|
| home catalogue load data articles/info faq contact links |
.410 light game slug
The .410 light game slug is nothing more than a .375 pistol ball mounted in a custom designed plastic carrier/wad incorporating a fairly standard gas sealing system as seen on many factory standard 410 wads. The LGS is designed to be loaded into 2 ½” and 3” shells, and for the purpose of this evaluation was loaded into Fiocchi 3” shells primed with Fiocchi 615 primers. Available load data suggested a charge of 18-20.5 grains of Alliant 2400 powder, but as shotgun load data is usually of max charge, I decided to err on the side of caution and reduce the charge to 17.5 grains of 2400. This charge was measured using a Lee dipper size 1.3cc. The load data called for an overshot card and rolled turn-over type closure. Some debate has gone into whether or not an overshot card is necessary or indeed safe with a projectile such as a single ball or slug. I am myself undecided on this subject and prefer to use an overshot card when called for by the available data; otherwise I would elect to leave it out. The shotgun of choice for this initial evaluation of the LGS was a 1960’s Anschutz bolt action with the usual 410 full choke. Five shots were fired at a range of 40 yards, offhand on an open air range with a fairly moderate left to right crossing wind, and I have to add confidence was not high regarding the accuracy of this very basic slug. To my surprise a group of 5” appeared in the target before me, and this with only a basic bead foresight! While this might not be the tightest group possible with 410 slugs, I was never-the-less impressed with the group produced by this basic slug, in less than perfect conditions.
410 light game slug target 40 yards off-hand Inspection of the target area produced the spent wads well down range grouped immediately in front of the target. Further inspection of the wads themselves showed the cup portion on which the ball rides to have elongated around the ball, which would help to centre the ball within the barrel and take up any free play between slug and bore. Inspection of the empty shells themselves revealed, as expected with this reduced load no excessive signs of pressure or any blowing of the primers. A further five Fiocchi shells loaded the same were fired at the target with similar if not slightly better results, owing no-doubt to my getting used to the primitive foresight bead. As the reduced charge loading used in the 3” shell allowed more space within the casing and as no obvious signs of pressure were shown or felt, I proceeded to load a further ten 2 ½” cartridges with the same powder charge and primer. Although on this occasion room for a roll turn-over closure was a little tight. A reduction in powder or a change of powder to something a little less bulky would easily remedy this. I then shot again at the same range and under much the same less than ideal conditions. On this occasion using a Winchester 9410 with a cylinder bore, and once again the group on the target was 5”-6” As before while this might not be the best grouping for a 410 I was greatly impressed with the round ball performance of this small slug, especially when used with a cylinder bored Winchester 9410. Inspection of recovered wads again revealed a prominent elongation in the ball holding forward section, and I am in no-doubt the custom wad used with the LGS is the deciding factor in terms of accuracy when using such a small ball with a cylinder bored 410. The very nature of the LGS gives plenty of scope for experimentation, and while the .410 light game slug may not be suitable for game any larger than fox or Muntjac deer. With a little fine tuning the LGS will make a very useful slug for light-hearted range shooting and light game use within its limitations. I will be looking forward to trying this slug with the full published 3” loading data at a later date, and feel confident the extra powder charge will indeed bring the grouping down to a more useable size at a greater range. Overall light game slugs are cheap, cheerful, easy to load, and a hell of a lot of fun to shoot. |
| home | catalogue | load data | articles/info | faq | contact | links |
|
Web Design by IWD |
