.410 3" steel shot load

geeguy

I am loading some waterfowl loads in .410 for a friend (why .410? don't know). These will be 3/4 oz. #5's steel - 3" Rem hulls - 209 primer (federal or winchester)- I have AA wads so I hope these will work (7/16 style).

I would like to use an existing powder I already have which is:
2400
700X
800X
Clays

The only load I find for 3", 3/4 oz. is 16 grains of 2400.
Since this is only one box I'd like to use what I have. Any other recommendations? (yea, I know, use a 12 ga, but not an option)

Thanks

ddhotbot

out of the powders listed i would use the 2400.what you really need too check though is what size choke he is using.i wouldnt try too put 3/4 oz of steel number 5 shot through a 410 full choke gun.pressures would be bad.steel doesnt compress in the choke like lead does.

geeguy

ddhotbot:

I believe he is going to use an old Stevens bolt action .410 with a full choke. I hadn't thought about the compression issue (I am a target shooter and only have used lead in the past). I am assuming he is trying to "prove" to a friend that he can hit a goose with a .410, just from his dicussion with me.

Do you recommend 5/8 oz. with a full 16 grains?

ddhotbot

i really dont think shooting number 5 steel out of a full choke 410 is a very good idea no matter what oz load you are using.if he really wants to do this i would have the choke opened too cyl bore.hope this helps

SCOUT5

I use #2 or #3 steel on ducks. #5 steel will be like shooting #7 lead. His range will be really limited. He would be better off to use larger shot, less pellets but they may penetrate. If he is bent on using a 410 for some reason he needs to consider how many birds he is going to *. Something you may consider, if this has to happen, is using some of the heavy non toxic shot. There are several brands, I don't know where to buy it. If he just has to prove a point he can buy some 12 ga loads and cut them open for the shot. If you use #2 heavy shot then he could take a goose. The #5 heavy shot should work well on ducks. What ever you put in it he will have very limited range.

Good luck, he must be a really good friend.

Scout

geeguy

Thanks Scout5:

He is a good friend who doesn't reload. I told him I'd do it if he provided the shot. That's a great idea to cut open existing ammo for the small quantity needed. This guys a great hunter with a good dog, so I would assume (always a ?)he has thought about a wounded bird and this would be a very close shot. But I will pass that along.

Guess I'll make up one or two rounds and fire them myself before loading a full box. (not thru one of my good guns)

Again, thanks for the input.

dakotashooter2

I shot a few ducks and geese with the 410 when lead was still legal. That said because of my experience with steel shot I would advise your friend to put down the cash for a box of bismuth. The pattern density of the 410 beyond 25 yards gets pretty slim in most cases, combined with the poor penetration of steel it just sounds like an execise in futility. Also, steel shot requires a thicker shot cup to help protect the barrel. With a standard wad and full choke there is a pretty good likelyhood the barrel may get scored or worse.

dan55362

Correct me if I am wrong but a 410 is not legel for hunting ducks at least it isnt here in MN.

geeguy

Dan:

Unknown to me at this point in time. It was not illegal 35 years ago, but I haven't hunted since then. Don't know about now for ducks and waterfowl.

Not my problem since I'm not doing the hunting. However, since the first post a few weeks ago I relayed the information about a full choke and 410 steel and the person has desided not to try this, so problem solved.

Thanks to everyone for the information.

dakotashooter2

In case anyone checks back... Federal guidelines do allow for the use of the 410 for waterfowl. State regulations MAY be more restrictive.

PA Shootist

Besides load data, I was wondering if anyone makes a wad for the .410 for steel shot, I'd be surprised if so. Already mentioned, the lead-shot wads may not be thick enough to prevent the steel shot from rubbing through and scoring/marking the interior of the barrel. Or are they protective enough? Does anyone know? Has anyone fired steel shot in lead-shot wad and examined the fired wad to see of the shot rubbed through? Skeet guns tend to have relatively open chokes, so the choke squeeze and resultant prerssure build-ups may not be as big an issue.

A local skeet field where I shoot has been prohibited from using lead shot. The spent shot falls on state park land at some angles. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation of Natural Resources had been considering the spent lead shot issue for some time, and recently came down with the prohibition.

So I am very interested in any info on steel shot for small gauges e.g .410 and 28 gauge. Performance, components, load data, etc. It seems #7 steel shot is the smallest currently commonly available. That might suffice in larger gauges, not sure about .410, though the increased pattren densities might help here.