.410 Brass shotshell reloading?

[Paul5388]

Obviously, there were brass shotshells before there were paper or plastic, so they certainly are reloadable.

Brass 12 gauge shells were used in trench guns during WWI, because paper would swell too big for the chamber when it got wet and was useless.

Most I have heard of lately are using Magtech brass from Midway at about $12/box of 25.

They don't resize, just punch out the old primer and insert the new one.

.410 wads are trickier, as has already been noted. I was planning on cutting cardboard wads with a piece of old .45-70 brass, to use under a "power piston". Then I was going to use another wad as an over wad, glued in place with Elmer's glue or Duco (if I think I need a waterproof glue). I suppose a .45-70 seating/crimpimg die would roll the top a little for easier feeding.

Considering the price of factory loads, it shouldn't take too long to pay for the brass!

Oh, shot, Wal Mart has Win Super Speed 12 gauge for about $3/box and the shot out of those could be used a lot cheaper than a bag of shot would be. That's why I quit reloading shotshells, I can buy them as cheap as I can load 'em!

The Super Speeds can be reloaded with two .45 cal round balls and filled around, as a spacer, with the excess shot. At 25 yards they will print about 2" apart, if you stack the two balls on top of each other. You have to remember they are only field loads, but should do well in a "house" gun..