Lee Loader For 410 Shotshell

[s1mp13m4n]

Hello all you wonderful folks. I was wondering, has anyone used the Lee Loader for the 410? They do not seem to make them any more. I also noticed that Lee does not make the Lee Load All in 410. When my dad died in 2015, I was given two shotguns. One is a double barrel 12 guage that was my Grand Father’s but it is not safe to shoot. When you take it off safety the left barrel fires. The other was bought from Western Auto in 1953. It was bought for my dad at eight years old. It is a Savage 220B. As far as I know, that gun was last shot in 1986 when I was ten or eleven. We shot it in a field at cans and plastic bottles. I am running the idea around in my head about loading for the 410 just to plink with it. I would like your thoughts.

 

[2152hq]

Loading 410 shotshells is no different than loading any of the others.
I load 410 on a single stage MEC reloading press. The process is the same as if loading 12's.
The primers used are the same #209, choose a correct powder, a wad and shot size and save your emptys.
Plenty of loading information available On-Line from the powder mfg'rs or other component makers.

No need to dream up a load. The 410 runs at pressures higher than any of the other common shotgun gauges because of the smaller bore.


I used to load 12 and 16ga with a Lee Load All,,even before that with the simple hammer and bash'em Lee tool when I was in my early teens..

410 factory ammo is expensive over what you can usually buy 12 and 20.
Reloading it can save a bundle and it loads cheaply as you use usually a powder charge of 12gr or so and a shot load or 1/2 oz or 9/16oz.
That makes a pound of powder and a 25# bag of shot go a long way.

They seem to get crazy prices for old Lee 410 bash'em tools on Ebay.
I'd look around for a used single stage MEC in 410.
Local gun clubs bulletin boards, on-line sporting clays/skeet & trap forums usually have For Sale sections.
Shotgunners are a fickle lot and change guns, gauges and other equipment often when clay birds refuse to break when shot at.
That stuff goes up for sale at that point.

The retail 410 shells 25/box seem to be in the 16$ to $20 range.
There are 2 1/2" loads (1/2oz) and 3" shells usually carry 9/16oz.
You should be able to reload them using your own hulls for around $4+ a box.

The Savage 220B is a good solid shotgun and was around for a long time.
They used the same action (the smaller 16/20ga size) for the Savage 219 break open rifle .22Hornet/30-30/32-20.
My brother started hunting with a 220B in 12ga when he was 12. Knocked the hell out of him.
My Dad insisted we had to use Peters HV 2 3/4 Baby Magnum 4s for Pheasants and Rabbits.
I was only observing at that point..
Ouch..

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

The Lee Loader in 410 comes in either 2 1/2 inch or 3 inch, but it will not do both! I sold my last 410 Lee Loader (2 1/2") about 9 years ago for $20 and included several hundred wads and Hulls. (I bought a 22-250 Lee Loader three days ago for $5) Most people don't have the patience to use one!

All brands of shot cups are interchangeable for 410, except the new Winchester HS (Red) wad (for a inside tapered hull) I recommend WW296/H110 for easiest loading! The info with the Lee Loader won't have data for Little Gun, 4100, or 28/410. The Ammo companies don't bother to make more than one type of 410 hull, so target and hunting hulls are the same (Winchester puts "Super X" on hunting and "AA" on target ammo. but the hull is identical for loading. Just remember the New AA/Super X "HS" (new is about 7 years old now) hulls are different than the older AA/Super X. (3" hulls have a HS version also)

For hunting squirrels, rabbits, and doves & such, stick with 7 1/2 shot 1/2 ounce at 1200 fps. That load will do! When you get good with that, you will be good with ANYTHING else! I shoot about 5000 rounds of 410 a year. Currently, I only use 12 gauge for Waterfowl (and SD) It is the most expensive to buy and the least expensive to load. One bag of shot will do 800 410 2 1/2" shells.

Ivan

 

[Skeet 028]

I have a Lee Loader on ebay right now. It is at a crazy price for certain. It may be worthwhile buying a good used Mec 600 Jr in 410 for slightly more money. The 410 does happen to be a bit harder to reload than the other gauges....mainly because it is so small. 410 ammo at plaaces like Wallyworld run from about 8 dollars to twice that. Buy some ammo and reload the ammo. You can save much more loading it than any other ammo(shotshell). 12 ounces of shot in evey box of 2 1/2 inch shells. Primers and wads are the same cost Certain powders are pretty cheap. You can load powders that ypou may use for some mag handguns 2400 used to be the standard powder but there are many others these days. I load a lot of 410 shells every year...in the range of 5 -10 thousand. Cases don't last very long. That little Savage is a nice little gun. The 410 is a perfect rabbit and squirrel gun for the average hunter... It is not a good gun for a beginning shooter though. For practice at shooting hand thrown clay targets use 8 shot or even smaller..for rabbits and squirrels I always use 5s or 6s. Ranges have to be kept fairly short though. Use 3 inch shells for the R&S loads...buy them ...not worth loading them really. Average person doesn't shoot that many 3 inchers. 2 1/2 inch 8 1/2s or 9s are my dove loads

 

[Yorkie Man]

I have loaded .410 shells with the Lee Loader and now own a Mec single stage because the Lee Loader was not worth the effort involved to produce a decent loaded shell.

If you are not going to shoot your .410 that much just buy factory shells.

 

[dannyabear]

Someone on ebay offers a copy of the lee loader, I think it may be called Lane loader

 

[SMSgt]

I have a Lee Load-All for my 20 Ga and a Mec Jr in 12 Ga. There is no comparison between the two. If one is loading only a few for plinking, the Lee may suffice. I got by with it with 20 ga, but if I were to need a lot of rounds, I'd invest in a better loader.

 

[oldsalt444]

Lane's has what you want.
LanesReloading.com

 

[oneounceload]

Skip the Lee entirely and get a used MEC Jr.

 

[darmtn1917]

Someone on ebay offers a copy of the lee loader, I think it may be called Lane loader

There are a few of these clones @ much cheaper prices than the Lee

 

[Green Frog]

If you are looking for economy, that train has left the station for 410 and Lee Loaders. Somebody sold a set of them on eBay for a big price and now any Lee Loader set in 410 is bringing big bucks. It would be much more economical to buy the basic MEC 600 Jr in 410 and you'll probably get better quality ammo to boot. About the only reasons to go with the Lee Loader would be for the challenge of press-less reloading or for space (or lack of it) constraints.

Froggie

 

[Skeet 028]

The 2 1/2 inch Lee Loader I recently sold on ebay brought more than 70 dollars. For a bit more you can find a nice used 600Jr. I have an old 600Jr 410 mounted on a walnut board that is 12 inches by 12 inches. I used to take it to work(Fire Dept) to load when we weren't busy. I just set it on a bench and reloaded. Takes up very little space and works infinitely better than a Lee Loader. I happen to have quite a few Lee loaders. Don't understand why shotshell Lee's sell so high. I sold a 3 inch Lee to a European ebayer a few years ago for well over a 100 bucks. 10 and 16 ga Lee loaders sell well also. The one type Lee Loader I do think is worthwhile is the old Target model loaders. I happen to have a few of them and they work well for their intended purpose. Hard to find complete though.