Why is .410 ammo so expensive?

[wilit]

I just bought a Mossberg 500E for shooting trap, and I finally got to shoot it today. Man, it's a ton of fun. A real challenge. However, ammo is crazy expensive. WTF? One 25 round box of 3" #7 was $14 at Walmart while a 100 round box of 12ga was $20. Considering the popularity of the .410, I can't believe ammo is so expensive for it. Yikes.

[bohoki]

economies of scale

its not that 410 is expensive its just that 12 ga is cheap

[aippi]

It all comes down to production runs. when they set up for a run of any item the set up time is factored into the cost of the item. Also, while they are making the .410, 28ga, 16, and 20ga ammo they are not making the 12 which is their best seller so the bean counters even factor this time in. This is why items for guages other then 12 cost more.

[.22guy]

Reload for .410, I guess.

That's the only way I would shoot one, if I ever buy one.

[mjsweims]

Rio 3" at Natchez is 7.68/box

[wilit]

Reload for .410, I guess.

I've certainly added reloading to the list of possibilities.

Rio 3" at Natchez is 7.68/box

Thanks for the heads up. That's a great price.

[clockwork]

100rd 12ga packs are also ~$20 at Wally world...

[jphaxx]

you should reload your .410! it uses soo little shot and soo little powder that it comes very economical to reload. Check this out and you can calculate your savings.

http://www.trapshooters.com/rlcalcadv.htm

When I just searched for the component prices and punched some info in there, I came out with $2.69 per box of 25 rounds

[ERdept]

.410 is less used.

12 gauge is everywhere, so they can buy it in bulk and thus it's cheap.

[DVSmith]

Shoot 12G, you will hit your target more often AND it's cheaper!

[ERdept]

Shoot 12G, you will hit your target more often AND it's cheaper!

Yup.

don't know why anyone uses .410 unless it's for the challenge.

[sargenv]

Let me be the first to warn you that reloading for 410 is not as easy as loading 12 or 20 gauge. I bought a press thinking "How hard could it be?" and sold the press about a year later in frustration. You'd think they would be cheaper due to less materials but it's about supply and demand.. and did I mention how difficult it is to load?

[wilit]

Yup.

don't know why anyone uses .410 unless it's for the challenge.

I got the .410 because I began keeping track of how well I did with the 12ga by how many I missed rather than hit.

Shooting doubles with a .410 is definitely a challenge.

Let me be the first to warn you that reloading for 410 is not as easy as loading 12 or 20 gauge. I bought a press thinking "How hard could it be?" and sold the press about a year later in frustration. You'd think they would be cheaper due to less materials but it's about supply and demand.. and did I mention how difficult it is to load?

Care to share some of the difficulties you encountered? I certainly don't want to invest the money in a reloader only to run into the same frustrations.

[Hayashi Killian]

All types of shotgun ammo except 12ga are more 'rare' since fewer users use them. 12ga is the 'universal' round since the most widely sold shotguns use them. Only a few specialty shotguns use 20ga, even fewer use 16 or 28, and I've only heard of a few models that use .410. They may have been more popular at one point, but now, 12ga rules the roost.

[SLO_Ryan]

Only a few specialty shotguns use 20ga

Not sure I agree with this. There are many many models that use 20 ga. Sure, not as many as 12ga, but there are still tons to choose from.