Excellent replies, all. Thanks, fellas.
I won't be using any of the little 1/2 oz. loads this year on feathers except maybe trying some on early released quail next door to me. Do plan to use them on sporting clays, though. I will test the limits of the little shot out of mod. and full chokes.
Thanks for the reloading tips, too. Thought maybe I was crazy tapping on the side of my rammer tube while reloading. I won't be loading any more 7 1/2s in the .410s though. Would like to try some 8 1/2s. They might be the perfect compromise between loading easily and breaking clays.
SRH