I just won a Taurus Judge in a raffle. (there were 25 different prizes, and I won the most ridiculous. There's a thread about it) I just picked it up today; it's the stainless model with a 6.5" barrel and a 3" long cylinder -- but don't use 3" shells because when the crimp blows out it will jam up the cylinder. So I can use 2.5" or shorter shells, or up to 3" brass shells.
Mostly I will probably shoot .45 Colts in it. I reload those already. I don't own a MEC shotshell reloader and don't intend to get one.
I've been reading up on .410 reloading. There's not a whole lot of info. Looks like I can get used hulls and cut them down and then roll crimp them, and they will get 1/4" shorter each time I reload them. Or I can get brass .410 shells and reload those over and over, but I'll have to find slightly oversize wads and shot cups because the walls are thinner than plastic hulls.
Do the hulls have to be resized? (I think not) Do I have to crimp them, or could I use a plastic hull with an overshot card and seal it with shellac?
Where do I find load data? I think a slightly faster powder like Blue Dot, AA#7, Herco, or WSF might be better than traditional .410 powders because of the short barrel. Is there special load data for handguns?
Maybe I should just buy one box of high-brass #4 field loads and one box of 00 or 000 buckshot loads just to try 'em (and get it out of my system) and then forget about .410; just pretend it's a funny looking .45.
Mostly I will probably shoot .45 Colts in it. I reload those already. I don't own a MEC shotshell reloader and don't intend to get one.
I've been reading up on .410 reloading. There's not a whole lot of info. Looks like I can get used hulls and cut them down and then roll crimp them, and they will get 1/4" shorter each time I reload them. Or I can get brass .410 shells and reload those over and over, but I'll have to find slightly oversize wads and shot cups because the walls are thinner than plastic hulls.
Do the hulls have to be resized? (I think not) Do I have to crimp them, or could I use a plastic hull with an overshot card and seal it with shellac?
Where do I find load data? I think a slightly faster powder like Blue Dot, AA#7, Herco, or WSF might be better than traditional .410 powders because of the short barrel. Is there special load data for handguns?
Maybe I should just buy one box of high-brass #4 field loads and one box of 00 or 000 buckshot loads just to try 'em (and get it out of my system) and then forget about .410; just pretend it's a funny looking .45.
