Powder for loading 410 shells

[Winky78]

Hi all
Very new to loading and just asking probably a silly question so please be gently
Ok now from all the data I can find AR 2205 , Hodgdon little gun and Win 296 seem to be the main players in the 410 world in Australia anyway.
Now my question is these the powder as we all know are kinda like unicorn teeth to find which has forced me to look at other options.
Something I have found is that all three of these powders are used in 22 Hornet loads which to be honest I know very little about !
AR 2207 is also used in 22 Hornet loads ,Now I am bracing myself for the barrage but could 2207 be used in 410 shells ???
Cheers
Mat

[cadet]

Short answer: dunno.

Longer answer: 2207 is used at 40-45% by weight of original black powder loadings for some of the old express rifle cartridges. You might be able to find some data that is adaptable some way, somehow. 35-40 grains of BP might have been a normal BP .410 load?

I'm sitting on 1 1/2lbs of the Hodgdon equivalent once my last dribbles of AP70 are gone (use it in about 5 different rifle and shot cartridges), and then developing something from some ooold Win 473 once that's gone, if an AP70 replacement/APS 650 isn't to market by then.

[bladeracer]

Hi all
Very new to loading and just asking probably a silly question so please be gently
Ok now from all the data I can find AR 2205 , Hodgdon little gun and Win 296 seem to be the main players in the 410 world in Australia anyway.
Now my question is these the powder as we all know are kinda like unicorn teeth to find which has forced me to look at other options.
Something I have found is that all three of these powders are used in 22 Hornet loads which to be honest I know very little about !
AR 2207 is also used in 22 Hornet loads ,Now I am bracing myself for the barrage but could 2207 be used in 410 shells ???
Cheers
Mat

You can certainly experiment with AR2207, at least it is somewhat available. The new APS950 was released last week so may filter down to Tas eventually, ask your dealer. It's a little faster than AR2207.

There are also limited, and expensive, imports of pistol/shotshell powders from Vihtavuori, Vectan and Lovex, though they may not be available in Tas.
Best bet I reckon would be to buy slabs of 12ga. Field Loads. 250 rounds for about $130 gives you 250 primers ($30), enough powder (generally 20-22gn per shell) for around 350 .410 loads, and 7kg of #7-1/2 shot (about $140 worth - if you can get it) for as many as 500 .410 loads. If you already have primers and shot it's not as cheap but maybe on par with paying $150 or more for 500gm of powder (giving perhaps 450 .410 loads).

However, this level of experimentation may not suit somebody just getting into loading. It might be better to just pay the $1.50-odd per shot and stick with factory, unless you have specific needs.

[mickb]

Try asking at the following sites using H4198 or using that search term in connection with 410 as its the US designation for AR2207 and you will probably get more hits.

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/forum.php
https://www.shotgunworld.com/

If those guys havent used it, no one has.

Id personally just buy factory for now. Of the powders Bladeracer mentions currently yep Vihtavuori is in country but running about 3x normal cost( 160-190 per pound)

Vectan was normal price when it came in last year, about $70-80 per pound but I'd guess any found now is being resold/regouged a lot higher....

If you dont have any luck let me know and I will ask C.E Harris the cast bullet author who has done a lot of experimental loads in his career.

[17Dave]

You will run out of case volume with 2207 and the 410. So either lighter shot charge to get the velocity or lower velocity with heavier charge. It will work but has it's limitations.
Splitting 12ga shells for powder will probably result in different issues as they use faster burning powders than the 410. 12ga powders are faster than 2205 and will result in high pressure before reaching velocity.
Maybe if you go for brass shells which have more internal volume you might get one of the above to work.
Cheers

[mickb]

great post 17Dave