First let me preface by saying I do not reload 3"...for a reason. For skeet it is unnecessary and per NSSA rules 1/2 oz shot is the maximum. That being said, I don't know when you say "Clays" you mean skeet, Sporting Clays, 5 Stand, or some other game I am unaware of. Pretty sure not trap as that would be a waste of time. Even 5 Stand and Sporting Clays might get you discouraged if you are not a pretty good shooter. I'll answer your questions as you asked them.
1. There are a couple of schools of thought on this. Is the extra shot worth it. When I shot competitively, every extra BB was important. That being said, the 3" 410 shot column is very long and easier to distort. The only true test would be to pattern several different 3" loads vs 2 1/2 inch. I carried a little better than 94 average in .410 when I shot a lot. I'm down to about 88 now.
2. Lyman Shotshell Reloading Handbook is a MUST HAVE for your library. Data can come from various pamphlets supplied by the powder companies, or the Hodgdon site.
3. I would use the data from the Hodgdon site and only 296 or H110 powder...its what I know. Another consideration is most of the 3" loads bump pressures up at the 12,000-13,500 PSI range. That is above my comfort zone. I shoot some .410 in a tubed 12 gauge and that is higher than suggested. I wouldn't have a problem in my 870, but still...why test fate.
4. The 410 3" Super X is the same construction as the 2 1/2" HS hull as far as I know. The Hodgdon site lists the Super X as HS. When shooting 5 stand with .410, I just use 2 1/2" 8 shot at 1300+ fps.
5. Again...referring to Hodgdon site, many pressures with that hull in 3" are out of my comfort zone.
7. Love the Sizemaster. I have it in 12, 20, and 28. I still load .410 in my Original 600. Since the .410 is much smaller than the other gauges, there is a tiny learning curve. You will go through wad fingers quicker, and sometimes the shot is harder to drop because of the small bar and the larger you go, the worse it is. 8 1/2 and 9's not so much, but when you get to 7 1/2 and 6's, it can get sticky. I've even had those get stuck in the drop tube to unexpectedly let go when you pull the shell away from that station.
My standard Skeet load is 15 gr. Win 296, Win 209 primer, Win AA-410 HS Wad and 1/2 oz of shot. That is right around 1200 fps. With a pressure of less than 9000 PSI. I have used that same load for almost 40 years. That load also compensates for a change in primer to CCI (regular or magnum), Cheddite and even Federal Magnum if need be. You can also substitute the Claybuster Wad. I will eventually switch to that for price once my AA wads run out.
Good Luck.
Edited: Sus Scrofa should be along. I know he loads 3" 410 using cards and felt wads and may have a bunch of additional information.
1. There are a couple of schools of thought on this. Is the extra shot worth it. When I shot competitively, every extra BB was important. That being said, the 3" 410 shot column is very long and easier to distort. The only true test would be to pattern several different 3" loads vs 2 1/2 inch. I carried a little better than 94 average in .410 when I shot a lot. I'm down to about 88 now.
2. Lyman Shotshell Reloading Handbook is a MUST HAVE for your library. Data can come from various pamphlets supplied by the powder companies, or the Hodgdon site.
3. I would use the data from the Hodgdon site and only 296 or H110 powder...its what I know. Another consideration is most of the 3" loads bump pressures up at the 12,000-13,500 PSI range. That is above my comfort zone. I shoot some .410 in a tubed 12 gauge and that is higher than suggested. I wouldn't have a problem in my 870, but still...why test fate.
4. The 410 3" Super X is the same construction as the 2 1/2" HS hull as far as I know. The Hodgdon site lists the Super X as HS. When shooting 5 stand with .410, I just use 2 1/2" 8 shot at 1300+ fps.
5. Again...referring to Hodgdon site, many pressures with that hull in 3" are out of my comfort zone.
7. Love the Sizemaster. I have it in 12, 20, and 28. I still load .410 in my Original 600. Since the .410 is much smaller than the other gauges, there is a tiny learning curve. You will go through wad fingers quicker, and sometimes the shot is harder to drop because of the small bar and the larger you go, the worse it is. 8 1/2 and 9's not so much, but when you get to 7 1/2 and 6's, it can get sticky. I've even had those get stuck in the drop tube to unexpectedly let go when you pull the shell away from that station.
My standard Skeet load is 15 gr. Win 296, Win 209 primer, Win AA-410 HS Wad and 1/2 oz of shot. That is right around 1200 fps. With a pressure of less than 9000 PSI. I have used that same load for almost 40 years. That load also compensates for a change in primer to CCI (regular or magnum), Cheddite and even Federal Magnum if need be. You can also substitute the Claybuster Wad. I will eventually switch to that for price once my AA wads run out.
Good Luck.
Edited: Sus Scrofa should be along. I know he loads 3" 410 using cards and felt wads and may have a bunch of additional information.
