My conclusion is, all remedies aside, one WILL be banging on the drop tube.

Have now tried mirror finish polish on the drop tube, have graphited the shot, still have to tap the drop tube. Actually tried strapping an orbital sander to the press frame for the vibration. All for not. My conclusion is at least 50% of the folks that attempt reloading .410 end up institutionalized, 25% commit suicide, and the rest of us beat on the tube with 7 1/2 shot! So be it.

For peace of mind, I buy #7 1/2 410s in factory loads ! I reload #8.

Whew, I'm part of the still sane 25% that taps the tube!
On my old MEC 700 that I converted for 3" 410's I lift the handle partly before pushing the charge bar to drop the shot. Maybe half the time I don't have to cuss and tap.
My Grabber for 2¹/²'s I don't even try to load the BIG shot.

The orbital sander might be a bit much.

I confirmed that the Remington factory does use vibratory feeders for shot in the small gauges. Perhaps you have a "vibrator" not in use that will suffice??

A friend of mine suggested a trip to a novelty shop, I had to pass, will continue to tap on the tube. Interesting, my local sporting goods shop has 3" .410 loaded with #6 shot. That process must involve some poor soul that trickles the shot in by hand! Can't imagine trying to run that through a reloading press. Gotta make for some truly ugly patterns as well.

How about 4s! Remington used to load more 410 #4s than any sane person could use.
Maybe that's why Remington went bankrupt- all the mental health for the employees!

Terrific load for cottontail rabbits out of my Ithaca Lefever A grade 410 with 26 inch barrels choked Mod and Full.

1/2 ounce of those #4's in the right barrel with MOD choke and 3/4 ounce of 4's out of the left FULL choke Barrel.

Sane or not, a great combination on those poor rabbits.

Bill

I use a spoonful of motor mica and load 8.5 shot. No problems

I normally load 8 1/2 shot when doing my 3” .410 loads. Haven’t had any shot drop issues. As for 3” #4, I have a bunch of Remington factory shells and my oldest grandson used them for rabbit and skwrl.