September -October 1987 Number 129

- v lf

U.S. and C

A

The Journal of Ammunition Reloading

The Star

Dave Wolfe President and Editor

Mark Harris Publisher

AI Miller Assistant Editor

Holly McLean-Aldis Copy Editor

Jana Kosco Advertising Manager

Ted Curtis Promotion Manager

Dave LeGate Art Director

Becky Pinkley Production Supervisor

Tammy Rossi Circulation Manager

Mardell Harms Ruth Robinson Diana Corkery

Circulation Sharon Zalitis

Book Sales Manager Dave Culver

Photographer Ellen Fultz

Publication Assistant

Technical Sam Fadala Skip Gordon Bob Hagel Neal Knox Wallace Labisky Ed Matunas Ludwig Olson Dave Scovill Layne Simpson Charles R. Suydam Mike Venturino Ken Waters

ISSN 001 7-7393

Number 129 - September-October 1987 - Volume 22, Number 5

FEATURES

.38 Special - Conclusion (Pet Loads) ........ .Ken Waters 19

The .22 CHeetah M k 11. .. One H o t Wildcat! .Layne Simpson 22

Downrange Chronographing ............... L.P. Brezny 26

Loading for the Trapdoor Springfields .50-70 . .45-70 .................... .Mike Venturino 28

John O’Renick Saves Time, Money, Powder, Bullets and Cases by Fireforming the Easy Way. ............. .John O’Renick 32

Exceeding All Expectations ... .37 Rimmed Paul Matthews ‘38

Steel Shot Update. ................... Wallace Labisky 41

DEPARTMENTS

Reloader’s Press . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Loading Shot. . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Cartridge Board . . . . . . . . . . .6 Capitol Watch . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Aiming for Answers . . . . . . . 10 ProducTests . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 About Cast Bullets . . . . . . . . 12 Benchtopics . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Handgun Feeding & Care . . . . 8 Reader Bylines . . . . . . . . . . .18

Propellant Profiles. . . . . . . . . 7 0

ON THE COVER

Although the 230-grain .45-caliber bullet is almost impossible to see through the smoke issuing from the Colt Commander‘s barrel, it’s there, nonetheless. Exposure time was 1/50,000 of a second. The photograph was taken with a 2 % format camera equipped with a 75mm 2.8 lens. The film was 200 Ektachrome. The camera was triggered by an infrared sensing device on a filtered strobe. Photograph by Jim Boland.

COPYRIGHT 1087

The Handloader is published bi-monthly by the Wolfe Publishing Company, Inc. (Dave Wolfe, President),

Second Class Postage paid at Prescott. Arizona, and additional mailing offices. Subscription prices: U.S. possessions and Canada - single issue, $3.00; 6 issues, $16.00; 12 issues, $30.00: 18 issues, $40.00. Foreign - single issue, $4.00; 6 issues, $23.00; 12 issues, $43.00; 18 issues, $60.00. Advertis- ing rates furnished on request. All rights reserved.

Publisher of Handloader is not responsible for mishaps of any nature which might occur from use of published loading data. or from recommendations by any member of The Staff. No part of this publica- tion may be reproduced without written permission from the editor. Manuscripts from free-lance writers must be accompanied by stamped self-addressed envelope and the publisher cannot accept responsi- bility for lost or mutilated manuscripts.

Change of address: please give six weeks notice. Send both old and new address, plus mailing label if possible, to Circulation Dept., Handloader Magazine. 6471 Airpark Drive, Prescott. Arizona 86301.

6471 Airpark Drive, Prescott, Arizona 86301. (Also publisher of Rifle Magazine.) Telephone (602) 445-7810.

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1987 3

.30 American Brass

Benchrest experimenters have been seeking to challenge the domination of the PPC cartridges with a newer design. One direction they took was the rimmed case for positive headspacing. They also tried bushing primer pockets for small primers with the consensus that ac- curacy was improved. Cast-bullet shooters also have been pursuing a better case design. The new .30 American cases offer many possibilities to these experimenters.

taken from an average of 10 cases, and they were consistent.

They are supposed to have an unusual case anneal but that is not strictly true. The brass is very hard from the rim to y8 inch above the rim, at which point it gradually softens to the reading a t the case mouth. That is the standard anneal for the .30-30. The anneal “readings” are, however, held on the low side of the standard tolerances. That means an ex-

, Federal Cartridge Company was per- suaded to make up 50,000 cases of “match” tolerances embodying the rim and Small Rifle primer pocket. I t is now available as unprimed brass. If the case looks familiar, it should - it is almost identical to the .30-30.

We called Mike Bussard a t Federal to confirm some details about the new case. Its dimensions are indeed held to closer tolerances to achieve the desired uniformity. Our measurements are

perimenter could neck down to, say, 7mm without annealing again. Radical case shortening and re-shouldering would likely require another annealing. That could be determined only by experimentation.

The .30 American brass is available from David Tboley, 516 Creekmeadow Drive, Gastonia NC 28054. Price is $43, shipping included, for a minimum order of 100 cases. Contact Dave for prices and shipping on larger quantities.

Jammed Cartridge Puller

Whether you’re hunting or just plink- ing, getting a live round stuck in a rifle’s chamber is no laughing matter. Trying to free one isn’t funny, either. In fact, jammed cartridges have resulted in a t least two fatalities over the past couple of years. In both instances, people were standing behind the respective rifles. The bolts had been removed and some- one else was pounding a rod down the barrel, slamming it against the bullet, attempting to drive the cartridge back out of the chamber. When the rounds exploded, fragments of the brass cases (some fairly good-sized) flew rearward, striking the victims. Both the latter died before they could be given any medical assistance.

An Oklahoma gunsmith has created a clever and simple solution to the stuck round problem. As you can see by the accompanying photos, it is simply a steel rod with a collet on one end and a sliding hammer on the other. The collet’s lips slip into the extractor groove and grip the entire head of the case while the sliding hammer is slammed back against the anvil at the other end. Eventually, the jammed round is pulled free.

The sample sent in for examination was strong, well-made, equipped with a collet designed to accept .30-06-sized case heads. No pricing information was included. Those interested in finding out more about the puller should write to Roy J. McCarley, Dallas-Osage Gun Repair, Red Eagle Route, Box 184, Pawhuska OK 74056.

Olympic Medalist Nominated for Maxwell House Award

Olympic silver medalist Margaret Murdock is among 51 nominees for the Maxwell House Olympic Spirit Award, which was instituted to recognize past Olympians who overcame adversity to achieve success in sports and life. The Maxwell House Award will honor one winter and one summer athlete from each Olympiad held since 1968. Addi- tionally, two teams will also be recog- nized.

When Margaret competed in the 1976 Summer Games in Montreal, there were no separate shooting events for women - she simply joined the male com- petitors on the firing line and began punching out bullseyes in the smallbore matches. Of course, it had taken a lot of extra effort to get that far. Her eyesight had always been a problem, although glasses were able to correct her vision.

4

Margaret’s first major international win was recorded during the 1967 Pan American Games when she took two

HANDLOADER 129

gold medals home and scored 391 points from the kneel, a world record for men and women. In 1970, she won’ the offhand event a t the world champion- ships even though she was four months pregnant a t the time.

In 1976, the lady with the thick glasses was declared the winner at first - but then the judges reversed themselves. Although she and team- mate Larry Bassham had tied at 1,162 points, he had scored three 100’s to her two. He was given the gold she received the silver. Reports indicate that Margaret was less distressed by the reversal than Bassham. During the awards ceremony, he pulled Margaret up on the gold-medal podium with him and they stood together for the national anthem.

Obviously, Maxwell House hopes their financial sponsorship of the Olym- pics and all the other Olympic-oriented programs which will become part of their effort will eventually pay off in in- creased coffee sales. There’s nothing wrong with that and frankly, I wish them well. It’s a good cause and if their plans work out, weryone should benefit.

Most of all, let’s hope Margaret Murdock is selected as one of the honorees. She’s one of the best shots in America and from what little I’ve learned about her, has certainly paid her dues. Here’s wishing her - and Maxwell House - all success. - A1 Miller

A Down-Under Source for Obsolete Cartridge Cases

One of our Australian subscribers noticed a couple of reader letters in Handloader No. 126 seeking cases for the 9mm Long and the 9mm Makarov. He reports an outfit in Victoria, the Bertram Bullet Company, which can supply cases for any number of long- obsolete calibers. Among them are the 7.5‘ Swedish Nagant, the 7.62 Russian Nagant, .405 Winchester, .375 Nitro 2%-inch Flanged, .40-90 Sharps (straight), and the .400 Purdy (.400 - 3-inch Black Powder Express). Addi- tional calibers are scheduled for production.

If anyone is seeking some of those hard-to-get cases, drop a line to Bruce Bertram, Bertram Bullet Company, Box 313, Seymour 3660, Victoria, Australia.

Back in the Saddle Again!

Old West Bullet Moulds is back in business. The firm’s new address is 9900 Palmer Court NW, Albuquerque NM 87114. Ken Chapman still specializes in moulds for obsolete bullets. His new catalog is available for $1.

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1987

0

Jiy hstman isn’t the wd8s biggest guy But

when it comes to stand- iTlgbehindRCBS R l o a h products,

he’s a tme bet. job as RCBS Customer Senrice

Repmentatiw Make certain RCBS productspefionn as promised. Or fice the music.

If any piece of RCBS equipment doesn’t MOA- whether itk your hult or ours-just let us know. We’ll repair it or replace it h e . For as long as you own it.

We’re also glad to hear your voice when you dotl ’t have a problem. Got a question about re loah? Ifw don’t know the answq nobady does

But &tk the mil beauty of our guarantee and CuStoIlner sewice department?

The fict hac h e way we make RCBS equip ment, you’ll pmbably new need either one

RCBS Customerservice: p*j 1-800-533-5000 (toll-k). Your Shooting h e x

CCI, Spec RCBS, Outas &Waver

For a l987&11 lme c a d 0 5 send $2.00forpostage and handling to &a105 PO Box E38 h t o n , ID 835a 01987

5

I I I I I I I I

EMORABLE GIFTS for Handloaders and Shooters.

Rif le 2 YEARS- 3 YEARS- I 1 YEAR- I 6 ISSUES 12 ISSUES 18 ISSUES

I 0 $ 1 6 . 0 0 0 $30.00 0 $40.00 I US. & POSSESSIONS, CANADA I 0 $23.00 0 $43.00 0 $60.00 I ALL OTHER FOREIGN I

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

Gifts of Wolfe books a n d magazines will be read a n d cherished long after t h e H 0 LI DAY SEAS0 N.

Buy a gift subscription to HANDLOADER and/or RIFLE magazine for that special friend or extend your own subscription and Wolfe Publishing Company will send you a $10.00 credit m e m o which can be applied toward the purchase of any Wolfe Publishing Company product (excluding subscriptions or renewals).

Rif l e Ri f le 3 YEARS- 18 ISSUES

2 YEARS- 12 ISSUES

1 YEAR- 2 YEARS- 3 YEARS- 1 YEAR- 6 ISSUES 12 ISSUES 18 ISSUES 6 ISSUES

0 $ 1 6 . 0 0 0 $30.00 0 $40.00 0 $ 1 6 . 0 0 0 $30.00 0 $40.00 U.S. & POSSESSIONS, CANADA U.S. & POSSESSIONS, CANADA

0 $60.00 0 $43.00 0 $23.00 0 $43.00 0 $60.00 0 $23.00 ALL OTHER FOREIGN ALL OTHER FOREIGN

GIFT SUBSCRIPTION I I

I I Handloader I 1 YEAR- 2 YEARS- 3 YEARS- I 6 ISSUES 12 ISSUES 18 ISSUES

I 3 $ 1 6 . 0 0 0 $30.00 0 $40.00 I U.S. & POSSESSIONS, CANADA

0 $43.00 0 $60.00 523.00 ALL OTHER FOREIGN

Handloader 1 YEAR- 2 YEARS- 3 YEARS-

6 ISSUES 12 ISSUES 18 ISSUES

0 $ 1 6 . 0 0 0 $30.00 0 $40.00 U.S. & POSSESSIONS, CANADA

0 $23.00 0 $43.00 0 $60.00 ALL OTHER FOREIGN

Handloader 3 YEARS- 2 YEARS-

6 ISSUES 12 ISSUES 18 ISSUES 0 $16 .00 0 $30.00 0 $40.00

U.S. & POSSESSIONS, CANADA 0 $23.00 $43.00 $60.00

ALL OTHER FOREIGN

1 YEAR-

I

I Gift for I I I Name

I I Address

I I City I

I I I I

Zip I State

Gift for

Name

Address

City

S ta te Zip

Gift from

Gift for

Name

Address

City

State Zip

i Name

I Address I I

City State Zip

For magazine subscriptions, please fill out this order form, detach, and place in postage-paid envelope. fi Need more gifts? See our Special Holiday Book Sale on next page!

Please. use attached Holiday Order Form to receive these discounts.

~~

Super discounts - Guns, Loads 6 Hunting Tips by Bob Hagel A large book literally packed with shooting, hunting and handloading wisdom. Catalog "565 Hardbound 8f4r56 SALE $16 00

Pet Loads by Ken Waters The most comprehensive work in the handloading field. Over 100 cartridges are detailed in this two volume set. Catalog "549 Softbound 8e4;56

The Manufacture of the 2903 Springfield A reprinting in its entirety of Unitedstates Rifles and Machine Guns by Colvin and Viall. This is a rare book which was published in 1917. Catalog "561 Softbound 8f9r56

The Art of Bullet Casting This collection of articles taken from the pages of Handloader and Rifle magazines covers the subject from basic to more advanced techniques. Catalog "545.0 Hardbound 8)4;56

Catalog *545 Softbound +Ek95 SALE $10.00 Benchst Actions and Wggers by Stuart Otteson For someone who plans to build a benchrest rifle, this book will enable him to select components from the detailed studies and analysis bv Otteson. Catalog "541 Softbound 68;56

SALE $7 00

The Golden Age of Shotgunning by Bob Hinman This book records the accomplishments of the last thirty years of the 1800s on various aspects of shotgun shooting. Catalog "543 Hardbound

The Shooter's Inventory Book A listing for firearms, sighting equipment and major reloading equipment is presented to assist the owner in keeping track of his equipment for personal records, insurance and tax purposes.

Super .38 Reprint The 1978 article by Bill Corson and Dave LeGate describing the problems with headspacing and pressure in the Super .38 automatic. Ideal for Speer #lo manual users. Catalog "513-0 Softbound SALE $2 50

Yours Thuly, Harvey Donaldson A compilation of Harvey Donaldson's writings cover- ing his relationships and accomplishments with noted shooters and experimenters dating back to the early years of this century. Catalog "550 Hardbound 8)4;56

Master Index There is a lot of important technical information in Handloader and Rifle magazines and this Master Index has been prepared to enable users of the magazines to quickly and easily find that information. Catalog "542 Softbound +H&W SALE

The Compleat Vust Jim' by Jim Carmichel A collection of short stories about a group of characters from Jim's native Tennessee.

$8.50

Catalog "559 Hardbound -8+3;56 SALE $11.00 Tdles of Bullet Performance by Philip Mannes Almost any hypothetical ballistic problem may be solved by reading the results already computed in these tables. Catalog "546 Softbound-

The Breech-Loading Single-Shot Rifle by Major Ned Roberts & Kenneth Waters At last, a comprehensive and complete history of the evolution of the Schueten and sinale-shot rifle.

Y

SALE '25.00 Catalog *557 Hardbound +2-&!58

c The Practical Paper Patched Bullet by Paul A. Matthews

lustrated source of this information for those in- dividuals who enjoy a taste of the past. Catalog *567 Softbound+SS&

This book presents today's most thorough, fully il- 1

SALE $7.50 tmas gift deliveries must be received by December 1.

a one time offer! The Bolt Action, Volume II by Stuart Otteson This book covers 17 bolt actions, from Newton to Ruger, and includes a complete history, a description of construction and operating principles, and com- parisons with other bolt actions. Catalog '562 Hardbound 822;56

Propellant Profiles A collection of reference articles on various powders that appeared in Handloader magazine, fifty-eight powders are listed. Catalog '544 softbound 6)2;45

The Bullet's Flight by Dr. F.W. Mann A replica of the original 1909 book containing historical and technical information detailing rifles and ammunition

SALE 817.00 Catalog '547 Hardbound 822;58

How I Became a Crack Shot by W. Milton Farrow An interesting autobiography by one of the most famous American riflemen of the late 1880's. Catalog '548.0 Hardbound

Catalog '548 Softbound

SALE "2.00 SALE 87.00

Little Big Horn by Robert C. Kain Here is a truly rare account, a s nearly eye-witness a s can be found, an interesting, intriguing perspective of the Custer battle - by an old Cavalryman. Catalog *554 Softbound %&95 SALE $4 00

The Commercial Mauser '98 Sporting Rifle by Les Womack This book covers the hunting rifle manufactured by Mauser through 1945.

Handloading for Hunters by Don Zutz Zutz not only gives the mechanical basics of handloading, more importantly he explains the essence of what constitutes a good load.

I f ordering by phone, be sure to mention

this Hofiday Ad.

Magazine Binders Preserve your magazines in sturdy, handsome and practical black-grained cloth woven binders. Organize 12 issues of either magazine. Specify "Handloader" or "Rifle" embossing, and quantities required. Catalog '515 Handloader

SALE 810.00 Catalog #535 RifIe Each

African Camp Fires by Stewart Edward White Travel with the author through Egypt, then across the African plains into the elephant forest and the wonderful secret upper country of the unknown.

SALE $2 3.0 0 Catalog *580.1 Hardbound

The Mountains by Stewart Edward White A true sequence of events in the great mountains of North America where the trails are few and bad.

.

Catalog '580.2 Hardbound 825;88

The Rediscouered Country by Stewart Edward White A long safari into the mysterious jungles of Africa where you meet a boy king, wild beasts and the country of dangers and beauty.

SALE $2 3.00 Catalog *580.3 Hardbound +?SO0

The Land of Foot Prints by Stewart Edward White A nine-month foot safari in 1910 by one of the first Americans to hunt East Africa. He carried one of the first four b i n a f i e l d SDorters ever made.

SALE $23.00 Catalog "58074 I I Hardbound4iEW6-

Camp and h i 1 by Stewart Edward White White's methods for extended stays in rugged country. --

SALE '23.00 Catalog '580.5 Hardbound-B25rf)B-

The Long Rifle by Stewart Edward White The story of Daniel Boone's rifle and his adventures.

SALE '23.00 Catalog X580.6 Hardbound 825;88

. Ltons in the Path by Stewart Edward White* Bow hunting for lions in old British East Africa.

SALE $23.00 Catalog '580.7 Hardbound

The Forest by Stewart Edward White * North Woods wilderness hunting and hiking around the turn of the centurv. -

0 SALE '23.00 Catalog '566 SALE $9 00 Catalog "580.8 Hardbound 818;58- Hardbound%2Se&

* Christmas delivery not guaranteed.

HE MODERN SHOTSHELL is a things rolling in a safe way. This T highly efficient thermodynamic definitely puts the handloader in machine that did not evolve overnight or business and if he pays close attention even over a period of a few years. Today's to what he is doing, it is possible to turn high-performance lead-shot loads are out not only safe loads but loads that will the culmination of nearly a century of actually outperform some of the factory cut-and-try on the part of ballistic offerings. engineers around the world. Even when we view steel-shot loads in this perspec- tive, it becomes obvious that the learn- ing experience is barely out of its infancy.

This is surely one of the reasons why none of the powder companies has openly endorsed handloading steel shot. Another reason, and perhaps a more weighty one, is that they live in fear of liability suits. In fact, one of the major powder manufacturers is actually trying to dissuade handloaders from messing around with steel shot.

The fact remains, however, that suitable components (namely, high- density plastic wads in 10 and 12-gauge persuasion, along with steel shot of the proper softness) are currently available from a trio of suppliers. Moreover, each of them has lab-tested loading data to get

For example, a few months ago, when testing some new steel-shot factory ammo for goose hunters, I was flab- bergasted to discover that the load generated velocities and chamber pressures which were all over the map. A 10-round string showed an extreme velocity spread of nearly 200 fps and the chamber pressure varied as much as 4,800 LUP. Additionally, 30 rounds were fired for pattern using three different guns and six different choke constric- tions. Out of the entire group of patterns there were only two or three that I con- sidered satisfactory for dumping a goose at between 40 and 50 yards. An ac- complished handloader can stay in bed until noon and still produce a more ef- fective load than that.

In my last report on steel-shot com- ponents (see Handloader No. 118), I

covered the offerings from NTC (Non- Toxic Components, Inc., PO Box 4202, Portland OR 97208). NTC has expanded its line to include a 12 gauge wad for the 3-inch shell (NTC-312), as well as a wad for the 10 gauge 3%-inch shell

This West Coast firm is also offering some new shot sizes for goose hunters - namely, BBB (.lg-inch diameter), T (.20 inch), TT (.21 inch), and F (.22 inch). Those additions bring the total number of NTC pellet sizes to 12 , start- ing with a No. 6 pellet at the small end. The pellet diameters are in strict accord- ance kith American size standards.

I would not be surprised if NTC adds a No. 7 pellet to its shot lineup, for some trap and skeet clubs are already using steel-shot loads. They, of course, are layouts where the clays are thrown over water. I do not know if this is mandatory or simply voluntary but the practice is in motion. A one-ounce charge of steel 7's would offer adequate pattern density and if started somewhere in the 1,300 to 1 , 4 0 0 - f ~ ~ range, that pellet size would surely carry enough energy to handle the clays in a decisive, grind'em-up way.

The new NTC-312 wad for the 12 gauge 3-inch shell has a nominal capac- ity of 1% ounces of steel shot. Except for its length, it's a carbon copy of the earlier NTC-122 wad which has a nominal capacity of 1% ounces. Just as the 122 can be used with lighter shotloads, so can the 312, simply by adding insert wad- ding of 20 gauge diameter.

The third edition of NTC's very com- prehensive loading manual lists 11 recipes for a 1%-ounce payload with the new 312 wad, and 16 recipes for a 1%-ounce shotload. They include both buffered and non-buffered charges. The powders are Blue Dot, Ball 571 and SR-4756. With I'/B ounces of steel, the velocities shown for the 312 wad range from 1,285 to 1,423 fps. For a payload of 1% ounces, the velocity range is 1,215 to 1,305 fps.

As for specs, the NTC-312 wad shapes up like this: The average weight is 54 grains, with an extreme spread of only .4 grain for a 10-wad sampling. Overall length is 1.98 inches, with a shotcup depth of 1.775 inches. Although the out- side diameter at the over-powder end is

(NTC-105).

Because of its sturdy construction, the Supersonic No. 1500 10-gauge wad will prob- ably require six slits in the shotcup to ensure a smooth release of the payload after it leaves the muzzle.

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1987 41

only .n5 inch, the cup expands suffi- ciently to provide excellent gas sealing in the bore. Shotcup wall thickness runs about .03 inch at the mouth and there is an inside taper that increases wall thickness to approximately .07 inch near the concave floor. The wad is colored a pale pink. Like the NX-122 wad, the 312 has a slight exterior shoulder just above the base of the shotcup portion which serves as a guideline when slit- ting the shotcup. The slits should extend down to the shoulder but no deeper than that.

As a project starter, the NTC-312 was pattern-tested with a non-buffered charge of No. 3 steel at 1,300 fps, and the recovered wads were found to be totally free of shotcup perforations. Only moderate pellet imprinting occurred.

Next, a 11/4-ounce charge of BBB steel was loaded and buffered with Tru- Square’s No. 520 plastic “sawdust.” This group of wads, when recovered, showed a few shotcup perforations of pinhole size. The average was just a fraction over one perforation per wad. Considering the pellet size, that’s nothing to com- plain about. I don’t think there is any factory load wad that would fare a bit better.

Incidentally, the purpose in buffering steel loads is primarily a matter of con- trolling pellet movement and thereby alleviating perforation damage to the shotcup. The buffer helps prevent the pellets from shifting around and bridg- ing. An occasional perforation of pinhole size is pretty normal, but when

the rub-throughs are of larger diameter, there is a good chance the bore will be scored (either visibly marked or actually grooved]. Large pellets loaded without buffer are almost certain to produce per- forations big enough to result in bore damage. Not long ago, I marked up a set of stainless-steel choke tubes when fir- ing factory-loaded steel BB’s. The loads were not buffered and it took only five shots through each tube to wreak havoc.

The dividing line, in my experience, is a pellet of No. 1 size. Any pellet larger than that should definitely be buffered, while smaller pellets usually aren’t a threat.

I have tried buffering loads with No. 1 and No. 2 steel to see if there might be an improvement in the pattern. There never has been. Strange though it may seem, the average pattern efficiency in- variably dropped off on the order of two to three percent in those vis-a-vis tests.

Conversely, a competent ballistic researcher, who had the courage to pattern-test unbuffered steel handloads with pellets in the BBB and T class, recently told me that when the same loads were buffered, there was a gain in efficiency of 10 to 15 percent. With easily deformed lead pellets, that gain would be quite understandable. Steel, on the

These sectioned 10-gauge wads show marked dif- ference in shotcup wall and floor thicknesses between the new No. 1500 (left) and the old No. 1000, which will remain available.

The ingredients of this exceptional pattern consisted of 1% ounces of steel BB, a Fiocchi three-inch hull, a Fiocchi 616 primer, 36.0 grains of Blue Dot and the Ranger wad. Muzzle velocity was 1,430 fps. The shotload was buffered with BP’s M ix No. 47. Seventy-four of the 80 pellets registered in a 30-inch circle at 40 yards. The gun was a Mossberg Super-12 fitted with a Clearview No. 5 stainless steel choke tube which provided .025 inch constriction.

42

Another pair of sectioned NTC wads, the 10-gauge 105 and the 12-gauge 312, show a similarity of construction. The 105 was designed to accommodate shotloads of 1% and 1% ounces while the 312 has a nominal capacity of 1% ounces.

This 40-yard pattern was made with 1% ounces of No. 4 steel (217 pellets) in the Ranger wad and is fairly representative of the five-shot average. The 20 and 5-inch pellet counts were 97 and 91, respectively, for 77.4 percent. The load was assembled in a Fiocchi 2%-inch hull and sparked with the 615 primer. The powder charge of 30.0 grains of SR-4756 delivered 1,400 fps.

HANDLOADER 129

Recovered NTC-105 wads exhibit classic peel- back, indicating that release of the

shotload was smooth and unhampered. Slits of unequal length, or which vary in

spacing, can affect the payload release adversely. That, in turn, usually degrades

pattern uniformity.

left, a Ranger 12-gauge wad with i ts gas-relief grooves inked-in for photographic purposes. On the right, a sectioned Ranger wad, showing the deep concavity forming the shotcup floor.

Fifty-nine steel F pellets ( 2 2 caliber) in an NTC-105 10 gauge wad produced this 94.9 percent pattern at 40 yards. There were 43 pellets in the 20-inch core and 13 in the five-inch annular ring. The 1%-ounce shotload was buffered and backed by Blue Dot. Average efficiency for the five-shot string was 89 percent.

Forty-two grains of Blue Dot behind an NTC-105 wad and 1% ounces of Supersonic BB+ steel shot (95 pellets) produced this 94.7 percent pat- tern at 40 yards. The core contains 63 pellets, compared to a mere 27 in the annular area. Note how the pellets tend to congregate into small clusters, characteristic of large steel shot. Choke constriction was .037 inch.

This 40-yard pattern was made with T-size steel pellets (78 per charge) and counts out to 92.3 percent, with 55 hits tucked neatly in the 20-inch core. The 1%-ounce charge was buffered and protected by an NTC-105 wad in a Winchester plastic hull. The powder was Blue Dot.

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1987 43

other hand, deforms very little if at all, and it seems illogical that the buffer would make that much difference in the pattern. All of which serves to under- score what I said earlier - where steel is concerned, a lot of learning still lies ahead.

In a past article on steel shot, I speculated that a No. 3 pellet might be an excellent compromise size for taking ducks over decoys - more energy per pellet than with 4’s and better pattern density than with 2’s. During the early part of the 1986 waterfowl season, I put that theory to test, using an unbuffered 1%-ounce charge of steel 3’s on small ducks such as teal and gadwall.

I opted for load No. 43 in the NTC manual (Third Edition). The Federal plastic hull with paper basewad was primed with the Winchester 209 and the powder charge was 34.0 grains of Ball 5 n behind the NX-312 wad (1,300 fps - 10,800 LUP) . The gun was a Mossberg Super-12 autoloader. The factory-issue, full-choke tube (.03-inch constriction) delivered an average pattern of 79 per- cent at the traditional 40-yard distance. With an average of 100 pellets in the pat- tern’s 20-inch core and 61 in the five- inch annular ring, that combo was ex- tremely lethal in the 30 to 40-yard range bracket. In all honesty, a few green-

winged teal out at the 40-yard mark were crippled and lost. Rather than the load being at fault, I believe it was a matter of catching the bird with the annular part of the pattern where pellet density was lacking.

That same load was field-tested on pheasants, with only a half-dozen or so birds taken. Most of the chinks were busted around 35 yards and every bird appeared to come apart at the seams. Nevertheless, not one was instantly killed - completely immobilized and unable to attempt an escape, yes -but certainly not dead. It could be said that the birds were dead but just didn’t know it. That underscores another character- istic of steel shot: it kills, but the transfer of pellet energy to the target is entirely different than it is when using lead shot. Excluding pellet hits in the head and neck, the shock to the bird’s nervous system is a delayed-action matter.

NTC‘s 105 wad for the 10 gauge closely follows the design of the firm’s 122 and 312 12 gauge wads. The story on specs goes like this: Average weight is 68 grains and the extreme spread for the 10 wads I weighed was unbelievable at just .1 grain. Overall length is 2.235 inches, while shotcup depth is 1.980 inches. Shotcup capacity with large steel shot is nearly 1% ounces although the

heaviest charge recipe in the NTC manual calls for 1% ounces.

Like other N X steel-shot wads, the tapered shotcup walls end in a con- cavity. Wall thickness is about .03 inch at the mouth, increasing to about .07 inch. Outside diameter is .77 inch at the mouth of the shotcup and the over- powder cup. When inserts are needed within the shotcup to regulate crimp space, 20 gauge wads are of the correct diameter. The wad is colored a pale brown.

The NTC manual contains 12 recipes for the 105 wad. They cover both buf- fered and non-buffered shotloads of 1% and 1% ouncbs. They include Federal, Remington and Winchester plastic hulls. The powders are Blue Dot, Ball 5n and SR-4756. Stated velocities range from 1,375 to 1,450 f p s for the lighter shotload, and from 1,300 to 1,355 fps for the heavier charge.

The NX-105 has greater length than any other steel-shot wad in that gauge, so one of the first items of business was to determine if there would be any prob- lems fitting the recommended loads into the various hulls. I did uncover a few situations in which it was not possible to achieve the crimp quality that I insist upon.

At last ... Cartridge Conversion From .14 Jones to ,70450 Winchester in English and American

44 HANDLOADER 129

The first snafu was with load Nos. 62 and 63 involving the Winchester poly- formed plastic hull. When the NE-105 was loaded over 42 .O grains of Blue Dot (the recommended powder charge for a l%-ounce payload, either buffered or non-buffered), the mouth of the wad was unacceptably close to the end of the shell. The solution was to trim the wad '/B inch. Winchester paper-base hulls of late manufacture will not require a wad trim. The newer hulls have a bit more load capacity than those I worked with at first.

Another load that presented crimp problems was No. 60, which calls for 42.0 grains of SR-4756 behind a 13/,-ounce payload in the Remington SP plastic shell. When put together accord- ing to manual instructions, the crimp space was an impossible 1/4 inch. Trim- ming the wad % inch and using a .(n-inch insert instead of the recom- mended .135-inch card solved the problem nicely.

For a given payload, large pellets will eat up more space than smaller ones will. Because of that, it may be necessary to juggle the insert wadding in order to end up with a properly recessed crimp. Increasing or decreasing the thickness of the inserts specified in the N'K manual will not result in any

substantial change in load ballistics. The important thing to keep in mind is that the shotload must be fully contained within the shotcup.

NTC's 105 wad gave a very strong per- formance at the pattern board. The tests involved 10 five-shot strings at 40 yards using an Ithaca MAG-10 autoloader. Both 1% and 1%-ounce payloads were fired, using various sizes of large steel shot. The average pattern efficiency ranged from a low of 85 percent with No. 1 steel (not buffered), to a high of 92 percent with BBB and T steel.

The pattern cores were for the most part, extremely dense. That sort of pat- tern balance (or imbalance) is necessary to maintain sure-killing pellet coverage on geese out at 50 and 60 yards. I might add that the Ithaca barrel used for this pattern testing has not been tuned for use with steel shot. In other words, the forcing cone has not been lengthened, nor has the barrel been overbored. The choke constriction has been changed from the original .050 inch to .037 inch.

Most of the fired wads were recovered and I am pleased to report that the shot- cup handled the large steel pellets without suffering a lot of perforations. There were no rub-throughs at all with

non-buffered charges of No. 1 steel. For the larger pellets, including F steel, there was only an occasional perforation of pinpoint to pinhole size. All the loads with pellets larger than No. 1 were buf- fered, of course. Without buffer, the shot- cups would have surely suffered not only a larger number of perforations, but the perforations would have been of larger diameter.

NTC is already back on stage for an en- core. As I write this, a news release has just arrived announcing still another 12 gauge wad for loading steel shot. Desig- nated as the 12TW, this green wad with a lf/,-ounce capacity is designed to fit perfectly in the popular 2%-inch target hulls such as the Winchester AA, Blue Magic andRemington Premier. Although it was' possible to load the tapered-wall hulls with the NTC-122 wad, very heavy wad seating pressure was necessary and the finished load usually showed a slight bulge just above the powder area.

The new 12TW wad will eliminate those problems and a whole bunch of new recipes (tested by the prestigious H.P. White Laboratory) will be included in the forthcoming Fourth Edition of the N'K steel-shot manual. There is more good news. NTC has announced sub- stantial price reductions for its bulk- packaged steel shot reloading kits.

Covered from Beginning to End! 1 Cartridges, and from 4.85 U.K. to 15.2 x 28R Gevelot in Metric Cartridges

Every cartridge description comes der for black powder a full index and complete wth dimensions; clear, accu- complete cross-reference to hundreds rate drawings; case capacities; and all of English and American cartridges and physical data calculated by computer metric cartridges. after Years of Painstaking research. At your local sporting goods store, or Create cartridges that are impossible to book store, or call for credt card orders, buy make cartridges casesfrom com- mon brass substitute smokeless DOW- toll free' 800-631 -0722

Please send copies of the Handloaders Manual of Cartridge Convers/ons which I have ordered:

QUANTITY EACH TOTAL

$29.95 I

I

TOTAL

Postage & Handling 14=1 NJ Residents Add 6% Sales Tax.

I

I

I

I Name I Address

I

I Card No Exp Date I Signature

I I City State ZIP 0 Check enclosed or please charge to my 0 Visa 0 Mastercard I

I

I I I I I

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1987 45

Looking now at the Supersonic line of steel shot components, a new heavy-duty 10 gauge wad is already in production. It will be released as soon as the loading data has been refined - about the time you’re reading this report. Designated as the No. 1500, Don Vizecky refers to it as his “Sherman Tank” model. This new wad will be available through U-Load, Inc. (7256 Washington Avenue South, Eden Prairie MN 55344). Roger Koch is the person to contact there.

the 1500, compared to only .04 inch for the 1000 wad.

Other specs for the new 1500 are an overall length of 2.11 inches, with an outside diameter of .77 inch at the over- powder cup. Inside diameter of the straight-walled shotcup is such that the

Use correct loads

PSI Calculator Both in

chart - $12.50 (foreign/ airmail - $14.50) Table

(only) - $1.00 Powley High Velocity Trajectory Chart - $27.00 ppd

insert wadding, if needed, should be 20-gauge. (The 1000 wad calls for insert wadding of 16 gauge.)

One final note on the new No. 1500: Because of the heavy shotcup, six slits may be a better bet than the usual four in facilitating a smooth and consistent release of the shotload on muzzle exit. The Supersonic DFV six-bladed wad slitter in 12 gauge persuasion will ex- pedite this chore.

Another 12 gauge wad for steel shot is off the drawing board and into pro- duction at Ballistic Products, Inc. (PO Box 408, Long Lake MN 55356). Called the Ranger, it was designed with both lead and steel shot in mind. Its capaci- ty with lead shot is a nominal 1/8 ounces while with steel shot, the capacity will vary depending on pellet size. With the smaller steel pellets (6’s and 5’s), the wad will accommodate a 1%-ounce charge,

,

but only I’/B ounces with steel of BB size

K & M Flash Hole Uniformer Tools Cartrioge manufacture methods produce flash hole burrs and inconsistencies Flame front varies. accuracy sutlers K & M tools correct this. improving groups Tools have pre-set depth gages controlling chamfer and consistency Sr has screw- on cutter gage and case centering cone.

Fits all calibers, ideal for .22-.25 calibers K & M Jr. $6.50/ea. or 2 for $12

K & M Sr. $8.75/ea. or 2 for $16 A,, Postpaid

K & M Sr. replaceable cutterlgage $3.50 ea. PPC calibers available in both Jr. & Sr., add 5 0 C

Pennsylvania residents add 6%

Fits all calibers,

K 81 M S E R V I C E S P.O. Box 363 Emigsvi l le , Pennsylvania 1731 8

The Accurate Solution:

The Right Stuff Handgunners in America are looking for the right cartridge to help them win in competition. As the popularity of ‘action’ and ‘reactive targets’ gmws, so will the demand for specialized cartridges. Like the lOmm Auto and the 41 Action Express. And new criteria will be estab lished for standbys like the 38 Super and 45 ACE!

We’ll be theewith our Accurate Smokeless Powders. Like NO. 7. Just the ticket for making major with the 41 AE, the l h m , and 38 Super. D q us a note and we will send you the most u p d a t e infor- mation on these cartridges.

As handgun sports gmw in America, so does our commitment to supply doading data for the shooters. Our newest loading booklet will be out soon, be sure to ask your dealer for it.

Imported by: Manufactured by:

@ h c u r a t e h s -10 Company, Inc.

m33\ PO. Box H5, McEwen, Tennessee 37101 Israel Military Industries

and larger.

On the design side, the Ranger is pretty much a scaled-down version of BP’s 10 gauge steel-shot wad - the BPD- TUFF. Its exterior features eight full- length gas-relief grooves (the BPD-TUFF has only four). Although the rnanufac- turer states that the Ranger’s shotcup is designed with an internal taper, the amount is so slight that the shotcup can be considered to be straight-walled. I find its wall thickness runs about .04 inch at the mouth and just above the floor concavity. When an insert is needed (as with a one-ounce shotload), wadding of 20-gauge diameter is the correct size. Overall length is 1.755 inches, while the shotcup depth is 1.61 inches. Moulded from a high-density plastic, the Ranger has an average weight of 41.6 grains, which makes it about seven grains lighter than the NE-122 wad.

BP has already developed a sizable chunk of loading data for the Ranger wad covering both lead and steel payloads. More recipes are in the process of refinement for both Z3/4 and 3-inch hulls.

Thus far, my tests of the Ranger wad have been limited to some 40-yard pat- tern work with steel shot of various sizes in conjunction with a choke tube that provides .025-inch constriction (tight Modified choke). Average efficiencies ranged from a low of 70 percent with non-buffered 6’s to a high of 83 percent with buffered BB’s.

I’m going to reserve further comment on the Ranger’s performance until after I’ve had a chance to give it a more thorough workout, at which time I’ll also be reporting on performance tests with the new NTC-12TW wad and the Super- sonic No. 1500 heavy-duty 10 gauge wad.

0

46 HANDLOADER 129