October 2006 No. 243 - Rifle Magazine 243 Partial (LO) 21.pdf · October 2006 No. 243 ... It had sat on the shelf for ... October-November 2006 19 called me up and said, “Guess

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October 2006 No. 243Rifle Magazine Presents - HANDLOADER

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AMMUNAMMUNITITIONON REL RELOADING NG JOJOURURNALAL

October-November 2006Volume 41, Number 5

ISSN 0017-7393Issue No. 243

8 Phil SharpeReloader’s Press -Dave Scovill

12 Notes on the WCFFrom the Hip -Brian Pearce

16 Blowing Up GunsMike’s Shootin’ Shack -Mike Venturino

22 Vihtavuori N340Propellant Profiles -R.H. VanDenburg, Jr.

26 7.63mm MauserCartridge Board -Gil Sengel

30 Handloadingthe .38-44Smith & WessonPredecessor to the.357 MagnumBrian Pearce

Background Photo: © 2006 Kenny Bahr

Page 40. . .

Page 30. . .

40 .308 WinchesterSnappy, Handy andVersatileJohn Haviland

48 Much Ado AboutNothing . . . or Almost NothingVelocity Versus BarrelLength – The MythJohn Barsness

58 Great Gauchos!Colt-Inspired SingleAction from BrazilClair Rees

64 Dove and QuailExpress LoadsInspired by FlashGordon . . . !!Wallace Labisky

74 Loading theWinchesterModel 1886Insight Intothe LegendaryLever ActionMike Venturino

Page 48. . .

Page 64. . .

6 Handloader 243

On the cover . . .A Browning Model 1886 .45-70 (MontanaCentennial) is shown with a U.S. Repeat-ing Arms Model 1886 .45-70 and anoriginal Winchester Model 1886 Light-weight .50-110 Express. Rifle photosby Yvonne Venturino. Deer photoby Donald R. Jones.

84 Lee SafetyPrimer FeedProduct Tests -R.H. VanDenburg, Jr.

86 Where To GoSpecial AdvertisingSection -

92 Midrange .44Magnum LoadsBullets & Brass -

94 What’s New inthe MarketplaceInside Product News -Clair Rees

10 The Lee LoaderHunting Handloads -John Barsness

Publisher of Handloader™ is not responsible for mishaps of any nature that might occur from use of publishedloading data or from recommendations by any member of The Staff. No part of this publication may be reproducedwithout written permission from the publisher. Publisher assumes all North American Rights upon acceptance andpayment for all manuscripts. Although all possible care is exercised, the publisher cannot accept responsibility forlost or mutilated manuscripts.

Background Photo: © 2006 Kenny Bahr

Issue No. 243 October-November 2006

AMMUNAMMUNITITIONON REL RELOADING NG JOJOURURNALAL

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Associate Publisher – Don Polacek

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Handloader® (ISSN 0017-7393) is published bi-monthly by Mark Harris Publishing Associates, Inc.,dba Wolfe Publishing Company (Mark Harris, Presi-dent), 2625 Stearman Rd., Ste. A, Prescott, Arizona86301. (Also publisher of Rifle® magazine.) Telephone(928) 445-7810. Periodical Postage paid at Prescott,Arizona, and additional mailing offices. Subscriptionprices: U.S. possessions – single issue, $4.99; 6 issues,$19.97; 12 issues, $36.00; 18 issues, $48.00. Foreignand Canada – single issue, $5.99; 6 issues $26.00; 12 is-sues, $48.00; 18 issues, $69.00. Please allow 6-8 weeksfor first issue. Advertising rates furnished on request.All rights reserved.

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Wolfe PublishingCompany

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Prescott, AZ 86301Tel: (928) 445-7810 Fax: (928) 778-5124Copyright © Mark Harris Publishing Associates, Inc.

John Barsness

Brian Pearce

Clair Rees

Gil Sengel

Ron Spomer

Stan Trzoniec

Mike Venturino

Ken Waters

Page 48Page 40Page 58

Page 110. . .

Page 94. . .

OutdoorBooksSupplement (page 101)

110

16 Handloader 243www.handloadermagazine.com

BLOWING UP GUNSBLOWING UP GUNSM

IKE’S

SH

OO

TIN

’ S

HA

CK

MIK

E’S

SH

OO

TIN

’ S

HA

CK Mike

Venturino

story that went with it was that afellow was given a handloadingoutfit by his wife for Christmas.The outfit lacked a reloadingmanual, but the fellow set it allup and started reloading anyway.His logic was that if a cartridgecase had all that space in it thenit should be filled with powderand proceeded to do so withBullseye. Naturally the first andonly shot did the deed to theRossi. I suppose it’s hardly fair toclass that guy as a handloader, asI’m told he never loaded anotherround.

Not long ago in my column onthe .45-60 WCF cartridge, Ishowed a picture of a wreckedModel 1876 Winchester that hadbeen taken apart by a smokelesspowder handload. That mess wasdue to carelessness, and the fel-low who lost it was out $4,000.Recently the same fellow drop-ped by the house with the re-mains of a fine condition, 1stGeneration Colt SAA .38-40. Asthe accompanying photo shows,

ers at a range scavenging upbrass someone else had dis-carded? Even if they don’t loadfor the caliber they’re pickingup? I’ve done it myself.

The best case of ignorance inhandloading I know is illustratedby the Rossi .38 Special handgunshown in the photo. A gunsmithgave it to me years ago saying the

Blowing up guns is bad

business. Not only is a valu-able firearm destroyed, but ittends to put bits of flying metaland/or wood in the air, neither ofwhich does the body any good ifthey connect.

I don’t know of anyone whoblows up guns on purpose, but itseems that a lot of guns still getblown up. Not a single one of theblown up guns I have encoun-tered were destroyed by factoryammunition. I suppose it hap-pens, not because of the factoryammunition per se but becausesomeone put the wrong type offactory ammunition in a gun.The only “for instance” thatcomes immediately to mind isthat I’ve heard a .270 Winchestercan chamber a .308 Winchesterround.

All the blown up guns I’ve per-sonally seen met their ends be-cause of handloaders. Some weredestroyed due to ignorance,some to carelessness, and somebecause of the frugal nature ofhandloaders in general. We arethat way. How many times inyour life have you seen handload-

Photos by Yvonne Venturino

This Rossi .38 Special was wrecked by a novice handloader who filledhis first and only reloaded case with Bullseye.

This fine 1st Generation Colt SAA .38-40 was destroyed by an experi-enced handloader who was trying to save a few dollars on powder.

Handloader 243

gun he had paid $2,500 for, andnow it was a shambles too.

He said his “always” load forthe .38-40 was 8.0 grains ofUnique with 170- to 180-graincustom cast bullets. That should-n’t present a problem if the gunhad been in good condition. Ithad been. I know. I obtained itfor him from a friend severalyears ago, and he had fired thou-sands of rounds through it since.Since he loads on a progressivepress, we thought perhaps some-how due to his inattentivenesshe had double-charged a case. Itwas the only thing that madesense. He admits he doesn’tlike to reload and only doesso because of the cost savings.He is not a “handloading loony”like me, and most likely you ifyou’re reading this magazine. Hedoesn’t.

My advice to him was to startusing IMR’s new Trail Boss pow-der. It’s about the safest wayanyone can go with pistol-sizecartridges now. It’s so “fluffy”you can’t get enough of it into anormal sized handgun case to doany harm. Also while he washere, I sold him my only 1st Gen-eration .38-40 Colt SAA. It had saton the shelf for over 10 yearssince being fired the last time.

Three days later this fellow

the cylinder split in almost a per-fectly straight line, and the escap-ing gas put the top strap intoorbit. He was genuinely upset,and rightly so. This was a hand-

18 www.handloadermagazine.com

The wrecked .38-40 Colt SAA was traced back to powder that hadbeen bought at a gun show – but with the factory seals missing fromthe containers.

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October-November 2006 19www.handloadermagazine.com

called me up and said, “Guesswhat?” I said, “Oh no! Notagain?” To which he replied, “Al-most. This time I only bulged achamber.” How could this be? Heassured me he was going toswitch to Trail Boss.

Brother was I relieved when hesaid the culprit wasn’t Trail Bossthis time. He had switched to it,and it had done fine. He said hehad pulled all the bullets out ofhundreds of rounds of previouslyloaded .38-40s to be on the safeside but had forgotten to take therounds out of his cartridge belt.During a shooting session, hehad managed to slip one of thoseinto the new .38-40. How did heknow for sure? Coincidentallywhen starting to reload withTrail Boss, he had also startedusing primers with a copperwash. His older and potentiallyunsafe .38-40 reloads were loadedwith primers having the shinynickel finish. Sure enough it wasone of those stuck in the bulgedchamber.

But the story goes on. This fel-low now said he had figured outwhy his old standard load of 8.0grains of Unique had wrecked agun. Being of a frugal nature, at agun show some time back, hefound a fellow with a table full ofodds and ends of components.There were several cans ofUnique, and he bought them all.After his SAA wrecking accident,he realized the rounds he wasshooting were the first loadedwith that powder. When helooked at the “Unique” cans, theyhad all been opened – the sealswere gone. In other words he hadabsolutely no idea exactly whatpowder he had bought, reloadedand shot.

His frugal nature had cost him –$2,500 for the destroyed ColtSAA – and it took $500 to find agood replacement 1st Generation.38-40 cylinder for the secondgun. But he did gain something –a nickname.

I now call him “Shrapnel.” •

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64 Handloader 243

main drainage. Just before webegan this prairie-grouse hunt, Ihanded my brother a 10-round boxof 12-gauge 70mm B&P (Baschieri& Pellagri) shells. This was the MBSuper Star loading with 11⁄4 ouncesof No. 71⁄2 nickel-plated lead shot,a high-velocity offering that theOehler chronograph said was step-ping along at 1,320 fps. “You’renow a member of Team B&P,” Itold him.

Wallace Labisky

W e parked the pickupin the same old place,alongside a tumble-down corral located

almost smack-dab in the center ofthe Standing Rock Sioux Reserva-tion. A half-mile away is an areawe refer to as the West Breaks – aseries of wooded finger draws thatsnake their way uphill from the

www.handloadermagazine.com

Dove QuailDove Quailand

ExpressLoadsExpressLoads

Inspired by Flash Gordon . . . !!Inspired by Flash Gordon . . . !!

©2006 John R. Ford photo

Roughly two hours later wewere back at the truck, each ofus carrying five chunky sharp-tails. We were both in finefettle that day. The total expen-diture of ammunition had beenonly 11 rounds, yours trulyhaving missed one bird on thefirst try but recovered quicklyenough to fold it with the sec-ond barrel.

This “hot” shoot tookplace several years ago,like about eight or there-

abouts. Prior to thattime, I knew next to

nothing about theB&P shotshells, ex-cept for hearsaythat these Italian-made loads were

the very bestthat Europe

had to offer.

from Finland.The B&P fac-tory ammuni-tion is not yet sofirmly entrenched onthis side of the bigpond that it domi-nates the claybirdarena, but I’m toldit has won a largefollowing, particularlyamong sporting claysshooters.

While digging for informa-tion, this fact was uncov-ered: Beretta, the Europeangiant in shotgun production, fa-vors the B&P shotshells for allits in-factory testing. And that,indeed, amounts to a mightystrong product endorsement.

The history of B&P (locatedin Bologna) is quite impressive.The founding of the companydates back to 1885, and it isstill a family-owned and man-aged entity with a strong andcontinuing commitment tohigh quality. B&P can claim thedistinction of being a pioneerin the development of one-piece plastic wads. It was also

one of the first Euro-pean ammunitioncompanies to man-ufacture its own

The fog lifted when Mike Dot-son’s Dallas-based company(Baschieri & Pellagri America)introduced the loads to U.S.shotgunners. Dotson not onlyprovided me with various fac-tory loads but also kept mewell supplied with once-firedhulls for handloading. I haveprobably run a thousand ormore rounds in B&P hullsthrough my pressure gun inworking up special-purpose

loads.

These days, the exclu-sive North American

distributor of theB&P shotshells is

Kaltron-Pettibone,which is the

company thatbrings in the

Vihtavuoripowders


B&P factory loads use square-flake powders manufactured at the com-pany’s own plant in Bologna, Italy.

Handloader 243

walled tube, the ultra-modernbasewad and a rimmed brasscollar (plated steel) that lockseverything together but doesn’tactually form the headface. Ex-cept for a narrow perimetricalband that is integral with thebrass, it is the bottom side of thebasewad that serves as headfaceand primer pocket. The hull’s ex-terior is striated (ribbed), and thecrimp is of six-point style on allfactory rounds. Brass heightvaries from 8mm to 20mm.

Load capacity for the 70mm hullis very, very close to being thesame as Federal’s Gold Medal,but with one exception. Hullsthat are used for the MB Extraload (16mm brass) have a higherbasewad and therefore less ca-pacity. For this particular hull,

none of the recipes detailed inthe nearby tables will leave suffi-cient crimp space. So look beforeyou leap. The MB Extra loading,by the way, carries 35 grams ofNo. 10 shot (my samples) and isintended for ZZ-bird shooting.

While the Gordon System base-wad is the product of fertilethinking, the actual structuring isnot really complex. A simple de-scription goes like this: There is afairly deep relief groove at mid-height, and this allows the upperand outer part to flex downwardas the powder gas builds pres-sure. This “collapsing” actionlengthens the rise time to peakchamber pressure and at thesame time reduces the recoil per-ceived by the shooter.

The elasticity of the plastic is

smokeless powder, with 16 dif-ferent burning speeds currentlyin production. B&P does notmake its own primers. These aresourced from Fiocchi and Ched-dite. Lead shot is also obtainedfrom an outside source – namely,Aquila. The shot pellets are ei-ther nickel-plated or a highlypolished version that appears tobe nickeled. But the powder,wads and the hull itself are in-house products.

It was back in 1989 that B&Pbegan using a hull of new designthat featured a semi-collapsiblebasewad and was named the“Gordon System.” A TV newscommentator would likely de-scribe the innovative design as be-ing of “cutting-edge” technology.

But “Gordon?” That’s not Italian– not by any stretch of the imagi-nation. The straight scoop is thatthe Italians were big fans of theFlash Gordon comic strip, andthat’s how the new B&P hull de-rived its name. Rather strange,but true.

The plastic hull is of three-piecedesign, consisting of a straight-


Express LoadsExpress Loads

Factory loads from B&P come in a variety of colors geared to their in-tended use – trap, skeet, sporting clays, pigeon, etc.

Below, the six-point fold crimp on the B&P factoryrounds retains enough memory for problem-freehandloading. Right, optimum crimp space forhandloads in the Gordon System hull is 7⁄16 to 15⁄32

inch, which results in a closure with a star-shapedcenter “sink.”


such that the flexing function isnot just a one-time advantage.And that should please handload-ers, because the basewad keepson doing its thing for the life ofthe hull.

On the matter of longevity, theB&P hull is neither better norworse than most other straight-walled plastic hulls of the Reifen-hauser type. I took 10 once-firedempties and put them throughmy usual test regimen, whichgoes beyond just reloading andshooting until they wear out. Theextra step entails a close lookat ballistic uniformity. For theB&P project, I used a 23.0-graincharge of Alliant’s AmericanSelect combined withB&P’s Trap Comman-der wad and a one-ounce charge ofNo. 8 shot. Theprimer was theFiocchi 616.

The story on ballistics for thefirst reload was an average veloc-ity of 1,331 fps and 9,480 leadunits of chamber pressure, withan extreme variation in velocityof 23 fps and 1,000 units of pres-sure (see nearby Table I).

The fifth time around the aver-age velocity fell off to 1,305 fps,the chamber pressure to 8,940lead units. For the 10th timearound there was a slight in-

crease for bothnumbers, but

the spreadbetween the

high and lowfor individual

rounds wasactually less.

Bottom line: The difference in av-erage ballistic performance be-tween the first and the 10threload was only 15 fps and 340lead units, which certainly speakswell for both the hull and thecomponent set.

By the time I was through withthe longevity testing, the hullmouths were looking prettyshabby. Along about the fourthtrip to the loading bench, somepinhole burnouts were showingat the base of the crimp folds,and these gradually enlarged tobecome short cracks extendingdownward into the hull body.After about eight reloads, a cou-ple of hulls had full-length splitsin the crimp area, but crimp ap-pearance for subsequent reloadswas not affected, nor was theballistic performance. This ispretty much the story with allstraight-walled plastics, regard-less of whose name is on theheadstamp.

©2006 John R. Ford photo

The exclusive North Americandistributor of theB&P shotshells isKaltron-Pettibone.

The exclusive North Americandistributor of theB&P shotshells isKaltron-Pettibone.

Left, Alliant’s American Select fueled the B&P hulls forcase-life tests. Above, top, during his load developmentwork, Labisky used both the Fiocchi 616 and the Federal209A primers. Above, bottom, the Z-21 Trap Commanderwad was used for nearly all the load development withthe B&P hull.

Handloader 243

n’t be budged – not even withstrong finger pressure. Perhapsthe batch of hulls I worked withwere not quite up to par in thisrespect. Glitches such as this canoccasionally happen during man-ufacture.

The Hodgdon data manual for2006 details a large number ofrecipes for the 12-gauge 70mmB&P hull – 126 to be exact, withpayloads ranging from one to 11⁄2ounces. All are for lead shot only,and all with Hodgdon powders,of course.

The majority of the Hodgdon

of fit for a leakproof gas seal.This not only enhances ignitionand powder burn, but also pre-vents powder migration whenworking with a propellant of ex-tremely fine granulation.

When developing loading datafor the one-ounce recipes listedin the tables, I opted for the Z-21Trap Commander wad. This wadis identical to what is used inmuch of the B&P target-loadammunition. It is availablefrom Ballistic Products, Inc.(www.ballisticproducts.com; or1-888-273-5623; or Box 293, HamelMN 55340).

The one thing that displeasesme about most European-madewads is that the shotcup petalsare tab-joined. I’m not going tospeculate regarding the purposeof this practice. But I will pointout that over the years I’ve recov-ered a large number of thesewads and found that not all ofthe tabs break on firing. Usuallytwo petals will peel back on muz-zle exit, while the other two willremain joined. This is not con-ducive to a smooth release of thepayload and pattern uniformitycan suffer.

I routinely break the petalsapart before loading. This can beeasily done with finger pressurefrom inside the shotcup, thoughsometimes I’ll take a small knifeand go zip-zip-zip-zip.

Another thing you’re bound tonotice when perusing the Hodg-don data for the B&P hull is thatnot a single U.S.-made primer isrecommended. All loads call for

recipes specify shotcup wads ofEuropean manufacture, such asthose from Fiocchi, Gualandi andB&P. These are designed espe-cially for straight-walled hulls inthat the diameter of the over-powder cup precludes looseness

Though it was not really a gen-uine problem, during the firingprocess, the brass had a ten-dency to loosen to the extent thatit could be easily turned withlight to moderate finger pressure.This looseness involved only thebrass, not the basewad itself,and was more pronounced withsome hulls than with others.After resizing, the brass wasagain securely locked and could-


Italians were big fansof the Flash Gordon

comic strip.

Italians were big fansof the Flash Gordon

comic strip.


Handloader 243

able ballistic uniformity with theFiocchi 616, my velocity parame-ters being 1,300 to 1,400 fps. Indefining ballistic uniformity, mypersonal yardstick is an EV (ex-treme variation) of no more than35 fps for a five-shot test.

For example, my trials withthe Fiocchi primer and the Vih-tavuori powders – N3SL andN3SM – were disappointing. The

the loads with the Federal 209Aprimer that are listed in Table II,there is no bona fide endorse-ment from this quarter. You havebeen alerted, and the decision isentirely yours.

The only reason I embraced thepower-packed Federal 209A wasthat with some powders (bothfast- and medium-burn rates) Isimply could not attain accept-

either the Fiocchi 616 or theCheddite 209, and you mighthave to do a lot of shoppingaround to find the latter, whichcomes to these shores fromFrance.

It’s not that the European shot-shell primers are superior toU.S.-made primers in terms of ig-nition force, or anything like that.Rather, it’s a matter of primer fit.The thickness and angle of thebattery-cup flange for U.S.primers is such that they do notmate perfectly with the recessedarea on the B&P headface. Thisrecess is wide enough but lacksenough depth to fully accommo-date. The end result is that thebattery-cup flange is elevated afew thousandths of an inchabove headface level. It’s actuallyenough to be felt with a sensitivethumb, or when the primed hull isrocked on a perfectly flat surface.

I have teamed the Federal 209Aprimer with the B&P hull forsome of my favorite one-ouncehandloads, all of which havebeen fired in side-by-side andover-under guns. No problem.

But is it flirting with danger interms of a slam-fire when usingthese same loads in a pump gunor an autoloader? This is a matterdeserving of careful thought. Ithas often been said that anythingis possible, but in this case theprobability is quite remote. I saythis because the primer itself(the cap) sits a tiny bit below thelevel of the flange and thereforeis not in contact with the gun’sbolt face when a round is cham-bered. If you elect to try any of


12-Gauge 70mm Dove & Quail Express LoadsBaschieri & Pellagri Gordon-System Hull

Fiocchi 616 primerGualandi Z-21 Trap Commander wad

1 ounce No. 8 lead shot6-point fold crimp

extreme chamber extremepowder charge velocity spread pressure spread

(grains) (fps) (fps) (lead units) (lead units)

Red Dot 21.5 1,322 28 9,840 700*American Select 23.0 1,331 23 9,480 1,000*Green Dot 24.0 1,293 31 8,200 600*

25.0 1,371 21 9,680 1,200Unique 26.0 1,327 40 9,040 800Solo 1000 23.5 1,340 30 9,720 1,400*Solo 1250 28.5 1,324 36 7,900 800Super Target AA 23.5 1,322 20 9,960 900*Super-Lite 22.0 1,329 26 10,140 1,100**PB 26.5 1,318 11 7,780 700*

27.5 1,374 30 8,640 900International 24.5 1,386 39 10,180 1,200***

Federal 209A primerGualandi Z-21 Trap Commander wad

1 ounce No. 8 lead shot6-point fold crimp

extreme chamber extremepowder charge velocity spread pressure spread

(grains) (fps) (fps) (lead units) (lead units)

VV-N3SL 22.0 1,330 11 9,940 800*23.0 1,354 20 10,120 1,400*

VV-N3SM 25.0 1,376 13 9,040 600*Green Dot 23.0 1,313 27 9,680 600*

24.0 1,364 36 10,220 1,000*PB 25.0 1,352 8 9,560 500*SR-7625 27.5 1,409 21 9,720 700*Solo 1250 26.5 1,330 31 9,020 1,200*

28.0 1,433 26 10,560 1,000

* Requires a thin 20-gauge card wad (.030 to .070 inch) on the shotcup floor to regulate crimpspace.

** Requires a .200-inch card insert.*** This loading with Hodgdon International powder used the Fiocchi 12GW wad.

Notes: The velocities listed are five-shot averages that were measured at 41⁄2 feet from the muzzleusing an Oehler M35 Proof chronograph in conjunction with an industry-standard 30-inch pressurebarrel, 3-inch chamber and no choke. Only once-fired shells were used, and all powder and shotcharges were loaded by scale weight.

Be Alert – Publisher cannot accept responsibility for errors in published load data.

Table II

Table I

The Hodgdon datamanual for 2006 details

a large number ofrecipes for the 12-gauge

70mm B&P hull.

The Hodgdon datamanual for 2006 details

a large number ofrecipes for the 12-gauge

70mm B&P hull.


For another comparison, thistime with PB powder, ballisticuniformity was quite accept-able with the Fiocchi primer.However, a switch to the Federal209A resulted in truly outstand-ing performance with the EVs forvelocity and pressure logging inat only 8 fps and 500 lead units.Believe me, it never gets any bet-ter than that!

’Nuff said regarding ballisticuniformity? I think so.

I prefer fast loads for dovehunting, so I settled on a pair that

October-November 2006

cut in half, along with a cleanerpowder burn. Definitely a worth-while move.

Another example of a rockymarriage between primer andpowder involved SR-7625. Withthe Fiocchi 616, a 28.0-graincharge behind a one-ounce pay-load in the B&P hull gave anaverage velocity of 1,308 fps (EV74), the pressure being 6,940 (EV1,600) lead units. With the Fed-eral 209A primer the propellantcharge was reduced a half-grainand the velocity increased to1,410 fps (EV 21), while pressureclimbed to 9,720 lead units (EV700).

spreads were 62 and 80 fps, re-spectively. When I switched tothe Federal 209A with a one-grain reduction in the powdercharge, the EVs shrank to 11 fps

for VV-N3SL and 13 fps for VV-N3SM. Not only that, but therewere substantial gains in averagevelocity and pressure, with theEVs for pressure being more than

71www.handloadermagazine.com

Pattern Test Summary12-Gauge 70mm Baschieri & Pellagri Hull

Ruger Red Label Over-Under

Express Handload

Federal 209A primer27.5 grains SR-7625Z-21 Trap Commander wad + 20-gauge .030-inch card1 ounce No. 8 lead shot1,409 fps – 9,720 LUP

density central20-inch 5-inch 30-inch thickening

yards choke core ring circle 30-inch factor(inch) (percent)

30 .012 271.2 125.0 396.2 90.4 2.1940 .019 197.8 130.8 328.6 74.9 1.52

Express Handload

Federal 209A primer28.0 grains Solo 1250Z-21 Trap Commander wad (no shotcup insert)1 ounce No. 8 lead shot1,433 fps – 10,560 LUP

density central20-inch 5-inch 30-inch thickening

yards choke core ring circle 30-inch factor(inch) (percent)

30 .012 249.6 131.2 380.8 86.8 1.9240 .019 176.4 127.8 304.2 69.4 1.40

Notes: The shot used for pattern testing was West Coast Premium Magnum grade (5 percent anti-mony content). Pellet count for the one-ounce charge of No. 8s (437.5 grains) was 438. Chamberlength for the Ruger over-under with 28-inch barrels and fixed chokes: 23⁄4 inches or 70mm with issueforcing cones. Bore diameters: .729 and .730 inch.

Be Alert – Publisher cannot accept responsibility for errors in published load data.

Table III

Left, Gamebore in England chose theGordon System hull for a 12-gauge,3-inch load with nontoxic tin-shot pel-lets. Above, the design of the GordonSystem hull is such that the plasticbasewad constitutes a major portionof the headface.

The tallest brassgenerated the lowest

set of numbers.

The tallest brassgenerated the lowest

set of numbers.

Handloader 243

were running at 1,400+ fps – SR-7625 and Solo 1250, both pow-ders set afire by the Federal 209Aprimer. Both of these one ounc-ers were approaching maxi-mum in terms of average cham-ber pressure; more so for the

margin. In my opinion, the twomain factors that contributedwere the medium-burn-rate pow-ders (a longer rise time to peakchamber pressure) and the use ofpremium-grade shot pellets (5- to6-percent antimony). Both fac-tors do much to alleviate pelletdeformation on load start, andlessening pellet damage im-proves the pattern. It’s as simpleas that.

It’s time, now, for a postscript.A question bouncing around inthe back of my head for a longtime involves brass height. Doesit have any effect on chamberpressure? As I mentioned early-on in this report, the B&P hullsare dressed in various heights ofbrass, and since all have identicalload capacity, it seemed like agood time to roll up my sleevesfor another series of tests. I se-lected hulls with 8mm, 12mm,16mm and 20mm brass, and allwere identically loaded with theFiocchi 616 primer, 26.5 grains ofPB, the Trap Commander wadand one ounce of lead shot – 10rounds for each brass height.

On the velocity side, the aver-ages were quite close, rangingfrom 1,321 fps to 1,334 fps – thelowest being with the 20mm hull,the highest with the 16mm brass.In the pressure column, the low-est was 7,690 lead units with20mm brass, while the highestwas with the 12mm at 8,000units.

The bottom line is that brassheight appears to be a zero factorin terms of affecting chamberpressure. However, I’ll admit thatI was a bit surprised to find thatthe tallest brass generated thelowest set of numbers. I wouldhave bet otherwise, my assump-tion being that the hull’s radial“give” would be more confinedon powder ignition and loadstart. It just goes to show thattaking matters for granted is notgood enough. And that, I’d say, iswhat makes the whole caboodleso intriguing.

Solo 1250 loading. Before ventur-ing afield I did some pattern test-ing with both loads. The gun wasa Ruger Red Label O-U, andthe results are fully detailed inTable III.

Check for yourself. Consideringthe amount of choke constric-tion, the average pattern efficien-cies for these blitz-speed loadsexceeded the norm by a sizable


•



powder measure to provideclearance between the measurebody and the primer tray as theturret is rotated.

Interestingly, the Safety PrimerFeed comes in a box designed tohold two of them. So, if you havelarge and small varieties, theycan be stored in the same box.Nice touch. Each kit contains abracket for attaching the assem-bly to the Classic Cast press, aprimer tray and cover, a troughthrough which the primers traveland a trigger mechanism thattransfers the primer from thetrough to the primer arm for seat-ing in the case. An instructionsheet clearly shows how the vari-ous parts fit together and thecomplete assembly operates. Allthe parts are black polymer, ex-cept for the tray covers, whichare clear, and the large primertrigger mechanism which iswhite.

In use we begin by attachingthe bracket to the press. With theClassic Cast press, as describedearlier, with the various turretpresses, a different bracket at-taches to the right front strut.In all cases, the design of thebracket and the primer feedforce a right-hand operation.With the Classic Cast press, thisrequires the shellholder insert berotated so the primer arm oper-ates from the right side of theram. In the turret presses, theprimer arm is located at the front

of the ram. All this may causesome to opt to operate the presshandle with the left hand. This isnot a problem with the presses inquestion, as each can easily beset up for left- or right-hand use.

The tray is removed from therest of the assembly so it canlie flat on the bench top whileprimers are dumped in. The

When I reviewed the new

Lee Classic Cast press fromLee Precision of Hartford, Wis-consin, a few issues back (No.236, August 2005), I mentionedthat the two drilled and tappedholes on the top of the presswould be used to attach a futureauto-priming accessory. Well, it’shere and called the Lee SafetyPrimer Feed.

There are two variations: onefor handling large primers andone for small primers. The newpriming tool works in conjunc-tion with those Lee presses thatutilize Lee’s Lever Prime System.This includes the Classic Castpress, the new Classic TurretPress and the older three- andfour-hole Lee Turret presses, al-though the primer arms (levers)are different on the Classic pres-ses than on the older turret pres-ses. The more-automated Lee Pro1000 and Lee Load-Master havetheir own auto-priming acces-sories. The other single-stagepresses – the Challenger, the Re-loader and the Hand – also haveon-press priming capabilities butare not compatible with this newSafety Primer Feed.

My Safety Primer Feed kit camewith a bracket for attaching theassembly to the Classic Castpress. It is my understanding thatall turret presses shipped in 2006and on will include the appropri-ate bracket for attaching the ac-cessory to the press. For users ofolder (pre-2006) turret presses,an Update Kit (No. 90042) mustbe ordered from Lee. Those whowish to use the Safety PrimerFeed on a turret press while alsousing the Lee Auto-Disk PowderMeasure or Pro Auto-Disk Pow-der Measure must install a riser(No. 90041) between the powder-through expander die and the

LEE SAFETY PRIMER FEEDLEE SAFETY PRIMER FEEDP

RO

DU

CT TES

TS

PR

OD

UCT TES

TS

cover is removed by depressing alatch and turning counterclock-wise. The tray is shaken to alignall primers anvil up, and thecover is replaced. While the trayis separated from the trough, theprimers are free to escape throughthe trough entrance, all over thebench top or floor, if care is notexercised. Once reassembled, theSafety Primer Feed is attached tothe bracket and we’re ready toload ammunition.

The purpose of the SafetyPrimer Feed is to eliminate thehandling of individual primers. Itdoes not force us to recharge ourcases in any particular fashion.On the Classic Cast single-stagepress, we are free to size anddeprime all the cases for furtherinspection, trimming or primerpocket cleaning and then primethem all, or we can deprime andsize a case on the upstroke of theram, move the trigger mechanismover the primer arm and depositthe primer, then prime on theram downstroke. With the turretpresses, the same thing applies.We can operate the press muchlike a single stage, using the tur-ret mainly for die storage, or wecan manually, or with Lee’s Auto-Index feature, rotate the turretand complete each round beforegoing on to the next. Regardlessof our technique, the SafetyPrimer Feed can facilitate ourloading effort.

I find I use a variety of primingmethods, depending on the num-ber of cases to be primed andwhether I am throwing or weigh-ing powder charges. Frequently,I find myself priming on the press– lately, on the Classic Cast press– because it is so easy while stillretaining that necessary “feel.”More often, though, I use one ofseveral hand-held priming toolsfor speed and convenience.Sometimes, but not as often as inthe past, I use a bench-mountedpriming tool. It is the fastest ofall, as a stand-alone operation,and still provides for an adequate

sense of the primer being fullyseated.

It will take some time for me todecide where this Lee SafetyPrimer Feed fits in, but it’s ab-solutely clear that safety is notan issue. The task of transferringa primer from the tool to theprimer arm is completely sep-arate – and several inches away –from the task of seating theprimer in the case. There is alearning curve, however, asshould be expected. I managedto spill a primer or two by bung-ling the transfer operation fromthe trigger mechanism to theprimer arm. It would be good totake a few minutes to closely ex-amine the entire assembly, butparticularly the trigger mecha-nism, before attempting to use it.The actual transfer is a two-stepoperation: first push the triggermechanism over the primer armand, second, depress the top ofthe trigger to release the primer.Then lower the ram and seat theprimer, as usual.

I suspect I’ll use the Lee SafetyPrimer Feed most on my Lee tur-ret press, in conjunction with theAuto-Index feature, when largequantities of cases are to beloaded. We’ll see.

If you try one of these primingtools yourself, I suspect you’llcome to appreciate it, as I have,in addition to being frequently atime-saver, as cleverly designed,modestly priced and completely

functional, which is a long-winded way of saying it’s fromLee Precision. – R. H. VanDen-burg, Jr.


MAUSER 98SAFETY

- Classic Design -

• Three Position Safety• Stainless Steel or Blue• Right or Left Hand• Installation available

Gentry Custom, L.L.C.- Custom Gunmaker -

314 N. HoffmanBelgrade, MT 59714

(406) 388-GUNSwww.gentrycustom.com

•

competition shooters, it shouldalso be a great choice for black-powder hunters.

GOEX Express black powderis available in Fg, FFg and

FFFg granula-tion to providetop perform-ance in metal-lic cartridgesand shotgunshells.

For more in-formation, youcan write to:GOEX BlackPowder, Dept.HL, PO Box659, DoylineLA 71023-0659;

or visit the GOEX website atwww.goexpowder.com.

Berry’s

Manufacturing

Cleaning and

Gunsmithing

BenchThe handful of benches I own

intended to hold a rifle securelyfor cleaning, scope mounting orother gunsmithing work are alldesigned to sit on a sturdy bench


Browsing through an earlierissue of this magazine, I spottedan interesting new item in theBerry’s Mfg. full-page ad. The ad-vertisement offered a “rock solid!”cleaning and gunsmithing bench.This standalone workstation had

Clair Rees

GOEX EXPRESS PREMIUM

BLACK POWDER

GOEX EXPRESS PREMIUM

BLACK POWDER

INS

IDE P

RO

DU

CT N

EW

SIN

SID

E P

RO

DU

CT N

EW

S

tured to rigorous and precisespecifications.” The new powderis supposed to burn cleaner andproduce softer fouling.

According to GOEX, the newpowder is designed for competi-tive shooters using black powdercartridge firearms and muzzle-loaders. “Not only does GOEXExpress black powder producehigher and more consistent ve-locities than standard gradeblack powders, it is also cleanerburning, leaving less residue inthe bore,” the company says. “Inside-by-side comparisons, GOEX’spremium grade of black powderactually left less fouling in thebore than some modern black-powder substitutes. And the foul-ing it does leave behind is softerthan that of standard grade blackpowder.”

GOEX Express is also claimedto provide “very high velocitiesfor extreme accuracy at long dis-tances with a low standard of de-viation.” While this powder wasmade for serious black powdercartridge rifle and muzzleloading

or table top. This usually worksfine, but it’s sometimes a bothertaking time to clear other itemsfrom that workspace to makeroom for a portable gunsmithingbench.

GOEX now offers a new

premium, high-performanceblack powder the company saysis “made of a careful mix of thefinest quality materials manufac-

Ed & Deb StevensonP.O. Box 87-5149 • Wasilla, AK 99687

Ph/Fax (907) 745-0479E-mail: [email protected]

Web Site: sheepriver-hunting.com

Specializingin classic fairchase hunts for Alaskan brown/grizzly bear.We hunt a very primitive, mountainous areaby the spot and stalk method.

Hunting from April 1-June 15 &Aug 10-Nov 30 • 10 & 15 day hunts

MasterGuide

BULLET CASTING METALS!

Art Green, 485 S. Robertson Blvd.Beverly Hills, CA 90211 (310) 274-1283

Lead • Tin • Antimony • Lead Alloys, IncludingLinotype, Wheel Weights and No. 2 Alloy. Also Fluxesand Ladles. Technical support. We are a refinerywith low prices. Send $2.00 for our catalog today.

1-800-899-7810 • www.rifl emagazine.com

America’sAmerica’s

Outdoor Books Outdoor Books for Avid Sportsmenfor Avid Sportsmen

©2006 Trevor V. Swanson artwork

SUPPLEMENT TO

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New Book ReleasesTrophies and Cartridges

Dave ScovillThis book offers the reader a potpourri of information on an unusual mix of subjects that is sure to help hunters and shooters. Bullet development, gunsmithing tips for your Colt handguns, thoughts on accuracy, trophy hunting, shooting techniques with iron sights, various rifl e and caliber commentary for various game, leverguns, cast bullets and hunting tips name just a few of the topics covered. From the author’s extensive experience as editor of Rifl e, Handloader and Successful Hunter magazines, this book covers subjects usually not offered by other books, which is the purpose of this unique and valuable presentation.

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Ken Waters’ Notebook – “Best Wishes for Good Shooting” 1968-1989Ken WatersToday’s best authority on reloading and fi rearms reveals his unfathomable knowledge through this chronological catalog of let-ters. In the tradition of other great shooters’ notebooks, this text of letters contains load tables, little known facts, history, esoteric details and Ken’s personal recommendations to various questions and concerns.

If you enjoy fi nding little nuggets of golden information on handloading or guns, you will be fascinated on your journey through these letters that are jammed with information, not chit-chat. The load tables are well worth the purchase and all information has never been published before. Ken was prolifi c in his correspondence with extensive details. None of these letters ever appeared in Rifl e or Handloader magazines; it is all new material from the author. This is a large book presented in the original letter format. Those who know Ken will love this new book, and those not familiar will be amazed at the depth of his knowledge and straightforward, easy-to-understand writing style.

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Finn Aagaard – Selected WorksFinn AagaardFans of Finn’s writing will be thrilled to fi nd this collection all in one place. His in-depth approach on subjects, written in his impeccable style, allows the reader entertainment and learning in a neat package. He has tales of leopards, how to manage dangerous game, one rifl e/one load, slings in the fi eld, various calibers are covered, killing power myths and, of course, his great African stories as well as practical chapters. You will love this book, and with its valuable information, it will make a great gift for anyone who enjoys hunting or guns.

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ReloadingThe Legacy of Lever Guns

This special edition from the folks at Rifl e and Handloader magazines is devoted to America’s favorite rifl es. The Legacy of Lever Guns is a complete reference for loading and shooting lever actions! It is the most authoritative work on lever actions ever, including manufacture dates for various serial numbers. Marlin, Savage, Winchester, Browning and more are covered.

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Burning PowderCompiled by Major D.B. WessonA rare booklet for Smith & Wesson collectors and fans from 1932. Ed McGivern, Col. Roy Jones and Capt. James Baldwin impart their ideas on shooting. A perfect gun, a perfect hold and perfect ammunition.

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Pet LoadsKen WatersA monumental work by the leading authority in the handloading fi eld. More than just a reloading manual, this large, com-prehensive book contains loading procedures, tables, tips, precautions and commentary; over 100 cartridges are detailed. (Incorporates all supplements from #1 to #22.)

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Pet Loads Supplement #23Ken WatersThis supplement, the fi rst since the release of the sixth edition in November 1998, contains articles on the .308 WCF, .338 Winchester Magnum, 7mm Remington Magnum, 6mm Remington, .35 Whelen, .30-06, .270 Weatherby Magnum, .375 H&H Magnum, .25-36 Marlin, Loads for Lever Guns and more! This supplement is 64 pages and is pre-punched to fi t a 3- or 5-ring binder. This is the fi rst supplement to the latest edition of Pet Loads.

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Pet Loads Supplement #24Ken WatersThis supplement, the last of Ken’s “Pet Loads,” includes Loading Big Game Bullets for Deer, .25-35 Winchester-Marlin, .220 Swift, 7mm-08 (Update), .223 Remington (Update), .307 Winchester (Update), .300 Savage, .222 Magnum Remembered, .300 Weatherby (Update), .257 Roberts in a Carbine, .40-65 Winchester and 7-30 Waters in 2001.

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Big Bore Rifl es and CartridgesWolfe Publishing Co.Defi nitive book on large calibers from 8mm to .600 Nitro with more than 60 chapters containing load tables and commentary on the guns and cartridges. The best book ever done on big bores! The load information exceeds most reloading manuals and the rifl e reviews give you all the analyses you want.

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Varmint and Small Game Rifl es and CartridgesWolfe Publishing Co.Newly Revised and Updated! A large-format book with loads, commentary and resources for the less than .40-caliber family. This book tells you what shoots and why, describing the basic principles required for top-notch accuracy in varmint hunting. Wootters, Hagel, Simpson, Carmichel, Venturino and others cover the sport from .17 to .32-40.

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Wildcat Cartridges, Combo EditionWolfe Publishing Co.Wildcatters can’t fi nd information as readily as they can in this handy one source book. Volumes I & II combined in this edition to profi le most of the popular and famous wildcats, each representing a small advance in cartridge development, each wedging open the door of progress just a little bit more. Details rifl e and handgun cartridges from the .14-221 to the .460 Van Horn. A comprehensive work containing reloading tables and commentary, this huge volume is unparalleled anywhere.

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GunsmithingMauser M98 & M96

R. A. WalshThis do-it-yourself book goes far beyond any available books or manuals covering Mauser restoration and conversions. Using detailed text, accurate illustrations and photographs, this book explains the methods and practices used in creating a custom Mauser. Perfect for the enthusiast, gunsmith, rifl eman or hunter. This book comes with the original full-size shop drawings.

Catalog # 565.12 . . . . . . . . . SB $32.50

Shooting

Reloading

Gunsmithing

The Paul Matthews CollectionPaul Matthews is the authoritative fi gure in the world of Black Powder Cartridge Shooting. This collection of books

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Lots of how-to’s, from cross-sticks to mirage to making your own casting dipper and bullet lubricant, Paul imparts

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Black Powder, Pig Lead and Steel SilhouettesCatalog # 567.14 . . . . . . . . . SB $16.95

Cast Bullets for the Black Powder Cartridge Rifl eCatalog # 567.9 . . . . . . . . . SB $22.50

Forty Years with the .45-70, RevisedCatalog # 567.1 . . . . . . . . . SB $14.50

How-To’s for the Black Powder Cartridge Rifl e ShooterCatalog # 567.7 . . . . . . . . . SB $22.50

Loading the Black Powder Rifl e CartridgeCatalog # 567.4 . . . . . . . . . SB $22.50

Shooting the Black Powder Cartridge Rifl eCatalog # 567 . . . . . . . . . SB $22.50

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Shooting

Benchrest Actions & TriggersStuart OttesonFor professional and amateur gunsmiths who plan to build benchrest-quality rifl es, this volume enables the enthusi-ast to select components from the research and detailed analyses of Stuart Otteson. Complete with drawings, all is explained.

Catalog # 541 . . . . . . . . . SB $27.95

Gunsmithing Tips and ProjectsAnthologyCollection of how-to’s including such subjects as the shop, stocking, actions, tuning, triggers, barrels and chambering, problem solving, customizing, muzzleloaders, odd jobs and restoration. Over 500 pages of information. You won’t be disappointed.

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Practical GunsmithingEd MatunasAn authoritative guide to maintaining, repairing and improving fi rearms. This book shows how to do dozens of jobs easily handled by an amateur, while identifying those best left to a pro.

Catalog # 588.15 . . . . . . . . . HB $31.95

The Story of Pope’s BarrelsRay SmithPope’s fi nest work was with muzzleloading, lead bullet, soft steel, low-velocity, single-shot rifl es. This book captures his story and landmarks him as one of the greats of fi rearms development. A classic book of gunmaking history. See what accuracy was accomplished with simple tools.

Catalog # 568.1 . . . . . . . . . HB $39.00

Sam Colt’s Own Record, 1847Samuel ColtChronologically presented, the correspondence published in this volume completes the account of the manufacture in 1847 of the Walker Model Colt revolver. This book is a most unusual and rare look at fi rearms and early industrial history. This record has never been published before and is a ‘must have’ for every history buff and lover of the revolver.

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Modern Shotguns and LoadsCharles AskinsThis classic covers shotguns and shooting techniques. History, ammunition, handloading and the principles and terms of wingshooting are explained. Timeless information.

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Textbook of Automatic Pistols R.K. WilsonA treatise on the history, development and functioning of the modern military self-loading pistol and submachine gun. Details found no where else in regards to these fi rearms.

Catalog # 570.32 . . . . . . . . . HB $54.00

Experiments of a HandgunnerJ. RoperAuthor Roper, best known for his stock design work, investigates various grip and sight designs and other modifi cations to improve the accuracy and usefulness of handguns. Gain a better understanding of modifi cations and after-market grips by the wisdom of Roper’s investigations.

Catalog # 570.27R . . . . . . . . . HB $22.00

Family Protection GuideCraig Fox HuberLearn how to outsmart anyone threatening your family’s safety with these practical tips from a former Marine with 25 years of experience in high-risk personal security. Guides to making your home as safe as possible and avoiding potential hazards of day-to-day living wherever you go may save the life of a loved one. Customize your family’s self-defense plan with recom-mended products, training and conditioning. This book will teach you how to “think security” in everything you do.

Catalog # 555.1 . . . . . . . . . SB $24.95

Sharpshooting for Sport and WarW.W. GreenerThis classic book explores the fi rst expanding bullet, service rifl es, shooting positions, Greener’s bullet catcher, trajectories, recoil, mirage, external ballistics and much more! All information that the accuracy-minded individual would need to improve his shooting.

Catalog # 571.8 . . . . . . . . . HB $30.00

Hell, I Was ThereElmer Keith – His Life StoryDean of the gun writers, Elmer tells his story. Writing vividly of his experiences, he takes you along as he rides wild broncos, hunts big game or follows a frozen trail in the dead of winter. Find out why this gun-toting character is so revered in the shoot-ing community. It is a classic book for every shooter . . . and only a few copies remain.

Catalog # 578.51 . . . . . . . . . SB $29.95

Sixguns by KeithElmer KeithElmer Keith’s boyhood mentors were Indian fi ghters, vigilantes, lawmen and gun fi ghters of a passing frontier. In his lifetime (1899 – 1984), he was recognized as a great shot and the leading pistol authority in the land. Sixguns contains his experi-ences, fi ndings, recommendations and instructions. Thoroughly entertaining as well. *Limited QuantitiesCatalog # 579.1 . . . . . . . . . SB $29.95

The Muzzle-Loading Rifl e ... Then and NowWalter M. ClineThis extensive compilation about the muzzleloading rifl e contains a cross section of the preserved data concerning the development of the “hallowed ole arms of the Southern highlands.” History and gun knowledge not found so easily is yours in this vital resource.

Catalog # 567.8 . . . . . . . . . HB $32.00

The Longwalkers: 25 Years of Tracking the Northern CougarJerry A. LewisTrek the snow-covered mountain forests of Idaho, Montana, British Columbia and Alberta with the author as he follows cougars/mountain lions on foot, guided by his keen hounds. Written by a man who truly understands and appreciates the cougar’s ways.

Catalog # 578.75 . . . . . . . . . SB $24.95LongwalkersLongwalkersTHE

Jerry A. Lewis

Twenty-five Years of Tracking

the Northern Cougar

Jerry A. Lewis

THE

Twenty-five Years of Tracking

the Northern Cougar

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SOLD OUT!

A Breed Apart, Vol.1A Tribute to the Hunting Dogs That Own Our SoulsGreat hunting dog stories by some of today’s fi nest writers. Hunting dogs – the good, the bad and the outrageous – are the bond that ties together the souls of wingshooters everywhere. Garner insights into the singular relationship between the hunter and his dog. Some stories will touch you deeply, others will make you laugh.

Catalog # 588.4201 . . . . . . . . . SB $39.50

Alaskan Yukon Trophies Won & LostG.O. YoungThis is a replica of the original book that was printed in 1947 and covers an expedition into the interior of Alaska and the Yukon Territory by a party of three men. Share their journey through triumph and hardship. This is truly one of the best hunting adven-tures of all time. This book is cherished by all who have read it. Don’t miss the adventure yourself.

Catalog # 576.5 . . . . . . . . . SB $35.00

Wings for the HeartJerry LewisA passionate and educated tour of some of the greatest sporting opportunities in North America.

Catalog # 578.31 . . . . . . . . . SB $14.95

Tales of Alaska’s Big BearsJim ReardenGripping accounts of the most frightening encounters with Alaska’s big bears. Told in Rearden’s unique factual style, he takes you on a journey about Alaska’s bears with tales of how people live and die in the 49th state with the world’s largest land carnivore.

Catalog # 576.4 . . . . . . . . . SB $14.95

From Sailor to Professional HunterJohn NorthcoteOnly a handful of men can boast a 50 year hunting career in Africa, and an eminently successful one at that. Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana and Zimbabwe, John hunted throughout all of them and has guided clients from around the world. Limited to 1,000 copies, numbered and signed by the author. Over 400 pages and almost 175 photographic illustrations.

Catalog # 551.61 . . . . . . . . . HB $125.00

The Stuart Edward White SeriesFrom one of the leading outdoorsmen of the last century, White gives his methods for extended stays in rugged country. How-to’s from packing horses to pitching tents in rough weather. More than survival, you can enjoy your wilderness stay. His great writing style about African adventure is equaled in this work, only with his love of North America.

Camp & Trail The ForestCatalog # 580.5 . . . . . . HB $25.00 Catalog # 580.8 . . . . . . HB $25.00

The Mountains The Rediscovered CountryCatalog # 580.2 . . . . . . HB $25.00 Catalog # 580.3 . . . . . . HB $25.00

*Buy all four and Save!Catalog # 580.SET . . . . . . HB $75.00

Custer’s HorsesGary Paul Johnston, James A. Fischer and Harold A. GeerWhat really happened that fateful day in 1876? For more than a century, it has been the object of controversy, debate and fascination. Never before has the Battle of the Little Bighorn been examined from the horses’ perspectives. This landmark book reveals a never-published report and an untold story giving new insights into why the cavalry’s fate was sealed before that legendary encounter. History and Little Bighorn buffs will love this book!

Catalog # 569.1 . . . . . . . . . SB $15.95

Wings from Burma to the HimalayasJohn W. GordonIndelibly burned into the memories of the fl iers of the China-Burma-India theater are the experiences told by Gordon of fl ying the uncharted skies of the Hump in C-47s. An action-packed historical adventure.

Catalog # 582 . . . . . . . . . HB $22.50

Rustlers of West ForkLouis L’AmourA L’Amour classic frontier novel featuring the legendary Hopalong Cassidy.

Catalog # 588.17 . . . . . . . . . HB $18.00

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Rifl e One Year Subscription: $19.97Handloader One Year Subscription: $19.97Successful Hunter One Year Subscription: $19.97

Handloader Magazine Binder & Rifl e Magazine BinderPreserve your Handloader and Rifl e magazines in sturdy, handsome and practical black-grained binders. Organize 12 issues to make an attractive addition to your library. These are heavy-duty binders not ‘drugstore’ variety. You’ll be proud to use them, and the issues lie fl at when open.

Handloader Catalog # 515 . . . . . . $12.50 Rifl e Catalog # 535 . . . . . . $12.50

Targets with a TwistHandgun & Rifl e TargetsShooters have not seen anything new or innovative in targets for decades, until NOW! The staff of Handloader and Rifl e magazines have developed two new targets for precision shooting with rifl es, iron-sighted handguns and scoped guns. With the unique color, bullseye and grid, your target work is sure to improve! Targets come in handy pad form.

Catalog # 552.004 . . . . . . . . . $4.95 PPD (20 targets – 10 rifl e and 10 handgun)Catalog # 552.004S . . . . . . . . $15.95 PPD (100 targets – 50 rifl e and 50 handgun)

LoadData.comThe online reload manual that grows and is constantly updated. You will never need to buy another printed manual. Every month more loads are entered into our database from the pages of Handloader magazine. You can search your favorite cartridge by caliber, bullet weight, powder type or a combination of all three. Eventually, LoadData.com will have more loading data than any reloading manual on the market. We take requests and do our best to add requested loads in a timely manner. You must go to the website to subscribe. A free binder is included with your subscription. Visit www.loaddata.com.

LoadData.com 3-Ring BinderSearching the LoadData.com database is a lot of fun, but once you fi nd the load you want and print it out, you’ll need a place to put it. File your favorite “Pet Loads” from our LoadData.com database in this handy 3-ring, 3-inch binder. As you update your loads from our site, put them in the binder for reference where it counts, at the reloading bench.

Catalog # 545 . . . . . . . . . $12.50

Magazines & More

JOURNAL L OF UNITION RELN RELOADING

TM

Sporting Firearms JournalSporting Firearms Journal

RIFLE TARGET - Note: For use with riflescopes, center the crosshair retical in the lower white square,

upper white cirRemington Magnum class rifles, depending on actual velocity and bullet weight.

For iron sights at 100 yards, aim at the bottom of the blue circle, a common 6 o’clock hold, and adjust

produce a point blank range of 175 to 200 yards or so with .30-30 and .45-70 class cartridges, depending

your reloading manual for exact trajectory and range.

Subscribe to Rifle and Handloader! Call Toll Free 1-800-899-7810, F

Wolfe Publishing Co., 6471 Airpark Dr., Prescott, AZ 86301

JOURNAL L OF AMMUNIUNITION RELN RELOADING

TM

Sporting Firearms JournalSporting Firearms Journal

HANDGUN TARGET - For handguns with iron sights at 25 to 30 yards, aim at the bottom of the blue circle, the common

6 o’clock hold, to print groups in the white circle above. This will produce a point blank range of about 75 to 100 yards with

loads generating 1,000 to 1,300 fps. Consult your loading manual for exact trajectory and range.Subscribe to Rifle and Handloader! Call Toll Free 1-800-899-7810, FAX 520-778-5124 or write to:

Wolfe Publishing Co., 6471 Airpark Dr., Prescott, AZ 86301

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Rifl eHandloaderSuccessful Hunter

Documents

October 2006 No. 243 - Rifle Magazine 243 Partial (LO) 21.pdf · October 2006 No. 243 ... It had sat on the shelf for ... October-November 2006 19 called me up and said, “Guess