Henry Rifle Forums

Too cold for the carpenter bees so a range test using ballistic gel with the short .410 load and my Gamo double barrel .22 air shotgun.

Decided to try the .410 load with primer only and 55 gr. of No. 12 lead shot. The original shot cup was used with a cardboard top wad.
Test gun was Ruger Alaskan 2.5 barrel and target distance 7 ft.

Next was my Deuce 22 the modified Gamo .22 air shotgun. Right barrel used and target distance 8 ft. Load is the factory Gamo shot shell with 17 gr. of No. 9 shot.

Was a bit surprised at the very tight pattern and with 1/8th to almost 1/4 inch gel penetration with shotgun primer only!
The original load was a download of 3.8 gr. of the .410 powder instead of factory 12 gr. After some thought maybe not best way to go with that type powder and a light shot load so went with primer only.

Now that air shotgun has some punch and not a bad pattern on the target. Would definitely take out a flying stinger! About 1 3/4 inch penetration in the gel from 8 ft.
The .45 Colt sized .410 primer load with the smaller shot would most likely do the job too.

Not surprised by the penetration of the primer only. I've seen squib 9mm and 45 ACP rounds push a bullet an inch or more into the bore of a pistol. Shotshell primer has more power.

Very interesting test. What were your reservations about using the 3.8 gr. of the .410 powder?

Paul

Headhog wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 03, 2021 2:42 pm

Not surprised by the penetration of the primer only. I've seen squib 9mm and 45 ACP rounds push a bullet an inch or more into the bore of a pistol. Shotshell primer has more power.

Very interesting test. What were your reservations about using the 3.8 gr. of the .410 powder?

Paul

Well the factory powder is unknown but can be similar to H110 or 2400 and at a well reduced load may not work well with the much lighter shot load as in very low pressure. The blast of the primer would most likely move the shot out before the powder had pressure to burn correctly. Faster powder like Red Dot or Unique would work but then I have a large shotgun primer that could cause an unknown issue.
With primer only no need for hearing protection.

fortyshooter wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 03, 2021 3:17 pm

Headhog wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 03, 2021 2:42 pm

Not surprised by the penetration of the primer only. I've seen squib 9mm and 45 ACP rounds push a bullet an inch or more into the bore of a pistol. Shotshell primer has more power.

Very interesting test. What were your reservations about using the 3.8 gr. of the .410 powder?

Paul

Well the factory powder is unknown but can be similar to H110 or 2400 and at a well reduced load may not work well with the much lighter shot load as in very low pressure. The blast of the primer would most likely move the shot out before the powder had pressure to burn correctly. Faster powder like Red Dot or Unique would work but then I have a large shotgun primer that could cause an unknown issue.
With primer only no need for hearing protection.

Ok, I would have still given the reduced powder charge a try. H110 is used with .410 shells and 1/2 oz of shot (220 gr.). My guess is you most likely would have gotten poor burning and little added velocity. As far as Red Dot goes it's primarily shotshell powder and I used a lot of it for 12 ga. 1 1/8 oz trap loads. No harm in being safe when it come to reloading.

Paul

I'll wait till late April- May when the carpenter bees appear and try both shooters and see how it goes.