Handloader Magazine

Mike, I gave all my old Handloader Mags to my bro who subsequently disposed of them because he figured they were too old!! Oh well, you could always write up some articles for us to read. Chris S

I might do it.

FYI......I post all my stories over at the Elmer Keith forum under the Chris' Tales topic. Chris S

Thinking back to the days when guns were an arcane and mysterious subject, the leering alchemists who concocted ammunition were tapping into something profound-or so I thought.
I mean, speaking of the 270-30-06 charade, in those days ".45" meant power, and my uncle's 1895 Winchester in 30-06 just had to be the most powerful rifle ever, because that steel butt plate sure told a shoulder it was a big gun.
There was that hallowed feeling of awe to open a box and see the words .357 Magnum Cal. on the shiny barrel of that wheelgun.
Well, sometimes I get a little wistful, and sometimes a little fixated, but try as I might, I just can't fall in love with a plastic stock, oven baked finishes, or CNC machined "precision". Similarly, too many today have no respect for the tradition of handloading, or the depth of knowledge that was accumulated. They buy a manual, buy the components, and proceed to use max loads as their starting point. I wish I was kidding.
In many ways, a pursuit for cartridge performance is a pursuit for knowledge. The pursuit of knowledge is and still can be an unfolding process, that defines one's life.

I know a few of those handloaders. I started years ago with an 06 Springfield that I worked hard to get and spent my change on a Lyman tong tool and some powder and bullets etc. I used the Lyman reloading manual and started low because I couldn't afford to blow up my rifle. Over the years I developed some moderate loads that worked well and were accurate enough for me and stuck with that. The only time I changed a load was when I couldn't get the powder or bullets I wanted and had to work up new loads for the new components. A relative, a lot younger than me, bought a short mag and started loading for it. I asked what he was loading and he said he was using the top load for a certain bullet and powder. I asked why he started at the max and his answer was "I bought this magnum, why would I download it?" I cautioned this might not be wise but to no avail. Enough said. Chris S

I just read an article in the new Guns magazine about the same thing. Lots of new reloaders who are too smart to take advice about starting loads. I think what will happen is that a lot of barrels will get horribly fouled, especially with all-copper bullets, and a lot of kids will give up reloading when their loads are not very accurate. I think they are mostly too much in a hurry as well as unwilling to use up components developing a load.
Mike

I agree
 
I see a lot of folks on other forums that go out and buy a Dillon (not knocking the Dillon just the most common example) and they get a top-end load from somewhere and start pulling the handle without a good understanding of the process, and they crank out 500 rds before they even try the load in their own gun. It doesn't shoot like they expect and they get on a forum and ask "what went wrong?"
I have rarely found the "top" load to be the most accurate in any gun rifle or pistol.
 
I always think about what I want the bullet to do and adjust accordingly with accuracy in mind.
 
 I build up towards the top load for the bullet weight with one of my favorite powders and the minute accuracy starts to drop that is the limit to pushing that bullet/powder. If I am well under max I might try another powder and see how it goes but if I don't seem to be getting the results, power-wise, that I want, I go to a different (probably heavier)  bullet and start again. With big bore revolvers I have never found that a few FPS solves any particular problem, or produces any more "spectacular" results on a paper or living target. Distance, temperature, altitude can all effect velocity, but none of those have a great effect on bullet weight.
 
Handloading CAN produce amazing results but if the loader wants to depend on luck to help them with the thousands of possible combinations they are likely to produce inferior ammo and poor results.
 
(Not aimed at the OP, just a general observation)

I wonder how many reloaders who suffer from an acute case of magnumitis really enjoy the process of building ammunition?
If one understands the process, and follows the procedures with understanding, then is it not a pleasurable activity to make the best ammunition you are capable of? Isn't at least some of this the reason why so many actually do HANDLOAD, vs. reload?
Those who just want to churn out volumes of cartridges to shoot must, in my opinion, have a different set of objectives from the handloader. The true handloader aims to build ammunition that directly complements his-or her unique circumstances. Now, I'm not saying that churning out tons of ammo is a bad thing, but it won't tune a load to particular gun, won't take up the nuances necessary to be fully accurate, and won't reach its potential.
The old handloaders were also wildcatters, and wildcats prospered in a world of intelligent application of knowledge. I've heard people claim that the reason there are so few wildcats is because every niche has been filled-mostly with factory adopted wildcats. Is this true? I think its a matter of perspective, but so few cartridges reach full attention of the marketplace that maybe filling a niche is not what a wildcat is supposed to do.
Of course, wildcatters also turned into gun builders, because the factory arms available could not meet their needs. I do remember just once beholding a beautifully engraved savage 99 with the Schnabel forearm. there was no caliber marking on the long, sleek barrel-because it was a wildcat.

Very well said!
 
I think  that we still have a couple of places to go in revolver wildcats and it's being done now. The .41 Special comes to mind.  It's a blooming pity that no one has thought to legitimize that round. Unfortunately, since it would neither be bigger or faster that existing rounds it will remain a custom project for those with the vision to see its utility.

I have had .270's for about 50 years now....always loved 'em....I don't really need anything
else for the lower 48.

I yearn for the days when muzzle loaders where the cutting edge firearm, everyone was a reloader and no one needed a magazine to tell them how to do it.