At a Glance: Best .410 reloader
Comparison of Best .410 reloader
| PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 Our Top Pick | Hornady – 366 Auto Precision Shotshell Press |
| View Latest Price |
 Our Top Pick | MEC Reloading – MEC Sizemaster Shell Press |
| View Latest Price |
 Our Top Pick | MEC Reloading – 9000GN Auto-Indexing Shotshell Reloader |
| View Latest Price |
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Shooting .410 bore shotgun shells can get expensive. If you’re shooting 12 or 20 gauge, then a trip down to Walmart to buy a box of shells won’t sting too much. The same can’t be said for .410 bore shells. Reloading your own with a .410 reloading press can save money.
Best .410 reloading presses
Cheaper ammo means more ammo. Let’s face it, you don’t want to spend more than you have to. The best .410 reloading presses will allow you to save loads of money while churning out more than 100 shells per hour. You’ll be up to your knees in ammo. Plus, you’ll be able to customize your rounds just the way you like.
Hornady – 366 Auto Precision Shotshell Press
Hornady is a go-to name in the reloading business. The 366 Auto Precision Shotshell Press is a progressive reloading press that automatically indexes your cases to the next stage of reloading.
This means that you just have to pull the lever and each stage of the press will perform an action and automatically move to the next stage you’re not going to put that money aside. Once you’re up and running, you’ll complete one shell per pull of the lever.
The press features a primer feed system, wad feeding system, precise shot loads, a three-stage taper-loc-crimping device that crimps, coles, and tapers your shell, and the ability to resize shells to factory dimensions if you want.
Completed shells are automatically ejected into a box and any spilled shot is collected in a handy drain around the edge of the press.
You can also change the bushings to reload other popular shot sizes or powders, giving you the edge in versatility.
Pros
- Auto-indexing
- Can reload large batches quickly
- Just need to set it up and start pulling the lever
- Can change bushings
- Collects any spilled shot
- Very sturdy construction
Cons
- Very expensive
- Not necessary for low-volume reloaders
MEC Reloading – MEC Sizemaster Shell Press
Not everyone wants to spend a small fortune on their reloading press. The MEC Sizemaster Shell Press is an affordable and effective way to reload .410 bore shotgun shells. It’s a single-stage press with three stations that you can manually index to save time over switching out dies.
The press is easy to use and can reload a fair amount of shells per hour. It won’t come close to what you could achieve with a progressive press, but you get what you pay for.
You can reload shells with brass or steel heads, with low or high bases. It uses a power ring collet resizer to bring your shell bases back to factory size. Versatility is on your side with this affordable press.
The MEC Sizemaster Shell Press is available in 12, 20, 28 gauge and .410 bore. Three powder bushings and a charge bar are included with the press, as well as a powder and shot feeder.
Pros
- Affordable
- Reliable reloading
- Can take brass or steel head shells
- Has everything you need to get set up
- Three powder collets and a charge bar included
- Powder and shot feeders
Cons
- Manual indexing required
- Not suitable for high-volume reloading
MEC Reloading – 9000GN Auto-Indexing Shotshell Reloader
This progressive reloading press is ideal for churning out large quantities of .410 bore shells in minimal time. It’s also more affordable than some of the other .410 bore progressive reloading presses on the market.
Every pull of the lever will produce a complete shell, and pushing the lever back up will auto-index the press to allow the next stage of the process. Once shells are crimped, they’re ejected into a handy box.
The press takes 2.5-inch shells and can be easily adjusted to fit 3-inch shells as well. The kit includes everything you need to get started with reloading, including three powder bushings and a charge bar.
You can remain confident that you’ll be reloading shells to factory-standard, and you can easily remove shells from any station to inspect them.
Pros
- Auto-indexing
- Sturdy build
- Easy adjustments from low to high base shotshells
- Includes everything you need to get up and running
- Auto-ejection after crimping
- Affordable for a progressive press
Cons
- Still expensive
- Not necessary for low-volume reloading
MEC Reloading – 9000HN Hydraulic Shotshell Reloader
The 9000HN Hydraulic Shotshell Reloader provides the easiest shotshell reloading experience. It has six stations with auto-indexing and hydraulics to allow for a completely automated process. Simply insert the shells and wads and let the press do the rest.
With a single pull of the lever, you’ll produce a completed shotshell. If you’re reloading large batches of .410 bore shotshells, then this is a great companion to have on your bench. The price is steep, but you get what you pay for and in the long run, you’ll save money by reloading.
The 9000HN comes with everything that you need to get reloading. The speed at which you’ll complete your shotshells means you’ll be spending less time in your garage and more time in the field.
The six stations allow you to complete every operation from primer feeding to crimping. It’s as easy as picking up a box of shells from the store.
Pros
- Quick and easy to use
- Auto-indexing
- Hydraulics means the press does all the work
- Ideal for high-volume reloading
- Includes everything you need to get started
- Sturdy construction
- Can be adjusted to take high-base shells
Cons
- Very expensive
- Not necessary for low-volume reloaders
Why buy a .410 reloading press?
Most standard reloading presses will have no problem switching between pistol and rifle ammo. But if you’re going to reload shotgun shells, then you’ll need to get a specialized reloading press. A standard single-stage or progressive press can’t handle shotgun shells.
Also, you save money. You can get away with shooting 12 or 20 gauge shells for quite a while as they’re cheap, but once you opt for .410 shotgun shooting, the cost can quickly get out of hand. In other words, you’ll want to start reloading .410 shotgun shells before your wallet implodes.
Why you need a different press for shotgun shells
Reloading presses for shotguns are a little different from those used for rifle and pistol ammo. This is to account for the different stages in the reloading process and the difference in the ammo.
Shotgun shells are bulky and often don’t fit into a standard reloading press. A shotgun reloading press has more room to accommodate the larger shells.
Reloading shotgun ammo is very similar to reloading rifle or pistol ammo, but there is an extra stage. Pistol and rifle rounds consist of the primer, the casing, the powder, and the bullet. Shotgun shells also have a ‘wad’ that goes between the powder and the shot.
Shotgun reloading presses include the stage to insert the wad and are generally more straightforward to reload with.
The benefits of reloading
Anyone who takes up shooting seriously will eventually start reloading. There are many benefits to reloading your own ammo, but the main one is that you save money.
You can simply buy ammo from the shop if you’re only shooting a dozen rounds a month, but once you’re shooting more frequently the cost of rounds can get out of control. This is especially true of .410 ammo, which can get up to $8 for a box. It’s much more economical to reuse your shells.
Beyond this, you can also produce ammo to your specifications. This is essential for anyone with highly specific shooting needs, as well as competition shooters who want to know they can rely on their ammo.
- Save money
- Reuse casings
- Make ammo to your specifications
- Essential for competitive shooters
Things to look for when choosing a .410 reloading press
The market for .410 reloading presses isn’t saturated, but there are still some things to consider before committing to a press.
- Price: Most shooters are on a budget, but you should be careful not to sacrifice quality for a cheaper price.
- Shell Compatibility: Some .410 reloading presses only take 2.5-inch shells, while others will only take 3-inch shells. I recommend you find one that takes both. The added versatility means that you can reload different types of shotgun shells in the future.
- Usability: You don’t want to climb a steep learning curve. Find a press that’s easy to use and can churn out 100+ shells per hour with minimal effort.
Conclusion
After careful consideration, I recommend the Hornady 366 Auto Precision Shotshell Press. If you’re going to reload high-volumes of .410 bore shotshells, then the steep investment is worth every penny. From the first day you use the press, you’ll begin recouping your investment.
If you’re not looking to reload a high volume of .410 bore shells, then I’d recommend you stick with the MEC Sizemaster Shell Press. This single-stage reloading press is affordable and gets the job done, it’ll just take you longer to reload.
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