I have some 3" 410 loads that are 4 .40" balls. Coming single file out of a .410" cylinder bore the pattern is very tight. At 7 yards it is one ragged hole.
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Thatâs interesting. Iâd love to see them shoot that at a home defense distance, 10 yards max. That is probably one huge hole.
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Two pellets of 0000 buckshot side by side are right at or slightly over the bore diameter of most 12 gauge barrels, depending on whoâs pellets you use and the exact diameter. Notice thereâs no shot cup in the images Bruce linked. If the pellets are too large, they can get dented or scatter like breaking the balls on a pool table. Itâs generally a better diameter for 10 gauge.
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I load 4 000 buck in a 2.5" 410 shell using a shot cup. Less deformation and tighter patterns. I have loaded 3 .375 balls in the 2.5" shell. I use a paper tube to shim them since they donât fit in the shot cup. I can get 4 in a 3" shell. For my single shot 410 I make light shot loads in 45 Colt cases for pest control or snakes. I have 45 Colt dies. Easy and cheap.
Hahahaha! So true!
âMilitary Gradeâ means it was built to the minimum standards for the US Military (trust me, that ainât too high) by the lowest bidder. As many here can attest, âyou get what you pay for,â As proof: on my first deployment (Iraq) I was issued a M-16A2 whose upper and lower receivers had so much slop in them that it rattled when carried. I did get a better weapon on my second deployment (AâStan): M-4 with an EOTech holo-sight.
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My go-to for home defense is a AR-9 (with a 20 round magazine full of Norma MHPs) fitted with a laser and RDS, then a .40 S&W pistol, then if all else fails, a S&W Model 3000 (Rem 870 Clone) 12 ga loaded with 00 Buck and 1 oz slugs.
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Here is the thing about âmilitary gradeâ and standards.
Everything was built to the minimum standards. Everything.
Itâs a matter of what what the minimum standard actually is.
Everybody, every company, sets a spec, and builds to that spec for as cheap as they can. Every company that outsources anything (like, BCM outsources most of their stuff including BCG) has a minimum spec to be met and the supplying company that meets the spec for the cheapest is usually going to get it.
Upper/lower fit as far as I can tell is not a function or reliability concern so it wouldnât surprise me if the military has a loose fit there.
Look up the parts we know or can infer for the TDS on an M4 rifle and youâll see they are good specs. For example, a bolt made within spec from C158 that is appropriately heat treated, HPT, and MPI is a good part. As proof just look how many AR manufacturers push significantly cheaper [almost] as good as parts that donât meet that minimum spec.
Yeah, some probably exceed itâŠthe KAC SR15, the LMT eBCG if you can actually get one, the Geissele REBCGâŠbut the milspec bolt/rifle is good (now if only it didnât have a 16" barrel in the nerfed civvie version and a short higher pressure carbine gas systemâŠitâs better with a 14.5" barrel and a mid length gas
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Good points. Thanks for the clarification.
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When you look at optics, âMilitary Gradeâ takes on a different meaning. Military beats the crap out of their equipment. It has to hold up and has to operate in all kinds of conditions.
âMilitary Gradeâ is a pretty meaningless term, when itâs used in commercials.
A âmilitary gradeâ isnât a standard. The military has multiple grades for everything when theyâre in the acquisition process.
I donât have the specific example in front of me, but I recall that the military has multiple âgradesâ for lumber. Top grades are reliable and straight, and suitable for housing. Bottom grades are pretty much trash, and suitable for burning. There are many grades in between.
So I can tell you Iâm selling âmilitary gradeâ lumber, but am I selling you something to frame your house with, or something to burn in your fire pit? Well, thatâs a secret, Iâm not telling you that.
Beware of retailers selling âmilitary gradeâ anything, unless they can give you the specific grade.