Home Forums Reloading Shotshells Using 444 Marlin Brass For 410

Anyone on here ever tried this? A friend clued me in on it, so I gave it a try. I also watched some YouTube videos on it, as well as reading a lot about it. The 444 brass was a fit for my old Essex single shot 410. I used a large pistol primer, H110 powder, a Claybuster wad, and 1/2 ounces of shot, with a cardborad wad over the shot. There was a lot of fouling left in the bore, which I believe may indicate a not so tight seal over the powder.

I wouldn't want to depend upon these to defend my life with, but in this day and age of 410's being hard to find, they'd work in a pinch. I probbaly wouldn't fool with doing this, but I had about 5 pounds of #6 shot and a half bottle of powder, as well as some primers, and a lot of time on my hands. If anyone else has tried this, please let me know what your experiences were.

I believe that we are on the cusp of necessity dictating some new thought processes.

depends on your extractor if it works. Works fine in my single shot Stevens that was my fathers.

The extractor on my gun, an Essex single barrel that's probably a 100 years old, works just fine. It's not an auto extractor, as you have to pull them out by hand, and they pull right out. I've loaded up and shot about a half dozen so far, as I'm still experimenting some. The first few I loaded and fired had just a piece of cardboard tapped down over the shot to hold it in place. When fired, the brass expanded some at the end part of the case. The next loads were .5 grain increase in powder, and I sealed the end with a paper disc and glue. Those did not show any signs of expanding the case. Anyway, it's a work in progress.

.444 Marlin brass would fit and function in my Beretta F1 folding .410.

The brass rim of the .444 was too thick for the chamber of a Savage 24 .410 barrel. Brass hull would drop in the chamber but the action could not be closed.

I've done it. Several loadings will complete the fireforming.
I use mine in a Contender.

In the past I used .45 Colt Brass and shot capsules in a single shot 410 as a test. It worked fine . Never tried 444 brass as it was scarce or costly. Now shot capsules are scarce.

Since I have lots of time, I can usually find some. Paying for them is another matter…..

I have more hunting, turkey, defensive, and slug loads than I’ll ever use, acquired when I bought my Henry SS in 2019 or thereabouts. Now I only look for loads for occasional clays shooting. Occasionally one of my shooting buddies will bless me with a few odd rounds they found someplace too.

If I ever find one of the old Lee .410 loaders I’ll start saving a few empties or just buy some primed hulls. Don't shoot enough to invest in a real setup, but I do like having a backup plan in case things really go to Hell. We’re not there yet…..

I think that anyone with a muzzleloader, even an inline, have an emergency shotgun already, just need shot, some wads of appropriate size, and black powder or 777. I doubt 209 is a good choice since it needs a lot of bore resistance for good ignition.

For me, it really wasn't aobut not having any 410 ammo, because I have a pretty good stash hoarded away. I like a good project, and this was one that appealed to me because I had some of needed ingredients already. All I use my 410 for is to dispatch the occasional critter that gets to close to the house. I'm just loading up the stuff to add to the hoard so whoever ends up with it after I'm gone will have something to shoot.

For me, it was about paying a ridiculous price for 3" #5's. I love some #5's rabbit hunting.
I used 9.3x64, I believe. It was in several contender and encore barrels. Fireformed with cornmeal, ran a bore snake through between each forming to keep the dimples out of the brass. I ran a swipe of finger nail polish on top of about 10 drops of candle wax, on top of the card board. Never had an issue with the card moving. Never an issue with extraction either.
Enjoy the experimenting.

R.D.

It works in my h&r single shot I've had since I was 11. It's better if I fire 444 rounds in my marlin 444p to expand them a bit then just deprime and reprise the expanded case and use it without resizing as a 410.

I'm thinking about buying a keltec ksg 410 as a toy and I wonder if i can use 444 brass in it. The rims aren't always wide enough.

Bb