4/5 oz shotload in 410ga

[mickbr]

real redneck-tech here fellas. Standard factory 410ga 3" 5x 000 buck load runs about 350 grains or 4/5 oz....

If I tip out the buck and add smaller shot size of choice is that ok?. Maybe a few grains less as I hear smaller shot size compresses or plugs the bore more and raises peak pressure a little?

20ga payload in a 410, a solution in search of a problem, but is the method sound?

[GunnyMack]

3" 410 normally uses a shot load of 11/16 oz. Granted most times the velocity is about 1200fps.
My 20ga 7/8 oz load I keep the velocity down around 1100-1150 just to help keep pressures lower for my 110yr old Parker.
My 12ga competition load is 24gr (approximately 13/16oz) is pushed along with a healthy dose of 700x for approximately 1350fps.
All this being said for arguments sake are all very close to the same shot load.
Your idea of dumping the OO for fine shot, if same weights you shouldn't have an issue. Work it out as grains since the oz weights are by volume.
I would also suggest the Small Bore Manual from Ballistic Products.

I load 3" 410s with Lilgun, 11/16 by volume of magnum 7¹/²s and shoot quite a few birds each season from my CZ sxs.
I also use 3/4oz in 28 , that load is only 1/16oz more than a 410, 7/8 in a 20 ga. The difference from 410 to 20 ga isn't a lot in velocity or payload. However I'm a firm believer that a 410 choked Full is normally over choked and depending on shot size can wreck patterns. Larger shot more open the choke is my preference.
The Small Bore manual has some buck and slug loads, one of which is a 'light game slug' a single .38 round ball with a special wad carrier that has claimed velocities of more than 2500 fps- I've shot a few of these loads and they are potent! Like deer killer potent.

[fourbore]

I know this is simply stating (or restating) the obvious, but I think it worth saying. Given adequate shot size and power, How a shotgun patters is all the counts. The ONLY reason for more pellets is to get a get a better pattern. If the OP can add 1/10 oz more shot, he then has to determine if this out patterns comparable price 410 factory ammo with 11/16. I have my doubts. I dont think I would belive it even if I read it.

I wonder if this is a Governor/Judge question?

[GunnyMack]

Just for the heck of it I took an empty Winchester 3" 410 hull and filled it to the top with 7¹/²shot. 485.5 grains of shot to fill it. That's 1oz plus 48 grains of shot or about 1/5 ounce.
So once powder in loaded, wad it's awful hard to get much more than 11/16 to 3/4 oz of shot into it.
With 14.5 gr of lilgun, a Winchester wad installed you can only fit 312.3 gr of shot into the hull to the case mouth. It can't be crimped, my 11/16 mec bar drops 267 grs of magnum shot. Pure lead shot would be slightly heavier.

[765x53]

Sounds like an expensive way to load bird shot.

[mickbr]

Sounds like an expensive way to load bird shot.

Not birdshot but yes expensive, redneck-tech is not always there to improve the economy of a project

[mickbr]

I know this is simply stating (or restating) the obvious, but I think it worth saying. Given adequate shot size and power, How a shotgun patters is all the counts. The ONLY reason for more pellets is to get a get a better pattern. If the OP can add 1/10 oz more shot, he then has to determine if this out patterns comparable price 410 factory ammo with 11/16. I have my doubts. I dont think I would belive it even if I read it.

I wonder if this is a Governor/Judge question?

I wont be using birdshot ,loading the heavier BB and special buckshot sizes, T etc, if I can find it. Its actually more of a pest shooting exercize. And its 1/8 extra. not 1/10...

And just to be clear, are you insinuating in advance if I report it patterns okay I would be lying? Interesting way to answer a fellas post..

[fourbore]

Whatever you did would be a lot easier to just buy new empty hulls. You can find plastic 3" or brass 2 1/2". Might even be a source for Brass 3". Brass having greater internal volume. I think to load you can get by with a hand priming tool and a low cost scale. Two items, short money. As you can gather from may last post I dont think weight is that important. Your experiment. You can pretty much load anything in a shell you want. That is from beans (which i did once in my youth) to very dense Tungsten T's (you want heavy?). I am sure the most and best published data is for plastic hulls.

I know this is getting way off the reservation, but old used H&R 20ga might be found for reasonable. Lots of factory ammo up or down from what you want. But. ... Hand loading is more fun. I spent my afternoon loading ammo.