Handloader 2014-06-07

.
45 ACP Ball Loads for Pistols and Submachine Guns
Cooper Model 54
.243 Winchester
New Bullets &
Powders
How To:
Beat the
Rimfire
Shortage
Break in
a New
Handgun
June 2014
No. 290
Rifle Magazine Presents - HANDLOADER

$5.99
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25274 01240
Handloads for Plinking and Hunting

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$5.99 U.S./Canada
Display until 7/12/14
.32-20 Winchester
Printed in USA
June 2014
Volume 49, Number 3
ISSN 0017-7393
Issue No. 290
AMMUN
AMMUNIT
ITIION REL
RELOOADING JOUR
JOURNNAL
With Thanks
to Lester
(1920-2013)
22
12
.38/44 High
Velocity
34
Brian Pearce
26
11.15x60R
Mauser
Cartridge Board -
Charles E. Petty
38
Gil Sengel
Bullets & Brass Brian Pearce
16
Norma 200
John Haviland
R.H. VanDenburg, Jr.
18
How to Break
in a New Gun
New Powders
for the .30-30
Winchester
Testing New Loads
for Velocity and
Accuracy
Page 22 . . .
Propellant
Profiles -
Cooper Model 54
.243 Winchester
Shooting Midweight
Bullets and Modern
Powders
From the Hip -
Reloaders Press Dave Scovill
Dan Wesson
Arms
30
Gun-Writer
Wisdom
Pistol Pointers -
Mikes Shootin
Shack -
Charles E. Petty
Mike Venturino
44
Duplicating .45
ACP Ball Loads
Handloads for
Handguns and
Submachine Guns
Mike Venturino
Page 38 . . .
50
.32-20 Winchester
Loads for Plinking and
Hunting with Sixguns
Brian Pearce
Page 44 . . .
Page 30 . . .
Background Photo: 2014 Vic Schendel
Handloader 290
On the cover . . .
Coopers Model 54 cover rifle features French walnut, a checkered bolt knob,
inletted swivel studs and a skeleton grip cap. The revolver is a Colt Army Special.
64
Homer Powley
and His Computer
Issue No. 290
June 2014
Useful It Is, Gospel

It Isnt
AMMUN
AMMUNIT
ITIION REL
RELOOADING JO
JOUR
URNNAL
Terry Wieland
74
Publisher/President Don Polacek

Publishing Consultant Mark Harris
Editor in Chief Dave Scovill
Associate Editor Lee J. Hoots
Managing Editor Roberta Scovill
Senior Art Director Gerald Hudson
Production Director Becky Pinkley
Supply, Demand
and Resupply
In Range Terry Wieland
58
Beating the
Rimfire
Shortage
...
Page 64
Contributing Editors
John Haviland
Ron Spomer
Brian Pearce
Stan Trzoniec
Charles E. Petty
R.H. VanDenburg, Jr.
Clair Rees
Mike Venturino
Gil Sengel
Ken Waters
Terry Wieland
Duplication
Loads in
Centerfire
Cartridges
Advertising
John Barsness
Advertising Director - Tammy Rossi

tammy@riflemag.com
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bowman.t@sbcglobal.net
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Advertising Information: 1-800-899-7810
Circulation
Circulation Manager Kendra Newell
circ@riflemag.com
Subscription Information: 1-800-899-7810
www.riflemagazine.com
Handloader (ISSN 0017-7393) is published bimonthly by Polacek Publishing Corporation, dba
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Polacek Publishing Corporation
Publisher of Handloader is not responsible for
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Background Photo: 2014 Vic Schendel
Handloader 290
WITH THANKS TO LESTER

(1920-2013)
RELOADERS PRESS
ay back in 1955, my late

stepfather bought a set of
Lyman reloading dies for the old
310 tool, showed me how it worked
and explained how to weigh the
powder charge and seat bullets
and primers. The process was fascinating, especially since I could
sit down at the improvised bench
an orange crate at any time,
seat a few primers, size cases or
weigh a few powder charges until
by Dave Scovill
the upcoming weekend, shooting
small game or riddling discarded
soup cans. Because the only limit
on the amount of ammunition I
could shoot up was the time that
was available before and after dinner, between odd jobs chopping
wood or yard work and highschool sports, the only restrictions
bellished tremendously when the

round not only fired but also hit
what it was aimed at, just like
costly factory loads but with a personal touch. Some loads produced
a bit better accuracy than others,
but there was always something
new to learn, even if it was only to
not use that load again.
Daves late stepfather, Lester Martin, brought this 7.7 Arisaka war
souvenir (above) home in 1945. The Krag Model 1899 (below) was
purchased from Ben Serafin (Glide Saw Shop) in the late 1950s.
Dave learned to handload for both rifles using the Lyman 310 tong
tool and took his first deer with the Arisaka in the fall of 1956.
2014 Alicia Yoder photos
Mom called us to dinner. Working

part-time after school during the
week, it was possible to build a
couple of boxes of ammunition for
were my own. Well, there was one

other restriction, Mr. Konzack, my
algebra, trigonometry and calculus teacher, who thought I should
be doing homework.
There was, and still is, a certain
satisfaction in building a handload from scratch, which was em-
During those early years of handloading, my mother paid the bills

as a sign painter and eventually
made quite a name for herself in
the Northwest as a portrait painter.
Her attention to detail apparently
rubbed off, along with the pride
of making something worthwhile
from scratch, such as handloading, which might be considered an
art; not just slapping a cartridge
together, but building it to design,
with purpose. That led to casting
bullets, making arrows, building
stuff around the house and, much
to Mr. Konzacks chagrin, a decision to apply to the University of
Oregon to study architectural design and engineering.
Given my grades, Mr. Konzack
expressed an opinion that was
echoed by the guidance counselor
that I might pursue something a bit
less challenging, like ranch work
or setting chokers for some log-
www.handloadermagazine.com
Handloader 290
ging outfit, which was punctuated

by the comment, Your family doesnt have enough money to pay for
college, as if I wasnt aware of that
fact. To which I responded, to paraphrase: Assuming a high-school
education had any value at all,
why are the teachers and career
counselors telling me, with the
highest SAT score in the entire
high school, in effect, to go pound
sand? This was followed by five
years of grunt work on night shifts
in lumber mills, working on survey crews and, during the school
year, working the night shift and
weekends at a local auto service
center, while washing dishes six
nights a week at a couple of sororities to cover the cost of a college
education. Admittedly the sorority
gig wasnt exactly work, but it
paid for board and room at my fraternity, aka the big, white house
next door to Animal House.
Like a number of other things we
might attempt, handloading is not
unlike taking a college course in
June-July 2014
design, or tinkering around under

the hood of the family car with
Dad, while taking notes and paying attention to details that just
might amount to useful experience
someday.
Simply seating a bullet involves
a few decisions, i.e., making sure
it is seated straightly and to the
proper depth, so the cartridge will
function through the action without any hiccups, and the bullet is
not jammed into the lands. Or, as
one handloader found out after
the fact, using the wrong bullet
that nearly wrecked the rifle.
Primers require similar attention:
seating to the correct depth, so the
bolt face wont set it off when the
action is slammed shut and seating them all to the same depth so
ignition is as consistent as possible. That last is sort of a catch 22
in the sense that loading manuals
have long recommended that the
primer is seated to the bottom of
the primer pocket, so the firing pin
thrust isnt reduced if the primer

is too high, effectively absorbing
some of the energy stored by the
firing pin spring to fully seat the
primer.
So the seemingly simple task of
seating a primer becomes one of
feel, and thusly, educated guesswork where a slightly fouled primer
pocket may offer the false impression that the primer is bottomed
out in the pocket, but in reality, its
jammed down on top of carbon
residue. This is also why it is a
good idea to clean primer pockets.
Not so much for any mythical accuracy advantage, but in the interest of consistency and preventing
hangfires or misfires. For the last
25 years or so, Ive avoided the
touchy, feely primer approach by
using an RCBS primer seating die,
which along with the electronic
powder scale, may well be one of
the most important pieces of reloading equipment on the planet.
Primer pockets also tell us a bit
about pressure. Seating a primer

in an unfired case usually causes
some measure of force. By the time
a case has been reloaded and fired
five or six times, it is not unusual
for the primer pocket diameter
to spread slightly, and with each
load, the primer seats easier up
to a point that after several reloads it is possible to seat the
primer with your fingers. There is
no rule, mostly because it depends
on the amount of pressure the

case head has been subjected to
over several loads, but if experience is any judge, sloppy primer
pockets should not be the result of
one shot, or even two or three, but
more like six whereupon the
case goes in the trash.
A great deal has been written
over the years about the condition of fired primers. Some folks
believe a flattened primer is a sign

of excess pressure or, if nothing
else, the product of a maximum
load. My experience suggests a lessthan-maximum load can cause the
same visual effect, where the fired
primer backs up in the primer
pocket, and when peak pressure is
reached, the case backs up, reseating the primer against the bolt
face, causing the top of the primer
to flatten somewhat.
Cratered primers dont necessarily equate to excessive or maximum pressure either, especially if
the nose of the firing pin doesnt
form a perfect fit in the firing
pin hole in the bolt face. So when
folks speak of no visual signs of
pressure, Im assuming they arent
seeing self-ejecting primers, but
thats about it.
Years ago, I somehow managed
to overlook the subject of case
trimming, mostly I would assume,
because I didnt pay much attention to that part of the summary in
the loading manual. It wasnt long
before the action of our Remington Model 760 .257 Roberts locked
up, and a brief survey of fired
cases compared to factory brass
revealed the problem the case
mouth was jammed into the end
of the chamber. In retrospect, I
was just plain lucky to be working
with suggested starting loads! So,
for the last 50 years or so, trimming has been a part of the normal
routine, although trimming should
be done on fired and full-length resized cases, vice unfired.
.302
.338
.375
.416
Whispers are developments of SSK Industries.
Custom barrels for Contenders, Encores,

bolt guns and semi-autos as well as complete guns and the cans to keep them
quiet are available. SSK chambers over
400 calibers. Wild wildcat ideas welcomed.
SSK Industries
590 Woodvue Lane
Wintersville, OH 43953
Tel: 740-264-0176
www.sskindustries.com
10
A number years ago, I became

vaguely aware of Homer Powley,
who with all due respect to a number of other handloading experts
who cropped up back in the 1960s
and early 1970s was considered
to be the Father of Modern Handloading. Mr. Powley had an extensive background in engineering,
smokeless powder and firearms,
and during the 1960s, he designed
a slide-rule device that determined
pressures and velocity with IMR
powders. It was based on sectional
density of the bullet, expansion
ratios (case capacity and barrel volHandloader 290
ume), IMR powder burning rates

along with frictional coefficients
of jacketed bullets. I wrote to Mr.
Powley and ordered his Powley
Computer for Handloaders and,
several years later, we exchanged
correspondence over notes he provided from time to time.
rule produced numbers too similar to numbers published in Ackleys books, suggesting to me, at
least, that those loads were never
fired in a real gun, especially when
many of the velocities listed for
wildcat cartridges ended with a
0.
The Powley slide rule was not a

substitute for loading data listed
in manuals but was directed at advanced handloaders who might be
working with wildcats or simply
wanted to learn more about the
details of working up loads. The
latter covers my interest, although
the thought of working for Wolfe
Publishing was the furthest thing
from my mind, or reality, at that
time.
One of the more current computer

programs, QuickLOAD, is available to folks who might like to learn
more about the details involved
in handloading. It is simply a program in which specific data is
input into the program, and it
pops up with the desired information. Again, it is to be used as a
guideline, mostly because all powders are not based on the same
chemical composition or design,
e.g., progressive versus digressive,
etc., which changes burning characteristics when compared to other
powders such as the IMR series. It
is even more problematic with pistol (handgun) powders, especially
when folks learn that a one-grain
variation (mistake?) in the .40 S&W
Working with the Powley slide

rule also suggested that a good
number of the loads in P.O. Ackleys books were never fired but
simply worked out on the slide
rule. By whom, Im not sure, but
running the numbers on the slide
June-July 2014
may result in a real load. As a result, QuickLOAD will get you in

the ballpark with a given set of
variables bullets, powder and
case capacity but it remains for
the handloader to interpret results
in a real gun.
Like all computer programs,
QuickLOAD produces educated
guesses based on the information
fed into the computer. Most results are well within the 5 percent
error factor for such programs,
and some loads are slightly outside those boundaries, which explains why loads worked up on a
computer should be verified as
much as possible with loads published in two or more manuals. No
magic, just physics and chemistry.
Mr. Konzack, who was still teaching and driving a school bus 30+
years after I graduated from high
school, would probably be dumbfounded to learn that came from
one of his D+ algebra students,
who scored a perfect paper on the
final exam in college calculus.
11
.38/44 HIGH VELOCITY

BULLETS & BRASS
by Brian Pearce
: I have a difficult question

with a request. But first, I
have been handloading for 40 years
and do not plan on blowing myself up. I have been in the market
for several months for new .357
Magnum cases but have had no
luck at all, as MidwayUSA, Starline Brass, Natchez, Hornady and
Brownells are all out of stock,
back-ordered or will put you on a
waiting list. And handgun bullets,
powder and brass locally are almost nonexistent.
Here is my question. I do have
plenty of .38 Special cases. And I
have bullets and magnum powders, such as Hodgdon H-110, that
were purchased for handloading
www.
the .357. Is it possible that you

could do a handloading article to
stoke .38 Special cases with .357
Magnum components? I know that
the quick answer is no, no and
no, but with your scientific approach to my problem perhaps
you can offer a solution. Handloader magazine, particularly your
articles, have always been the definitive, trustworthy source and
hence my letter. If you dont want
to do a complete article, perhaps
you could forward a couple of
loads that could get me started.
B.W., Irmo SC
A: Prior to the .357 Magnum being introduced in 1935, Smith &
Wesson offered its big N-frame or
Rim Rock Bullets .net

Premium Cast Lead Bullets
Cowboy
.25
.32
.38
.38
.38
.38-40
.44-40
.45LC
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120 GR.
125 GR.
130 GR.
180 GR.
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200 GR.
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RNFP/500
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TC /500
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.32 Keith125 GR. SWC /500

.380
95 GR. RN /500
9mm 115 GR. RN /500
9mm 125 GR. RN /500
.38
148 GR. DEWC/500
.38
158 GR. SWC /500
.40
180 GR. RNFP /500
.45ACP 200 GR. SWC /500
.45ACP 230 GR. RN /500
.45LC 255 GR. SWC /500
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158 GR.
180 GR.
230 GR.
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305 GR.
260 GR.
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SWC-HP/100
LBT-WFN/100
SWC /100
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This is a good cross reference of the bullets we offer. We have about 144 sets of molds with new molds coming.
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12
44 Frame in .38 Special, which

was known as the .38/44 Heavy
Duty (fixed sights) and .38/44
Outdoorsman (target sights) offered in 1930 and 1931, respectively. Due to these revolvers notably greater strength than S&Ws
K-frame in the same caliber, ammunition companies began offering 38/44 High Velocity loads
that pushed various 158-grain
bullet designs around 1,100 fps,
which became popular. Although
these loads were specified to be
used in S&W 38/44s, Colt New
Service, Single Action Army and
guns of similar strength, in the
event they were dropped into a Kframe revolver, their pressure
limits were not so great that they
would destroy the gun, which explains why their performance
was limited. However, if firing
them in a K-frame revolver became
a regular practice, guns quickly
loosened up and appreciable wear
and stress became apparent.
Others still recognized there was
greater power potential with the
.38/44s and the .38 Special cartridge and began experimenting
with heavy handloads. Notables
included Phil Sharpe, Elmer Keith
and Doug Wesson. These guns were
tested extensively and scientifically with loads that generated
48,500 pounds pressure and beyond. These experiments soon led
directly to the development of the
.357 Magnum.
It is feasible to develop handloads in .38 Special cases that approach .357 Magnum performance
and pressures; however, there are
some warnings that should be
addressed. First, be certain that
these loads are only used in guns
designed to handle this much
pressure and labeled accordingly.
Next, not all .38 Special cases are
constructed with equal strength,
Handloader 290
even from the same manufacturer,

with some being notably thinner
than others. I have seen weaker or
thinner versions separate just
forward of the head when fired
with just a single high-pressure
load. I would suggest using +P
brass (or +P+, if you can find
it) and limit them to just two
firings.
You dont specify what bullets
you would like to load. If you in-
tend to use the ever-popular 158grain jacketed HP, due to the decreased powder capacity of the
.38 Special case and shorter overall cartridge length, a normal
maximum powder charge for the
.357 Magnum must be reduced.
For example, a maximum charge
for the .357 would be around 16.5
to 17.0 grains of Hodgdon H-110,
depending on lot number and
exact bullet, but in the .38 Special
case this charge should be reduced
to 14.5 to 15.0 grains
maximum, and it will
yield similar pressures
but somewhat less velocity.
A couple of classic .38/44
loads and bullets that are
The .38 Special can be
handloaded with .357
Magnum components, but
these comparatively highpressure loads should only
be used in .357 Magnum
guns or guns designed to
handle similar pressures.
June-July 2014
also popular for use in .357 Magnum revolvers include bullets from
either Lyman Thompson gas-check
mould 358156 (155 to 160 grains,
depending on alloy) or Lyman
Keith mould 358429 (173 grains).
The Thompson bullet should be
seated and crimped in the lower
crimp groove, for an overall length
of 1.530 inches, which effectively
increases powder capacity. A suggested maximum charge of H-110
powder is 14.5 grains for around
1,300 to 1,350 fps in most revolvers. The Keith bullet should be
used with a maximum charge of
14.0 grains, which yields around
1,250 fps in most revolvers. For
reliable ignition with H-110 in
all temperatures, a small pistol
magnum primer is suggested.
These loads will produce similar
pressures as factory loaded .357
Magnum ammunition, which is
generally around 5 percent below current SAAMI guidelines of
36,000 psi. But again, these loads
should only be used in guns designed to handle such pressures.
13
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If you are not set up to cast bullets, in spite of heavy orders, they
are generally available from commercial cast bullet companies.
.35 REMINGTON
Q: Thank you for your articles in
Handloader magazine, especially
those addressing loads for modern strong guns in .45 Colt and
.45-70.
Could you provide similar data
for a Marlin Model 336 .35 Remington? I would like to use the
200-grain Hornady and 220-grain
Speer FN bullets at velocities similar to those claimed by Buffalo
Bore. More specifically, they list a
220-grain bullet at 2,200 fps.
Also, who would you recommend
for action and trigger work on
Marlin leverguns?
R.P., Waycross GA
A: There are a number of semiauto, pump and other actions that
are really not suitable for increased
pressure .35 Remington handloads.
Current industry maximum average pressures are established at
35,000 CUP, with most factory ammunition being loaded around 7 to
10 percent below that figure.
The modern Marlin Model 336
Hodgdon H-4895 powder is a top

choice for +P-style .35 Remington loads
intended for Marlin lever-action rifles.
can safely withstand greater pressures, even exceeding 40,000 CUP.

Using the Speer 220-grain bullet,
I suggest starting with 36.0 grains
of Hodgdon H-4895 and carefully increasing the charge to 38.0 grains,
watching for signs of excess pressure. This load will produce the velocities you desire.
Regarding Marlin action and trigger work, DRC Guns (4201 East
Renfro Street, Alvarado TX 76009);
Brockmans (www.brockmansrifles
.com); and Grizzly Custom Guns
(www.GrizzlyCustom.com) each
do excellent work, but some have a
significant backlog, and it is worth
researching how fast their turnaround times are before making
your choice.
.40 S&W
Q: I have been handloading the .40
S&W for more than 15 years. My
standard load consists of the 165grain Speer Gold Dot HP or 165grain Speer TMJ FN bullet (for
inexpensive practice) with 6.5
grains of Alliant Unique. Not only
am I having a hard time finding
bullets on a regular basis, but also
I have not been able to find any
Unique powder (through mail
order or locally) for more than a
year. Dealers tell me they just
cant get it anywhere. I did purchase one pound of IMR SR-7625
and two pounds of Hodgdon Universal in an effort to use them as
substitutions.
My question is, can you offer a
suggested load with both of these
14
Handloader 290
IMR SR-7625 and

Hodgdon Universal
powders can be
used to handload
the .40 S&W.
powders that will give velocities

similar to what I was getting with
Unique? I am using mostly Winchester and Starline cases and
Winchester Small Pistol primers.
Thanks in advance for your help.
M.L., Lake Stevens WA
A: You are not alone, as finding
components is difficult regardless
of where you live. From most .40
S&W pistols with around 4- to
4.5-inch barrels, your load will
produce just over 1,100 fps. To

duplicate that velocity with IMR
SR-7625, try 6.7 grains. Switching to Hodgdon Universal powder,
6.3 grains will produce approximately the same velocity. Naturally, the slight burn rate differences from one production lot
number of powder to the next can
change these figures slightly, but
they will be close to your original
handload.
.32 S&W Long

Q: I have a New Model Ruger Single-Six .32 H&R Magnum with a
458-inch barrel, for which I would
like to handload .32 S&W Long
cartridges with cast bullets. Any
thoughts what might be the optimum bullet diameter for the
Ruger?
Also, are you aware of anyone
that can convert this New Model
Ruger to an old model hammer
function with half-cock, etc.?
G.B., via e-mail
A: Consider yourself lucky to own
a Ruger .32 H&R Magnum, as it is
accurate and highly sought after. I
have owned and fired many of

these sixguns over the years, and
the throats of each measured .313
inch. Standard jacketed bullet diameter for this cartridge is .312
inch, but sizing cast bullets to .313
inch generally gives the best accuracy. I suspect this will likewise be
the best choice for your .32 S&W
Long handloads.
Regarding converting your New
Model Single-Six into old model
function, contact Jim Stroh
(www. alphaprecisioninc.com). I
have seen his work and fired his
custom guns, and he will do a topnotch job.
The Ruger New

Model SingleSix .32 H&R
Magnum can
be used with
.32 S&W Long
cartridges. Cast
bullets sized
to .313 inch
generally
give the best
accuracy.
June-July 2014
15
NORMA 200
PROPELLANT PROFILES
by R.H. VanDenburg, Jr.
or almost three years, I have

been sitting on a secret: knowledge that Western Powders of Miles
City, Montana, would be the new
distributer of Norma canister powders in the U.S. I had remained
dutifully silent, awaiting the day
when samples of the new lots
would be available for review and
subsequent reporting. However,
within the past year, somebody
let the cat out of the bag, and my
long-awaited announcement of this
new and important relationship
now carries all the weight of an invitation to leftovers for supper.
packaging. For the past 50 years

or so, Norma powders imported
into the U.S. arrived in red-andblack metal cans with a paper
label denoting the powder name.
Western, to its credit, was able to
arrange for the powders to be
shipped in bulk, with all packaging and labeling to be done in
Miles City. The new containers
are plastic with a screw-on top
and an attractive label. As before,
the powders are manufactured by
Bofors, a large European powder
company, for Norma. Both are located in Sweden.
One aspect salvaged from the

wreck, so to speak, is that I havent
seen in print any discussion of
When samples arrived in the

spring of 2013, I still had samples
of earlier lots of each of the pow-
ders in the metal containers and

was anxious to do some side-byside comparisons. There are some
differences in the series. My older
lots of rifle powders included
Norma 200, 201, 202, 203-B, 204,
URP, MRP and MRP-2. At one
time there was a 203, replaced by
203-B, and a 205 replaced by MRP.
This latest series includes 200,
201, 202, 203-B, 204, URP, MRP
and 217. MRP-2 has been dropped.
Norma 217 is a very slow burning
powder developed principally for
the .30-378 Weatherby Magnum,
.338 Lapua Magnum and the Remington Ultra Mag series. There is
also a new powder for the .50 BMG
and related cartridges. Norma also
offers a line of handgun powders,
but Western has not imported any
of them to date.
All the Norma powders are of extruded, double-base design with a
single perforation. The first powder elected to work with was the
fastest burning of the series, Norma
200. Its makeup is 88.5 percent
nitrocellulose and 4.5 percent nitroglycerin, with the balance being
coatings, stabilizers and so forth.
The nominal length is 1.1mm (.043
inch) with a diameter of .67mm
(.026 inch). The single perforation
is .12mm (.0047 inch), leaving a
wall thickness of .275mm (.0108
inch). Energy is listed a 3,940 J/g
and bulk density as .870 g/cc.
Most sources put 200s burning
rate somewhere between IMR4227 on the fast side and IMR-4198
on the slower. To narrow the gap
a bit more, it is close to Accurate
1680. Not all sources agree, however, with some listing the powder
as slow as 4198. No matter, really,
as handloaders should always
work with published data. To that
end, Western has assured me that
all current and future load devel-
16
Handloader 290
opment will include the Norma

powder line where appropriate.
Norma 200 is not particularly versatile, being best suited for small
capacity cases, such as the .22
Hornet and the .222 family of cartridges. However, it performs admirably in the .30-30 Winchester,
with light bullets in the .308 Winchester and even in the large expansion-ratio cases, such as the
.45-70 and the .458 Winchester Magnum with light-for-caliber bullets.
My first effort was to compare
the relative burning rate of this
new lot to the older one. My instinct was to assume that the older
lot would likely be faster burning,
as I live in a relatively dry area of
the country, and it seemed likely
the older lot would have lost some
Selected Loads
Norma 200
bullet
(grains)
50 .223 Remington
55 .223 Remington
150 .30-30 Winchester
170 .30-30 Winchester
110 .308 Winchester
130 .308 Winchester
125 8mm Mauser
300 .45-70
350 .45-70
charge
(grains)
velocity
(fps)
24.5
23.5
29.3
27.8
45.0
42.5
45.5
50.0
50.0
44.0
3,397
3,224
2,245
2,089
3,288
2,986
2,983
2,049
1,963
1,771
of its moisture content over the

years. When old and new lots were
fired side by side, thats exactly
what happened with every cartridge and bullet weight. The only
problem was that I seemed to have
arrived at the correct answer but
for the wrong reasons. The old lot,
while slightly faster burning it
ranged from 65 to 108 fps with the
lightest bullets showing the greatest difference and the heaviest
bullets the slightest consistently
better reflected the published velocities of Norma Reloading Manual, Edition No. 1. This forced me
to conclude that the older lot had
not changed over the time Ive had
it, but that this new lot was simply
a bit slower burning. It is worth
noting, however, that the newer
lot consistently produced slightly
smaller groups.
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It is also interesting to note that

while most of my older lot canisters came labeled as containing
one pound of powder, the Norma
200 can shows a net weight of 500
grams. This translates to 17.637
ounces, rather than the expected
16.
Wishing to confirm my observations regarding the relative burning rate of the new lot of Norma
200, a friend at Western was contacted. It appears that no such
blanket statement can be made regarding the powders and lots sent
to Western. What I found regarding 200 must be considered only in
the light of that powder.
The smallest cartridge elected to
try with Norma 200 was the .223
Remington with 50- and
55-grain bullets. Published data exists for
bullets of 50 to 60 grains
comments
with 200 in the Norma
Reloading Manual, Edition No. 1 and down to
35-grain bullets in some
other sources. Almost
needless to say, there
are powders that will
produce higher velocicast
ties in this cartridge
than Norma 200. Howcast
ever, performance as a
Be Alert Publisher cannot accept responsibility for errors in published load data.
June-July 2014
CJN
(Continued on page 71)
17
HOW TO
BREAK IN A NEW GUN
PISTOL POINTERS
very common question is:

How do you break in a
gun? Scholarly papers have been
written telling us to fire one shot
and clean the bore. Do that four
more times; then you can fire two
shots and repeat the
process. They can be
very convincing but
lack only one small
thing proof. They
are always based on
the opinion of someone who may have
the best credentials
on the planet and
may even be right,
but doing it still requires a leap of faith
and lots of patience.
If the object is to
make a barrel more
accurate by ironing
out minute flaws and
conditioning the bore, that sounds
reasonable. Since the only way
we have to evaluate a barrel, however, is to shoot it; but once it is
fired just once, the barrel is no
longer the same so all bets are
off. All barrels are laws unto themselves. No matter how good the
maker is, no two are identical.
by Charles E. Petty
While those instructions are generally offered for rifle barrels,
some overly enthusiastic folks do
the same for handguns. This is,
bluntly, the height of folly. Even if
it did matter, wed never see it, be-
A brand-new Kimber Team Match 9mm

is field-stripped.
cause all the other much larger

variables in gun, ammunition and
shooter hide small stuff. In benchrest rifles, .10 inch may be significant, but with handguns . . . not
so much.
The concept of breaking in has
Left, a clean,
dry patch is run
through the
bore. Above, the
slide is inspected
for unusual wear.
changed over time, because the

commercial pistols of today rarely
need anything beyond a function
test. Not too long ago, we were
told to shoot a minimum of 200
rounds before pronouncing any
pistol fit for duty
use. The last time
my department issued a new pistol,
we fired 50 rounds
for qualification and
went merrily on our
way. When I retired
five years later, they
kindly gave me the
pistol with an unblemished reputation for reliability.
I still believe we
need to shoot a new
gun maybe as much
as 200 rounds, not
only for the guns sake but to
break in ourselves and become
comfortable and familiar with the
new gun. Even if we are shooting
the same ammunition weve always used, we need to become familiar with how it feels under
recoil. A good example is in the
way polymer frames feel com-
pared to steel or aluminum, for

they often seem to have a bit less
felt recoil, because the polymer
flexes just a bit and softens the recoil impulse.
I get to shoot quite a few new pisHandloader 290
developed a sure-fire
squelch for that: Find a
gun that wont work
with any other lube but
yours, and Ill agree.
Works every time.
A drop of lube is placed on the slide rail.
tols as they come from the maker

and have developed a routine practice before even thinking about
going to the range. New guns get
a short function test before they
leave the factory, but there doesnt
seem to be a standard practice.
Many manufacturers fire one magazine, usually ball ammunition.
Thats fine because it provides
some wear marks to see if everything looks right. So my first step
is to field strip the pistol. It is not
a crime to read the directions if
it is an unfamiliar product. Sometimes new guns come awash with
preservative, so it may be prudent
to wipe down the outside before
doing anything. Run a clean, dry
patch through the barrel. Excess
fluid in the bore might cause pressure problems. Then carefully examine everything for any unusual
signs of wear.
When reassembling the gun, that
is the time to apply fresh lube. If
you want to start a small war, just
tell someone that your favorite
lube is best. Ive had a few salesmen tell me theirs was, and Ive
A drop of lube on the muzzle finishes
the lubrication.
June-July 2014
I have two work

benches, a loading bench
and a range box. Each
has several different
lubes, and I always use
the one thats closest.
Most instruction booklets clarify
where to apply lube. Too much
can be just as bad as not enough.
For pistols, that is usually a drop
on each slide rail, one on the barrel at the muzzle and another over
the chamber with the slide closed.
Cycle the slide a couple of times
and youre done.
High Plains
Reboring & Barrels, L.L.C.
Offering Button and

Cut-Rifled Barrels.
Most calibers and twist rates
Some AR-15 barrels available
Contact: Norman Johnson
nrjonsn@westriv.com
Phone: 701-448-9188
243 14th Avenue NW
Turtle Lake, ND 58575
The next step is to check the

function of all safeties and head to
the range. Most mass-produced
pistols are not fitted tightly
enough to need many rounds to
settle in, but a true custom gun
may require more. Last year I rewarded myself with one of Les
Baers Boss 1911s. Over the years
Ive tested a number of his guns,
and without exception they are as
tight as a well-fed tick. Les recommends 500 rounds of ball equivalent ammunition.
When the gun came, I had to tap
the muzzle against a bench pad
just to free the lockup, and it was
well past 200 rounds before it was
not so hard to rack the slide. With
every Baer gun Ive tested, they
functioned perfectly from day
one. With any tight gun, the acid
test is function with my everyday load, a 200-grain LSWC with
4.0 grains of Titegroup. It gives 750
fps and 10-shot
groups of 2.0 to
2.5 inches at 50
yards from a good
gun. Even though
it is quite a bit below the published
starting load, it
has worked in almost every .45 pistol Ive tried; and
19
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20
Another company also suggests

500 rounds with another thought
in mind; that it takes a high volume of shooting just for the new
gun to become as comfortable to
the shooter as an old shoe. I like
that idea, as long as it is divided
over a number of sessions. Of
course, you can shoot 500 rounds
in a few hours, but there is no
learning there, except maybe how
to flinch and jerk the trigger. It is
just converting money to noise.
When we talk about most pistols,
sometimes all we need is a check
ride. A couple of times around the
pattern will reveal most of the
stuff we need to know, and if anything needs work, it will usually
show up pretty soon.
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after 50 rounds of ball, it worked

in Baers gun too.
If someone wants a gun for any

sort of serious competition, its a
different story, because accuracy
is a big deal. Realistically there is
only one way to find that out, and
that is to do a real test by shooting
groups. Posting a forum question
about accuracy will surely provoke dozens of answers, all of
which are largely irrelevant. The
reason is simple: Even if the correspondents have the same model
gun and same load, they dont
have yours.
Every time I see one of those
questions, nobody ever asks, How
well can you shoot? If someone
says fine, how does that help us
formulate an answer. Back when
lots of shooters took part in NRAsanctioned events, their classification made it easy, but recreational
shooting these days doesnt generate a scorecard.
The next question should be,
Why does it matter to you? Good
quality modern pistols should easily be capable of hitting a mansized target at 50 yards. Most
tactical instructors will say if
you need to shoot something that
far away, you should have brought
a rifle.
One of the things heard often is
a post saying, My gun jams. I am
Handloader 290
often tempted to ask, Strawberry

or grape? There are an endless
number of reasons for stoppages
or malfunctions, but the one least
often considered, and most often
responsible, is shooter error. Most
pistols require a firm grip to function properly because a loose hold
allows the whole hand to recoil
and absorb some of the energy
needed for reliable operation. In
addition to shooter error, the most
common causes are magazines and
ammunition.
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Todays factory ammunition is really good, and most of the older

issues about guns that wouldnt
feed hollowpoints have been laid
to rest, although sometimes old
wives tales keep being repeated.
Both gun and ammunition makers
try one anothers stuff to make
sure it works. Handloads that are
either too light or too hot can be a
problem, and some shooters still
believe all you have to do to be
well armed is shoot stuff that has
the most recoil, noise and muzzle
blast.
For almost all of my adult life,
the custom 1911 has been the centerpiece of my shooting. First
there was gunsmith training in the
USAF, and then as a serious bullseye shooter and finally as a writer.
Now I see two classes of custom
1911 pistols: those built with accuracy as primary and those whose
claim to fame is purely cosmetic.
My mentor, the late Bob Day, had
no use at all for anything that
didnt contribute to the guns accuracy. Excessive polishing that didnt do anything but look nice he
called eyewash.
If a gun is to be used for defense,
it should be fired with the intended
duty ammunition until it is proven
reliable. That might be 50 rounds
or many more, depending on individual results, but before one
starts burning the expensive stuff,
initial shooting can be done with
generic ammunition. There really
are no rules for this, so shoot as
much as it takes to become comfortable with the gun.
June-July 2014
21
DAN WESSON ARMS

FROM THE HIP
by Brian Pearce
y first Dan Wesson revolver

was a slightly used, fixedsighted Model 11 .357 Magnum
with a 4-inch barrel. It was purchased from a portion of the profits from coyote, fox and bobcat
pelts gleaned from my trapline.
The lockwork was an interesting
departure from competing companies but was reliable. In spite of
being accurate, it failed to shoot to
point of aim with my handloads
and, in general, fell short as a
practical hunting and field gun. It
was soon traded off toward a fine
Smith & Wesson (pre-Model 27)
.357 Magnum with a 5-inch barrel
and adjustable sights.
My next experience with Dan Wesson revolvers occurred my senior
year in high school, when I was invited to participate in an International Handgun Metallic Silhouette
Association match. This event required 40 shots being fired at eight
stations at distances of 50, 100,
150 and 200 meters. I had grown
up shooting sixguns at game and
at a variety of long-range targets,
and toppling the steel chicken,
pig, turkey and ram targets was
almost second nature, not to mention fun. When the scores were
tallied, I came in second place,
and I couldnt help but notice that
the first-place winner, an experienced competitor, was holding a
Dan Wesson Model 15 with an
8-inch heavy barrel. I quickly congratulated him on his win and fine
The Dan Wesson rear sight was fully

adjustable and provided a sharp sight
picture.
shooting, but also wanted to examine his gun and discuss handloads.
Quality handguns were hard to
find during the 1970s, but I soon
managed to get my hands on a Dan
Wesson Model 15 with a 6-inch
barrel. By this time I had several
.357 Magnum revolvers including
a Colt Python, Ruger Blackhawk
and the Smith & Wesson. In sideby-side shooting comparisons with
a variety of loads that included
cast and jacketed bullets, the Dan
Wesson proved the most accurate
of them all. It may have lacked the
smooth, double-action pull of the
Colt or Smith & Wesson, but its
accuracy was astonishing, and it
became clear why it had earned
such an outstanding reputation
among silhouette competitors who
demanded top accuracy.
Dan Wesson Arms was founded
by Dan Wesson, the great-grandson of the colorful Daniel Baird
Wesson, famous co-founder of
Smith & Wesson. At the age of
22, he went to work for Smith &
Wesson as a machine operator
making tools but was soon promoted to the machine shop. His
tool-and-die making skills were
outstanding, as was his insight
22
Handloader 290
to make tools that significantly

helped production. By 1941 he was
promoted to assistant plant superintendent and by 1963 became
plant superintendent, where he
helped improve production processes and contributed heavily to
Smith & Wessons success. In 1966
the Bangor Punta Company purchased controlling shares, which
prompted Dan Wesson to resign
from the company.
In 1968 he formed D.B. Wesson
Arms, located in Monson, Massachusetts, and began shipping production revolvers in August 1970.
These early guns, the Model 11
(fixed sights) and Model 12 (adjustable target sights), featured
readily interchangeable barrels that
had an external barrel nut, giving
them something of a futuristic
look but was generally considered
homely by traditionalists. The cylinder locked at the rear, but there
was also a unique crane-mounted
cylinder latch, which locked the
front of the cylinder and helped
hold it in alignment with the barrel. The cylinder latch release took
some getting used to when compared to those of Colt and Smith
& Wesson double-action revolvers,
and it was not warmly received.
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By 1971 these guns were improved and became the Models 14

and 15, with fixed and target sights,
respectively. The barrel nut was
recessed, and the frame was resculptured, both of which improved
external cosmetics, but there were
many other features that made this
gun truly unique and enhanced its
accuracy and shootability. The
fully adjustable rear sight was upgraded and featured a sharp sight
picture that eliminated shadows,
while the front blade was interchangeable and available with optional color inserts. Stocks were
available in a variety of styles and
wood types and were of a onepiece style that slipped over the
grip frame block and were secured
via a single screw.
The hammer fall was very short
and gave unusually quick lock
time, and there was a trigger stop
screw within the trigger that could
June-July 2014
23
Dan Wesson
revolvers, such as
the Model 15 .357
Magnum, featured
readily interchangeable barrels. Note
how slim the actual
barrel is (bottom),
while a shroud
(center) slips over
the barrel. The
barrel is threaded
at both ends, which
helps make it rigid
and contributes
to accuracy.
be adjusted to control overtravel.

Action parts were fully drop-in
interchangeable, which kept production costs down and simplified
repairs.
Pistol Bullets
The interchangeable barrel system was truly unique and could

be changed in just a couple of minutes with a factory-supplied tool.
The actual barrel is a rather thin
rod that measures around .530
inch diameter and is threaded at
each end. It is threaded into the
frame and a feeler gauge (factory
suggested at .006 inch, although
I set them tighter) is used as a
spacer between the barrel and the
face of the cylinder to set the barrel-cylinder gap. The barrel shroud
slides over the barrel, and a nut is
threaded onto the muzzle and
tightened with the hand tool. Barrel lengths measured from 2 to 15
inches, while shrouds were available with solid and vented ribs and
with standard and heavy weight
configurations.
and
and
The barrels were straight, sharply
rifled and beautifully made. The

factory claimed their being under
tension at both ends increased
stability and therefore accuracy.
Regardless, these guns offered
amazing accuracy. I am aware of
one shooter who mounted a scope
on an 8-inch barreled Model 15
and experimented with .357 Magnum handloads until he obtained
sub-one-inch groups at 100 yards.
Dan Wesson passed away unexpectedly in November 1978, two
months after I had the privilege of
meeting him. His son Seth carried
on the business and eventually
conducted business under Wesson
Firearms Co., Inc. In addition to
the Models 14 and 15, the company produced a variety of frame
sizes to house the .41 and .44 Magnums, .45 ACP and .45 Colt, and
stretched frames to accommodate
the .357 Maximum, .375, .414 and
.445 Super Magnums, etc., with select versions available in stainless
steel. There was even a .22 LR, .32
Magnum, .32-20 and a variety of
Ammunition
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24
The 1970 vintage

Dan Wesson
Model 12 (left)
featured an
external barrel
nut, while the
improved Model
15 had a countersunk barrel nut,
which improved
appearance.
Handloader 290
specialty revolvers, some with

fixed barrels and custom options.
Unfortunately, a combination of
events caused the Wesson family
to lose the business, then regain it,
but eventually they were forced to
close its doors. Most of the remaining assets were purchased
and moved to New York, but that
company sold to CZ-USA around
1995. Company officials at CZ have
plans to bring the Dan Wesson revolver back and have even developed CNC programs and built a
few prototype stainless steel revolvers, which I have examined,
and they look very nice. But the
company is so busy producing a
variety of high-quality Model 1911
pistols that it is hesitant to spend
resources to launch the revolver.
Nonetheless, Ive been assured the
revolver is forthcoming as soon as
it is feasible.
***
EWK Arms
Finding the original barrel nut
June-July 2014
wrenches for Dan Wesson revolvers is very difficult, but EWK

Arms (www.ewkarms.com) offers
a great tool that is probably better
than the originals and is available
factory direct for $25.00. In addition to being well machined, the
center pilot is made from aluminum and fits the bore diameter
perfectly, a combination that is unlikely to cause wear or damage
while changing barrels.
EWK Arms offers an interchangeable

front sight for Dan Wesson revolvers,
such as this all-steel version void of the
red polymer insert.
EWK Arms also offers interchangeable front sight blades for

Dan Wesson revolvers, including
plain black (all steel), which is a
significant improvement over the
standard polymer-colored insert
blades that were so commonly
found on these revolvers.
The EWK Arms Dan Wesson barrel nut

wrench features an aluminum guide to
reduce bore wear and prevent damage.
25
11.15X60R MAUSER
CARTRIDGE BOARD
rior to the cartridge era, Germany consisted of many small

states. The infantry weapons of the
brief Franco-Prussian War (July
1870 to January 1871) were largely
the Prussian Dreyse and French
Chassepot needle guns. Both were
bolt-action single shots.
The needle (firing pin) of the

Dreyse penetrated the base and
the complete powder charge of its
paper cartridge, striking a pellet of
fulminate of mercury embedded in
the base of a papier-mache sabot
holding the bullet. Bore diameter
was 15.43mm (.607 inch), but bullet diameter was only 13.6mm (.535
inch). Also firing a paper cartridge,
the Chassepot needle had only to
penetrate the base of the cartridge
where the percussion primer was
located. Caliber was 11mm (.433
inch).
Both the Dreyse and Chassepot
designs had been proven by many
years service, but gas leakage at
the breech could be severe, and
black-powder fouling often made
seating the paper cartridges difficult.
Performance of self-contained
metallic cartridges in the American Civil War was immediately
by Gil Sengel
These dimensions may differ
from other sources, but most
are measured from cartridges
in Gils collection. Dimensions
for the M71/84 are the same as
the M71 except overall length.
3.025
OAL
M71/84-Repeater
M71-Single Shot
Cartridge Dimensions
A - Overall Length -------------3.090

B - Case Length----------------2.376
C - Length to Neck------------1.576
D - Length to Shoulder-------1.433
known in Europe. They were the

future. Bavaria saw this and acted
first, just before the Franco-Prussian War.
The rifle adopted by Bavaria in
1869 was designed by JohannLudwig Werder, director of the
Cramer-Klett Machine Factory in
Nrnberg. He had several mechanical inventions to his credit before
building a metallic cartridge rifle
using a rear-pivoted, Peabody-type
action. Operations of the mecha-
E - Rim Diameter ----------------.590

F - Head Diameter --------------.516
G - Shoulder Diameter ---------.512
H - Neck Diameter --------------.466
I - Shoulder Angle -------------857
nism and the lockwork were entirely new. This was about 1865-66.
It is important to note that Paul
Mauser was working on his prototype bolt-action cartridge rifle
design (that would become the
Model 71 rifle) during the same
time frame.
The stage is now set for the introduction of a puzzling feature of
the first German cartridges: the
Mauser base, sometimes called
the Mauser A-base. Here the rim
area is made at least twice as thick
as necessary. The outside edge of
the rear of the base is then swaged
down in a radius curve to form a
rim of normal thickness. A ring of
thick metal in the center of the
base around the primer remains.
The cartridge drawing shows this
clearly.
Original drawings for both the
Werder rifle (before military adoption) and Paul Mausers prototypes
exist. Both show functioning of
the rifles using cartridges having
the Mauser base. The fact that two
very different designs used the
Mauser base case would seem to
26
Handloader 290
indicate that it was not needed by

the rifle design, but rather was required for case construction.
It is known that very early German
cases were made of both drawn
copper tubes closed at one end
then the same from different alloys of brass. The rim was formed
like a modern .22 rimfire but with
no hollow space for priming compound, as these cases were centerfire. In the U.S. this was called
folded-head construction. German cases then had a ring of metal
pressed and crimped against the
inside of the base, extending forward about a quarter-inch. This
operation was possibly the reason
for the strange base. There are
other theories involving extraction, extractor function, mass production and on and on.
At any rate, when the Werder rifle
was adopted by Bavaria in April
1869, it fired a slightly bottlenecked
cartridge having a Mauser base
and a swaged lead bullet of about
11.5mm (.453 inch) diameter weigh-
28
ing 22 grams (340 grains). Its blackpowder charge was 4.3 grams (66.4
grains). Only a few of these rifles
saw service in the Franco-Prussian War.
Prussia had been looking at
Mausers experimental rifle just
before the war. These tests resumed after the conflict. It is not
known what cartridges were used
in the Mauser before the war, but
when testing resumed, Bavarian
Werder rounds were obtained and
the Mauser modified to fire them.
Then, almost immediately, bullet
weight was increased to 25 grams
(385 grains) and decreased in diameter to caliber 11mm actual
bullet diameter is not given in my
references. The case was lengthened from 50mm to 60mm, and
the powder charge was increased
to 5 grams (77.2 grains).
The black powder used in the
Werder cartridges was known as
Bavarian new gunpowder, consisting of 76 parts saltpeter, 10
parts sulfur and 14 parts coal.

Some lots worked well enough,
but others gave great differences
in performance from shot to shot.
The Prussians changed to a powder of their manufacture, yet it left
too much fouling. English Curtis &
Harvey performed best! A change
in the manufacturing process then
resulted in an adequate powder.
Production started in late 1871 for
what was standardized as Rifle
Powder 71.
An increased powder charge and
higher quality powder gave greater
muzzle velocity. It also caused bore
leading problems. A grease wad
under the bullet and a paper patch
on the slugs driving surface controlled the leading while also decreasing powder fouling. It was in
this final form that the Cartridge
M/71 was adopted to be fired in
the new Model 71 Mauser singleshot infantry rifle. It produced
1,410 fps from the rifles 32.6-inch
barrel.
Unfortunately, the folded-head
Handloader 290
case was subject to failure at the

base and sidewalls. Such failures
released gas back toward the
shooter and hindered extraction.
A two-piece case having a solid
base riveted to a brass tube that
was closed at the rear worked
well but was difficult to produce.
Then, in 1874, a drawn-brass case
was perfected that eliminated all
such problems.
The M/71 (11.15x60R) round had
its bullet tip flattened when a tubular magazine was added to the
Model 71 rifle in 1884, creating the
Model 71/84. Occasional misfires
were eliminated by a modified
primer, and an improved black
powder was used beginning in
1881. It was this cartridge and rifle
that is considered to be the finest
black powder military combination ever produced. It was replaced
by the 7.9x57mm and Model 88
Commission Rifle in 1888. German
government production of M/71
rounds stopped in 1893.
Today new empty brass is listed,

though expensive, while loading
dies and bullet moulds are likewise available. New reproduction
or substitute black powders allow
a lot of shooting without fouling
buildup. Since the rifles are not
hard to find and most all seem to
have excellent bores (I have no
idea why), firing a real piece of
shooting history is eminently possible today.
Other military cartridges consisted of the usual training dummies and the ubiquitous blank
round used for ceremonial purposes. These rounds and standard
ball loads are not rare today. This
is probably because both the
Model 71 and Model 71/84 rifles
were sold to other governments
when Germany rearmed with the
Model 88 rifle. Eventually many of
these appeared on the surplus
market in the U.S. and Canada.
Commercial ammunition, which
only duplicated the military ball
load, was loaded in at least Germany, Austria, Britain, France, the
U.S., Canada and probably China.
All this ended before World War II,
but CIL of Canada (under the Dominion brand) listed the round
until at least 1970. The company
even offered shot cartridges loaded
with No. 6s!
It should also be mentioned that
other names for the M/71 round
include 11.15x60R (used by everybody), 11mm Mauser, 11x60R
Mauser and .43 Mauser (common
in the U.S. and Canada). There are
several very similar rounds that
are not interchangeable.
June-July 2014
29
GUN-WRITER WISDOM
MIKES SHOOTIN SHACK
here are things we think we

know from reading gun magazines for decades. I call this gunwriter wisdom. One such made a
monkey out of me when a new
Smith & Wesson Model 22 .45 ACP
revolver arrived. I called a friend
at Smith & Wesson to complain
that its shallow rifling would never
handle cast bullets well. His wise
response was, Have you tried it?
No, I had not, because I knew from
reading gun magazines for 50 years
that such rifling would not grip
lead alloy bullets. So just to show
him, I put it in a machine rest and
fired a few Remington .45 AutoRim factory loads with soft, 230grain lead alloy bullets. It put them
in a nice group at 25 yards. I had
30
by Mike Venturino
Mike embarrassed himself

by shooting this group
with very soft lead bullets
in a new S&W Model 22
after he had complained
to a friend at the factory
that its shallow rifling
couldnt possibly shoot
soft lead bullets well.
to call my friend again and admit

to not having any idea about what
I thought I knew.
Another bit of gun-writer wisdom
we all know is that the .44 Special is an inherently accurate revolver cartridge. It is not at least
no more so than others, such as
.38 Special, .357 Magnum, .38-40,

.41 Magnum, .44-40, .44 Magnum,
.45 Colt or .45 Auto-Rim. In fact, I
do not think that revolver cartridges hold the key to inherent
accuracy, which actually is a misnomer for precision.
In my experience, the source of
Handloader 290
revolver accuracy is the quality of

the handgun in which the cartridges are fired, or perhaps better
stated, the match-up of dimensions
of those revolvers. In essence, the
chamber dimensions should coincide with the barrels interior dimensions with a related factor
being the smoothness of the barrels forcing cones. That is taking
for granted that the ammunition
factory load or handload is of
good quality.
Here are some examples. Colt
Single Action Army revolvers have
been stand-out offenders in this regard. Once I owned an early 1980s,
nickel-plated .44 Special
with a 4.75-inch barrel.
From a machine rest, it
would not group 10 shots
under 4 inches at 25 yards.
Why? It had a barrel groove
diameter of .427 inch, as
have all Colt SAA .44 Specials, Russians and .44-40s
nominally. However, its
chamber mouths were all
June-July 2014
.435 inch. I traded it to a fellow for

a Shiloh Sharps .45-70. He didnt
care how well it shot because it
was pretty.
is that pre-World War II Colt SAA
.45s were given barrel groove diameters of .454 inch, while postwar Colts (reintroduced circa 1955)
were given .451-inch groove diameters. Thats not exactly false, but
not exactly true either. I have a
Colt factory spec sheet dated 1922
that gives barrel groove diameters
for both SAAs and New Service
.45s as .451 inch (minimum) and
.452 inch (maximum). For what
its worth, .45 Auto Government

Model specs were .450 and .451
inch.
The true part is that some earlier
Colt SAAs did indeed have .454inch barrel groove diameters. Ive
checked several dating from the
late nineteenth century to early
twentieth century, give or take a
decade (1890s and early 1900s).
Some of those with .454-inch barrels had chamber mouths measuring only .450/.451 inch.
Some gun writers decades back

charged the .45 Colts lack of inherent precision to small charges
of fast-burning, smokeless powders floating about in
its voluminous case. I
The reason many .45
know, for I was one. The
Colt revolvers have
problem, however, was
been less than superwith factory revolver
lative in group shooting
specs and not with powwasnt the fault of the
cartridge itself. The
der charges. In those days
problem was with
Colt, S&W and Ruger
oversize and varying
.45 Colts had .451-inch
chamber mouths.
barrel groove diameters
but .456/.457-inch chamwww.handloadermagazine.com
31
ber mouths. After I started to experiment myself and found that if

lead alloy bullets of .454 and even
.455 inch were fired in those .45
Colts, they became very accurate
with the same powder charges giving poor accuracy with .451/.452inch bullets. Another method to
get around the mishmash dimension problem with .45 Colts was to
use hollowbase, soft lead alloy
bullets. Dave Scovill has covered
his successes with Remingtons
250-grain conical hollowbase in
his columns several times.
that I have come to truly despise
is that we have placed untold emphasis on group shooting in the
Once a varmint rifle will cluster shots

like this, additional group shooting is a
waste of time and components. Instead,
focus on putting bullets in specific spots.
guise of advising readers to hunt

down the best load. There is no
such thing, as Ive come to realize.
Components vary from lot to lot,
so do conditions at the range, and
shooter competence can change
from day to day. In other words,
group shooting past a certain point
is a waste and I actually enjoy
shooting groups!
Once a handload has been found
that delivers bullets into groups
suitably tight for the type of firearm, then further group shooting
gains the shooter nothing. What
are suitable groups? I would say
about 2.0 inches at 25 yards for
non-competition grade pistols and
revolvers. For a scoped bolt-action,
big-game rifle, I am happy with 112
MOA groups at any distance. Of
course, for a varmint rifle, one
should be happy if the rifle delivered clusters about half that. With
my old, iron-sighted leverguns,
groups of 2 to 3 MOA are enough.
Once rifles or handguns reliably
deliver that sort of precision, shooters are far better served by using
their trigger time to actually hit
something with a bullet one at
a time. Thats what I do now with
my various military rifles when
weather and work allow me to
spend an afternoon pleasure shooting from my shooting shack. I
have targets of various sizes at
various ranges out to 300 yards,
and I work at actually hitting what
I am aiming at.
Hows that for a bit of gun-writer
wisdom?
32
Handloader 290
Cooper
Model 54
.243
Winchester
Charles E. Petty
ack in the late 1950s

when the debate du jour
was .243 Winchester versus .244 Remington or
.270 Winchester versus .30-06, I
was conflicted. OConnor soured
me on the .270, and it was common knowledge that 6mm anythings were much too small for
big game. One of the universal
curses of late teens is that things
rarely go where you think they
will, so instead of getting a rifle,
I got the U.S. Air Force.
Bob Maddox shot the Cooper .243

Winchester with an assortment of
factory and handloaded ammunition.
Shooting Midweight Bullets and Modern Powders

34
Handloader 290
Years later when I got out and

needed a deer rifle, it was almost
certain it would be a .30-06. This
time economics intervened, and I
found a great deal on a left-handed
Remington 788 6mm Remington. I
was a bit concerned about power
the first time I went hunting with
the 788, but the deer fell in his
tracks, graveyard dead, with one
shot. Lesson learned.
that didnt kick much. Of course,

orthopedic injuries take awhile,
and a couple of months went by
and it still hurt. Call me a wimp if
you like, but I dont think it fair to
test a rifle if you arent capable of
your best shooting. The good news
is that I have a friend who helps
me often, who is just as good a
shot, so I asked Bob Maddox to do
the shooting.
At home my hunting was geographically confined to deer and

groundhogs, and the 6mm was just
right. That rifle served well, and I
have it still, but I had always been
curious about the .243 Winchester.
Well, when the chance came to test
one of Coopers new magazine-fed,
left-handed rifles, it wasnt hard to
pick a caliber.
Its funny, but nobody at the range

says anything when they see me
shooting a right-handed rifle, but
it drew a crowd when they saw
Bob shooting a port-sided gun. In
a way, it was interesting to watch
through the spotting scope as he
shot, and I saw something pretty
common for light rifles with scope
the Cooper weighs 812 pounds
with skinny barrels. The first two
shots of a group would cuddle
nicely, sometimes well within .5
inch, and the third would double
or triple the group size. Barrel temperature is often thought responsible for stuff like that, and thats
true, especially with a cold barrel.
However, that didnt seem to be
true here, because the phenomenon occurred both with the barrel
nicely warm or stone cold. The
confusing thing is that it didnt do
it all the time.
I am a long-time owner of several

Cooper rifles, all single shots chambered for varmint-class cartridges
like .223 and .22-250 Remingtons.
My very first one, though, was a
.221 Fireball, which most folks
think is obsolete. Its not, just underappreciated.
Coopers well-deserved claim to
fame has two parts: nice wood that
doesnt look like it came out of a
cookie cutter with checkering that
isnt pressed in and a hand-rubbed
finish done just the way they teach
in gunsmithing school. Second is
a virtually endless list of calibers recently expanded to include belted
magnums all the way up to .338 Winchester Magnum, and test targets
that are almost always one hole.
Real cut checkering

and a hand-rubbed
finish set the
Cooper apart.
June-July 2014
A charge of 11.0 grains of Trail Boss and

an 85-grain Sierra bullet gave this 0.17inch, 50-yard group with the Cooper.
When the rifle came, I started

gathering stuff and studying all the
new components available today
and designing a test program. A
jazzy Zeiss Victory FL 4x16 scope
with its new Rapid Z reticle was
mounted, and as the components
arrived, handloading began. Somewhere along the way, I acquired
a pain in my left shoulder. Even
though the .243 Winchester is
hardly a hard-kicker, a few rounds
drove me to the doctor. He poked
and prodded. Does it hurt when
I do this? Owie . . . Well, dont
do this. The x-rays showed no
permanent damage, and the kindly
orthopod said, All you need is a
little tincture of time.
The project went on the back
burner, and I worked with stuff
As is my custom, shooting began

with several factory loads to establish a baseline, and then a series
of handloads were shot. Since the
goal was to look at new components, bullets and powders with
which I had little or no experience
were used. Fortunately, these days
loading data is usually available
by the time components hit the market, so even though three of the four
powders were complete strangers,
I had good starting points. The only
exception was with the 90-grain
bullet and Power Pro 2000-MR,
so I fell back on an old standby,
Reloder 15.
In the last few years powder manufacturing has changed a bunch,
and makers are now able to craft
propellants to fit relatively narrow
niches in the market. Three new
35
Cooper
Handloads used bullets from Berger, Barnes and Swift.
.243 Winchester
powders were chosen: IMR-4007
SSC, Hodgdon Hybrid 100V and
Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR. Bullet
selection is actually problematic,
because you can shoot everything
from 55 up to 115 grains in 6mm
bores. One of the great beauties of
the .243 or 6mm is that it can
live happily in the worlds of both
varmint and big game hunters.
to reduce contact surfaces do

nicely with data for conventional
bullets, but they keep the expansion and weight retention of the
earlier models. The Cooper quickly
delivered a favorite combination
that turned out to be the new IMR4007 SSC (super short cut) and the
Barnes 80-grain TTSX.
Much of my experience has been

with eastern whitetails and the wily
groundhog that frequents mountain pastures that can present shots
at many hundreds of yards. That
caused me to eliminate the lighter
bullets, because they dont do as
Table I
Perhaps the most important ac-
Factory Load Accuracy

load
(grains)
85 Black Hills Barnes TSX

95 Federal Fusion
90 Nosler E-Tip
velocity
(fps)
extreme
spread
(fps)
accuracy
(inches)
3,017
2,769
3,217
66
122
53
1.08; 2 in .41
0.99; 2 in .31
1.51; 2 in 1.01
well in winds, which are a given

condition when shooting across a
valley or two. Deer were whacked
with 85- or 90-grain bullets. So I
started with a Berger 70-grain Target, Barnes 80-grain TTSX (Tipped
Triple-Shock X) and Swift 90-grain
Scirocco II.
TH
TU UML
M ER
BL S
ER
I have been a longtime fan of

the Barnes X-Bullets, and the new
versions with grooves in the body
curacy observation here is

that the majority of loads
tried achieved the vaunted
minute of angle, and the
combination of Barnes and
IMR was almost half that.
Some shooters believe laminate or
composite stocks must be used
for best accuracy, but Cooper has
built its reputation by doing it with
nice walnut, real checkering and a
BRASS MASTER
ULTRA VIBE CASE CLEANERS
TRU-SQUARE METAL PRODUCTS, INC.

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TEL (253) 833-2310 or Toll Free 1-(800) 225-1017 FAX (253) 833-2349
Manufacturers of quality case cleaners, deburring and tumbling equipment since 1959
After Bob was through with the

accuracy testing and load workups,
I really wanted to shoot the little
Cooper; so even though my shoulder was better, I decided to try
some reduced velocity loads using
IMR Trail Boss (Handloader No.
265). Using the formula recom-
All the
powders
used in the
test are
newcomers.
Made of durable steel construction - heavy polyethylene bowl heavyduty, sealed ballbearing
motors - thermally protected - fast,
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capacity - industrial and rotary
models available.
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36
finish applied by hand instead of a

spray gun.
mended by Hodgdon, the case was

first filled with powder to the
point representing the base of the
seated bullet and weighed. Then I
started with 75 percent of the
weight and loaded 9.0-, 10.0- and
11.0-grain charges. Running low
on the Barnes TTSX, an 85-grain
Sierra was used instead.
My early work with Trail Boss in
typical centerfire high-power rifle
cartridges was concerned with velocity and recoil, which provided
only impressions about accuracy.
It seemed pretty good, but I really
wasnt shooting groups. But after
watching the Cooper exhibit what
I think of as skinny barrel accuracy groups getting bigger as the
barrel gets hotter and knowing
that the modest charges of Trail
Handloader 290
Boss do not heat up nearly as fast,

I shot some groups. There was an
absolute correlation between velocity and accuracy.
With most varmint and benchrest
cartridges in the smaller calibers,
best accuracy is usually found at
or near the top of the chart, but
as the Trail Boss loads were shot,
the improvement in accuracy was
dramatic as the speed went up.
That certainly fit the pattern, but
the difference between top charges
of conventional powder with those
of Trail Boss cant be explained
that way. I think heat really is
an issue, because when we shot
equal numbers of rounds with two
classes of powder, the barrel was
too hot to touch after 10 to 15
rounds of stick powder but only
slightly warm after Trail Boss.
That cant be the only factor, however. Logic suggests there is a
Table II
real happy harmonic at around

1,500 fps.
Shooters always learn lessons on
the way to somewhere else, and
this one is great: You dont have
to shoot hot loads to have fun,
and after I finished the formal part
of the Trail Boss test, I loaded up
a bunch of ammunition and set out
on a mission. There are any number of annoying rocks and weeds
out on the backstop that require
attention, so the neat little Cooper
has acquired new status as a highgrade plinker. It doesnt make much
noise, and the modest recoil lets
me clearly see the demise of those
offensive rocks and dirt clods.
The renewed interest in Trail Boss
also brings more opportunities. My
hunting days are limited, but Ive
got more than a few good rifles
languishing in the safe and all
those nasty rocks.
.243 Winchester Handloads
bullet
(grains)
70 Berger Target
powder
IMR-4007 SSC
Hybrid 100V
Power Pro 2000-MR
80 Barnes TTSX
IMR-4007 SSC
Hybrid 100V
Power Pro 2000-MR
90 Swift Scirocco II
IMR-4007 SSC
Hybrid 100V
RL-15
85 Sierra HP
Trail Boss
charge
(grains)
velocity
(fps)
accuracy
(inches)
41.5
43.5
45.5
42.0
44.0
46.0
41.0
43.0
45.0
39.0
41.0
43.0
40.0
42.0
44.0
39.0
41.0
43.0
39.0
40.5
41.5
40.0
42.0
44.0
34.0
36.0
38.0
9.0
10.0
11.0
3,115
3,303
3,520
3,109
3,241
3,424
3,294
3,482
3,619
2,953
3,137
3,313
2,978
3,201
3,389
3,110
3,235
3,411
3,032
3,170
3,309
2,755
2,880
3,000
2,869
3,042
3,168
1,347
1,399
1,478
0.99
1.11
1.71
1.91
1.18
1.90
0.96
1.41
1.19
0.91
0.62
0.59
1.37
1.18
1.30
1.05
1.21
0.77
1.71
1.25
1.42
1.60
1.33
2.50
0.70
0.75
1.03
0.48
0.30
0.17
Notes: The 85-grain Sierra HP loads are reduced recoil. Velocities are the average of five shots at 12
feet. Accuracy is three-shot groups at 100 yards from benchrest.
June-July 2014
37
John Haviland
he .30-30 Winchester is such a

long-lived cartridge, its easy
to become complacent and
load it with a traditional powder and call it good. Recently, though,
I noticed handloading manuals listed
several new powders for the .30-30, a
few of which significantly increased
velocity. After loading and shooting
these powders with 150-, 160- and
170-grain bullets, I found accuracy
was great too.
ACCURATE LT-32
Rob Behr of Western Powders (Accurate and Ramshot) said LT-32 was originally a military surplus powder sold under the Thunderbird name decades ago and
was the powder for the 6mm PPC. We specified a secondary coating for stability, and General Dynamics in
Canada is making it for us, Behr said. LT-32s burning
y 1900s, used
ers, in the earl
ad
te
.
es
m
ho
whitetail deer
These Montana
r a pole full of
fo
s
30
0.3
n
lever-actio
Most of these recent powders are intended primarily

for cartridges like the .223 Remington and .308 Winchester, but as luck would have it, powders suitable
for those cartridges also work well in the .30-30 Winchester. These powders include Accurate LT-32; Alliant Power Pro 1200-R; Hodgdon CFE 223, IMR-8208
XBR and LEVERevolution; and Ramshot TAC.
New Powders for the
.30-30 Win
38
Handloader 290
rate falls between Reloder 7 and H4198, which makes it relatively fast
for the .30-30 Winchester. Its chief
ingredient is nitrocellulose, and
the single-base, extruded powder
has fine kernels.
LT-32 produced fairly high veloc-
ities with 150- and 170-grain bullets

shot from the 24-inch barrel of a
Winchester Model 94 Legacy rifle.
Extreme velocity spreads were 8
fps with 150-grain bullets and 32
fps with 170s. So the loads strange
accuracy was rather mediocre with
Testing New Loads for

Velocity and Accuracy
groups shot with 150- and 170grain bullets having a vertical string
to them.
ALLIANT POWER PRO 1200-R
Alliant states this double-based,
spherical powder provides consistent velocity across a range of temperature and humidity extremes.
The 150- and 170-grain bullets shot
tight groups with 1200-R, with three
Sierra Pro-Hunter 170-grain FN bullets landing in .84 inch. The first
three 150-grain Ballistic Silvertips
shot a 1.46-inch group. To make
sure that group was not a fluke, I
fired three more 150s, and they
clustered in 1.65 inches.
Velocities were about 70 to 100
fps slower than those listed for
150- and 170-grain bullets in the Alliant Reloaders Guide 2013. The
speeds I recorded with the powder
were not all that fast compared to
other powders, but then 1200-R is
a relatively fast burning powder,
Left, with open sights, Hornady 160grain FTX bullets and LEVERevolution
powder shot acceptable 100-yard
groups. Below, jacketed bullets used
to test new powders include (left to
right): Combined Technology 150-grain
Ballistic Silvertip, Hornady 160-grain
FTX and Sierra Pro-Hunter 170-grain
Flat Nose. Bullets cast of wheelweights
from a SAECO 307 180 FPGC mould
(right) were also used.
chester
June-July 2014
and a rather light amount of it

is loaded in the .30-30 Winchester.
For instance, LEVERevolution loads
use about 10.0 grains more powder
than 1200-R. That additional LEVERevolution powder results in a gain
of 200 fps for 150-grain bullets and
39
These powders have been introduced

in the last few years and work well in
the .30 WCF with jacketed bullets.
New Powders for the
.30-30 Winchester
300 fps for 170s. CFE 223 loads
use about 8.0 additional grains of
powder over 1200-R. That extra
powder propels 150-grain bullets
about 170 fps faster and about 150
fps faster with 170-grain bullets.
CFE 223
CFE 223 turned in high, consistent velocities and great accuracy
in the .30-30 Winchester. The Hodgdon 2014 Reloading Annual Manual lists a velocity of 2,409 fps for
Sierra 150-grain Flat Nose bullets
with 36.8 grains of CFE 223. The
Combined Technology 150-grain
Ballistic Silvertip was not far behind with a speed of 2,342 fps 10
feet from the muzzle of the Winchesters 24-inch barrel, burning
36.4 grains of the powder. Extreme velocity spread was a low
14 fps. Sierra 170-grain bullets
reached nearly 2,200 fps with CFE
223.
CFE 223 shot groups slightly

under and over an inch with the
three different bullets. Thats excellent accuracy from a rifle with
a Nikon 1.5-4.5x 20mm scope that
provides just enough definition to
see a one-inch aiming square at
100 yards. Those tight groups only
occur, though, when the barrel remains cool. When the rifle heats
up from six or more shots, the
magazine and forearm clamped on
the barrel act like shackles that
apply stress and cause bullets to
drift off target like leaves carried
on the breeze.
While velocity of 170-grain bullets

was not too impressive with Power Pro
1200-R, accuracy was great.
CFE 223s burning rate is at the

slow end of powders suitable for
the .30-30 Winchester. From a
Model 94 with a 20-inch barrel,
CFE 223s velocity with 150-grain
bullets was nearly 200 fps slower,
and 170s were 100 fps slower than
from a 24-inch barrel.
IMR-8208 XBR
According to Hodgdon, this shortgrain, extruded powder provides
consistent velocities over a wide
range of temperatures. Its velocity
spreads were a low 33 fps with
150-grain bullets and 15 fps with
170s. Accuracy was okay with
150s and 160s, but not so good
with 170s. Velocities were adequate with all three bullet weights.
The Hodgdon manual lists a velocity of 2,181 fps for Sierra 170grain bullets with 30.9 grains of
8208 XBR in Winchester cases and
fired from a 24-inch barrel. From
my rifles 24-inch barrel, the Sierra
bullets had a speed of 2,080 fps
with 30.5 grains of powder loaded
in Remington cases. Extreme ve40
Hodgdon CFE 223 gave Hornady 160grain FTX bullets impressive velocities
and good accuracy.
Hodgdon LEVERevolution and CT 150grain Ballistic Silvertips are difficult to

beat at 2,408 fps.
Handloader 290
Left, cast bullets are

accurate and inexpensive for everyday
shooting, and these
powders provided
good accuracy with
180-grain cast bullets
in the .30 WCF.
Right, Power Pro
1200-R gave 180grain cast bullets
1,400 to 1,900 fps
from the .30 WCF.
Below right, this
group was shot with
180-grain cast bullets
and LT-32.
locity spread was a low 15 fps. Velocity spread was also low at 33
fps with 150-grain Ballistic Silvertips.
LEVEREVOLUTION
This powder gives bullets fired
from the .30-30 Winchester great
speed with good accuracy. It shot
150-, 160- and 170-grain bullets
100, 80 and 200 fps faster, respectively, than any other powder Ive
shot. A nickel covered the holes
June-July 2014
punched by three 150-grain Ballistic Silvertips at 100 yards.

The 160-grain FTX bullets in
Hornadys LEVERevolution .30-30
Winchester factory loads had an
average velocity of 2,333 fps 10
feet in the front of the muzzle of
the Model 94s 24-inch barrel.
From a 20-inch barrel, velocity
was 2,234 fps. Bullets were pulled
from a half-dozen of those Hornady factory loads, and the LEV-
ERevolution powder in the cases

weighed between 34.0 and 35.0
grains. (The LEVERevolution powder Hornady loads, though, may
41
New Powders for the
.30-30 Winchester
not be the same powder that is
available commercially.) The Hodg-
don manual lists a maximum of

35.5 grains of LEVERevolution for
160-grain FTX bullets for a velocity of 2,389 fps. My handloads with
the 160-grain FTX bullets and Rem-
ington cases had a slower average

velocity of 2,263 fps with that
charge weight. Still, that is quite a
bit faster than any other powder
Ive tried.
POWDERS FOR .30-30 WINCHESTER CAST BULLETS

hooting a lever-action .30-30
Winchester is enjoyable, shifting the mind into that neutral
state of fine motor control that
feels the action cycle as the rifle
is slightly lowered from the
shoulder to gain some purchase
to work open the lever, slide it
closed and consider the next
shot. For that shooting, cast bullets are all thats required and
inexpensive to boot.
The Western Powders Reloading & Load Data Guide contains

loads for several of its Ramshot
and Accurate powders with cast
bullets. What caught my eye were
the relatively low pressures listed
for Accurate 2460 and 2520 and
Ramshot Big Game and TAC with
170-grain cast bullets at velocities from 2,000 to 2,200 fps. Those
powders, along with Accurate
LT-32 and Alliant 1200-R, were
loaded with bullets cast of wheelweights from a SAECO 307 180grain FPGC mould to test.
I wanted velocities between
1,700 and 1,900 fps for the wheelweight bullets. With the reduced
charges used to reach those
speeds, pressures are often below the threshold for the powder
to burn consistently. At speeds
of about 1,700 fps, I was disappointed in the vertical stringing
of the bullets caused by the 111to 155-fps swings in velocity produced by A-2460 and A-2520. Magnum primers were substituted
in place of standard primers in
hopes of reducing velocity fluctuation, but they failed to help.
So I gave up on the two powders.
Ramshot TAC and Big Game,
Accurate LT-32 and Power Pro
1200-R produced much more consistent velocities. Velocities with
TAC and Big Game varied about
42
50 fps with speeds of approximately 1,800 fps. Groups showed

little vertical dispersion. At that
speed, groups 2.0 inches and
tighter are pretty good for bullets
cast of wheelweights. Twentyfour grains of Power Pro 1200-R
had a velocity swing of 83 fps,
and 26.5 grains varied 20 fps.
Groups with both powder charges
were nice and round. LT-32 failed
to shoot jacketed bullets all that
well, but for some reason it shot
cast bullets just fine. LT-32 varied
50 fps and three bullets hit inside
an inch of each other.
remaining cartridges through the

Winchester at a clump of dirt
on a hillside. With three good
powders for cast bullets in the
.30-30 Winchester, I could concentrate on a true aim, not the
bullets expense.
I was going to shoot three more

of the loads to verify accuracy.
Instead, I stood and shot all the
New Powders for the .30-30 Winchester

bullet
(grains)
150 CT Ballistic Silvertip
160 Hornady FTX
170 Sierra Pro-Hunter Flat Nose
180 SAECO 307 FPGC cast
powder
A-LT-32
TAC
LEVERevolution
Power Pro 1200-R
IMR-8208 XBR
CFE 223
TAC
CFE 223
LEVERevolution
IMR-8208 XBR
A-LT-32
TAC
IMR-8208 XBR
Power Pro 1200-R
LEVERevolution
CFE 223
A-LT-32
A-2460
A-2520
Big Game
TAC
Power Pro 1200-R
charge
(grains)
velocity
(fps)
100-yard
group
(inches)
29.5
33.0
38.0
28.0
31.5
36.4
30.0
34.0
35.5
30.0
28.3
30.5
30.5
26.5
36.0
34.5
25.0
25.5
26.5
29.5
26.0
24.0
26.5
2,247
2,329
2,408
2,170
2,224
2,342
2,155
2,183
2,263
2,133
2,053
2,072
2,080
2,032
2,359
2,188
1,794
1,747
1,728
1,806
1,856
1,373
1,938
3.20
.99
.63
1.65
3.31
1.07
1.33
.97
2.27
1.94
2.31
.99
3.80
.84
1.70
1.23
.93
3.25
3.83
2.17
1.14
1.12
1.65
Notes: All loads were fired from a Winchester Model 94 Legacy with a 24-inch barrel. Remington
cases and Winchester Large Rifle primers were used throughout. Velocities were recorded 10 feet
from the muzzle using a Chrony Master chronograph.
Handloader 290
Left, this axis deer was shot with a CT

150-grain Ballistic Silvertip fired from
a Marlin 336 .30-30 Winchester.
With that bullet hitting 1.5 inches

above aim at 100 yards, it drops
only 4.0 inches below aim at 200
yards.
RAMSHOT TAC
TAC is my second choice for the
.30-30 Winchester. It was close behind LEVERevolution and CFE
223 in velocity with 150- and 160grain bullets. Groups fired with
Right, this young hunter used an old
.30-30 to take this pronghorn buck.
The Hodgdon manual lists a

slightly heavier maximum weight
of 36.3 grains of LEVERevolution
powder for the Sierra 170-grain
bullet. With 36.0 grains of the powder the Sierra bullets traveled an
average of 2,359 fps. That velocity
is not all that much slower than
what the .300 Savage generates.
June-July 2014
TAC and all three bullet weights

remained close to an inch. The
150-grain Ballistic Silvertips and
170-grain Sierras both shot groups
of .99 inch. To make certain they
were not the result of my wiggles
compensating for my wobbles,
three more Sierra bullets grouped
in 1.10 inches.
Back when the .30-30 Winchester

was introduced in 1895, its smokeless powder load consisted of a
160-grain bullet with a muzzle velocity of 1,970 fps. Over the decades a few dozen powders helped
increase the cartridges velocity.
These new powders further help
keep the .30-30 120 years young.
43
DUPLICATING .45
Above is an M1 Thompson
submachine gun. Middle row
from top: Colt Model 1911,
Colt Model 1911A1, Colt
Model 1917 and a Smith &
Wesson Model 1917. At
right is an M3 grease gun.
Mike Venturino
Photos by Yvonne Venturino
hile predominantly considered a semiautomatic

pistol round, the .45 ACP
is also a fine big-bore,
non-magnum cartridge for both single- and double-action revolvers. It
has also been chambered in carbines
and, of course, American military submachine guns.
44
Conversely, my vault contains 11 .45 ACPs right now

with all but two being former U.S. military firearms or
reproductions thereof. There are even samples of the
vaunted Tommy gun and much less revered grease
gun. Those full-autos are M1 and M3, respectively.
There are Models 1911 and 1911A1, both by Colt, and
three Model 1917s, two by Colt and one Smith & Wesson. The two repros are Colts Model 1911A1 and
Smith & Wessons Model 1917, both made after the
turn of the recent century. Of these nine .45 ACPs, only
one genre of factory load or handload goes through
them: .45 ACP Ball.
The casually informed might think the .45 ACP came
about in the same year as the pistol that made it so
famous 1911. It did not. Colt actually commercially
Handloader 290
B
ALL
L
OADS
ACP
Handloads for Handguns

and Submachine Guns
.45, but at that early date, it remained undecided whether it would

be revolver or autoloader.
As things developed, first there
was the Model 1909 .45 Colt double-action revolver, essentially Colts
New Service in military dress. It
may have been the shortest serving American martial handgun, because the Model 1911 was adopted
just two years later and, conversely,
was Americas longest serving military handgun.
introduced a Model 1905. Its .45
ACP ammunition carried 200-grain
FMJ-RN bullets instead of the 230grain designs later made standard.
Nominal velocity was 910 fps. The
U.S. government also had its Frankford Arsenal prepare experimental
.45-caliber ammunition in 1905,
with both rimmed and rimless case
forms. The government had determined that the next handgun
adopted for service use would be
When American President Woodrow Wilson decided in 1917 to involve the United States in Europes
ongoing war, American military organizations were desperately short
of all weapons, including handguns.
There was no way that Colt or the
governments Springfield Armory,
both then currently making Model
1911s, could produce enough autoloading pistols for the growing
armed forces. Luckily, a bright
Loads for use in autoloading .45 ACP firearms are (left to right): 230-grain military
ball, 220 cast roundnose (Lyman 452374), 224 cast roundnose/flatpoint (RCBS
45-230-CM), 224 roundnose (Oregon Trail Bullet Company) and 230-grain FMJ
(Zero Bullet Company).
thinker at Smith & Wesson had

developed a small, stamped-out,
spring-steel clip into which three
rimless .45 ACPs could be snapped.
This gave double-action revolver
extractors something against which
to push, making them perfectly fine
.45 ACP shooters.
That simple piece of steel, quickly
nicknamed half-moon clip, enabled Smith & Wessons and Colts
large-frame revolvers to be adopted
as substitute standard military
.45 ACP handguns. They were both
designated Model 1917, which I
am sure makes them the only
two completely different firearms
given the same name by the U.S.
Army. Between adoption and 1919,
the government bought well over
300,000 U.S. Model 1917s roughly
split between the two manufacturers. That the concept of .45 ACP
revolvers was a good idea has
been evidenced by two facts. First,
Colt offered its New Service revolvers as .45 ACPs until production ceased in 1944. Second, Smith
& Wesson has had .45 ACP revolvers on and off in its catalogs
for 97 years.
When Gen. John T. Thompson
designed the submachine gun that
eventually made his name a household firearms noun, it was naturally chambered for the thenserving U.S. military handgun cartridge. Beginning in 1939, the U.S.
Army started buying Tommy guns
that subsequently went through
several revisions: Models 1928,
1928A1, M1 and ending with M1A1.
Production ceased in early 1944
June-July 2014
45
DUPLICATING
.45ACP
BALL LOADS
when the Thompson was supplanted by M3 and later revised
M3A1 submachine guns. Despite
its legendary status, the Thompson submachine gun was not an
ideal military weapon. It was too
heavy and its ammunition was also
too heavy. German troops could
carry twice as many 9mm Parabellum rounds for their MP40s than
American GIs could with the same
weight of .45 ACPs. That statement
may make some .45 ACP zealots
froth and shout about the .45s
stopping power, but in terms of
World War II submachine gun effectiveness, that was not an overriding factor.
My handloading efforts with .45
ACP began in 1968, when in a space
These three handguns

were the U.S. Armys first
.45 ACPs (left to right):
Colt Model 1911, Smith &
Wesson Model 1917 and Colt Model 1917.
of a few weeks I acquired a Smith

& Wesson Model 1917 and a Remington Rand Model 1911A1. Thereupon, I ordered Lyman reloading
equipment, making a good choice
in specifying the tungsten/carbine
resizing die and a poor choice
scrimping on money by only buying a single-cavity bullet mould. It
was Lyman 452374, a roundnose
rated at 225 grains, similar to a
230-grain Ball roundnose in profile. In my youthful inexperience,
this die set was ordered with a
roll-crimp seating die instead of a
taper-crimp die.
There are those who will say that
a roll-crimp die cannot be used on
.45 ACP rounds meant for autoloading pistols, because this cartridge headspaces on the case
mouth. Ive even had readers say
that. Even so, my roll-crimp die

was used for loading several thousand rounds that ran though the
Remington Rand without a hitch.
The idea is to adjust the die so the
belled case mouth is turned back
ever so slightly into the bullet, but
not so much that the case mouth
edge disappears.
However, success with the Model
1911A1 did not translate into the
same with the Model 1917 revolver.
Those 452374 bullets absolutely
would not stay put in cases during recoil. By the sixth round, the
cylinder would not rotate because
its bullets nose was protruding
from the chamber mouth. No
amount of roll crimp could keep
those smooth-sided bullets from
moving forward in cases starting
with the first shot.
Fast forward to 2014; I have a
four-cavity Lyman bullet mould
452374 and have learned that neither does taper crimping suitably
lock them into cases for revolver
Redding continues to prove American Quality

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223Rem/556 x45 NATO and 308 Win /7.62 x 51
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needs of every precision handloader. From the 17
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tools you need whether your passion is record
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For up-to-the-minute Redding information and helpful tech tips, visit our website at www.reddingreloading.com
46
Above, the
half-moon clip
arrangement with
three handloads.
Right, original
.45 ACP military
ammunition was
meant specifically
for Model 1917
revolvers and was
preloaded in
three-round clips.
Handloader 290
When handloading the .45 ACP for

revolvers, Mike uses Redding dies with
a competition seater and cast bullets
from these two moulds.
shooting. They may be held a mite

tighter so that round number sixs
nose doesnt tie up the revolver,
but still it will have moved forward in the case substantially.
Such does nothing for the ballistic consistency of handloads.
The first rule I learned in 46
years of .45 ACP handloading is that with cast bullets

Im not going to be able to
use the same loads in revolvers as in autoloaders.
Revolvers require bullets
with crimping grooves, or
at least front bands over
which a roll crimp can be
turned. Jacketed bullets
are another matter. There is
enough friction between
bullet and case to keep
them locked in place, because they have never pulled free
in my experience. If I prepare a
batch of handloads meant for all
my .45 ACPs, they contain jacketed bullets, taper crimped in
place.
For most of its existence, the .45
ACP has been favored by bullseye
target shooters, of whom most use
semiwadcutter bullets. All the manufacturers making off-the-shelf bullet moulds still offer them. For in-
.45 ACP Ball Duplication Loads

bullet
(grains)
220 Lyman 452374 RN
223 RCBS 45-230-CM RN/FP
227 Oregon Trail RN
230 Zero Bullet FMJ
230 FMJ U.S. military WCC66

230 FMJ Black Hills Ammunition
powder
Bullseye
HP-38
Titegroup
Zip
Bullseye
W-231
Titegroup
Zip
Bullseye
W-231
Titegroup
Zip
Bullseye
HP-38
Titegroup
Zip
charge
(grains)
5.0
5.5
5.0
5.5
5.0
5.5
5.0
5.5
5.0
5.5
5.0
5.5
5.0
5.5
5.0
5.5
Colt 1911A1
5-inch barrel
velocity variation
(fps)
(fps)
797
819
899
775
808
835
860
811
790
818
844
833
795
788
821
791
824
782
42
34
20
32
33
24
19
38
15
29
36
40
34
66
33
25
27
37
S&W M1917
5.5-inch barrel
velocity variation
(fps)
(fps)
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
816
811
855
836
801
838
866
855
813
750
801
806
833
802
48
60
30
70
66*
62*
35*
70*
38
54
42
40
47
14
* If velocities for these bullets in the revolver seem slightly high, it is most likely because they had to
be seated deeper than the same bullets when loaded for autoloaders in order to apply a roll crimp over
the front edge of the driving band.
n/a: These bullets were not used in the revolver loads due to the impossibility of suitably roll crimping
them.
Notes: Both handguns are new reproductions of original versions and were manufactured in the first
seven years of the twenty-first century. All chronograph readings are for five shots with the start screen
at approximately 6 feet. Bullets cast by Mike were poured of straight Linotype, which is why their actual
listed weights do not coincide with catalog weights, sized .451 inch and lubed with SPG. Oregon Trail
commercially cast bullets were sized .452 inch and lubed with its proprietary lubricant. All primers were
Winchester Large Pistol. Cases were not sorted by brand. Handloads fired in the Model 1911 autoloader
were taper crimped; those fired in the Model 1917 revolver were roll crimped.
June-July 2014
47
DUPLICATING
.45ACP
BALL LOADS
stance, Redding-SAECO alone has
no less than eight such designs
weighing between 160 and 200
grains. During a visit to Oregon
Trail Bullet Company a few years
ago, while watching the automated
machines at work, I asked specifically what was its biggest seller.
I expected the answer to be something used by cowboy action shooters. It was not. The companys
most popular bullet at that time
was a 200-grain .45 ACP semiwadcutter. I guess IPSC and bullseye
competitions are not as dead as
some think.
Be that as it may, my .45 ACP
handloading concerns only 220- to
230-grain bullets. One reason Im
set on those weights is because
1
(1) This 12-shot machine rest group is about
typical of what the new manufactured
Smith & Wesson Model 1917 does with
handloads containing Zero Bullet Company
230-grain FMJs over 5.0 grains of HP-38.
(2) These five shots at 25 yards were from a
1918-vintage Colt Model 1911 with Oregon
Trail Bullet Companys 230-grain cast
roundnose (actual weight 227 grains) and
5.0 grains of Bullseye. (3) This group was
shot from a Colt reproduction Model
1911A1 on sandbags at 25 yards
with 5.5 grains of W-231.
all my ex-military .45 ACPs have

fixed sights regulated for such.
Lighter bullets will impact below
point of aim. If only considering
jacketed bullets, this article could
end right here. Just load any companys 230-grain FMJ over a suitable powder charge for about 800
fps from a 5-inch pistol barrel and
go shooting. Interestingly, a box of
original .45 ACP military loads labeled for the Model 1917 rates velocity as 800 fps with a 25 fps.
The vast bulk of my .45 ACP shooting, however, is done with lead
alloy bullets. For the autoloaders,
Lymans 452374 (220 grains of Linotype) or Oregon Trails 230-grain
(actual weight 227 grains) are used
interchangeably. If more whack
to targets is needed, the RCBS
45-230-CM is a good option. Although actually intended for cowboy competition with revolvers,
this bullet cast of Linotype (223
grains) is capable of precision better than I can hold from all my .45
ACP pistols and is perfectly reliable, because there is no sharp
edge about the meplat. My cast
bullets are sized .451 inch and
lubed with SPG. Oregon Trails
bullet is .452 inch and wears the
companys hard lube.
The Oregon Trail and RCBS bullets also shoot nicely in three of
my four .45 ACP revolvers. (A badly
pitted Model 1917 S&W puts only
48
3
jacketed bullets point-on through
targets, but I have finally located
a new barrel for it.) As said, however, they must be roll crimped.
When .45 ACP handloads are being prepared for autoloaders, I use
a dedicated Dillon Square Deal
press set for 220- to 230-grain
roundnose cast or jacketed bullets. Once adjusted, its dies have
never been changed.
When revolver ammunition is
prepared, a Redding three-die set
with competition seater in one of
the companys T-7 turret presses
serves. A fourth die, my original
1968 vintage Lyman seating/crimping die, applies a firm roll crimp.
It is supposed to be common
knowledge that .45 ACP revolvers
have very shallow rifling and thus
require very hard lead alloy bullets. Actual machine rest test shooting has proven that both my Colt
Model 1917s give fine accuracy
with 1-20 (tin-to-lead) alloy bullets
at the desired velocities. However,
with a plentiful supply of Linotype
and no desire to keep bullets from
the same moulds sorted due to differing alloys, only that hard alloy
is ever used in Lyman 452374 or
RCBS 45-230-CM moulds.
It might interest some readers
that roundnose/flatpoint RCBS
cast bullets feed perfectly through
my Tommy gun but wont feed at
Handloader 290
Brian Pearce
n the large cattle ranch in

eastern Oregon where I
grew up, aging ranchers
with callused hands, scars
and plenty of grit would often come
over to visit. They shared priceless
stories of pioneer parents, wild cattle,
hard-bucking broncs and the guns
they used. Many times the .32-20 Winchester was mentioned, clearly a staple of men who used guns as daily
tools. On several occasions, I had the
opportunity to shoot their .32 WCF
rifles and sixguns, often with handloads and cast bullets.
revolvers it is not a big game number, but if necessary

for survival, in skilled hands it will put meat in the pan.
Rather, it is at its best for small game, pests and
varmints that weigh less than 50 pounds. Nonexpanding cast bullet loads with a generous meplat destroy
little meat yet deliver notable shock and are effective.
Recoil is mild, and guns are easy to shoot well.
The .32 WCF, better known as .32-20 Winchester, was
first offered in the Winchester Model 1873 rifle around
1882. A black-powder cartridge, it contained about 20
.32-20
Loads for Plinking
Left, popular .32-caliber revolver cartridges include

(left to right): .32 H&R Magnum, .327 Federal Magnum
and .32-20 Winchester. Facing page, the Colt Army
Special is a top-notch .32-20 revolver.
My family temporarily moved to Arizona when I was

15; while there I purchased a 1900-era Colt Single Action Army .32-20 with a 4.75-inch barrel in a pawn shop
for $120.00. The old sixgun was mostly gray from use,
and the hard rubber grips were chipped; however, it
was mechanically good, and the bore was bright and
shiny. A box of ammunition, dies and a Lyman mould
were also purchased. The old gun proved accurate and
soon accounted for deer, javelina, rattlesnakes and
many jackrabbits in the remote corners of Arizonas
Superstition and White Mountains.
I still find the .32 WCF a useful and fun cartridge. In
50
grains of powder and propelled a 115-grain lead bullet

around 1,177 fps. Colt was quick to recognize its potential in sixguns and soon chambered its Single Action Army for it. It became widely popular in the above
guns, giving service for a variety of purposes that
ranged from defense to butchering livestock.
With the introduction of the Models 1892 Winchester
and 1894 Marlin rifles (and other strong actions),
along with improved steels and smokeless powders,
around 1900 Winchester began offering a high-velocity
load at 1,575 fps, and later an 80-grain jacketed bullet
rated at 2,050 fps. These loads were advertised as suitHandloader 290
able for the above rifles, with warnings against using

them in revolvers or black-powder era guns, including
the 1873 Winchester. During the late 1960s, these loads
were dropped, and today Winchester and Remington
advertise a 100-grain lead bullet at 1,210 fps (rifle velocities), which is generally safe in all guns that are in
good operating condition.
One of the appealing aspects of the .32 WCF is to use
a single load for both rifle and handgun, but some
rifles are stronger than most revolvers. I tend to use
high-velocity +P-type loads that generate 30,000 CUP

in suitable rifles that propel a 100-grain (Speer or Hornady) JHP bullet around 2,000 fps. Such loads distinctly enhance the versatility and usefulness of this
cartridge and have accounted for a number of deer,
javelina, turkey, coyotes, etc. While select revolvers
can handle the above pressure levels safely, lower
pressure loads offer several distinct advantages, including reduced muzzle blast, often improved accuracy and, when stoked with cast bullets, reduced
barrel wear. Such loads also offer adequate perform-
Winchester
and Hunting with Sixguns
51
.32-20
Winchester
Factory Ammunition
Performance
Table I
2
7
load
(grains)
.32-20
Winchester
ance for hunting rockchucks to
rabbits.
in good working condition, with

common examples including blackpowder era Colt Single Action
Army, Colt Army Special, Official
Police and Smith & Wesson (Kframe) Hand Ejector models.
100 Remington lead

100 Winchester lead
115 Black Hills
advertised
velocity
(fps)
revolver
velocity
(fps)
1,210
1,210
n/a
835
840
782
Notes: Loads were fired in a Colt Single Action

Army with a 4.75-inch barrel.
These .32-20 revolvers include (1) a

1910-era Colt SAA, (2) 1920-era Colt
SAA, (3) 1901-era Colt SAA, (4) custom
Ruger Blackhawk conversion, (5) Smith
& Wesson Hand Ejector and (6) Colt
Army Special. The holstered gun (7) is
a 1899-era Colt SAA.
a detailed discussion of each

model here would be too lengthy.
Suffice to say, late production
Smith & Wesson Hand Ejector,
Colt Army Special and all Single
Action Army revolvers can safely
There are many beautifully made

vintage revolvers that should
never be fired with the above highpressure loads, or damage may
occur. On the other hand, standard pressure handloads can improve both accuracy and velocity
when compared to current factory
loads and can be assembled at a
fraction of the cost.
For the purposes of this article,
data is compiled in two categories.
The first contains loads that are
within industry maximum average
pressure: 16,000 CUP. These are
suitable for any revolver (except
cheap, imported copies of the S&W)
A variety of cast and swaged lead bullets were used in developing .32-20
Winchester handloads.
It should be noted that many of

the above revolvers are capable of
easily handling loads that generate 20,000 to 25,000 CUP,
which could be in another
category, but the steels
(therefore strength)
used throughout production in Colt and
Smith & Wesson revolvers did vary.
However, to give
Maximum .32-20
overall length is
1.592 inches, but
many bullet and
load combinations
were notably
shorter.
52
handle loads up to 25,000 CUP.

Those seeking loads within this
pressure category should use select loads listed in Table III, which
have been marked with two asterisks (**).
Table III has a few loads that will
approach 30,000 CUP and should
only be used in guns with suitable
strength to handle such pressures.
Examples include Colt Single Actions above serial number 192,000,
Ruger New Model Blackhawks,
U.S. Fire Arms SAAs and Uberti
SAA clones.
The .32 WCF can be challenging
when developing loads that are
up to par in terms of accuracy.
Handloader 290
A variety of .312-inch jacketed bullets from Hornady, Sierra

and Speer are available for .32-20 handloads.
Extreme velocity spreads often

range from 80 to 200 fps, which
has been observed with recently
produced factory loads, as well as
high-velocity, vintage ammunition.
The point being, factories have
struggled to get proper performance from this cartridge. When extreme spreads become too high,
groups often string vertically.
The Lee .32-20 WCF Factory Crimp Die applies a uniform

crimp, and tests indicate it lowers extreme velocity spreads
and improves accuracy.
In many powder and bullet combinations, this primer gave velocities and accuracy as uniform as
any others tried.
Additional experimenting has
proven that trying different primers
with a specific powder charge and
bullet combination can be beneficial in achieving top accuracy. For
example, Federal 100 Small Pistol,

CCI 550 Small Pistol Magnum,
Winchester Small Rifle and Remington 712 primers were used with
several different powders. The results were interesting, as some
powders showed less extreme
spreads when ignited with small
pistol primers, while others per-
Primer choice is crucial in assembling reliable and accurate .32

WCF handloads. I wish I could just
recommend one primer type that
would provide outstanding results,
but it is not that simple. For reference, factory loads from Remington and Winchester use small
(non-magnum) rifle primers. Handloaders have the option of using
any small rifle primer, including
magnum, as well as small pistol
primers. In years past I have used
the Remington 712 and generally
found good accuracy, but not always. One reason this primer was
chosen was due to its thick cup
for reliability in all revolvers with
hammer-mounted firing pins. For
example, most Colt Single Actions
feature a rather large firing pin
hole, and often there is a rather
generous gap between the hole
and the firing pin. As a result, fired
primers often flow around the
perimeter into the firing pin hole,
and even the slightest primer protrusion can cause the cylinder to
freeze up, or at least make rotation difficult, either of which results in a difficult-to-cock revolver.
June-July 2014
53
.32-20
Winchester
Table II
.32-20 Winchester
(Standard Pressure) Handloads
bullet
(grains)
powder
charge
(grains)
85 Hornady XTP-HP
Power Pistol
4.8
5.3
7.0
7.5
8.0
4.6
4.9
5.2
6.0
6.3
6.6
3.2
4.0
4.3
4.7
5.5
6.0
6.4
6.7
4.5
5.0
4.8
5.0
5.3
5.3
5.8
6.2
6.5
4.0
4.3
4.6
4.8
3.5
4.4
4.8
4.8
5.3
3.0
3.5
3.7
5.5
6.0
4.5
4.8
5.0
3.1
3.4
3.3
3.7
4.5
5.0
5.0
5.5
6.0
3.2
3.5
2.8
2400
90 Sierra JHC
Power Pistol
A-7
90 Hornady lead SWC

95 Redding cast SWC
Titegroup
Power Pistol
A-7
Longshot
Brian used handloads in a Colt Single
Action Army .32-20 Winchester with a
712-inch barrel to bag this Idaho coyote
at around 50 yards.
100 Rim Rock RNFP cast
Longshot
A-7
formed better with the small rifle

primers.
To further illustrate why experimenting with different primers is
so important, and to show the sensitive nature of this cartridge, each
Power Pistol
100 Speer JHP
Titegroup
Power Pistol
Longshot
Titegroup
115 Oregon Trail FP BB
A-7
Longshot
Titegroup
A-2
AutoComp
A-5
American Select
Trail Boss
overall
loaded
length
(inches)
1.540
1.555
1.577
1.528
1.618
1.560
1.560
velocity
(fps)
968
980
790
934
1,043
878
922
983
851
872
916
845
794
846
922
815
852
891
935
847
922
896
942
1,004
792
835
863
915
801
860
906
936
855
811
846
862
896
715
789
826
853
880
908
959
1,000
781
832
790
857
894
952
841
889
991
835
888
733
Notes: All loads were fired from a 4.75-inch barreled Colt Single Action Army. Maximum pressure for
these loads is 16,000 CUP. Starline cases and Winchester Small Rifle primers were used throughout.
Bullet diameter: .312 to .314 inch. Maximum overall loaded length: 1.592 inches; maximum case length:
1.315 inches; trim-to length: 1.305 inches.
54
Handloader 290
of the above primers was tried

with Hodgdon Longshot powder.
Bullets included Speer 100-grain
JHP, Oregon Trail 115-grain FP BB
and Lyman 116-grain 311316GC
cast. Three different charge weights
were tried with each bullet. Using
the Speer 100-grain JHP, 6.0, 6.4
and 6.7 grains were tried with each
of the above primers. All loads were
assembled in new Starline cases.
Using Federal 100 primers, as the
pressure (or powder charge) was
increased, the extreme spreads
decreased; when identical loads
Table III
were tried but with the Winchester Small Rifle primer, the results
were reversed with the lowest extreme spreads being observed with
the lightest powder charges. The
results with the CCI 550 and Remington 712 primers were inconclusive, with loads demonstrating the
lowest extreme spreads being in
the middle. Similar experiments
were conducted using Alliant
Power Pistol and several other
powders, but again the lowest extreme spreads were sometimes
observed with the starting pow-
.32-20 Winchester (+P Pressure) Handloads
Warning: This data should only be used in handguns with adequate

strength to handle pressures exceeding industry specifications (see text).
bullet
(grains)
90 Sierra JHC
powder
charge
(grains)
Longshot
6.5
6.8
7.0
7.0
7.4
7.7
8.0
11.0
17.5
10.5
11.0
11.5
12.0
12.5
13.0
13.5
6.0
6.4
6.7
6.0
6.5
7.0
5.0
9.8
9.5
5.5
6.0
6.5
9.5
10.0
10.5
11.0
A-7
100 Hornady XTP-HP
2400
A-1680
A-9
H-110
Longshot
Power Pistol
116 Lyman 311316GC cast
Unique
2400
A-9
Longshot
IMR-4227
overall
loaded
length
(inches)
1.555
1.550
1.560
velocity
(fps)
1,152**
1,161**
1,194**
955**
977**
1,014**
1,050**
1,207*
1,132*
1,177*
1,218*
1,261*
1,327*
1,216*
1,262*
1,334*
1,025 **
1,078
1,148
966**
1,038**
1,134
1,074*
1,139*
1,148*
1,015 **
1,082
1,143
903**
940**
966**
1,011**
* Remington 712 primers used in these loads. All others used Winchester Small Rifle primers.
** These loads are suitable only for Smith & Wesson Hand Ejector, Colt Army Specials and guns of
similar strength.
Notes: A Colt Single Action Army with a 4.75-inch barrel was used to test fire these loads. Starline cases
were used throughout. Bullet diameter: .312 and .313 inch. Maximum pressure: 30,000 CUP. Maximum
overall loaded length: 1.592 inches; maximum case length: 1.315 inches; trim-to length: 1.305 inches.
June-July 2014
55
Mike Bellms TCs

Encore
& Contender/G2
Custom Parts, Tools & Advice Since 1979
Tel: 970-433-9525
www.bellmtcs.com
.32-20
Winchester
der charges and a given primer;
however, as other primers were
tried, sometimes maximum powder charges produced the lowest
extreme spreads.
To put the results of the above
experiments in an article of this
size became impossible, so all load
data presented here was fired using Winchester Small Rifle primers,
except a few noted loads that were
fired using Remington 712 primers.
It will probably be beneficial to
choose a given load, then try different primers to determine which
one will give the lowest extreme
spreads and accuracy.
It has been claimed that when
loading the .32 WCF for revolvers
that only pistol primers, with their
thinner cups, should be used for
reliable ignition. This is unfounded,
as all .32-20 SAAMI specification
factory ammunition utilizes small
rifle primers, which for more than
a century have been reliable in revolvers. If a revolver has an especially light mainspring (or action
job), small pistol primers may be
required to obtain reliable ignition.
With the .32-20s large case capacity (at least for its caliber), choosing a powder that is less position
sensitive will also help reduce extreme spreads. For light loads, Accurate No. 2, Hodgdon Titegroup,
Winchester AutoComp and Alliant
Both groups were fired from a custombuilt Ruger Blackhawk with the same
bullet but with different powders. Note
the vertical stringing of the lower
group, whereas the upper group
shows minimal stringing.
American Select are top choices,

while Alliant Power Pistol, Hodgdon Longshot, AutoComp, Accurate No. 5 and No. 7 should be
considered top choices for higher
velocity standard-pressure loads.
Another tip to help increase accuracy is using brass that is as
uniform as possible and of one
production lot number. I have had
particularly good results with Starline Brass (available factory direct
at 1-800-280-6660). This brass is of
stiffer construction, which also
gives a tighter bullet-to-case neck
fit and aids with uniform ignition.
Always use as heavy a crimp as
the bullet cannelure or crimp
groove will allow. This can be applied in a roll-crimp die, but care
should be taken to assure that it
is not excessive or the case will
buckle, usually at the bottom of
the neck or point of the shoulder.
Using cases of identical length is
critical when crimping with a roll
die. To further increase the bullet
pull or crimp, the Lee Factory
Crimp die is an excellent tool, as
56
Handloader 290
it will not cause the thin bottleneck case to buckle but will swage
the case into the bullet, helping to
reduce extreme spreads and thus
increasing accuracy.
Plain-base cast bullets can be
very accurate and are generally
preferred for loads that range
from 800 to 1,000 fps, but when
high-velocity loads are used, leading may occur. Some guns, typically with lightly pitted bores, may
also lead at any velocity. In these
instances a gas-check bullet is preferred to prevent leading. Two excellent choices include Lyman
mould 311316 (116 grains) and
Cast Performance .313-inch, 113grain FP GC.
mild recoil. Switching to expanding jacketed bullets such as the

Sierra 90-grain JHC, Hornady 100grain HP-XTP, Speer 115-grain
JHP and GDHP the cartridge is
destructive to pests and varmints.
Recently I took a coyote at around
50 yards using a 1920-era Colt Single Action with a 7.5-inch barrel
loaded with the Hornady 100-grain
HP-XTP bullets at 1,400 fps using
12.0 grains of Accurate No. 9 powder, Remington 712 primers and
Starline cases. The bullet entered

the coyotes left shoulder and angled back through the vitals. Expansion was almost immediate,
and penetration was more than 14
inches.
Modern cartridges are certainly
better designed, but they cannot
match the charm of the nineteenthcentury .32-20 Winchester and neither can modern manufacturers
match the beauty of vintage revolvers.
Groove diameter seems to vary

significantly with this cartridge,
with examples measuring .309 to
as much as .314 inch, while many
modern custom guns measure .308
inch, as does the T/C Contender,
but most will measure between
.311 and .313 inch. Throat diameter usually measures between .310
and .313 inch. With this in mind,
cast bullets generally should be
sized to .312 to .313 inch, but often
top accuracy is obtained when
bullets are sized to slightly over
throat diameter.
In spite of its rather sensitive nature, with some basic testing and
load development, the .32 WCF
can deliver acceptable accuracy.
Several of my sixguns have produced sub-one-inch groups at 25
yards with loads that have ranged
from 750 to over 1,400 fps with
both cast and jacketed bullets.
Cast-bullet loads featuring a flat
point or meplat pushed from 800
to 1,000 fps are excellent for taking small game and destroy little meat. So loaded, they have
accounted for turkeys, rabbits,
grouse, etc., and I have always
been pleased with their performance.
For long-range work, cast bullets
can be pushed over 1,400 fps from
heavy-frame revolvers with 7.5inch barrels, which produce a
flat trajectory and comparatively
June-July 2014
57
John Barsness
n 2012 another buying panic

started among shooters worried
that Obamas reelection might
result in firearms restrictions.
The first two such panics started in
1994 with the assault rifle ban and
in 2008 with Obamas first election
and primarily involved primers, AR15s and .223 Remington ammunition
and components. (Remember the 1994
rumor that primers would go dud
after a few months?) For some reason, however, 2012 caused a severe
run on .22 rimfire ammunition.
Rumors started that government buying was behind

the shortages. This made sense with .223 Remington
and handgun ammunition, but within six months of
the election both started showing up in stores again,
with .223 ammunition often overabundant. Primers
started appearing again, perhaps because many shooters remained stocked up after previous panics, but the
.22 shortage has kept going and going and going.
While some conspiracy theorists believe rimfire man-
Beating the
Rimfire
Montana gopher shooters traditionally

use rimfire rifles because ammunition is
so cheap, but downloading a centerfire
can be just as affordable.
58
Handloader 290
ufacturers slowed production to

raise prices, theres no evidence
other than empty store shelves.
Hard evidence points to another
factor: People realized they could
make money reselling rimfire ammunition.
Rimfire manufacturers claim they
are cranking out .22 Long Rifle at
record rates, and the factory I visited this past year certainly was,
but .22s dont last very long on
store shelves, because people are
systematically buying it all, despite
Often the purchasers are unemployed, which explains how they

can be there when stores open or
delivery trucks arrive, but a friend
of mine has a sales job traveling
around a corner of Montana and
uses his lunch hour to look for
rimfire ammunition. Another friend
works a few blocks from a big
sporting goods store so walks over
there during breaks to check the
rimfire supply, buying whenever it
shows up. Gun shows and Internet
sites offer lots of resale .22 Long
Shortage
rifles. I have two, a .177-caliber

Crosman CO2 rifle from the 1970s
and a recent Gamo spring-powered .22. The Gamo pushes 14- to
16-grain pellets 1,200+ fps, enough
to take small game cleanly. Both
are very accurate to 25 yards or
more, and pellets can be purchased
for less than $10 per 500. You can
buy a decent air rifle and plenty
of ammunition for the price of
two to four scalper bricks of .22
Long Rifle.
Its relatively easy, however, for a
handloader to duplicate rimfire
ballistics in centerfire cartridges at
prices matching or beating regular
(not scalper) retail for rimfire ammunition. Of course, this requires
time at the bench, and one virtue
of rimfire cartridges is they nor-
A Lyman mould, Lee Alox and just one

small wheelweight will cast quite a few
.22 bullets. Right, powders with fast- to
medium-burning rates resulted in .223
Remington loads nearly matching .22
Long Rifle and .22 Magnum ammunition
at pre-panic prices.
Duplication Loads in
Centerfire Cartridges
limits on individual purchases. This
is often done by families or groups
of friends, but one guy bragged on
an Internet site that he brings another jacket and hat when buying
.22 ammunition. After purchasing
his limit, he carries it out to his
pickup, changes his jacket and hat,
then puts on sunglasses before
heading back into the store to buy
more.
June-July 2014
Rifle for $50 to $100 for a 500round brick and people are buying it, because they cant find any
in stores.
The reason for the shortage, however, doesnt matter. What does
matter is that it exists. There are,
however, also ways to avoid paying scalper prices for ordinary .22
ammunition. One is to shoot air
mally dont require handloading

time. Instead, just buy them and
shoot but these arent normal
times.
I maintain a good supply of rimfire ammunition in .17 Mach 2, .17
Hornady Magnum Rimfire, .22 Magnum and standard .22, because
aside from hunting and shooting,
some magazine editor occasionally
asks for a review of a rimfire rifle
or handgun and wants it yesterday. But Obama Panic II seemed
like an opportune time to start
casting .22 bullets, so I ordered
Lymans 225438 mould, a two-cavity for a 44-grain roundnose, gas-
59
Beating the
Rimfire Shortage
checked bullet, very close to the
standard 40-grain roundnose .22
Long Rifle bullet.
A week after the mould arrived,
I plugged in the Lee furnace and
melted down several ingots of
wheelweight lead, and an hour
later there were 182 shiny, new .22
bullets on my bench, with an average weight of 43.5 grains, 0.1
grain. (The SAECO hardness tester
rated this batch of alloy at 6, exactly at wheelweight metal on
the SAECO chart, but I had to cast
a .40-caliber bullet to make the
test, since the .22 Lyman was too
small.)
After gently rolling the bullets in
Lee Alox liquid and letting them
dry overnight, 15 were sized in a
.224-inch Lee tube with Hornady
gas checks, and 15 were sized
Left, with 1.0 grain of Alliant Red Dot,

No. 4 buckshot shot well enough for
short-range practice when seated
inside .22 Hornet cases. Above, with
Accurate 5744 a cast bullet shot pretty
well, even when seated backward or
with a small flat filed on the tip.
grains of Accurate 5744 powder,

the starting load derived from Accurates formula for reduced loads
of 5744 (see sidebar). Over the
years, however, many of my rifles
When John did

his experimenting,
only .17 Hornady
Magnum Rimfire
ammunition was
found fairly
regularly in stores.
without gas checks. They were

then rolled in Alox again and the
next day seated in neck-sized Winchester .22 Hornet brass over 4.5
and handguns have shot unsized

cast bullets as accurately as sized
bullets, and sometimes better, so
15 rounds with unsized bullets
were also loaded, averaging .225

inch in diameter.
At the range, five-shot groups
were fired at 50 yards from a
Ruger No. 1B, landing 5.0 inches
lower than high-velocity jacketed
loads. All the loads were reasonably accurate, but the bullets right
out of the mould shot best, averaging under an inch. The sized bullets averaged about 1.5 inches,
and the gas-checked bullets were
the slowest, at a little over 900 fps,
while the unsized bullets averaged
close to 1,000 fps.
The most accurate .22 Long Rifle
ammunition is the so-called standard velocity, with a muzzle velocity a little under 1,100 fps. This
not only avoids the turbulence of
passing through the sound barrier,
like high-velocity Long Rifle loads,
but also drifts less in the wind.
Using a hand calculator, 5.0 grains
of powder were indicated to get
just about the velocity desired.
That first batch of handloads
used CCI 500 Small Pistol primers,
because theres considerable evidence (some from bullet companies) that small pistol primers
result in finer accuracy with small
charges of fast-burning powders
in the .22 Hornet. This isnt true
with all powders (Ive found small
rifle magnum primers work best
with Hodgdon LilGun, a relatively
slow powder in the Hornet.) but
60
Handloader 290
decided to also assemble some

test loads with CCI 400 Small Rifle
primers.
Other test loads were designed
to approximate the .22 Magnum,
using 30- to 45-grain jacketed bullets and Alliant Reloder 7 and
IMR-4227. Id also read about using
buckshot for reduced loads, so
Aloxed and sized some No. 4 buck
(nominal diameter .24 inch) in the
Lee tube. These were seated over
1.0 grain of Alliant Red Dot with
the bullet level with the mouth
of the case, and a tiny amount of
SPG bullet lube was smeared
across the top.
At the range, the 5.0-grain charge
of 5744 and CCI 500s worked perfectly with unsized bullets. Accuracy remained under an inch for
five shots at 50 yards at a muzzle
velocity of 1,080 fps. The test
load with the CCI 400 Small Rifle
primer, however, grouped close to
2.0 inches.
Roundnosed .22 bullets arent
June-July 2014
Duplication Handloads for Centerfires

bullet
(grains)
powder
charge
(grains)
velocity
(fps)
accuracy*
(inches)
7.0
2,084
.52
Red Dot
IMR-4227
RL-7
A-5744
A-5744
Red Dot
A-5744
IMR-4227
1.0
10.0
10.5
5.0
5.0
2.0
5.0
8.5
887
2,204
1,770
1,102
1,080
1,107
1,022
1,736
2.38
1.04
1.24
1.70
.96
1.55
1.52
.82
IMR-4895
Blue Dot
Blue Dot
Trail Boss
16.0
4.0
4.0
6.0
1,586
1,113
1,187
1,814
.52
.88
1.01
.77
CZ 527 .17 Hornet:

20 Hornady V-MAX
A-5744
Ruger No. 1B .22 Hornet:

No. 4 buckshot (sorted)
30 Barnes Varmint Grenade
40 Speer Spire SP
42.5 Lyman 225438 (nose-filed)
43.5 Lyman 225438
43.5 Lyman 225438 (backward)
45 Remington roundnose
Remington 700 .223 Remington:
40 Speer Spire SP
42 Calhoon HP
43.5 Lyman 225438
45 Remington roundnose
* Except for the No. 4 buckshot loads, which were fired at 25 yards, all other five-shot groups were
fired at 50 yards.
Notes: The .17 and .22 Hornet loads used CCI 500 Small Pistol primers. The .223 Remington loads
used Remington 712 Small Rifle Benchrest primers.
known for killing power, but filing

a small flat on the nose helps. This
was done with several unsized
bullets, reducing their weight one

grain and resulting in a flat about
0.1 inch wide. I also seated a few
61
Beating the
Rimfire Shortage
bullets backward for a wadcutter

effect. Accuracy wasnt quite as
good with either of these loads,
averaging 1.5 to 1.7 inches at 50
yards, but based on past experience, either will kill small game
quicker with body shots than
roundnosed bullets.
Rabbits and
ground
squirrels
would be
appropriate
game for
the rimfire
equivalent
handloads.
The No. 4 buckshot load grouped

into about 6.0 inches at 50 yards.
Selecting the roundest shot then
sorting them by weight, however,
resulted in decent accuracy at 25
yards. (My supply is some soft
shot acquired years ago; harder
and more uniform shot would
probably shoot more accurately
without sorting.) Muzzle velocity
was about 900 fps, and this combination would certainly work as
a quiet practice load for shooters
who dont want to cast bullets.
A Gamo .22 air rifle is very accurate
and powerful enough to take small
game at a fraction of the cost of rimfire
ammunition.
The jacketed bullet .22 Magnum loads also worked very well
with CCI 500 Small Pistol primers.
Five-shot groups averaged around
Reduced Loads with Accurate 5744,

Trail Boss and IMR-4895
With A-5744, fill a case with powder to where the base of a seated
bullet would be easily done with a fired case, since a
bullet will slip right into the neck. Weigh that charge
and use 40 percent of its weight as a starting load.
With lead bullets, consider 48 percent maximum
and 60 to 65 percent maximum with jacketed bullets. Both the .17 and .22 Hornet cases held about
11.0 grains of powder, so the starting load was 4.4
grains.
With Trail Boss, fill the case to the base of where a
seated bullet would be, then weigh the charge and use
that as the maximum load. (Pressure will always be
less than maximum for the cartridge.) Use 70 percent
of maximum as a starting load.
The Hornet cases held 3.5 grains of Trail Boss, too
little to reach desired velocities, but the .223 Remington held 8.5 grains, with 6.0 grains the 70 percent
starting load. This proved to be too fast for the
cast bullet but resulted in an accurate .22 Magnum equivalent load with the 45-grain Remington roundnose.
Hodgdons website advises going no lower
than 60 percent of the maximum charge of IMR4895 for any cartridge. In the .223 Remington
with 40- to 45-grain bullets, that turned out to be
around 16.0 grains.
62
an inch at 50 yards, as accurate as

much .22 Magnum ammunition,
with the best load being the 45grain Remington roundnose and
8.5 grains of IMR-4227.
The cost of all these loads compared very favorably with prepanic rimfire ammunition. If we
count wheelweight lead as free
(much of mine is picked up off
streets), the per-round price of the
5.0-grain 5744 load is about 5,
and when casting .22s, even a
small wheelweight goes a long
way: The lightest in my collection
box weighed almost 800 grains,
enough for 17 bullets.
Even when cast with lead purchased for todays average price of
$1 a pound, the per-round price is
around 6. (Thats $30 for 500
rounds, the retail price of most
non-scalper bricks of .22 Long
Rifle ammunition, when they can
be found.) The handload price
drops slightly with a smaller powder charge. I also tried 2.0 grains
of Alliant Red Dot, but it didnt
shoot as well as 5744, though it
might in another rifle.
The cost of jacketed bullet loads
obviously varies, but I buy jacketed .224 bullets in bulk, or by
watching sales and Internet sites,
usually getting them for around
Handloader 290
15 apiece. With 15 bullets and

8.5 grains of powder, a Hornet reload costs around 21 per shot, or
$10.50 for 50, cheaper than the
pre-panic retail price of most .22
Magnum ammunition.
For the .17 Hornet, I also worked
up a 5744 load approximating the
.17 Mach 2 rimfire round. A charge
of 7.0 grains produced just about
2,100 fps from the 20-grain Hornady V-MAX, with .5-inch accuracy at 50 yards from a CZ 527.
(Not enough IMR Trail Boss would
fit in the little case to match Mach
2 velocity. This isnt surprising,
since the powders designed to fill
larger cases.)
However, many of us dont have
either a .17 or .22 Hornet. Even if
we bought one, right now brass is
difficult to find, but a lot of shooters do own a .223 Remington. My
wife, Eileen, and I have three, and
as a test rifle I used a Remington
700 with a heavy barrel and laminated stock.
One .22 Magnum load was devised by using the 45-grain Remington roundnose and the Trail
Boss formula in the sidebar, but
the Blue Dot .22 Long Rifle load
was borrowed from the website of
gunsmith and bullet-maker James
Calhoon (4343 U.S. Hwy. 87, Havre
MT 59501; www.jamescalhoon.com).
James is best known for his .19caliber wildcats, but he also likes
to fool around with other rounds.
He found 4.0 grains of Blue Dot
resulted in a low-cost .22 Long
Rifle equivalent load, and in my
rifle it shot well with both the cast
Lyman bullet and his 42-grain hollowpoint jacketed bullet.
Another .22 Magnum equivalent
combined IMR-4895 and the 40grain Speer Spire SP, an inexpensive but accurate bullet. A charge
of 16.0 grains (the minimum safe
load calculated from Hodgdons
formula) resulted in very fine accuracy at right around 1,600 fps.
Since IMR-4895 is a single-based
powder, any increase in the charge
results in a proportional increase
in velocity: 17.0 grains will get
about 1,700 fps, 18.0 grains 1,800
fps, etc., so the load can be manipJune-July 2014
ulated upward to whatever velocity desired. With 16.0 grains of

powder and a 15 bullet, the pershot cost is around 24, or $12
per 50.
To tell the truth, developing all
these loads was easier than expected, though previous research
helped. It was especially gratifying
to find the cast bullet shot so well
without a gas-check or sizing, since
that saved time, as does lubing
with Alox. My guess is minimal
experimenting would result in
similar results in any .22-caliber
centerfire cartridge, with several
faster-burning powders. But right
now Im going to go shoot some
more!
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63
Terry Wieland
ith apologies to F. Scott

Fitzgerald, lets begin with
this simple truth: Professional ballisticians (like
Fitzgeralds very rich) are not like
you and me. Ernest Hemingway famously replied to Fitzgerald, Yes,
they have more money. In the case of
ballisticians, the difference lies not in
having more brains but in applying
them differently.
Where a handloaders goals might be velocity and accuracy, a ballistician wants to maximize case efficiency, minimize load-to-load variation, squeeze the
most feet per second from the fewest grains of powder
or confirm some obscure mathematical conclusion
that is completely opaque to us.
For example, in the 1960s, ballistician Dr. Lloyd
Brownell wrote a series of articles for Handloader
that were republished in the early 1990s, in book form,
as Firearms Pressure Factors. This Wolfe publication
is a trove of information if, and only if, you can decipher what Dr. Brownell is saying. Faced with a shortage of space (the chronic authors lament), he chose
to eliminate conclusions written in understandable
English and devote the space to more equations. Obviously, Dr. Brownells intended audience was not the
average handloader.
of the principals involved, Powley approached a company that produced slide charts made from highquality cardboard. By one of those odd coincidences,
the company employed a man named Bob Forker.
Since Forker was an enthusiastic shooter, he was assigned to work with Powley in translating his formula
into practical slide-chart form.
Powley maintained a steady correspondence with
enthusiasts around the country, one of whom was Bob
Hutton, Guns & Ammos handloading editor. Forker
approached Hutton to help, and there was born the triumvirate behind the Powley Computer for Handloaders and, later, the companion Powley psi Calculator.
It was also the beginning of Forkers career as an ammunition writer, and he has been at it ever since.
Hutton undertook to produce and market the computer under the name Hutton Rifle Ranch, and Pow-
Homer
Com
This brings us to Homer S. Powley, a ballistician

whose name also became familiar during the 1960s.
Powley worked at Frankford Arsenal, and Maj. Gen.
Julian S. Hatcher mentions his contributions there in
Hatchers Notebook. Powley was also the author of
Ballistic Notes, published by Frankford in 1976.
Homer Powley developed a formula that allowed
handloaders to arrive at a suitable load for their rifle
without published data. This was no small thing back
then, when loading manuals were few, and there were
large gaps in the data available. As well, some manuals
that were in print were pretty dubious. A legitimate
mathematical formula, provided by a qualified ballistician, was a glittering oasis for a shooter with an obscure cartridge and no trustworthy loads.
As a working ballistician with a day job, Powley
needed help converting his mathematical creation into
a usable tool for handloaders, rather than just a series
of equations which, in that age before calculators,
would be daunting as well as rife with pitfalls. As another writer tells the story, which he learned from one
64
Useful It Is,
Gospel It Isnt
Handloader 290
leys wife, Marion, was also involved in distribution.

The computer remained a small-company product
throughout its lifetime. First advertised for sale in
1963 at $5 apiece, the Powley products survived for 25
years. The appearance of the digital computer ended
its career.
The test cartridge cases were (left to right):

.22 High Power, 6.5x54 Mannlicher-Schnauer,
.280 Ross, 9x57mm, .308 Winchester and
.505 Gibbs.
Since the 1990s, a number of computer ballistics programs have purported to offer the same calculations
as the Powley, but with less effort, and some have
even billed themselves as digital adaptations of Powleys work. In spite of digital progress, however, the
original cardboard Powley slide chart is still useful to
any serious handloader. Although they are no longer
commercially available, second-hand ones can be
found relatively easily for a few bucks. A word of caution, though: You will need the instruction booklet.
Powleys computer predicts an exact load in grains,
Powley and His
puter
The Powley Computer for Handloaders and the Powley
psi Calculator use weights, capacities and ratios to
calculate correct powder charges for different bullet
weights, as well as to estimate velocity based on actual
barrel length and approximate chamber pressures.
for one of eight IMR powders: 4227, 4198, 3031, 4064,

4320, 4350, 4831 (non-canister, in those days) and
5010. Fortunately, all but 5010 are still with us. In a
1965 addendum, Powley added that IMR-4895 can be
used interchangeably with 4064 data.
The computer first determines the ideal powder
June-July 2014
65
Homer Powley and

His Computer
charge related to case capacity.
The goal is to combine maximum
velocity with optimum burning
consistency. It goes on to determine which powder to use by calculating the ratio of the charge to
the bullet weight, then matching
this with the bullets sectional density to arrive at the ideal powder.
Caliber never enters into it at this
stage, because mathematically it
doesnt matter. This is a physics
calculation involving weights, capacities and ratios. The computer
can then go on to predict probable
velocity, based on the expansion
ratio; this calculation does require
barrel length and caliber.
A couple of years after his computer appeared, Powley followed
up with a psi Calculator. At this
point, he recommended the use of
a chronograph to input exact,
rather than calculated, velocity. In
Above, instructions explain a great deal about how Powleys formulas work. Here,
he illustrates the relationship between powder burning rates and case capacity, as
well as between burning rates and bullet weights. Right, arrow 1 indicates the
optimum powder charge while arrow 2 (after realigning the slide) shows which
powder to use.
1965 personal chronographs were

rare, but today every serious handloader owns one. Although Powleys calculator purported to give
chamber pressures in psi, it did
not at least, not as we understand
psi today, using pressure barrels
and testing units. So Powleys numbers should be treated as a general

indication of pressures only, and
certainly not used to justify increasing a load that appears to
be under the pressure limit for
your cartridge.
Reportedly, Bob Hutton later prepared a table showing comparable
powders from different makers,
which would allow the Powley
Computer to be used with powders
other than IMR. Unfortunately, to
me at least, this is an if too far.
Even such close relatives as H4895 and IMR-4895, and the two
4831s, are not interchangeable, and
burn rates depend on many variables. Substituting powders purely
on the basis of published burn
rates is a really, really bad idea.
The original purpose of the Powley Computer was to find a good
load for any cartridge, and it still
does that quite well. There are,
however, a number of caveats.
One is that Powley may or may
not give what amounts to a maximum load in a given cartridge. He
was trying to provide maximum
velocity with optimum load density and burning consistency. Since
his computer can make no allowance for vagaries, such as a particularly snug chamber, the presence
or absence of freebore, an underor oversized bore or a bullet with
66
Handloader 290
a particularly long bearing surface, one should treat his actual

recommended load with some caution. Conversely, depending on the
particular powder 4350 or 4831,
particularly backing off too far
may not be a good idea either.
(.308 Winchester). You need a number of measurements to begin

with, and it helps to keep a written
record as you go. The steps are as
follows:
The second caveat regards simple handloader prudence. Wherever possible, check Powleys recommendation against reputable
published data. This is rather contradictory, since if published data
were available, you wouldnt be
going to the trouble of using the
Powley Computer. However, one
can usually find approximate data
for comparison. For example, the
9x57mm is so close to the .35 Winchester that old manuals say the
data is interchangeable. Find some
.35 Winchester data for IMR-3031,
2. Set that figure at the start line.
1. Find the case capacity to the base

of the bullet in grains of water.
3. Read off the powder charge on
the line below, at Arrow No. 1.
4. On the next line down, opposite
bullet weight, you will then find
a number for the ratio of
charge to bullet weight.
5. Reposition the slide to put this
ratio against the sectional density of the chosen bullet.
6. On the line below that, Arrow
No. 2 will point to the powder to
use.
many
unfamiliar to
d information
ansion
an
s
xp
e
rm
d
te
e
an
m
ploys so
t weight
lle
em
r
bu
te
to
pu
ge
om
ar
C
The Powley
ing ratio of ch
loaders, includ
modern hand
explained.
lly
EXAMPLE 1: .22 HIGH POWER
er, each is fu
ev
ow
H
.
tio
ra
for example, see how close it is

and proceed from there. Or, still
with the 9x57, compare it with
loads for the .35 Whelen and the
.358 Winchester. The 9x57 falls
neatly in between the two in case
capacity and has the same bore diameter.
Generally speaking, however,
Powleys recommendation should
be treated like any loading-manual
maximum. Start by reducing the
recommended charge 5 to 10 percent. If that produces no adverse
signs, work up to the Powley recommendation a grain at a time.
As a test, the Powley Computer
was used for five obscure cartridges, as well as a common one
June-July 2014
Case capacity is 31 grains, which

gives a charge of 26.6 grains of
powder. With a bullet weight of 70
grains, the ratio is .380. Setting
.380 beside a sectional density of
.200, the arrow points to 4064.
In Pet Loads, Ken Waters gives
26 grains of 4064 as a maximum . . .
most accurate and best all-around
load using a Speer 70-grain bullet.
So I would approach this one with
caution. In my rifle, it delivered
2,497 fps with no pressure signs.
Powley predicted 2,880 fps a
huge difference.
EXAMPLE 2: 6.5X54
MANNLICHER-SCHNAUER
Case capacity of 46 grains gives
a powder charge of 39.5. With a
67
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Homer Powley and

His Computer
160-grain bullet, this gives a ratio
of .247, which, set beside a sectional density of .330, indicates
IMR-4350. The 1953 Lyman Ideal
Handbook No. 39 recommends a
maximum load of 38.5 grains of
IMR-4350 with a 156-grain bullet,
so this is also at or near maximum.
Powleys projected velocity is
2,270, while my measured velocity
was 2,198. In this case, the shortfall may be partly explained by an
oversized bore (.267 versus .264
inch).
EXAMPLE 3: .280 ROSS
Case capacity (69.5) indicates a
60-grain powder charge. With a
150-grain bullet, the ratio is .400.
Combined with a sectional density
(SD) of .266, the powder indicated
is 4831. Although the Computer is
unclear exactly which 4831 is intended, the load is light enough
that it should give no problems
with either IMR-4831 or H-4831.
[The Powley Computer only recommends IMR powders. Ed.] It predicts velocity of 2,930, while my
recorded velocity with H-4831 was
2,751 fps.
EXAMPLE 4: 9X57MM
Case capacity is 53 grains; powder charge is 45.5. With a 225-grain
bullet, the ratio is .203. SD of .251
indicates IMR-3031. Ideal No. 39
(1953) allows a charge of 38.0 to
43.0 grains of 3031 with a 280-grain
bullet. The same manual suggests
using .35 Winchester data for
other bullet weights for the 9x57,
and its load range there for a 200grain bullet is 45.0 to 50.0 grains of
3031, so the Powley recommendation looks reasonable.
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68
Handloader 290
Powley Computer Tested Load Data

cartridge
.22 High Power

6.5x54 M-S
.280 Ross
9x57mm
bullet
(grains)
powder
70 HDS*
160 Hornady roundnose
150 HDS*
225 Sierra SPBT
IMR-4064
IMR-4350
H-4831
IMR-3031
charge
(grains)
projected
velocity
(fps)
actual
velocity
(fps)
26.6
39.5
60.0
45.5
2,880
2,270
2,930
2,360
2,497
2,198
2,751
2,231
* HDS: Huntington Die Specialties

Projected velocity is 2,360 fps,

while actual measured velocity
was 2,231. The load gives excellent
accuracy with no adverse signs.
EXAMPLE 5: .505 GIBBS
The huge Gibbs exceeds the limits of the Powley Computer, which
accommodates bullets only up to
500 grains, while the Gibbs bullet
is 525 to 600. One can extrapolate
beyond 500 grains, but it involves
guesswork. An additional problem
was that the powder indicator fell
between powders. When that happens, Powley gives another formula for using the next-slowest
June-July 2014
powder. Altogether, there were

too many variables for my taste.
Although the resulting load of
126.5 grains of IMR-4350 fit reasonably well with existing data for
the .505 Gibbs, I did not try it.
CONTROL EXAMPLE:
.308 WINCHESTER
With a 150-grain bullet, Powley
recommends a load of 41.3 grains
of 4064. Compared with published
data, this load either falls in the
middle (Hodgdon, Sierra, Hornady) or is lighter than the lightest
starting load (Speer, Nosler). Perfectly safe.
The Powley Computers instruction booklet is educational in itself. He points out that the ideal
powder varies among cartridges
of the same bore diameter but
with different case capacities (.3030, .308, .30-06, .300 H&H, .300
Weatherby) and also with different bullet weights in the same cartridge (.30-06 with 110-, 150- and
220-grain bullets). This may seem
obvious, but I, for one, have never
seen it illustrated in exactly that
way. Knowing this helps considerably in understanding the logic behind the Powley formula.
We have only scratched the surface of the Powley Computers capabilities. As with all such tools,
using it effectively (and confidently) takes a little practice, a lot
of double-checking and meticulous attention to detail. In the end,
though, it is worth the effort and,
in the end, you know a lot more
about a ballisticians theory and
method than you get from a digital
computer program.
69
DUPLICATING
.45ACP
BALL LOADS
(Continued from page 48)
all through the M3 grease gun. All

the other taper-crimped handloads
flow through both subguns perfectly.
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70
Back in my youth, when the only

pistol powders available to me
were Bullseye, Unique and 2400,
life was simple. With Lyman 452374
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6.0 grains of Unique were all that
ever went into .45 ACP cases. According to the powder chart in the
back of Dave Scovills new book
Colts Single Action Army Loading and Shooting the Peacemaker,
there are at least 40 smokeless
powders with burning rates faster
than Unique. The others Ive had
good luck with are Hodgdons Titegroup and HP-38, Winchester W231, Alliants Red Dot and Western
Powders ZIP. The accompanying
load table shows particulars, but I
must say that my perceived best
accuracy has come with Bullseye
and W-231/HP-38 in charge weights
of 5.0 and 5.5 grains, respectively.
And last, there is the question of
sorting brass. I dont, except to
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Handloader 290
Propellant Profiles
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In the .30-30 Winchester, the powder seemed a bit fast for optimum
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clocking nearly 2,100 fps, all from
a 20-inch barrel. Much the same
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produce higher velocities, but accuracy was quite good for lightweight bullets, such as the 110and 130-grain choices employed.
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The 8mm Mauser stands out as

producing the greatest improvement in accuracy from the old lot
to the new. Frankly, this cartridge
was not designed to shoot 125grain bullets at all, let alone well.
To coax anything approaching decent accuracy out of such light
bullets can be trying, but Norma
200 made it a bit easier. Generally,
I was quite pleased.
The .45-70 proved to be something of a mixed bag with best performance coming from 300-grain
cast bullets. Throughout with this
cartridge, I used only the starting
loads, as published maximums
promised much higher velocities
than I wanted in my relatively light
Marlin rifle. With 300-grain bullets
I hoped to duplicate the old Winchester high-velocity load and
current factory offerings of 1,880
fps. I still got a bit more. Extreme
spreads could have been tightened up a bit with heavier powder
charges or a slower powder. Either would have taken up more
room in the case. Still, accuracy
was acceptable.
In the end, we have one more
shot at having the fine line of
Norma powders at our disposal.
Hopefully, this time, with Westerns distribution system for its
Ramshot and Accurate powder
lines firmly in place and with more
economical shipping and packaging, Western can build on its current success with the Norma line,
and it will be with us for a long
time to come.
June-July 2014
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71
Claro and
English
Walnut
Gun Stock
Blanks
Highly Figured
and Plain Grain
Cultivating Natures Beauty!

9009 River Road, Chico, CA 95928
Tel: 530-345-4012 Fax: 530-345-0990
www.winelandwalnut.com
winelandwalnut@hotmail.com
HOCH CUSTOM BULLET MOULDS
Tool room quality, nose-pour,

most standard or custom designs
made to order. Cylindrical
(straight) or tapered. Rifle &
pistol designs available.
COLORADO SHOOTERS SUPPLY
Shop 575-627-1933 Home 575-627-6156
910 N. Delaware Roswell, NM 88201
davefarmer@hochmoulds.com
In Range
might be produced by a chemical

company, and the powders themselves have industrial uses other
than propelling a bullet downrange.
When a company has a wide range
of products but limited production
facilities, production is scheduled
months, if not years, in advance.
The product is then moved around
the world according to transportation schedules, which in turn are
governed by many different factors. In the case of gunpowders,
this can be complicated by government regulations, since these
are classed as hazardous goods.
For all these reasons, an unexpected shortage in the marketplace cannot be alleviated by an
emergency phone call at midnight,
telling the foreman to put on another shift. According to Chris
Hodgdon, bringing a new extrudedpowder plant into production takes
three to five years. It is virtually
www.hochmoulds.com
impossible to respond to shortages with any kind of increased

production in the short term.
Hodgdon itself has run into several problems that have aggravated the current situation. A fire
shut down the mill that produces
its popular shotshell powders
(Clays, Universal and International), and there will be no new
production of those until late 2014
at the earliest.
Another piece of news, which is
related to the current difficulties
but not really a result of them, is
that the company is discontinuing
four of its powders in 2015. These
are IMRs PB, as well as the three
SR-series powders, 7625, 4756 and
4759. Whatever now exists in the
pipeline is probably all there will
be, although Chris says they may
get some more later this year. Either way, theyre gone from the
lineup as of 2015.
The decision to discontinue them,
Chris says, is declining demand.
The current madness aside, with
buyers snapping up any powder
they can find, these four old stalwarts have been steadily declining
in popularity. When production
facilities are at a premium and
back orders for other powders are
piling up, why devote precious
factory capacity to less popular
products?
Three of these are shotshell and/or
pistol powders, while SR-4759 is a
favorite for light rifle loads with
cast bullets. SR-4759 is very old,
having been introduced by DuPont
to replace its #80 around 1939. It
was discontinued in 1965, then
brought back by popular demand
when interest in cast bullets exploded in the 1990s. Today, according to Hodgdon, there are newer
powders that will do the same job,
notably IMRs Trail Boss.
In fact, according to Hodgdon
ballistician Ron Reiber, there is
no job 4759 can do that Trail Boss
will not do better, including the
smidgen of smokeless used to liven
up duplex black-powder loads. On
the shotshell side, Hodgdons Clays
72
Handloader 290
series of powders not only handle

all shotgun applications, but they
are also highly useful as handgun
powders when you can get them,
that is (see above).
This production problem is endemic throughout the industry in
brass, bullets and loaded ammunition. All are produced in lots, with
factories tooling up for a run of
one item, stocking the shelves,
then moving down the list. In the
case of brass in an obscure caliber, there might be only one run
in 10 years. An unexpected surge
in demand for a particular caliber
does not mean they will move
heaven and earth to do an immediate run of it, out of its production sequence.
Its the same with bullets. Right
now, Sierra is producing mostly
the high-demand, high back-ordered calibers, .224 and .308. They
dont like to quote specific numbers, but weekly production is approaching eight digits, and back
orders are still piling up.
Sierra spokesman Carroll Pilant
says they are trying to keep every-
Tighten
your groups
using the
Consistent
Crimp
Tel: 952-200-8308
Precisionaccuracycompany.com
pacity, they can do only so much.

And it would be a rash production
manager indeed who ordered an
expensive increase in permanent
production capacity because of a
spike in demand, when it is very
likely the current high will be followed by a crashing hangover.
This brings us to the last lesson
that can be learned from history,
whether it is Dutch tulips in 1637
or oil in 1975: All these bubbles
burst. Skyrocketing gasoline prices
in the 1970s were followed, in the
1980s, by chronic over-supply, sluggish oil-company stocks and low
prices at the pump.
Sierra is turning out literally millions
of bullets a week, and the shelves are
still bare. Although the company is
concentrating on high-demand .224
and .308 bullets, it is trying to devote
some machine time each week to less
popular bullets, such as this .358.
one shooting by diverting some

production capability each week
to less-popular calibers and odd
bullet weights. Sierra has recently
expanded and rearranged its production facilities in Missouri, but
even with those increases in ca-
Traditional Fair Chase

Alaskan Game Hunts!
Specializing in Brown Bear, Mountain Goat & Dall Sheep
Ed Stevenson
Gunstop Reloading Supplies, Inc..................................20

Harrells Precision .........................................................48
Harris Engineering ........................................................66
Harvey Deprimer...........................................................73
Hayleys Custom Ammunition.......................................20
High Plains Reboring & Barrels, LLC ............................19
Hodgdon Powder Company ............................................3
Hornady Manufacturing Co.....................................21, 23
Huntington Die Specialties......................................23, 47
IMR Powder Company....................................................7
Johnson Design Specialties ..........................................68
King Shooters Supply, Inc. ...........................................54
Leadheads Bullets.........................................................21
Little Crow Gunworks, LLC ...........................................70
Lohman Arms...............................................................74
Lyman Products Corporation........................................25
Meacham Tool & Hardware, Inc....................................56
Merit Corporation .........................................................70
Midsouth Shooters Supply Co. .....................................32
Mike Bellms TCs ..........................................................56
MTM Molded Products Company .................................53
NECO-Accuracy Products .............................................26
NOE Bullet Moulds........................................................21
Norma...........................................................................67
Nosler ...........................................................................27
Oehler Research, Inc.....................................................63
Oregon Trail Bullet Company ........................................41
Pacific Tool & Gauge, Inc..............................................16
PMA Tool ......................................................................68
Precision Accuracy Company, LLC ...............................73
Precision Reloading, LLC..............................................31
Fits cartridges with normal flash holes from .20 cal.

to .300 ultra mag, .460 Weatherby and .45-100
Machined from aluminum and hardened steel
No dies or shell holders needed
New improved pin design
Black ceramic finish
541-401-1835
115 Airport Road
Lebanon, OR 97355
harveydeprimer.com
Puff-Lon .......................................................................47
Quality Cartridge ...........................................................68
Quinetics Corporation ...................................................14
RCBS c/o Federal Cartridge Company...........................76
RCE...............................................................................63
Redding Reloading Equipment ...............................46, 57
RGB Bullet Company ....................................................71
Rigel Products ..............................................................47
Rim Rock Bullets ..........................................................12
Sharp Shoot R Precision Products, Inc. .......................14
Sheep River Hunting Camps .........................................73
Shotgun Sports ............................................................72
Sierra Bullets ................................................................29
Sinclair International, Inc..............................................37
Sisk Rifles, Inc..............................................................20
Sonoran Desert Institute...............................................40
SouWester Outfitting ...................................................17
SPG Lubricants.......................................................14, 32
SSK Industries..............................................................10
Starline .........................................................................61
Stockys Stocks ............................................................56
Swift Bullet Company .....................................................5
Timney Triggers, LLC....................................................70
Tru-Square Metal Products...........................................36
UniqueTek, Inc. .............................................................24
Vais Arms, Inc. .............................................................32
Western Powders .......................................28, 30, 43, 69
Wineland Walnut...........................................................72
Wolfe Publishing Company...........................................75
Xcalibers Reloading Supplies .......................................56
Zero Bullet Company, Inc..............................................24
73
AD I NDE X
June-July 2014
As Charles Mackay observed, men

may go mad in herds, but they only
recover their senses slowly, and
one by one.
Deprime Without A Press!

Hand-held depriming tool
P.O. Box 875149 Wasilla, AK 99687

907-745-0479 hunting@mtaonline.net
www.alaskan-brown-bear-hunts.com
21st Century Shooting, Inc. ..........................................68
4D Reamer Rentals, Ltd................................................15
Act Tactical ...................................................................68
Action Bullets, Inc.........................................................71
Anneal-Rite ...................................................................20
Barnes Bullets...............................................................33
Berger Bullets ...............................................................55
Berrys Mfg. ....................................................................2
Box Elder Innovations, LLC...........................................29
Brass Grippers..............................................................60
Buffalo Arms Company.................................................20
Bullets.com.......................................................15, 17, 19
CJN Casting ..................................................................17
Colorado Shooters Supply ...........................................72
Conetrol Scope Mounts ..........................................15, 71
Cooper Firearms of Montana, Inc. ................................49
Crossbreed Holsters .....................................................22
Cutsom Brass and Bullets.............................................68
Cutting Edge Bullets .......................................................8
Dale Fricke Holsters ......................................................10
Dave Manson Precision Reamers .................................71
Dayton Traister Trigger Co. ...........................................71
Dillon Precision Products, Inc. .....................................10
Douglas Barrels, Inc. ....................................................23
DW Battlesight..............................................................70
Eagle View Arms...........................................................21
Elite Sports Express......................................................71
Gebhardt Machine Company.........................................63
Gemmells Machine Works ...........................................68
Gradient Lens Corporation..................................9, 11, 13
Its hard to say exactly what might

cause the bottom to fall out of
the current boom in handloading
components. A pro-gun president
would help, but thats years away
at best. Or the realization we all
have enough squirreled away. The
latter, however, wont be sudden
not like a stock-market crash.
SUPPLY, DEMAND
AND RESUPPLY
IN RANGE
by Terry Wieland
These three
venerable
powders,
along with
SR-4756, will
be discontinued
as of 2015
victims of
declining
demand and
tight production
capacity.
here is the law of supply and

demand, and then there is Extraordinary Popular Delusions
and the Madness of Crowds. The
former is a cornerstone of economics, the latter is what happens when
an aberrant factor greed or fear
enters into the equation. Examples were noted as early as 1841,
when Scottish journalist Charles
Mackay published the above-named
book.
In the world of handloading, we
have now departed the first and
entered the second. By my admittedly unscientific reckoning, we
are in the midst of the most acute
shortage of loading components
since 1945. Everything is in short
supply: primers, bullets, powder
and brass. Some is hard to find
and expensive when it is found;
others are simply unobtainable
from commercial sources.
In historical situations, from the
Dutch tulip mania of the 1630s, outlined by Mackay, to the gasoline
queues of the 1970s, normal shortages related to supply and demand
reached a point where warnings
became self-fulfilling prophecies.
The ensuing shortage becomes selfsustaining as fear promotes panic
buying.
The fear of a shortage is, by itself, enough to cause a shortage.

And that is where we find ourselves
today. The gasoline queues are a
classic example: In 1976 there was
no shortage of gasoline in the
United States, but people thought
there might be. So, whenever they
saw a gas station, they topped off
the tank. This caused a spike in
consumption. Gas-station tanks,
which are refilled on a schedule
based on average consumption,
ran dry. A no gas today sign on
one station caused a run on the
next one, and so on.
If you inventoried all the gasoline
in the country in cars, gas stations, tank trucks, storage tanks
there was the normal amount. Only
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the distribution was awry. Not surprisingly, the shortage caused by

public fear was soon being attributed to oil cartels and price-fixing
conspiracies.
The situation with gunpowder
today is similar. In fact, there are
uncanny parallels between oil in
the 1970s and smokeless powder
in 2014. As with oil, the U.S. consumes more civilian gunpowder
than the country produces, and
while there is far more variety
today than ever before, much of
our canistered powder again, as
with oil comes from other countries. Hodgdon, which also owns
Winchester and IMR, imports powder from Australia, Canada and
Finland, among others.
Traditionally, extruded powders
such as those marketed by IMR
(4350, 3031 and 4064, for example)
are single-based nitrocellulose
powders, while those of other
configurations (ball or flake) are
generally double-based (nitrocellulose combined with nitroglycerine). Today, Hodgdon tells me, there
is not a single powder plant in the
U.S. producing extruded powders.
The IMR powders are all made in
Canada, at a plant in Quebec.
Smokeless powders are just one
of many related commodities that
Handloader 290
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reproductions and replicas.
The focus of this publication is
shooting these important and
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information on available factory
ammunition and handloading data
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45 ACP Ball Loads for Pistols and Submachine Guns

Rifle Magazine Presents - HANDLOADER

Handloads for Plinking and Hunting

Display until 7/12/14

Bullets & Brass Brian Pearce

R.H. VanDenburg, Jr.

From the Hip -

Reloaders Press Dave Scovill

Background Photo: 2014 Vic Schendel

Issue No. 290

Useful It Is, Gospel

Publisher/President Don Polacek

Advertising Director - Tammy Rossi

Wolfe Publishing Co.

Background Photo: 2014 Vic Schendel

WITH THANKS TO LESTER

ay back in 1955, my late

bellished tremendously when the

Mom called us to dinner. Working

were my own. Well, there was one

During those early years of handloading, my mother paid the bills

ging outfit, which was punctuated

design, or tinkering around under

thrust isnt reduced if the primer

about pressure. Seating a primer

on the amount of pressure the

believe a flattened primer is a sign

Whispers are developments of SSK Industries.

Custom barrels for Contenders, Encores,

A number years ago, I became

ume), IMR powder burning rates

The Powley slide rule was not a

One of the more current computer

Working with the Powley slide

may result in a real load. As a result, QuickLOAD will get you in

.38/44 HIGH VELOCITY

: I have a difficult question

the .357. Is it possible that you

Rim Rock Bullets .net

.32 Keith125 GR. SWC /500

Prices subject to change without notice.

Our Online Catalog Has Over 100 Different Bullets!

Rim Rock Bullets

44 Frame in .38 Special, which

even from the same manufacturer,

Hodgdon H-4895 powder is a top

can safely withstand greater pressures, even exceeding 40,000 CUP.

IMR SR-7625 and

powders that will give velocities

produce just over 1,100 fps. To

.32 S&W Long

have owned and fired many of

The Ruger New

by R.H. VanDenburg, Jr.

or almost three years, I have

packaging. For the past 50 years

One aspect salvaged from the

When samples arrived in the

ders in the metal containers and

opment will include the Norma

of its moisture content over the

It is also interesting to note that