunreviews]

@@Kaelland lol nope, couldn’t find mine 🤣🤣

[@CREMEPOD]

awesome video.

[@crankygunreviews]

Thanks for the visit!

[@Hollywood41642]

Looks like 4 hours per box, plus shot, primers, wads and casing. Its only 10.99 for a box of Estate's that's .44 cents per round, 12.99 per box of Monarch or 14.99 for Federal Top Gun. You can load them cheaper then .44 cents per round ?. Sportsman's Warehouse, Academy Sports, Ammoseek and more. All you want to buy..

[@crankygunreviews]

4 hours per box? No, I can load them much quicker than that- also, all those places you mentioned do not ship to me. So I’m stuck paying between $17.99-21.00 for 25 rounds, and I can reload way cheaper than that. I can load for about $0.24 a round in .410

[@crankygunreviews]

Also, I bought a Mec 600JR and put .419 dies on so I can load a round in like 30 seconds now.

[@Hollywood41642]

I converted my 600 jr from20ga to 410 for my 3" shells and have a Mec 9000GN for my 2.5 shells.with Win296 13.4grs for the 1/2oz loads and 15.4 for the 11/16 loads. Got some #9 TSS and TPS wads on the way gonna try to make some 410 Turkey loads.. Im not paying 10 bucks a round for factory loads. Keep the vids common. @@crankygunreviews

[@crankygunreviews]

@@Hollywood41642 I’m due for some more reloading vids

[@bkailua1224]

Cheap but if you shoot 300 or 400 rounds a week in .410 skeet practice it would take forever.

[@crankygunreviews]

I’ve since bought a Mec for reloading .410

[@edwardkawecki8101]

WOW! That's over $3600 just in .410 ammo a year just in practice. Must be nice to have bkaiua1234 money!

[@crankygunreviews]

@@edwardkawecki8101 lol

[@crazymike4894]

Lee makes dippers you can figure out your charge with their dippers. 😊

[@crankygunreviews]

Yes, I know- I have those too. Weighing is generally more precise though

[@crazymike4894]

@@crankygunreviews i’ve been working off of a Lee Press for a while I just got me a mec 650 And I’m wondering how the size my brass so now I’m gonna have to get the mec super sizer 😵😣

[@crankygunreviews]

@@crazymike4894 the 650 has a resizer for shells on it doesn’t it?

[@exquisitehomes]

Thanks for the great video. Gives me a lot of ideas too. Do you have links to the resizing die and the parts you purchsed? Thanks

[@crankygunreviews]

Just search eBay you’ll find them

[@Clarence_13x]

Get well soon bro

[@mr.kenslifeshop4034]

I want to reload for 10 six shot and 7 1/2 does it matter what brand shot I get can I just go out and get some number six steel shot for some turkey rounds or bigger game?

[@crankygunreviews]

Steel shot requires thicker wads, because it can damage your barrel with steel on steel contact. Steel is also not as dense as lead. If you are in CA or another state that requires steel shot, find the correct steel shot wads, or use lead or tungsten shot.

[@haydenbretton2990]

Most people know about a 410 cartridge, but what we really want to know is the recipes of powder loads and the names of powder we use. "They say, SP3, but say nothing about the powder weight load. Does anyone anywhere tell of the "Amount of grains of a named powder you load in a 410 shotgun cartridge", are powder weight loads a secret?

[@crankygunreviews]

Look up “Manny CA”- he does how many times can you reload this hull videos and talks about his powders. We don’t usually talk about it much because there’s a very fine line between what is safe and what is dangerous when reloading. Also, KZbin is stupid about what’s posted lately, and I don’t want my channel shut down. I will say I use “lil gun”, “296”, and “410” powders but primarily “296” because that is what was available when I started reloading. You can find load data online from powder manufacturers or better yet, but a load data book. That way you have tested loads that are proven not to be dangerous. I bought a book, did a lot of reading, and used loads that Manny CA did on his channel. Reloading is an art.

[@crankygunreviews]

@@haydenbretton2990 hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-data-center Start here

[@michaelconvey8017]

@@crankygunreviews really depends where you are and can find every thing for the load you want

[@crankygunreviews]

@@michaelconvey8017 very true

[@christinamoneyhan5688]

@@crankygunreviews, sorry to tell you but ManneyCA is not on KZbin anymore, too much grief. He left for another platform but, I-can not find him. He had a great channel.

[@noahway13]

Why did he shorten the shells? Will he be able to reuse the shells he just loaded or would he have to cut them also? Could you add a plug or something at the top so you wouldn't have to crimp it?

[@crankygunreviews]

I cut them because I have more firearms to take a 2 1/2 inch long shell than ones that take a 3 inch shell. So if I trim them down, I can use these in my smith and Wesson governor, and in my bond arms, Derringer as well.

[@relybiggunsbigguns5478]

Whats the final cost per shell?

[@crankygunreviews]

$.24 approx

[@edwardkawecki8101]

20 cents ea. for me.

[@Ouachita.Mule.School]

Why don’t you just do the felt caps instead of the 6 point crimp

[@crankygunreviews]

I wanted to try crimping them. I actually just bought roll crimpers.

[@jayclark2077]

Look! See! Just take one of these, and one of those, measure something quickly, then “Shazam!” There’s your new room addition! Nothing to it. This is good if you already know all this and are speaking into a mirror! Nevertheless. Thanks.

[@crankygunreviews]

Dude, I was trying to show that you don’t need expensive equipment to reload these shells. I watched what other guys used and just looked around my garage till I found stuff that would work,

[@spu3]

Great video! I handload .410 with a Lee hand loader. I like how your funnel fits into the shotshell. Who makes that?

[@crankygunreviews]

It’s a coughlin brand- buy it in the camping section of Walmart for filling lanterns and stuff with white fuel

[@spu3]

@@crankygunreviews EXCELLENT! Thank you! Wally World is 5 minutes from my house .... 🙂

[@crankygunreviews]

@@spu3 No problem, I look for good stuff to repurpose on the cheap :)

[@Mark-ug6fx]

It will go in easy

[@crankygunreviews]

Yep

[@MrMattMohler]

I just bought my son a 410 gauge shotgun, apparently ammo is hard to find... Whats the difference between 410 bore and 410 gauge? I see bore ammo but the box says gauge. Am I asking a dumb question? 🤔

[@crankygunreviews]

Technically .410 is a bore not a gauge. I think some people use them interchangeable.

[@MrMattMohler]

@crankygunreviews I'm going in blind.... Of course I grab a gun that ammo is apparently hard to find... My luck... 🤷‍♂️

[@crankygunreviews]

@@MrMattMohler somewhat hard to find. Not that bad.

[@edwardkawecki8101]

That is not a dumb question there is no 410 gauge proper term is .410 caliber or .410 bore which is 410 thousandth of an inch. If you want to compare it in gage size it would be approximately 67-68 gage.

[@michaelconvey8017]

80.00 gets you a inline reloader

[@crankygunreviews]

I ended up getting a Mec press, but not everyone has the cash. the point of this video was to show how easy it is to reload with "junK' you have lying around your garage.

[@michaelconvey8017]

@@crankygunreviews he spent 40 on parts granted thats cheap but it takes a while even with a single stage

[@crankygunreviews]

I wanted to get one of those Lee reloading tools with all the de-primer, primer, resizer, etc but they were like $200 for that, and I spent about $200 on a Mec press and the .410 dies. @@michaelconvey8017

[@curtisdowling3773]

Not bad .

[@crankygunreviews]

Thanks. I’ve since got a Mec 600 Jr set up for .410 and have a roll crimper as well. If you roll crimp .410 it only lasts maybe 2 reloads then the top of the hull is junk.

[@susanissajoke]

id say its worth it when theres time this stuff is almost nonexistent

[@crankygunreviews]

Agree. The hotter loads chew up the shells though, they can only be reloaded a couple times, especially when you get into roll crimping them.

[@robertswyers4420]

load fer brass shot shells Gene243 on you Tube has uses for Lee dippers?

[@crankygunreviews]

I’ll look into it

[@naughtystep9856]

Forgive my being nosy, but did you hurt your left arm? 😳 Looked like a hospital bracelet on your wrist. Hope it’s better soon.🙏🏼

[@crankygunreviews]

Yeah, I had a freak fall in my garage… was moving a mower deck, and my foot got caught on something, I fell backwards onto my mowing deck, and had a pretty big nasty gash on the inside of my left elbow. Had to get 15 stitches. Thanks for noticing, it’s getting much better.

[@naughtystep9856]

@@crankygunreviews Ow! Glad you’re on the mend! 👍🏼

[@crankygunreviews]

@@naughtystep9856 yeah it definitely was not fun…

[@saltcreekammo]

You could've just bought a roll crimp tool and made it way easier on yourself.

[@crankygunreviews]

Yeah but I wanted to make it with stuff I had first, and I like the MEC crimper. I swapped out the 20 gauge crimp tool with the 410 crimp tooL for now

[@saltcreekammo]

@@crankygunreviews either way, you're winning... I'm over here like a derp loading 410 with 444 Marlin brass. It actually works pretty good in my Rossi and Judge. Would k!ll a man for some plastic hulls though!

[@sog4646]

​@@saltcreekammofrom my experience, i seem to get a better crimp on the green remington hulls than i get on the red winchester hulls. How do the 444 brass work out for you?

[@gregtimmerman6315]

​@cpprankygunreviews

[@crankygunreviews]

I agree green Remington are good hulls

[@tahairaq6350]

How can I get a tool to show wrinkles 10:52

[@crankygunreviews]

I bought it off eBay. It’s a pre-crimper for a MEC 600JR reloading press

[@tahairaq6350]

@@crankygunreviews

[@tahairaq6350]

may I get the link

[@crankygunreviews]

@@tahairaq6350 www.ebay.com/itm/312780281602?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=wqqvNguUTum&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=bGP-reUBS-y&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[@johnbailey9682]

That with a new hull haaa good luck with that .

[@crankygunreviews]

Good luck with what? I’ve been able to reload all of the shells I’ve shot- I have added my pre-crimper and crimper to my 20 gauge press so finishing them is a lot easier

[@johnbailey9682]

@@crankygunreviews how many bran new hulls have you done ? Would like to see that in your videos.

[@crankygunreviews]

@@johnbailey9682 none- no one will ship them to my state

[@johnbailey9682]

@@crankygunreviews what state do you live in .

[@crankygunreviews]

@@johnbailey9682 Massachusetts

[@enigmasunshine4554]

Why you have to cut down the length to 2.5" ?

[@crankygunreviews]

Fits in more of my guns- mainly I wanted to reload these with 000 buck for my Governor, and it only fits 2 1/2” shells

[@enigmasunshine4554]

@@crankygunreviews , makes sense, I have a Judge and it's chambered for 3"

[@crankygunreviews]

@@enigmasunshine4554 yeah, I can’t get the judge in my state unless it was transferred in a while ago. Weird rules… Governor is easy to get and they’re very well made

[@enigmasunshine4554]

@@crankygunreviews , That sucks, they are so much identical firearms and Judge even comes with a safety key

[@crankygunreviews]

@@enigmasunshine4554 the Governor is a six shot and can shoot 45 ACP from moon clips so I’m ok

[@keystonecountryboy]

roll crimper from bpi

[@crankygunreviews]

They won’t ship to my state