The American Beagler Forum

Can anyone tell me why 410 shells cost so much more than any other shell ?
Just purchased a box of 3" #6 from Wally world at just over 16 bucks a box ! Is it worth it to reload your own ?

I would like to know this also ,my wal mart doesnt carry remington . I can only get them from them in 6 shot 21/2 and they were $9.00

Spruce Ridge Beagler wrote:Can anyone tell me why 410 shells cost so much more than any other shell ?
Just purchased a box of 3" #6 from Wally world at just over 16 bucks a box ! Is it worth it to reload your own ?

They are more expensive because they aren't sold in nearly the volume that 12 and 20 ga shells are, the more they make the cheaper cost per unit. They are worth it to reload if you shoot in volume, a MEC Jr for .410 can be found pretty cheap used and they are the cheapest shells to reload for. It costs me less than $2.50 a box to reload for the .410 using magnum lead shot and Lil' Gun powder. Reloading shotshells is very easy, much easier than metallic catridges. Just follow the load data exactly and don't substitute components.

Thanks Dixiedog,
I had a loader offered to me for free last night with a bunch of shot, powder, primers and casings. I don't know what kind it is but it has twenty and twelve ga. dies so I will need to purchase .410 bore dies. It's funny how I was considering a loader purchase then my former father in law , who I am still good friends with , calls out of the blue to see if I want it.
Lucky dawg , lucky dawg !!

I shoot an awful lot of .410 shells because of my good aim . I also reload some of my shells . The problem with reloading .410shells is you can buy waddings but you can't buy casings .Some of the price difference my be due to using rifle powder instead of gun powder . If you use gun powder the shells won't crimp right . If you plan to reload your own you will have to decide if you are going to use 2 1/2" or 3 " it is quite a hastle to change from one to the other .A manual that tells how much powder & shot and which wadd to use is a must SAFETY FIRST . After you load some shells the $9 or $10 aint so bad .

I agree I gonna stick to buying them

flash wrote:I shoot an awful lot of .410 shells because of my good aim . I also reload some of my shells . The problem with reloading .410shells is you can buy waddings but you can't buy casings .Some of the price difference my be due to using rifle powder instead of gun powder . If you use gun powder the shells won't crimp right . If you plan to reload your own you will have to decide if you are going to use 2 1/2" or 3 " it is quite a hastle to change from one to the other .A manual that tells how much powder & shot and which wadd to use is a must SAFETY FIRST . After you load some shells the $9 or $10 aint so bad .

You can purchase new hulls for the .410 from http://www.Ballisticproducts.com the BPI multi hulls work quite well.

If you're crimp isn't right you should only need to adjust your crimp die, a tiny movement will make a big difference. Once your press is set you won't need to change it under normal use.


On the MEC loader I have changing over is quite easy, you just remove 1 bolt and move the press up 1/2" and put the bolt back in, then change your powder bushing to the correct one for the powder charge you are going to use. I generally don't even need to move the crimp adjustment to switch over.

Spruce Ridge Beagler wrote:Thanks Dixiedog,
I had a loader offered to me for free last night with a bunch of shot, powder, primers and casings. I don't know what kind it is but it has twenty and twelve ga. dies so I will need to purchase .410 bore dies. It's funny how I was considering a loader purchase then my former father in law , who I am still good friends with , calls out of the blue to see if I want it.
Lucky dawg , lucky dawg !!

Can't beat that deal. A set of dies is probably alot cheaper than a used press and the shot is a bonus.