Lyman Reloading Handbook 49th Edition

Reloading Handbo
Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2022 with funding from
Kahle/Austin Foundation
https://archive.org/details/lymanreloadingha0000thom
49th
Reloading
Handbook
~Thomas J. Griffin, Editor
Providing Trusted Equipment and Information to Shooters

Since 1878
For more than a century, the Ideal and then Lyman handbooks have been reloaders’ core
resource for proven reloading data. Lyman pioneered the concept of delivering a wide
range of components to use in generating safe, accurate loads. As reloading has grown, so
have Lyman handbooks including the latest cartridges, bullets and powders from all the
major manufacturers. Each edition has eclipsed its predecessor, growing in size and quan-
tity of data and becoming an important addition to every serious reloader’s library.
This new 49th Edition continues the tradition of delivering the broadest range of loads
covering virtually every brand of commonly available component. In addition to compre-
hensive coverage of commercial components, cast bullet data is a key addition to the
wealth of load choices offered in this newest Lyman handbook.
Reloading Handbook, 49th Edition
Copyright© 2008 by Lyman Products Corp.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored

in a retrieval system, or may transmitted, in any form or by any means:
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, etc. without the prior
written consent of Lyman Products Corporation.
Soft Cover:
IBM 9816049
UPC 011516960498
Hard Cover:
IBM 9816052
UPC 011516960528
First Printing: May 2008

Second Printing: December 2008
Third Printing: Apri! 2009
Fourth Printing: April 2010
Fifth Printing: December 2011
Sixth Printing: August 2012.
Seventh Printing: March 2013
Published by:
Lyman Products Corporation
475 Smith Street
Middletown, CT 06457
J. Mace Thompson, President
Printed in the United States of America
WARNING
The publisher and editors have no control over how reloading is conducted by the individual or with what
components and dies. Every change of equipment, procedure, and component lot will effect ballistics and/or the
safety and usefulness of a load. Therefore, no warranties are implied or expressed by the data and copy con-
tained in this book. We specifically disclaim any warranties of fitness for any and all particular purpose and
specifically disclaim any and all liablilty for consequential damages of any kind.
The individual assumes all risks for the safety of reloaded ammunition. Improperly loaded ammunition, or
the failure to follow all necessary precautions, may result in serious personal injury and/or death to the shooter
or bystanders.
There are many precautions to which the reloader need adhere. This volume deals with many of these but
cannot possibly foresee or include all possible cautions and caveats.
ho
National Associations of Interest
Membership in an organization made up of shooters with interests similar to our own is one of
the best ways to Increase your enjoyment of the shooting sports. Below is a list of organizations
that will be of interest to many reloaders. Please write for membership information.
American Single Shot Rifle Assoc.

709 Carolyn Drive
Delphos OH 45833
www.assra.com
Cast Bullet Assoc.

4103 Foxcraft Drive
Traverse City, MI 49684
www.castbulletassoc.org
International Benchrest Shooters

RR1, Box 250 BB
Springville, PA 18844
www. international-benchrest.com
International Handgun Metallic Silhouette Assoc.

PO Box 368
Burlington, IA 52601
www. ihmsa.org
United States Practical Shooting Association

872 North Hill Blvd.
Burlington, WA 98233
www.uspsa.org
National Rifle Assoc.

11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, VA 22030
www.nra.org
National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc.

11 Mile Hill Road
Newtown, CT 06470
www.nssf.org
Single Action Shooting Society (SASS)

23255 La Palma Avenue
Yorba Linda, CA 92887
www.sassnet.com
Acknowledgements
Lyman would like to thank the following companies for their assistance in the production of
this handbook. Without their strong support this effort would not have been possible. Our sincere
thanks and appreciation to all.
Barnes Kaltron-Pettibone Sturm, Ruger & Co.

PO: Box215 VihtaVuori Powder 200 Ruger Road
American Fork, UT 84003 1241 Ellis Street Prescott, AZ 86301
www.barnesbullets.com Bensenville, IL 60106 www.ruger.com
www.vihtavuori.fi
Browning Swift Bullet Co.
One Browning Place Nosler Bullets Inc. PO Box 27
Morgan, UT 84050 PO Box:67,1 Quinter KS 67752
www.browning.com Bend, OR 97709 www.swiftbullets.com
www.nosler.com
Buffalo Arms Thompson/Center Arms Co.
99 Raven Ridge Olin/Winchester PO: Box 5002
Sandpoint, ID 83864 427 North Shamrock Rochester, NH 03867
www.buffaloarms.com East Alton, IL 62024 www.tcarms.com
www.winchester.com
Alliant Techsystems Weatherby
PO Box 6 RCBS 3100 El Camino Real
Radford, VA 24141 605 Oro Dam Blvd. Atascadero, CA 93422
www.alliantpowder.com Oroville, CA 95965 www.weatherby.com
www.rcbs.com
CClI/Speer Western Powders Inc.
Box 856 Redding Ramshot & Accurate Powders
Lewiston, ID 83501 1089 Starr Road RPOVBOXs156
www.cci-ammunition.com Cortland, NY 13045 Miles City, MT 59301
www.redding-reloading.com www.ramshot.com
Federal Cartridge Co. www.accuratepowder.com
900 Ehlen Drive Remington Arms Co.
Anoka, MN 55303 870 Remington Drive
www.federalpremium.com Madison, NC 27025
www.remington.com
Hodgdon/IMR Powder Co.
POMBOX 2952 Sierra Bullets
Shawnee Mission, KS 66201 1400 Henry Street
www.hodgdon.com Sedalia, MO 65301
www.imrpowder.com www.sierrabullets.com
Hornady Manufacturing Starline

PO Box 1848 1300 West Henry Street
Grand Island, NE 68802 Sedalia, MO 65301
www.hornady.com www-.starlinebrass.com
Lyman 49th Edition Reloading Handbook
Lyman’s Editor
As Technical Services Manager and head of Lyman’s Ballistic Laboratory, Tom Griffin is
ideally suited to direct the development of Lyman’s Handbooks. In addition, Mr.
Griffin’s more than twenty five years of experience include work on eleven
Lyman Manuals. He initially served as a Technical Editor before taking full edi-
torial responsibility for the five most recent handbooks including: The 2nd and
3rd Editions of the Pistol & Revolver Handbook, the 48th Edition Reloading
Handbook, the 5th Edition Shotshell Handbook and this new 49th Edition
Reloading Handbook.
His interest in a wide range of

shooting sports completes the balanced
view of the content and organization that
makes Lyman’s popular reloading pub-
lications so valuable.
Thomas J. Griffin
Handbook Staff:
Publisher J. Mace Thompson
Editor: Thomas J. Griffin
Technical Staff: Daniel Guild

Jim Sheehan
Graphic Designer: Elizabeth Friedmann
Contributing Authors: Brian Pearce

Greg Rodriguez
Bryce Towsley Jim Sheahan and Dan Guild
Lyman’s Technical Staff
Photo Credits: John Giammatteo Jim Sheehan and Dan Guild contribute decades of
Brian Pearce experience, experimentation and enthusiasm for shoot-
Greg Rodriguez ing and especially reloading. Their day-to-day efforts
generate the carefully crafted data that is the core of
Bryce Towsley
Lyman’s manuals.
Table of Contents |
27 Caliber Cartridges
Acknowledgements git: oteteretotetaiciodertatcrtoketahctet
keh ietstetekorerst eee 4 6.8mm) Remington SPC .....06.555..+ 52-2 eee ease 180
DT-OINNITIGHEStCE wae Riaiea raieanon area 182
Handbook Staff mre. fe oi. ste s ceicicie o's)fe cere cee elects aneterereie ats5 270 WSM (Winchester Short Magnum) ........----+- 184
POWER NEOW IMERINON conogecesoracncns0nesesas 186
Editor's Foreword): sseese.<cevevoiossucioissevore
oust olelolovatsiteaious‘s4ee she8,9 28 (7mm) Caliber Cartridges
TOO \WEUTISS Nageaoms Comeiios 16.50 007s ooh oagc anew 188
J aAn}Introductionino Reloading mereryyecrietierstlet terete tiers11 FADO INEM) Hake vooconbudouoscdosagnagae 190
TeaWWhiv Reload ome: seas cicadas eve a cea ek cant onaeay saerhe12 TALNANIN EWR VSSVAIIIN) osccadonnnorcnen moan bongs 192
PMGetting Started Satelyn.se ee ee res eee 14 284 Winchester’ Wes 5. ac sehoeee eee rover pee ierses ol 194
280 Remington (7mm Express Remington) ........... 196
ZaliheiBasics Ot Reloadin gamer ttertetrsterstal
trea ten tererstcrnale 21 FAINIMEANINAO MUMMY co caobansscnessnooouoded 198
Be [eltonvolines HME CAUOMES Aono daeboegocaosuades DD TAIN NNEUNATOMIMEVAMULN onocannocncnotnotanoooce 201
ApReloadme Hanagun Gannasesec mace eee ee32 7mm WSM (Winchester Short Magnum) .........-.-- 203
7mm Rem. ShortAction UltraMagwermen «s+. se
soe 205
3. The Components of Reloading ................0.eeeeees 43 7mm STW (Shooting Times Westerner) ...........--- 207
baGasesvand, Their Preparatl Onpereneanereri
tbe eaerr ey inv, 44 PAantanulsxelnminyacorn WONieUM EY: “Bas < ood bocce ss sees ae ene 209
GO EFUIMENS eaters cast a aes cm ee rnakewore see eaten ae 56 30 Caliber Cartridges
Tz RODE AME ROW CElSaun, <-atwcccya > euccas -ahele 4) aan cuetel62 ZOIMEaT Carbine ensmsat cian cece cece eae ec aeree211
Salacketed/Bulletsme. seer:
eter ss so cae ate uae ee oe72 30=30!Winchesten news oc, cme ak erate teeters oes eee 213
ON GASB ULIGIS Ears wake ets eicharden laced ay anehemnee mea sete 80 3OOUSAVARE” A kparrerecade erent nee,GL tena moter Roa oncstert DAS
30:40: Kida Peele 1k eee ee eee ee ee ee 217
ANSDECIAILYFATTICOSierstal.iorotaia oleterelelelerer stsoietiel dete oheketer ierore 87 308 Winchester (7.62 X 51mm)(7.62 NATO) ......... poi\S)
10. Barrel Care & Cleaning for Accuracy .............. 89 30-06iSpringtield|(7462x63 mnn) meest ernae 223
tee eee
iteandioadingthelig76 Replicasian see ete erate 96 BOO MAE Mag nunni(756 3
x72 ini) erate een neem cereal 227
12. Making the Jump to Premium Bullets ............. 104 300 Remington Short Action Ultra Mag (SAUM)........ 229
13. Handloading Winchester’s Stubby Cartridges ....... 110 300 WSM (Winchester Short Magnum) ...........-.. 231
300) Winchester Mac Uni arsir eee toien een tne ena 233
Be Data Section) sjaratercrauste ois,okt.cteusvociciouecetete’
ois 6isvercea sustaterste 117 S00}Remingtoni tral Magee eieeten ena eee 236
Rifle! Dataverser cry tateet ters coe shoressaleticielel tote arenenstoters 121 300 Weatherby Magnum! 52... 5.55 sees25 seer see238
Handgun) Datalmerrctsts tt. tteferrelorisicb-fel
oieotbeitensas i ier325 SOSA WEEN OVIMERINUT cheadouc.choocsavcosus 240
Thompson/Center-Contender and Encore ............ 401 31 Caliber Cartridges
ZO2X39MIMIRUSSLAMT <afaatest evsire eirshal tuslemoneyoes auc etreiene eae 242
17 Caliber Cartridges 7 62X54 RmMiRUSSAM PE 4 sce oes aya tevclas sul eee eaten ees 244
TZRemington\Eireballl serene inet reese ere 121 7.65mm Argentine Mauser (7.65x53mm) ..........-- 246
(PAREMINGtON ete yess te my cere len meyers ee seetene gect 122 BOM STMuIGMN skieccnindd codon d ae Saat MER EO 248
20 Caliber Cartridge 32 (8mm) Caliber Cartridges
DORR UGClee geet ba tyspose cilectenienis aed ey hematite stve lems a 2s SAO) Waele (BA NMEA) cocoon toacccapasonaeaucs 250
22 Caliber Cartridges 32. Winchester Special maenancrit acinar -i
eincct eee: 251
22? |YOVINANBEDGOMMAN) ao kawonboeoooesnasonnoees 6124 SmmyMausen (SxS 7mm IS) 9exa5 7 i) ewe eee 252
D2 KROIOMCte ce ee ccye xa ceva Me pains Uae pets eee oe 126 CLM INS TONAGIN MEAN coo oco ood nonSeotoedsad e 254
DSB Pituraegs etree oe mks esse Wolters ese oicre eiaeyo cues 128 SPO ASAIN Rad a Bre, ceoeeee Hon An oom ck ere a eee 256
P22 REMINGON: merrcncee eretreks he cla chistes <leieeye 130 33 Caliber Cartridges
DISD PC Certara aoe thctohoycanara troka aus Chenome ete nate 133 33.8) FECEral «ccs ery ee neater eRe ee 258
DIANE MNS MENON « concn se nooneagshocoagnos 135 SINNER IMEI =socccacsanecandsnsncues: 260
ZIPS IREMINSCOM arte eaeeeter oo osehe hrevasatonei seahaa eae ohebertet cain IBZ. S40) Weatherby Magnums cannie eeee 262
225 Winchestermeewss soveruee ars siyer evs ie es cartes 141 Ssoteh (ReinsOU) WIM! coco ssonascnanansonceuue 263
224N\Veatheroy Marnuint «anes cise arabe oie cree 143 SiexeiLE OEM COIN) ansocsodnoosha55
sano oan 8265
22-25 O\REMINgtOMeas cto fo sek cd cree aie = Oro 145 338-378) Weatherby Magnum) eee .)
5.04 ene 267
2 SINVSSMilicecter sete 2 cast Orcas ra eis RRAE AR Be RE PERE 148 34 Caliber Cartridge
DD ORSWil Wiscasset 150 348! Winehestere.c.tocsme eae ee eae ee ee 269
24 (6mm) Caliber Cartridges 35 Caliber Cartridges
GMMeEPPG, Bare eke ecstc escst thar aitcch clanMennmeuntemreaumcnee
torres 152 Smmkaeers(Shimibarabell Un) seein nee wee 270
2AINVinchester (6:2x52mm)) ese eto eee 154 S97 (MASnuUtNG crank cessat mnloas tee Oe Rere
cation inarac eee Dypy
6mm Remington (244 Remington) .................. 157 SSIREMINGLOND eesr caer eater er eae ee ee 274
DAS VSSM UA eetancsens ceoe oe nage ocean oanenence tomecetsie sas tapers 159 358° Winchester (8:8xSilimin) seen aeee ae eee eee 276
240iNVeatherby Maginnis sstaner aceite
elt ae 161 SOONG MAO IMEI asco acococcnSecosescaue- 278
25 Caliber Cartridges 35) WWNeleng ee tevt. Saee Tac. chac oes. ae ve, hn eee eee 279
25-20: Winchester (25. CR) ee nna oe 163 37 Caliber Cartridges
250 Savage (250/8000iSavage) seeareren ere eee: 164 38-55: Winchestenm see ek rte r. ees ean ee 281
DST RODEMS bawid domed, cei 3s ace Re eee 166 37 oNVINCNESte re sgceche ee aeat 283
Z5-O6 REMINGION: ¢-xoanAlaaecls is oe ee ree ear 168 Sym lod MMM ET
ANU Metot GORA A GeyBA oidc.d6o Soa’ Hess che285
2! WSSM ire oeteases ete taal a lay oheieechen elaine eee 170 S7OIRUBER "LR ee eee, peas cle 2, ee eee 287
PSTN MECM NO MIMECU wae cen ho oeumbbanoonecot<6172 375: Remington UlitaiViaee 22 ais eae aenne anaes 289
26 (6.5mm) Caliber Cartridges 378: Weatherby Mapnuinicw.mrsae cit seen ieee ene291
ZOOURGMIM BLOM etre cece ceHc eeteaieale Mek renee een rere teeter 174 40 Caliber Cartridges
6:5xS5mnmiswedishy MaUSeiit rei eeaneien teeta ne 177 AO=-G5' VVINCIVESICN: «055, do Ba eee rae a ene ae 293
264 WirichestenMacnum sas or rieicmr i omer nncn erences WS
4i Caliber Cartridges 475 Caliber Cartridges
AOS INNINCeS tele aeeeeen meer NT imum es Noe hh yhvcea eh 295 ABO Rupert a ery tope i Suk antcle cout ake wala pip aa 396
AUG RIGBY: .52<. 15AR OLOS SNe oe 296 A 7oliieba ushinee seeker yecr cee ce nae a coeur ec? 397
AleWNeatheroy Masnuin eas teiwihin Week as 0 i
as os: 297, 50 Caliber Cartridges
AT oikeMminetoneviaoninnias sac eteerea saan ee ae tee. 298 SOPACUONEEXONESS1(O OFAE) Puemu tis inicis Sin cad cecen ve canine 398
44 Caliber Cartridges BOOSIE RAV. SSC NMR Sey, na sisie crcueiaba eae seer399
AA-GOMVinchester (44,\WCE)) ic eens cde cde icc ce: 299,
4S REM estOn Wes liesn les.aetkv
asses ciee asede <:301
ZA EINVIRVIIUE “cay ORE ta o Ce Och one en a 303 T/C Contender & Encore Data.............eceecececeees 401
APSE Oe 205 Eo ees cgcer One esRc 305 22 Caliber Cartridges
45-70 Government (For 1873 Springfield) ............ 307 ZDGIONMCUE eecategauerres dteuiay tea apnea testineOaayem uauorecy ataie402
45-70 Government 22. KEELORMCL: eewrvrs stetalc averse eee oubte tice one, Ae oes eos 404
(For 1886 Winchester & 1895 Marlin) ............... 310 ZA SIBOS pee caaietet shswat MPA MOEN Ol. eee Ace Me NM a 406
45-70 Government (For Ruger No. 1 & No. 3 only) ..... Sh PPA ART MAO ANGI csoccepoeaondensdoaonsaoor 408
ZIG) IRAETHAT oso.ccoceashc, ERETee Oa OL eee 315 223 REmIMGOM gaat «ain dwt athe aie elects ieee Semcte ore eee409
AS-OsMVIMNEnIester MAGNUM: <alekom skeics « lesb caeee wun es Be, 22-250 REM INGtOM ee: arta) sian aisistets a retaues cnuotabeio usGees 411
AS NOO 2 ho (ASO SATS ian ote aus syeee whee Sites nce 318 ZA SIN iCMSte tigen waerenee in.deena Sealer ee nme de mete ee 413
OHO? Ga(AO- WMO) SHALYS)) Byscicee se ele eras «foeton ang cares 319 295-06: REMUN SOM: ameyathae aenclnan iaSous Aron antes 414
AR AOE SAASa2 OrSmanpys)) msvtal sy wee Gavan 320
tee evour RMA SHS. Ate cast geotodnduohconeopas 415
Ss ASSANinehestemMasnulins Gye. sa. are vc os eset eee a 321 27.O'WANCHESTOR «arte egret tesaaans cacMe tse enn Ss ae 417
460 Weatherby Magnum <2 2.00 .0802...oa pence ee323 TAIL SANTACOMA S.cocn sdb Gonooneopoo faomdon dod419
50 Caliber Cartridges 7S10 Oe PERE cco on nc co tA co a baewece cere 421
>
DU) GOVERMIMONEM TAG ie ha ca. a cisions os dare nn Dads 324 7-30! WALEIS 7o).3. 285 ns 2 aOR RIMM RR ey «eeneue ae gese423
Aan Os, p coreeerion's Gon Oem ee Roo don cut 425
Handgun Data 80230) Winchestery a ereytamany on eee tere ear oereey427
SOB WWincheste teeter user saci ceice Wore aA ce a ee re 429
22 Caliber Cartridges 30-06;Springticld .cses pert tion enn ie ks aeen eeieae431
Bed SRALOLTTT TUES oeShy a seek ie eae ere an Sele ee 325 357 Masui fein casas ee An, ca ateutenes aptain rertee 433
25 Caliber Cartridges 357 iMaXiMUmMisa ces cytes ied seer ewe ere ree teens 435
PED NULOMIAUG (20 MGR) eats taacilaa eyes Wathen tgews a6) asateiets 326 44 Remington) Magnum) serach scececsus heueaci enuresis 437
30 Caliber Cartridges ASCO ac sen tne ee ee hee te oe oe nents arc et eee 439
OS eae aeeae Dh
fel Be Pee FAAS Cie ce Nie aCe en Sey 454 Gasulll begaat sicutych cs. te ema engates Meee, aah 44]
PO ROKALEN/SOiMAUSCD eras can Ge cd arg Bae ae eee es 328 AGOSS&W Masnuimin suceucy a cuter a caerseteia ee nee eae443
32 Caliber Cartridges 45-7 O}GOVEFMMEN twas she to hd retiecd focal eters: otetah cuot oiteahora 445
Boe NULECOIT PELE 2 NC Ea atte comes laneifas oc 2s)Sea Wan BXayatede fee330 AS OsMatlitigty ncnstocws tua vacin sece crecean ce eee 446
BASTWMIP Caw CSSOMMUONPES 0a cits ohare Sec eise, a a wien wie332 ABSO'RUBEN ath steers cte.s weed once nities os eteusbaiier sete emetens448
Pe lhc Oy RC IVAASIVUAEIY ©Fsapetiasveytsicol sa5:(2.n/alie scotia eastiie “ale aEiconte se 334 5OO: Smitha essonwh: aya ase Lee tae ee ter G 449
Be OWVinchester (32220 VWWCE)" sro wie aieaer inno «epee
ne 336
38 (9mm) Caliber Cartridges
ACO AOMane (So ACP*OmmiKUrZ)) bocgs doves «Bic 338 6. Reference SCCtiOM so7.4:5.26 se:.52010eueie eache orsr8us ole siohse ossieesians 451
9mm Luger (9mm Parabellum)(9x19mm) ........-.-. 340
esi SU ITD ALO Metae BA Stoers ie tales aad) a teliay eesti fern nda's (ahatods 343 App. A. Bullet Type Abbreviations ................. 452
Pex eal epee ceetcics ReycnieetesFaisegiecigs 2h.co stil Atay ne iis ausco recs346
Dyer Perma eae tces re te Mean ae ele Guenevere: eka a 348 App. B. Useful Formulas for Reloaders .............. 453
OLSEN GaN VCSSOM ME Naya « cot HET. Cac Minor ra,ha ase wed aes 350
SISASTREIEI| Ges pecs creer Raven ce ROR eee ea tartar ten MEE 352 App: G. Shell Holder Charts) ce cmecs curses
ce ae cies455
Bes p/ W CCADVULAQW Loe bate techeeee tide nn a Micke toe Oro eeeeen mea Oe 356
CLE CIONE. ein Bee alate Cong Mirman ens Bolas 360 App. D. Relative Burn Rate Chart .................. 458
SOEAONMIGMCStCh awe traci otis eucnamnes oat eu Eales, 361 Reloading Tables (Log One) .................s0000- 459
4G Site WEE es ool Bic de pa eeg Hao actor 362
LOMA GON TAtl GN Meta, Wats cles 242 evade eral felis « 365 INNS San oonbabucacnocoNgéu
condom Gob denkon odo od460
4AtRemington Magnum) ..... 2.00
case e cece ens 368
052
44-40 Winchester (44 WCF) .... eetewe eee: 369
202s -.0
AV NPAT» 4 2.80, Goceorc.Bateau ds 0 Peo Onset oc) eMC 371
AA Special (44 S&W Special) .........s0.-+-s seas 373
44 Remington Magnum 20+
..... eee eeters 376
..--.
LaABE CAY SII GIR) Bard evo) Gl on bap eon ond teokncret 380
ANS ANOS
AST AU OURINIA PRR ae lear elceed cremate. Sheds eke) ales ase eens Sar 383
AS GAR AGIOGKAULOIRISION auaitae sie ysl aesan> kl 385
aneks
ASSSQVVISCHOMCICM en ee Rte elsem nie eaters cca aie ee ae sore387
SKC da a Bo RO Oe oe Co EE a eho Eecegs Gone Geri CG 389
ANSAM( CRU heSes et ORele & COLO. BO RIA HO ORO ao roar 393
AGO'SRWEMaBnUM: oe. beens eee er eater tes 394
Editor’s Foreword
NEW EDITION
New Enlarged Loading Bats Section

Opie Bate eleresse Section
This reloading handbook, our 49th are also used and include Accurate, Alliant,
Edition, continues a long and proud history of Hodgdon, IMR, Ramshot, VihtaVuori, and
service to the reloader. For well over 100 Winchester. Additionally, cases and primers
years, Lyman and Ideal handbooks have pro- from most of the top brands available are also
vided the shooter and reloader the valuable, included.
up-to-date information that they need to
assemble safe and accurate ammunition. As Other extremely popular features used in
always, we have tried our best to produce the past Lyman Handbooks continue. These
finest handbook yet published. Obviously, this would include our listing of Accuracy Loads
is never an easy task, but one that we always for each bullet tested. The Accuracy Load rep-
enjoy. resents the powder that gave us the most uni-
form ballistics during our testing of a particu-
In our new 49th Edition Reloading lar bullet. As with all Lyman Handbooks, cast
Handbook, we have continued many of the bullets are given full coverage, both in our
traditions that have made past editions data section and in the editorial section.
famous. Foremost of these is the use of all
popular brands of components in our data The 49th Edition also continues a new tra-
section. Since we do not produce any of the dition, started in our 48th Edition, of listing
components used in our handbooks, we are ballistic coefficients and sectional densities for
free to develop data with a variety of brands. all bullets (jacketed and cast) used in our data
In our data you will find jacketed bullets section. This is a great aid to the many reload-
made by Barnes, Hornady, Nosler, ers using ballistic computer programs.
Remington, Sierra, Speer, Swift and
Winchester. Most popular brands of powder As always, a variety of new calibers has
Editor’s Forward
recently been introduced to the shooting pub-
lic, and we have done our best to offer up-to- Bryce Towsley, Field Editor for American
date data for them. These would include rifle Rifleman magazine and author of numerous
calibers such as the 17 Rem. Fireball, 204 books of his own, discusses Winchester’s fam-
Ruger, 6.8mm Rem. SPC, 325 WSM, 338 ily of Super Short cartridges. Bryce looks at
Federal, 375 Ruger, 405 Win., and the history, performance and current status of
Winchesters line of Super Shorts. In the hand- the 223 WSSM, 243 WSSM and 25 WSSM
gun section, new calibers such as the cartridges.
5.7x28mm FN, 45 GAP, 460 S&W Mag., and
the 500 S&W Mag. are included. Last we have republished an article by
Butch Fisher that appeared in our 48th Edition
A new feature in the data section is the use Handbook. Regrettably Butch passed away on
of “tabs” along the edge of the data pages. July 20, 2007. Butch was the inventor of
These are broken down into a range of cal- Butch’s Bore Shine and a top benchrest shoot-
ibers to help the user quickly locate the data er. His article on Barrel Care & Cleaning is a
that they are looking for. “must read” for shooters of all types.
On the editorial side of this handbook, the | would personally like to thank all our
reloader will find complete how-to informa- friends in the firearm industry who have gen-
tion on all aspects of assembling safe and erously supplied us with powder, components
accurate ammunition. Each step of the reload- and advise. Without your support, this book
ing process is carefully described and would not have been possible.
explained. The components used in reloading
are also given detailed coverage. The 49th Edition Reloading Handbook
that you are now reading is the result of sever-
As in most Lyman handbooks, we have al years work and many thousands of rounds
also included several feature articles by noted assembled and fired by our handbook staff.
gun writers. Brian Pearce, Contributing Editor
for Handloader and Rifle magazines, does an We believe that this is the best edition yet
excellent job discussing how to reload for the and we sincerely hope that you agree. If so,
1876 Winchester replica rifles that have please tell your fellow shooters and reloaders.
recently been introduced. Loading data is As always, the Lyman staff encourages your
included for the 40-60, 45-60 and 45-75 car- comments and suggestions on how to
tridges for both smokeless and Pyrodex pow- improve upon this and other Lyman publica-
ders using a variety of Lyman cast bullets. tions. Please visit our new website at
www.lymanproducts.com to view all our
Greg Rodriguez, Field Editor for Shooting reloading equipment, reloading tips, parts and
Times magazine and professional hunter, dis- services.
cusses the advantages of handloading premi-
um grade bullets. Greg passes along his expert Tom Griffin
Editor
knowledge of bullet performance based on
many years of experience in the field taking a
large variety of game.
Section 1 - An Introduction to Reloading
Section 1
Chapter One:
Ry eClOAG? oc. ieee. bs page 12
Chapter Two:
Getting Started Safely ....... page 14
Why Reload
The reloading of ammunition is undertaken by indi- many times. Dependant upon the caliber, load specifi-
vidual shooters for many reasons. If you shoot fre- cations, and firearm type, a case may be reloaded
quently, or want to, the first reason for getting started from 3 to as many as 15 times. Based on input from
can be money saved. Depending upon the caliber countless thousands of reloaders, on an average fired
you reload and the type of components used, you cases are reloaded about 6 times. However, when
may save from 20 to 70%, with the average cost sav- cases wear out, there is no reason to purchase new
ings being 50%. For a fixed expenditure, this means ammo. Simply buy new unfired cases. These are avail-
the you can shoot twice as often as when using factory able from a great many component outlets and when
ammo. Yes, there is a cost for getting started, perhaps purchased in bulk quantities are rather inexpensive.
averaging about $450.00 for quality, long lasting
equipment. However, it takes only about two dozen
boxes of ammo (again dependant on caliber and load
used) to recover this expense. At this point your equip-
ment has cost you nothing and thereafter every round
fired represents a substantial savings. Shooters using
This badger and jackrabbit were shot at 150 yards using

handloads. Rod Herrett took them with his custom XP-
100 resting in a custom Herrett stock.
Another reason for reloading is increased accuracy.

Factory ammo seldom matches the accuracy of care-
fully developed and assembled reloads. The best proof
of this is to look at the sport of benchrest shooting.
Benchrest shooters do not consider themselves com-
petitive unless they can put 5 bullets into a 100-yard
group which, when measured from center to center of
bullet hole, must be less than 0.250". To be among the
best, benchrest groups must often be half this size.
Accuracy is one of the most important reasons to reload.
The target on the top was shot with factory ammunition. What kind of ammo do these folks use? It is 100%
The target on the bottom was shot with the same firearm reloaded by themselves.
and bullet weight using reloads.
Long range varmint hunters are another group that
cast lead bullets can increase savings to as much as demand great accuracy. Hitting a tiny prairie dog at
85% of the cost of factory loaded jacketed bullet 400 yards isn’t easy. Again, the choice of ammo is
ammo. nearly 100% reloads.
One of the reasons for substantial savings is that the Big game hunters who pursue animals that must be
fired case represents a large portion of the cost of a shot at very long ranges, and who do some actual
loaded round. A reloader can reuse the fired case practice shooting, will find that many factory loads do
12
not perform at a level to make
such shooting practical. Ammo
that may as easily miss as hit, or
even cripple game, is not what a
true sportsman wants. Reloads
are often the solution to making
reliable long range hits. When
hunting big game, nothing will
give you more confidence for a
shot from this canyon rim to that
canyon rim than using a reload
with which you are thoroughly
familiar.
Despite what you may have

heard to the contrary, sufficient
experience with factory ammo
will quickly show that it is diffi-
cult to get consistent 5-shot 100-
yard groups that measure 2".
Even beginning handloaders
quickly learn that all groups,
firearm and shooter so capable,
can be under 1-1/2" and fre-
quently down to 1". With well
tuned firearms, loading to
benchrest accuracy is no special
feat; albeit there are a few extra
handloading steps commonly
employed when assembling
ammo for sub minute-of-angle
shooting.
Reloading your own ammo can be very rewarding with many benefits, some of
which are money saved, increased accuracy, and better marksmanship.
The accuracy difference between
factory ammo and handloaded ammo is such that reloaders eventually become local “gurus” on guns
most who start reloading to save money would contin- and ammo.
ue to do so, regardless of cost. Still another reason to
reload is the hobby aspect. Assembling ammo during There are many other reasons to reload. Nonetheless,
leisure time can be a lot of fun. There is a sense of we caution that the undertaking of ammo assembly
pride that comes from firing match winning scores, or requires a very mature level of thinking and safety
taking game, with ammo that you assembled yourself. awareness. If you are willing to read all of the instruc-
Increased firearm and ammunition knowledge is tion material in this book and to follow all cautions,
another benefit of reloading. Striving for better and then you have what it takes to get started. Remember,
better ammo performance will lead the reloader to part of being a safe and sane reloader is to review this
material from time to time.
countless new materials on the topic. Many serious
13
Some folks getting started in reloading find it confus- An appropriate place to reload is another important
ing. It need not be so. The short answer to the basic consideration. You will require a place free from all
question of how to start is as follows. First: read all the distractions. Included among the potential distractions
material in sections 1 through 4 of this handbook. are radios, TVs, kids, phones, pets and a host of other
Second: Review the data for the cartridge you wish to items that could possibly divert your attention from the
reload. Third: select a bullet weight, an appropriate task at hand. To prevent accidents, when assembling
powder and the required primer size. Fourth: follow ammo you must be able to give undivided attention to
the suggestions in this chapter for the basic tools you what you are doing.
will require. Finally: from all this information make a
list of the items you will need and you are ready to go The work area chosen should have adequate lighting
shopping. and a suitable bench. Apartment dwellers can convert
a closet to include a bench and the necessary storage
Nonetheless, if you are to be a safe and sane reloader space. A basement or seldom used room can also pro-
you may wish to know the long answer to the ques- vide the basis for a suitable reloading area. Powder
tion, "How do | safely get started assembling ammo?" and primers will require safe, lockable, remote storage
Several aspects required in becoming a safe reloader (more on this in the chapters dealing with compo-
cannot be purchased at the local gunshop. Most nents). Do not overlook potential problems such as
important is a good supply of common sense. Not heavy objects stored in such a manner that they could
everyone who drives is qualified to be a auto mechan- fall onto the work area and perhaps cause ignition of
ic and not everyone who shoots is qualified to be a primers or powder.
reloader. However, it is reasonably easy to develop the
necessary skills and attitude to be a safe reloader. You must follow the recipes of reloading - the data list-
ings - exactly. This is a basic requirement. If you think
published data is deliberately kept extra safe and
therefore you can develop loads that use powder
charges heavier than the listed maximum loads, or that
you Can interpret data for unlisted powders and bullet
weights, then we suggest you find a different hobby.
There is never a justification for random experimenta-

tion when loading ammunition. If you cannot respect
the wisdom, judgement and testing of the ballistic lab-
oratory then you are not a candidate for reloading. It is
sometimes reasonable to wish to substitute one brand
of bullet for another or to want to use a different brand
primer. However, such changes must always be
approached with extreme caution. When doing so the
load must be worked up carefully. Always remember
that any change in components, procedures, or
loaded round dimensions will create a measurable
change in ballistics. The direction of this change is not
predictable and therefore all changes require extreme
caution and very careful load development.
Your first reloading efforts are best directed at duplicat-

ing the factory ammo you have been using. Start with
a bullet weight that duplicates your favorite factory
load. If you do everything right, you will notice an
immediate improvement in accuracy.
Later, you may wish to assemble ammo for a specific

All shooters who can read, use common sense, and purpose not well served with factory cartridges. For
adhere to all the basic safety principles can become example, you may want to assemble an off-season
proficient reloaders. varmint load for a thirty caliber big game rifle or a
Getting Started Safely
highly accurate target load. This is fine, but wait to do
so until you have gained a bit of experience.
To insure continued savings and accuracy, the

reloader should purchase the most durable equipment
that can be afforded. Equipment that fails to perform as
hoped will quickly need to be replaced. If you start
with tools and accessories that will provide many
thousands of loaded rounds of ammunition, you will
never regret your purchase.
Your initial purchase need not include every conceiv-

able accessory. You already have at least one of the
basics - a reloading manual. For a good beginning you
will need to equip your loading bench with a number
of other specific basic items. To omit any one of them
is to insure a less than 100% safe reloading operation. The first basic tools include a press, shell holder
The essential items are as follows. and die set.
Basic and Essential Loading Equipment nent to undergo a substantial change without a name
1 Up-to-date Loading Manual change. Thus, data changes with the passage of time.
Failing to keep your data up to date can bring on seri-
2. Reloading press ous consequences.
3. Shellholder
Data tables are only a part of the knowledge needed
4. Reloading die set of appropriate caliber
to assemble safe ammunition. Take the time to read all
5. Case lubricant . of the instructional material in each manual update.
6. Case lubricant pad Note: items 5 and 6 are not Then reread it from time to time as a refresher.
required when using a carbide die with some
2. Reloading Press
handgun calibers. The press selected is the foundation for the loading
7. Safety glasses (especially for priming) bench. A good beginning is to select a single station
8. Priming unit press having a "O" shaped frame, such as the Lyman
Crusher II. This type tool offers precise alignment of
9. Primer tray dies and shell holder as the die station hole and shell
10. Powder scale (graduated in grains avoirdupois) holder ram hole are machined in line. Such tools will
generally offer a lifetime of use. Lesser priced tools are
11. Powder trickler
available for the shooter on a tight budget.
12. Powder funnel It is often advantageous to purchase the reloading
13. Two loading blocks press as part of a packaged kit. Such kits include many
of the essential items needed at a substantial savings
14. Dial indicating caliper when compared to buying each item individually.
(graduated in 0.001" increments)
15. Case trimmer with pilot 3. Shellholder
16. Deburring tool The shellholder allows the cartridge case to be aligned
with, pushed into, and withdrawn from the various
dies. One shell holder may serve for several cartridges.
A brief discussion of each listed essential tool is appro-
For example, a 30-06 shell holder is also correct for
priate at this point.
use with calibers 22-250, 243, 25-06, 270, 308 and
many others. Be sure to use the correct shell holder or
1. Reloading Manual the case rim may tear off during resizing. This will
Remember that all data sources become obsolete. The leave the case jammed in the die, a very difficult situa-
ballistic characteristics of specific components can tion to correct, and one best handled by the die manu-
and do change over time. It is possible for a compo- facturer.
15
4. Reloading Die Set 5. Case Lubricant

A die set may consist of two, three, or four separate For all reloading efforts (except when using a carbide
dies. The first die is a resizing die designed to return die for straight walled handgun cartridges), cases need
the fired and expanded case back to factory dimen- to be lubricated before resizing. Failure to do so will
sions. This die also usually removes the fired primer. result in a case hopelessly jammed in the resizing die.
Without appropriate resizing, fired cases may fail to
rechamber. For beginning, as well as most advanced 6. Case Lubricant Pad
efforts, we suggest the purchase of a full length resiz- The proper method of applying lubricant is to use a
ing die set. Most die sets are caliber specific. lubricating pad to transfer sizing lubricant to your
cases. As an alternative to using a pad you may pur-
Note: For many straight walled handgun cartridges, chase Lyman's Qwik Spray Case Lube.
the use of a carbide sizing die will eliminate the need
to apply sizing lubricant to the case and to remove the
7. Safety Glasses
lubricant after sizing. This is a great time saver and
prevents jamimed-in-the-die cases due to improper Should an accident occur, this essential item can save
lubrication. your eyes from injury, especially when priming.
WARNING:
Never attempt to resize a loaded round.
Sizing dies for bottleneck cases include a spindle

mounted expanding button which opens the case
neck to a dimension suitable to properly accept and
hold the bullet. Straight walled cases must be neck
expanded in a separate die. This means that all straight
case die sets have an extra die.
The bullet seating die, seats the bullet to the correct

depth (adjustable). When required it can also crimp
cases to bullets. A crimp is necessary for ammo used
in most revolvers and in guns with tubular magazines.
Ammo for use in pump or semi-automatic rifles is also
normally crimped. Some shooters find crimping to be
more precise if done separately from bullet seating.
Thus, an extra die is sometimes used. Most bullet
seat/crimp dies use a roll crimp. However, taper crimp
dies are used for reloading of cases which headspace
from the case mouth.
There are many styles of priming units available, but the

ram prime unit shown is one of the best units for seating
primers to a uniform depth. The primer tray will allow
rapid orientation of primers and keep them safely in place
on the bench.
8. Priming Unit
Priming units are also called priming punches, prim-
ing rams, or priming arms. All loading presses are
equipped with basic priming units that accomplish the
Case lubricant and a lubricating pad are essential for all
case resizing except when using a carbide die for resizing
task of seating new primers. With these, the primer is
certain straight walled pistol cartridges. often seated as the sized case is withdrawn from the
resizing die (or in the case of a straight walled case as 12. Powder Funnel
it is withdrawn from the neck expanding die).
Without a powder funnel there is no practical way to
However, it is suggested that the shooter interested in
get propellant from the scale pan into the case. A sim-
maximum primer seating uniformity will do best to
ple but effective funnel will work with cases as small
replace such standard priming units with one of the
as 22 caliber and as large as 45 caliber.
Ram Prime systems.
Ram Prime units are mounted at the normal die sta-
tion and can be adjusted to give a very uniform primer 13. Loading Blocks
seating depth by using the press stroke stop as a means Loading blocks hold the cases on the bench in an
to control primer insertion depth. organized manner. Always use two loading blocks.
Cases are picked up, a loading step performed and
9. Primer Tray then they are placed in the second loading block
(positioned on the opposite side of the loading tool).
A primer tray is used to orient all primers one side up
so as to insure that, as each one is picked up and
placed into the primer post, it is correctly oriented. It
will also help keep primers free from any contami-
nants.
10. Powder Scale

To insure the precise amount of powder is placed into
each case, each powder charge must be carefully
weighed. A powder scale is also required for the cor-
rect adjustment of any accessory powder measure.
11. Powder Trickler (aka Dribblers)

These make the job go quickly and accurately. The
trickler adds powder, one granule at a time, to the
scale pan in order to bring a propellant charge to exact
weight.
Basic and essential tools include two loading blocks,
digital caliper, and a case deburring tool.
14. Dial Indicating or Digital Caliper

This tool allows the reloader to measure the depth of
seated primers, to check case lengths before and after
trimming, to maintain an appropriate cartridge overall
length and to discover the source of many difficulties.
Calipers are available as inexpensive plastic types or
stainless steel models that sometimes outlast the
reloader.
Each powder charge should be weighed on a powder

scale. The Lyman 1500 XP scale comes with a powder
trickler that will allow you to carefully bring your charge
up to the exact weight.
Trimming cases is essential to insuring safety, reliability and accuracy of your reloads.
15. Case Trimmer 16. Deburring Tool

Cases stretch when thev are fired. Case bodies are During trimming, burrs form on the inside and outside
often shortened when resized but their necks tend to of the case mouth. A deburring tool quickly gets the
stretch during this process. After a single firing and siz- case smooth and ready for reloading. Cases should be
ing, a case may stretch past the point of being suitable deburred for the first reloading,especially inside the
for reloading. Under some circumstances, a case may case mouth, even if they are not trimmed.
be reloaded and fired four or five times before its
length exceeds the maximum allowable dimension. In The cost of getting set up with the necessary essential
any event, there will always be a point at which the tools will vary depending on where the equipment is
case must be trimmed back to a workable dimension purchased and exactly what model tools are selected.
before it can be reloaded. Trimmers require the use of The return on the initial investment can be rapid or
a pilot of appropriate caliber to keep cases positively slow depending upon how often you shoot.
aligned during the trimming process. Some case trim-
mers require the use of an appropriate shell holder. You will require a supply of primers, powder and bul-
lets to begin reloading. The cost of these will vary
dependent upon the caliber and the type of ammuni-
tion you want to assemble.
Additional Accessories Turret presses also allow the reloader who loads cases
There will come a time when you may wish to add to by the preferred batch method (performing the same
your basic tools. Accessory items can help improve operation on all of the cases to be loaded before mov-
accuracy, or make the loading process faster. Some of ing on to the next step) to set up all the dies and leave
the more useful accessories include the following: them in position on the press. This eliminates the need
to repeatedly remove and replace dies.
1. Powder Measure And Optional Stand
A powder measure allows the reloader to dispense a
6. Case Neck Turning Equipment
near exact powder charge rapidly. Because charges In order to obtain better accuracy, serious accuracy
thrown from a measure will vary, powder measures buffs (such as benchrest shooters and varmint hunters)
must be used in conjunction with a scale. To do so, often turn the outside of case neck to make it concen-
adjust the measure to throw a charge slightly below tric with the inside.
the desired weight. Set the measure so that no individ-
ual charge will be over the desired weight - it is irritat- Neck turning is essential when making cartridges fit
ing to try to remove excess propellant from the scale chambers with undersized necks often used in custom
pan. Then, meter a charge directly onto the scale pan. benchrest rifles. Neck turning operations are generally
Return the pan to the scale and bring the charge into best left alone until after acquiring an in-depth amount
exact balance by adding the last few granules of pow- of reloading experience.
der with a powder trickler.
7. Flashhole Uniformer
2. Primer Pocket Cleaner This little handheld reamer will remove the burr at the
After decapping, inspection of the primer pocket will terminus of the flash hole. This is an accessory that
reveal a hard, crusty, black deposit. If allowed to build originally saw use with serious bench rest shooters.
to excessive amounts, this deposit can interfere with Today, in their search for accuracy many handloaders
uniform primer seating and thus cause inaccuracy. A
feel it worthwhile to deburr flash holes.
high primer can also be a potential hazard. This
deposit is easily removed with a few twists of a primer 8. Primer Pocket Reamer
pocket cleaner. Primer pocket reamers are required to remove the
crimped material from military style cases. Such cases
3. Case Cleaning Equipment have the primer locked into place by an impact-shift-
ing of case head brass around the end of the primer
A dull looking case is no consequence. A dirty case,
pocket. It is best to use a special heavy-duty decap-
however, may keep a defect from being noticed or
ping rod assembly to remove crimped in-place
scratch reloading dies and/or chambers requiring pre-
primers. After removing fired primers from such cases,
mature die/firearm replacement.
a new primer cannot be safely or correctly seated until
a reamer is used to remove the crimped material.
Cases can be cleaned by hand, however, a case tum-
bler can make some mighty dirty brass look like new.
Case tumblers are available to fit almost every need 9. Primer Pocket Uniformer
with respect to the quantity of cases to be processed A primer pocket uniformer is used by many shooters
and cost. to insure that the bottom of every primer pocket is flat.
The benefits of this additional effort generally cannot
4. Scale Check Weight Sets. be realized until groups are at or below 1/2 inch at
100-yards. It requires care to avoid overcutting the
Scales are delicate instruments. Should a scale be primer pocket. Removing too much material can
inadvertently subjected to some undue rough han- cause gas leaks at ignition. Such leaks can quickly ruin
dling, a scale check weight set can help determine if a bolt face and are potentially dangerous. Obviously
the scales accuracy has been compromised. primer pocket uniforming is therefore not for every-
one.
5. Turret Presses
Turret presses have multiple die stations. The advan-
tage is that a reloader can place a case into the shell
holder and fully load it, by rotating each die into posi-
tion. This speeds up loading and is a method some-
times favored by handgun cartridge reloaders.
These accessories, and many others, can help make reloading faster, easier, and more accurate. When and if each item will
fit in with your reloading will become self evident as you gain experience.
10. Automatic Electronic Powder Scale Getting started requires only the previously discussed
sixteen basic items. Indeed, one could happily load
While not inexpensive, this accessory can simplify the
hundreds-of-thousands of rounds with only a few
process of powder charge weighing. At a push of a
additional accessories - a powder measure and primer
button the electronic scale automatically feeds powder
pocket cleaner being the most likely candidates. From
onto the scale pan, first at a fast rate and then at a
this point on, it should be obvious when you will actu-
greatly slower rate to bring the scale into balance.
ally benefit from an addition to your basic tools.
Once started it is a hands-off operation.
Lacking an obvious need, chances are you will get
along nicely without further additions.
As time goes by, the reloader will find that the list of
other available accessories appears near endless. Let
The how-to of component selection is covered in the
real needs or personal goals dictate which ones should
following appropriate chapters of this manual.
be on your loading bench.
20
Section 2 - The Basics of Reloading
Section 2
Chapter Three:
Reloading Rifle Cartridges ... page 22
Chapter Four:
Reloading Handgun Cartridges . page 32
As mentioned previously, the mechanics of each CAUTION:
reloading step are quite simple. However, there are Be sure to read all pertinent material before actually
several important considerations to be given to each beginning to assemble ammo.
step. Observing these considerations will help ensure
that all ammo assembled is safe, will function reliably, STEP ONE
and be accurate. Some of these considerations are
dealt with in following chapters and in several of the Selecting a Load and Components
cartridge comments immediately preceding specific At first, the selection of components may seem a diffi-
loading data. This information is important and must cult and confusing task. This is especially true if a gen-
be read and understood before actually beginning to eral knowledge of basic ammunition details has not
assemble ammunition. yet been acquired. Nonetheless, you soon will find
that component selection quickly becomes an easy
The following step by step description deals with and fun part of reloading. The learning process can be
assembling fired bottleneck (shouldered) cartridges hastened along by developing as much ammo knowl-
with jacketed bullets intended for use in either rifles or edge as leisure time reading will allow. There are
handguns. Slight deviations from these steps are many excellent shooting and hunting magazines that
required when reloading ammo with lead bullets, for will be a great help in this regard.
rifle or handgun cartridges having a straight case (no
shoulder), or when loading new unfired cases. These Selecting Cartridge Cases
variations are discussed at the appropriate points in
The selection of fired cartridge cases, or new brass,
the following text.
presents no special challenge. If you have saved your
fired cases you need only separate them into specific
Reloading a fired cartridge generally requires 13 basic
groups by brand and lot number. Lot numbers appear
steps. The sequence or actual number of these can
on the factory ammo box. This number may be on an
vary depending on the specific equipment used and
inside flap or the box back. Keeping brass segregated
reloader preference. The sequence we have chosen is
by lots will maximize accuracy potential and ballistic
based on the method most often favored by knowl-
uniformity. If you purchase new unfired cases they
edgeable handloaders and our selection of tools used
must, of course, be of the appropriate caliber.
to illustrate the process. Again, not every step is always
Purchasing bulk packaged cases (in lots of 50, 100, or
required, as we will indicate.
more) is the least expensive way of obtaining new
brass.
The thirteen steps to reload jacketed-bullet
bottleneck cartridge ammo are as follows:
CAUTION:
1. Selection of load and components to be used.
Never load cartridge cases from an unknown source,
2. Case inspection. i.e. cases picked up at the range or sold as once-fired
3. Case cleaning. brass. Use only brand new brass or cases obtained as
4. Inside neck brushing the result of firing factory ammo in your firearm. For
more on cases and their selection see Chapter Five.
(not required when using new unfired cases).
ea Case lubrication
6. Case resizing and fired primer removal
Test Components:
(not required when using new unfired cases). CASES Bairetare cea ene ester ace ingen aoe eee Remington
7. Lubricant removal Thim=to Lengthitn sins. ee aves eee eee 1.400”
Case length measuring.
9. Case trimming and deburring Lyman Shell older. (ieee 5 en eer aan No. 26
(not always required). Jacketed Bullets Used. . Hornady V-Max #21710, 20 er.
10. Seating new primer. Hornady HP #1710, 25 gr.
11. Powder weighing and charging.

Primer size and the specific primer we used is clearly
12. Bullet seating and if required crimping. shown at the beginning of the data for each caliber.
13. Final inspection.
22
Reloading Rifle Cartridges
Selecting Primers CAUTION:
The proper primer size is listed at the beginning of the Always start with the exact powder charge weight
data for each cartridge, for example: large rifle, large shown under the starting grains column. Heavier loads
rifle magnum, small rifle. For your first loads, we sug- should not be used until the reloader has gained some
gest you use the exact primer we used for the develop- experience and fully understands proper load devel-
ment of our data. As an alternate, match the primer opment.
brand and correct size to the brand of the case you are
reloading. Do not use magnum primers unless the Selecting Jacketed Bullets
data specifically calls for these as doing so can alter
Bullet selection may at first seem confusing. To simpli-
ballistic uniformity and the safety of the data.
fy the process, select a bullet weight to duplicate the
factory ammo you favor. The appropriate diameter
Do not allow cartridge nomenclature to enter into the
bullet may be determined from the caliber/bullet table
selection of primers. For example, the 222 Remington in Chapter Eight. Many calibers use the same diameter
Magnum never requires the use of a magnum primer
bullet. For example: 300 Savage, 30-40 Krag, 308
and the 416 Rigby always requires the use of a mag- Winchester, 30-06 Springfield, 300 Winchester
num primer. Always follow the primer size and type as
Magnum, and others, all use a .308" diameter bullet
listed in the data tables.
(30 caliber).
a There is another consideration when selecting bullets.

The muzzle velocity of a cartridge may require a spe-
(20
gr,Jacketed V-Max BC: .185 cific bullet jacket strength and construction. For exam-
1.830" OAL SD: .097 ple, the 30 MI Carbine uses a .308" bullet; but
Sugg because of its very low velocity it requires a bullet
Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains Ds P.S.1. having a very soft jacket in order to properly expand.
IMR-4198 15.3. 3556 35,800 The 30-30 has a modest velocity and it also needs a
N133 17.0 3526 35,500 relatively soft bullet, albeit stronger than those for the
RX10 16.8 3607 ~—36,600 30 MI Carbine. Still other calibers require a bullet
H-322 17.5 3463 33,800
designed for a mid-range velocity bullet, for example
Benchmark 18.0 3611 38,700
X-Terminator 18.0 3594 39,400 the 222 Remington. Bullets that are ideal for this car-
AA-2230 g 3649 36,800 tridge often are designated with nomenclature that
H-335 187) 3541 36,500 suggest rapid bullet expansion, for example: Blitz,
Expander, Super Explosive (SX) and so on. Often bul-
Selection of a propellant for your first loads is easily made lets for specific applications will be so marked on the
by referencing the bullet weight (highlighted) you are package. Some examples are 22 Hornet, 30-30, 32
using, the accuracy powder (highlighted), and the starting Winchester Special.
load (highlighted) as shown in the data.
Selecting Propellant Powders

Propellant powders are available in about 100 differ-
ent types. The burning speed of each and the ballistics
obtained can vary tremendously. Powders are
designed to suit specific applications such as: bullet
weight, case size and shape, pressure level and other
specific ballistic and firearm needs. As a result, only 30 CAL. (.308") 180 GRAIN
POLYMER TIP / BOAT TAIL SPITZER
certain propellants are suitable for specific applica- A i
tions. When selecting a powder for your first reloading

efforts, we suggest the use of the propellant listed in Bullets should be selected by the desired weight and
our data for the accuracy load. correct diameter.
23
la o| | 3
Full-length Inside Neck Neck-Expanding & Charging Bullet
Resizing & Decapping Expanding Flaring with M-Die Priming Powder Seating
The basic steps of rifle case reloading.

I. Case is sized to return its inside neck and outside body to factory-like dimensions. The fired primer is removed
automatically during this operation. Il. New primer is seated III. Propellant powder is weighed and placed into case.
IV. Bullet seating and crimping (when required).
All of our data specifies the bullet manufacturer's one loading block, processed, and then placed in the
product number for each tested bullet weight. Each of second loading block. This will keep the process
the listed bullets will work fine for target shooting. orderly and prevent many common bench errors.
However, for proper expansion on varmints or big
game you will need to make certain that the bullet Note: We strongly suggest the reloader follow the
you select is properly designed and suitable for the batch method of ammo making. That is, perform a sin-
velocity range of your cartridge. If you are loading for gle operation on all cases to be reloaded before pro-
hunting, avoid the use of bullets designated as Match ceeding to the next step.
or Target style as these may not expand properly on
game. STEP TWO
Often you will be able to purchase the identical bullet
CASE INSPECTION
used in your favorite factory loads. Some of these Fired cartridge cases have a finite life. Depending
include the Nosler Partition, Nosler Ballistic Tip, and upon the firearm used, caliber of the firearm, internal
Swift A-Frame bullets. Many other factory bullet types ballistics of the load, and other considerations, it is rea-
are available to the handloader. sonable to expect from 2 to 15 firings from each case.
Six firings are average for the typical bottleneck rifle
Other important bullet selection criteria are the possi- cartridge such as the 270 Winchester or 30-06
ble need for a cannelure or the requirement for a blunt Springfield. Belted magnum cases such as the 7mm
nosed bullet. These and other considerations are dis- Remington Magnum, 300 Winchester Magnum and
cussed in Chapter Eight. 338 Winchester Magnum typically last for only 3 fir-
ings. Low pressure cartridges fired in strong actions,
such as the 416 Rigby, generally offer the greatest
THE LOADING SEQUENCE number of firings. All else equal, cases fired in semi-
The use of two loading blocks is suggested. As each automatic rifles will have a shorter reloading life than
step is performed, the case should be removed from cases fired in bolt action rifles.
24
All cases reach a point when further reloading on the bench to insure that no tumbling media
becomes unsafe. The keeping of careful reloading remains in it. Then wipe each case lightly with a clean
records and the performing of visual inspections on cloth.
each case before, during, and after reloading, are
essential to ensure that you use only suitably safe fired
cases.
Begin your inspection by wiping each case with a

cloth to remove excess fouling, dirt, and any foreign
material that could scratch your resizing die or the
case itself. Turn each case mouth down and tap it
lightly on the bench to dislodge anything that may
have entered the case after firing.
Now look for split necks or bodies, signs of incipient

case separation (a bright partial or complete ring
around the case at the point where the case's solid
base joins the wall of the cartridge), corrosion, or burn
through perforations. Also look for any signs of gas
leakage around the primer pocket. Eliminate all cases
with any visual defect or abnormality. (For more
details refer to Chapter Five.) To prevent later inadver-
tent use of a rejected case, crimp its mouth shut with a
pair of pliers before discarding it. Then place each
case, mouth up, in a loading block.
Rifle cases will be easy to clean with a Lyman tumbler.
STEP FOUR
INSIDE NECK BRUSHING
This is a step that some reloaders omit. However, it is
a simple one that takes very little time and it will
improve the performance of your ammunition.
Brushing the inside case neck will rid it of excess firing
residue, enhance the ease of pulling the expanding
button through the case neck (when withdrawing the
case from the sizing die) and extend the useful life of
the sizing die's expanding button. It will also enhance
accuracy by helping to maintain uniform bullet pull.
This operation simply involves three or four passes of

a brush through the case mouth. Place the brushed
Cases must be inspected and those with any defect must case into the second loading block, mouth down, so
be discarded. as to allow any loosened crud to fall free of the case.
To prevent the accumulation of debris in the second
loading block, many reloaders tap the case mouth on
STEP THREE the bench before placing it in the block, mouth down.
CASE CLEANING
Case cleaning is an important step to protect your STEP FIVE
reloading dies and firearm chambers. If you also want CASE LUBRICATION
your reloads to look like new, now is the time to put
When a cartridge is fired it expands. The expanded
all your cases into a Lyman Tumbler. Follow the dimensions are not compatible with holding a new
instructions that come with the tumbler. After remov- bullet with proper tension (bullet pull), and are not
ing cases from the tumbler tap the mouth of each case
DS
Place a lubed case into the shell holder and run the
case into the full length resizing die. Follow the
instructions for proper die adjustment as explained in
the material supplied with your die set. After the first
case is resized, wipe off the lubricant with a clean
cloth. Then place the case into a cartridge headspace
gauge. If a die adjustment is needed, now is the time.
The resizing die generally is adjusted so that the shell
holder, at the top of its travel, will contact the resizing
die and create a slight cam action against the die.
During this operation the fired primer will automati-
cally be ejected from the case. Withdraw the case
Each case must be lubricated before it is resized. from the sizing die and place the case into the loading
block, mouth down. Visually inspect each case as it is
conducive to easy chambering. To avoid these, and placed in the loading block to ensure the fired primer
other difficulties, all fired cases must be resized.
has been removed.
Roll a case lightly across your lubricant pad. Do not
fail to lubricate each case or it will stick solidly in the
resizing die creating a very difficult to correct problem.
Do not use excessive lubricant as doing so will cause
cases to dent during the resizing step. Use only
enough lubricant to insure the case enters and leaves
the resizing die without difficulty. Be neat. Do not get
lubricant into the primer pocket or case mouth. Do
not get lube on the case shoulder or it will dent, or
possibly collapse, during resizing. Dipping the case
mouth in mica, a dry powder lubricant, will help the
expander button pass smoothly through the case neck.
Place the case in the loading block mouth up.
STEP SIX
CASE RESIZING
& FIRED PRIMER REMOVAL
Entire outside
diameter of
case, including
neck, is
reduced in size. Expanding button
enlarges inside
diameter of neck
to proper bullet
diameter as case
is withdrawn.
Decapping
pin removes
the fired
primer. te
Editor’s note: The first die usage step of reloading requires that the
Clean the interior of your dies
periodically. Grit can accumulate
lubricated case be completely run into the full length
which willl scratch both the die resizing die. This will return the case to factory new
walls and the catridge cases.
dimensions and remove the old primer.
26
Note: The decapping rod should be adjusted just low
enough to ensure the primer is pushed free of the case.
If the decapping rod is too low it will impact the inside
bottom of the case and be damaged. Proceed until all
cases have been lubed and sized.
Note: In the past, varying sources have suggested that
the primer be seated as the case is withdrawn from the
resizing die. However, it is possible for case lubricant
to contaminate and thus destroy primers. Therefore,
we suggest that this is not the ideal time for primer
seating.
STEP SEVEN Measure all cases carefully. If one or more cases are at, or
over, the maximum length shown in the cartridge draw-
LUBRICANT REMOVAL ing, trim all cases to the Trim-to-length indicated in the
AND SECOND INSPECTION data.
Carefully wipe each case with a clean cloth so as to
remove all traces of sizing lubricant. Use a clean sec- STEP EIGHT
tion of the cloth for each case. Next, carefully inspect
the case for any flaws. Repeated case resizing and fir-
CASE LENGTH MEASURING
ings Can Cause case mouths and bodies to become Case measuring is an important step both for safety
brittle and split when fired or during resizing. Also and proper ammunition functioning. Cases stretch
watch for signs of incipient case separation (see when fired and during the resizing step. If they
Chapter 5). It is a good idea at this time to drop the become too long they will be difficult, if not impossi-
resized case into a cartridge headspace gauge as a ble, to chamber. Excessive chamber pressure can also
worthwhile inspection step. This will ensure that your be caused by exceeding maximum case length.
sizing die is correctly adjusted to give the case the Therefore, each case must be carefully measured at
proper headspace length. Place cleaned and inspected this point. A dial indicating or digital caliper is the best
cases in your loading block, mouth up. Should you tool for this process.
find any defects, this is the time to discard the entire lot
of cases. The data section drawing for each cartridge clearly
indicates the maximum allowable length for the
IMPORTANT - Case lubricant can ruin a primer, resized case. If one or more cases are found to be at
resulting in delayed ignition or a failure to fire. To maximum or greater length, trim all cases to a uniform
length as descrived in the next step.
avoid potential primer contamination, this is the point
to stop the reloading process and thoroughly wash Test Components:
and dry your hands.
SPECIAL STEP FOR STRAIGHT CASES (i.e. 444 PIINMIGIGE. G costae tate ek teen retery Remington 7 1/2
Marlin, 45-70, 458 Win. Mag.) OR FOR WHEN PRINCE SIZES re warner ceioen ere ta Meee Small Rifle
USING LEAD BULLETS. Lyfan Oeil IOs eon cette ss eee cree Ae ne ks No. 26
Jacketed Bullets Used. . .Hornady V-Max #22004, 32 gr.
Straight cases cannot be properly neck expanded in a Hornady V-Max #22006, 40 gr.
resizing die. Such cases must now be expanded in a Hornady SP #22008, 45 er.
special expanding die such as the Lyman M die. This
extra die is supplied in all appropriate caliber die sets.
If you wish to load lead bullets, the case mouth must
STEP NINE
have a two step expansion. This is also done with a M CASE TRIMMING AND DEBURRING
die. Follow the instructions that come with all 3 die As stated previously, cases must be trimmed when
straight case sets or with the M die when purchased as they exceed maximum allowable length. Additionally,
an accessory for loading lead bullets into bottleneck case trimming is recommend whenever starting to
cases. The loading procedure for straight rifle cases load new or once fired brass as such cases will not be
and/or loading of lead bullets is the same procedure of a uniform length. Trimming cases to a uniform
described in the next chapter for loading handgun car- length will enhance accuracy and ballistic uniformity.
tridges. Bi,
CAUTION: The material trimmed from a case flows

from the junction of the case head and wall. As brass
continues to flow and is trimmed away, this section of
the case becomes thinner until it reaches a point
where the case is severely weakened. Therefore, never
trim a case more than four times (keep careful
records). When a case needs its fifth trimming it must
be discarded.
Note: The initial trim of new cases is not counted

when determining the number of times a case is
trimmed as this trim is done not because of case
stretch but rather to create a uniform length.
Case trimmers are miniature lathes that quickly restore a
case to a safe and accurate overall length. STEP TEN
Note: if you will be crimping cases to bullets (required PRIMER SEATING
for ammo to be used in semi-automatic and pump
While not absolutely essential, it is advisable to clean
action rifles, or for ammo to be used in tubular maga-
primer pockets before seating a new primer. This is a
zines), the crimping process will be less than satisfac-
simple operation requiring only a few twists of the
tory if cases are not of a uniform length. Many reload-
pocket cleaning tool. As each case's primer pocket is
ers, who crimp cases, trim after every firing/resizing
cleaned, place the case in the loading block, mouth up.
cycle.
Bring a box of 100 primers to the bench and read the
The proper trim-to length for cases is clearly shown in
label aloud to insure that you have the correct brand
the data for each cartridge. Adjust your trimmer
and size. Then double check again. You must use the
according to the manufacture's instructions. When
primer size and type called for in the data.
trimming, allow for some dwell time - that is for a
number of rotations of the cutter after the case has
been trimmed to length. This will help insure the max-
imum uniformity of finished lengths.
After trimming, remove the burrs (formed by the trim-

mer cutter) from both the inside and outside of the
case mouth using a Lyman Deburring tool. A few
twists of the tool is all that is needed. Do not deburr
the case to a sharp edge. Tap the case mouth on the
bench to dislodge any brass chips from inside the
case. Place the case, mouth down, in your loading
block.
Primer seating may be accomplished in many ways and

After trimming, all cases must be lightly deburred on the with differing tools. One of the best methods is to use a
inside and outside of the case mouth. Kam Prime unit mounted in the reloading tool's die sta-
tion.
CAUTION: Safety glasses should be worn whenever
handling primers.
Its important to wash and thoroughly dry your hands
before starting to prime. Place a quantity of primers
(never more than 100 - or a lesser amount as needed)
onto a primer flipper tray. Gently rotate the primer tray
until all primers are anvil side up.
Most loading tools come equipped with a basic

primer seating tool that primes the case at the normal
shell holder position. Follow the instructions supplied
with the tool. Place a primer, anvil up, into the priming
post, push the post under the shell holder, and then Each powder charge should be carefully weighed. The
lower the shell holder over the post to seat the primer. use of a powder dispenser will add speed and conven-
On many loading tools, this requires a "feel" method lence.
to seat the primer to the correct depth. Some tools will
have a rudimentary stop to adjust primer seating STEP ELEVEN
depth.
WEIGHING POWDER AND CHARGING
A better method for primer seating is to use a ram- Weighing powder must be done with great care and
prime tool which mounts into the tool's die station. accuracy. Set up your powder scale carefully, follow-
Primer seating depth then can be controlled by adjusting the instructions supplied with it. It is good practice
ment of the ram-prime body combined with using the to verify the scale's accuracy by using a weight check
press handle's solid stop at the end of the priming set.
stroke. This method produces a very uniform primer Bring only one powder can to the loading bench.
seating depth. Read the label aloud. You must use the exact powder
called for in the data. Then double check again. The
Generally, primers should be seated 0.003" to 0.005" inadvertent use of the wrong powder can cause a
below flush of the case head - a nominal of 0.004" catastrophic accident.
below flush.
Bring a box of bullets to the loading bench and read
Caution: Primers seated too high (above flush) are a aloud the label on your bullet box to make certain the
needless hazard. It is possible that such primers can be bullets are the correct weight (matched to the data you
ignited before the firearm action is closed, causing a are using). Then measure the diameter and weigh a
serious accident. High primers are also prone to mis- few bullets to be certain that what is in the box is the
fires. Primers seated too deeply (below flush) can same as the label. Factory packaging errors have
become erratic in performance or misfire. For more occurred. (A bullet will be seating immediately after a
details on primers see Chapter Six. case is charged with powder.)
Caution: Primers are explosive and require special Pour some powder into the powder trickler and posi-
care in storage and handling. See Chapter Six for vital tion the trickler alongside the scale pan. Also pour
information. some powder into an open container (or preferably
into a powder measure). Use a scoop of appropriate
size to place a quantity of powder, somewhat less than
Place the primed case in the loading block mout
a full charge, onto the scale pan.
down. When all cases have been primed, verify prop-
er priming depth by running a finger over each case
If using a powder measure, adjust the measure to dis-
head. The novice should use a caliper to verify proper
pense somewhat less powder than you require. The
primer seating depth and then run a finger over several
metered charge will vary so be certain that the heavi-
of these. This will teach the correct "feel" so that you
est charges will not exceed the desired weight. (It is
can verify all remaining seating depths by "feel". After
nettlesome to try and remove excess powder from the
you check primer depth, return the case, mouth up, to
scale pan.) Dispense a metered charge directly onto
the loading block.
the scale pan and then place the pan on the scale
hanger.
After priming, return any unused primers to their origi-
nal container and replace them in your storage area. 29
Note: A handy powder scoop can be made by cutting this manner, ALWAYS check at least every tenth load
off a fired case at an appropriate length and twisting a on the scale to insure that the measure has not gone
wire handle into the case rim's undercut. Straight out of adjustment and that you are using a uniform
cases such as the 30 MI Carbine, 44 Magnum and 45- metering technique.) Keep in mind that fine (small)
70 make the best scoops. grain or spherical powders lend themselves to more
uniform metering as opposed to course (large) grain
Bring the scale into perfect balance, using the powder propellants. Be sure you are capable of metering uni-
trickler to add one kernel of powder at a time to the form charges before using this method. Verify your
scale pan. Now pour the weighed powder charge into uniformity by weighing 20 or more consecutive
a case using a powder funnel. metered charges.
CAUTION: Make certain scale poises are not inadver- STEP TWELVE
tently moved during the loading process.
BULLET SEATING AND CRIMPING
CAUTION : Powder is highly flammable and requires
care in storage and handling. Be certain to read and Next, immediately transfer the charged case to the
follow the cautions contained in Chapter Seven. loading tool and seat a bullet to the correct over-all
CAUTION : Lyman lab technicians have observed a length. Follow the die manufacturer's instructions to
potential serious phenomena involving mechanical properly seat the bullet to the correct depth. The maxi-
powder scales, plastic loading blocks, Styrofoam pack- mum overall length for a loaded round is clearly listed
aging and other objects made of plastic. These materi- in the data for each cartridge. Dependant upon the
als sometimes retain a static electric charge, enough to bullet and equipment used, the finished individual
create an electro- static field of varying radii. overall cartridge length may vary by plus or minus
0.005".
This electro-static field has proven capable of causing
radical defection of uncharged and zeroed scales. Note: Generally, bullets should be seated to the over-
Dependant upon circumstances, powder in the scale all length shown at the top of each data panel. Do
pan tends to dampen the amount of deflection by check to see that ammo so assembled will feed
varying degrees. through the magazine of your rifle and that it cham-
bers properly. (Caution: Do this testing out of doors
We strongly urge that the loading bench be cleared with the muzzle pointed at a safe backstop.) Or better
before setting up the scale. Then replace equipment
one piece at a time while observing the scale pointer.
Any item that causes a scale deflection should be
removed from the loading bench. Do this at every
loading session.
Novices should avoid the use of compressed powder

charges (where the powder level in the case is so high
as to require compression of the powder in order to
seat a bullet to the correct depth). Die adjustments for
seating compressed powder charges are discussed in
Chapter Seven. Chapter Seven also explains how to
avoid using excessively compressed powder charges
(a handloading no-no).
NOTES ON USING A POWDER MEASURE

We have instructed that after metering a powder
charge, it be checked and brought into perfect balance
using a scale and powder trickler. If you are loading
ammunition for a non-critical application, in order to
save time you may opt to pour a metered powder
charge directly into a case (without the scale check
and trickler balance). ( CAUTION: This method Immediately after adding powder to case, seat the bullet
should never be used with maximum loads or by so as to have a finished cartridge of the correct overall
Ww
novices at any time. When using a powder measure in length.
yet, make a dummy round (no Note: Crimping loads with compressed powder
powder or primer) to charges will require extra care. See Chapter Seven for
check overall length. details. As stated, to do away with the need to con-
Circumstances, which include stantly re-adjust the bullet seat/crimp die, most reload-
magazine length, chamber ers purchase an extra die body.
dimensions and bullet ogive,
Built-In crimp may make it necessary to use Note: The crimping operation may be combined with
ries Soca a different length. bullet seating, but the best results are obtained when it
barenen, When all cases are charged is done as a separate operation.
and bullets seated, return all
powder (from trickler, open STEP ELEVEN
container or powder measure)
to the original container and FINAL INSPECTION
cS a return the container to its
remote storage area.
Bullet crimping is required whenever there is a possi-

bility of the bullet striking a firearm surface (during the
feed/chamber cycle) with sufficient force to push the
bullet deeper into the case. This means that ammuni-
tion for almost all semi-automatic and pump actions
should have the case crimped to the bullet. Also, if
there is a danger of the bullet creeping forward out of
the case (loads with very heavy recoil) while in the
magazine, ammunition should be crimped. All
Make the final inspection of your loaded round and
ammunition to be used in tubular magazines also
place it in an appropriately labeled box.
must be crimped to prevent bullets from being driven
deeper into the case during recoil. All ammo to be The final inspection should be done with great care.
used in a revolver should be crimped. Start by looking for imperfections. These may include,
but are not limited to: case necks which split during
CRIMPED UNCRIMPED bullet seating, and case shoulders which buckle dur-
ing crimping (most often due to a poor bullet can-
nelure or improper die adjustment). A second check of
primer depth should be made by running your finger
over each case head. Dropping the loaded round into
a case headspace gauge is also recommended to help
While bullet will not Most uniform bullet
insure it will chamber properly. Also, measure a sam-
move forward or pull is afforded when pling of the loaded rounds to check for proper over-all
backward, it may be the neck walls are tight
rocked sideways, out against the bullet. length. Should any round be found abnormal, discard
of alignment.
it in a safe manner.
Because crimping has a somewhat detrimental effect
on accuracy, crimping should be limited to ammo Place loaded rounds into a suitable container. Clearly
intended for one or more of the just mentioned appli- mark the container with: date loaded; primer used;
cations. times trimmed; powder and charge; bullet brand,
Keep in mind that your bullets must have a cannelure weight and type, and overall ammo length. Then,
(a groove around the bullet) in order to crimp. Such enter all this information into your reloading log. Your
bullets must first be seated to a depth that will align the log should also include the lot numbers of all the com-
ponents used.
case mouth with the center of the bullet cannelure.
Adjusting your seating/crimping die requires that you
As stated the foregoing outlines the basic steps to
first back off the bullet seating screw substantially.
assemble bottleneck, jacketed bullet ammunition; but
Then, screw the die down far enough to turn the case
there are many other requirements that must be
mouth slightly inward into the bullet cannelure when
observed. BE SURE TO READ ALL THE OTHER PER-
the loaded round is fully raised into the die. Be certain
TINENT GHAPTERS OF THIS BOOK BEFORE
the bullet seating screw is backed off far enough to ATTEMPTING TO RELOAD AMMUNITION.
prevent it from touching the bullet. 31
4 Reloading Hands
As previously stated, the mechanical steps of reload- STEP ONE
ing are actually simple. Nonetheless, there are several
necessary considerations to be given to each step. The SELECTING A LOAD AND COMPONENTS
observance of these considerations will help ensure In the beginning, the selection of components may
that the ammo you assemble will be safe, will function seem a difficult and confusing task. This is especially
reliably, and be accurate. Several of these considera- true for the reloader who has not yet acquired a gener-
tions are covered in detail in sections 3 and 4 and in al knowledge of basic ammunition details.
some of the informative lead-ins preceding the data for Nonetheless, you will soon find that component selec-
specific cartridges. This information is vital and must tion quickly becomes an easy and fun part of reload-
be read and understood before actually beginning to ing. The learning process can be hastened along by
assemble ammunition. developing as much ammo knowledge as leisure time
reading will allow.
This following material describes the actual steps
involved in reloading fired handgun and rifle car- Selecting Cartridge Cases
tridges with straight cases. The information given The selection of fired cartridge cases, or new brass,
applies equally to lead or jacketed bullets. Slight devi- presents no special challenge. If you have saved your
ations from these steps are sometimes required. Such fired cases you need only separate them into specific
minor step changes are discussed as appropriate. groups by brand and lot number. Lot numbers appear
on the factory ammo box. This number may be on an
To reload a fired straight-cased cartridge, 13 basic inside flap or the box back. Keeping brass segregated
operations must be performed. The sequence of these by lots will maximize accuracy potential and ballistic
can vary slightly depending on the specific equipment uniformity. If you purchase new unfired cases, of
employed and reloader preference. The sequence we course they must be of the appropriate caliber. Bulk
have chosen is based on the specific tools we used to packaged brass (often in lots of 50, 100, or more) is the
illustrate the process. This is the method most often least expensive way of obtaining new cases.
favored by knowledgeable handloaders. Not every
step is always required as we will indicate. CAUTION: Never load cartridge cases from an
unknown source, i.e. cases picked up at the range or
The thirteen steps to reload handgun ammo are as fol- purchased as once-fired brass. Use only brand new
lows: brass or cases obtained as the result of firing factory
1. Selection of load and components to be used. ammo in your firearm. For more on this topic see
2. Case inspection. Chapter Five.
3. Case cleaning
Test Components:
(omitted when using new unfired cases).
4. Case lubrication (not required when using a
carbide sizing die).
5. Case resizing and fired primer removal (not Lyman, Shell: older. ..g. nuns eeetecneeeeee
aes “No. 12
required when using new unfired cases). Jacketed Bullets Used ....... Hornady FM) #1419, 93 er.
6. Lubricant removal (not required when using Gast Bullets Used? 1c poet ae (sized to .309" dia)
new unfired cases or a carbide sizing die) and #1125257 5or
#313249, 85 gr.
second inspection.
Primer size and the specific primer we used is clearly
7. Case length measuring.
shown at the beginning of the data for each caliber.
8. Case trimming and/or deburring (not always
required).
9. Case mouth expansion. Selecting Primers
10. Seating new primer. The correct primer size is listed at the beginning of the
data for each cartridge, for example: large pistol, large
11. Weighing and charging powder.
pistol magnum, small pistol. In the beginning we sug-
12. Bullet seating and crimping (as required).
gest you use the exact primer we used for the develop-
13. Final inspection. ment of our data. As an alternate, match the primer
brand and correct size to the brand of the case you are
CAUTION: Read all pertinent material before actually reloading. Do not use magnum primers unless the
beginning to assemble ammo. data specifically calls for these as doing so can alter
Reloading Handgun Cartridges
ballistic uniformity and the safety level of the data. Special, 357 Magnum and 357 Maximum all use the
Do not allow cartridge nomenclature to enter into the same jacketed bullet diameter of .357".
selection of primers. For example the 32 H&R
Magnum never requires the use of a magnum primer. There is another consideration in bullet selection. This
Always, follow the primer size and type we list in our is for the need of a cannelure on any bullet to be used
data table. in a revolver. Roll crimping is essential for all such
ammunition in order to prevent bullets from creeping
Selecting Powders forward under recoil. It simply is not possible to form a
There are approximately 100 different propellant proper roll crimp unless the case mouth can be turned
powders available to the reloader. The burning speed into a well formed bullet cannelure. However, ammo
of each and the ballistics obtained can vary tremen- for any rimless semi-automatic case which head-
dously. Powders are designed to suit specific applica- spaces on the case mouth should never be roll
tions, such as: bullet weight, case shape and volume, crimped.
pressure level and other specific ballistic and firearm
needs. As a result only certain propellants are suitable For semi-automatic firearms another bullet considera-
for specific applications. When selecting a powder for tion is the nose shape of the bullet. Pointed or round
your first reloading efforts, we suggest the use of the nase bullets are essential to proper firearm functioning
propellant listed in our data for the accuracy load. in many such firearms.
480 gracketed HP
1.115" OAL
Sugg 44 CAL 270G
LLETS .....
Starting Velocity Pressure 429” SOFT POINT
Powder Grains Ds GULP:
Clays 3.4 551 17,900
Bullseye 49 628 18,200
231 0) 927 20,400
Ss .—“(‘( i‘ ilenhON UCU
Universal 4.8 815 18,500
Unique 49 839 18,800 Bullets should be selected by the desired weight and
Power Pistol 6.0 876 19,300 correct diameter.
N340 5.4 904 20,800
WSF 5.0 853 17,700 Our listed data specifies the bullet manufacturer's
N350 5.4 847 17,200 product number for each jacketed bullet we tested.
3N37 6.1 916 19,100
We also list the bullet mould number for all cast bullet
TrueBlue 6.4 955 19,300
HS-6 6.9 860 19,600 data. All of the tisted bullets will work fine for target
(
5.9)
B00 906. 18,700 shooting. However, for proper jacketed bullet expan-
BlueDot 7.3 754 18,000 sion on varmints or game you will need to make cer-
Selection of the propellant chosen for your first loads is tain that the selected bullet is properly designed and
easily made by referencing the bullet weight (highlighted) suitable for the velocity range of your cartridge. If you
you are using, the accuracy powder (highlighted), and the are loading for a hunting purpose, avoid the use of
starting load as shown in the data. bullets designated as Match or Target style as these
may not expand properly on game.
CAUTION: Always start with the exact powder
charge weight shown under the starting grains col-
umn. Heavier loads should not be used until the
THE LOADING SEQUENCE
reloader has gained some experience and fully under- The use of two loading blocks is suggested. As each
stands proper load development. step is performed, the case should be removed from
one loading block, processed, and then placed in the
Selecting Bullets second loading block. This will keep the process
orderly and prevent many common bench errors.
Bullet selection may at first be somewhat confusing.
To simplify the process, select a bullet weight to dupli- Our reloading procedure follows the batch method.
cate the factory ammo you favor. The appropriate That is, a single operation will be performed on all
diameter bullet may be determined from the diameter cases to be reloaded before proceeding to the next
versus caliber bullet table in Chapter Eight. Many cal- operation.
ibers use the same diameter bullet. For example, 38
33
iD
1 2
Full-length Inside Neck Charging Bullet
Resizing & Decapping Expanding Priming Powder Seating
The basic steps of handgun case reloading.

I. Case is sized to return it to factory-like dimensions. The fired primer is removed during this operation.
Il. Case mouth is expanded Ill. New primer is seated !V. Propellant powder is weighed and placed into case.
V. Bullet is seated and (if required) crimped.
STEP TWO material that could scratch your resizing die or the
case itself. Turn each case mouth down and tap it
CASE INSPECTION lightly on the bench to dislodge anything that may
Fired cartridge cases have a finite life. Depending have entered the case after firing.
upon the firearm used, caliber of the firearm, internal
ballistics of the load, and other considerations, it is Now look for split necks or bodies, signs of incipient
reasonable to expect from 6 to 15 firings from each case separation (a bright partial or complete ring
case. Eight firings are average for the typical handgun around the case at the point where the case's solid
cartridge such as the 38 Special or 9mm Luger. base joins the wall of the cartridge), corrosion, or burn
Magnum cases such as the 357 Magnum, or 44
Magnum when assembled with heavy loads, typically
last for only 4 or 5 firings. Low pressure cartridges fired
in strong revolvers, such as the standard velocity loads
for the 38 Special, generally offer the greatest number
of firings.
All cases reach a point when further reloading

becomes unsafe. Keep careful reloading records and
perform a visual inspection of each case before, dur-
ing, and after reloading to help ensure that you use
only suitable fired cases.
Cases must be inspected and those with any defect must
Begin your inspection by wiping each case with a be discarded.
cloth to remove excess fouling, dirt, and any foreign
through perforations. Also look for any signs of gas We strongly recommend the use of a carbide resizing
leakage around the primer pocket. Eliminate all cases die (when available for your caliber) as this die will
with any visual sign of defect or abnormality. (For eliminate the need for this step as well as the later
more details refer to Chapter Five.) To prevent later removal of the lube.
inadvertent use of a rejected case, crimp its mouth
shut with a pair of pliers before discarding it. Then STEP FIVE
place each case, mouth up in a loading block.
CASE RESIZING AND
STEP THREE FIRED PRIMER REMOVAL
CASE CLEANING Place a lubed case into the shell holder and run it into
the full length resizing die. (Follow the instructions for
Case cleaning is an important step to protect your
proper die adjustment as explained in the material
reloading dies and firearm chambers. If you also want
supplied with your die set.)
your reloads to look like new, now is the time to put
all your cases into a Lyman Tumbler. Follow the Generally, a non-carbide resizing die should be
instructions that come with the tumbler. After remov- adjusted so that the shell holder, at the top of its travel,
ing cases from the tumbler tap the mouth of each case will contact the resizing die and create a slight cam
on the bench to insure that no tumbling media action against the die. During this operation the fired
remains in it. Then wipe each case lightly with a clean primer will automatically be ejected from the case.
cloth. Withdraw the case from the sizing die and place the
case into the loading block, mouth down. Visually
STEP FOUR inspect each case as it is placed in the loading block to
CASE LUBRICATION ensure the fired primer has been removed.
When a cartridge is fired it expands somewhat. The
expanded dimensions are not compatible with hold- Note: The decapping rod should be adjusted just low
ing a new bullet with proper tension (bullet pul!) and enough to ensure the primer is pushed free of the case.
are not conducive to easy chambering. To avoid these If the decapping rod is too low it will impact the inside
and other difficulties, all fired cases must be resized. bottom of the case and be damaged.
Note: In the past, varying sources have suggested that

Roll each case lightly across your lubricant pad. Do
not fail to lubricate each case or it will stick solidly in the primer be seated as the case is withdrawn from the
resizing die. However, it is possible for case lubricant
the resizing die creating a very difficult to correct prob-
to contaminate and thus destroy primers. Therefore,
lem. Do not use excessive lubricant as doing so may
we suggest that this is not the ideal time for seating the
cause cases to dent during the resizing step. Use only
new primer.
enough lubricant to insure the case enters and leaves
the resizing die without undue difficulty. Be neat. Do
Caution: If you use a carbide resizing die the shell
not get lubricant into the primer pocket or case mouth.
holder should make light contact with the bottom of
the die. Heavy contact could crack the carbide sizing
ring. Always follow the instructions that accompany
such dies.
STEP SIX
LUBRICANT REMOVAL AND
SECOND INSPECTION
Carefully wipe each case with a clean cloth so as to
Clean cases will
remove all traces of sizing lubricant. Use a clean sec-
protect your tion of the cloth for each case. Inspect the case for any
reloading dies flaws. Repeated case resizing and firings can cause
and firearms case mouths and bodies to become brittle and split
chamber from when fired or during resizing. Watch for signs of incip-
damage. ient case separation (see Chapter 5). It is a good idea at
Tumblers make this time to drop the resized case into a maximum
this task easy. cartridge gauge as a worthwhile inspection step. Place
35
Entire outside
of diameter
of case is
reduced in size.
|
a Ge Decapping
pin removes
the fired
primer.
The first die usage step of reloading requires that the case be completely run into the full length resizing die. This will return
the case to factory new dimensions and remove the old primer.
the cleaned and inspected case in your loading block, this point. A dial indicating caliper is the best tool for
mouth up. Should you find any defects, this is the time this process.
to discard the entire lot of cases. The data for each cartridge clearly indicates the maxi-
mum allowable length for the resized case. If one or
IMPORTANT - Case lubricant can ruin a primer caus- more cases are found to be at maximum or greater
ing delayed ignition or a failure to fire. To avoid poten- length, trim all of your cases to a uniform length.
tial primer contamination this is the point to stop the
reloading process and thoroughly wash and dry your IMPORTANT: Case length of rimless, straight car-
hands. tridges is critical for proper ammo headspace. Be cer-
tain that such cases stay within the listed trim-to and
STEP SEVEN maximum cartridge lengths. It is not uncommon to
find new or once-fired pistol cases that are shorter than
CASE LENGTH MEASURING our listed trim-to length. If your cases fall into this cate-
Case measuring is an important step both for safety gory, they have likely been manufactured to the mini-
and for proper ammunition functioning. Cases stretch mum acceptable case length. Cartridges that head-
when fired and during resizing. If they exceed listed space on the case mouth usually have a minimum
maximum case length, they will be difficult if not case length which is .010” shorter than the maximum
impossible to chamber. Excessive chamber pressure allowable length. While not offering as precise head-
will also be caused by excessive case length. space fit as longer cases, they will be functional and
Therefore, each case must be carefully measured at safe to reload as long as they do not fall below this
minimum length.
)
STEP EIGHT trimmed to length. This will help insure the maximum
CASE TRIMMING AND DEBURRING uniformity of finished lengths.
After trimming, remove the burrs (formed by the trim-
As stated, cases must be trimmed when they become mer cutter) from both the inside and outside of the
too long. Case trimming is also recommended when- case mouth using a Lyman Deburring tool. A few
ever loading new or once fired brass as they are often twists of the tool is all that is needed. Do not deburr
not of a uniform length. Trimming uneven cases to a the case to a sharp edge. Tap the case mouth on the
uniform length will enhance accuracy and ballistic bench to dislodge any brass chips from inside the
uniformity. case. Place the case, mouth down, in your loading
block.
476 472
CAUTION: The material trimmed from a case flows
from the junction of the case head and wall. As brass
continues to flow and is trimmed away, this section of
the case becomes thinner until it reaches a point
where the case is severely weakened. Therefore, never
trim a case more than four times (keep careful
records). When a case needs its fifth trimming it must
aa 898 - be discarded.
a 1.275
Note: Many handgun cases wear out long before any

Test Components: trimming is required.
(OSSS9 Wind RE heh ae ae ee ee ee Remington
Trim-to Leng Note: The initial trim of new cases is not counted
ERT St oie a Serr ee a A oe Remington 21/2 when determining the number of times a case is
PN SEO Se ce See race hig F-3 ah Large Pistol trimmed as this trim is done not because of case
EAM SCI EIOWIE 2 2 3) 9)des welt agtoo No. 14A stretch but rather to create a uniform length.
Jacketed Bullets Used .Hornady HP/XTP #45100, 185 gr.
Note: if you will be crimping cases to bullets (required

for all ammo to be used in revolvers or tubular maga-
zines), the crimping process will be less than satisfac-
tory if cases are not of a uniform length.
The proper trim-to length for cases is clearly shown in

the data for each cartridge. Adjust your trimmer
according to the manufactures instructions. When
trimming, allow for some dwell time - that is a number
of rotations of the cutter after the case has been
Case trimmers are miniature lathes that quickly restore a After trimming, all cases must be lightly deburred on
case to a safe overall length. the inside and outside of the case mouth.
37
STEP NINE
Case Mouth Expansion
Case mouths must be expanded to accept the bullet
and to hold it with the proper tension (bullet pull). If
you are loading lead bullets the case mouth should be
both expanded and belled in order to prevent shaving
lead from the bullet base during seating. Follow the
instructions that come with all 3 die straight case sets
or with the M die when purchased as an accessory for
Second step enters
loading lead bullets into bottleneck cases. case about 1/16"
to allow bullet to
start freely.
Priming
punch
seats
new
"primer.
STEP TEN
PRIMER SEATING
We recommend that primer pockets be cleaned
before seating a new primer. This is a simple operation
requiring only a few twists of the pocket cleaning tool.
(Not required when loading new cases). As each
case's primer pocket is cleaned, place the case in the
loading block, mouth up.
Bring a box of 100 primers to the bench and read the

label aloud to insure that you have the correct brand
and size. Then double check again. You must always
use the primer size and type called for in the data.
Case mouth expansion in two steps is required when Its always good practice to again wash and thoroughly
seating lead bullets. dry your hands before starting to prime. Place a quan-
tity of primers (never more than 100, or a lesser
amount as needed) onto a primer flipper tray. Gently
rotate the primer tray until all primers are anvil side
up.
38
CAUTION: Primers seated too high (above flush) are a

needless hazard. It is possible that such primers can be
ignited before the firearm action is closed, causing a
serious accident. High primers are also prone to mis-
fires. Primers seated too deeply (below flush) can
become erratic in performance or misfire. For more
details on primers see Chapter Six.
CAUTION: Primers are explosive and require special

care in storage and handling. See Chapter Six for vital
information.
Place the primed case in the loading block mouth

down. When all cases have been primed, verify prop-
er priming depth by running a finger over each case
head. The novice should use a caliper to verify proper
primer seating depth and then run a finger over several
of these. This will teach the correct "feel" so that you
can verify all remaining seating depths by "feel". After
you check primer depth, return the case, mouth up, to
the loading block.
After priming, return any unused primers to their origi-

nal container and replace them in your storage area.
STEP ELEVEN
WEIGHING AND CHARGING POWDER
Weighing powder must be done with great care and
accuracy. Set up your powder scale carefully, follow-
Primer seating may be accomplished in many ways and ing the instructions supplied with it. It is good practice
with differing tools. One of the best methods is to use a to verify the scale's accuracy by using a weight check
Ram Prime unit mounted in one of the reloading tool’s
set.
die stations.
Most loading tools come equipped with a basic Bring only one powder can to the loading bench.
primer seating tool that primes the case at the normal Read the label aloud. You must use the exact powder
shell holder position. Follow the instructions supplied called for in the data. Then double check again. The
with the tool. Place a primer, anvil up, into the prim- inadvertent use of the wrong powder can cause a Cat-
ing post, push the post under the shell holder, and astrophic accident.
then lower the shell holder over the post to seat the
primer. On many loading tools, this requires a "feel" Bring a box of bullets to the loading bench and read
method to seat the primer to the correct depth. Some aloud the label on your bullet box to make certain the
tools will have a rudimentary stop to adjust primer bullets are the correct weight (matched to the data you
seating depth. are using). Then measure the diameter and weigh a
few bullets to be certain that what is in the box is as
A better method for primer seating is to use a ram- described on the label. Packaging errors have
prime tool which mounts into the tool's die station. occurred. (A bullet will be seated immediately after a
Primer seating depth can then be controlled by adjust- case is charged with powder.)
ment of the ram-prime body (using the press handle's
solid stop at the end of the priming stroke). This Pour some powder into the powder trickler and posi-
method produces a very uniform primer seating tion the trickler alongside the scale pan. Also pour
depth. some powder into an open container (or preferably
into a powder measure). Using a scoop of appropriate
Generally, primers should be seated 0.003" to 0.005" size, place a quantity of powder, somewhat less than a
below flush of the case head - a nominal of 0.004 full charge, onto the scale pan. (If using a powder
below flush. 39
measure, adjust the measure to dispense slightly less

powder than you require. Meter a charge directly onto
the scale pan and then place the scale pan on the
scale hanger.)
Note: A handy powder scoop can be made by cutting

off a fired case at an appropriate length and twisting a
wire handle into the case rim's undercut. Straight
cases such as the 357 Magnum or 44 Magnum make
the best scoops.
Bring the scale into perfect balance by using the pow-

der trickler to add one kernel of powder at a time to
the scale pan. Now pour the weighed powder charge
into a case using a powder funnel.
CAUTION: Make certain scale poises are not inad-

vertently moved during the loading process.
CAUTION : Powder is highly flammable and requires

care in storage and handling. Be certain to read and
follow the cautions contained in Chapter Seven.
CAUTION : Lyman lab technicians have observed a

potential serious phenomena involving mechanical
powder scales, plastic loading blocks, Styrofoam
packaging and other objects made of plastic. These
materials sometimes retain a static electric charge,
enough to create an electro-static field of varying radii.
This electro-static field has proven capable of causing

radical defection of uncharged and zeroed scales.
Dependant upon circumstances, powder in the scale Immediately after adding powder to case, seat the bullet
pan tends to dampen the amount of deflection by so as to have a finished cartridge of the correct overall
length.
varying degrees.
We strongly urge that the loading bench be cleared

before setting up the scale. Then replace equipment
one piece at a time while observing the scale pointer.
Any item that causes a scale deflection should be
removed from the loading bench. Do this at every
loading session.
Novices should avoid the use of compressed powder

charges (where the powder level in the case is so high
Note — The entire
as to require compression of the powder in order to
cartridge case does
seat a bullet to the correct depth). Die adjustments for not enter this die.
seating compressed powder charges are discussed in
Chapter Seven. Chapter Seven also explains how to Built-in crimp shoulder
allows crimping of
avoid using excessively compressed powder charges bullet when desired.
(a handloading no-no). Happily most handgun loads Do not roll-crimp rimless
avoid compressed powder charges. autoloading cartridges
which headspace on the
Case mouth; taper crimp
only, using a fourth die.
NOTES ON USING A POWDER MEASURE When all cases are charged and bullets seated, return
We have instructed that after metering a powder all powder (from trickler, open container or powder
charge, it be checked and brought into balance using measure) to the original container and return the con-
a scale and powder trickler. If you are loading ammu- tainer to its remote storage area. At this time, re-verify
nition for a non-critical application, you may want to that the correct powder was used.
pour a metered powder charge directly into a case
(without the scale check and trickler balance) in order CAUTION : When loading rimless case ammo for a
to save time. (Note: This method should never be used semi-automatic handgun (such cartridges headspace
with maximum loads or by novices at any time.) from the case mouth) never roll crimp your case.
When using a powder measure in this manner, Doing so may dangerously shorten the case head-
ALWAYS check at least every tenth load on the scale space dimension. For such ammo always use a taper
to insure that the measure has not gone out of adjust- crimp. Taper crimping dies are standard in some die
ment and that you are using a uniform metering tech- sets or may be purchased as an accessory.
nique. Fine (small) grain powders lend themselves to
more uniform metering as opposed to course (large) For revolvers, using a rimmed case, roll crimping is
grain propellants. Be certain that you are capable of required to keep bullets from creeping out of the case
metering uniform charges before using this method. during recoil. All rimmed handgun ammo to be used
Verify your ability by metering and weighing at least in tubular magazine rifles should also be roll crimped
20 consecutive charges. to prevent bullets from being driven deeper into the
case during recoil. Only flat or blunt nosed bullets
STEP TWELVE should be used in tubular magazines.
BULLET SEATING AND CRIMPING Keep in mind that when roll crimping, your bullets
Next immediately transfer the charged case to the must have a cannelure (a groove around the bullet).
loading tool and seat a bullet to the correct over-all Such bullets must first be seated to a depth that will
length. Follow the die manufacturer's instructions to align the case mouth with the center of the bullet can-
properly seat the bullet to the correct depth. The maxi- nelure. Adjusting your seating/crimping die requires
mum overall length for a loaded round is clearly listed that you first back off the bullet seating screw substan-
in the data for each cartridge. Dependant upon the tially. Then screw the die down far enough to turn the
bullet and equipment used, the finished overall car- case mouth slightly inward into the bullet cannelure
tridge length may vary by plus or minus 0.005". when the loaded round is fully raised into the die. Be
certain the bullet seating screw is backed off far
Note: Generally, bullets should be seated to the over- enough to prevent it from touching the bullet.
all length shown at the top of each data panel. Do
check to see that ammo so assembled will feed Note: Crimping loads which compress the powder
through the magazine of any automatic and that it charge will require extra care. See Chapter Seven for
chambers properly. Check revolver ammo to see that details. Additionally, to do away with the need to con-
it does not come too close to the end of the cylinder. stantly re-adjust the bullet seat/crimp die, most reload-
(Caution: Do this testing out of doors with the muzzle ers purchase an extra die body for any crimping oper-
pointed at a safe backstop.) Or better yet, make a ation.
dummy round (no powder or primer) to check the
overall length and function. Circumstances, which Note: The crimping operation may be combined with
include magazine length, chamber dimensions, can-
bullet seating, but the best results are obtained when it
. is done as a separate operation.
nelure location, and bullet shape, may make it neces-
sary to use a shorter than suggested overall length.
CAUTION: Excessively short overall handgun car-

tridge lengths can cause dangerous chamber pressure.
4]
STEP THIRTEEN The loading procedure for bottleneck handgun cases,

i.e. 30 Luger and 30 Mauser, is the same as for bottle-
FINAL INSPECTION neck rifle cartridges as described in the preceding
The final inspection should be done with great care. chapter.
Start by looking for imperfections. These may include,
but are not limited to: case necks that split during bul- As stated, the foregoing outlines the basic steps to
let seating, or cases that buckled during crimping (due assemble most handgun ammunition. However, there
most often to poor bullet cannelure or excessive die- are many other requirements that must be observed.
down adjustment). A second check of primer depth BE SURE TO READ ALL THE OTHER PERTINENT
should be made by running your finger over each CHAPTERS OF THIS BOOK BEFORE ATTEMPTING
case head. Dropping the loaded round into a maxi- TO RELOAD AMMUNITION.
mum case gauge is recommended to insure it will
chamber properly. Also measure a sampling of the
loaded rounds to insure proper over-all length. Should
any round be found abnormal, discard it in a safe
manner.
Place loaded rounds into suitable containers. Clearly

mark the containers with: date loaded; primer used;
times trimmed; powder and charge; bullet brand,
weight, and type, and overall length. Enter all this into
your reloading log. Your log should also include the
lot numbers of all components used.
Make a final inspection of your loaded round and place it in an appropriately

marked box.
Section 3 - Components of Reloading
Section 3
Chapter Five:
Cases and Their Preparation . . page 44
Chapter Six:
~
(ET,
eae page 56
Chapter Seven:
Propellant Powders ........ page 62
Chapter Eight:
JacketedsBulléts 2)... 6: page 72
Chapter Nine:
Mose pullets, 27K... -.. page 80
5 Cases and Their Pr :
Cartridge cases are available with two types of primer Case Configurations Rim Types
pockets. Generally, only those cases with Boxer The head of a case (that portion which accepts the
primer pockets should be considered useful. The prox- primer and affords a purchase for the firearm's extrac-
imate drawing clearly shows the differences between tor) may take several forms. These include: rimmed,
Boxer primed and Berdan primed style cases. semi-rimmed, rimless, rebated (reduced), and belted.
Note: Berdan primed brass cases can be reloaded. Rimmed cartridges were the first style cases devel-
However, they require difficult to find and slow to use oped. The large rim area allows for a substantial pur-
hand tools for decapping, very hard to locate anvil- chase on the case by the firearm's extractor. The rim's
less (Berdan) primers, often special size primer seating enlarged diameter and thickness also allows for an
posts, as well as special data (because of the differing easy means to control headspace. Because body
ignition characteristics of the various Berdan primers). dimensions are less critical with this style case, cham-
For all these reasons we feel it is impractical to reload ber dimensions are often less tightly controlled as
Berdan type cases. compared to chambers for rimless cases. Rimmed
cases are often used in lever action and single shot
Boxer Primer rifles as well as revolvers. Typical examples of rimmed
cases include the 22 Hornet, 30-30 Winchester, 45-70
Government, 38 Special and 44 Magnum. Rimmed
Flash Hole cases may or may not have an undercut between the
case body and the rim.
Case Styles
Protective Paper Disc

Primer Mixture
Berdan Primer
[_3 ein
UJ
Flash Holes Rimmed i Straight**
_ Straight
Semi-Rimmed
Primer Mixture
Reduced apa
Head*
The European designed Boxer primer type case has
become a standard. The American designed Berdan Rimless Bottle-Neck
primer type case have almost never been used in the
United States — the major exception being the non- * Function is the same as rimiess type.
*“* Straight cases do have a slight taper
reloadable CCI Blazer ammo cases. which is not visibly apparent.
Case Material
A semi-rimmed case has a rim which is only slightly
Cartridge cases have been made from a wide variety larger than the back end of the case body. This design
of material including brass, steel, aluminum and other
is sometimes used to increase a smaller body rimless
less encountered materials. Only cases made of brass case's rear surface to fit a larger diameter bolt face.
have value for the reloader. Brass cases may some- There are relatively few semi-rimmed cases. Those
times be nickel plated. These are equally as reload- most often encountered include the 225 Winchester,
able as plain brass cases. The disadvantage of plated 220 Swift (both designed to fit the larger 30-06 size
cases is that the nickel will sometimes flake off during bolt face), 25 ACP, and the 32 ACP. Semi-rimmed rifle
firing/resizing cycles. This flaking can mar loading cases are generally headspaced in the same manner as
dies. The advantage of nickel plated cases is that, rimless cases. Semi-rimmed cases always have an
under adverse atmospheric conditions, they generally undercut between the case body and rim area to
will not corrode as fast as brass. ensure an adequate engaging surface for the firearm's
extractor.
Caution: Never reload any non-brass cases, i.e. those
made of steel, aluminum, plastic or other material.
The rimless case design is extremely popular. This
t4
Cases and Their Preparation
Rifle
Mouth
Pistol
| <— Neck
Shoulder.
lt
'«—— Extractor Head «—— Extractor

Groove Groove
Pocket Primer Rim Pocket Primer Rim
While cases vary in shape and size, the same basic nomenclature applies to all center fire cartridges.
type of case has a rim of the same nominal diameter have an undercut at the rim/body juncture.
(including any case taper) as the rear end of the case's A belted case has an enlarged band at the head of the
body. There is always an under-cut between the rim case with an undercut to allow for extractor purchase.
and case body to afford a purchase area for the The length of the belt, much as the rim thickness of a
firearm's extractor. Typical of this style is the 223 rimmed case, is used to control headspace. As other
Remington, 243 Winchester, 270 Winchester, 30-06 chamber dimensions are less critical, often they are
Springfield, and 45 ACP. Rimless cases are generally excessively large. Therefore, as with a rimmed case,
preferred for most firearms as they tend to feed this design may suffer excessive case stretching and
smoothly from a magazine. The headspacing of most expansion and thereby result in shortened case reload-
rimless cartridges is tightly controlled by using a diam- ing life.
eter (datum line) around the case's shoulder and that
diameter's distance from the cartridge head as the criti- Case Body Types
cal dimension. In cases without a shoulder, such as the Cases come in three basic body types: straight, straight
45 ACP, headspace is controlled by the dimension ‘ taper and bottleneck.
from the back edge of the cartridge case's head to its
forward edge (case length). Straight cases originated with large caliber, iow pres-
sure cartridges designed for use with black powder. A
A rebated (reduced) head case is basically a rimless typical cartridge of this type is the 45-70 Government.
case design that allows a large body case to be used A straight case design is preferred for semiautomatic
with a bolt face designed for a smaller case. With this handgun cartridges. The 45 Auto is an example of this
style case, the rim area of the case is substantially type case. Also, a straight case shape often is used for
smaller than the case body. Examples of this style case large bore cartridges to gain maximum powder space
include the 50 Action Express, and the 300 without requiring excessively large firearm actions; i.e.
Winchester Short Magnum. Rebated cases always the 458 Winchester Magnum.
45
A straight taper case has a noticeable slight body obturate (expand to fit and seal the chamber). When
taper. Examples of this type are the 38-55 Winchester this happens, some gas may blow by the case mouth
and the 9mm Luger. and leave a sooty deposit on the outside of the case
body. (Note: some deposit and discoloration on the
Bottleneck cartridges allow for the use of slower burn- neck area is normal even when pressure levels are
ing powders as compared to straight cases. This results appropriate.) Excessively low pressure often will allow
in a higher level of cartridge efficiency, i.e. greater the primer to back part of the way out of the primer
velocity with a given bullet weight. The 30-06 is a bot- pocket because there is insufficient pressure to force
tleneck case of the rimless type, the 30-30 is a bottle- the case head fully to the rear. This condition should
neck case of a rimmed design and the 300 WSM is a be avoided as in extreme cases it could cause gas to
bottleneck case of a rebated rim type. Cartridges such flow into the shooters face.
as the 7mm Rem. Magnum and 375 H&H Magnum
are bottleneck cases of the belted head design. Pressure Too High
High pressure causes a case to age quickly. Case
Case Strength And Failures stretch, and hence the frequency of case trimming,
Brass cartridge cases have gone through almost a cen- increases as pressure goes up. Primer pockets also
tury and a half of evolution. As a result, today's cases enlarge as pressures go higher.
have greatly increased strength and reloadability.
Earlier types had a rather thin web at the interior base. When pressure is too high, rapid or even sudden case
A balloon-like hump was present in the base to accept failure will occur. Some failures can be catastrophic,
the primer pocket. Such balloon head cases should causing firearm damage and even personal injury - or
never be reloaded as they are unable to withstand the worse.
pressures developed with modern ammo.
SEVERE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS
However, the reloader must keep in mind that the
brass case is still the weak link in thé reloading chain.
Depending upon specific caliber, cases may vary
enormously in strength. Some calibers are designed to
handle very modest pressure levels while others were
designed to withstand working pressures of up to
65,000 psi.
Sufficient strength is a vital requirement of any case to

be reloaded. For this reason the reloader must detect
and eliminate all weakened or worn out cases.
Pressure Versus Case Life

Pressure development in a fired cartridge is essential.
Without pressure the bullet could not be driven
through the barrel. Nonetheless, pressure must be
carefully controlled to insure that the safety limits of
the case and firearm are not exceeded. Additionally,
shot-to-shot pressure must be kept at a uniform level
to insure consistent ballistic results.
Brass case reloading life is dependant on the level of

pressure generated. All else equal, a cartridge that pro-
duces an average pressure of 40,000 psi. will be
reloadable a great many more times than one that pro- 1. Dark smudge line around primer indicates gas leakage.
duces an average pressure of 60,000 psi.
2. Pocket opens, leaving primer loose. A dark smudge,
indicating gas leakage, is usually present.
Pressure Too Low
3. Pocket opens completely, freeing the primer. A dark
If pressure is too low, the brass case may not fully smudge, indicating heavy gas leakage, is usually present.
46
Gas leaking at the primer pocket (seen as a sooty
deposit around the fired primer) or primer pockets
which enlarge so much as to allow the primer to be Brass flows back
ss ae GA
/\
blown partially or completely out of the case are sure into extractor port.
signs that something is drastically wrong and creating
Head takes on
very excessive and dangerous pressure. irregularities of bolt face
or recoil plate.
Should you encounter a case in which the primer
seats more easily than normal, the case must be dis-
carded. This condition occurring on several cases,
after only one or two firings, should be considered an
indication that your load is developing very excessive
chamber pressure. However, as cases reach the end of Case expands
in head area.
their useful reloading life this condition may occur nat-
urally. When you have discarded 5% of a lot of brass
because of too-easy primer seating, it is time to discard
the entire lot.
Very high and dangerous pressure can distort case shape.
CAUTION: Never reload any case in which the
the first firing of factory ammo, it will be impossible to
primer seats too easily. Such a case is a needless haz-
be certain of the headspace of the firearm in which
ard and should be discarded. (Note: This condition
they were fired. Additionally, if but one old worn-out
can also occur with undersized primers.) Keep in
case was mistakenly picked up off the range with the
mind that a few leaky primer pockets can ruin your
once-fired cases, you will be reloading a potential
bolt face. The escaping gases will cut multiple dimples
accident. Keep in mind that modern case cleaning
into the bolt face. Worse, a blown primer can cause
methods can make even old, worn out, cases look like
shooter injury.
new.
The normal pressure generated in a cartridge at firing
CAUTION: Load only cases which you have obtained
is part of the gradual deterioration of a case's useful
as new unfired brass or which you have on hand as
reloading life. The actual amount of chamber pressure
the result of firing new factory ammo in the firearm for
can cause a notable change in useful case life. Some
which you wish to reload. A few pennies saved on
time back, we separated a lot of brass into two por-
bargain so called "once-fired" brass makes little sense
tions. The first was used for a full-power hunting !oad
when one considers the cost of a firearm and/or med-
with a chamber pressure of approximately 52,000
ical treatment, or worse. Stay with new cases and keep
copper units of pressure (c.u.p.). These cases were
the selection of brass worry-free and safe.
fired five times before we deemed it advisable to dis-
card the lot.
The cases in the second portion were loaded as light

target loads with a chamber pressure of just over
40,000 c.u.p. These cases were fired eight times with-
out any sign of deterioration. Indeed, they required
only two trimmings during our test.
Cases From Questionable Sources

The next time you see some fired cases for sale, you
may want to think twice before taking them to your
reloading bench. Usually, there is no way you can be
absolutely sure of: their general condition as it relates
to age, number of firings, number of times trimmed,
the headspace of the gun they were fired in, the pres-
sures generated at firing, or any other abuse the cases
may have suffered.
This bolt face was ruined by gas leaking around a primer
pocket.
Even if the source is sure that all such cases are from 47
Case Deteriorating Conditions

Worn cases most be avoided. Doing so means you
must keep in mind that there are many factors that
wear brass out. Brass case failures can be caused by:
1. Firing in chambers having excess headspace.

2. Using loads that develop excessive pressure.
3. Too many firings.
4. Trimmed too often.
5. Becoming brittle simply due to aging.
6. Being resized in a faulty sizing die.
7. Improperly adjusted or faulty full
length sizing dies.
8. Excessive crimping.
9. Other less common factors. Incipient case separation is to be avoided at all cost.
Shown are cases with the bright ring that warns case sep-
Case Head Separation aration is about to happen. These cases already have
The separation of the case head from the body, called been loaded several times too often.
case separation, is a potentially dangerous condition. It
is caused by the weakening of the case due to a thin-
ning of the brass at the junction of the web and side-
wall as a result of case stretching. Separation is some-
times preceded by a telltale bright ring, just in front of
the case web, encircling part or all of the fired case's
circumference. This condition is called incipient case
separation. The next degree of failure could be a par-
tial splitting of the case along the bright line. The final
phase of failure is complete case separation.
Note: Actual separation failure of a case may not

occur in steps as outlined. Incipient case separation
can occur without early warning signs. In a separation
situation, if the rear section of the case has sufficient
flexible material to obturate and seal the chamber, no
permanent damage will occur. However, if the rear
portion of the case fails to seal the chamber, gases
escaping rearward have the potential to damage the
gun or injure the shooter. This case suffered complete separation. Such occurrences
can be catastrophic to shooter and firearm.
Every reloader should learn to detect incipient case
head separation the slightly lighter coloration of a ring- Cartridge Case/Firearm Headspace
like area partially or fully encircling the case at the And Headspace Gauges
web/body junction. This discoloration often precedes
The headspace of a cartridge/firearm relationship is
the tell-tale bright ring or actual case failure.
very important. Headspace is a measurement of the
distance between the headspacing surface of a car-
Note: Premature case separation can also be caused
tridge (when the case is fully rearward in the chamber)
by firearms having excessive headspace or faulty
and the headspacing surface of the chamber. Rimmed
reloading dies.
cartridges use the edge of the rim as the headspacing
surface while rimless cartridges most often headspace
from a mid-point on the case shoulder; both in rela-
tionship to a corresponding chamber surface. The
headspace surfaces of a belted case system is the for-
ward edge of the case belt and the corresponding
48
chamber surface.
rim, or case mouth are of a fixed type. Gauges for belt-
SUPA
ed cases are adjustable. Case headspace gauges are
available from several manufacturers including
i. Primer Backs Out
Lyman. Ideally, every ammo assembler should have a
Case Stretches & Cracks
case headspace gauge and a firearm maximum head-
eet] Case Ruptures Completely

space gauge (a no-go gauge) for each cartridge
reloaded.
Case Resizing And Case Life

The above illustrations are indications of excessive head- Some firearm chambers are overly large with respect
space. Do not use any firearm which shows such signs of to diameters, especially older military rifles. Full-
headspace problems. length resizing cases fired in such a chamber will
work the brass excessively. This will lead to premature
If the distance from the cartridge's headspacing sur-
longitudinal splits on the case. Sometimes such a
face to the matching chamber surface is too great, the
problem can he eliminated by resizing only a short
cartridge/firearm system is said to have excessive
portion of the case neck. (Neck sizing dies are avail-
headspace. When this condition is present, the case is
able for most cartridges.)
inadequately supported by the chamber and the car-
tridge may stretch excessively, split, or burst, upon fir-
Reloaders sometimes opt for neck sizing based on
ing.
expected increased case life. With normal chambers,
neck sizing versus full length sizing offers little case life
Case headspace gauges will allow the reloader to
advantage. Thus, Lyman suggests full length resizing
adjust full length resizing dies so that the fired case
as the norm, especially for hunting loads where
will be shortened only a minimal amount during the
smooth feeding, chambering, and extraction are
reloading process. This will help prevent case separa-
important.
tion failures. However, if a chamber is excessively
deep, no amount of die adjustment will prevent pre- Case necks will eventually become work hardened
mature case failure as the case will be stretched and begin to split. This will begin to occur after the
beyond reasonable limits on its first firing. Gauges identical number of reloads whether the cases are
made for cartridges that headspace on the shoulder, neck sized or full-length sized. Some sources suggest
je 3.34 that case life can be lengthened by annealing the neck
portion of the brass. By the time a case needs anneal-
ing at the neck, other factors will have brought about
the end of the case's useful safe reloading life. It is
ee
almost impossibie for the reloader to control and
maintain the precise temperature required for proper
——— 2.111 annealing. Therefore, Lyman cautions against attempts
+ 2.494 i to anneal case necks.
Case measurements are critical to ammo performance
and safety. Checking the resized case for overall length
and maximum headspace is essential during every
reloading of the case.
Split cases must be culled from the cases to be reloaded.

Cartridge headspace gauges can help avoid case failures.
49
Case Life is Limited STEP BY STEP CASE

Even with the best of reloads and tight headspacing, PREPARATION
brass cases will reach a point when they are no longer To a great extent, the safety and performance of your
safe to reload. Thus, every reloader must have a good reloads depends on how you process your cartridge
working knowledge of: the number of times a case cases. The following outlines many of the important
has been reloaded, the factors which use up a Case, aspects of processing brass cases.
and specific potential problems to be addressed dur-
ing case inspections. Segregate Cases By Lots
All new brass, or cases saved from the firing of factory
Experienced reloaders can sometimes obtain an ammunition, should be segregated into homogeneous
incredible number of firings from each case. However, lots. Lot numbers are usually stamped, printed, or
under ideal conditions, the average reloader should embossed on the factory box of loaded ammo. These
consider eight firings as a safety limit for rimless case numbers are generally found on an inside flap or the
life. Reloading a case more often may needlessly rear panel. Brass purchased in bulk may lack a lot
expose oneseif to the danger of a sudden and danger- number. In this instance, the reloader should place an
ous Cartridge case failure. Even the most expensive assigned lot number on each box or original packag-
brass is comparatively cheap when used over a case
ing.
life of eight firings. Don't forget to count the first firing
of factory ammo as part of your case's safe reloading Case lot segregation is essential to uniformity of ballis-
life. tics and accuracy, but more significantly to allow you
to know when discarding of the brass is required.
Keep in mind that if maximum loads are routinely
Always process cases as a homogeneous lot. Never
used, case life will be shorter - a good safety limit
mix cases from one lot with another.
would then be about five firings.
Belted cases have a shorter case life: Generally, belted

Case Inspection
cases should be loaded no more than two or three The reloading operation always begins with case
times. This short useful life can sometimes be inspection. This is necessary to help ensure the safety
stretched a firing or two by using an adjustable car- and reliability of reloaded ammunition. Great care and
tridge headspace gauge to set up the resizing die. The sufficient time must be expended in the inspection
short reloading life of belted cases is due to the overly process. Look carefully for any of the following:
long chamber dimensions that often occur in firearms
so chambered and the higher pressures often used ¢ Cracks and splits.
with these calibers. e Dents.
Rimmed cases are often associated with firearms hav- e Perforations or burn throughs.
ing large chambers. As a result, such cases most often e Partial head separation (or any tell-tale early
provide a useful case life falling between rimless and warning sign of eventual head separation).
belted cases.
¢ Corrosion.
¢ Gas leakage around primer pocket.
¢ Missing, backed out, or loose primer.
¢ Abnormal case bulging or swelling.
¢ Case brass extrusion into ejector or extractor
cuts of bolt face.
¢ Any other condition that suggests less than
normal firing conditions.
¢ Foreign material in case.
Note: Case inspections must be repeated after each

loading step as cases can crack, split, suffer bent rims i
or incur other damage during the loading process.
Note: Bent rims are an often overlooked cause for dif- neck sizing, the entire neck, or optionally only a por-
ficult chambering. Bent rims are usually caused by tion of it may be reformed, but the case body is left as
insufficient sizing lubricant resulting in undue force fired.
being applied to the rim when withdrawing the case
from the sizing die.
Case Cleaning
After inspection, all cases must be cleaned. This is
accomplished by simply wiping each case with an
absorbent rag to remove any grit and grime that could
destroy the fine polish of the resizing die. It is good
practice to again inspect the case after wiping it clean.
Many reloaders prefer to restore their cases to the

shiny appearance of new cases. This is accomplished
by using one of Lyman's Turbo tumblers. After using a
tumbler it is important to insure that all polishing
media has been removed from the inside of the case.
If excessively lubed, cases may dent during resizing,

especially on the shoulder area.
Cases can be damaged during resizing if care is not

taken. For example, the use of too much resizing lubri-
cant can cause dents to be formed on the case, espe-
cially on the case shoulder. Or, the case mouth might
be ruined if the case does not enter the sizing die cor-
rectly aligned. Case necks, and to a lesser extent case
bodies, can crack and split due to the stresses of resiz-
ing. If cases are neck expanded in a separate die, splits
may form during this operation.
After sizing, all traces of resizing lubricant should be

removed by carefully wiping each case with a clean
absorbent rag. Now is the time to perform the impor-
tant second case inspection.
Case Primer Pocket Cleaning

Case tumblers are an excellent way to clean your cases During resizing, the fired primer will be removed. The
and make them look factory new. ‘now exposed primer pocket will show varying
amounts of a carbon-like deposit. If this deposit is
Case Resizing heavy, it will interfere with the proper seating of the
new primer. A few quick twists with a primer pocket
The next step of the process is to restore the fired case
cleaning tool or brush will rid the primer pocket of any
to factory-like dimensions. Naturally, this step is not such firing residue. Omitting this important step can
required when loading brand new cases. Case resizing
lead to the danger of high primers, or less than hoped-
is generally accomplished in one of the two types of for accuracy. Take care not to use undue or excessive
resizing dies. Full length resizing, the method most methods as removal of brass from the primer pocket
often used and recommended, restores the entire case wall must be avoided.
back to near factory dimensions. Neck sizing Is a
method sometimes used for benchrest shooting. When
5]
Cases are trimmed to the suggested trim-to length (as
listed in the data section for each cartridge) using a
small lathe-like trimming tool. After trimming, the case
mouth must be deburred. A deburring tool quickly
removes burrs from both the inside and outside of the
case mouth. The concave end of the deburring tool
cleans up the outside edge of the case while the con-
vex end removes burrs from the inside edge. Lyman
also offers a tool that will deburr both on the inside
and outside surfaces in a single operation.
Lyman makes several style trimmers. The most

This is the result of resizing unlubed cases. Dies can be
popular of these is the Universal trimmer. This model
damaged when the stuck case is attempted to be has a patented chuck head which eliminates the need
removed improperly. for various size collets or shell holders to retain the
case. A power driven version is available for high
Case Trimming volume users. Reloaders on a budget might prefer the
economical AccuTrimmer.
Cases stretch when fired and again when resized. An
overly long case will cause difficult, or actually pre-
vent, chambering of a cartridge. Additionally an CAUTION: With each trimming you may remove
excessively long case can cause a potentially danger- from 0.005" to 0.015" of material. After the fourth trim-
ous increase in chamber pressure when a cartridge is ming, a total of as much as 0.060" of material will
fired. Therefore, after resizing, the reloader must meas- have been removed from the case. All this material
ure the length of every cartridge case. has flown from the juncture of the case web and body.
This leaves the case substantially weakened at the
Case measuring is usually accomplished by adjusting web/body juncture. Therefore, never trim a case more
and locking a vernier or dial caliper at the maximum than four times. When a fifth trimming is needed, dis-
case length as listed in the data section for each specif- card the entire lot of cases. If case stretching is exces-
ic cartridge. Then slip each case between the measur- sive, fewer firings will be appropriate.
ing jaws. Those that will not fit require trimming. Case
length gauges and most cartridge headspace gauges
are also used to find cartridges that need trimming.
Case trimming is done with various types of case

trimmers. Hand operated trimmers are the most com-
mon type used. Never trim any case more than 4 times.
It is important to keep careful records of the number

of firings and trimmings of each case. Therefore, to Deburring of both the inside and outside of the case neck
prevent mix ups, it is best to trim the entire lot of cases must be done after each trimming.
when one or more show the need for trimming.
Measuring the neck diameter of a loaded cartridge is an important safety step.
Case Necks Grow Thicker the case body. The wise reloader will then discard the
The walls of a case become thinner as it stretches entire lot of brass.
from repeated firings and resizing. As a result, the neck
section will thicken because of the forward brass flow. WARNING: Case neck turning equipment is designed
This thickening can eventually produce a loaded to be used with new cases for the improvement of
round with an outside neck diameter that is incompat- accuracy or the fitting of cases to special dimension
ible with the firearm chamber. When a loaded round chambers that sometimes occur with custom cham-
fits snugly into the neck area of the chamber, upon fir- bered benchrest rifles. This equipment may also be
ing the brass will be unable to expand sufficiently to used when reforming new brass of a specific caliber to
insure an uninhibited bullet release and thus chamber another caliber (not a undertaking for any but the most
pressure goes up higher than anticipated, perhaps experienced persons). Case neck turning equipment is
even dangerously. not intended for use in prolonging case life by the
turning of overly thick necks.
The outside case neck diameter of a loaded round
should be given the same amount of consideration as
case length. Loaded round maximum neck dimen-
sions are shown on the various cartridge drawings that
appear at the beginning of the data for each specific
cartridge. Take the time to measure a sampling of your
ammo after seating the bullet. Generally, your loaded
round neck diameter will be well below the maxi-
mum. Should case neck diameter begin to get close to
the maximum, it is evidence of heavy brass flow from
53
The proper reference for loaded round MAXIMUM outside-neck diameter is included in the cartridge drawing shown at the
beginning of the cartridges data listing.
Case Forming Case forming of a small caliber to a larger one is also

sometimes undertaken by reloaders - for example neck-
Reloaders sometimes choose to make brass of a given
ing up 30-06 cases to 35 Whelen cases. Necking up
caliber from brass of a different caliber; for example,
will noticeably thin the case neck. This can result in
reforming 308 Winchester (7.62 NATO) cases into
poor die performance, poor bullet retention and prema-
243 Winchester cases. At first, this may appear to be a
ture neck splitting.
simple matter of necking down the larger case by run-
ning it into the smaller die. However, such a simplistic
Most brass can be purchased, in bulk, at a low enough
approach can lead to serious problems.
price to make case alteration less than practical. If one
When reforming cases to a smaller caliber, all of the
places no value on the required time, the altering of
cases may seem appealing. However, we strongly sug-
material in the larger diameter neck must be moved
into the smaller diameter neck. This will invariably gest that the reloader consider the hazards involved. In
result in an increase in the smaller caliber case neck addition to the already mentioned hazards, there is the
wall thickness as well as an increase in neck length. negative safety factor involving the use of cases with the
The extra neck length, of course, is trimmed away. But wrong headstamp, as well as problems caused by a
the increase in case neck wall thickness is often over- loss of proper case body graduated annealing (when
resizing to a shorter cartridge).
looked.
As stated, increased neck wall thickness can result in Case forming sometimes can make sense, for example,
a loaded round outside neck diameter that exceeds when brass of a specific caliber is not generally avail-
the maximum allowable dimension. Then, the safety able. Then, when undertaking the task, follow all the
of the load is compromised as the case will fit the precautions we have mentioned and all of the instruc-
chamber so tightly that proper bullet release cannot tions supplied with the reforming die set.
occur at firing. When using reformed cases, careful
measuring of the outside neck diameter of loaded
rounds is essential. If a sample round exceeds the
maximum allowable dimension, then the case necks
must be turned until they are of appropriate dimen-
sion.
Military Cases Caution:
Military ammo frequently is loaded with cases having
thick walls to help avoid case failures in extreme con-
ditions such as rapid or full automatic fire. This
increased case wall thickness results in a smaller case
volume. Such cases will develop higher chamber
pressures when loaded using data developed in stan-
dard higher volume commercial brass. This increase
in chamber pressure can be notable, even dangerous.
For this reason we advise strong caution be used if
military cases are reloaded.
Case Savvy
Cases are the weak link in the control of chamber
pressure. Every effort must be made to insure that each
case, used is suitable for another firing. Exacting case
inspection cannot be overstressed. If there is any doubt
with respect to case reusability - crimp it shut with a
pair of pliers (to prevent later inadvertent usage) and
throw it out. Remember that case inspection must
continue throughout the loading process. After the ini-
tial inspection, cases should be looked over after each
operation. Did the case crack, split, or deform during
sizing? If neck expanding is done separately, did any
cracks occur during this operation? Did the primer
seat too easily? Or perhaps did the case mouth split
during bullet seating?
Safety of a reloaded cartridge will always hinge heavi-

ly on the condition of the brass case. The reloader
must always assure the case's suitability with careful
and repeated inspections. The time spent so doing is
part of what makes a knowledgeable and conscien-
tious reloader.
Obviously, safe case handling demands that accurate

records be kept with regards to the number of firings,
the likely pressure levels (max vs. less than max), and
the number of trimmings. Also, it is recommended that
you keep records on the number of cases discarded
due to brass failures. When 5% of the cases in a lot
have been discarded it is time to summarily discard all
the remaining cases in the lot. Doing so will help elim-
inate sudden and catastrophic case failure. Remember,
when in doubt, throw it out.
55
Large
Small Large Pistol Small
Rifle Pistol Magnum Pistol
Remington 9 1/2 9 1/2M 6 1/2 212 11/2 5 1/2

+7 1/2
Winchester WLR WLRM WSR ++WLP WSP WSPM

(8 1/2-120) | (81/2M-120) | (6 1/2-116) (TA) (1 1/2-108)} (1 1/2M-108)
Federal 210 DAG 205 150 (155 100 200

+210M +215M +205M +150M +155M +100M +200M
200 250MAG 400

*No.41
BR4
fsowc] [ome] ® Pome
* Mil-spec small rifle primer + Match version ++ Also may be used for Magnum , Large Pistol loads.
** Mil-spec large rifle primer
Primers are tiny components, requiring only brief han- The selection of a primer size or type for a new car-
dling and they seem to always work. Because of this, tridge is sometimes based on specific ignition or
primers and the priming operation often are given no firearm characteristics. As example: very large rifle
more than passing thought. However, there are cases and their corresponding difficult to ignite heavy
aspects of primers and priming that the conscientious powder charges may demand the heaviest possible
reloader must consider. primer pellet thereby making large rifle magnum
primers a must. Another example: As it was originally
Mercuric Primers Are Ruinous envisioned, the 40 S&W cartridge had a large pistol
Until the late 1940's commercially produced ammu- primer. When a loaded round was ejected from the
nition often used primers containing fulminate of mer- chamber of the firearm to be used, the live primer
cury. Upon firing, the mercury from the primer was would impact the ejector. This posed the problem of
driven deep into the brass case's grain structure Caus- possible ignition of the unchambered round. Hence, a
ing its breakdown and a resulting embrittlement. small diameter primer was substituted in order for this
Cases fired with mercuric primers are never suitable cartridge to safely function in the intended firearm.
for reloading.
Primer and firearm manufacturers have carefully
Mercuric primers were available to reloaders from worked out the nuances of primers and the reloader
retail component outlets as late as the mid-1950's. need not be concerned with specific differences so
Many reloaders continued to use existing stocks of long as the correct size and type primer is used. The
mercuric primers for ammo assembly into the early correct primer choice is listed in the data section for
1960's. Undoubtedly, there were mercuric primers in each specific cartridge. To show the broad range of
occasional reloading use for perhaps still another availability, the nearby primer size chart lists the cur-
decade - until sometime in the 1970s. Since it is usual- rent selection from the major suppliers.
ly impossible to be sure that mercuric primers have
not been used, brass of unknown vintage, should Primer Makeup
never be reloaded. The compound used in many primers is basically
made by sulfonating resorcinol with sulfuric acid.
Primer Sizes Then, nitric acid is used to nitrate the compound to
Boxer type primers are made in four basic sizes which form trinitro-resorcinol, commonly known as styphnic
include large rifle, small rifle, large pistol, and small acid. This acid is then treated with lead nitrate under
pistol. Magnum versions of each of the basic four sizes precisely controlled conditions to form the lead styph-
are also available. Primers are also available as nate salt. Several forms of this salt are used in priming
benchrest types. Substantial differences in dimensions, compounds, the most common being “normal” struc-
cup hardness, priming pellet weight, and priming pel- ture. Another type used by one manufacturer is called
let composition may occur with each size and type. “basic” structure.
Primers
The boxer type primer is

used in all American metal- Velocity Pressure
lic cartridges. The battery fps psi
cup primer used in shot-
shells is of the same basic Rem. 91/2 2509 52,800
design, but contains an Fed. 210 Match — 2508 53,100
extra cup to facilitate its CCI 200 2526 54,000
use in the less rigid shot- Win. WLR 2539 54,700
shell case. The antique CCI 34 2545 55,400
berdan type primer func-
tions in the same manner Total Spread 37 fps 2,600 psi
as the Boxer type, but with
this primer the anvil is
The above results were obtained by using the exact same
actually part of the case.
308 Win. load and only changing the primer. A change
in primer will change the ballistics of a load, so we rec-
ommend that new reloaders use the exact components
Manufacturers add fuels (such as tetracene and listed in our reloading data. -
barium-nitrate) and other materials including small
amounts of aluminum or glass to enhance specific spreads of as little as 3,500 psi. with the first primer
desired characteristics and sensitivity. Magnum and a very poor 9,300 psi with the second primer.
primers may use heavier pellet weights and a some- Obviously, varying the primer can result in noticeable
what different primer mix formulation to obtain desir- performance variation, ranging from ideal all the way
able ignition characteristics for heavy difficult-to-ignite to undesirable.
propellant charges. Obviously, a lot of thought and
effort goes into the manufacturer of primers. Nonetheless, is not possible to state that one specific
primer does a better job than another. A given primer
Lead free primers are a relatively new type. These might perform poorly with a specific load in one cal-
have been developed and produced to enable the iber, satisfactorily with a second load in another cal-
manufacturers to offer an environmentally safe primer. iber and outstanding with a third load in still another
Such primers have special appeal for those who shoot caliber. The point is that primer testing can be an
on indoor ranges which lack ideal ventilation. important part of fine tuning any load.
Primers Effect Ballistics Primer Seating

Specific primers may not always be suitable for the Primers are manufactured with the anvil having mini-
ignition of large powder charges. One primer may mal contact with the priming pellet. In this condition
cause a misfire wherein the powder becomes primers are not sufficiently sensitized for ideal ignition.
scorched but fails to fully ignite and burn properly; or Further compression of the priming pellet by the anvil,
it may cause a hangfire (delayed ignition, sometimes during proper seating of the primer in the cartridge's
with an audible pause between firing pin strike and case, completes the desired sensitizing of the primer.
ignition). Should either condition occur, immediately
discontinue (do not attempt to fire even one more Properly seated, the primer cup will be below flush of
round) the use of that primer with the cartridge being the case head and within a specific tolerance range.
used. Such ignition characteristics are extremely haz- Such positioning will insure that the anvil is lightly
ardous and can cause damage to firearms or worse. pushed down into the primer cup to properly stress
-the priming pellet. Most primers should be seated
Note: These conditions can also be caused by exces- 0.003" to 0.005" below flush. If the reloader endeav-
sively compressed powder charges or a too-low pow- ors to seat primers at a nominal depth of 0.004" below
der loading density. Of course firearm problems can flush, normal variations found in primer heights and
also be at fault. primer pockets will generally result in seating depths
within the suggested tolerances.
The variations in primer sizes or types can create sub-
stantial variations in ballistic uniformity. For example:
In one primer test, extreme velocity variation was an
excellent 38 fps. With another brand primer, the
extreme velocity variation was a poor 133 fps.
Pressure comparisons for the same test loads showed 57
Primers
Excessive stressing of the primer pellet can cause the

primer to become overly sensitive. This might lead to
ignition as a result of rough handling of the loaded
ammo. Additionally, if a primer is seated to deeply, the
priming pellet may crack as a result of excessive com-
pression by the anvil. A cracked pellet may fail to
ignite - a misfire. Excessively deep primer seating can
also cause ignition during the priming operation.
Commonly, deep seating of primers causes ignition

failures attributable to the firing pin not being able to
strike the primer with adequate force.
Many reloaders prime by feel, that is they seat the

primer until the cup is felt to bottom in the primer
All presses come with a basic priming set-up. This turret
press uses the "feel" method for priming (see text).
pocket. This method can result in unnecessary varia-
tion in primer seating depths. Due to the long chain of
parts consisting of: tiny anvil, primer cup, cartridge
case, priming punch, tool linkage, tool handle, and
the operator's hand, it is difficult to precisely apply
uniform pressure to the seating tool handle while
attempting to "feel" the primer cup bottoming in the
primer pocket. Seating by feel is also subject to varia-
tions in the primer cup fit in the primer pocket, and
with any crud build-up in the primer pocket. The "feel"
method is best left to the extensively experienced per-
son using specialized tools designed specifically for
Incorrectly seated primer — Correctly seated primer
the purpose. For most reloaclers, the seating of primers
by feel is simply a less than an ideal method.
A correctly seated primer will insure positive ignition and Ram Priming
the best ballistic uniformity. An improperly seated primer
will result in unreliable ignition and poor ballistic unifor- Generally, the best method for seating primers is to
mity. use a positive mechanical stop to arrest the motion of
the tooling used to move the primer into the primer
CAUTION: Always wear safety glasses whenever pocket. Some presses are equipped with various types
handling primers. of mechanical stops for primer seating.
Seating primers flush, or somewhat above flush, will About as fine a mechanical primer seating stop as can
fail to move the anvil sufficiently into the primer cup be found occurs in the method often called ram-prim-
and thus the primer pellet will not be properly ing. Successful ram-priming can be accomplished on
stressed. This sets the stage for misfires or erratic igni- most presses. In this method, a priming station is
tion. assembled in the normal die position at the top of a
press. The ram unit is adjusted so that the normal stop
WARNING: A primer that is above flush of the case of the press linkage occurs when the primer is at the
head can be accidentally ignited by bolt or action correct depth.
parts during feeding. If ignition occurs before the
action is closed and locked, the results can be cata- Note: It is a wise practice to seat primers twice. That is
strophic to firearm, shooter and bystanders. after seating, lower the ram slightly, then rotate the
Case approximately 180 degrees and then complete
The opposite condition, excessively deep primer seat- another primer seating stroke. This helps insure that
ing, also can cause unwanted problems. The primer primers are squarely seated.
cup can collapse when seated overly deep. This con-
dition can result in gas blow-by between cup and A dial indicating caliper makes a useful tool for check-
case. Serious bolt face erosion can then occur. ing primer depths. Start with the rod end of the caliper
58
protruding about 0.015". Then place the rod against
Primers
any possibility of primer contamination. Develop a

priming routine that will keep primers from becoming
contaminated. It is advisable to manipulate the press
handle and the cartridge cases with one hand and use
the other hand solely to pick up and place primers on
the priming post. This method will give 100% assur-
ance that your primers will fire as intended.
We strongly suggest that primers be handled manual-

ly. Place no more than 100, or the lesser amount of
primers actually needed, onto a primer turning tray.
Rotate the tray until all primers are oriented anvil-up.
Then pick up one primer at a time for transfer to the
priming punch for seating into the cartridge case.
Caution: Primer Feeds

Require Extreme Care
Primers, by nature, must be explosive. Despite this,
handling primers one at a time is a safe procedure.
However, primers handled in bulk are a potential haz-
%
# ard. Should you choose to use an automatic primer
: ee , - ’i
aspei
vage : Sera?
feed, extreme caution is required. There may be as
‘gph
many as 100 primers, each in contact with the next, in
the automatic primer feed's magazine. Should one
primer explode, all will do so spontaneously with dis-
astrous results. Even a few primers exploding can
cause serious property damage and personal injury.
Some very high volume reloaders feel an auto primer

The preferred method for obtaining correct and uniform feed to be a necessary part of their equipment. If you
primer seating depths is to use a Ram Prime unit mount- think you number among these folks, use extreme
ed at the die station of your press. caution when working with an automatic primer feed.
the primer while seating the base of the vernier against The SAAMI pamphlet "Sporting Ammunition Primers",
the case head. The primer seating depth (below flush) cautions against the use of primer feeds unless ade-
can then be read from the dial. Some practice is quate shielding separates the operator from the hazard
required to obtain accurate primer depth measure- of explosion. One major primer manufacturer has
ments. cautioned on their primer packaging against the use of
any automatic primer feed. Obviously great care is
Running a finger over the case head, after a primer has required when using an automatic primer feed.
been seated to the correct depth, will give you a feel
for a correctly seated primer. With practice, you will The use of an automatic primer feed unit demands an
be able to "feel" when a primer has not been seated uncompromising light hand to prevent the crushing of
deep enough, when it is seated within an acceptable a primer should a jam or malfunction of any type
range, or if it is too deep in the primer pocket. At the occur.
beginning of each loading session, measure a suffi-
cient number of primers to insure they are correctly CAUTION: Never push, bang, bump or otherwise
seated. "Feel" each of these to establish a norm. Then apply any force to a primer or primer feed.
"feel" each subsequently seated primer to insure none
vary from the desired depth. CAUTION: When using an automatic primer feed, at
the first sign of a primer jam or difficult feeding -
Important: Before beginning to prime, make certain all STOP! Then think about what must be done. Force
sizing lubricant is removed from all cartridge cases. nothing and do not be tempted to even slightly jiggle
Then wash and dry your hands thoroughly to prevent the tool or any part of it. Rather, carefully disassemble
59
Primers
the primer feed. First remove the primer magazine and CAUTION: Primers can explode if subjected to fric-
all primers contained therein. Clear the jam, deter- tion, percussion, crushing, or excess heat from any
mine the cause for the jam, and correct the problem source, whether open flame or not. Static electricity
before proceeding with use of the primer feed. and many other abuses may cause primers to explode.
CAUTION: Extreme care must be used when filling a The reloader needs to prevent primers from exposure
primer feed magazine tube with primers. Never force to such things as hammering, impacts, or percussion
a primer into the pickup tube. A pressure of no more blows of any kind, including bullet impact. Hot tobac-
than five pounds should be required for a primer to co ash, sparks and a great many other abuses are to be
slip into the tube. Do not use any primer pickup tube avoided. In short treat primers as an explosive. Careful
requiring more than this amount of effort. Primers handling and storage is always a must.
must be correctly oriented in the pickup tube. It is the
user's obligation to insure that this is so. Misoriented Never transfer primers from their original factory con-
(upside-down or standing on end) primers are a seri- tainer to any other container. Primers stored loose or in
ous potential hazard. Never store primers in a primer bulk, for example in a glass jar, and having contact
feed tube. Return all unused primers to their original one with another, can, and most often will, cause a
packaging. Do not force any primer feed tube-follow- violent explosion of the entire mass if but a single
er down onto primers primer is ignited.
Caution: Primers Can Dust When priming, never take more than a single box of
Primers can and do "dust". Minute amounts of priming 100 primers to the loading bench. Pour out only the
mix will accumulate in the loading area, and on needed amount onto the primer flipper. After each
primer handling equipment, especially when an auto priming session, immediately return any unused
primer feed is used. An accumulation of priming dust primers to their original packaging. This packaging is
is a fire and explosion hazard. Occasionally wipe off designed to prevent accidents even if dropped.
priming trays, priming tools and the work area with a
damp cloth to reduce the likelihood of an accident. CAUTION: Never decap live primers as doing so is
Rinse the wiping cloth thoroughly in running water to hazardous.
remove any primer dust it picks up. Be sure all
cleaned surfaces are dry before bringing primers in Primer Storage
contact with them. Because of their explosive nature only an absolute
minimum of primers should be kept in storage. The
The entire loading area and all equipment must be National Fire Protection Association's NFPA 495 states
kept clean and free of any contamination by primer that not more than 10,000 primers should be stored in
dust (as well as powder accumulations). Fired primers, a private residence. This recommendation is law in
separated cups and anvils, or any trace of hard or most communities. Even a deeply involved reloader
abrasive material can be the catalyst that causes should have no reason to store more than 1,000 each
primers, primer dust, or spilled powder, to ignite. of large rifle, large rifle magnum, small rifle, large pis-
tol, large pistol magnum, small pistol, small pisto!
Pick up spilled primers immediately and be sure they magnum, and shotshell primers. That's 8,000 primers.
are all recovered. Stepping on a primer may cause it With care in replacing exhausted supplies, it is not dif-
to explode. ficult to adhere to the 10,000 primer limit. Most
reloaders will be able to get along nicely with far
Primers are Explosive fewer primers kept on hand.
Serious thought must be given to primers with respect
to care in handling and storage. First and foremost, it Always store primers in a remote area away from any
must be remembered that primers are designed to possible source of ignition including bullet impact. Be
explode when the priming pellet is crushed between sure no heat, spark, electrical, percussion, or any other
the anvil and the primer cup. This is accomplished by form of abuse can occur in the storage area.
a percussion blow - the firing pin striking the primer
cup and crushing it against the primer anvil. Keep primers stored away from oxidizing agents,
flammable liquids, and flammable solids (including
handloading powders).
60
Primers
A storage cabinet is strongly recommended. A cabinet Fired Primers And Excessive Pressure
should be solidly constructed of 1" thick lumber to
At times, the condition of a fired primer may give indi-
delay the transfer of heat to the contents in event of a
cations that the load being used is creating excessive
fire or other mishap. Make sure the storage cabinet is
and hazardous chamber pressures. A primer that
remotely located with respect to trash, combustible
shows a black smudge around it is one indication of
materials, sources of heat (including the suns rays),
too much chamber pressure. So is a primer that is
open flames, electrical equipment, hot water heaters,
excessively flattened when fired, a condition in which
mechanical equipment, furnaces, solvents, flammable
the primer loses all of its rounded edge. A primer
gases, and so on. To avoid the potential of an unex-
which craters or ruptures tells of very high pressures.
pected or unusual accident, do not store anything else
The safe handloader always checks the condition of
in the primer cabinet. Never remove more than 100
fired primers immediately after firing. The nearby
primers at a time from the storage area.
drawing and photo illustrate tell-tale after-firing primer
conditions.
Naturally, never smoke around primers. No smoking
signs in the storage area and at the loading bench are
suggested.
A SAAMI bulletin entitled "Sporting Ammunition

Primers: Properties, Handling, And Storage For
Handloading" is available. Every reloader should
acquire a copy from: SAAMI, 11 Mile Hill Road,
Newtown, CT 06470 (www.saami.org).
e
ee
3
The primers in the cases on the left of each pair show a

normal pressure level. The primers in the cases on the
[ FLATTENING CRATERING right of each pair show signs of high pressure. Primer
loses rounded edge flows back hole completely
around firing pin through center
condition is only one pressure indicator that should be
monitored carefully when developing reloads.
With all of the foregoing in mind, it is obvious that giv-

ing a bit of thought to primer storage, handling, the
priming operation, and primer condition after firing is
essential. Proper primer consideration can result in
more uniform ammo and help prevent accidents.
61
7 Powders
A Monciess
ELE POWOE
ite
*
Lohecuid
ears
aed
This is just a small selection of the more than 100 propellants we used to develop the data for this, our 49th Edition Reloading Handbook.
CAUTION: All smokeless powders are flammable These are just some of the reasons for our extensive
solids. They are designed to burn rapidly and to do so listings.
without the presence of oxygen - generating all
required oxygen as they burn. Therefore, treat all pro- We list the propellant most likely to supply the best
pellants with the respect due a highly flammable sub- accuracy with a specific bullet in BOLD print.
stance. Sometimes the comments preceding the data for each
cartridge will mention specific top performing propel-
Selection Of A Propellant lants. Select your first powder from either the type list-
There are more than 100 propellants listed in the data ed in bold print or one mentioned in specific text.
section of this manual. Each powder listed in our data
meets our predetermined criteria for ballistic uniformi-
ty. Nonetheless, only a few of those listed will opti-
mize ballistics and deliver tightest groups. Why then
all those other powders?
86 gr. FMJ
re
BC: 093
One reason is reloader interest in safety. Many reload- 1.290" OAL SD: 129
$ | at
ers recognize that keeping only a few types of powder 88
Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure
on hand helps to minimize any potential for using the Powder Grains fps Grains
wrong powder and keeps stored quantities at a mini- Bullseye 4.8 1187 —_— 5.4
mum. These folks often select the propellant best suit-
ed to their most important application, and then use
this same propellant in as many other cartridges as
AAHImp. 4.5 1125
N320:- 2 = AB. 1178 = 5.9 137520
practical. Another reason is that not every propellant is HP-38 5.0 ———*1157 = 6.0) 1518 Cees
available at every retail outlet. Individual firearms may i eth Go Aarau G
not always deliver peak accuracy with the generally Unique 9" 950. © fess aren 62 fase ae
considered "best" powders. Trying several powders AES 6.0 1098 — |e
will often turn up one that will suit the odd performing
gun. Additionally, some reloaders do not want the
highest possible velocity. Others desire recoil reduc-
Our data section lists what may be the most accurate
tion and some wish light loads for target practice. powder for a particular bullet in bold type.
62|
Powders
Compressed Powder Loads

Many of the loads in this handbook are noted with a +
sign indicating loads using compressed powder
charges. This means that the propellant so fills the case
that when the bullet is seated, its base packs the pow-
der tightly into the case. If you seat bullets shorter or
longer than we suggest, the amount of any compres-
sion can vary. The use of a different brand case may
also alter any powder compression as some cases
have larger volumes than others. The change you
experience could range from no compression to
€)
JS excessive compression.
so
od
Vi7)
CAUTION: Avoid overly compressed powder
=~
4)
See
Re charges. Excessively compressed charges will cause
cartridge overall lengths to continue to increase after
the loaded round is taken from the bullet seating die.
This is caused by the elastic nature of the compressed
charge trying to reduce compression by pushing the
bullet upwards. This can lead to jammed firearms,
erratic ballistics, poor accuracy and other problems.
To determine if the degree of compression is exces-

A compressed load will require that you to verify that sive, slowly seat the selected bullet in an empty case
your components, methods and seating depth do not to the desired overall cartridge length. Carefully secure
result in an excessive compression. See text for instruc the seating screw to insure a uniform seating depth on
tions on how to proceed with this determination. succeeding rounds. Also be certain that the die body is
locked in position. Make note of the overall length.
Assume a potential variation of +/-0.010" as the total
Propellant Versus Case Volume range to be encountered.
Generally, powders that give the best ballistic unifor-
mity and accuracy are often those that nearly fill the Then place the desired powder charge into a primed
case to the base of the bullet. Ideally, the reloader case. Let the powder charge pour into the case nor-
should chose a load that fills the case to at least 90% mally. With the previously adjusted bullet seating die,
of capacity. This insures that powder positioning in seat a bullet into the charged case. Without delay,
the case will not cause substantial changes in the bal- measure and record the overall length of this round. If
listics. It is not always possible to fill up 90% of case the charged cartridge's overall length is longer than the
volume. However, when it can be done this is often empty sample (not counting the tolerance of +0.010"),
part of a knowledgeable reloaders approach to pow- the loaded round has an excessively compressed
der selection. powder charge.
If the loaded length is the same as the empty sample

115 gr. Jacketed BTHP BC: 340 (within the tolerance of +0.010"), wait 24 hours and
2.230" OAL SD: .214 ‘re-measure the loaded round. If it now exceeds the
Sugg anticipated overall length, the load is excessively com-
Starting Velocity Pressure pressed.
Powder Grains fps P.S.I.
IMR-4198 20.0 =. 2228 ~—:38,700
RX10 21.8 2241 (37,900 Final verification requires assembling several boxes of
N133. Ey 2328 40,500 ammo, checking each round for overall length imme-
AA-2230 25.0 2268 40,100 diately after bullet seating and again after 24 hours. If
Benchmark 23.6 2236 —_38,100 none of the loaded rounds exceeds the range of the
X-Terminator 24.3 2290 42,500
measured empty case with bullet, the degree of pro-
H335 24.7 2217. 38,800
IMR-4895 26.0 2221. + 40,400 € pellant compression is acceptable. Keep in mind that
+ Designates a compressed powder charge the degree of compression can change with different
lots of the same propellant. 63
Powders
agae
2s
eo
a
BaeEEL VAis a single base extruded powder with a Shown above is a typical double base, spherical powder.
tubular and perforated shape. As with most ball types it has been rolled to a somewhat
flattened configuration in order to obtain the desired
burning rate.
a BlBSEE A
CT
Be tg FR st
ell | 164 Lzaeie rar

BA ii Gb a sanesaeeseaEa
Pe a
RRB Eeeees 2eeeeee Sy
et
es He
Shown above is a double base wafer (flake) shaped Shown above is a typical double base, extruded and per-
propellant. forated propellant. This one has rather short grain
lengths.
Note: Do not crimp the bullet when using this method Rifle and handgun reloading propellants are made of
to judge compression acceptability. Also, keep in either nitrocellulose (called single base powder) or a
mind that a neck sized case will produce less powder combination of nitrocellulose and nitroglycerine
compression than a full length sized case. (called double base powder). Each powder is
designed to burn at a predetermined pressure level(s)
CAUTION: Excessive powder compression can lead in the confines of a specific cartridge case(s).
to potential problems with proper propellant ignition.
Sometimes this can cause dangerous conditions. CAUTION: Powder ignition is normally caused by
Never use excessively compressed powder charges. the heat generated by an exploding primer. However,
ignition can be caused under any circumstance which
Powder Characteristics causes the granulations to be heated beyond kindling
temperature. Such causes can include sparks of any
Propellants are made in various configurations. Those
type or source, heat generated by any source, flame
most often encountered included: tubular granulations
from any source, energy transfer (this includes bullet
with or with out longitudinal perforations, wafer-like
impact), and other causes. Heat transfer to the powder
flakes, and spherical shapes.
need not be direct. For example heat applied to the
outside of the propellant container can result in igni-
64
Powders
tion of the powder contained therein. use shall not exceed 20 pounds unless stored in a
wooden cabinet or box with walls of at least 1" nomi-
When powder burns it forms enormous quantities of nal thickness. So stored, the quantity shall never
gas at an extremely high temperature. Confined, this exceed a total of 50 pounds.
gas will cause very high pressure. In the confines of a
Cartridge case, a comparatively small amount of pro- Every reloader should have, read, and adhere to the
pellant can easily cause pressure as high as 65,000 information contained in the SAAMI pamphlet entitled
pounds per square inch. The exact amount of pressure “Properties And Storage Of Smokeless Propellants.”
generated is a direct result of the amount and type pro- This pamphlet is available from the various powder
pellant burned and the degree of confinement. manufacturers.
CAUTION: If sufficient quantities of propellant burn Always store powder in a cool dry place away from
within a confined area, such as a room, without the any potential source of ignition. Do not store powder
possibility of venting the resulting gas, pressure in that where it will be subjected to the sun's rays or be acted
area will rise. This pressure can push out windows, upon by any other source of heat. Be certain that
doors and weak structural members. Anyone in the unauthorized persons cannot gain access to the stor-
area‘could be seriously burned or suffer injury due to age cabinet. Use only a brush and pan to pick up
the force of expanding gases. spilled powder. Dispose of spilled powder in a safe
manner.
The rate of pressure generation is such that, given the
means of adequate venting, burning powder possesses Burning Rates
no undue propensity to create damage beyond that The pressure generated by a specific propellant will
which would be caused by the high temperature of vary with the amount of powder, the weight and type
the expanding gases. of bullet, the shape of the case, and other factors. A
specific powder may burn with greater or lesser quick-
Because ignited powder can raise pressure within the ness (force) depending upon the specific cartridge and
storage area, there are specific requirements for pow- bullet being used. We have listed the powders in our
der storage. The first of these is never to transfer any data section in order of the apparent burning rate
propellant from its original container. The original con- achieved with the specific components used. We have
tainer is designed to burst or partially open at a very also included a relative burn rate chart in the reference
low pressure. Naturally, keeping powder in the origi- section. The reloader, however, never should assume
nal container is also essential for proper identification any specific characteristics for a given propellant
of the propellant. Second, storage of propellant canis- based on burn rate charts. Stick to the loading data
ters should be in a unit that will protect the contents contained in this manual, neither exceeding the maxi-
from outside heat sources. mum charge nor going below the minimum charge.
And never substitute one propellant for another, not
CAUTION: In case of unintended ignition it is impera- even when the names are similar.
tive that the storage container have one or more weak
walls that will open out at very low pressure to vent Use The Right Powder
gases before they can cause damage. Using a strong
enclosure may cause a burst of considerable force Always read the label aloud before and after each
loading session and then compare the nomenclature
causing property damage or personal injury.
with your data records or this manual. Other safe-
guards will prove helpful. For example, some reload-
Do not store propellants in the same area with sol-
ers purchase their favorite powders in different size
vents, flammable gases, primers, or any highly com-
and shape cans; rifle powder is purchased in a 8
bustible material. Smoking should never be allowed in
pound container, handgun powder in a 1 pound con-
the storage area or while handling and using powder.
tainer, and so on.
Place conspicuous NO SMOKING signs in the storage
area and at the loading bench. And remember to obey CAUTION: The handloader must make absolute
all legal requirements for storage as applicable to your identification of a propellant before using it. There are
community.
many powders with similar and even identical
nomenclature. Pay specific attention to manufacturer
Many municipalities use the National Fire Protection identification. For example: Accurate Arms 4350 is dif-
Agency's publication NFPA 495 as law. It, in part, ferent from Hodgdon H-4350 and both of these are
states that smokeless powders intended for individual 65
Powders
different from IMR 4350. NEVER use data developed No.9

for a specific brand powder with another brand pow- This is a relatively slow burning handgun powder. In
der with a similar identification. Each powder is differ- general, it should be used with heavy bullets and a
ent and requires specific data. very firm crimp. It has applications similar to Alliant
2400. (D, B)
Following are brief comments on each of the more 4100
than eighty powders used in our data tables. In order Accurate designed 4100 as a shotgun powder with
to maximize space usage we have used identifying additional uses in magnum handgun calibers. It has
abbreviations as follows: similar applications to Winchester’s 296 and
Hodgdon’s Lil’ Gun powders. (D, B)
(S) = Single base 5744
(D) = Double base This is a rather unique powder that was designed for
(B) = Spherical or ball shaped reduced loads. It is a bulky powder that is one of the
(T) = Extruded with tubular shape best choices for use with cast bullet rifle loads. We
(W) = Extruded with wafer or flake shape have extensive data using it in this manner. (D, T)
1680
This powder was designed specifically for the 7.62x39
Russian. It is very fast burning and has limited applica-
tions. (D, B)
2015
This small grained powder is intended for small case
cartridges and does well in the 22 and 6mm PPC car-
tridges. (S, T)
2230
Developed with the 5.56 NATO (223 Remington) in
mind, 2230 is a comparatively fast burning rifle pow-
der suitable for many medium capacity cases. (D, B)
ACCURATE POWDERS 2460
Western Powders Inc., (makers of Ramshot powders) Slightly slower burning than 2230, this speed is useful
PO Box) 5S) sMiles City; « Mi 65930i1 from the 223 to the 30-06. It is popular for 30 caliber
www.ramshot.com acquired the Accurate brand of service rifle matches. (D, B)
powders, www.accuratepowder.com in September
2004. Questions regarding either brand can be direct- 2520
ed to the above address. Designed for medium capacity rifle cartridge cases,
our applications begin with the 22-250 Remington
Nitro 100 and cover a broad range of cartridges. (D, B)
This is a relatively fast burning powder suitable for 2700
shotgun and handgun loads. It has similar applications A relatively slow burning speed, the primary applica-
to Alliant’s Red Dot powder. (D, W) tion for 2700 is with heavy bullets. (D, B)
No.2 Imp. 4350
This is a fast burning powder with a wide range of This speed was designed to compete with IMR 4350
handgun cartridge applications including the popular and H4350; but data is not interchangeable. (S, T)
9mm Luger and 38 Special cartridges. (D, B)
3100
No.5 This is another relatively slow speed propellant
Another fast burning handgun propellant, No.5 is designed to compete with IMR 4831 and Hodgdon
used in a wide range of calibers including 9mm Luger, H4831. Thus, it is suitable as a magnum cartridge pro-
357 Magnum, 40 S&W, 44 Remington Magnum, and pellant. (S, T)
45 ACP. (D, B)
MAGPRO
No.7 This powder was designed especially for the new
Designed for NATO 9mm carbine ammo, our use of short magnum rifle cartridges. It will produce optimum
No.7 includes 9mm Luger, 357 Magnum, 38 Super velocities at nearly full case capacities. (D, B)
Auto., 10mm Auto., and 44 Remington calibers. (D, B)
8700
A very slow burning propellant, 8700 is at its best in
very large capacity cases. (D, B)
66
Powders
2400
A fine granulation propellant, 2400 is suitable for lim-
ited small cased rifle cartridges such as the 22 Hornet.
It is also used for 357, 41 and 44 magnums as well as
a cast rifle bullet propellant. (D, T)
Reloder 7
The fastest of the Reloder series, suitable for a wide
range of cartridges from the 222 Remington to the 458
Winchester Magnum. It is perhaps the best choice for
ALLIANT POWDERS the latter with 500-grain bullets as it takes up a mini-
mum of case space. It has a mix of red, yellow and
Questions regarding Alliant propellants should be
addressed to Alliant Powder, P.O. Box 6, Radford, blue identifying granulations. obras Rx7 in
Virginia 24141 - 0096 www.alliantpowder.com our data. (D,T)
Bullseye Reloder 10
This is a fast burning, popular handgun powder. It is This powder falls between Reloder 7 and Reloder 15
accurate over a wide application range, often deliver- in burn rate. It works well for a number of varmint car-
ing near maximum, and extremely uniform, ballistics. tridges. We used this powder in the 17 Remington
Its reputation for performance is well deserved. Ideal Fireball and the 204 Ruger in our data. Abbreviated as
from 25 ACP to the 45 ACP. Its perhaps most often Rx 10 in our data. (D, T)
used for target loadings for the 38 Special. (D, W) Reloder 15
Red Dot A moderate burning speed, Reloder 15 fits a very wide
We used Red Dot for many handgun and cast bullet range of applications from the 223 Remington to the
rifle loads. Its name comes from the color coded gran- 416 Remington Mag. It is ideal for the 375 H&H.
ulations mixed into it. (D, W) Accuracy is usually superb. Abbreviated as Rx15 in
our data. (D, T)
American Select
American Select was designed as a clean burning
Reloder 19
shotgun powder that also has many applications as a This is a slow burning speed that has wide applica-
handgun powder. It fits between Red Dot and Green tions from the 22-250 Remington to the 340
Dot in burn rate. Weatherby Magnum. A good choice for the 30-06 and
Alliant describes this powder as being a “near” single many similar rounds. Abbreviated as Rx 19 in our
base type as it only has a 2% nitroglycerin content. (D, data. (D, T)
W) Reloder 22
Green Dot A magnum rifle propellant, Reloder 22 is loaded in
Slower burning than Red Dot this powder incorporates many factory Weatherby Magnum cartridges. With
a small amount of green colored granulations, hence applications from the 220 Swift to the 416 Weatherby
its name. Applications similar to Red Dot. (D, W) Magnum, it is surprisingly versatile. Abbreviated as Rx
22 in our data. (D, T)
Unique Reloder 25
A versatile propellant for a wide range of handgun
This is currently the slowest burning Alliant selection.
ammo and for cast bullets in many rifle cartridges. It is
As sucht it is a good choice for the various Weatherby
the traditional choice for the 45 Colt cartridge and a
Magnum and other very large case cartridges.
good choice for handgunner's wanting slightly higher Abbreviated as Rx 25 in our data. (D, T)
velocities in a wide range of calibers. It works from the
25 ACP to the 44 Remington Magnum. (D, W)
Power Pistol HODGDON POWDERS
Designed as a prime choice for semi-auto handgun
cartridges, Power Pistol is popular for applications in
9mm Luger, 40 S&W and 10mm. (D, W)
Herco
This is a heavy load handgun powder, with course
granulations. It is used mostly for high velocity or mag-
num type loadings. (D, W)
Blue Dot
A slow burning magnum handgun propellant, Blue
Dot sees limited applications. This propellant contains
some blue colored identification granulations. (D, W)
67
Powders
For questions about Hodgdon propellants write to any other propellant. Its short grains meter uniformly
Hodgdon Powder Co., P.O. Box 2932, Shawnee through a powder measure. (S, T)
Mission, Kansas 66201. www.hodgdon.com Benchmark
Clays A newer propellant, Benchmark is designed to pro-
Designed as a porous base shotshell powder, Clays duce good accuracy in a wide number of rifle car-
has target load applications over a wide range of tridges. (S, T)
handgun cartridge applications. (D, W) H335
Universal A popular speed, H335 it enjoys an enviable reputa-
A very broad spectrum of handgun cartridges can be tion in cartridges like the PPC's, 222, and the 223
loaded with Universal, from the 25 ACP to the 44 Remington. It has been sold as both a newly manufac-
Mag. Also used for shotshell loads. (D, W) tured and a surplus military type. (D, B)
Titegroup H4895
Designed for handgun rounds, Titegroup is not sensi- This speed has applications similar to IMR4895 and
tive to powder position in the case. Hence, it is ideal as such is very versatile; but it does require different
for handgun loads which occupy only a small space data.(S).1)
in the case, i.e. 45 Colt. (D, B) Varget
HP38 An accurate choice for many cartridges, Varget has
This powder duplicates the performance of applications similar to IMR4064 and Reloder 15. (S, T)
Winchester 231 and derives its nomenclature from BL-C (2)
Handgun Propellant ideal for the 38. It can be used in
almost all handgun cartridges. (D, B) This speed is spoken as Ball C 2 and has been avail-
able both as a newly manufactured type or as a sur-
HS6 plus type. It is popular in diverse applications. (D, B)
This powder derives its nomenclature from Hodgdon H380
Shotshell type number 6. It has handgun and cast bul-
let applications. (D, B) Named for the fact that Bruce Hodgdon found 38.0
grains to be extremely well suited to the 22-250.
HS-7 Because it is the only spherical type that has a true ball
This is a relatively slow burning handgun and shotgun configuration, it meters more uniformly than any other
powder. Hodgdon has announced that this powder propellant. A great favorite in the 7mm-08 and 308
will be discontinued once supplies are gone. It is very cartridges, it has wide applications. (D, B)
similar in application to Winchester’s also discontin-
ued 571 powder. (D, B)
H414
This powder is kin to Winchester 760 and as such has
Longshot wide applications in diversified cartridges. It is popular
Longshot was designed for heavy field load applica- in the 30-06 and similar sized rounds. (D, B)
tions in shotshells, with additional uses in handgun
loads. It falls between HS-6 and H110 in burn rate. (D,
H4831
B) A propellant that works superbly in many large capac-
ity cases, H4831 is one of the best choices for the 270.
Lil’ Gun It is also favored for use in most of the belted magnum
This powder was designed for use in 410 shotguns, as calibers. Data for this propellant should not be con-
well as magnum handgun loads. Some of the calibers fused with IMR 4831 data. (S, T)
that we used this powder for include the 475
Linebaugh, 480 Ruger, and 500 S&W Magnum. (D, B) H4831SC
The SC stands for “short cut” and refers to the shorter
H4227 length of its granulations. The short length of its grains
The fastest of the Hodgdon Extreme Extruded series helps H4831SC to meter well from a powder meas-
and works in applications similar to IMR4227, for ure. It is ballistically an exact copy of H4831. (S, T)
example the 22 Hornet and magnum handgun loads.
a1)
H1000
This propellant was named for the 1000 yard target
H110 shooters who were likely to find its ballistics attractive.
A handgun powder that generally requires a heavy It is intended for very large capacity cases with heavy
bullet and a heavy crimp to insure uniform results. bullets and is extremely slow burning. (S, T)
Applications are similar to Winchester 296. (D, B)
Retumbo
H322 This isa very slow burning powder designed for large
This powder is a universal favorite in the two most Capacity magnum cartridges. It often produces higher
accurate cartridges ever designed - the 22PPC and the velocities than other powders of this type. (S, T)
6mm PPC. It has won more benchrest matches than
68
Powders
H870 SR 7625
This is a very slow burning speed with limited practi- We used this powder for handgun and lead bullet rifle
cal applications. It is used only in very large Capacity loads. The fastest burning propellant in the SR series,
cases with heavy weight bullets. (D, B) the nomenclature of this and other IMR propellants
H50BMG using the same letters stands for Sporting Rifle - a con-
Designed and named for its primary use in the 50 fusing name for powders seldom so used. (S, W)
Browning Machine Gun round, it has limited applica- SR 4756
tions because of its extremely slow burning rate. (5, T) Designed originally as a shotshell powder, we used it
US869 for many handgun loads and some lead bullet rifle
This is a very slow burning, very dense, spherical loads. (S, W)
powder designed for heavy bullets in large magnum SR 4759
rifle cartridges. (D, B) This powder has limited use in small case rifle car-
tridges and heavy handgun cartridge loads. It is popu-
lar with cast bullet shooters and is often used with
reduced loads. SR 4759 is the slowest burning of the
canister SR series of powders. (S, T)
IMR 4227
The fastest burning of the IMR series, it is ideal for the
22 Hornet and other small case rifle cartridges. It is
also used in many heavy handgun loads and cast bul-
let rifle loads. The IMR stands for Improved Military
Rifle - a somewhat misleading title. (S, T)
IMR 4198
A fast burning favorite of shooters using the 17 and
222 Remingtons. It is a good selection for the 444
Marlin and has many other applications including cast
IMR POWDERS bullet rifle loads. (S, T)
IMR 3031
Hodgdon Powder Company recently purchased IMR
Powder Company. If there are questions regarding A popular powder in many small to medium size rifle
IMR powders, they can be directed to: cases and a perennial favorite for the 30-30
Hodgdon Powder Company, PO Box 2932, Shawnee Winchester. Once used to load 250-3000 factory
Mission, KS 66201 ammo. it is extremely versatile and at its best in medi-
www.hodgdon.com or www.imrpowder.com um capacity cases. (S, T)
“Hi-Skor” 700-X IMR 4895

Developed for shotshells, it also is used in many hand- This is a popular wide application propellant with a
gun cartridge applications, especially for target loads. fine granulation. It meters well through a powder
measure. Many target shooters favor it for the 308
(D, W) Winchester with 168-grain bullets. (S, T)
Trail Boss IMR 4320
This is a unique powder designed specifically for low
velocity Cowboy Action loads using lead bullets. It is A popular, medium burning propellant, used in a
mainly a pistol powder but also has some limited wide range of rifle cartridges. Factory 308 ammo has
applications in rifle loads. Trail Boss is designed to use been loaded with IMR 4320. (S, T)
low charge weights, but at the same time produce IMR 4064
high loading density in cases. This is meant to prevent . A versatile and accurate powder with a very wide
double charges that are possible with other types of range of applications. Favored in the 308 Winchester,
powders when light loads are used. (S, W) the 30-06 Springfield with 150-grain or lighter bullets,
“Hi-Skor” 800-X and in the 375 H&H. Its applications range from the
22-250 Remington to the 416 Remington, doing quite
This propellant has applications similarto"Hi-Skor'" 700- well at both extremes. (S, T)
X. Its burning rate is conducive to obtaining high veloci-
ties in certain handgun cartridge applications. (D, W) IMR 4350
PB A slow burning propellant used in cartridges from 22
to 45 caliber. It is a great choice for such popular
PB gets its name from the initials of its basic grain applications as the 243 Winchester, 257 Roberts,
structure type - porous base. The porosity of the pow- 7x57mm Mauser, the 30-06 (with bullets of 180-grains
der is the method used to control the burning rate. It Is or heavier), and 300 H&H Magnum. (S, T)
for used for some handgun loads. (S, W)
69
Powders
IMR 4831 TAC

This speed is ideal for many magnum style cartridges TAC is the second fastest burning rifle powder in the
including the 338 Winchester Magnum and very large Ramshot line-up. It is similar in burn rate and applica-
cases such as the 416 Rigby. It also is favored in the tion to IMR 4895, making it suitable for a number of
270 Winchester and 280 Remington. Accuracy, in its smaller size cartridges from the 17 Remington up to the
best applications, is usually outstanding. It works in a 308 Winchester. (D, B)
wide range of cartridges having a relatively large pow- Big Game
der capacity. (S, T) Big Game is a medium burn rate powder that is well
IMR 7828 suited to a number of calibers. It is similar to
This is the slowest burning IMR powder. It is ideal for Winchester’s 760 in application. We used this powder
large capacity cases with heavy bullets such as the 378, in calibers ranging from the 22-250 Remington and
416, and 460 Weatherby Magnum cartridges. (S, T) Winchester’s WSSM’s up to the 30-06. (D, B)
Hunter
This is a medium-slow burning powder that is similar in
burn rate to IMR 4350 or Alliant’s Reloder 19. It is suitable
for a wide range of calibers from Winchester’s WSSM
series up to the 338 Winchester Magnum. (D, B)
Magnum
Magnum is Ramshot’s slowest burning powder. It is
similar in burn rate to Alliant’s Reloder 25 or IMR’s
7828. It is excellent for a number of large capacity,
magnum calibers such as the 7mm Remington
Magnum, 7mm WSM, 300 Winchester Magnum and
the 338 Winchester Magnum. (D, B)
RAMSHOT POWDER -
WESTERN POWDERS INC.
If there are any questions regarding Ramshot powder
they can be directed to Western Powder Inc., PO Box
158, Yellowstone Hill, Miles City, MT 59301
www.ramshot.com
Zip
Zip is a fairly fast burning powder designed for use in
small to medium sized handgun calibers such as the
9mm Luger and the 40 S&W. (D, B)
Silhouette
This powder is suitable for a number of handgun cal-
ibers such as the 9mm Luger, 357 Sig, and the 40
S&W. It has a similar burn rate to Alliant’s Unique or
Hodgdon’s Universal. (D, B)
WINCHESTER POWDERS
Winchester brand powders are now licensed to the
True Blue Hodgdon Powder Company. If there are any questions
True Blue medium-slow burning handgun powder, regarding Winchester Powders they can be directed to
having a similar burn rate to Alliant’s Blue Dot or Hodgdon Powder Company, PO Box 2932, Shawnee
Accurate’s No. 7. It is suitable for a number of calibers Mission, KS 66201 www.hodgdon.com_ or
from the 9mm Luger to the 44 Rem. Magnum. (D, B) www.wwpowder.com
Enforcer 231
Enforcer is a slow burning handgun powder, having a This is a fast burning powder with near universal appli-
similar burn rate to Alliant’s 2400 or Accurate’s No. 9. cation in handgun cartridges. It is highly favored
It is suitable for many large handgun calibers includ- because of its well known accuracy potential. (D, B)
ing most magnums such as the 454 Casull and the
500 S&W Magnum. (D, B)
| WST
Winchester Super Target replaces the long discontinued
X-Terminator 452AA. It is used by many handgun target shooters. (D, B)
This is the fastest burning rifle powder in the Ramshot WSF
line-up. It is designed as a clean burning powder for Winchester Super Field has numerous applications in
varmint calibers, such as the 204 Ruger and the 223 handgun cartridges, especially competition loads. (D, B)
Remington. (D, B)
Powders
296 N105
A magnum handgun powder, 296 requires heavy bul- This is a limited application speed which we used in
lets and heavy crimps in order to realize uniform bal- the 357 Sig. (S, T)
listics. (D, B)
N110
748 Fastest burning of the N100 series, N110 competes
A relatively fast rifle powder that is used in a wide with both Winchester 296 and Alliant 2400. Thus, it is
range of case sizes, 748 is popular with many useful in such calibers as the 22 Hornet, 357
benchrest and target shooters. As with all spherical Magnum, and 44 Magnum. (D, T)
powders, it meters quite uniformly through a powder
measure. (D, B) N120
This propellant has limited applications somewhat
760 similar to IMR 4227. (S, T)
A slower speed, 760 is suitable for a very wide range
of applications. It is accurate in many cartridges N130
including the 270 Winchester, 280 Remington and We used this speed in the 7.62 x 39 and with some
(D, B)
30-06Springfield. cast bullet loads. (S, T)
N133
This powder was used in cast bullet loads and appli-
cations somewhat similar to IMR4198. (S, T)
N135
Competing with IMR 4895, this speed has a wide
range of applications in non-magnum cartridges. (S, T)
N140
With burning characteristics similar to Varget and
Reloder 15, N140 is useful in a wide range of calibers.
It is becoming popular in the 223 Rem with bullets of
69 grains and heavier. (S, T)
N150
If N140 and N160 are good in an application, N150
VIHTA VUORI POWDERS might prove great. (S, T)
Questions on Vihta Vuori powders should be directed N160
to Kaltron - Pettibone, Vihta Vouri Powders, 1241 Ellis Similar in applications to IMR4350, N160 is useful in
Street, Bensenville, Illinois 60106. www.vihtavuori.fi a wide range of calibers from the 243 and upward. (S,
N310
N310 is the fastest burning powder in the N300 series N165
of powders. It has similar applications to Alliant’s With a relatively slow burning rate, N165 is useful in
Bullseye or Accurate’s #2. (S, T) large magnum cases and in some standard cartridges
with very heavy bullets. (S, T)
N320
We used this fast burning powder with light bullets in N170
the 45 Colt. It also did well with cast and jacketed Extremely slow burning, this speed is limited in appli-
loads in the 45 ACP. (S, T) cations. (S, T)
N340 N540
With a burn rate not unlike Herco, we used this speed This speed is popular with target shooters, especially
in 9mm Luger, 40 S&W, and in the 45 Colt with heavy . in the 223 and 260 Remingtons with heavy bullets.
bullets. (S, T) (D, 1)
N350 N550
N350 is the slowest burning of the N300 series of Not too different from N150 in burning speed, N550
powders. It works well in large caliber magnum hand- is useful in such cartridges as the 308 Win. and 30-06.
guns. It is similar to Alliant’s Blue Dot or Accurate’s #7 (Dy)
in applications. (S, T) N560
3N37 Applications for N560 include the 6,5 X 55mm
3N37 is a handgun powder that falls between N340 Swede and the 270 Winchester. It fits some uses simi-
and N350 in burn rate. It has similar applications to lar to N160. (D, T)
IMR’‘s 800X. (S, W)
Design Features of Jacketed Bullets SPITZER POINT
SEMI-POINT_~>}
/\
-K—+-—B—- (he BeAr
=
SPITZER BOATTAIL HOLLOW POINT BOATTAIL FLAT NOSE ROUND NOSE
Features
A. Ogive E. Junction of boatiail . Exposed lead (flat nose)
B. Bearing surface and bearing surface . Hollow Point
C. Base F. Exposed lead (spitzer point) . Cannelure
D. Junction of ogive and G. Exposed lead (round nose) . Boattail length
bearing surface
Not all jacketed bullets are created equal. Those Varmint Bullets
designed specifically for target or benchrest shooting It is not easy to hit a woodchuck at 300 yards. It is
are generally capable of more accuracy than the aver- even more difficult to hit a prairie dog at the same
age rifle will deliver. Nonetheless, rifle bullets of this range. Obviously, varmint bullets must be extremely
type, should never be used for game as they may accurate. Additionally, rapid expansion, or even disin-
completely fail to expand or, at the other extreme, dis- tegration of the bullet, must occur when it strikes the
integrate on surface impact. limited mass of a small animal. If the bullet does not
expand in this manner, it will simply pass through
Bullets designed for target applications often carry a
small quarry creating a puncture wound that will not
trade name, or generic nomenclature, suggesting this
be immediately fatal.
type application, i.e. “MatchKing”. Some target bullets
are extremely frangible being made with thin jackets Frangible varmint bullets are also a safety asset. Fired
using a method of assembly known as soft swaged.
at the low angles often associated with varmint hunt-
Such bullets also can be suitable for varmint hunting if
ing, strongly constructed bullets have a propensity to
the game is relatively small in mass. However, some
ricochet after striking the ground. Frangible varmint
target bullets are in reality non-expanding types. Target
bullets will tend to break up on impact with the
bullets may have lead exposed at the tip, or a hollow
ground, and thus reduce potential ricochet danger.
point. Neither type of construction should be interpret-
ed to suggest the bullet is an expanding type, albeit
Because of the need for a high degree of accuracy
some hunting bullets are similarly designed.
combined with a frangible construction, some target
bullets are ideally suited to varmint shooting. Equally,
In order to insure a high degree of accuracy, target
some varmint bullets make excellent target bullets, for
bullets are made to exacting tolerances for weight,
example the Nosler Ballistic Tip.
dimensions, and concentricity. When testing bullets
during production runs, it is not uncommon for some
manufacturers to get groups of ten shots measuring
Big Game Bullets
well below half an inch. All of the effort involved in A lot of consideration needs to be given to your specif-
the manufacture of a good target bullet results in a ic needs when selecting a big game bullet. Not all big
slight premium in selling price. game bullets are up to the task of anchoring thick
skinned or heavy boned animals. Nor, for that matter,
are some up to sufficient penetration to solidly anchor
even light game if any but a broad side shot is taken.
Many bullets offered for big game are quite inexpen-

sive. Others, at first, appear very expensive. Perhaps
nowhere else is the old expression, “you get what you
pay for,” more true than when purchasing game bul-
lets. The run-of-the-mill, inexpensive bullets have
killed a lot of game. This is especially true when the
animals hunted are relatively easy to kill, ise. antelope
and deer. But, even here, many hunters have suffered
Bullets are designed for specific applications and visual lost game when the shot was at a difficult angle. Other
inspection cannot possibly show the bullet's purpose.
72
Jacketed Bullets
ture. Thus, the best big game bullets carry a premium

price. Happily, comparatively few bullets are required
to sight-in and even fewer are actually fired when
hunting. Thus, the total cost of premium bullets will go
almost unnoticed. Naturally, practice shooting can be
conducted with popular priced bullets; with the shoot-
er switching to premium bullets when sighting-in
immediately before hunting season.
Understanding bullet design and weight applications are
essential for appropriate selection. Shown from left to The hunting of relatively lightweight thin-skinned
right are 30 caliber bullets with typical applications; a. game does not require as much mass retention as
110 grain (varmint); b. 125 grain (varmint and light tar- when hunting thick-skinned and/or very heavy game.
get); c. 130 grain (varmint); d. 150 grain (light big game In large and heavy game, a bullet may have to pene-
such as deer); e. 165 grain (light big game); f. 168 grain trate up to three times the distance before the vitals are
(target); g. 178 grain (target) h. 180 grain (all around big reached. Thus, for tough game, a heavily constructed
game); |. 190 grain (target); J. 200 grain (heavy big game); bullet is needed.
k. 200 grain (target); |. 220 grain very heavy big game.
If you are a deer hunter who takes only broadside,
times, hunters do not understand why game escaped
behind the shoulder shots you can get along with far
after a well placed shot. Even a rare bullet failure can
less bullet than if you fire at a deer leaving the scene
bring great disappointment. When the game gets
and offering only a difficult angle shot requiring per-
tougher and heavier, the number of failures incurred
haps three times as much penetration. As the game
with bargain priced bullets becomes notabie.
gets bigger, or the ranges longer, your need for the very
best bullets increases. In all cases, you should always
Bullet expansion involves having the jacket progres-
achieve a large exit hole on broadside shots. On diffi-
sively peel back allowing the lead alloy core to mush-
cult deep penetration shots, if an exit hole does not
room. During expansion of inexpensive bullets, a
occur you should trace the wound channel and deter-
major portion of the jacket and core may break away mine remaining bullet weight. If things are not as
from the bullet's mass. This loss of weight can be so hoped, a better bullet is required. Assuming you are
great that the bullet's momentum will be reduced to using an adequate cartridge, if you lose even a single
nil and penetration will cease long before the vital
organs are reached. Occasionally, an inexpensive bul-
let may completely fail to expand and simply punch a
tiny hole through the quarry without causing a serious
wound channel. Such scenarios can result in lost
game.
Big game can place heavy demands upon bullet

design. The requirement for outstanding accuracy is a
difficult design criterion when it has to be combined
with the essential need for controlled and progressive
expansion. For appropriate expansion the bullet must
first penetrate hide, next the bullet must begin to
mushroorn. The rate of expansion must be controlled
so that the bullet will penetrate deeply. Ideally a bullet
should expand to double its original diameter. While
so doing, the bullet must reach and travel through vital
organs before stopping its forward progress due to loss
of momentum. To accomplish this a bullet must retain
most of its mass. Passage through bone and muscle,
no matter how heavy, must not create undue loss of
mass and momentum. The Nosler partition bullet is shown with
sectioned specimen and expanded one. The expanded
An accurate bullet with a combination of good expan- bullet shows typical performance, front core gone, wings
sion and high weight retention is costly to manufac- folded back close to shank, and about 65% of original
weight intact. 73
Jacketed Bullets
bronze. These have a good reputation albeit we have

experienced several failures with this type. Another
type solid uses a heavy bronze jacket and a super hard
tungsten core.
Still another type of solid is made with a heavy bronze

front end with a hard alloyed lead rear section. The
Speer Trophy Bonded Sledgehammer solid is an
example of this type. These have a fine reputation for
getting the job done with few failures. Such bullets
may cost several dollars each, but this is a small price
to add to the total cost of a safari.
Sectioned views of some excellent premium grade bullets

Appropriate Bullet Application
available to the reloader. They are left to right: Each reloader needs to consider the bullet perform-
Speer Grand Slam, Nosler Partition, Swift A-Frame, and ance required for their application and then to make a
Swift Scirocco. wise selection. As stated, deer and antelope hunters
who take only broadside, behind the shoulder shots
animal when you absolutely know the bullet was will place the least amount of demands on a hunting
properly placed, your choice of projectiles should be bullet. The hunter who wishes to take difficult angle
seriously questioned. Hunters with extensive experi- shots, requiring considerable penetration, will need a
ence come to realize that the bullet selected can be better bullet. As game gets larger or more dangerous,
more important than the cartridge choice. Whatever premium bullets become essential.
hunting bullet you select, be sure it is up to your
requirements. Premium grade bullets are produced by several major
bullet suppliers. Such bullets include the Speer Grand
Dangerous Game Solids Slam, the Nosler Partition, Nosler AccuBond®, Barnes
For the hunting of elephant, cape buffalo, or even TSX, the Swift A-Frame and Scirocco.
hippo, smart hunters wisely choose a “solid” bullet to Fditor’s Note: Please see Greg Rodriguez’ atricle in
insure deep penetration through extremely thick hide, Chapter 12 for further information on Premium Grade
heavy fat, tough muscle and the huge bones. Bullets.
However, there are many “solids” which may fail to
accomplish the necessary penetration. Velocity Versus Bullet Selection
The reloader needs to consider impact velocity when
Typically the least expensive solids are actually a “full” selecting bullets and appropriate calibers. Bullets driv-
metal cased bullet having a lead core, a steel inner en at greatly differing velocities do require differing
jacket and a copper outer jacket. Such bullets are construction. For a 22 caliber bullet to expand proper-
closed on the nose end with the lead core exposed at ly at 22 Hornet speeds, a very thin jacket with a good
the base. As many serious hunters have found, when amount of exposed lead is generally required.
used on truly heavy game, some bullets of this style Cartridges of approximately the velocity of a 222
construction sometimes bend, rivet at the nose, or Remington require the use of a slightly stronger bullet.
even rupture. When any of these failures occurs, pen- To withstand the very high velocities of a 22-250 or
etration will not be in a straight line, or of sufficient 220 Swift, a 22 caliber bullet must be quite strong. The
depth. use of a 22 Hornet or 222 Remington style bullet in
one of the latter could result in the bullet disintegrating
Bullets using steel jackets can result in short barrel life. in flight, turning into a puff of blue smoke due to the
We have seen several 458 Win. Mag. barrels, used high rotational forces.
exclusively with steel jacketed bullets, wear out to the Larger diameter bullets require equal consideration
point of being unable to stabilize a bullet after as few with respect to impact velocity. For example: the very
as 200 rounds were fired. low velocity of the 30 Carbine cartridge demands very
"weak" bullet construction if there is to be any bullet
Another approach to solid bullet design is the use of a expansion. A 30-30 demands somewhat tougher bul-
homogeneous alloy - no separate jacket and core. lets but not as tough as a 30-06 bullet. And if you are
Bullets of this type are often made of a solid piece of using a 300 Weatherby Magnum only the toughest
Jacketed Bullets
bullets will penetrate properly. Lesser bullets are prone rifles are perfect examples of this need for round nose
to disintegrate at the high impact velocity of super fast bullets. Many military handguns were also designed
cartridges. As a general rule, if you are using magnum with only round nose bullets in mind.
velocities, premium bullets should be considered
essential. However, the selection of round nose bullets some-
times occurs because of misinformation. Many hand-
Keep in mind that as ranges increase, terminal bullet loaders (and factory ammo users too) still place credi-
velocity decreases. Eventually, bullet velocity will bility on the old wife's tale which states that only slow
reduce to the point where proper bullet expansion is moving, heavy, round nose bullets stand any chance
impossible. A good rule of thumb is to expect this of plowing through heavy brush and reaching the
velocity to be approximately 2,000 fps. when premi- intended quarry. Spitzer bullets, the same tale states,
um bullets are used. deflect considerably more when encountering inter-
vening brush. The fable further acquaints us with the
Appropriate Bullet Weight belief that the greater the bullet velocity, the greater
Specific bullet application will generally dictate a the amount of deflection.
weight, or perhaps a range of applicable weights. For
example: among 30 caliber bullets those of 110 to This “theory” has been debunked many tires. During
130-grains are most often thin jacketed types designed the mid 1960's, Lyman employees (the late Lysle
for varmint hunting. In this same diameter, bullets of Kilbourn and Ed Matunas) ran extensive deflection
150 to 165-grains are usually intended for application tests. The findings of these tests, and those of many
on light big game - i.e. antelope, deer, small black other interested persons that followed, conclusively
bear, goat and sheep. The heavier bullets, from 180 to prove that all bullets deflect regardless of nose profile,
220-grains, are generally intended for medium to mass, or velocity. That no one bullet form deflects
heavy game such as elk or moose, albeit many more than any other has been firmly established.
hunters correctly choose the 180 grain as a single Those who use round nose or blunt bullets because
weight selection for application on all big game. they believe that these better penetrate through brush
are working with a misleading, albeit often repeated,
In calibers from 24 to 30, the lightest bullets are usual- piece of “advice”.
ly varmint types and the heavier bullets are for pro-
gressively heavier big game animals. Bullets of 32 cal- Others use blunt nose bullets because “they expand
iber, and larger, seldom are made in frangible varmint better than spitzers”. About a hundred years ago,
types. Usually, all 32 caliber and larger diameter bul- when smokeless powder and jacketed bullets were
lets are designed for big game. The lightest of these are first coming into general use, this was indeed fact. But,
intended for the smaller big game animals and the modern bullet design has created spitzer bullets that
progressively heavier bullets for the larger animals. expand readily, equaling or outperforming the best
Remember, using a too light bullet will result in insuffi- round nose styles.
cient penetration. If in doubt, use a heavier bullet
weight. Spitzers Are Better
At long range, a 300 Savage cartridge loaded with a
Bullet Nose Configuration spitzer bullet will outperform a 30-06 loaded with a
round nose bullet. A blunt nosed 30-06 bullet of 180
Sometimes it is essential to use flat or blunt nose bul-
grains, with a muzzle velocity of 2700 feet per sec-
lets in specific rifles. For example, cartridges to be
ond, will arrive at the 300-yard mark traveling at 1725
used in a tubular magazine should always have flat or
feet per second. A 180-grain spitzer bullet fired from a
very blunt nose configuration. The use of a spitzer in a
300 Savage, with a muzzle velocity of 2350 feet per
tubular magazine allows the point of one bullet to rest second, will arrive at 300 yards with a remaining
against the primer of the round immediately in front of velocity of 1750 feet per second, a tad faster than the
it. Under the forces of recoil, a pointed bullet could 30-06 round nose bullet. Thus, after 300 yards, the
ignite the primer against which it rests.
300 Savage spitzer overcomes the 350 feet per second
advantage of the round nose 30-06 bullet.
CAUTION: Never use spitzer bullets in a tubular mag-
azine. Looking at it another way, two 30 caliber 180-grain
bullets started at identical velocity will have drastically
Some firearms are designed to feed properly only with different down range ballistics dependant upon bullet
round nose bullets. Many 458 Win. Mag. bolt action
75
jacketed Bullets
profile. A very sharp nosed bullet of this type, started at Bullet Base Configuration
2700 feet per second, would have a 300 yard remain- The shape of a bullet's base can influence ballistics.
ing velocity of 2075 feet per second versus the round Flat base bullets produce more air turbulence and
nose remaining speed of 1725 feet per second - a 350 hence have more drag to over come than boattail bul-
feet per second advantage for the spitzer. At 400 yards lets. This means an increased rate of velocity loss due
the spitzer would have approximately a 450 feet per to a lower ballistic coefficient for the flat base types.
second superiority. At either range, the difference is However, this difference is generally quite small. The
enough to create substantial trajectory and terminal boattail shape is actually most effective in reducing
ballistics inequality. drag when velocity has dropped below the speed of
sound, about 1120 feet per second. The average
Spitzers are ballistically superior because their sharp reloader deals with substantially higher velocity and
profile results in less air resistance. The reloader can thus may choose flat or boattail bullet bases without
judge the relative performance of any bullet by refer- concern for appreciable ballistics variation due to bul-
ring to its ballistic coefficient. This information can be let base shape.
found in the data head for each bullet for which we
show loading recommendations. A round nose 180-
grain 30 caliber bullet might have a ballistic coeffi-
Bullet Seating Depth
cient of .248 while a spitzer of identical weight and (Overall Cartridge Length)
caliber could have a rating of .438. The larger the Generally, the best accuracy occurs when the bullet
number the better a bullet will resist deceleration. must “jump” 0.005" to 0.020" from its seated-in-the-
case position to the point at which its bearing surface
It makes little sense to develop a load that squeezes first engages the rifling lands. The best seating depth
the last foot per second out of your favorite cartridge for any specific load and firearm combination can be
and then turn its down range performance into that of determined only by trial and error. Load 10 cartridges
a lesser cartridge because a blunt nosed bullet is used. at a 0.005" jump and fire for group size. Then, repeat
Selecting sharp bullet profiles, when appropriate, pays the test with additional groups fired with cartridges
big ballistic dividends. The individual who never seated to 0.010", 0.015" and 0.020" bullet jump. On
shoots past 100 yards may never notice a difference. occasion, some firearms prove best served with a bul-
However, as ranges increase, bullet performance vari- let jump of considerably greater than 0.020".
ations, as a function of nose profile, become quite
obvious. Handgun Bullets
Jacketed handgun bullets generally are not subjected
Spitzers are not without a weakness. Their sharp soft
to the extremes in velocity as rifle bullets. Most hunters
lead tips deform easily during recoil forces as bullets
will restrict handgun shots to considerably less than
impact with the front magazine-wall. This is most pro-
100 yards, therefore a relatively narrow velocity range
nounced with magnum calibers. However, generally
occurs with respect to impact velocity for a given bul-
the amount of deformation normally incurred is not of
let.
major consequence.
A minimum impact velocity of about 900 feet per sec-
If bullet nose damage is a serious problem due to very
ond is usually required in order to obtain reliable
heavy recoil, there is an option. A "protected point"
expansion from jacketed handgun bullets. In that
bullet will eliminate the problem. Do select a bullet
handgun impact velocities seldom exceed 1400 feet
with as small a meplat (the blunt tip area) as possible
per second, and are often considerably slower, even
in order to preserve down range ballistics. Bullets such
the differences from one caliber to another do not
as Speer's Grand Slam or Swift A-Frames are examples
place extreme demands on a bullet.
of this type.
Generally speaking, jacketed handgun bullets with
Certain spitzers have been designed to preclude any
hollow point nose configurations expand more rapidly
flattened noses. The Nosler Ballistic Tip, and the Swift
than soft point types. There are reasons to favor both
Scirocco are examples. Both use a tough insert placed types. The soft point's slower expansion will, when
into a hollow tip to form a very sharp and recoil proof
taking big game, allow deeper penetration. Hollow
bullet nose. points are often used on smaller game and varmints.
Jacketed Bullets
The handgun bullets pictured above show differing construction. The bullet on the left is a Speer 147gr. 9mm TMJ
(Total
Metal Jacket). It is fully surrounded by the copper jacket which reduces airborne lead while giving excellent feeding in semi-
automatics. The others are hollow points designed for expansion. From the left: Speer 357 Sig 125gr. Gold Dot hollow point,
Winchester 40 caliber 175gr. Silvertip, Hornady 38 caliber 158gr. HP/XTP, and Speer 45 caliber 200gr. Gold Dot hollow
point.
Some jacketed handgun bullets with lead exposed at cycle, i.e. semiautomatic and pumps. Heavy calibers,
the nose are not intended for expansion and are in fact such as the various 416s, may suffer bullet movement
“nonexpanding” target style bullets. Always follow the during recoil. For all these reasons, and others, bullet
bullet manufacturers suggestions and guidelines. crimping may be essential to ensure proper firearm
functioning and uniform ballistics.
Get The Opinion Of Experienced Persons
Unless your use is simply plinking at short ranges, bul- CAUTION: Never attempt to roll crimp to a bullet
let selection is never simply a matter of bullet weight without a cannelure. Doing so will damage the case
and diameter . Requirements for accuracy, expansion, and bullet and will prove ineffective for the intended
the amount of penetration and mass retention are all purpose.
part of what needs to be considered. Accuracy can be Roll crimping can have a somewhat detrimental effect
determined with test shooting at the range. Controlled on accuracy. Therefore, unless called for by specific
expansion performance can take years and several conditions, most reloading is done without crimping.
dozen big game animals to begin to provide sufficient
data for an appropriate understanding. For this reason
it is wise to seek out several persons who have exten-
sive experience on a wide variety of game under dif- ROLL CRIMPING
fering conditions. Question them about their favored
bullets. Their suggestions may provide sufficient
insight to make a good first choice of a game bullet. In
this way you may avoid disappointment with your first
hunting loads. Short Case - No Crimp
Cannelures And Crimping

Roll Crimping
For some applications, it is necessary to crimp the
case mouth to the bullet. Included among these appli- Proper Length Case - Good roll Crimp
cations are all ammo to be used in revolvers, all
ammo used in tubular magazines, all ammo for very
heavy recoiling loads i.e. ammo in calibers designed
for dangerous African game.
The purpose of crimping is to prevent movement of
the bullet, either forward or rearward, from the origi- Excessive Case Length - Too much crimp, buckled case
nal seating depth. This is most often accomplished by

roll crimping, the turning of the case mouth inward
into a corresponding circular cut in the bullet circum-
ference (the cannelure). In revolver cartridges, under
the forces of recoil, bullets will tend to creep forward,
even to the point of preventing cylinder rotation. In
tubular magazines recoil forces tend to drive bullets
deeper into the case. Ditto for firearms where the bul-
let forcefully impacts some surface during the feeding dit.
Jacketed Bullets
Taper Crimping 6.5 x 54mm MS.; 260 Rem.;
In some instances crimping may be desirable but it 6.5 x 55mm Swede.; 6.5 Rem. Mag.;
also may be impractical or even dangerous to roll 264 Win. Mag.
crimp. For example, any case which headspaces from CLTfa 270 Win.; 270 WSM; 270 Wea. Mag.;
the case mouth such as the 30 Carbine, 9mm Luger, 6.8mm Rem. SPC
and 45 ACP, should never be roll crimped. Doing so 284" 7-30 Waters; 7mm-08; 7mm Mauser (7 x
shortens the case and alters headspacing. Yet each of
57mm); 284 Win.; 280 Rem.; 7mm
these, and other cartridges, are subjected to forceful
impacts with feeding surfaces of the firearm. The solu- SAUM; 7mm WSM; 7MM Rem. Mag.;
tion is to taper crimp. This method forces the outside 7mm Wea. Mag.; 7mm STW; 7mm Ultra.
of the case neck tightly against the bullet without 308" 30 M1 Carbine, 30-30 Win.; 307 Win.;
shortening the case. 300 Sav.; 30-40 Krag; 7.5 x 55mm
Swiss; 308 Win.; 30-06; 300 H&H; 300
TAPER CRIMPING
WSM; 300 SAUM; 300 Win. Mag.; 300
Norma Mag.; 300 Wea. Mag.; 300 Ultra;
30-378 Wea. Mag.
el Wun Pe 32-20 Win.; 7.62 x 39mm; 7.62 x 54;
7.65 x 53mm Arg.; 303 Brit.;
7.7 X 58mm Jap.
318" 8x 57mm J
Bele 32-40 Win.; 32 Win. Spl.
you) 8mm Mauser (8 x 57 mm JS); 8mm-06;
Proper taper crimp Excessive taper crimp
8mm Rem. Mag.; 325 WSM
deforms bullet
330: 338-06; 338 Win. Mag.; 338 Ultra;
Roll crimping is used for ammo applications in revolvers,
338 Federal; 340 Wea. Mag.;
tubular magazines, and heavy recoiling firearms. Taper
crimping is used primarily with cartridges which head- 338 Lapua; 338-378 Wea. Mag.
space off the case mouth. 348" 348 Win.
9500 35 Rem.; 356 Win.; 358 Win.; 350 Rem.
Mag.; 35 Whelen; 358 Norma Mag.;
NOMINAL JACKETED RIFLE BULLET 358 STA.
DIAMETERS 366" 9.3 x 62mm; 9.3 x 74Rmm.
Diameter Suitable for these calibers. Please note 7, 38-55 Win.; 375 Win.; 375 H&H;
ininches _ that some calibers require bullets of 375 Wea. Mag.; 375 Ultra; 375 Ruger;
specific design with respect to velocity
378 Wea. Mag.
and expansion characteristics.
400" 38-40 Win.
Alyse 17 Remington; 17 Rem. Fireball 412” 405 Winchester
.204” 204 Ruger 416 416 Rem. Mag.; 416 Rigby;
224" 22 Hornet (older rifles may require .223") 416 Wea. Mag.
218 Bee; 222 Rem.; 222 Rem. Mag.; 22 424"..427" 44-40 Win.
PPC USA; 22 BR Rem.; 223 Rem.; 219 A2D 444 Marlin
Zipper; 225 Win.; 224 Wea. Mag.; 458" 45-70 Govt.; 450 Marlin; 45-90, 45-100 /
22-250; 220 Swift; 223 WSSM 45-110; 45-120; 458 Win. Mag.;
243" 6mm PPC USA; 243 WSSM; 243 Win.; 460 Wea. Mag.
6mm Rem.; 244 Rem.; 240 Wea. Mag. 475" 470 Nitro.
B27 25-20 Win.; 256 Win.; 250 Sav.; sO: =>) 50-70; 50 BMG.
257 Roberts; 25 -06; 257 Wea. Mag.;
25 WSSM
264" 6.5 x50mm Jap.; 6.5mm Carcano;
Jacketed Bullets
NOMINAL ear HANDGUN Although several bullet manufacturers offer pre-coated

BULLET DIAMETERS bullets, many shooters opt to coat their own with
Lyman’s Super Moly kit. The process for properly coat-
Diameter Suitable for these calibers. Please note ing bullets requires that they be clean and free of any
in inches _ that some calibers require bullets of residual oils from manufacturing. Shooters using steel
specific design with respect to velocity shot as a coating media should thoroughly clean the
shot with degreaser before beginning. Lyman’s Super
and expansion characteristics.
Moly kits utilize ceramic media. This ceramic media is
Pw hs 22 Rem. Jet.
much lighter than steel and gives better coverage. Full
PIL 221 Fireball; 5.7 x 28mm FN instructions are enclosed with Lyman’s Super Moly
18% 255ACP. kits.
309" 30 Luger (7.65 Parabellum); 30 Mauser. The Lyman technical staff fired several popular match
.311"-.312" 32 ACP.; 32 S&W; 32 S&W Long; loads with both uncoated and moly-coated bullets
through our 308 Winchester electronic piezo pressure
32 H&R Mag.
barrel. The results verify a reduction in chamber pres-
0 ss 380 ACP.; 9mm Luger (9mm Parabellum); sure as well as a slight reduction in velocity. These
9 x 21mm; 9 x 25mm; 38 Super; 357 Sig. results are based on five-shot strings and utilized
Sie 38 S&W, 38 Spl.; 357 Mag.; Remington cases and 9 1/2 primers. On average, moly
357 Maximum. coated bullets resulted in a three percent reduction of
364" 9 x 18mm Makarov chamber pressure and a one to two percent reduction
in velocity compared to uncoated bullets.
AOO 40 S&W.; 10mm Auto.
410 41 Action Exp.; 41 S&W Mag.
168-grain Sierra HPBT
429" 44 S&W Spl.; 44 Rem. Mag.; 44 Russian
452" 45 Auto Rim; 45 ACP.; 45 Win. Mag.;
41.5-grain of IMR-4895
460 S&W Mag.; 45 Colt, 454 Casuil; pressure velocity
45 Schofield; 45 GAP uncoated: 49,660 psi 2488 fps
480" 480 Ruger; 475 Linebaugh moly-coated: 47,300 psi 2459 fps
500" 50 Action Express; 500 S&W Mag. 2,360 psi 29 fps
175-grain Sierra HPBT

ADDENDUM: 42.0 grains of IMR-4064
MOLY COATED BULLETS pressure velocity
uncoated: 53,040 psi 2542 fps
The use of bullets coated with Molybdenum disulfide
or “moly” has become popular with high volume moly-coated: 50,980 psi 2507 fps
users such as varmint hunters and High Power shoot- 2,060 psi 35 fps
ers over the last ten years. Moly is a dry film lubricant
that reduces friction between the bullet and the rifle’s 190-grain Sierra HPBT
bore. Advocates of moly coating cite improved accu-
racy, longer barrel life, lower chamber pressure, and 41.3-grains of IMR-4895
reduced copper fouling. The substitution of moly-coat- pressure velocity
ed bullets in place of an uncoated bullet over a pet uncoated: 59,780 psi 2482 fps
load does not always yield peak accuracy. This substi- moly-ccated: 57,340 psi 2448 fps
tution of a moly-coated bullet often requires minor
2,440 psi 34 fips
tweaking of a particular load, usually increasing the
powder charge by a few tenths of a grain up to a grain
depending on the caliber and specific load. Use cau-
tion when working up all loads. Many shooters use
Kano Kroil® to clean moly fouling. Refer to Chapter
10 for additional tips on cleaning rifle barrels fired
with moly-coated bullets.
79
Bullet casting should always be conducted in a well ventilated area with all necessary precautions observed.
CAUTION: The making of cast lead bullets exposes CASTING PRECAUTIONS

the reloader to the potential risk of burns and the risk 1. Always cast in a well ventilated area - ideally out-
associated with accidental introduction of lead into doors. Never breath lead dust, lead fumes, or fluxing
the body. The reloader must take all the necessary fumes.
steps to prevent either occurrence. !t is important to
read and adhere to al! of the precautions listed in this 2. If gas heat is used to melt the lead metal, it is impor-
chapter and those included as instructional material tant to take steps to prevent the inhalation of carbon
when you purchase lead bullet casting and reloading monoxide.
equipment. These and all other necessary safety steps
are the responsibility of the reloader. 3. Use only properly grounced electric melting pots.
These are identified by a three prong plug. Do not cir-
Cast Bullets Are Economical cumvent proper grounding. Lack of grounding can
And Easy To Make cause serious electric shock.
One advantage of cast bullets is their low cost - just
4. Always wear heavy protective gloves, aprons, and
pennies apiece. A box of twenty 30-06 rounds assem-
bled with cast lead bullets will cost about $3.00; simi-
goggies or face shield. Splatters of hot molting lead
lar jacketed bullet ammunition may cost four or five cause serious burns. Cover all parts of the body with
times as much. Cast bullets also allow for extensive thick protective apparel that will withstand burning
shooting without barrel wear. Barrels seem to last through in case of an accidental spill or splatter.
indefinitely when used exclusively with cast bullets.
5. Keep all others away from the casting area.
Casting lead bullets requires the melting of a suitable
alloy, pouring the melt into a mould, allowing the 6. Be certain to use the melting pot only on a surface
alloy to harden, dropping the bullet from the mould, that is 100% free of any potential for the pot to be
and sizing/lubing the bullet to an appropriate diame- tipped or knocked over. Anchor the pot to the work
ter. The loading of cast bullets requires the edge of the surface. Never leave a pot unattended, not even for
case mouth to be slightly flared, allowing the cast bul- brief seconds.
let to be started into the case without shaving metal
from its base. All of these steps are straightforward and
7. Be cautious with fluxing materials. Avoid flamma-
not at all complex. However, as in all aspects of ble style flux in favor of noncombustible types.
ammunition making, specific cautions are important.
8. Place a suitable container under the pot spout to
These are as follows:
catch leaking or spilled metal to prevent unintended
damage to property or people.
80
Cast Bullets
9. Never eat, drink, or smoke, and keep hands away
from mouth, when handling lead in any manner. Composition and Hardness (BHN) of Useful Bullet Alloys
Thoroughly wash hands after lead handling opera- Percent
Alloy Lead Tin Antimony BHN
tions.
Monotype 72 9 19 28
10. Water, even minute amounts, will cause violent Stereotype 80 6 14 23
eruption of molten lead. Make sure all equipment is Linotype 84 4 12 22
absolutely free of any moisture. Keep moisture of any Lyman No. 2* 90 5 5 Ws
source away from the casting area, including conden- Taracorp Magnum* 92 2 6 15
sation on any overhead pipes. 1 to 1 Lead/Lino 92 2 6 15
Electrotype 94.5 3 Pas 12
11. Primers, loaded ammunition, and other sub- 10 to 1 91 9 — ss
stances, introduced into the hot melt, will cause vio- 16 to 1 94 6 — 11
lent eruption of the molten alloy. Keep all potential 20 to 1 95 5 — 10
accident causing items out of the casting area. Take 30 to 1 97 3 — 9
meticulous care to sort all lead alloy being ready for Wheelweighits* 95.5 0.5 4 9
40 to 1 97.5 PS — 8.5
melting to eliminate any chance of introducing any-
Pure Lead 100 = = 5
thing but bullet alloy into the melting pot.
e.Responds well to heat-treatment.
Getting Started
Make certain that the apparel chosen covers all parts
of the body. Don't forget the importance of protecting The softest alloys expand well but may result in barrel
ankles and feet from burns. There should be no area of leading especially as velocities increase.
exposed skin to be burned in an accident.
The basics tools of bullet casting equipment include: CAUTION: Never attempt to salvage metal from any
1. Bullet mould and handles. kind of battery. Doing so can be extremely hazardous.
2. Lead or lead alloy
3. Melting pot and dipper. (If a bottom pouring Some Casting Tips
electric furnace is used, a dipper is not Avoid getting any lead on block interface surfaces
required.) when casting. Even minute spots of bullet metal will
4 Alloy fluxing material and something to stir prevent the mould from closing properly. Wipe away
the flux into the molten alloy. An old large such spots while the mould is hot. Do not use a syn-
spoon works well. thetic rag for this purpose but rather one of a natural
5. Suitable mallet for tapping open the mould material such as cotton.
sprue-cutter plate.
6. Soft pad of nonflammable material on which Keep the sprue plate screw properly tensioned. The
to drop bullets from mould (perhaps an old sprue plate should turn readily but not be loose.
ironing board cover). Excessive pressure of the plate on the mould may pre-
Bullet sizing and lubricating tool. vent proper venting or cause wear on the blocks. A
Bullet lubricant. sloppy fit will result in accuracy-destroying raised
. Casting thermometer (optional). sprues on the bottom of the bullet. These raised sec-
=O
ON0. Ingot mould (optional). tions can prevent proper seating when gas checks are
required.
Lead Alloys
The bullet alloy used should be dependant upon the Never allow a mould to rust. (Rusted moulds can
intended application. Rifle bullets loaded to near max- sometimes be cleaned up using steel wool.) If you pro-
imum velocities should be made from a hard alloy to tect a mould with a lubricant between uses, it will be
prevent barrel leading. An ideal alloy contains 5% necessary to degrease the mould before each casting
antimony, 5% tin and 90% lead. This alloy has a session. Some folks simply store cool moulds in air
Brinell Hardness Number (BHN) of 15. Pure lead tight containers with a desiccant to prevent potential
(used for all muzzleloading projectiles) has a BHN of rusting. This eliminates the need for degreasing before
5, while Linotype has a BHN of 22. The hardest alloys each use.
will help prevent barrel leading but will not expand.
8]
Cast Bullets
will be obtained. Next, stir the melt with a dipper. Stir

deeply, frequently introducing a dipper full of air into
the melt. The air helps with the fluxing.
The surface of a properly fluxed melt appears almost

mirror bright and contains flecks of burned brown and
black impurities. These must be skimmed off using a
spoon like tool that has an insulated handle. During
casting, as soon as any impurities are seen on top of
the melt, it is time to again flux.
CAUTION : Be extremely careful when fluxing to pre-

The Lyman Mag 20 electric casting furnace features a vent tipping over the pot or any splashing any of the
thermostat for easy and precise temperature control. molting alloy.
Melting And Fluxing Bullet Metal CAUTION :The material skimmed off is very hot, per-
CAUTION: Be certain to wear protective clothing as haps 800 or more degrees. Dispose of it in a safe fire
previously described as well as heavy leather work proof container that will not be accidentally turned
gloves and goggles whenever working with molten over.
bullet metal.
Bullet Casting
The melting pot must be capable of heating the bullet
After fluxing, the melt is ready for casting. The melt
metal to 700 - 800 degrees Fahrenheit. A Lyman lead
temperature must be maintained or the cast bullets
pot placed on an electric or gas stove will prove satis-
will not be as expected. The nearby drawings show
factory. However the reloader will find an electric fur-
some common bullet problems related to temperature
nace made specifically for bullet casting to be faster
control. It is important to realize that proper tempera-
and more convenient. Such units, properly used, are
ture control also includes keeping the mould (and dip-
cleaner and quicker to work with. Their adjustable
per if one is used) at the correct temperature. Thus, the
thermostats also make casting temperatures easier to
casting pace may need to be increased or slowed, if
maintain.
you find the mould is too cold or too hot.
Whether blending raw metals into bullet alloy and
forming ingots, or actually making bullets, the same
Allow the mouid to preheat by resting it on the edge
melting and fluxing procedure is followed. It will take of the electric furnace. If you are using a cast iron pot
about 20 minutes for the solid metal to melt. When it with an independent heat source, heat the mould to
is hot enough to flow freely, the melt needs to be
casting temperature by repeatedly filling it with lead
fluxed to remove all impurities. To do so, drop a small until the bullets are properly formed.
bit of fluxing material into the pot. It is best to use
Marvelux (a dry fluxing material available from Each caster tends to develop their own routine.
www.brownells.com). There will be no smoke or Beginners often find the following method works well.
greasy fumes when using Marvelux and a good flux Fill the dipper with melt. Then, with the top of the bul-
UGE oF LAN et Sect ‘ ee ere ( iy bn. ®
Before fluxing, bullet alloy will have a dirty, lumpy appearance. After fluxing, the bullet alloy will hav e a bright, almost
mirror-like appearance.
Cast Bullets
Bullets will not fill out correctly until the mould reach-
es the proper temperature. A dozen, or more, casts
may be required before well formed bullets are
obtained. Imperfect bullets can be dropped into the
sprue container to be remelted at another time. Do not
be tempted to heat the mould by sticking it into the
melt. Such action will bring more grief than may first
come to mind.
Wrinkled Bullet Good Bullet Frosted Bullet

If the mould overheats do not attempt to cool it in
Temperature Too Cool ~Temperature Correct Temperature Too Hot water or use any other artificial means to lower its
temperature. The only safe method is to set the mould
let mould held vertically, place the dipper’s poring aside and allow a bit of time for it to cool.
spout into the sprue plate hole on the mould. Next,
rotate mould and dipper as a unit so that the top of the Wrinkled, or less than perfectly filled out bullets sug-
mould is horizontal and the dipper is above it. Now, gest that the temperature of either the melt or mould is
tip and pull the dipper slightly away to allow a small too cool. Frosted bullets, or bullets which break apart
amount of alloy to fill the concave area of the sprue easily, suggest that the either melt or mould is too hot.
cutter plate. If this is not done, as the melt solidifies, a Properly cast bullets have sharp edges and appear
hole will form in the base of the bullet. Remove the clean and bright.
dipper.
CAUTION : Do not drop poorly formed bullets or
Wait several seconds for the bullet to harden. Small sprues back into the melting pot. Doing so can cause
light bullets, i.e. 22 caliber bullets, will harden faster molten metal splashes which can result in serious
than large caliber heavy bullets, i.e. 45-70 bullets. burns or property damage.
Pace yourself so that the bullet is hard enough to pre-
vent damage as it falls from the mould. Speed up or It is a good practice to weigh all cast bullets to elimi-
slow down, as required, to keep the mould at an
nate those with air voids. A good caster will make bul-
appropriate temperature for proper bullet forming. lets that will vary no more than a half grain from the
Small diameter light bullets will require a faster pace average weight for the lot. Those that vary more than
this amount should be culled and remelted at a later
than the larger bullets.
date. The actual weight of your bullets will vary with
specific alloys. Bullet weights also vary from lot to lot
After the bullet cools in the mould, use a wood dowel
even when using the same type of alloy. Thus, it is a
or mallet to strike open the sprue plate, shearing the
good practice to segregate each lot of bullets.
sprue from the base of the bullet. Push the sprue plate
around far enough to fully clear the opening in the
mould. Never use more force on the sprue plate than
necessary to shear the sprue from the bullet base.
Allow the sprue to drop into a fireproof container. If

bullet bases have a cavity or concave shape on the
base, allow more of a sprue to form. The largest bullets
will require the largest sprues.
If lead smears appear on the top of the mould, after

rotating the sprue plate, allow the sprue to more com-
pletely solidify before cutting it off.
83
Cast Bullets
Gas Checks Improve SLUGGING THE BARREL

Cast Bullet Performance
The metal caps often placed on bullet bases are called
gas checks. These protect the bullet base from being
melted by hot firing gases. Gas checks are essential
whenever using high velocities. Protecting the bullet
base from having bits of lead brought to the melting
point, will prevent unnecessary bore leading and
avoid inaccuracy. Gas checks, attached when sizing
the bullet, must be seated squarely or accuracy will be Starting at the muzzle end, a soft lead slug (slightly larger
than the groove diameter) is driven through the barrel.
When the slug is retrieved on the breech end, it will be
perfectly engraved and clearly marked by both the lands
and the grooves. Measuring (with a micrometer) the
diameter of this slug at its widest point will determine the
groove diameter of the rifle. Bullets should conform to
this dimension.
Sizing And Lubricating Cast Bullets

Sizing cast bullets is required to ensure bullet diame-
ters of a nominal dimension. Usually bullets are sized
to, or just larger than, the actual groove diameter of the
firearm to be used. To determine the actual groove
Lyman cast bullet #375449. (I) Sized, lubed, and ready to diameter of any firearm, its bore should be slugged.
load. (r) Recovered from a Wild Boar. This bullet was
cast from an alloy of 12 bhn and fired at approximately A slightly oversized lead slug driven through the bore
1,750 feet per second at a distance of 80 yards. It
and measured, will provide the barrel's smallest diam-
expanded to double its original diameter with a retained
weight of 264.7 grains—perfect! eter. (Some shooters prefer to size to the diameter of
the barrel at two inches in front of the chamber.)
adversely affected. When searching for the best accuracy, first try a sizing
When used with a high velocity bullet lubricant, rifle diameter equal to the bore dimension. Then try bullet
bullets cast of a hard alloy and protected with a gas diameters of 0.001" and 0.002" larger.
check can withstand velocities in excess of 2,000 feet
per second. Some cast bullet users find it possible to Great care must be used when slugging a bore so as
exceed even 2,500 feet per second when everything is not to damage the bore surface. The rod used to drive
right and the bore is perfectly smooth. However, the slug through the barrel must be close fitting and
under normal circumstances most rifle shooters do have a slight radius on the outside edge. If the rod
best with velocities of about 1,800 feet per second. buckles or scraps on the bore, irreparable damage
could occur. If in doubt it is best to have a qualified
Gas checks can be applied only to bullets with a and experienced gunsmith do the bore slugging.
rebated base specifically designed for the purpose.
Gas check style bullets may be used without the gas Many shooters do not actually slug their bores, but
check applied, if velocity is kept modest. rather start with a sizing diameter to match the diame-
ter of jacketed bullets nominally used for their car-
CAUTION: Old style press-on gas checks should not tridge. This is a practical approach for the first series of
be used when bullet bases go below the case neck. accuracy tests. If the first tests do not provide the
This will avoid having a loose gas check fall into the desired accuracy, a second series of attempts can be
powder charge. Accuracy, with any style cast bullet, with bullets sized 0.001" larger. A third sequences can
will always be best if bullet bases are completely con- be with bullets 0.002" larger. It is counter productive to
tained within the neck of the cartridge case. use any larger sizing diameter.
84
Cast Bullets
Note: Seldom are barrels undersized; rather when Keep in mind that undersized bullets are a detriment
they vary from the nominal they are usually oversized. to accuracy. If sizing at nominal bore diameter (and
(It should be noted that some barrels of European then increasing to 0.001" and 0.002" over nominal)
manufacture have been found to be undersized.) does not give the desired results, slugging the bore
becomes mandatory. If such slugging shows the bore
Sizing And Lubricating Tips to be as expected then it is reasonable to look to other
Lubrication of bullets demands a proper flow of lubri- areas for the cause of the inaccuracy. If the slugging
cant. This is usually not possible when the ambient shows a non-typical barrel, then the appropriate bullet
temperature is less than 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and sizing diameter can be addressed. Keep in mind that it
warmer is better. This is particularly true with some of is not practical to reduce a bullet's as-cast diameter by
the hard, high performance lubes that are available. more than 0.002". Doing so negatively affects accura-
Note: It is possible to damage a lubricator by applying cy.
to much force in an attempt to force cold lubricant
into the bullet groove(s). The Lyman 4500 is available Consistency is the secret to success. Every effort
with a heater, which warms the lube/sizer press and should be taken to insure that each bullet is the same
eliminates this problem. as the last. When testing alloys, lubricants, or sizing
diameters do so only by changing one aspect at a
Note: The bullet should be pushed into the lubricator time. Keep good records of the results to be certain
with the correct top punch. If a poor fitting top punch that things do not become jumbled in memory.
is used the bullet will be sized misaligned. Such a con-
dition is contrary to the goal of accuracy. Always use Handgun Lead Bullet Tips
the exact top punch required for the bullet to be lubri- Handgun bullets cast of soft lead will expand if they
cated. have sufficient impact velocity (about 850 feet per sec-
ond). This is equally true of flat nosed bullets as well as
lf bullet lube forms on the bullet base, it may be due hollow point types. Naturally, the lead hollow points
to excessive pressure on the ‘lube in the reservoir. It do expand somewhat faster than a lead round nose
could also be due to improper adjustment in position- type, with other nose styles falling somewhere
ing the bullet in the sizing die with respect to its rela- between. However, bullets cast with a hard alloy will
tionship to the lubricant orifices. The design of the bul- not expand regardless of nose configuration.
let can also cause this. Bevel base bullets often get
lube in the bevel area. Be sure to remove any lubri- Wadcutter style lead bullets will leave large diameter
cant from the bullet base in order to prevent contami- sharply cut holes in paper targets and are preferred for
nation of the powder charge in a loaded round. this reason. At normal target shooting distances (up to
50 yards) wadcutters are very accurate. However,
Do not store lubricated bullets as the lubricant may there is a range limitation for wadcutters with respect
pick up contaminants that would be harmful to a bore. to bullet stability. Depending upon velocity, bullet
Size and lubricate only the number of bullets that will length, and base configuration, at somewhere
be loaded in a single session. between 60 and 100 yards most wadcutters will start
to tip and eventually begin to tumble. Because of this,
If a lubed bullet is dropped on the floor, or otherwise those wishing clean cut holes in targets at ranges past
picks up contaminants, discard it or carefully remove 50 yards frequently chose a semi-wadcutter bullet, for
all lubricant and contaminants from the bullet. It may example the Lyman mould numbers 358429 and
then be relubed. 452424 - Keith style bullets.
85
Cast Bullets
CAUTION: When loading hollow base lead bullets Suggested and Alternative Sizing Die Diameters
(hand cast or purchased) it is necessary to avoid very
heavy loads. It is possible for the front of such a bullet PISTOL
Caliber Dia. (inches)
to be separated from the skirt portion leaving the skirt
.22 Jet, .221 Fireball 224%, .225
stuck in the barrel. The separation is caused by firing 25 ACP 251%
pressures forcing the skirt tightly against the bore while .25 cal. 257, .258
pushing hard against the forward internal head sur- .30 Luger, 30 Herritt, 30 Mauser .310*
.82 ACP, .32/20, .32 S&W,
face. If the strength of the lead alloy is exceeded the .32 H&R Magnum 311, .312, 313%, .314
bullet comes apart. Such a condition is very danger- 9mm Luger’, .38, .38 Super
ous should another round be fired while the skirt is Auto, .380 Auto 354, .355%, .356
38 S&W, .38 Spl., 357 Mag.*,
stuck in the barrel. Thus, hollow base handgun bullets .357 Max. .357, 358%, .359, .360
should be used only for light target loads. 9mm Makarov .363
.38/40, 10mm Auto, 40 S&W 400%, .401
.41 S&W Mag., 41 Action Express .410*
44 S&W Spl., 44 Mag.*,44 Russian .429%, .430, .431
45 ACP, .45 Auto Rim, .45 Colt*
(post-WW Il), .45 Sch. .45 Win. Mag. .450, .451%, .452
.45 Colt (pre-WW Il) &
.455 Weble 454%
RIFLE
Caliber Dia. (inches)
.22 cal. (except .22 Hi-power) .224, .225%
.243, .244, 6mm .243, .244*
.25 Cals. LOO COOK
.264 Win. Mag., 6.5mm .264%, .266
.270 Win.* PAThe VARS) 6
7mm, .280 Rem., .284 Win. .284, .285*
.30 cals. .308, .309x, .310
7.62mm Russian* .310
.32/20 Win. 311, .312*
7.65mm Mauser* soul
.303 British*, 7.7mm Jap.* 1313, 314%
.32 Win. Spec. 32 S.L.,
.32 Rem. 2a
8mm Mauser (S Bore) 1323, 025%
.338 Win., .33 Win. 338%
9mm x 56, 9mm x 57 .354, .355%, .356
.35 Cal. .357, .358%, .359
.875 H&H Mag., .375 Win. SOLO, ROL URALOLS.
.38/55* 379
38/40 .400, 401*
.40 Cal. Rifle .406, .410
44/40 427, 428%
.44 Spl., .44 Magnum 429, 430%
.444 Marlin .430, .431%
.43 Spanish 439
45/70, .458 Win. .457, 458%, .459
.50 Cal. Rifle .509, .512*
* Wide variations in diameter. Suggest you slug barrel.

x Indicates suggested useful diameter, which may vary from gun to gun.
86
Section 4 - Specialty Articles
Section 4
Chapter Ten
Barrel Care and Cleaning
UP ACTELU TC page 89
Chapter Eleven:
Handloading the 1876 Replicas ........ page 96
Chapter Twelve:
Make the Jump to Premium Bullets ..... page 104
Chapter Thirteen:
Handloading Winchester’s
SENN Ae ANRC ORSa Acie ydems, x «statin spejecene theo page 110
A Tribute
Charles L. “Butch” Fisher 1947-2007
It is with sincere regret that we inform our customers the country’s best. Butch’s passion for accuracy, preci-
and friends in the shooting community of the passing sion and firearms maintenance led him to develop
of our friend Butch Fisher. Butch died peacefully at his Butch’s Bore Shine, which many consider to be the
home in Billings Montana on July 20, 2007. finest bore solvent ever developed for firearms. To get
his “Bore Shine” in the hands of as many active shoot-
Butch was born in Sunbury, PA, on Jan. 25,1947 and ers as possible Butch joined forces with Lyman
grew up and attended school in Selinsgrove Products in January of 2000 to market the Butch’s
Pennsylvania. He proudly joined the United States Brand of products, so he could continue to devote his
Coast Guard at the age of 17, where he was a time to his real passions, Benchrest Shooting and his
Gunners Mate third class and served a tour of duty in family in Montana. Butch, and his wife Linde, attend-
Danang, South Vietnam from 1967-1968. After his ed our national trade shows and Butch recently did a
service in the Coast Guard Butch worked as a lineman seminar on firearms maintenance at the NRA Show.
for PP&L in Pennsylvania and later for the Montana He was a devoted family man and was passionate
Power Company, in Yellowstone Park, Butte, Great about the Shooting Sports. In typical “Butch Fashion”
Falls and Billings Montana. and at his request, a sampling of his ashes were
loaded into a cartridge and fired at his Memorial
It was during his service in the Coast Guard, as a Service at the Yellowstone Rifle Club in Billings
Gunner’s Mate, where Butch developed his knowl- Montana. Godspeed to an industry original, our part-
edge of firearms and their maintenance and later his ner and friend.
love of Benchrest Shooting, where he became one of
88
Barrel Care & Cleaning for Accuracy by Butch Fisher 10
A good quality cleaning rod and a bore guide are important tools necessary to properly clean a rifle.
| have been involved in some form of competitive loading rifle he had made. | vividly remember being
shooting for over 40 years. | currently shoot in preci- very disconcerted at the difficulty | encountered trying
sion bench rest competitions all around the US and to ram a patched ball down the muzzle of that
Canada. Obviously, as a competitive shooter, | have weapon after only a handful of shots. Any sort of
always been concerned with firearm accuracy. There group | might be shooting deteriorated very quickly
are certainly many different and varied factors which after a just a few rounds. Subsequently, most of my
can contribute to the accuracy of any firearm. shooting time was spent with patches, a cleaning jag
However, despite the type of firearm being utilized, and a bucket of soapy water trying to keep that rifle
and the many variable factors involved, there is clean. Certainly the fouling created by an old can of
always one accuracy problem which is common to all DuPont FF black powder cannot be compared to the
firearms. That problem is termed very simply as "bore fouling problems we see in the modern firearms of
fouling." Any build-up of residues in the bore of a today. But bore fouling in today's weapons is still a
firearm will very quickly begin to cause accuracy major contributor to accuracy deterioration.
deterioration. The rate of that deterioration can and
will vary from gun to gun, but it universally affects all The types and rate of fouling one encounters in mod-
types of firearms. On many occasions over the years | ern weapons can vary greatly due to a variety of fac-
have had individuals come to me with complaints tors. Those factors can include the ammunition a
about firearms they claim used to group extremely shooter might utilize, the type of projectile, the bore
well. However, these firearms were now performing diameter, the type, depth and twist of the rifling, and
poorly. A few of these guns had actual problems, but many other variables. There are also several very dis-
the majority again fired decent groups after | per- tinct and diverse fouling problems. Fouling is simply
formed nothing more than a proper, thorough clean- the build-up of any residues in a weapon's bore. Most
ing on the firearm. shooters are familiar with powder fouling. However,
fouling residues can also include several other sub-
Growing up as a youngster in Pennsylvania | learned stances. Shooters who utilize cast lead bullets will
at an early age the negative effects that fouling can experience a build-up of lead. Copper wash from cop-
produce. My father had a nice collection of original per jacketed bullets can be a very difficult and stub-
Pennsylvania Rifles and he also built muzzle loading born substance to remove. It also builds up quickly.
rifles as a hobby. My first experience with firearms Some small caliber factory ammunition can cause a
consisted of shooting targets at 50 yards with a muzzle build-up of wax from the wax coatings on that ammu-
89
Barrel Care and Cleaning for Accuracy
nition. Scattergun users will often experience fouling at high velocities. As the rifling cuts into the projectile,
from plastic wads which will eventually cause a dete- the high amount of friction taking place shears off
rioration in the patterns those guns shoot. In recent microscopic fragments of copper. These microscopic
years, the introduction of bullet lubricating substances fragments of copper create a “copper wash” which is
such as Moly and Danzac have spawned their own blown on up the barrel. The immense amount of fric-
unique fouling problems. Additives such as teflon in tion taking place causes a sort of copper plating effect
some lubricating oils can also create problems. in the upper portions of the barrel. As more rounds are
Understanding and controlling all these types of foul- fired this plating process continues to build. At some
ing residues is absolutely paramount to the top per- point the lands of the rifling can no longer penetrate
formance of any firearm. the jacket and this begins to affect the movement of
the projectile. You now have a case of copper fouling.
How Fouling Affects Accuracy This copper plating effect can be very difficult to
To understand how fouling affects accuracy one must remove if it is allowed to build.
first have an understanding of the various types of foul-
ing and how they build in your barrel. Powder fouling Shooters who use cast lead bullets will also experi-
is common to all firearms. Powder fouling is primarily ence a build-up of lead for the same reasons as the
burnt carbon residue. When you pull the trigger on users of copper jacketed bullets. Lead is even. more
any firearm, the heat produced by the combustion of
malleable than copper. If you take a piece of lead and
the burning powder is tremendous. It is not unlike tak- scratch it across your concrete garage floor, it will
ing a blow torch and blasting it up your barrel. Hot leave a distinct mark or residue due to the friction
gases from the burning powder create immense heat involved in the action of the movement. In the barrel
and pressure. As they begin to erupt and roll out of the of a firearm the friction involved causes cast bullets to
case behind the projectile, they first blast what is readily shed lead. As the lead builds it will also begin
called the “lead” of the barrel. The “lead” is the small to impair the smooth movement of the projectile and
area between the end of the chamber and the “throat” you will start to have a lead fouling problem. Lead can
of the barrel. The “throat” is where the projectile first also be difficult to remove, but not nearly as difficult as
contacts the lands of the barrel. As the pressure builds, copper.
the projectile is pushed forward through the “throat”
and then spins on up through the barrel. Since the Wax coatings in some factory ammunition and cer-
peak pressure level is concentrated in the “lead,” the tainly plastic wads in shotgun shells will also cause
“throat,” and a few inches beyond, the majority of the similar fouling problems in the upper ends of barrels.
powder fouling is also concentrated in these areas. However, they are usually relatively easy to remove.
Often in the “lead” area of a firearm you will find what Bullets coated with substances such as Molybdenum
is called “fire cracking.” These are actual microscopic Disulfide and Danzac have become popular in recent
cracks in the steel caused by the tremendous heat cre- years. If allowed to go unchecked, they can also be a
ated by the cartridge. This “lead” area of the barrel problem
usually becomes caked with residue. The heat and
pressure also puts a lot of wear and tear on the The Rate of Build-Up
“throat” area as well. Some carbon fouling will usually The rate at which any form of fouling builds up in a
extend the entire length of the bore but it is much firearm can and does vary from gun to gun. This is pri-
more concentrated in this lower end. As more rounds marily because of the wide diversity in barrels. Most
are fired, the carbon begins to build. At some point the factory produced barrels fashioned by the larger
build-up of burnt carbon residue begins to actually firearms companies today are usually made from less
shrink the diameter of the bore, causing bullet pres- expensive chrome moly varieties of steel. The mass
sures to rise. As more pressure is applied the projec- production tooling process utilized by these manufac-
tile's ability to properly engage the lands and smoothly turers often leaves a substantial amount of tooling
move down the bore becomes impaired. You now marks and imperfections in these barrels. These tool-
have a powder fouling problem. ing scratches and imperfections are places which will
catch and hold fouling. Subsequently, these barrels
Shooters who use copper jacketed bullets will also usually tend to foul rather quickly. Custom barrels pro-
experience what is known as copper fouling. As the duced by smaller companies like Lilja, Hart, Shilen,
heat and pressure build, those gases create tremen- Krieger, and others around the country are usually
dous torque behind the projectile. This pushes the made from better varieties of stainless steels. The tool-
jacketed projectile forward and spinning up the barrel Ing imperfections in these barrels are then hand
90
lapped away by the manufacturer. The rate of fouling ment. However, there are some things you can do
build-up in these custom barrels will often be retarded, without a bore scope to estimate the condition of your
to some extent, but even quality custom barrels will firearm. First, taking a long look through the bore can
still foul reasonably fast. The rifling in a barrel always reveal a lot. Often one can see fouling with the naked
plays a role. The number of lands, their depth, the rate eye alone. Another trick which works well when
of twist, and the type of rifling will all have an effect on endeavoring to ascertain the extent of copper fouling
the rate at which the barrel will foul. For example, in is to take the barrel out into the sunlight. Hold the bar-
my experience cut rifling tends to foul a bit more rel out away from your body a foot or two and a cou-
quickly than button or mandrel forged rifling. The ple feet below eye level. Put the sun over your shoul-
more lands a barrel has and the deeper the grooves, der and view the crown of the barrel from that angle.
the quicker it will foul. Faster twist barrels often foul a You can usually see down the first inch of the barrel.
bit quicker than slower twist barrels. Bullet caliber and Move the barrel around until you get the sunlight to
case size also have an effect. Smaller caliber firearms reflect off that first inch of the inside of your barrel.
with big cases will tend to foul faster than firearms Bright sunlight will reflect off any copper residue
with more average size cases. This is simply because below the barrel crown. If you have a fair amount of
you are using a large amount of powder to push a copper just below the crown, you can be certain you
small’ diameter projectile. The more powder packed have it further down the bore. Another method of
into a case, the faster the fouling. The high velocities judging fouling is simply by feel. When working your
these cartridges produce will also increase the amount cleaning rod through the barrel you can often feel
of copper wash and therefore cause faster copper “rough spots” where the rod does not move through
build-up. smoothly. These are more than likely places that have
a heavy build-up of residues. One of the easiest ways
Cleaning Frequency to check for severe copper fouling is an examination
of your cleaning patches. If you are using a solvent like
In competitive bench rest shooting the better shooters
my “Butch's Bore Shine” or another copper cleaner
are usually fastidious cleaners and often clean after
with ammonia, a lot of blue coloration on the patch
every five to ten rounds. Cleaning every few rounds
will indicate a substantial amount of copper residue.
might seem a bit excessive to the average shooter, but
most competitive shooters will tell you that bore foul-
ing starts to have a noticeable effect on accuracy after
Cleaning Accessories
only a few rounds. How many rounds that might be So far we have some idea of how fouling works and
depends on the firearm and the variables | discussed the problems it creates. So the question now becomes,
above. | have owned firearms that could handle 25 to "How do we correctly remove it?" Before cleaning
30 rounds before | began to notice any real accuracy your firearm, | always recommend the purchase of a
deterioration. | have also had some that would foul few cleaning too!s and accoutrements. The first pur-
after only five or six shots. The frequency of fouling chase should always be a quality cleaning rod. The
will certainly vary from gun to gun but you can be rod should be plastic coated, since metal rods can
assured that fouling will definitely begin to affect accu- scratch a barrel. Some poorer quality plastic coated
racy in all firearms at some point. Keeping a firearm rods can also lose pieces of their coating and can then
free from all forms of fouling is probably the easiest pick up particles of fouling residue while being
chore a shooter can perform to assure that the weapon
is performing at its best. Any shooter concerned with
accuracy needs to clean frequently and correctly.
It is always difficult to ascertain the exact extent of

fouling that is present in any firearm without the use of
a bore scope. A bore scope is a tool which can be
inserted down the barrel of a firearm. It magnifies the
inside of the bore so as to enable the user to examine
the entire length of that barrel. These wonderful instru-
ments allow a close examination of the lands and
grooves, revealing any residue build-up, barrel weat,
and the barrel’s overall health and condition.
Obviously, since these tools are rather expensive, few A good quality patch is saturated with solvent and is
shooters have the luxury of access to such an instru- ready to be inserted into the bore guide.
worked through the bore. If this happens they can equipment necessary to keep it adequately main-
actually act like a file, doing damage to your barrel. So tained. Once you have your cleaning accessories in
purchase a good quality rod! Your second purchase is place, you are now ready to clean your firearm.
a rod guide. A rod guide is an instrument which slides
into the receiver of a bolt action rifle and is inserted A Normal Cleaning Regimen
into the chamber, replacing the bolt which is For purposes of this discussion, | am going to assume
removed. Some guides are actually equipped with a that your firearm is ready for what | call a normal
bolt handle which can be locked into place. The front maintenance cleaning. By normal maintenance | am
of the guide is equipped with a rubber gasket to seal referring to a firearm that has been fired no more than
the chamber. The back end of the guide extends out 15 to 25 times. If more rounds have been fired you
the back of the receiver. Some guides have a conven- will probably have more severe fouling and it must be
ient solvent port cut into the top in order to allow treated differently. The first thing you need is a quality
cleaning fluids to be applied through the opening. A solvent. | am definitely going to recommend my prod-
cleaning rod can be inserted through the rear of the uct, Butch's Bore Shine solvent. | formulated BBS to be
guide and then pushed through into the bore. Guides what | call a one-step patch solvent. That means that it
come in various sizes designed to fit any chamber, is designed to work, in most cases, with only a few
and are reasonably priced. The primary purpose for patches in order to eliminate the need for brushing. |
using a rod guide is to allow the rod to slip smoothly call it a one-step product because unless your barrel is
into the bore. Without a guide, rods can scratch the severely fouled, BBS will remove all forms of fouling,
throat area as they are inserted into the barrel. They including copper, quickly and without too much
also help eliminate some of the mess involved in the effort. Most products on the market today will only
cleaning process by keeping solvents and residues work on one form of fouling and you need several dif-
from dripping back inte your receiver. ferent products to properly clean a barrel. As | stated
above, | generally recommend a maintenance clean-
You will also need the correct size jag, a chamber ing every 15 to 25 rounds. This figure will likely vary
mop, and some brushes to go along with your rod. from gun to gun but can be used as a good rule of
Patches are another must. Here you will probably thumb or starting point. | have found that accuracy
need to experiment a bit in order to find patches of the generally starts to be affected by bore fouling some-
correct thickness and consistency in order to work where around that figure in most firearms. Just remem-
well in your particular barrel. What you are looking ber, the more you shoot the more the fouling build-up.
for is a patch that fits snuggly yet can be easily pushed My regimen only requires a few patches and can be
through the bore. If your patch is a bit too tight, try performed very quickly so there is no excuse not to be
placing your jag in the corner of the patch rather than a diligent cleaner.
the center. This often will help a thicker patch work
well in a smaller barrel. | have what | consider an
excellent patch out on the market that is specially
treated for absorbency and corrugated for scrubbing. It
will actually hold more solvent. However, any good
cotton flannel patch will work.
A gun cradle is another tool | like to use. Cleaning can

be vigorous and it’s great to have your gun sitting in a
sturdy cradle rather than trying to man-handle it on
the kitchen table. Your wife might also appreciate the
purchase! If you are handy, a cradle can be easily con-
structed or you can purchase one for a reasonable
price. — LY
It is also nice to have an old sock or some type of

cover that you can slip over the rear of your stock. The first patch run through a dirty barrel will come out
completely soiled from powder fouling.
Some of the composite gun stocks have beautiful paint
jobs; a cover will help protect them. Frankly, I’ve To begin, place a patch on the point of your rod jag
always been somewhat amazed by individuals who and push it into the rear of the rod guide until it reach-
will pay thousands of dollars for a custom-built rifle, es a point directly below the solvent port. Liberally dis-
yet not spend a few extra dollars to purchase the
92
A line-up of patches shows the cleaning process from start to finish. Watch for any blue discoloration on the patches, which
would indicate copper fouling in the barrel.
pense enough solvent into the port to thoroughly satu- be more complex and diligent. You will now have to
rate your patch. Push the patch on through the bore resort to brushing. Never use a brush with steel bris-
slowly until it exits the muzzle. This first patch will be tles. Steel brushes can scratch and damage a bore. |
black and very dirty. Most of the residue on the patch much prefer a bronze brush. There are nylon brushes
will be from powder fouling. When pushing the clean- available but | just don't think they do a decent
ing rod through a bore be careful that you do not put enough job. Before brushing try another couple of
undo pressure on the rod in an upward or downward patches liberally soaked with my BBS. Run them
direction, as this can cause your rod to bow and rub through the bore, then sit back and let it soak. You can
against the barrel. This can cause scratches. Follow the soak your barrel with BBS as long as you like. BBS will
first patch with a second liberally saturated patch. not harm barrel steel. Letting it soak will allow the sol-
However, be sure to wipe your rod with a towel or vent to work on the fouling. Now screw the brush into
piece of cloth between each patch. Wiping the rod your rod and push the rod into the guide. Liberally
removes any grit that might have been picked up so soak the brush with solvent and push it on through
that it won't scratch the barrel if the rod accidentally your barrel. Pull the brush back through on the reverse
comes into contact with it. Inspect the second patch, it stroke. Continue this process one stroke for every
shouldn't be nearly as dirty as the first. Continue with round you think was fired. One round per stroke is just
another saturated patch. Short stroke this patch back something | use as a gauge, or rule of thumb, it’s not
and forth as you push it through the bore, utilizing a any hard and fast rule. Severe fouling may require
little vigor. Carefully examine the third patch for signs additional brushing or might clean up with just a few
of blue coloration which indicates copper fouling. If strokes. It depends on how severely fouled the barrel
you find a fair amount of blue color, short stroke a is. Lead fouling and heavy carbon will usually clean
couple more patches. When a patch finally exits rea- out with a good brushing but copper can at times be a
sonably clean you can follow with a couple dry patch- much more difficult problem to alleviate. After you
es to remove any solvent that might remain in the have completed brushing, switch back to the jag and
bore. A very small amount of blue color can show up run a solvent soaked patch through the bore. You
on a clean patch. This is caused by the brass jag might now see a lot of blue color on the patch. This is
(which contains copper) rather than copper fouling in because there is copper in a bronze brush as well as
the barrel. Always conclude a cleaning with lubrica- copper in your barrel. Much of the blue color on your
tion. | will discuss lubrication later. This simple clean- patch is from the brush, not the barrel. BBS solvent
ing regimen, if done frequently before fouling has a removes all forms of fouling, including copper, and
chance to become severe, should keep most weapons therefore will remove some of the copper from the
performing as intended. brush as you are cleaning. Therefore, always rinse
your brush well after using BBS because any solvent
Severe Fouling left on the brush will continue to eat away at the bris-
tles and turn the brush black. | use lacquer thinner for
Sometimes shooters will fire 100 rounds or more with- rinsing but even water will help if you have nothing
out cleaning. And some individuals utilizing jacketed else available. After rinsing the brush, squeeze it with a
bullets will clean only with a powder remover. In rag or an old towel to remove any excess. This helps
these instances, you can be sure that bore fouling has give your brush a longer life. However, brushes are
been allowed to become much more severe. If you very reasonably priced and the cost is well worth a
clean with only a powder solvent, copper or lead foul- clean gun. Now try another patch or two soaked with
ing can really become a problem since most powder solvent. Closely examine these patches for blue color.
solvents, unlike BBS, won't work well on copper or There should be little or no blue color present if your
lead. Therefore, your cleaning techniques will have to
93
fee Cesie ond conse od
Butch’s gun care products include Bore Shine cleaning solvent, Black Powder Bore Shine cleaning solvent, Gun Oil
and “Triple Twill’ cleaning patches.
brushing did the job. Once you get a color free patch, Danzac have become popular in recent years.
dry the bore and follow with lubrication. Actually, variations of these coatings have been
around since the 1950's. Users and manufacturers
If after a thorough brushing you are still finding blue now tout longer barrel life, higher velocities, and
color on your patches, or perhaps feeling tight spots in reduced copper fouling among the benefits of coated
the barrel which you think might still be fouling, you bullets. | find that Moly build-up, if allowed to go
will probably have to resort to the use of a bore paste. unchecked, can create a real mess in a barrel. | have
Bore pastes are products that contain abrasives. They observed severe Moly fouling in barrels using a bore
can be found in most sporting goods stores. Wrap a scope. The Moly build-up is usually concentrated sev-
patch around your jag, or you can utilize an old used eral inches above the throat, although it can also
brush. Heavily coat it with the bore paste. Vigorously extend further up the barrel. It appears very irregular
work your rod back and forth through the bore five to and knobby looking, not unlike snake or lizard skin.
ten times. Remember, bore pastes are abrasives, and if
overused can do damage to the barrel. Use them spar- In examining cleaning procedures for firearms that uti-
ingly! With a bore paste you are actually sanding the lize Moly/Danzac, | think there are some variables we
fouling out of a barrel. However, the use of a bit of need to look at. There are probably some definite ben-
bore paste every several hundred rounds shouldn't efits with Moly/Danzac such as reduced copper foul-
harm a barrel. Again, follow with solvent soaked ing. Logic dictates to me that shooters should not have
patches to clean out the paste and check for blue. to clean as often when using these substances.
Once a patch comes through clean, dry the bore and However, when comparing the cleaning frequency of
lubricate it. firearms using standard bullets to those using coated
bullets, at what point do we set that variable? This can
Cleaning a Moly/Danzac Fouled Barrel be a real problem and one that will not be uniform to
Since | created BBS, many of the questions | field from all firearms. It requires experimentation with the indi-
shooters concern cleaning techniques for use with vidual firearm involved. In my experience, firearms
firearms that utilize coated bullets. Bullets coated with using Moly/Danzac that are cleaned infrequently (after
substances such as Molybdenum Disulfide and 50 or more rounds), usually tend to have fouling
94
The author, Butch Fisher, was a well known bench rest competitor and the originator of Butch’s Gun Care products.
build-up problems in varying degrees. The more of a lightly lubricated barrel, in my opinion, far out-
rounds fired between cleaning, the bigger the prob- weigh the risk of a flyer on that first round. Oil will fill
lem. Therefore, one should experiment, but certainly those minute pores and tool marks in your barrel, cre-
adjust the cleaning frequency downward if experienc- ating a smoother surface to shoot over. Oil will also
ing any form of Moly/Danzac build-up. Since | am a retard fouling to some extent, allowing more rounds of
fastidious cleaner, | recommend my cleaning regime accurate shooting. Think of your barrel as the bore of a
every 15 to 25 rounds for regular bullets. | would gasoline engine and the bullet as the piston. You
extend that out to perhaps 40 rounds for shooters would never start that engine without oil for lubrica-
using Moly/Danzac and start from there. Some knowl- tion. The same is true of a firearm.
edgeable individuals who shoot with Moly and clean
with BBS feel their cleaning results have been effective | experimented for over two years with various types
with that frequency. Since BBS is primarily a patch sol- of oils in developing my Butch's Gun Oil. My oil is a
vent it does not require brushing if used frequently. special blend of several natural oils that hold up very
Brushing can remove the Moly coating on the barrel well under the high pressures and the tremendous
surface and defeat the purpose of the product. If you heat created by a cartridge. It also contains a rust
do get a case of severe Moly/Danzac build-up, you inhibitor for the maximum in corrosion protection. But
will have to resort to the brushes or possibly a bore any light gun oil will certainly work better than no oil
paste. Just follow the same procedures | discussed in to protect your barrel and to extend its life and accura-
the severe fouling segment. Remove all fouling and cy. The only lubricants | would avoid are oils contain-
start again from scratch. ing synthetic additives such as teflon. | have found that
some additives can create a fouling problem of their
Lubrication own. Once you have lubricated the barrel, remove
Once you have a barrel that is clean of all forms of your rod guide. You can now take a chamber mop
fouling you should always coat the barrel with a light and give the chamber a quick turn or two so that you
remove any dirt, drips or residue from that area.
gun oil. Shooting over a dry barrel will produce imme-
Whenever you do an extensive cleaning, you should
diate copper streaking and can also cause excess wear
always use a little bolt grease on the lugs and on the
to the bore. Some individuals are leery about using oil
bolt cam. There are several quality high pressure
because they are overly concerned about first shot greases available at your gun store. You are now ready
accuracy. They think an oiled barrel will cause a flyer to shoot again and your firearm should perform with
on the first shot after cleaning. This can be true to the accuracy it was designed to provide.
some extent; however, if your barrel is squeaky clean
and you follow your oiled patch with a dry patch in Good Luck & Good Shooting !
order to remove excess oil, your first point of impact Butch Fisher
should be quite close to your target aim. The benefits
95
1 Handloading the 1876 Replicas by Brian Pearce
hunter to make his shots at long range made it desir-
able to build a still more powerful gun than the model
173s"
Winchester quickly considered the many requests
for a repeating rifle of greater power and basically
enlarged the action of the Model 1873 to create the
Model 1876. The rifle was first displayed at the
Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition of 1876, our
nations first 100-years, and thus became known as the
Centennial Model. Although sales never equaled the
Model 1873, and were never expected to, it was suc-
cessful and filled a specific void in the Winchester
line.
The Model 1876 became a colorful rifle, serving
Author found the Model 1876 rifles accurate and fun to in the hands of many that were living and creating his-
shoot.
tory. For example, while learning the cowboy trade
and ranching in the Dakota’s during the 1880's, a
young Teddy Roosevelt (later to become President of
the United States) obtained considerable experience as
Handloading the 1876 Winchester a hunter and in pursuing rustlers and thieves. He
Replicas in 40-60, 45-60 and 45-75 developed a close relationship with Winchester
Repeating Arms and expressed a special fondness for
the Model 1876. In his book “Hunting Trips of a
The first rifle to bear the Winchester name was the
Model 1866 lever action, which was an improved
version of the Model 1860 Henry rifle. The design
features a “toggle link,” which describes the locking
mechanism and is not especially strong. Winchesters
next major arms development, also based on the same
design patents of the 1860, was the Model 1873 rifle,
which was initially constructed of iron (about 1882
being changed to steel) making it stronger than the
previous brass frame models 1860 and 1866.
Additionally, the 1873 was designed for center fire
cartridges (rather than rim fire) and was chambered for
the new .44 WCF (also known as the 44-40) cartridge,
a combination that became immensely popular in
United States from east to west. And to further
increase its acceptance, Colt, Smith & Wesson and
others offered revolvers so chambered, allowing one
load for rifle and sixgun. Early ammunition drove a
200-grain bullet to around 1300 fps from a 24-inch
barrel, which was pleasant to shoot and became a
popular deer cartridge. However, many frontiersman
and big game hunters needed a repeating rifle with
greater power and longer-range capabilities. In the
west, buffalo (actually bison), elk, moose and the pow-
erful grizzly bear were best taken with a cartridge of
greater power. And when hunting deer and antelope
in open country, a rifle with greater range helped with
success. For example a Winchester statement read
“The constant calls from many sources and particular-
ly from the regions in which the grizzly bear and other The reproduction Model 1876 by Charter 2000 (right)
large game are found, as well as the plains where closely resembles original Winchester rifles (left).
absence of cover and shyness of game require the
96
Handloading the 1876 Winchester Replicas
As a fourteen-year old boy, grandpa and his family

found themselves in the middle of the bloody
Tewksbury-Graham feud or range war of 1887,
wherein between 28 to 50 people were killed. The
Pearce family managed to remain mostly neutral, stay-
ing friends with people on both sides. He describes
when the Graham family visited their Taylor, Arizona
home for an overnight stay on their way to testify at a
trial. He states “The Graham boys were in their late
teens or early twenties, and each lugged a Colt Single
Action .45 Colt Six Shooter on his hip and packed a
Winchester 1876 chambered in 45-60 in a saddle hol-
ster. Their belts carried one full round of pistol and
rifle cartridges...” Grandpa goes on to describe the
terrible war between these cattle and sheep men,
The Model 1876 chambered in 45-75 WCF proved capa- wherein the big Winchester rifles were the “standard
ble of safely driving 330-grain cast bullets to over 1500 fighting arm.”
fps with 41.0 grains of Accurate Arms AA2015 powder. Clearly the Winchester Model 1876 played an impor-
tant role on the western frontier, and was highly val-
Ranchman” Roosevelt states “Stocked and sighted to ued by those that used them.
suit myself it (the Model 1876) is by all odds the best
weapon | ever had, and | now use it almost exclusive- The Model 1876 Cartridges
ly, having killed every kind of game with it, from griz- The Winchester Model 1876 was offered first in
zly bear to big horn. The Winchester is the best gun 45-75 WCF, with the 45-60 WCF and 50-95 Express
for any game to be found in the United States, for it is being added in 1879 and the 40-60 WCF in 1884.
deadly, accurate, and handy as any, stands very rough The 45-75 WCF held around 75-grains of black pow-
usage, and is unapproachable for the rapidity of its fire der and was advertised to drive a 350-grain lead bullet
and the facility with which it is loaded.” to 1383 fps. It was of bottleneck design with a com-
The number of Model 1876's that Roosevelt owned is paratively short body and shoulder, and a rather long
unclear, however, there were several. His favorite neck to house the 350-grain lead bullets and keep its
large game gun (especially grizzly bear) included a 45- lubricant in check. Due to its greater overall cartridge
75 WCF Deluxe with half magazine. This is presum- length, Winchester never could house the 45-70
ably the same gun he holds when photographed in Government cartridge in the Model 1876 rifle; howev-
buckskin; the photo appearing on the front cover of er, the 45-75 was an attempt to offer similar perform-
his book titled “Outdoorsman.” This was his favorite ance in a repeater. Some have criticized the rather
rifle during this period and he refers to it as his “faithful unusual bottleneck design, however, in shooting origi-
old standby” (at least until the Winchester Model 1886 nal and reproduction rifles so chambered and devel-
came along). Roosevelt also used a 40-60 WCF in
both rifle and carbine configurations, preferring the lat-
ter as a saddle gun, for hunting deer and antelope and
using it to capture boat thieves in 1886.
The Model 1876 also became popular in many
parts of the west. My grandfather, Joe Pearce, lived on
the Arizona frontier during its lawless years prior to
statehood. His parents were early settlers in the territo-
ry and he worked as a cowboy, rancher and served in
various branches of law enforcement including the
notorious Arizona Rangers, wearing badge #13. And
he was a gunman, a master, and one who valued and
understood the value of a powerful rifle. In writings he
The Lyman mould #457191 casts bullets at 292-grains
left for his posterity, he elaborates at how difficult the and is an excellent choice for the 45-60 WCF cartridge.
“large caliber” Winchester repeaters were to obtain This cartridge is loaded with 14.8 grains of IMR Trail Boss
during the 1870's and 1880's, due to their great powder, which supports the base of the bullet to prevent
demand. deep seating, while the bullet is crimped over the front
driving band.
97
that figure. Winchesters Browning patent rifle, the
Model 1886, was capable of handling larger, longer
and more powerful cartridges, which ultimately lead
to the demise of the Model 1876 and its cartridges.
The last rifle was shipped in 1898 and total production
was just short of 64,000 rifles. By the beginning of
World War II, all cartridges for the 1876 were discon-
tinued and considered obsolete.
Reproduction Model 1876 Rifles

Many modern shooters have rediscovered the fun
and effectiveness of once popular 19th century guns
Left to right: 40-60 WCF with Lyman cast bullet #403168, and cartridges. Some have even set aside modern
45-60 WCF with Lyman cast bullet #457191 and 45-75
rifles and cartridges to begin hunting with vintage and
WCF with Lyman cast bullet #457122 hollow-point.
reproduction arms. Original Model 1876 Winchester
oping load data, this is an excellent cartridge offering rifles are generally expensive and can be hard to find,
power and performance. however, Charter 2000, Taylors & Co., and Cimarron
The 50-95 Express was developed primarily as a hunt- Firearms Company are offering reproductions priced
ing cartridge, however, its acceptance was limited. in the reach of most shooters. All are of Italian manu-
The Winchester factory load drove a 300-grain lead facture.
bullet to an advertised 1557 fps. The problem was For the purposes of this article, three rifles were
that the bullet lacked sectional density, limiting pene- obtained from Charter 2000 (Chaparral-Repeating
tration on larger game stich as bison and large bears. Arms) chambered in 40-60, 45-60 and 45-75 WCF
And the short bullet shed its velocity too quickly, mak- cartridges. (The 50-95 Express will be forthcoming,
ing it inferior to its “sister” cartridges at longer ranges. but as of this writing, guns are not yet available.)
For these reasons the .45 caliber rifles gained consider- These rifles lack the near perfect fit and finish of origi-
ably more acceptance among hunters seeking a pow- nal Winchester rifles, however, they feature improved
erful cartridge. (As this is written, the reproduction steels and are capable of safely handling smokeless
rifles are not available in 50-95 Express, so must be powder loads with pressures up to 28,000 cup. And
omitted from the accompanying data.) considering their modest retail price of around $1000,
The 45-60 WCF was essentially a 45-70 Government they are a good value. All three Charter 2000 guns are
case shortened to 1.89.” It contained a 300-grain lead in “rifle” configuration with crescent steel buttplate
bullet, driven with around 60-grains of black powder, and octagon barrels. The 40-60 and 45-75 feature 26-
for a muzzle velocity of 1315 fps (advertised). In spite inch barrels, while the 45-60 is fitted with a 22-inch
of its rather “middle of road” performance (being over- barrel. The stocks are of laminate finish, giving the
shadowed by the 45-75 in power, while the 40-60 appearance of high-grade walnut. The receiver, lever,
offered a flatter trajectory), it became popular. In fore-end cap and buttplate are finished with a case-
working with this cartridge, it proved accurate and coloring. The rifling features six lands and grooves
easy to develop smokeless loads. with 1-turn in 20 inch rate of twist for each caliber.
The 40-60 WCF drove a 210-grain lead bullet to an The groove diameter for the 40-60 slugged at .406
advertised 1562 fps with a black powder charge of
around 60-grains. It developed a reputation for accu-
racy and offered the highest muzzle velocity of any
cartridge chambered in the 1876 Winchester rifle.
The 40-60 case was based on the 45-70 Government,
but quickly tapered from the head to the mouth to
accept a bullet of around .406 inch (the bullet diame-
ter did vary). The case was shortened to 1.89 inches.
All four of the above Winchester cartridges designed
for the 1876 rifle were limited to an overall cartridge
length of around 2.25” inches. In other words, the
action of the 1876 will not reliably feed cartridges
exceeding this length and partly explains why it could
not be chambered for the 45-70 Government and Lyman dies in 40-60, 45-60 and 45-75 WCF are designed
other popular cartridges with a length that exceeded specifically for reproduction Model 1876 rifles.
98
Co.) and Charter 2000 (Chaparral-Repeating Arms).

Original Winchester 1876's are designed for black
powder and should not be used with smokeless pow-
der loads. Additionally many original rifles show con-
siderable wear and may not be safe with any loads,
even loads containing black powder. Those consider-
For reliable function in reproduction Model 1876 rifles,

overall cartridge length should be limited to 2.25” maxi-
mum. This 40-60 WCF cartridge is within that limit at
PB ta
inch, while the 45-60 and 45-75 each measured .457
inch.
Each Charter 2000 Model 1876 functioned flaw-
lessly throughout many shooting sessions. It was
noticed that the cartridges slipped into the loading
gates with little effort (a problem that occasionally sur-
faces with other levergun designs), and the actions
worked positive, with perfect feeding and ejection.
The trigger pulls ran between 3'/2 to 6-pounds. The
sights (although not exact) are similar to those found
on original rifles, featuring a “sporting leaf” rear with
blade front. Although this writer would prefer sights
with greater precision for hunting and target work,
select loads grouped 2 to 3-inches at 75-yards from
each rifle.
Those that handle a Model 1876 for the first time
are usually struck at the rather large size of the rifle,
especially when fitted with the popular 28-inch barrel.
With the magazine empty, a reproduction fitted with a
26-inch barrel and chambered in 45-75 weighed just
over 9'/2-pounds. After one gets used to handling and
shooting one, this really is a fun rifle. The stock has
greater drop than later Browning designed
Winchesters and more modern designs, however,
none of the cartridges offer enough recoil for this to be
an issue. The reproduction guns closely follow the
original toggle link action, however, it has been slight-
ly re-engineered to increase its strength and with mod-
ern heat-treated steels is suitable for safely digesting
appropriate smokeless powder loads.
Warning Regarding Original Winchester Model 1876

Rifles
Before proceeding with specific loading tech-
niques and information for each of the above Car-
tridges, | must emphasize that all loads are intended
for use in modern Model 1876 rifles ONLY, as manu- The side-plates are easily removed to view the “toggle
factured by Uberti (Cimarron Firearms and Taylors & link’ action of the Model 1876 in progress.
A number of smokeless powders produced good
results, with low extreme spreads and good accuracy.
For instance 28.0 grains of IMR-4198 produced 1580
fps, a similar velocity to original black powder factory
A
loads from the 19th century. This load proved accu-
VALI VIAMIALIV
ETT Ta
rate, with low extreme spreads. Another good pow-
der included Accurate Arms AA5744, with 24.0 grains
proving the most accurate charge, which produced
around 1550 fps. IMR-Trail Boss powder was
designed specifically for black powder era cartridges,
with the 100% loading (powder to the base of the bul-
let) being 14.5 grains, which yielded 1373 fps. This
powder should not be compressed. The relatively
The 45-60 WCF with a case measuring 1.885” and new black powder substitute Hodgdon Triple Seven
crimped over the driving band of Lyman bullet #457191,
FFg also gave excellent results with 34.5 grains (by
results in an overall cartridge length of 2.250.” This com-
bination is best if the base of the bullet is supported with weight) giving 1530 fps. Most of the above loads
black powder, Hodgdon Triple Seven or IMR Trail Boss grouped into less than 3-inches at 75-yards, while
powders. IMR-4198 loads showed the potential for the best
ing putting one of these antiques back into service accuracy.
should have them inspected for safety by one who is
qualified, prior to firing them with black powder Shooting and Handloading the 45-60 WCF
ammunition. Although there are no SAAMI specifications for
the 45-60 WCF, the standard case length is 1.89” with
Shooting and Handloading the 40-60 WCF a trim to length of 1.88.” As previously mentioned,
The 40-60 WCF was a pleasure to shoot, produc- cases can be created by trimming 45-70 Government
ing little recoil from the almost ten-pound 1876 rifle. cases to that length, or cases are readily available by
The factory smokeless load as offered from Ten-X purchasing Ten-X Ammunition.
Ammunition contained a_260-grain RNFP cast bullet, An excellent cast bullet for handloading the 45-60
which averaged 1472 fps with an extreme spread of WCF includes Lyman mould #457191, a 292-grain
212 fps for a five shot string. Cases were manufac- featuring three lube grooves and a flat point (necessary
tured by Jamison and were used to develop the for rifles with tubular magazines). Originally the
accompanying loads, however, future ammo will con- design was to be crimped over the front driving band
sist of cases made by another supplier. and onto the ogive, with the base of the bullet being
As previously mentioned the 40-60 WCF features supported by a case full of black powder. Loaded in
a tapered case, but is handloaded in the same fashion this manner, the bullet could not be pushed deep into
as other similar straight-wall cases. A Lyman 3-Die Set the case when subjected to magazine spring pressure
containing a Size, Neck Expand, and Seat/Crimp dies or recoil. However, when this cartridge is loaded with
was used with standard loading procedures
employed. Care should be taken to not over-expand
the case mouth, or premature case splitting will proba-
bly occur, however, they should be flared enough to
assure that bullets are not “shaved” or damaged during
the seat/crimp operation.
Lyman mould #403168 was chosen, which casts
bullets at about 200-grains (without lube) from Lyman
#2 alloy. This is a well-designed bullet featuring two
lube grooves, a crimp groove and a forward driving
band that helps true up the bullet in the chamber, but
also serves to prevent the bullet from being pushed
deep into the case when subjected to the pressure of a
tubular magazine. (If this occurs, it can be a danger-
ous situation as chamber pressure can jump signifi-
cantly depending on powder charge.) Bullets were
The 40-60 WCF proved accurate with 200-grain bullets
sized to .406” using an H&l sizing die and lubed with
from Lyman mould #403168.
Lyman Alox Bullet Lubricant.
this lower groove may leak out and contaminate the

powder charge (as the case does have taper). At any
rate it worked well when loaded to an overall car-
tridge length of 2.250 inch and crimped in the upper
lubrication groove (again this with cases measuring
1.81 inch).
Overall the 45-60 WCF gave fine performance and it
was relatively easy to duplicate velocities of Ten-X
Ammunition 300-grain bullet at 1367 fps. Low
extreme spreads were often observed with most of the
loads listed. Powders that displayed potentially the
best accuracy included IMR-4198 and Accurate Arms
AA5744.
Shooting and Handloading the 45-75 WCF

The Model 1876 (right) shared the same basic design of | am an avid big game hunter and appreciate the
the Model 1860 Henry (left), Winchester Model 1866 effectiveness of big bore cartridges and lever action
(2nd from left) and Model 1873 Winchester (3rd from rifles. The 45-75 WCF is the most powerful of the car-
left). It was essentially an enlarged Model 1873 designed tridges offered in the 1876 rifle and it is easy to see
to handle larger cartridges.
why Teddy Roosevelt and many frontiersman of the
smokeless powders, they often don’t support the base period favored this round for grizzly bear and other
of the bullet, leaving air between the powder and bul- larger species. When this writer pursues large game
let base. Some dies may not size brass suitably to hold with an 1876, it will be chambered in 45-75 WCF.
the bullet securely, or in some instances, the expander There were virtually no hitches in handloading 45-75
ball is too large. If the bullet is crimped over the front WCF cases, and they held up for four to five reload-
driving band (for an overall cartridge length of 2.250”) ing’s before an occasional case split at the mouth. (As
and the bullet is prone to being pushed deep into the a side note Ten-X Ammunition is currently in the
case from recoil or magazine spring pressure, there is process of having 40-60, 45-60 and 45-75 WCF cases
a simple remedy. This writer suggests trimming cases made by a new supplier and expects quality to be
to 1.81” and seating the above Lyman cast bullet to improved.) | may mention that Lyman has designed
the upper lube groove, then applying a crimp. So the dimensions of their 45-75 sizing die to correspond
loaded the overall cartridge length remains 2.250” and with the chambers of reproduction Model 1876's
the bullet cannot be pushed deep into the case. which worked perfectly and allowed easy chambering
Feeding and function was flawless in the Charter 2000 of reloaded cartridges.
rifle. This leaves two functioning lubrications grooves, In developing load data, the same as the 45-60 WCF,
however, this was enough (Alox) lube to prevent lead- bullets from Lyman moulds #457191 (292-grains) and
ing with the smokeless powders and velocities #457122 (330-grain HP) were selected. Both were
obtained in the accompanying table. casi of Lyman #2 alloy and sized to .458 inch.
Another option includes using Hodgdon Triple Overall cartridge length was held to a maximum of
Seven FFg (an excellent black powder substitute with 2.25 inch, which was required to function through the
less corrosion) or IMR Trail Boss (a modern bulky Charter 2000 action.
smokeless powder intended specifically for this appli- The 292-grain bullet was easily driven to over 1550
cation). Both powders can be loaded with a 100% fps using 48.0 grains of Hodgdon Varget powder, a
case capacity wherein they just touch the base of the load that was also accurate. The 330-grain hollow-
bullet, however, neither powder should be loaded ‘ point bullet was safely driven to over 1500 fps using
with more than just slight compression. Purists will fill 41.0 grains of Accurate Arms AA2015 powder. Two
the case with black powder and seat the bullet on top, loads that showed potential as being most accurate
which is another good option. included 26.0 grains of IMR-4198 and 26.0 grains of
Another cast bullet that was used in developing Accurate Arms AA5744 powder-both with the 330-
handloads, included Lyman mould #457122, a 330- grain bullet.
grain hollow point. The nose is the same length as the As previously stated, all of the above Winchester car-
above 292-grain bullet, however, the base of the bullet tridges have been obsolete for many decades and
seats deeper into the case. With some older dies, there is virtually no smokeless powder load data avail-
cases may not get sized correctly to “seal” the bottom able-at least until now. While developing loads, it was
grease groove against the case wall, so grease from observed that certain powders gave unreliable ignition
101
with charges that were less than listed, especially in

the 45-75 WCF. Therefore it is strongly suggested to 40-60 Winchester Handloads
not reduce powder charges below the “starting” loads for use in modern reproductions ONLY.
listed in the accompanying tables. DO NOT USE IN ORIGINAL
It's great to have this colorful chapter of the 19th WINCHESTER MODEL 1876 RIFLES
century with us again!
Fireariin: aencey er ee ore Chaparral Repeating Arms
Bartel? dics cea agian tet ele ee 26 inches
CASO 8” 5 olsen ee ig ae gee Jamison
Prinetizc ots eee eee eee ereen CCI BR-2 Large Rifle
Gaseilengthizs.te.tsoe. ee ae ee eee 1.892
Trimitolength?: fiancee ee eee 1.88”
Maximum Overall Cartridge Length: ........ 25m
Bullet Diameter: Cast Bullets Sized ......... 406”
TEM PEratures se, rca eraeee crea 18-degrees
Velocity
Bullet (grains) Powder Charge (FPS)
260-grain TEN-X
Factory ammo --- --- 1472
200-grain Lyman
#403168 IMR-4198 20.0 223
#403168 IMR-4198 28.0 1580
#403168 AA5744 19.0 1255
#403168 AA5744 25:0 1599)
#403168 AA2015 26.0 1182
Do not reduce
#403168 AA2015 36.0 1428
#403168 Triple Seven FFg 34.5 1530
Powder charge by weight
#403168, =~ 4. Vareet 6 i 500 Cae
#403168
Varget—=——(i(i(‘é‘;*COOO!O!O!OC«
——s- AT
#403168 Trail Boss 11.0 1284
#403168 Trail Boss 14.5 1878
Note: Triple Seven Powder should completely fill the

case and have no air space when the bullet is seated. The
charge weight may need to be varied to accomplish this.
The author used three Charter 2000 (Chaparral-Repeating

Arms) Model 1876 rifles chambered in 40-60 WCF, 45-
60 WCF and 45-75 WCF. The 45-60 featured a 22-inch
barrel while the others featured a 26-inch tube.
102
45-60 Winchester Handloads 45-75 Winchester Handloads

for use in modern reproductions ONLY. for use in modern reproductions ONLY.
DO NOT USE IN ORIGINAL DO NOT USE IN ORIGINAL
WINCHESTER MODEL 1876 RIFLES WINCHESTER MODEL 1876 RIFLES
MC tet yee ie eae ks 5 Chaparral Repeating Arms FirCaltinien ee kes oeChaparral Repeating Arms
OTTELIG 2 aoe GR tah Ung 22-inches Barrels eva shee tndetian: cae ene ee 26-inches
Case: .... Starline 45-70 Trimmed to 1.81” (see text) CaS Retail Gane NG ia dsSeerere ee ce Jamison
TAS ie ee nee a CCI BR-2 Large Rifle PTVOT i Meath see i tae ees es CCI BR-2 Large Rifle
0.006
Praxumum: Case Length: «0.0 ecee sce 1.89”
... Case erGth 2) ihecyeat iwc Ge acetal ore ee 109%
SMA 38Sie rcicose cece ww Gisss how is 1.88” TRIN Vig lenethiizes cise ict me a eee 1.887
Overall Cartridge Length: ...... Factory loads 2.17” Maximum Overall Cartridge Length: ........ 2259
ib RRS ee ee (handloads 2.250”) Bullet Diameter: ........ Cast Bullets sized to .458”
Bullet Diameter: ........ Cast Bullets sized to .458” Jermperattres 22 wanders. ace. cee: 25-degrees
MEU fee cis wkd wR wd ss ees 18-degrees
Velocity
Velocity Buliet (grains) Powder Charge (FPS)
Bullet (grains) Powder Charge (FPS) 350-grain TEN-X
300-grain TEN-X Factory ammo —- —- 251
Factory ammo -— —- 1367 292-grain Lyman
292-grain Lyman #457191 AA5744 26.0 ie
#457191 IMR-4198 26.0 99 #457191 AA5744 30.0 1482
#457191 IMR-4198 29.0 1366 #457191 H4895 41.0 1334
#457191 AA5744 23.0 1181 #457191 H4895 46.0 1521
#457191 a ZHAO 1387 #457191 Varget 40.0 1300
#457191 AA2015 ; 36.0 ulti #457191 Varget 48.0 1555
#457191 g 39.0 1359 #457191 Trail Boss 13.0 1183
#457191 Two Pyrodex 30-gr Pistol Pellets 1553 #457191 Trail Boss 16.0 1306
#457191 Trail Boss 10.5 1069 330-grain HP Lyman
#457122 IMR-4198 23.0 1196
Pet a” in. ws oS 1056
Biol... Vast —. 3101. . 883 #457122 IMR-4198 26.0 1310
Do not reduce #457122 AA57/44 22.0 1156
#457191 4 38.0 1154 #457122 AA5744 26.0 1350
HPLymant—“‘éSOSOSCSC*é‘(‘(‘(‘(‘(‘(‘C
330-grain #457122 AA2015 36.0 1423
#457122 AA5744 20.0 1044 #457122 AA2015 41.0 1508
#457122 # 26.0 1284 #457122 Two Pyrodex 30-gr Pistol Pellets 1437
#457122 AA2015 32.0 1074 #457122 Trail Boss eS 1060
#457122 2 37.0 22 #457122 Trail Boss 155 1212
#457122 Trail Boss 10.0 992 #457122 H4895 38.0 1301
#457122 e TO) 1098 #457122 H4895 43.0 1480
#457122 Triple Seven FFg 32.0 1167 #457122 Triple Seven FFg 36.7 1307
Powder by weight Powder by weight
Note: Triple Seven Powder should completely fill the Note: Triple Seven Powder should completely fill the
case and have no air space when the bullet is seated. The case and have no air space when the bullet is seated. The
charge weight may need to be varied to accomplish this. charge weight may need to be varied to accomplish this.
103
2 Make the Jump to Premium Bullets by Greg Rodriguez
Premium bullets allow handloaders to up the capability of their favorite rifle. With the right bullet, a .270 or .308 is more
than adequate for big bull elk, like this one the author shot on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation.
A serious snow storm had driven the elk down off “Greg, it’s 390 yards to the center of that opening”, he
the mountains to the ranches that surround Craig, replied.
Colorado. Finding a shooter bull among the thou- | held the 400 yard bar of the Swarovski scope’s
sands of elk that sought shelter on the 180,000-acre TDS reticle on the bull’s shoulder and followed its
ranch we were hunting wasn’t a problem, but getting progress. When it stepped into the opening, Travis
within range of one sure was. cow called. The bull stopped and looked in our direc-
We'd been playing cat and mouse with a big herd tion for just a second, but it was long enough for me to
since the previous afternoon. Now, we were hot on squeeze off a shot. | heard the solid smack of the bul-
the trail of a group of about 80 animals that held a few let striking bone, and saw the elk stumble drunkenly
5x5 and 6x6 bulls. We followed them up and down for a few steps before dropping to the ground and
the hills for the better part of two hours without much rolling downhill in a cloud of snow.
luck. We got as close as 50 yards to the group several “See, Travis, | told you | could kill an elk with this
times, but | couldn’t get on one of the bulls in the thick little .270”, | chided.
brush. They were headed towards more open, rolling Travis just grinned and shook his head. “I can’t
country; we hung back so we wouldn’t spook them. believe you dropped that big-bodied bull like that,
We took cover on a brushy hillside and watched Greg. | didn’t think that .270 was big enough, espe-
the herd string out to feed on the opposite face. Travis, cially at that distance.”
my guide, spotted a nice 5x6 working its way towards While we walked across the draw to tag my bull, |
an opening and talked me onto it. “Do you see him, took the time to explain to Travis how a good bullet
Greg?”, he asked. can really boost the performance of standard calibers
| did. | settled my A-Bolt onto the shooting sticks like the .270 Winchester. “Bullet construction”, |
and tracked the bull through my scope. “How far is explained, “is far more important than caliber, espe-
he, Travis?” cially on big, tough critters like elk.”
104
Make the Jump to Premium Bullets
| cut my teeth hunting in Africa, where shot place- yards, and neatly dropped the 1,800 pound bull in its
ment and bullet construction are revered and hi-tech tracks. | wouldn't have tried it with a traditional cup-
gadgets and shoulder-bustin’ magnums are dismissed and-core projectile, but | had complete confidence in
as fools’ toys. Sure, the Africans use big guns for dan- the ability of my 165 grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claw
gerous game, but common sense cartridges like the to reach the vitals. | didn’t get an exit wound, but the
7x57 and .308 are among the more popular cartridges little pill came close; | found it under the skin on the
on the Dark Continent. Those cartridges may be off side.
pushing it for the really big plains game species, but Premium bullets penetrate so deeply because they
the Africans hedge their bets by using tough, deep retain the majority of their weight. Some, like the
penetrating bullets. Nosler Partition may lose as much as 40-50% of their
Africans aren’t the only ones who can benefit from weight. They drive deep, but not as deep as those bul-
premium bullets. In fact, the deep penetration, superi- lets that retain even more of their weight. The Trophy
or weight retention, and consistent expansion premi- Bonded Bear Claw, for example, retains 96-97% of its
um bullets deliver can benefit any big game hunter, weight. Barnes’ X and Triple Shock bullets, the pene-
whether they are hunting South Africa or South Texas. tration champs, retain even more.
Another significant factor in the penetration and
The Premium Bullet Advantage weight-retention equation is controlled expansion. To
deliver the most shock, a bullet must expand.
| own a hunting travel company. As you can However, a bullet that expands too violently loses too
imagine, | spend a great deal of time on the phone much weight to ensure adequate penetration. The
with hunters discussing caliber selection and ballistics. Ballistic Tip is a classic example of a bullet that
| am shocked at how many hunters who are willing to expands too violently for most big game hunting. _ Its
spend tens of thousands of dollars on a hunt are too rapid expansion drops lung-shot deer like the hammer
cheap to spring for premium bullets. “Why”, they ask, of Thor. But shoot a buck at a steep, quartering angle
“should | spend a bunch of money on a bullet when or a bull elk through the shoulder, and you'll quickly
my old soft point has been layin’ ‘em low for years?” see the folly of choosing such a frangible bullet.
Well, there are plenty of good reasons for spend- Controlled expansion comes through the use of
ing a few more cents to stoke Ole Betsy with better tougher jackets and technologies like bonded cores,
bullets. And as a guide, outfitter, and booking agent, solid-copper construction, or partitions. They are
I’ve seen the proof. On the plus side, I’ve seen slight- designed to penetrate deeply and deliver as much
ly-built, recoil-shy hunters cleanly drop big bears and shock as possible, but they also help bullets hold
the largest plains game species in Africa with car- together at high impact velocities. This is crucial
tridges that would have been considered marginal in when you bust a heavy-boned animal on the shoulder
pre-Partition days. Conversely, I’ve seen animals shot at close range with any of the current crop of super
perfectly with traditional cup-and-core bullets get magnums. Here, softer bullets promise nothing but
away because the bullet didn’t have the requisite messy, shallow entrance wounds and lost trophies.
As any bench rest shooter can attest, premium bullets
structural integrity to reach the vitals. And that’s too
also tend to be more accurate. Big game hunters can
bad, because the extra penny or two premium bullets
probably live without the extra bit of accuracy premi-
cost wouldn’t add up to a cup of coffee after several
um bullets provide, but accuracy is nice, and few
seasons.
handloaders | know would choose a less accurate bul-
Increased penetration is the most often-touted
let when they can do the job just as well with an accu-
virtue of premium bullets. Increased penetration has
rate one.
several benefits. On steeply-angled shots and on From thin-jacketed, super-accurate match bullets
heavily-built game, that extra penetration ensures the
‘to dead-tough, mono-metal solids for dangerous
bullet reaches the vitals. More frequent exit wounds game, today’s handloaders are blessed with a wide
and the blood trails that go with them are another ben- variety of premium bullets. Whichever bullet you
efit. choose, odds are Lyman’s 49th Edition Reloading
Perhaps the greatest benefit of increased penetra- Manual has the reloading data you need.
tion is the ability to shoot bigger animals with non- The following is a rundown of some of my favorite
magnum rifles. The elk mentioned in the beginning of premium bullets.
this story is a prime example. Another that comes to
mind is an eland bull | shot in Namibia last year.
| had a .308 and a .375 H&H in the truck, but my
client was making fun of my “little gun.” To shut him
up, | grabbed my little .308, stalked to within 180 105
designed the new MRX to appeal to hunters and
shooters who prefer heavier projectiles.
At first glance, the MRX looks like a shorter, tipped
TSX. And it is, save one very notable difference: a
tungsten core. Tungsten is denser than lead, which
allowed Barnes to move the weight rearward for
greater accuracy and improved terminal performance.
It also allows Barnes to produce heavy-for-caliber bul-
lets at a shorter overall length. Combined with its
Delrin tip and boat tail design, the new MRX shoots
flat, bucks the wind, and hammers game. It is an
excellent all-around big game bullet.
This Barnes TSX was recovered from an eland bull the
author shot with his .30-06. It dropped the massive eland
bull within a few yards of where it stood at the shot, and Banded Solid
retained 99% of its weight while driving through both Not many folks need solids, but when things go
shoulders. bad with a wounded Cape buffalo or angry elephant,
Barnes a quality solid that will hold together and drive a
straight line through massive amounts of meat and
TSX
bone can be the difference between life and death.
Barnes’ solid-copper X-bullet’s excellent terminal Barnes’ banded solid is one of the best.
performance and accuracy created one of the most The Banded Solid is made from a homogenous
loyal customer bases in the shooting industry. As good copper/zinc alloy, so it can’t come apart. It has a flat
as it is the X isn’t perfect, with inconsistent accuracy nose so it hits harder and tracks straighter through
due to excessive copper fouling being the most com- dense flesh and bone. Multiple driving bands, like
mon complaint. Barnes introduced the Triple-Shock X those of the TSX, reduce fouling and pressure.
(TSX) bullet in 2003 to address that issue. The Banded Solid is an excellent choice for ele-
Like the X, The TSX is a solid-copper bullet with a phants and for back-up shots on buffalo. Banded
hollow cavity to promote expansion. The cavity is Solid Spitzers in .22-.30 are a great choice for hunters
shaped to provide a predetermined amount of defor- looking to preserve valuable pelts.
mation; four petals peel back to the bottom of the nose
cavity, then stop, regardless of impact velocity. This
controlled expansion results in 99%+ weight retention Nosler Bullets
and, perhaps, the deepest penetration of any expand-
ing bullet. Accubond
The TSX differs from the X in that it has four The Accubond, Nosler’s first bonded-core bullet,
grooves, or driving bands, around the circumference was designed to give users a bullet that could do it all.
of the straight, bearing surface of the bullet. These Nosler combined the bonded core with the best fea-
grooves reduced the bearing surface, which greatly tures of the Ballistic Tip and Partition to come up with
reduces copper fouling. Enhanced accuracy is a by- their idea of the perfect bullet.
product of reduced fouling. The Accubond’s bonded core helps the bullet stay
The TSX is available in a flat base or boattail together and drive deep. Its polymer tip and boattail
design. A new, tipped TSX bullet is also available. design give it the Ballistic Tip’s superior long range
Both are accurate bullets that deliver excellent on- performance and accuracy, and its tapered jacket pro-
game performance on everything from deer to Cape motes rapid initial expansion while holding the back
buffalo. half together for deep penetration.
I’ve taken well over a hundred head of game with
MRX various Accubonds in North America and Africa. I’ve
If there is a downside to the X and TSX bullets, it is shot everything from 30 pound duikers to African
that their copper construction makes them much eland with it at ranges that varied from 25 to 601
lighter than traditional lead-core bullets. yards. Through it all, the Accubond performed exactly
Consequently, they are quite long. That’s great if you as Nosler intended, and it is my “go-to” bullet in two
like light-for-caliber bullets, but not so good if heavy of my favorite rifles.
bullets are your thing. Barnes makes heavy-for-caliber
TSX bullets, like the 200-grain TSX, but those extra
106
long pills don’t work so well in some rifles. Barnes
It also helps retain the rear core for deeper penetration.
A tapered jacket, which starts out thin just aft of
the exposed lead tip, expands rapidly at first. This
helps the bullet open up at impact velocities as low as
1,800 feet-per-second, and promotes violent initial
expansion at higher impact velocities. As the bullet
mushrooms, the tapered jacket keeps that expansion
in check, which helps the Partition hold together and
drive deeper, even at super-magnum impact velocities.
Partitions may lose half their weight, but they deliver
plenty of shock and internal trauma. And the rest of
the bullet, from the Partition back, drives as deep as
the best of ‘em.
| first tried Partitions in my old .280 Remington. |
sold the gun and lost the data years ago, but that rifle
Some of Nosler’s premium bullet offerings: (clockwise, loved the 140 grain Partition. | shot it well, and decid-
from top left) Ballistic Tip, Accubond, Partition, and the ed to take it with me on a South Texas nilgai hunt. My
new E-Tip. guide suggested a .375 H&H or .416. | didn’t own
one, so | toted my .280. When my chance came, |
Ballistic Tip stuck that 140-grainer just behind the big bull’s shoul-
der. It ran about 50 yards, but that was a quarter mile
Nosler’s Ballistic Tip is one of the most controver- less than my hunting partner’s bull ran. He shot it with
sial hunting bullets I’ve ever encountered. Its propo- a .375 H&H.
nents rave about its accuracy and lighting kills. Its The old Partition has some pretty stiff competition
detractors say its fragile construction leads to lost these days, but 60 years after its introduction, it’s still a
game. They’re both right. damn fine big game bullet.
The Ballistic Tip employs a thin, tapered jacket
and lead alloy core to promote expansion. A polycar-
bonate tip initiates expansion and protects the bullet Speer Bullets
tip from recoil-induced deformation in the magazine.
The Ballistic Tip also has a solid base, boattail design Grand Slam
for enhanced accuracy and long-range performance. Speer’s Grand Slam is an excellent bullet.
Unfortunately, its high price and the fact that no major
The Ballistic Tip was originally designed for varmint manufacturer currently offers factory-loaded ammuni-
hunting, where extreme accuracy and violent expan- tion with Grand S!am bullets keeps this fine projectile
sion are essential. When they first hit the market, big under many handloaders’ radar.
game hunters found their extreme accuracy irre- The Grand Slam’s superior performance starts with
sistible. Soon, tough critters like elk and bears taught its tapered jacket. The jacket is thin near the tip, and
hunters a hard lesson about using bullets on bigger has internal flutes to jump-start expansion. It’s much
game than they were designed for. Despite the fact thicker at the shank to stop rollback and ensure maxi-
that these early failures were the fault of the hunters, mum weight retention for deep penetration. The core
not the bullet, these incidents gave the Ballistic Tip a is a blend of three metals which are heated to 900
bad rap, and caused Nosler to re-design the Ballistic degrees to eliminate the oxides that cause core slip-
Tip. page before being poured into the jacket. The can-
Today, Nosler markets “Varmint’-style bullets for ‘nelure lets you crimp the Grand Slam in the case and
varmint hunters, and “Hunting’-style Ballistic Tips for provides additional locking of the core to the jacket.
deer hunters. Now, deer hunters can humanely There’s no new-fangled technology involved in
employ what is still, perhaps, the most accurate hunt- making Grand Slams, but Speer spares no expense in
ing bullet on the market. making this tough-as-nails premium bullet that works
well on everything from whitetail bucks to the biggest
Partition bovines.
Nosler’s Partition was, for many years, the king of
the hill. The Partition was named for its integral parti-
tion which, much like that of the old RWS H-Mantle
bullet, serves to separate the front and rear lead cores.
Because of my confidence in Jack and his design,

| hunted with Trophy Bonded bullets exclusively for
many years, taking hundreds of head of game with
Bear Claws from .223-.458. I’ve been impressed time
and time again with their penetration, weight reten-
tion, and expansion. On those rare occasions that | do
recover a Trophy Bonded bullet, it is usually just under
the hide on the off side. The recovered bullet is almost
always a perfect mushroom weighing 96-97% of its
original weight.
Although Speer owns the Trophy Bonded Bear
Claw design now, this classic is still as good an all-
around bullet as it was when Jack Carter was making
them in his little shop in Houston.
The new tipped Trophy Bonded Bear Claw should be
available to handloaders in mid-2008. Swift
Trophy Bonded Bear Claw
Scirocco II
Designed by the late Jack Carter, the Trophy
Bonded Bear Claw is one of my favorite bullets. Part Swift's Scirocco was the first bullet to combine a
of the reason | love the bullet is that Jack’s Houston racy profile, plastic tip, and bonded core. It was
office was not too far from my home. | stopped by his designed for excellent accuracy and terminal perform-
office frequently to talk guns, bullets, and hunting, and ance on a wide variety of game. Early examples met
learned first-hand Jack’s commitment to making the the accuracy requirement, but were a bit too explo-
best big game bullet on the market. sive, in my opinion, for big elk and plains game. The
The Trophy Bonded’s jacket is machined from new Scirocco Il, however, is tougher, yet still expands
gilding metal. The machining process leaves a cavity violently enough to drop deer-sized game in their
for a front core, and a solid rear shank for structural tracks.
integrity. The front core is fusion-bonded to the jacket Like the original, the Scirocco Il employs a tapered
at very high temperatures. This process leaves the copper jacket and bonded, lead core for controlled
front portion of the jacket soft for consistent expansion expansion, 80+% weight retention, and deep penetra-
over a wide velocity range. The solid rear shank tion. Its secant ogive, polymer tip, and boattail base
remains intact for superior penetration and weight give it an aerodynamic profile that shoots flat and
retention which, in my experience, is typically in the bucks the wind.
96-97% range. I’ve used the Scirocco II on about a dozen ani-
mals, from deer and pronghorn to a Namibian gems-
bok. It has worked well, leaving massive wound
channels and, in most cases, gaping exit wounds in its
tracks. A few bullets have failed to exit, but those
were on steep, quartering shots on big animals. On
broadside and slight quartering shots from in your face
to as far as you should shoot, the Scirocco II is all the
bullet you need for all but the great bears and buffalos.
A-Frame
For rock-solid, big game hunting bullets, it doesn’t
get much better than Swift's A-Frame. The A-Frame
Trophy Bonded Bear Claws are designed for controlled uses a tapered copper jacket that is bonded to the core
expansion and deep penetration. Although recovering in concert with an A-Frame cross member to help it
one is rare, in the author’s experience, they usually look
stay together for 95%+ weight retention and deep
like these two: The 55 grain .224 bullet at right was
recovered after penetrating an exotic ram from stem to penetration while delivering double-diameter expan-
stern. The .375 bullet on the left was recovered just sion. A semi-spitzer design protects the nose from
under the skin after passing through both shoulders of an deformation from recoil in the magazine.
Australian water buffalo. Both retained 96% of their
weight.
108
The A-Frame is an excellent all-around bullet. It
may not be the best choice for long range shooting,
but it will get the job done on everything from white-
tails to Cape buffalo at any practical range. I’ve used it
on a variety of game, including deer and kudu in vari-
ous .300s, and Cape buffalo with my .416 Remington
Magnum. It’s never let me down.
The Swift A-Frame (right) is an excellent big game bullet.

The Scirocco II (left), is a great all-around bullet. It is
tough enough for game like elk and kudu, is very accu-
rate, and performs well at long range.
Making the Jump

If you hunt much more than Texas-sized white-
tails, odds are you could benefit from the superior per-
formance and accuracy of premium bullets. Whether
you need deeper penetration, more rapid expansion,
better accuracy, or enhanced long range performance,
one of these premium projectiles will work for you.
And as a handloader, you are better-equipped than
anyone to make the jump to premium bullets.
109
13 Handloading Winchester's Stubby Cartridges
dome
Bryce M. Towsley with a Texas whitetail, a Winchester M-70 in .223 WSSM at the King Ranch.
A look at the Winchester Super Short the .300 Winchester Magnum made its entry into the
Magnum Family of Rifle Cartridges. shooting world. Forty years is a long time between
home runs.
Introducing a new cartridge these days is an
By: Bryce M. Towsley expensive proposition and nobody could blame
Winchester for being a little spooked. But after at least
one false start, they took a leap of faith and in 2000
When the millennium changed awhile back, it introduced a radically new cartridge, the .300
had been a long time since the name Winchester was Winchester Short Magnum. This time they got it right.
on the headstamp of a new rifle cartridge. Longer still It’s a high performance cartridge that brought new
since it was on a successful cartridge. In 1982 thinking to its design and the shooting public’s
Winchester announced two new cartridges designed response was overwhelmingly positive. They followed
for use in lever action guns. The goal with the .307 the next year with not one, but two new Short
Winchester and the .356 Winchester was to bring the Magnum cartridge introductions, the .270 WSM and
performance level of lever action rifles up to modern the 7mm WSM.
standards. They were both good cartridges, but the So, the big question among shooter types during
folks at Big Red just didn’t understand their customers. 2002 was “what short magnum will Winchester intro-
The gun buying public wanted something else and duce this year?” The smart money was betting on a
both cartridges soon headed for the junk heap of good 338 WSM or a .25 WSM. But, the “smart money”
ideas ignored by the public. Prior to those two, would not be proven smart. Winchester threw the
Winchester tried another big bore lever gun cartridge, shooting world a curve with two totally new car-
the .375 Winchester. That was in 1978 and it too has tridges, the .223 Winchester Super Short Magnum and
sunk below the radar. The public wanted sleek, fast,
the .243 Winchester Super Short Magnum. They took
pointed-bullet cartridges in bolt action rifles. To find a the short-fat-beltless magnum concept that has been
so successful with their Winchester Short Magnums
successful cartridge introduction with the Winchester
name attached we would need to look to 1963, when
and “varmint-sized” it with what might well be the
110
Handloading Winchester’s Stubby Cartridges
oddest looking rifle cartridges in modern history. In
2005 Winchester added the third sibling to the
Winchester Super Short Magnum family, the .25
WSSM.
These new cartridges stay the course with the
short magnum concept of a very large diameter, non-
belted cartridge case with a rebated rim. They feature
very little body taper and a relatively sharp 28-degree
shoulder angle. (The WSM cartridges use a 35-degree
shoulder.) The principal difference, between the
WSSM and the WSM cartridges, other than the small-
er neck diameter and a different shoulder angle, is
about half an inch in length. The WSM cartridge cases
are 2.100-inches in length while the WSSM cartridge
case is a stubby 1.670-inch for an actual difference of The WSSM cartridges.
.430-inch. This results in a rather goofy looking car-
tridge,. but one that offers good performance and accu- .223 Winchester Super Short Magnum
racy potential.
Browning and Winchester Firearms (U.S.R.A.C.)
The .223 WSSM case has a water capacity that is
teamed up with Winchester ammunition (the ammo
considerably greater than the .22-250 Remington or
and gun companies are both named Winchester, but
the .220 Swift. That means, at least in theory, that it
were split up years ago and are two separate compa-
has a larger case capacity than any of the current fac-
nies) to create two new rifle actions. The Browning A-
tory loaded .22 caliber center-fire cases and the poten-
Bolt and the Winchester Model 70 rifles had their
tial for the highest muzzle velocity with any given bul-
actions shortened by a half inch, creating new “Super
let weight. But, theory and reality are not always the
Short Actions.” This of course results in a shorter,
same. The velocity gains with the larger .223 WSSM
lighter, rifle, something that most hunters will appreci-
case over its rivals has proven to be a bit of a disap-
ate at the end of a long day. Also, a shorter action will
pointment. The most popular theory about why is that
also be stiffer and at least in theory, more accurate.
this cartridge has entered into the realm of diminishing
This accuracy potential is part of the concept of these
returns with the current propellant options and the
new cartridges as the short, fat, powder column has gains in velocity are much smaller than the additional
been part of the winning strategy in benchrest circles case capacity would indicate could be expected.
for years in the PPC line of cartridges. However, the .223 WSSM is about performance more
The plant that manufactures Winchester rifles than efficiency and the fact remains that while the
closed the doors in early 2006 and production of the margin might be less than expected, it is still the high-
Model 70 rifle was stopped. Browning, however, con- est velocity mainstream, 22-caliber center-fire car-
tinued to produce the A-Bolt in Winchester Super tridge on the market. As propellant technology contin-
Short cartridges. In late 2007 Winchester Repeating ues to evolve, the performance gap will likely grow
Arms announced a return to the market place with the even wider as new powders are introduced that are
re-introduction of the Model 70 rifle, with rifles able to better utilize the additional case capacity of the
expected to ship in 2008. At the same time Browning .223 WSSM.
announced that the A-Bolt will be replaced with a rifle The water capacity of the .223 WSSM case is 55-
called the X-Bolt. Neither of these new rifles is initially grains. The next closest rival is the .220 Swift and it
offered in any of the WSSM cartridges. What that ‘only holds 46.25 grains. That is about a 19% increase
means for the future of these cartridges in the main- in capacity for the .223 WSSM over the .220 Swift;
stream market place is anybody’s guess. However, and performance is always about cubic inches. When
Cooper and other custom gun makers continue to loaded to equal pressure, the larger case will out-per-
offer rifles chambered for WSSM cartridges, so they form a smaller case. As mentioned earlier, the velocity
should still be available to shooters. increases are a bit smaller than would be expected,
more like 2% to 5% depending on the bullet weight.
But, they still make the .223 WSSM the top dog in the
.22-centerfire category.
Currently there are three Winchester factory loads
for the .223 WSSM. Two are 55-grain bullets with a
111
was .9-inch for five, five-shot 100-yard groups. That
was from a light weight Browning A-Bolt that was
never considered a great shooter. The average even
— re iTEM NO
7452351 includes one load with a 75-grain moly coated
2 Hornady bullet that by all rights should not stabilize in
this gun’s 1:10 twist rate. | switched between moly
coated, Barnes XLC coated and non-coated bullets
without cleaning the bore or doing any prep to it.
These groups should not have been this good, particu-
larly considering that they are from a gun that has
failed to impress me with its accuracy using factory
loads. One thing it told me was that the .223 WSSM is
probably not a picky eater and it is by all appearances
an easy cartridge to handload successfully. That was
The Sierra 85 grain HPBT is my choice for coyotes using several years ago and today, hundreds of handloads
the .243 WSSM cartridge. and a couple of rifles later; | have not changed my
mind.
muzzle velocity of 3,850 which is 170 f.p.s. faster than The only loading problem | encountered was in
the same weight bullet in the Winchester factory finding a powder funnel to fit the case. Most funnels
loaded .22-250 Remington ammo. (Of the big ammo hit the wide shoulder of the case before the neck seals
makers only Hornady currently offers a 55-grain bullet against the reverse taper of the funnel. | had run into
in the .220 Swift. That load has a disappointing muz- this problem before with the new “super-magnum”
zle velocity of 3,680 f.p.s.) The other .223 WSSM fac- cases and had already found a modified plastic funnel
tory load has a 64 grain bullet. It has a muzzle velocity to fit. Today of course, | just use the Lyman New E-Zee
of 3,600 f.p.s. which is 100 f.p.s. faster than the .22- Powder Funnel, designed to fit the case, but it wasn’t
250 with the same bullet. available back them.
Handloading this cartridge releases its true poten- All the WSSM cases, including the .223, have very
tial in several ways, not the least of which is the wide thick brass in the neck. It’s a result of shortening the
selection of bullet weights available. This cartridge is WSM cases to create the WSSM cases. The brass
capable of driving a 40-grain bullet to muzzle veloci- thickness on the neck averages about .020-inch on the
ties as fast as 4,300 f.p.s., which puts it in a very elite .223, while on most other 22-caliber cases the brass is
club. In fact, in mainstream commercially offered car- about .015-inch. This requires higher pressure to seal
tridges, it’s one of the fastest non-wildcat cartridges list- the neck firmly against the rifle’s chamber and the
ed in this manual. WSSM cartridges are not friendly to reduced loads. If
At the other end of the spectrum are the super-
heavy .22 bullets. There are bullets available up to 90
grains in .224 diameter. While the standard 1:10 twist
rate used in factory rifles will probably struggle with
anything more than 70-grains, in a custom barrel with
a faster twist rate these heavier bullets can benefit from
the large case capacity of the .223 WSSM. The high
ballistic coefficient of these long, heavy bullets com-
bined with the relatively high muzzle velocity possible
from the .223 WSSM case can turn this into an excel-
lent long range cartridge.
My first experience handloading the .223 WSSM
was a bit of an eye opener. | arbitrarily picked three
different loads from the data | had available. | selected
bullet weights not offered in factory loads and simply
picked the powders listed for them that | had sitting on
my shelves. | full-length resized the cases and set the
overall cartridge length the same as for factory loads.
Other than chamfering the case mouths, | did no other Note the black soot on these .223 WSSM
case preparation and used no “accuracy” tricks in cases. It was
cause by a reduced load that failed to seal the neck
making these loads. The average for all three loads against the chamber wall.
For shooting prairie dogs, | have had good luck

with 50-grain bullets. In fact, | made two of the longest
shots on prairie dogs of my life, both over 800 yards,
with the .223 WSSM with 50-grain bullets pushed to
3,942 f.p.s by Ramshot Magnum Powder.
My preference is for the polymer tipped varmint
bullets like the Hornady V-Max, Sierra Blitzking and
Nosler Ballistic Tip. The high ballistic coefficient and
superb accuracy of these bullets allow outstanding
long range performance, while the explosive terminal
performance insures results at the target.
When hunting coyotes, my preference has always
run to the larger 22-centerfire cartridges. They simply
hit harder and fewer coyotes get up and run away after
The Sierra 85 grain HPBT is my choice for coyotes using being shot than with the smaller, slower cartridges.
the .243 WSSM cartridge. The .223 WSSM cartridge shines on coyotes and my
preference is for a 55-grain bullet. While | have cer-
the load does not generate enough pressure to seal the tainly not tried them all, (too many bullets, too little
neck against the chamber, several things can happen, time) | have always been very happy with the
the least of which is the case will exit the rifle covered Hornady 55-grain V-Max bullet. In fact, this might
with soot. The gas escaping backwards can also col- well be my favorite coyote bullet in any of the larger
lapse the case shoulder and possibly damage the rifle. .22 centerfires. Coyotes fall down and they don’t get
There is also a possibility of the gas escaping back past up.
the case and into the shooter's face. While these are | have personally used the .223 WSSM to take
extreme examples, it’s not worth the risk of using several whitetails and understand its performance on
reduced loads. This is a high performance cartridge deer quite well. While | am not a fan of 22-caliber
and it is best to load it with that in mind. centerfires for deer hunting, this is unquestionably the
When it comes to bullets, the reality is that the cartridge | would select if | were. Deer and antelope
extremes on either end of the bullet weight spectrum hunters have several big game bullet options from
are probably not going to work the best in most rifles. Barnes, Nosler, Trophy Bonded and Swift.
The balance of performance and accuracy will be
found someplace in the middle. Bullets that weigh 50
to 55 grains will almost always pro-
duce the best results.
There are so many excellent 22-
caliber bullets on the market that it’s
impossible for one shooter to have
used them all extensively. At the risk of
ignoring some very good bullets, the
best | can do is mention my favorites.
The .223 WSSM is primarily a
varmint cartridge, and it’s most at
home sniping prairie dogs at long
range, or doing a smack-down on coy-
otes. The list of good varmint bullets is
almost infinite. While the raw speed of
the 40-grain or 45-grain bullets is
tempting, it is my experience that this
cartridge performs best with a bit more
bullet weight.
Bryce M. Towsley shooting at prairie dogs with a Cooper rifle in .223 WSSM.
113
.243 Winchester Super Short Magnum

The .243 WSSM brings the Super Short Magnums
into the realm of a true “dual-use” cartridge. The .243
WSSM is exactly the same as the .223 WSSM in every
respect except the neck diameter. But, size matters. In
this case, so does bullet weight. The slight difference
in bullet diameter is a factor when shooting deer and
other big game, but the more substantial increase in
bullet weight matters more. Even in the varmint hunt-
ing world the increased bullet weight makes a differ-
ence as the heavier bullets buck the wind better and
add a level of insurance when shooting tough
varmints like eastern coyotes.
The water capacity of the .243 WSSM case is
almost identical to the 6mm Remington, so it stands to
reason that the performance should be similar.
Winchester currently offers four factory loads for the
.243 WSSM. The 55-grain Ballistic Silvertip has a
muzzle velocity of 4,060 f.p.s. There are two 95-grain
grain loads. The Ballistic Silvertip’s MV is 3,250 f.p.s.,
and the XP3 95-grain bullet has a muzzle velocity of
3,150 f.p.s. Finally, there is a 100-grain Power Point The .25 WSSM is the ballistic twin of the .25-
bullet that exits the barrel at 3,110 f.p.s., which is 10 06 Remington.
f.p.s. faster than the Winchester 100-grain 6mm facto-
ry load. All these loads, though, have a substantial shoot accurately in some rifles, because they have to
edge over the most popular 6mm on the market, the be seated too far off the lands. This is particularly true
.243 Winchester, where 2,960 f.p.s. is the standard for when the gun has some history and the throat is start-
most 100-grain factory loads. ing to erode. The ballistic coefficient is lower with the
There are a lot of outstanding 100-grain bullets on light bullets and at long range the advantage of the
the market for the .243 that will perform very well on higher muzzle velocity is forfeited to the more ballistic
big game, and in years past | have made it a point to efficient heavier bullets. But, my thinking is that it
restrict any big game shooting with any .243 (6mm) doesn’t make sense to use a bigger diameter bullet and
cartridge to 100-grain or heavier bullets. While that's then drop the weight down to match that of a smaller
still a sound policy, things have changed. Today there cartridge. What possible advantage is there in a 55-
are some outstanding big game bullets that are lighter grain .243 bullet over a 55-grain .224 bullet? The
than that former 100-grain gold standard. For exam- concept of a bigger bore is to allow heavier bullets.
ple, the Barnes Triple Shock bullet thinks it’s heavier For prairie dog shooting | like at least 70-grains of
than it is. The .243, 85-grain bullet will penetrate like a bullet weight in the .243 WSSM. Again, | prefer poly-
100-grain bullet, but with a muzzle velocity that’s a mer tipped varmint bullets for the extra ballistic coeffi-
couple of hundred feet per second faster, it shoots flat- cient and the positive terminal performance. One
ter and faster. Nosler makes the Partition in 85-grain thing | have witnessed time and again is how the
and 95-grain. My experience is with the 95-grain bul- heavier .243 bullets buck the wind better than lighter
let and it works very well on whitetails. Swift makes a 22-caliber bullets. | remember one time we were
90-grain Scirocco that has a ballistic coefficient of shooting in South Dakota and the wind was making it
419, which is a good choice for shooting deer and all but impossible to score long range hits with our
antelope at extended range. | have had good luck on .223 Remington and .22-250 rifles. My buddy broke
small Texas whitetails with handloaded 95-grain out a new custom rifle in .243 Ackley Improved (the
Nosler Ballistic Tip bullet at 3,225 f.p.s. ballistic twin to the .243 WSSM.) | had been spotting
The siren song of 4,000 f.p.s. does often call loud for him all morning and had a very good idea of how
and the temptations of 55 or 58 grain bullets are high. much the wind was blowing the 22-caliber bullets off
After all, it’s fun to be the fastest kid on the block. But, course. The difference with his 80-grain .243 bullets
in my experience they are not always the best choice. was absolutely amazing. Not only was the amount of
First, they are short and | have trouble getting them to deflection greatly reduced, the bullet impacts seemed
to be much more consistent and predictable. That rifle ballistic figures look familiar, you are right. They are
saved our day of shooting and convinced me that bul- exactly the same velocities published by Winchester
let weight matters in the wind. It’s a lesson | have seen for their .25-06 Remington factory loads using the
repeated many more times over the years. As soon as | same bullets. Simply put, the .25 WSSM is a ballistic
got home from that trip | ordered my own rifle in .243 twin to the .25-06. However, the .25 WSSM achieves
Ackley Improved. Of course that was before the .243 the same ballistics as the .25-06 with less powder.
WSSM hit the market. What that means is that the .25 WSSM will have
When it comes to shooting coyotes | have always slightly less recoil than the .25-06. It also makes it a
liked heavier bullets and usually will load 80-85 grain more efficient cartridge with a slight reduction in the
bullets. While | like the polymer tipped designs, | start- powder cost per shot.
ed hunting woodchucks some forty odd years ago The .25 WSSM is versatile enough to hunt
with a .243 Winchester and handloaded Sierra 85- varmints and it’s a hammer on coyotes. It can also
grain Hollow Point, Boattail bullets and | kind of got work well in an accurate rifle for long range prairie
attached to them. They were my grandfather's favorite dog shooting. | know some very serious prairie dog
varmint bullet and because he was teaching a gun shooters who favor the .25-06 for ultra-long range
crazy pre-teen (me) to handload, they became my shooting. The .25 WSSM should do equally as well.
favorite. Like all Sierra bullets, they are very accurate | have come to like the 85-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip
and they also kill coyotes extremely well. | have one bullet a lot for coyote hunting and prairie dog shooting
hunting buddy who shoots them in his .243 WSSM for with this cartridge. This is actually the largest bullet
deer. While | don’t share his enthusiasm for this bullet Nosler makes in their Ballistic Tip Varmint bullet line.
on whitetails, you would have to club him with a big The 100-grain to 120-grain bullets are designed for big
stick to make him use any other. game hunting. | have had outstanding luck with the
Barnes 100-grain TSX bullet in several 25-caliber car-
tridges. Once again, it thinks it’s bigger than it is and it
penetrates very well. | have also had good luck with
the Hornady 100-grain SP bullets. This is a simple cup
and core bullet, nothing fancy and most important; it’s
not expensive when compared to most big game bul-
lets.
| have a buddy who runs a hunting operation in
Texas and he has to cull a lot of deer every year. | have
been loading the Hornady bullets for him and he says
they work great. With the price a fraction of some of
the super bullets they are worth a look if you are hunt-
ing small deer or antelope.
For bear, elk or even big northern whitetails con-
sider the super bullets, particularly those with a bit
more weight. The Barnes TSX in 120-grain is a good
The Barnes Triple Shock 100 grain is a good bullet for the choice for anything requiring deep penetration. Nosler
.25 WSSM. and Hornady both have 110-grain bonded-core, poly-
mer tipped bullets that are great for deer. Swift has
.25 Winchester Super Short Magnum 120-grain A-Frame and Nosler makes the Partition in
the’same weight. You can’t go wrong with any of these
_ bullets.
The third leg of this cartridge trilogy is the .25
The future of these cartridges as factory loads
WSSM, which is the same cartridge in every way,
remains to be seen. With no current rifles offered by
except neck diameter. This .25 WSSM has some appli- any of the big firearms makers, it’s doubtful that we
cation for varmint hunting, but really has the soul of a will see much in the way of expansion in the factory
big game cartridge. ammo options. But, the WSSM cartridges have estab-
Winchester has four factory loads. The first fea- lished a footprint in shooting circles that will last well
tures a Nosler 110-grain Accubond bullet with a muz- into the foreseeable future and handloaders will be the
zle velocity of 3,100 f.p.s. Next is a 85-grain Ballistic driving force that keeps these goofy-looking, high-per-
Silvertip with a muzzle velocity of 3,470 f.p.s. The forming cartridges alive and kicking for a long time to
115-grain Ballistic Silvertip has a muzzle velocity of come.
3,060 f.p.s. and the 120-grain Positive Expanding
Point exits the muzzle at 2,990 f.p.s. If you think these 115
Section 5 - Introduction to Data
Universal Receiver set-up for C.U.P. pressure testing
116
Section 5 - Introduction to Data
Section 5
introducnonito Data ....... page 118
S125 DE eee a page 121
plomeeun Data. Vo... page 325
Thompson/Center
Contender and Encore ..... page 401
11 Introductionn
The data in this section cannot be used without Test Components
a full understanding of what it represents or without Keep in mind that the test components are not
complete reloading knowledge. Any attempts to use of Lyman manufacture. Therefore, it is possible that
this data without the necessary cautions, procedures production changes which would effect ballistics or
and background knowledge could be extremely load safety could occur without Lyman's knowledge. If
dangerous causing personal and property injury, there is any doubt, created for any reason, including
even death. unexpected results from even a single shot, immedi-
ately stop. Do not proceed with reloading or fire
The Data listed in this section has been tested another shot until you have contacted the component
by Lyman technicians and found safe when loaded manufacturer and cleared up the difficulty.
with their test components, tooling, procedures and
finished cartridge dimensions and when fired under
Test Specifications
laboratory controlled conditions in the test firearms.
These are self explanatory and can sometimes help
The publisher and editors have no control over how
the shooter form some judgment as to performance in
reloading is conducted by the individual. Every
change in equipment, procedure, component lot, fin-
their firearm.
ished cartridge dimensions and firearm used will effect

ballistics and/or the safety and usefulness of a load. Cartridge Drawing
Therefore, no warranties are implied or expressed for This information is based on the maximum allowable
the data and copy contained in this book. We specifi- loaded cartridge dimensions according to accepted
cally disclaim any warranties of fitness for any and all industry standards. With the exception of bullet diam-
particular purposes and specifically disclaim any and eters, it is unlikely that the relcader will ever encounter
all liability for consequential damages of any kind. a cartridge with these dimensions unless a problem is
present. The listed dimensions, when compared with
The individual assumes all risks for the safety of the reloader's ammo dimensions can be a help in
reloaded ammunition. Improperly loaded ammuni- making certain maximum dimensions are not exceed-
tion, or the failure to follow all necessary precautions, ed. For example, if your loaded cartridges have a neck
may result in serious personal injury and/or death to diameter equal or greater than the listed dimension for
the shooter or bystanders. your Cartridge the ammo should not be fired.
There are many precautions to which the reloader

Comments
must adhere. This introduction deals with many of
The information given here is to help the reloader with
these but cannot possibly foresee, or include, all
component selection and/or to impart specific infor-
possible cautions or procedures.
mation about the cartridge. The comments should
always be read for specific loading suggestions which
Maximum listed loads must always be worked up to
may make the reloader's work go easier.
carefully. ALWAYS START WITH’ THE
SUGGESTED STARTING LOAD and develop the load
slowly, carefully, firing at least ten shots at each incre- Bullets
mental propellant charge weight. Not every possible bullet has been tested. We have
used bullets which we feel are of a popular weight
and type. The listed data for each bullet is all of the
data we can supply at this time. Keep in mind that
Introduction to Data
seating depths can cause noticeable changes in ballis- LEVELS. They are the exact charge that produced the
tics. This is especially true for handgun ammunition. It maximum pressure level allowed or otherwise proved
is strongly suggested that the specific cartridge overall to be the maximum charge we could list. Never use
length be used as shown. any maximum charge without carefully working up to
it from the Suggested Starting Grains.
Powders
We have used powders that were generally It is quite possible that listed maximum loads may not
popular at the time the specific testing was conducted. be safe in your firearm, with your components, with
Not every cartridge was shot for this edition. Thus, your loading procedures or with your finished car-
some of the newer propellants may not be listed with tridge dimensions. Use caution when developing a
some of the less popular loadings or bullets. Where a load. If even a single cartridge shows evidence of
single or a few specific powders have proven the best excessive pressure stop using the load and propellant.
possible choices with respect to ballistic uniformity, Switch to another propellant and begin the process
again.
we have identified these loads as “accuracy loads”.
While not actually fired at targets, all accuracy loads
Should trouble continue, stop all loading and contact
have high potential for producing outstanding accura-
the component manufacturer.
cy since uniform internal ballistics is critical to accura-
cy on the target. You cannot have one without the
Maximum load listings are dependent on a
other.
number of criteria beyond average pressures of the
loads. Ballistics must be uniform or individual high
Suggested Starting Grains and low pressures could be dangerous. The amount of
Loads shown in this column are the place to begin powder that will fit into the case without excess com-
load development. Use the exact charge shown. pression (this will vary with case lots, powder lots, and
Never go below the starting charge as to do so can bullet seating depth), performance at high or low tem-
sometimes cause dangerous conditions. Lighter peratures, muzzle flash and other important factors are
charges can sometimes result in dangerously high considered when we develop maximum loads. Never
pressure. Work up from the starting charge to the max- assume listed data can be exceeded.
imum charge slowly and in small increments. Be sure
you have sufficient knowledge to interpret the results
Compressed Loads
of your progressively heavier charges. Of course, you
All compressed loads are indicated with a + sign.
may choose not to use a maximum load and stay at
Depending upon the volume of the specific case lot
the starting charge or some point between it and the
being used the load may or may not fit into the case.
maximum load.
Never attempt to force feed the powder into the case.
If the bullet cannot be started into the case reduce the
As a beginning handloader you may want to confine
powder charge to allow for 1/10" of free space in the
all loads to the starting charges. When you are familiar
case neck. Cases which bulge after bullet seating
with all the aspects of ammo assembly then you can
should not be used. Never compress powder so that it
begin to work up loads.
causes case bulging. For more information on deter-
mining the suitability of a compressed load refer to the
Maximum Load Grains chapter on powder.
Maximum charges are never to be exceeded. THEY
ARE NOT DELIBERATELY HELD TO CONSERVATIVE 119
Visit Lyman Online
www.lymanproducts.com
To stay up to date on new products and current events at Lyman Products,

visit us online at
www.lymanproducts.com
You can request a current catalog,

get information about all of our products and brands,
and of course, purchase any of our products right from our website.
Our newly designed website is scheduled to debut in July 2008

Log on and see what's new at Lyman!
Remington introduced the 17
Remington Fireball in 2007. It is
based on the popular 17 Mach IV
wildcat cartridge, which is a necked-
down 221 Remington Fireball case.
Both 17 caliber cartridges have case
bodies that are straighter than the 221
case and use a 30 degree shoulder
angle versus the 23 degree angle used
on the 221 case. The result is a very
efficient cartridge that can produce
better than 4000 fps with a 20 grain
bullet, yet do so with very small pow-
der charges. Remington claims that
the small powder charges will pro-
duce less fouling, allow more shots
between cleanings, and_ therefore
maintain accuracy longer between
cleanings. The small capacity case will require the use
of relatively fast burning powders. Ramshot’s X-
Terminator and Hodgdon’s H-335 powders did well for
both bullet weights tested. 20 gr. Jacketed V-Max BC: .185
1.830" OAL SD: .097
Sugg
Powder Grains DS PS.I.
Test Components: IMR-4198
“UD EES. ae he eae, eee Remington
Ree NI a ie nro 9 BiShntee ayerua vainlenoneere 1.400”
MOUAICNS woe Ga Gere ks 0s APES Remington 7 1/2
TRESS Fk Sen a ene ea Small Rifle Benchmark
X-Terminator 18.0
OCS On| 0 a G2 a ar re cr rae No. 26
AA-2230 18.5
Jacketed Bullets Used . . .Hornady V-Max #21710, 20 gr. H-335 18.7 3541
Hornady HP #1710, 25 gr.
Test Specifications:
(Velocity & Pressure)
ehianin WESC! 2%.eon eernee Universal Receiver 25 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .187
Bet Cheek a ches OPPs 2 ies ey Fors vs 24” 1.800" OAL SD: .121
TRAVIS 6.5 Be OO Bohne ate ees caons oe aah cracarece 1-9” Sugg
(Hoa IDE. 6S ee en ope ner
eeins coo no oe xe Starting Velocity Pressure
- IMR-4198
N133
RX10
H-322
Benchmark (ise)
X-Terminator Ao 3414 39,600
AA-2230 18.0 39,800
H-335
Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. an

Note:
load.
Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate
+Designates a compressed powder charge.
17 Remingto1
| ntroduced in 1971 by Remington
this case, based on the 222
Remington has never been very popu-
lar. Most of the lack of popularity
stems from practical reasons.
The 17 caliber cartridges tend to
foul barrels quickly. With most rifles,
if the bore is not thoroughly cleaned
every 15 shots or so, accuracy quick-
ly disappears. It is not every gun shop
that stocks 17 caliber bullets or the <—t—— 118511}+
skinny cleaning rods required.
Factory ammo achieves a veloci-
——_ 1.5357 ——_—__—>
ty of about 4,000 fps. The reloader
—_—_—1.796 —____—___+|
can duplicate this speed using IMR
4320 or Benchmark. SS I ie
Test Components:
(PASEO MNG re sce nie his tits bbe orto > See Remington
MIT RIOAMEN SL: cot ae a etalela sa sien oes 4 ee 1.786" 20 gr. Jacketed V-Max BC: .185
BNE Saree ar Pah ooShafi hacen oe Remington 71/2 2.170" OAL SD: .097
HERE SAS Oe, Se ec eR Small Rifle
Su 88
pra UC HM ONGET met. seca e's oo oe eee No. 26 Starting Velocity Pressure
Jacketed Bullets Used Hornady V-Max #21710, 20 gr. Powder Grains fps P.S.1.
Benchmark
IMR-4895
Varget
(Velocity Only)
25 gr. Jacketed HP
PRTC aT eSeO rcs Seer oode-ck ae Remington Model 700
2.150" OAL
BAIR Otine heaves eiece atate there ge ul ne eae 24"
pW ISketrcae rte ee aeiorec a ees aR oe ome1-10" Sugg
Gr]6%6 OaBE nee rarenaentenantn
2 Mire.Sansa! CRE eye, O- 1728 Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps P.S.1.
N130 172 3470
IMR-4198 17.0 3478
RX7 17.0 3473
H-335 18.9 3440
IMR-3031 20.0 3452
BL-C (2) 20.3 3450
AA-2460 19.8 3429
TAC 19.8 3313
Benchmark 20.1 3603
748 20.0 3418
IMR-4895. 21.5 3616
IMR-4064. 21.0 3455
IMR-4320. 22.5 3692
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum.

Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate load.
The 204 Ruger was developed by a
joint effort of Hornady and Ruger and
became available in 2004. This 20
caliber cartridge shares the same case
head diameter and case length as the
222 Rem. Magnum, but is necked to
20 caliber. It offers high velocities and
flat trajectories, while still having less
recoil and less report than many pop-
ular varmint calibers. The 204 Ruger
has quickly become a favorite of
varmint hunters and is currently being
chambered by almost all of the major
firearm companies.
Reloaders may want to try H-335,
IMR-4895 or Varget when starting
load development.
Test Components:
Oe ae a eRe wet. Serie C8 so a rei Hornady
PEER ee Soc cts iw io Fae wlais8 eRe 1.840" 40 gr. Jacketed V-Max BC: .275
ei oem en wh a vas sata Remington 7 1/2 2.250" CAL SD: .137
O17 CSAS | eG ei aa ere eg Small Rifle Sugg Max |
De
MROHIOM ETOWAEYS fo. cc be ceees No. 26 Starting Velocity Pressure Loac
Powder Grains fps PS... Gite
Jacketed Bullets Used .. .Hornady V-Max #22004, 32 gr.
RX10 22.0 3417. 48,000
Hornady V-Max #22006, 40 gr. AA-2015 23.4 3359 46,100
Hornady SP #22008, 45 gr. IMR-3031 232) 3327; 43,400
H-322 PRI 3403 46,500
Benchmark 23.7 3378 44,200
Test Specifications: AA-2460 24.4 3403 45,300
(Velocity & Pressure) N135 24.0 3483 49,700
Dg 0s ESS gS od oe Universal Receiver X-Terminator 23.6 3202 36,200
PN, as 2 ois. peal e sehake eee es 6 24" H-335 25.2 3500 47,900
Ce rrr 1-12" IMR-4895 25.4 3427 46,800
et eee eee, x Ny Picts aes. at © eee + 6 204" Varget 26.0 3545 51,600
32 gr. Jacketed V-Max BC: .210 45 gr. jacketed SP BC: .245

2.250" OAL SD: .110 2.260" OAL SD: .155
Su Sugg Max eo oy
Starting Velocity Pressure Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps P.S.1. Powder Grains P.S.I.
N130 22.5 3654 45,600 RX10 21,0 3295) 0) (49/200!
AA-2015 25.0 3711 46,100 N135 225 3227 50,100
IMR-3031 25.2 3682 45,200 . Berchman DIO aise 48500 ae
RX10 24.5 3799 49,100 IMR-3031 22.8 3257 47,800
1H-322 25.4 3740 46,600 H-335 23.0 3251 49,600
Benchmark 25.9 3671 45,200 H-4895 23.2 3241 45,200
AA-2460 26.0 3703 43,600 AA-2460 23.9 3304 50,400
N135 25.5 3746 47,300 IMR-4895 24.2 3225 45,800
XTerminator 25.2 3548 37,600 Varget 23.8 3246 48,200
H-335 27.0 3789 43,900 RX15 25.0 3294 47,700
IMR-4895. 27.5 3707. 45,700
Varget 27.5 3706 44,800

22 Hornet (5.6351
line 22 Hornet evolved out of
experiments with the old 22 WCF car-
tridge at Springfield Armory during
the 1920s. Any shooters loading for
an older rifle should be aware that
two different groove diameters exist
for the Hornet. All currently produced
22 Hornets utilize the .224” diameter
groove common to all .22 caliber
center-fire rifles. Most rifles manufac-
tured up to the World War Two period
have a .223” diameter groove. If in
doubt, slug the bore and select the
appropriate diameter bullet. The
Hornet is a long-time favorite among
handloaders and is a fine cartridge out
to 150 yards. Its accuracy, mild recoil,
and wide-selection of quality rifles
and pistols add to its appeal.
The Hornet is not similar to any other current car- Test Specifications:
tridge. As such, several precautions are necessary. Case (Velocity & Pressure)
walls of the Hornet are quite thin and easily crush if the Firearm Used ... .Ruger K77/22VHZ, Universal Receiver
die is not properly adjusted. The expander button Barrel iength s4.o6 05.45 48 8 org. oe eer eee 24"
TOSI REE os bocities aig gave tenina tatste creme ge 1-16"
installed in the full-length sizing die must be adjusted as
GOO VesDia aise oe seiacaotie ase eee Ruger; .224"
low as possible without contacting the inside bottom of
Universal Receiver; .223"
the case. Improper adjustment of the expander button
can shear off the upper portion of the neck leaving it
stuck within the die body. Some shooters prevent any
such problems by simply removing the expander button
completely and using an M-die to neck expand as in a
three-die set. Suitable powders are limited due to the
shape and capacity of the cartridge case. Powders
regarded as slow pistol powders or very fast rifle pow- 40 gr. Jacketed JSP
der fall within this rather narrow burn rate. 40 and 45- 1.722" OAL
grain bullets usually work best with the Hornet's 1-16” Sugg
twist. Most manufacturers produce bullets in both diam- Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains DS C.U.P.
eters constructed specifically for the Hornet’s perform-
2400 Uiph 2007 —
ance level.
N110 8.2 2384 —
H110 9.9 2592 —
IMR 4227 10.5 2534 —
AA1680 12.6 2547 =o
Test Components:
(SaSC See were.
Ok So as oh ees Winchester
SIriirtOn LCN
St NER ee, cus sca, attends inSeay ss 13393)
PHITAIELGSS. Sa rie,68S cece ae Ne Cee 6 nS ee WSR
PVIMeleO LZ Cece heey, ace tees cree eee Small Rifle
EViTialTi OU UMA GIOChenme: «nan aats + 1 eto cane ears No. 4 45 gr. Jacketed JSP
Jacketed Bullets Used .......... Sierra JSP #1200, 40 gr. 1.722" OAL
Hornady JSP #2230, 45 gr. Sugg
Hornady V-Max #22261, 50 gr. Starting Velocity Pressure
Speer JHP #1035, 52 gr. Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
Hornady SPSX #2260, 55 gr. 2400 79 2235 =
N110 79 2822 Lae
GCactiBulletet) sed see cos .:escee (sized to .224" dia)
H110 9.1 2383 =
*gas check bullet *#225438, 44 gr. IMR 4227. —-10.3 2406 a
*#225415, 55 er. AA1680 11.2 2323 De

50 gr. Jacketed V-Max BC: .242 52 gr. Jacketed JHP BCs5225
1.723" OAL SD: .142 1.723" OAL SD: .147
Sugg Sugg Max oat
Powder Grains CUP: Powder Grains ps (CHUB
2400 3:
IMR-4227 9.0
97
55 gr. Jacketed SPSX BC: .235 #225438

1.723" OAL SD: .157 44 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.675" OAL SD: .125
Suge nee. =e
Sugg
Starting Velocity Starting Velocity Pressure
_Grains Powder Grains ps C.U.P.
(H110—
IMR-4227 H110
IMR-4227
#225415 BC: .116

55 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.694" OAL SD: .157
Sugg
Powder Grains p CUR
| tee oY 1060
2.0 1050 —
eS 1780
25 1185 —
Unique 3.0. 1320 =
SR-7625 3.0 1350 =
H110 4.2 1124 set
SR-4759 5.6 1266 ‘13,500
Rx7 6.5 1159 zs

22 K-Hornet |
D The 22 K-Hornet was developed in
1940 by former Lyman employee
: Lysle Kilbourn. Lysle started with
3) Lyman in 1953 on our Technical Staff
and produced a number of Reloading
Handbooks over the next 12 years.
N His K-Hornet was one of the first wild-
N
cats formed by fireforming the shoul-
=
der to a sharp angle and the body to a
fairly straight shape. Many other wild-
cat calibers have been produced
using this method since then. Forming
cases for the K-Hornet is easy, as all
that is required is to fire standard 22
Hornet ammunition in the K-Hornet
chamber.
There have been several versions
of the K-Hornet made through the
years. The main difference is the length from the rim to
the shoulder and slight changes to the angle of the
shoulder. The version used for this data is 1.130" from
33 gr. Jacketed TNT HP BC: .080
rim to the start of the shoulder with a 35 degree shoul-
1.700" OAL SD: .094
der angle. If a different version is used, approach maxi-
mum loads with caution and back off if any signs of Sugg
high pressure are encountered. The K-Hornet generally Powder Grains GUE.
gave us 100 to 200 fps increase in velocity compared to 26,300
a standard 22 Hornet.
23,900
IMR-4227
Test Components:
(SASOS Mima Re oe, Me wed his RR Dee Ml Remington
BT OULCMCLIREM Nae tres ars A eins ate 0 oeete. 1.390"
RiiNerste an teertds twos Mae eee. vicina Remington 7 1/2
ok
PUeh DiZe ae mte eee oe Otel AN ot een Small Rifle 35 gr. Jacketed V-Max BC: .109
[vimranmoel TIONIEL cna canac na Snunce aes ere aceNo. 4 1.722" OAL SD: .100
Jacketed Bullets Used ...... Speer TNT HP #1014, 33 gr. Su 88
Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
Speer SP #1017, 40 gr.
Hornady SP #2230, 45 gr.
CASHIOUIESS [ISCO ca tunis ane cnaanie:has(sized to .225" dia.) 26,400

*gas check bullet *#225438, 44 gr. IMR-4227
*#225415, 55 gr. 36,900
Fil@ariny Used PG Peace ee Universal Receiver
40 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .144
Bartelikength®. caces.cc. vec. oo cee ae oe 22"
1.722" OAL SD: .114
STWitSUiaphes Seat cae. Soesttec ac ee ae 1-16"
GrooverDia perncrcs lcci cis eee ee DAS Sugg
Powder Grains C.U.P.
26,600
IMR-4227
36,300
22 K-Hornet
45 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .202 #225438 BC: .094

1.722" OAL SD: .128 44 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.675" OAL SD 25
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains C.U.P. Powder —_ Grains fps C.U.P.
2400
Lil! Gun
N110 9.0 Lil! Gun
31,300 IMR-4227 17,400
IMR-4227. 10.2
35,600
#225415 BC: .116

55 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.694" OAL SDs 157,
Su
Starting Velocity
Powder Grains
Uni
42
2400
Lil' Gun
H110
IMR-4227
AA-1680

218 Bee
The reloader cannot generally dupli-
cate advertised factory ballistics with
canister powders currently available.
When loading ammo for use in tubu-
lar magazines DO NOT USE ANY
SHARP NOSED bullets. Cartridges for
tubular magazines must be loaded
only with bullets having blunt noses.
Hornet style bullets must be used
if expansion is to be certain. IMR
4227 seems the best powder to begin
with, along with bullets of 45-grains.
Accuracy in lever action rifles is
seldom impressive but when used ina
bolt or single shot action the 218 Bee
often gives accuracy approaching that
of the 22 Hornet.
Test Components: 40 gr. Jacketed Sp. SP BC: .144

LEASES Mere MOMENN rete Fk one kata Sel cota oy Remington 1.680" OAL SD: .114
NIM OMCONeLY eee es Ree Ce ST, 2). ee ae 335°
PNIMIEISy eee Pee oy ks Pale mrad ge Sots Remington 6 1/2 Su es Max
BiLRCTe SIZC Rime ie neat Sth er. os Sew eee Small Rifle Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
Vp GeeTaR'S!eesITB (c)(8(=:fs eae ome eee On SP Ea No. 10
Jacketed Bullets Used ........ Speer Sp. SP #1017, 40gr. IMR-4227 11.0
Sierra Varminter #1210, 45¢r. IMR-4198 14.0
Sierra SMP #1320, 50gr.
Speer HP #1035, 52 gr.
Sierra SMP #1350, 55gr.
GAcsPBulleteWsedeers. nc ecqu alae (sized to .223" dia)
*gas check bullets *#225415, 55¢r.
45 gr. jacketed Varininter BC: .137

1.680" OAL SD: .128
Test Specifications: Sugg
(Velocity Only) Starting Velocity Pressure
PHGATOUISED Vitae
2 cites eet iesWinchester Low Wall Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
Marlin Over/Under 2400 10.5 DAGs=
Balreimoerigthic’ ww aeiac Ants our ear ee claWinchester; 20" IMR-4227. 11.5 2481
IMR-4198 13.0 2309
Marlin; 26"
INVSig eee Wee ee Reo Ba we ae eos ae ak is 1-16"
GCOVEND tase pareee case ee ee ee eae ele ee

218 Bee
50 gr. Jacketed SMP BC: .190 52 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .225

1.680" OAL SD: .142 1.680" OAL SD: .147
Su es Sugg & = jae RES
Starting Velocity Pressure Starting Velocity Pressure —

Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Powder Grains fps CUR
IMR-4227 11.0 2331 IMR-4227 10.5 2159

IMR-4198 12.0 2105 IMR-4198 12.0
55 gr. Jacketed SMP BC: .212 #225415 BC: .116

1.680" OAL SDP. 157 55 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.595" OAL SD: .157
. Su 8s Sugg
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
2400 Oey 2183 —
IMR-4227 10.0 2087 —
IMR-4198 12.0 2145 _—
*SR-7625

* tested in a Winchester Low Wal
222 Remington
=
D Re wminon introduced their 222 in
= 1950 as an entirely new design not
based on any existing case. The .378”
5‘I diameter rimless cartridge constituted

something entirely new to the
American shooter. Its inherent accu-
NI racy helped establish the 222 378 332
: Remington as a top-notch varmint

cartridge which soon dethroned the
older, rimmed 219 Zipper and Wasp
cartridges on the Benchrest circuit.
The “triple-deuce” has itself been
overtaken in Benchrest by the PPC
family of cartridges and has lost
ground to the 223 Remington else-
where. Despite this, the cartridge still
has its die-hard followers and offers a
lot to those who load for it. 50 or 55-
grain bullets with a proper charge of H-322 make a
potent combination out to 250 yards. Cast bullets
should be cast hard, at least 15 BHN, and kept below
2300 feet per second. The 222 Remington is notable as
40 gr. Jacketed Sp. SP BC: .144
the basis of several latter cartridges including the 222
2.040" OAL SD: .114
Remington Magnum, 223 Remington, 221 Fireball, and
17 Remington along with numerous wildcats. Sugg
IMR-4198 18.0 2688 24,000
AA-2015 2AEG 2963 34,800
RX7 19.8 ZIV ie 29 GOO
Test Components: IMR-3031 20.0 2283 19,200
H322 22 2883 30,000
CEASA DM ar: (oe wets Seas i va ce colo Reeni Remington
AA2230 24.5 3250 42,000
“WTOP
RE CO Wc rinyeatyRs anSee ee eA CASA arene 1.690"
H335 23.0 2884 29,400
PUTelSeer as tease oo stow a he amu ee Remington 71/2
IMR-4895 21.0 2590 26,400
BRIMCIE SIZE Ren EN an hice oa Apres wae et es Small Rifle
IMR-4064 21.0 2481 25,200
DOTY SICH TONIC! aigad oot Aten omen nic Seren, er No. 26
IMR-4320 22.0 2583 27,600
Jacketed Bullets Used ....... Speer Sp. SP #1017, 40 gr.
Sierra SPT #1310, 45 gr.
Sierra Blitz #1340, 50 gr.
Sierra HP Match King #1400, 53 gr.
Sierra SMP #1370, 63 gr. 45 gr. Jacketed SPT BC: .210
Cash Bulletsilséd 5 eke seed coeeae (sized to .224" dia) 2125-0 AL SD: .128
*eas check bullets *#225415, 55 gr.
Sugg
*#225646, 55 gr. Starting Velocity Pressure
IMR-4198 18.0 2672 24,600
XMR2015 PAS) 2810 31,800
RX7 18.9 2896 32,700
IMR-3031 20.0 2538 27,600
Test Specifications: H322 21.6 2811 29,400
(Velocity & Pressure) AA2230 23.4 3037. 41,500
PISMO EO! A ene oebwatdoareane Universal Receiver H335 23.6 2925 34,200
Barrel engine vb iacseedevates
slercet ye sme eee nem26" IMR-4895 21.0 2583 27,000
SIWIST ee rare eur cere Pena ere ee yee ceca 1-14" IMR-4064 20.0 2331 24,600
GiFOOVE! Dae need ene aee paren oie nla Waza, PAs IMR-4320 22.0 2570 27,000

_ 222 Remington
ea
Pp
50 gr. Jacketed Blitz
2.125" OAL
BC; .222 53 gr. Jacketed HP match King BC: .224 nN
N
SD: .142 2.130" OAL SD: .151
Sugg
Starting Velocity
Max Sugg Max 0)
a
Pressure Load Velocity Pressure Starting Velocity Pressure © Load Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains CUP Grains C.U.P. Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains C.
IMR-4198 18.0 2717 28,200 = 20.5 3205 45,900 IMR-4198 17.1 2705 31,700 19.5 3025 45,500
=
AA-2015 20.7 2875 32,600 | 23.9 3267 46,200 AA-2015 19.2 2703 32,200 +224 3084 45,500
RX7 19.4 2703 ~—-28,600 21.5 3060 43,900. IMR-3031 20.0 2544 27,600 23.5+ 3039 41,100 =e
IMR-3031 20.0 2538 26,400 | 235+ 3115 42,000 H-322 19.8 2738 34,300 22.5+ 3083 45,500
H322 21.6 2852 32,700 +—-24.0+ 3090 45,600 AA2230 20.2 2601 29,200 D335) 3060 46,200
H335 23.0 2797 ~—-33,000 25.5 3143. 45,300. H-335 DDE 2744 34,200 24.5 3051 45,600
IMR-4895 22.0 2762 31,500 +=25.0 3105 42,400 IMR-4895 22.0 2747 34,000 25.0+ 3058 45,900
AA2460 21.0 2749 32,400 ~=—-23.5 3050 43,000 AA2460 19.0 2410 23,900 23.6 3004 45,900
748 22.0 2691 26,800 25.0+ 3032 38,900 748 21.5 2651 29,000 24.5 3024 44,600
IMR-4064 20.0 2314 23,400 | 236+ 2849 34,000 IMR-4064 20.0 ~—.2341_~—s 25,800 —-23.6+ + 2840 ~—-36,900
Varget 22.5 2648 30,500 25.0+ 2947 37,500 Varget 22.1 2590 29,100 ~—24.5+ 2930 ~—-40,900
IMR-4320 23.0 2754 34,000 260+ 3048 42,400 IMR-4320 20.3 2409 "27,800 _23.0+ 2807 —_-39,500
55 gr. Jacketed SPT 60 gr. Jacketed HP

DADS SOA 2.130" OAL
Sugg Max Sugg Max
Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains ) C.U.P. Powder Grains s C.U.P. Grains AY
IMR-4198 ‘17.0 2538 27,000 19.5 2980 45,100 IMR-4198 16.3 2473 30,000 += «185 = 2787 _~—S 44,300
AA-2015 19.0 2605 26,200 22.1 3098 46,700 AA-2015 18.5 2527 30,300 +=. 21.5 2907 46,000
IMR-3031 20.0 2531 28,800 23.54 3048 45,400 H-322 19.8 2539 33,200 Pi eta 45,200
H-322 19.3 2609 27,800 22.0 2990 45 AA-2230 19.6 2462 31,000 23.0 2923 45,400
AA-2230 19.6 2550 27,700 fears H-335, 20.5 2528 31,400 23.0 2889 45,400
H-335 21.6 2639 32,200 + ~—-:24.0 2974 44,600 IMR-4895 20.5 2469 32,000 23.0+ 2748 38,700
IMR-4895 20.7 2454 28,000 23.54 2837 38,800 AA-2460 19.0 2366 30,000 22.1 2749 43,600
AA2460 20.2 2555 30,200 232 2943 46,100 748 21.0 2423 32,300 23.0 2745 45,000
748 21.8 2539 31,000 242+ 2885 44,200 IMR-4064. 19.5 2267 + +28,200 23.6+ 2785 41,600
IMR-4064 20.0 2347 25,800 23.64 2849 37,700 Varget 22.1 2572 32,000 —eSe 2e200 42400
Varget IA 2651 31,500 245+ 2863 35,700 IMR-4320. 21.5 2450 34,000 23.0+ 2680 37,200
IMR-4320 20.2 2394 26,300 += 23.04 + 2744 39,000 RX15 20.2 2487 32,200 (Aaaiea er oueaaisog

Sugg Max Sugg Max
Powder Grains _fps C.U.P. Grains C.U.P. Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains C.U.P.
IMR-4198 17.5 2629 35,700 19.3 2798 43,020 Red Dot 5.1 1785 25,200 7A) 2047. 88.000
AA-2015 17.8 2394 28,800 21.0 _—-2836_—45,200 700x 47 1709 27,000 64 2053 39,900
IMR-3031_ —-19.0 2325 29,400 21.0+ 2648 35,500 Green Dot 5.3 1779 26,400. iene a aro
H-322 20.3 2598 32,200 220+ 2926 45,500 PB 5.2 1718 25,800 70 2024 39,400
AA-2230 19.0 2384 28,800 [ieee ees aco Unique 6.0 1972 25,800 8.0 2358 36,000
IMR-4895 20.0 2364 30,000 23.0+ 2747 40,000 SR-7625 57 1785 24,000 70°. 2016 35,500
AA-2460 _—.20.8 2542 36,700 23.1 2824 45,800 Herco 6.5 1956 27,000 8.8 2336 40,700
IMR-4064_ —-19.0 2141. 25,200 23.64 2785 40,700 SR-4756 6.0 1769 21,600 82>. 2267. 40,300
Varget 297 2682 33,800 25.24 2950 _ 42,600 2400 11.0 2153 15,500. (15.8) 283500 at 400
RX15 21.8 2591 34300 242+ 2898 44,700 SR-4759 12.2 2185 15,300 | 16.5 2895 36,700
IMR-4227. 13.0 2314... 19,700 ASO 27511) 24,200
748 17.0 2019 12,100 | 25.0 2881 25,400

#225646 BC: .155
55 gr. #2 Alloy) 2.130" OAL SD: .157
Sugg Eo fae
Red Dot 5.5 1658 22,600
700x 5.6 1728 23,700
Green Dot 5.9 1728 21,800
PB 5.7 1639 21,800
Unique 6.2 1754 21,000
SR-7625 5.6 1607 23,900
Herco 6.2 1741 20,000
SR-4756—s- 66.0 1630 19,000
2400 10.5 2170 21,800
SR-4759 12.0 2261 26,200
748 20.0 2261 17,100

Tne 22 PPC is the necked down ver-
sion of the 6 mm PPC. It is identical to
the 6mm PPC except for the cartridge
neck and bullet diameters. This is
without doubt the second most accu-
rate cartridge available, being bested
only by its 6mm near twin.
The PPC nomenclature is taken
from the initials of its designers:
Pindell, Palmisano Cartridge. It has
won many benchrest shoots, but the
6mm version is the real champ in
competition. This round makes a
good selection for varmint shooting.
Hodgdon’s H322 is the single best
propellant selection for jacketed bul-
lets, though all listed types will shoot
very well indeed. Match grade bullets
are required to get all that this cartridge can deliver.
If you use cases other than Sako PPC, USA,
approach all loads with extreme caution.
50 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .223
2.025" OAL SD: .142
Sugg = :
Test Components: N30 227 3030 35,900
SCE Sm erotica Sr eelc Gala iss brad 5is SAKO IMR-4198 21.0 2959 31,400
TES WS 1 a ees A ce <P 1.495" AA-2015 22.0 2991 29,200
RNS aye A oy 8 5.5.75 3 8 isScoala wAtatons Remington 71/2 H-322 23.0 3030 = 30,200
UIE FE eee, Rk en go ea rte mae Small Rifle AA2230 25.0 03951529; 700
ear te HEME eres ye ie ore le been No. 3 IMR-4895 25.0 MIS) 30,300
Jacketed Bullets Used .......... Speer HP #1030, 50 gr. BL-C(2) 27.0 3051 32,600
Sierra HPBT #1410, 52 gr. 748 27.0 3028 29,400
Sierra SPT #1360, 55 gr. Varget 27.0 3122 36,600
RILCAlLtNG SCCM ciate cecramiee
et ee Universal Receiver
52 gr. Jacketed HPBT BC: .225
SEUSS SEE irae a ae Pan eee 2.025" OAL SD: .148
TMGSE SRSos be Greco Or cet ER Ca ee a 1-14" Sugg
(Geiwe Dik Man doe.c eorcct ceeOee ae nearer aera DANS Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains ps Cur
N130 22.0 2989
IMR-4198
AA-2015
H-322
AA-2230
IMR-4895 32,200
BL-C(2)
748 33,200
Varg 35,400

LD =
55 gr. Jacketed SPT BC: .237 60 gr. jacketed HP BC: .271
2.025" OAL SD: 157 2.115" OAL SD: .171
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains C.U.P. Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
N130 22.0 2934 =.37,500 N130 DABS 2784 36,700
IMR-4198 20.0 2979 35,400 IMR-4198 19.0 2668 —-34,200
AA-2015 230m = 29142 == 31 600) AA-2015 0) DUB 2067 34 000"
H-322 23.0 3040 38,100 RX7 19.0 2617 35,100
AA-2230 24.0 2854 30,200 H-322 22:5 2814 = 37,000 ~
IMR-4895 PASYGS) 2973 32,400 AA-2230 23.5 2760 34,200
BL-C(2) 275 3030 36,800 IMR-4895 23.5 26818") 29,200'
748 26.5 2913 30,400 BL-C (2) 24.7 2739 33,400
Varget 26.1 2997 36,600 748 25.5 1282770) 132,800
Varget 25.0 2854 35,600

This cartridge is all but obsolete,
having been the forerunner to the 223
Remington. Owners of rifles cham-
bered for both the Remington 223
and 222 Magnum cartridges must use
extreme care not to use the wrong
ammo in a rifle.
Powders such as IMR 4198, IMR
4895, Reloder 7, and H335 are all
good choices with jacketed bullets
from 52 to 60 grains.
Cast bullets driven at 2,000 to
2,300 fps. perform best, especially
when lubed with Lyman Alox and gas
checked.
Test Components:
CN ER CM Ore el se errata donne Remington
Ree Pele i eee ak eae Ph at 1.840" 40 gr. Jacketed Sp. SP BC: .144
OU ee a Remington 712 2.200" OAL SD: .114
Die sice em earns Aro. te ok Small Rifle
Ses ps] Ae 6) 2 a8 ae oe ne No. 26 Sugg
Starting Velocity Pressure _
Jacketed Bullets Used ....... Speer Sp. SP #1017, 40 gr. Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
Sierra SPT # 1310, 45 gr.
Sierra SPT # 1330, 50 gr.
Hornady SP # 2265, 55 gr. H-335
Sierra SMP #1370, 63 gr. BL-C (2)
GaciBulletsiUiseciiee.. a wees cee. (sized to .224" dia) IMR-4895
*gas check bullets *#225415, 55 gr. IMR-4064
IMR-4320
(Velocity Only)
Felina lWweSell {ee sare oe Remington 700, Jacketed Bullets
Remington 722, Cast Bullets 45 gr. Jacketed SPT
ae CtHICiN Galant cer es weer a lsam Seb ee oes 24" 2.220" OAL SD: .148
TRAIKEE Fae Chose choy c ERS oer ORMaRLE cousin un aee rare ara 1-1/4" Sugg i
(CHGGNEI DIG tithe nos che ay EEE ie rer oer ae DAY Starting Velocity Pressure —
IMR-4198
RX7
IMR-3031
IMR-4895
IMR-4064
IMR-4320

2.250" OAL SD: .142 2.250" OAL SD: .147
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains C.U.P. Powder Grains C.U.P.
RX7
IMR-3031 IMR-3031
IMR-4895 IMR-4895
IMR-4064 24.0 IMR-4064
IMR-4320
55 gr. jacketed SP BC: .235 63 gr. Jacketed SMP BC: .231

2.310" OAL SD: .137 2.280" OAL SD: .179
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Powder Grains p C.U.P.
RX7 20.0 2890 RX7 20.0. 2816)
IMR-3031 IMR-3031 21.0 2659 —_
23.0 2
BL-C (2) 23.0 2659 =
IMR-4895 23.0 2672 am
IMR-4064 IMR-4064 22.0 2506 —
IMR-4320 IMR-4320 23.0 2631 =
#225415 BC: .225

55 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.150" OAL SD: .148

Green Dot
PB
SR-7625

Aes 223 Remington/5.56 NATO has
become one of the most popular and
versatile commercial cartridges in the
United States over the last forty years. It
works well with a wide number of com-
ponents and is easy and economical to
reload. Remington introduced this car-
tridge to the commercial market in 1964
soon after its adoption by the U.S. Army
as the 5.56 NATO. Much like the
7.62/308 and the earlier 30-06, ready
availability of surplus GI brass nurtured
its popularity. The 223 Remington is
similar to the older 222 Remington
Magnum but is .090” shorter in length
and has the shoulder set back approxi-
mately .030” Although the 223
Remington cartridges will chamber in
222 Magnum rifles, shooters should not
fire the 223 Remington cartridge in any
rifle chambered in 222 Magnum. The 2.260” magazine length as can their 69-grain MatchKing.
223 Remington has been chambered for a wide variety of Some shooters do report good results with 75-grain bullets
firearms over the years including the T/C Contender pistol. in 1-9” twist barrels, while many shooters have successful-
In addition to its military service, the cartridge has been ly used the 52-grain Sierra MatchKing in 1-7” barrels on
used for varmints, small game and target shooting with the reduced 200-yard course. Sierra’s 69-grain MatchKing
great success along with use by law enforcement agencies. is suitable for 1-7” to 1-10” barrels.
The 223 Remington should not be considered a deer car- Cast bullets velocities should be kept between 1,900
tridge. Many states mandate the 6mm/. 243” bore size as and 2,300 feet per second for best accuracy. Bullets should
the minimum caliber for whitetails. be cast of a hard alloy measuring at least 15 bhn such as
Part of the versatility enjoyed by this cartridge revolves Lyman’s # 2 alloy. Bullet #225646 gave good results
around the wide range of usable bullet weights. Best around 2,100 feet per second.
results with a particular bullet however requires use of a
barrel with the appropriate rate of twist. This cartridge was
originally introduced by different manufacturers in both 1-
12” and 1-14” twist barrels. These twist rates work well for Test Components:
bullets weighing 40 to 55-grains. IMR-3031, H-322, H- CASOS ae ere aT Pinte iat stn ten eer Remington
335, 748, and AA-2015 are all great powders in this cate- Hrimetouberiethyesace chee ete se oho eee ee 17505
gory. This cartridge has also come a long way in recent PHIMIGES petteesetatccst
oars se-erticee otro aeRemington 71/2
years due to development of heavy weight bullets featur- Primer SiZe tre. eo re an tonnes ate da eee Small Rifle
ing high ballistic coefficients for long-range match compe- EV INA OMelIPO etter. dete cuenta eens <agene eee No. 26
tition. The introduction of 80-grain bullets by several dif- Jacketed Bullets Used
ferent manufacturers allowed the AR-15/M16 series of Barnes Varmint Grenade #22436, 36 gr.
rifles to compete head to head (shooters of the “black gun” Hornady V-Max, #22241, 40 gr.
have demonstrated) with the older 30-caliber M14/M1A
rifles on the 600 yard stage of the National Match course. Sierra SPT #1310, 45 gr.
Use of the 77 or 80-grain Sierra MatchKings require a Sierra Blitz #1340, 50 gr.
1-7” or 1-8” twist barrel for proper stabilization. The 80- Sierra HPBT #1410, 52 gr.
grain MatchKing has a long, slender ogive and will need to Sierra SPT #1360, 55 gr.
be seated to an overall length longer than the 2.260” spec- Hornady V-Max #22281, 60 gr.
ified as maximum. The 80-grain bullet should not be seat- Sierra SMP #1370, 63 gr.
ed to the 2.260” magazine length. Excessive pressures will Sierra HPBT #1380, 69 gr.
result from the reduction in available case volume with an Hornady A-Max #22792, 75 gr.
80-grain bullet seated so deeply. Shooters are best advised Sierra HPBT #9377, 77 gr.
to use a bullet length comparator (such as those made by Sierra HPBT #9390, 80 er.
Stoney Point) to determine distance of the bullet ogive’s Cast Bullets Used Rea ee Rs tr (sized to .224" dia.)
engagement to the lands. Bullets should be seated off the *gas check bullets *#225415, 55 gr.
lands at least .005”---sometimes more---for best accuracy. *#225646, 55 gr.
The shooter should begin with the bullet approximately
.025” off the lands and work closer to the lands of the
rifling in .005” increments. This will produce a cartridge Test Specifications:
OAL around 2.550” in Colt manufactured rifles, shorter in
most custom barrels. HBar rifles as manufactured by Colt (Velocity & Pressure)
have a throat approximately .100” longer than other com- NBTMWSEO) cao coccosccoecosobe Universal Receiver
mercially manufactured rifles. Cartridges loaded with 80- Colt AR15
grain bullets must be loaded and fired singly. This is no Barrel encthiees ee eee s Universal Receiver: 24"
handicap as the 600 yard stage is a slow fire event. These Colt AR15: 20"
heavier bullets works best with slower burning propellants WWistevse.seewa ss... e+ Universal Receiver: 1-12"
than what are usually associated with the 223 Remington.
Colt AR15: 1-7"
H-4895 often gives excellent accuracy with the 80-grainer
while N140 and Varget also work well. The 77-grain Groove) Diameter ea aoe a nee eee 224
MatchKing’s ogive is more blunt and can be loaded to
223 Remington
36 gr. Barnes Varmint Grenade 40 gr. Jacketed V-Max BC: .200
2.240" OAL DIAS OL SD: .114
Sugg Max Sugg Max
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains __ fps C.U.P. Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains fps C.U.P.
IMR-4198 20.7 3214 39,100 23.0 3589 = 51,000 IMR-4198 20.6 3170 34,300 22.9 3545 46,900
RX7 20.7 3253 39,300 23.0 3541 47,800 AA-2015 24.4 B258 32,300 27.0 3760 49,700
Caliber
17-22 AA-2015 23.8 3102 39,100 26.5+ 3547 51,700 RX7 26 163 32,300 24.0 3583 47 400
IMR-3031 23.4 3060 37,300 26.0+ 3455 47,300 IMR-3031 23.4 2957 31,600 26.0+ Ba95 44,500
Benchmark 24.9 3392 42,500 27. J+ 3736) 6751,300 Benchmark 25.2 3276 38,800 28.0+ 3627 50,400
H322 24.7 3306 40,500 Diop OSs 51,000 H322 24.3 3095 32,000 27.0+ 3619 49,000
AA-2230 24,7 3231 39,200 27.5 3639 = 550,800 AA-2230 24.3 3156 36,800 2r0 3649 50,200
H335 24.3 3067 38,300 27.0 3466 = 50,300 IMR-4895 25.0 3001 34,500 27 8+ 3444 47,700
X-Terminator 24.9 3228 42,400 27 f 3566 = 51,400 H335 2515 B35 33,200 283 3640 50,000
IMR-4895 Do. 2999 36,800 28.0+ 3369 46,600 BL-C (2) DHS 3207 37,800 30.3 3685 50,400
BL-C(2) 27 3316 40,400 30.24 3723. 50/600 Varget 25.6 3042 31,000 28.0+ 3383 38,900
Varget 25.2 2965 23,100 28.0+ 3324 40,400
hoe
50 gr. jacketed Blitz BC: .222

45 gr. Jacketed SPT BC: .210 2.235" OAL SD: .142
2.240" OAL SD: .128 Sugg Max
Sugg Max Starting Velocity Pressure Load Veloci Pressure
Powder
Starting
Grains
Velocity
fps
Pressure Load Velocity
Grains _ fps
Pressure
P.S.1.
Powder Grains fps CUPL Grains — C.U.P,
P.S.1. IMR-4198 20.0 2739 22:0 Sits
IMR-4198 20.6 3171 36,600 22.9 3542 51,800 AA-2015 23.2 3069 32,200 25.0 3480 49,200
AA-2015 23.8 3083 35,100 25.5 3558 50,900 RX7 17 3009 34,200 — 24.1 3330 47,600
RX7 27 3114 35,000 24.2 3537) 55:4,700 IMR-3031 22.0 2688 25.5+ 3257
IMR-3031 PAS) 2798 31,200 25.5+ 3346 46,700 X-Termintator 23.5 3001 38,100 26:3 3338 51,200
X-Terminator 23.8 2876 41,900 26.5 3137 = 50,700 Benchmark 23.8 3043 36.400 DES 3332 48,400
Benchmark 24.7 3173 40,200 27.5 3480 48,700 AA2230 23.8 3080 36,800 26.0 3453 50,300
H322 24.4 3274 40,300 Dies oor 50,900 IMR-4895 23.0 2570 26.5+ att
AA-2230 24.3 3166 36,600 27.6 3659 = 51,700 H335 24.8 3025 34,300 QT 3459 51,600
IMR-4895 252 3009 32,600 28.1+ 3420 47,700 BL-C (2) 24.0 2666 27.5 3076
TAC 2D 3091 35,100 28.5 3544 50,400 AA2460 Wea) 2964 38,800 26.6 3303 49,900
H335 26.1 3200 37,300 29.4 3678 51,700 748 26.1 2977 33,300 29.0 3401 46,500
BL-C (2) 26.0 3218 37,800 29.0 3641 51,300 IMR-4064 23.0 2538 26.0+ 2967
748 27.0 3214 36,300 30.0 3592 47,600 Varget 25.4 3010 32,800 28,2+ 3376 45,400
Varget Zoe 3023 28,600 28.0+ 3369 40,700 IMR-4320 24.0 2638 27.5 3134
52 gr. jacketed HPBT BC: .225 55 gr. jacketed SPT BC: .237
2.250" OAL SD: .148 2.260" OAL SD: .157
Sugg Max Sugg
Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure Starting Velocity Pressure Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps P.S.1. Grains ___ fps P.S.1. Powder Grains fps C.U.P. fps C.U.P.
IMR-4198 19.0 2666 21.6 3039 = IMR-4198 19.0 2645 3067
AA-2015 22.8 2965 32,300 25.3 3396 48,600 AA-2015 22.5 2970 33,800 3353 50,800
IMR-3031 22.0 2645 25,045 -— 3125 — IMR-3031 21.0 2506 3076
Benchmark = 23.1 2932 37,100 ISH E 3251 49,400 Benchmark 22.7 2793 33,100 3137 48,000
AA2230 IDES) 2868 34,300 25.5 3299 48,800 AA2230 225 2891 37,000 8272 50,600
IMR-4895 23.0 2538 26.5+ 3086 — X-Terminator 23.3 2905 35,900 3261 51,900
H335 24.5 2950 34,200 Pie 3361 51,500 IMR-4895. 23.0 2564 3030
BL-C (2) 24.0 2564 27.0 2915 —— H335 24.3 3142 35,200 3270 49,100
AA2460 e399) 2907 39,500 26.5 3228 50,200 BL-C (2) 23.0 2525 2949
748 25-2 2974 36,300 28.0 3318 = 49,200 AA2460 BB Af 2853 36,700 3182 49/900
IMR-4064 23.0 2512 26.0+ 2941 oe 748 25.0 2849 33,500 3228 49,600
Varget 25.6 3019 35,500 28.0+ 3377 48,700 IMR-4064 23.0 253) 2949
IMR-4320 24.0 2659 Dh Ot 3VL9 — Varget 25.0 2977. 34,700 3346 51,400
IMR-4320 24.0 2672 3144
138 Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate load.
223 Remington
60 gr. Jacketed V-Max
2.260" OAL
63 gr. Jacketed SMP BC: .231
sal
2.260" OAL SD: .179
Su 88 Sugg Max
Starting Velocity Pressure Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure
AA-2015 22.0 2882 35,500
Powder__Grains__fps__—C-U.P._([(Grains
ips CUP
IMR-AL 98 18,0 2487 — 20.0 2544 oe
IMR-3031
Benchmark
AA2230
21.4
22.0
22.0
2648
2678
2749
35,000
34,900
37,300
AA-2015
IMR-3031
Benchmark
22.0
20.0
21.8
2773 ~—«35,100 +245
2403
2648
25
34, 400
OR
243
3088 ~—«50,500
a
2943,
ee
AGA00*
FOQ
Cc
IMR-4895 229 2900 37,300 X- Terminator 222 2742 34,400 24.8 3049 50,500
H335 D3x2 2728 34,700 AA2230. 23.5 2926 ~—37,300 +=26.1 «3250 +~—-50,400
BL-C (2) 23.4 2673 33,200 IMR-4895 22.0 2444 — eae
AA-2460 PDE) 2678 38,700 H335 oe7) 2800 32,900 26.4 3139 48,700
748 23.4 2608 32,200 WESC BL-C (2) 23.0 2544 — Saree Set
IMR-4064 23.8 2725 35,500 26.0+ ~3074 4 AA2460 23.4. -~—=s-2739 «34,700 | 26.0 3103 50,400
Varget 24.4 2854 36,300 27.2+ 3170 49,300 748 24.7 2768 32,600 -(275 i a14s a9 200
IMR-4320 2353 2663 36,300 2580) 2995. ~ 49,900 IMR-4064 —-22.0 2409 ° — [eienezeos ee
RX15 23.8 2783 36,800 26.5+ 3098 47,300. Varget 25.0 2891 36,000 eae
IMR-4320 22.0 2421 — aoe eS
RX15 24.7 2892 36,500 27.5 3210
+ 51,200
69 gr. Jacketed HPBT

2.260" OAL
75 gr. Jacketed A-Max BC: .435
Su 88 2.390" OAL SD: .214
Powder Grains fps CUP: Sugg Max
AA-2015 21.6 2677 36,600 ans
24, 2958 os ‘ Powder
Starting
Grains
Velocity
fps
Pressure
C.U.P.
Load
Grains
rence: Pressure
C.U.P.
AA2230 Dee 2717 34,200 25.0 3063 48,400
IMR-4895 22D 2614 38,400 25.0 2896 50,800 AA-2015 20.3. 2548 ~—36,500 22.6 2797 + «49,100
H335 MES 2593 32,700 (25.5 2994 51,400_ AA-2230 20.7 —«2462-—S—35,300 +s23.0 +~—«-2758 _—48,300
IMR-4895 21.6 —-2390-~— 33,800 ~—s24.0 +2720 :~——-49,100
BL-C (2) 23.4 2525 32,100 26.5. 3018) 50,700."
AA-2460 22.5 2613 36,400 25.0 2928 49,300
H335 22.5 2577 «37,000 a eorst ane cna
51,100
BL-C (2) 230 9545 «36,300 aueeats enecco
748 23.6 2584 34,500 26.3 2994 100. —
AA-2460 21.6 —«-2495 39,300 (ON 2719049200
IMR-4064 pipes) 2603 37,100 25.5 2930 48,800
Varget 23.4 2654 33,700 26.0- 2922 40,500
748 23.0 2490 35,700 25.5 2810 50,600
IMR-4320 23:9 2682 37,200 26.5+ 2946 47,100
IMR-4064 22.2 2458 +~—«37,500+=
24.7 +~—«-2767 ~—«49,000
26.0+ 2926 45,800 Varget 23.0 2606 +~—37,200 ~=—25.6 +=2843——48,600
N140 23.4 2650 34,300
RX15 PRS) 272A 36,700 265+ 2975 45,000 IMR-4320 22.1 2408 + 36,800 24.6 2724 + —-50,000
N140 227 2557 38,700 eee ee)
RX15 23.4 2652 39,300 ~—( ed 2023) 52400"

2.260" OAL SD: .219 80 gr. Jacketed HPBT BC: .420
Sugg 2.550" OAL SD: .228
Starting Velocity Pressure toad Velocity Pressure
Sugg Max
Powder Grains _ fps" CUE Grains __fps___—s CUP. Starting eo Pressure Load Velocity re
AA-2015 20.2 2443 35) 000 22.5+ 2724 48,600. Powder _Grrains fps C.U.P.— Grains fps C.U.P.
AA2230 2A. 2589 38,800 24.2 2880 49,600 AA-2015 19.8 2495 38,200 | 22.2 2769 ee
IMR-4895 22.0 2469 35,400 24.5+ 2771 46,100 AA-2230 21.5 2518 ~—«32,700+| 240 2849 47,500
nes 22.5 255i 36,500 25,0 e285) 2 251,200 IMR-4895 22.0 2467 «33,200 24.54 2789 47,500
BL-C (2) 23.0 2473 31,600 24.7 2858 50,400 H4895 21.8 2536 36,600 23.24 2757 43,700
AA-2460 21.9 2470 ~+36,100 24.3 2788 51,000 H335 OSES 2464. 32,400 2s 0026347 8,600
748 SIGS 2417 | 31/900 (241 2800 50,300 BL-C (2) 23.4 2522 33,800 25.0 +2860 ~—-48,600
IMR-4064 22.5 2475 0 2772 ~—-46,200. AA2460 21.7 -2467_——-33,900 24.1 2744 48,500
Varget 22.5 2591 39,000 + 2788 44,500
Lest 21.8 2443 31,900 24.0 2799 50,100
IMR-4320 22.0 2497 34,600 / 2742 46,900 IMR-4064 22.0 -2451__-33,700 240+ 2833__-49,500__
N140 P29 2463." 35,600 Varget 23.0 2595 38,300 25.0 2823 46,500
RX15 22.0 2544 36,900 IMR-4320 22.5 2460 34,000 -25.0+_— 2777 48,400
Ni40 22.0 2453 34,000 245+ 2734 46,200
Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate load. 1139
Ae. AT Al
*69 gr. Jacketed HPBT BC: 301 *77 gr. jacketed HPBT BC: 362
2.260" OAL SD: .196 2.260" OAL SD: ..219
Sugg | Su
Starting Velocity Pressure Starting Velocity Pressure |
AAD a DOD es
RADI ~~ OI Pe
IMR-4895..«220 °°«24417 ~
H335 225 2458
BOG as
AA-2460 2433
a a ee
IMR-406 2393
Varget — Ms la ee es
IMR-4320 4 2334
NZ OS a e242 oe
RX15, ‘ 2472
*80 gr. Jacketed HPBT #225415 BC: .116

2.550" OAL 55 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.060" OAL SD: .157
Su 88 Sugg M
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Gra
AA-2015 19.8 2348 _— RediDeby 73.6" > PA795 4/23/4000"
AA2230 PANS 2548 — 700X 5.6 1790 23,400
IMR-4895 22.0 2483 = GreenDot 62 1855 23,400
H4895 21.8 2430. a= PB 63. 1775 24,000
H335 22.5 2471 = Unique «6.8 +~—~—«*1900 20,400
BL-C (2) 23.4 2417 — SR-7625 66 1820 24,000
AA-2460 217 2383 = SR-4759 93 1762 18,000
748 21.8 2332 == AA-5744 11.0 1765 18,000—
IMR-4064 22.0 2413 = IMR-4227 11.0 1762 18,000
Varget «23.0 2499 ae
N140 22.0 2348 =
#225646 BC: 155

55 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.260" OAL SD: .157
Su es Max
Unique 6.2 1753 26,700
SR-7625 6.7 1763 26,800
AAO 78 1749 ‘17,500
2400 8.0 1753 18,000
SR-4759 8.5 1751 -17,500
AA-5744.—*:10.3 1757. 17,000
IMR-4227. 10.0. +1766 ~~‘17,000
AA-1680 10.9 1756 16,000
IMR-4198 107 »pani 7560 217,000
RX7 11.5 1758 17,000

*Fired for velocity in 20” barrel, 1-7” twist.
Winchester announced their 225
Winchester in 1964 as a replacement
for the 220 Swift. Remington’s simul-
taneous introduction of the long pop-
ular 22-250 wildcat as a factory offer-
ing grabbed the shooting public’s
attention and the 225 never really
took off. Ironically, the Swift has made
a comeback while many Model 70s
chambered in 225 have been re-bar-
reled to other calibers. Although given
up for dead as a commercial
cartridge, the 225 Winchester has
served as the parent case for several
wildcats in recent years. The 225 is a
semi-rimmed case but it headspaces
on the shoulder. Those loading for this
cartridge should be served well by
bullets weighing between 50 and 55-grains with IMR-
4064 or IMR-4320.

2.370" OAL SD: .114
Su 88 at
Test Components: Powder Grains fps P.S.1.
289 ho Sl 2 oe ISS a eee Winchester IMR-4198
Teme VLE MerR este pm Dh. ae GS eye a oa 1.920"
ee ee ee apes ct oor tens: WLR
HieniSis 72 Sage ee eae yon gh ab ren ee Large Rifle
DUN ene FIQIOEH 5 os. cecdce ep os ew ees 4 See No. 5
Jacketed Bullets Used ...... Speer Spire SP #1017, 40 gr.
Sierra SMP #1370, 63 gr.
ist Bullets WISed ce). ages eae es(sized to .224" dia)
*gas check bullets *H#225415, 55 or.
45 gr. jacketed SPT BC: .210
2.390" OAL SDs 1:28
Sugg ie
Test Specifications: IMR-4198
(Velocity Only)
Saini luke laws omaeeecoposoces Winchester Model 70
ByFen CMU ye ye = Ra riese ea aN Nogie ieaialin IE Fcc 22" IMR-4064
TRAVARN ES at BieOND AD rer Oo Cla OP eee en 1-14" IMR-4320
(CANS OE BYE oa tices oe 6 Sees COLL) Ch DIOR COORG 224"

2.400" OAL SD: .142 2.500" OAL SD: .147
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains C.U.P. Powder Grains Ss PS.I.
IMR-4198 IMR-4198
IMR-3031 25.0 2865 = IMR-3031
IMR-4895
IMR-4064 IMR-4064
IMR-4320 IMR-4320
55 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .235 63 gr. Jacketed SMP BC: .231

2.420" OAL SD Fi57 2.440" OAL SDs572
Sugg Sugg
IMR-4198 IMR-4198 19.0
IMR-3031 IMR-3031
IMR-4895 IMR-4895
IMR-4064 IMR-4064
IMR-4320
#225415 BC: .116

55 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.235" OAL SD: .157
Su gs
Powder Grains (EAUN
Green Dot
SR-7625

This is a very accurate cartridge
which has never gained a great deal
of popularity. Perhaps this is due to
the fact that only Weatherby rifles
have generally been chambered for
the round and only Weatherby sup-
plies ammo or brass. Do not use mag-
num style primers with this case as
dangerous pressures will result.
Jacketed bullets of 50 to 60 grains are 151 R.
the best choices. Use only bullets
designed for high velocities to prevent 130 R.
premature bullet break up. Our rec-
ommended powder’ choice _ is
IMR-4198.
Test Components:
(OSEOSS a es SR SyA Weatherby
ae chetineeteree 6. PO ee ee Ss 915" 40 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .144
Sls Ge) eee Remington 91/2 2.310" OAL SD: .114
SUES eS Ct a 2 a ra Large Rifle
Sugg
dijFe SS Ll CE (0.2 ie ec No. 3 Starting Velocity Pressure
Jacketed Bullets Used ...... Speer Spire SP #1017, 40 gr. Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
Sierra SPT #1310, 45 gr. IMR-4198 25.0 3521
Sierra SPT #1340, 50 gr. IMR-3031
Speer HP #1035, 52 gr. IMR-4895
Hornady V-Max #22271, 55 gr. IMR-4064
Sierra SMP #1370, 63 gr. IMR-4320
(Velocity Only)
Ge ROCs|Eee cele eee Weatherby Varmint Master 45 gr. Jacketed SPT
PRET CKO es colts ao ao «bhi me aie. 5 26" 2.310" OAL
TRAWESE ssin.s ccs oy ene Ee PR er erence ear oire1-14" Sugg
ete Woon haa een ee oleae Gas Oe 224" Starting Velocity Pressure
UCL Powder Grains DS Gui
IMR-4198
IMR-3031 29.0 3584
IMR-4895
IMR-4064 30.0
IMR-4320

224 Weatherb:
50 gr. Jacketed SPT 52 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .225
2.310" OAL 2.310" OAL SD: .147
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains fps CUP Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
IMR-4198 IMR-4198
IMR-3031
IMR-4895
IMR-4064
IMR-4320
55 gr. Jacketed V-Max BC; .255 63 gr. Jacketed SMP BE# 231
2.350" OAL SDS7 2.310" OAL SD: .179
Su 88 Sugg
IMR-4198
IMR-3031
IMR-4895
IMR-4064

ine is one of the best choices for a
long range 22 caliber varmint rifle.
Accuracy is generally excellent and
its flat trajectory makes hitting small
targets easier - even up to 300 yards.
MED7ZZ
Jacketed bullets of 50 grains or
=
heavier are best. First recommenda-
tion on powder would be Hodgdon
H380. In fact, a charge of 38.0 grains
with a 55 grain bullet has become leg- =a
endary. It began when Bruce
Hodgdon first tried it and found it so
accurate that he named the powder
after the 38.0 grain charge - H380.
The data listed are intended only
for standard chambers as manufac-
tured to current industry specifica-
tions. Early chambers marked 22-250
or Varminter may differ from current standards by a sub-
stantial amount, to the point that this data may prove
unsafe in such firearms.
Cast bullet #225646 at about 2,100 fps. is the best 36 gr. Barnes Varmint Grenade
choice for lead bullet use in this cartridge, as it is in sev- 2.240" OAL
eral other 22 caliber cartridges.
Su 8s
RX7 27.4 3672 42,800
Sg ne Ste as ea ea ce ee Winchester AA-2230 32:5 3667 = 40,500
CLES | a en 1902" AA-2460 32.4 3553 41,200
AS DSS ge 2 yeah ee, a er WLR IMR-4895 3355 3512 41,200
HEED Sea eC 5 Ie 9 ee a Large Rifle IMR-4064 32.4 3430 38,500
PAM er tOeIe. SG ea ne agit eee No. 2 TAC Boo Bh al 38,600
Peete ONES CISCO, oie os soos pee ay ag eae ee Varget 34.2 3561 37,000 3)
Barnes Varmint Grenade #22436, 36 gr. N135 32.4 3710 38,300 SC OmAio7
Hornady V-Max #22241, 40 gr. RX15 By) 3452 38,400 | 62386
Sierra SPT #1310, 45 gr. IMR-4320 32.8 3396 40,100: (36.5eees)
Sierra Blitz #1340, 50 gr. H380 38.2 3637 38,000 425+
Hornady A-Max #22492, 52 gr.
Barnes TSX #22443, 53 gr.
Hornady V-Max #22271, 55 gr.
Sierra SMP 1370, 63 gr.
ASCO ISCO ce ee cae eee ned (sized to .224" dia)
*gas check bullets *#225415, 55 gr.
*#225646, 55 gr. 40 gr. Jacketed V-Max BC: .200
2.350" OAL SD: .114
Max ; Jia 4}
Sugg
Test Specifications: Powder _ Grains fps C.U.P. Grains

RX7 29.0 3709 ~—-39,400 So aNg
. Adduitle iastalete «555 Universal Receiver
IMR-3031 32.5 3367. ~—«32,800 + 36.0 +~—« 3982-50500
Firearnay Ulsethen:
SO RRR Rn eR oo a ea a 24" AA-2230 33.3 3510 34,500 50,900
21y(Suid Ns Ry era eR
TRAE Ae aes So ise etocenerere en adinere RCE aC Renn Ewe 1-14"
IMR-4895 34.2 3402—35,500 += 37.0 +=3919 «451,300
(GTGOVEID [ae tt eet SsneeIe bat Mey inteeDDAL AA-2460 34.7 3496 35,700 38.0: 3981 49,600
TAC 34.4 3481 38,100 += 38.2 © 4011.:—S «52,700
IMR-4064 34.7 3365S 34,300 =:385+ 3920 ~—-49,900
Varget 36.0 3690 38,600 = 40.0 4130 52,000
IMR-4320 34.0 3566 41,600 385 4003 53,200
N140 35.6 3552 37,600 39.0 3953 49,900
RX15.—ss-34.5 «3493 36,000 +=38.0+ +4017 ——:50,800
H380 38.2 3394 32,300 = 42.0 +3770 ~—-51,900
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. IMR-4350 36.0 2992 28,800 40.0+ 3458 39,000
45 gr. jacketed SPT BC: .210 50 gr. Jacketed Blitz BC: .222
2.310" OAL SD: .128 2.310" OAL SD: .142
Sugg
Sugg
Powder Grains : C.U.P. Powder Grains _fp CUP.
IMR-3031_ 31.0: 3545_——_-40,300 RX7 28.0 3478
AA-2230 33.3. 3512_—_—35,800 AA-2015 29.7 3229
IMR-4895__ 32.5 3353 36,400 IMR-3031 30.0 3181
AA-2460 34.0 3486 37,400 AA2230 31.8 3290
TAC 335... 3293. 33,000 IMR-4895_ 33.5 3230
IMR-4064 33.0 3373 34,500 AA-2460 31.4 3154
Varget 36.0 3538 36,400 748 34.3 3391
IMR-4320 33.0 3390 38,600 IMR-4064 32.0 3210
N140 35.0 3424 —-35,500 (AAE2520) e201 13319
RX15 BER) 3465 35,300 IMR-4320 33.0 3408
H380_ 37.0 3741__—*41,100 Big Game 36.5 3444
IMR-4350 36.0 3239 33,500 H-380 36.0 3569
**SR-4759 15.0 2476 ~—24,700 N150 33.6 3433
**AA-5744 18.0 2436 23,200 H414 37.8 3200
IMR-4350 36.0 3182
52 gr. Jacketed A-Max BC: .247 53 gr. Barnes TSX BC: .204
2.350" OAL SD: .148 2.350" OAL SD
Sugg Max =
Sugg
Powder Grains p C.U.P. Powder Grains ; C.U.P.
RX7 27.0 3333 ~——-39,900
AA-2015 28.9 3151 36,900
IMR-3031 31.7 3206 34,000
AA-2230 31.0 3330 35,500
IMR-4895 32.6 3157 34,000
AA-2460 32.4 3285 37,200
IMR-4064 23 3123 33,500
Varget B35 3367 37,400
IMR-4320 32.0 3153 36,400
RX15 323 3239 35,200
H380 36.9 3218 34,200
N150 33.0 3414 40,900
760 37.8 3267 _ 37,300
IMR-4350 36.0 3024 ~—-32,600

** Designates a reduced load.
55 gr. Jacketed V-Max BC: .255 60 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .271
2.345" OAL SD: .157 2.350" OAL SD: .171
Sugg Max Sugg Max
Powder Grains fps CUP Grains _fps C.U.P. Powder Grains fps_—s CUP. Grains C.U.P.
AA-2015 —-29.0 3131 38,300 ect ae eng AABOTS 979 | 9986 37,100 32.4 3460 53,000
TOQ
Ce-
AA2230 31.1 3096 37,400 + 35.0 3536 51,000 AA2230 30.1 2973 37,900 34.8 3460 52,400
IMR-4895 32.0 3152 34,500 | 35.5 3576 50,200 IMR-4895 33.0 3141 36,300 36.0+ 3581 51,500
AA2460 30.0 3298 39,800 += 334.8 += 3588 ~=—-49,500 AA2460 28.9 2859 «34,600 35.0 3467 = 552,100
IMR-4064 32.0 3221 36,200 | 35.5 3634 51,500 IMR-4064 31.0 3128 36,400 85.5 3589 52,000
Varget 34.0 3325, —S «39,100 ae aeaen st enn) Varget 32.5 3165 «37,700 36.0 3493 48,800
AA-2520 332.0 3276 41,900 +=36.0 += 3613. ~—Ss«51,800 AA2520 _—«-29.8 =~ 2882_——-35,700 34.7 33927 52,300
IMR-4320 32.0 3163 36,400 36.5 3630 52,000 IMR-4320 31.0 3064_~——-37,300 36.0+ 3503 51,600
RX15 31.7 3306 38,500 35.5 3694 51,400 RX15 31.8 3242 ~—_:39,600 35.0 3610 51,100
Big Game 36.5 3325 40,400 AOD 3659) 5 1/500 BigGame 34.0 3172 ~—-40,900 39.0 3543 = 552,200
H380 36.9 3213 36,900 += 41.04 3553 47,000 H-380 345 | 3362)) 244,200 38.0 3622 52,400
N150 32.7 3343 42,400 36.5 3663 51,900 N150 32.0 3186‘ 40,400 35.5 3507 50,800
IMR-4350 36.0 3021 33,500 + 40.0+ 3368 43,900 H-414 35.4 3136 38,400 38.5+ 3540 51,700
**SR-4759 16.0 2472 + +28,900 20.0 2933 42,700 IMR-4350 36.0 3136 ~——-38,600 40.0+ 3497 50,400
**AA-5744 18.5 2406 25,000 24.5 3034 36,800 RX19 36.9 2922 34,000 41.0+ 3268 44,600
SS

Sugg Max ee Sugg Max
Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity
Powder Grains C.U.P. Grains _ fps CUP Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
AA-2015 26.8 2814 37,600 320 3311 552,000 Red Dot 7.2 1981 22,800
IMR-4895 30.0 3056 36,900 345 3479 52,400 700X 7.0 1850 18,000 9.0 2268
AA2460 bie 2729 35,300 | 33.8 3309 51,800 Green Dot 7s) 1992) 21,000 10.0 2356
IMR-4064 31.0 3090 36,400 35.0 3490 50,800 PB 75 1920 18,000 95 2188
Varget 32.6 3139 40,500 36.0 3447 51,000 SR-7625 8.0 1981 20,400 10.0 2237
IMR-4320 31.0 3011 36,900 ~~ 35.8 3480 ~—452,800 SR-4756 8.0 1915 18,000 11.0 2308
RX15 30.5 3162 40,100 34.5 3508 ~—_51,400 SRA7590 DW TAS 99 21761112 13,000 19.0 2820
BigGame 34.0 3136 41,600 380 3449 51,800 AA-5744. 15.3. —-2032_——'13,000 17.0) 2019
H380 34.0 3268 43,700 37.55 3554 52,800 IMR-4198 16.9 2173. ——-12,100 224. 2867
N150 31.4 3096 42,800 35.0 3380 51,400 748 223 2175 ‘13,600 28.5 2814
H414 35.0 3128 38,500 38.0+ 3510 52,100
IMR-4350 36.0 3149 40,700 40.0+ 3464 51,200
RX19 37.4 2999 36,300 = 41.0+ 3350 47,300
A A AMMAbc
oe
#225646 BC: .155

55 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.350" OAL SD: .157
Sugg Max :
Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity renee
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains
Red Dot Kad 1797 22,100 OA e265 33,900)
700X 8.0 1887 24,500 11.0 2286 40,200
Green Dot 8.2 1862 23,200 [aaesenee to 2een 39/700
PB 9.0 1892 27,300 110 2128 38,900
SR-7625 9.2 1905 26,700 ite 221 9a 42,700
SR-4756 10.2 1986 26,700 P26 2271 38,100
SR-4759 16.5 2218 22,000 TBS 2o4si a0 200.
IMR-4227 16.5 2274 23,500 21.0 2754 36,200 Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum.
AA-5744 16.2 2065 18,000 __GRR18.0
SOS 2243 22,400
eine Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate load.
IMR-4198 18.5 DWP 18,400 § 246 2913. 37,100 +Designates a compressed powder charge.
748 28.5 2380 19,000 34.0 3100 38,000 ** Designates a reduced load.
Winchester introduced the 223
WSSM_ (Winchester Super Short
Magnum) in 2003. It was designed to
be the ultimate flat shooting, long
range varmint cartridge. It uses the
familiar case geometry of the
Winchester Short Magnum line-up,
however with a much shorter body
length. The result is a rather unusual
looking cartridge, with a large diame-
ter body stepped down to a small
diameter case neck. The short, fat,
high volume case is meant to produce
a very uniform powder burn, excel-
lent accuracy, and very high veloci-
ties. To go along with this very short
cartridge, Browning developed a
Super Short Action rifle which allows
for a light, stiff receiver with a short bolt cycle.
In our testing, the 223 WSSM produced about 200
fps more velocity than the popular 22-250 Remington
cartridge with similar weight bullets. It produced nearly
45 gr. jacketed SPT BC: .210
the same velocities as the 220 Swift. We found that 2.100" OAL SD: .128
medium burn rate powders such as IMR-4064 and
Winchester 760 worked well with lighter bullets, while Sugg
slower burning powder such as Reloder 19 did well for Powder Grains fps P.S.I.
55 grain and heavier builets. AA-2495 39.0 4019 50,400
IMR-4895 42.7 3914 53,700
Varget 42.0 3934 54,700
OES telere eage c ors ad “a See aeo Winchester Big Game 46.0 3997) iD, 000
Trim-to Length .......... Nese ee ae eee 1.660" 760 47.0 3810 50,600
PUIiGtS prea eee see nso Satie ood oteee Winchester WLR RX15 42.3 3871 54,200
PNIMMGe Zeman. =Gener n> Mine aera Large Rifle H380 47.2 3843 54,500
LVAD OCI IOIMET i eeenentces S78. hye Sevan ohn a elyNo. 34 IMR-4350 46.5 38395 1753,700
Jacketed Bullets Used ......... Sierra SPT #1310, 45 gr.
Nosler Partition SP #16316, 60 gr.
53 gr. Barnes TSX BC: .204
2.200" OAL SD: .151
Su es ; j a
AA-2495 34.0 3676 = 557,400
IMR-4895 38.6 3755 57,000
Varget 38.5 3783 59,100
Test Specifications: IMR-4064 38.0 3751 57,600
(Velocity & Pressure) RX15 38.8 3753 58,600
EIpOaltit SOC recientecaren exc tees Universal Receiver H380 ADT, 3703. ~—-557,300
Patelengthiy oxpae ts ey ce acre Neaare es tered 24" 760 45.5 3814 57,700
WIS eee es ee oan tenet erie ea eo yee 1-10" IMR-4350 43.2 3672 55,400
Groove Dia te nex cee eee ae erste cacdr sere neers DDE RX19 46.5 3762 57,300

55 gr. Jacketed V-Max 60 gr. Jacketed SP
2.200" OAL 2.170" OAL SD: .171
Su 88 Su 8s
Powder Grains fps P.S.I. Powder Grains fps P.S.L.
Varget 38.4 3616 55,400 H380 38.0 56,800
RX15 37.5 3582 54,900
H380 41.8 3607 58,700
Big Game 41.7 3705 57,900 IMR-4350 59,500
AA-2700 44.3 =~:3723~——«59,200
IMR-4350. 43.2 3672 57,400
760 45.5 3712 55,800 IMR-4831
IMR-4831 44.5 3683 58,100 Hunter
RX19 46.0 3688 58,300
Hunter 46.0 3723 56,300
*62 gr. Barnes TSX BC: .287 70 gr. jacketed SP

2.250" OAL SD: .177 2.100" OAL SD: .199
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains PS.1. Powder Grains P.S.I.
IMR-4350 38.4
760
IMR-4831
IMR-4350 58,900 59,100
RX22
IMR-4831 56,900 Hunter

149
*Barnes recommends a 1 in 7” to 1 in 9” twist with this bullet.
220 Swift
Swift in 1935 as a high performance
varmint cartridge. Nearly 70 years
later, it is still the fastest factory offer-
ing among the 22 caliber center-fire
cartridges. The Swift is based on the
old 6mm Lee Navy necked down to
accept .224” bullets. Controversy has
followed the Swift throughout its his-
tory. Most of this controversy has
focused around barrel __ life.
Technology at the time of its introduc-
tion handicapped the full potential of
the Swift. However, latter-day devel-
opments of better quality steel and
slower burning powders combined
with sensible handloading have
improved the life expectancy of a
Swift barrel. Shooters should not overheat the barrel
with sustained fire and avoid fouling by frequent clean-
ing—preferably with a coated rod and a good bore-
guide. Some shooters opt to keep loads below maxi-
mum velocities to prolong barrel life. Handloaders
2.650" OAL
seeking 4,000 feet per second with 50-grain bullets are
not doing their Swift any favors. Winchester discontin- Sugg
ued the Swift in favor of a new cartridge, the 225 Powder Grains Ds C.U.P.
Winchester. While the 225 only lasted for several years IMR-3031 35.0 3906 —
before fading away, the 220 Swift remains fairly popu- IMR-4064 37.0 3891 —
lar with varmint hunters. Remington and Ruger both IMR-4895 35.0 3663 _—
currently offer rifles chambered for the Swift. Several IMR-4320 37.0 3861 _
different VihtaVuori powders produced uniform results H-380 40.0 3831 —
during our testing but IMR-4064 has been a favorite IMR-4350 39.0 3546 _—
among Swift shooters for many years.
Test Components:
CBC Meee aa eM atte. ac NN ee eRe ee Winchester
Wind-tolLemoth 4.07 one ee: eee eae te 2195"
Primers ...... Remington 91/2, Winchester WLR, CCI 200
PHINIEE SIZE ae. naa eda nn pean te ie Large Rifle
Lana SCT IONE ont ge os et ace ee Sha Ayes No. 5 45 gr. Jacketed SPT BC: .210
Jacketed Bullets Used . . . Speer Spire Point #1017, 40 gr. 2.660" OAL SD: .128
Sierra SPT #1310, 45 gr. Sugg
Sierra SP Blitz #1340, 50 gr. Starting Velocity Pressure
Sierra SPT #1360, 55 gr. Powder Grains DS CUP
Hornady V-Max #22281, 60 gr. **IMR-3031 34.0 3717 Se
Sierra SMP #1370, 63 gr. **IMR-4895 34.0 3559 —
Speer SP #1053, 70 gr. **IMR-4064 36.0 3626 —
Cast Bullets Used See ae en ed (sized to .224" dia) *™IMR-4320 36.0 3663 —
*gas check bullet *#225415, 55er. **N1 40 36.0 3638 42,000

BAERS) BO) 3708 43,300
**H-380 39.0 3663 =
Test Specifications: ***#N150 36.5 3689 43,100
**KAA2700 40.5 3681 44,500
*IMR-4350 39.0 3521 —
Eit@altvi SOU t2,ccc Ocoee eee Winchester Model 70
Universal Receiver
Barrel Length Ladies shone ee Winchester, 26"
Universal Receiver, 24"
Twist
+ Designates a compressed powder charge.
*™ Tested in a Winchester Model 70 with Remington 91/2 primers.
*** Tested in a Universal Receiver with Remington 91/2 primers.
220 Swift
50 gr. jacketed Blitz BC: .222 55 gr. Jacketed SPT BC: .237
2.670" OAL SD: .142 2.675" OAL SD:.157
Sugg Sugg Max
Powder Grains _fps C.U.P. Grains fps C.U.P._ Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains _fps Cur
**IMR-3031 34.0 3650 38.0 4065 aa *IMR-3031 33.0 3509 — 37.0 3921 ee
**IMR-4895 34.0 3559, oe ae **IMR-4895 33.0 3427 = B70 3/0, een
**IMR-4064 36.0 3650 = 40.0 4081 = *IMR-4064 35.0 3472 — 39.0 3906 —
**IMR-4320 36.0 3597, — es ae eas **IMR-4320 35.0 3460 = 390° 3861 ae
**N140 35.0 3537_——-44,400 39.0 3878 ~—-53,500__ **H-380 38.0 3497 = 42.0 3773 =
**H-380 38.0 3571 ae a aa “N150 31.5 «3353 44,100 aS somo cogs
**N150 34.5 3519 42,900 oes ***AA2700 39.2 «3457-44900 43.5 = 3729 ~—«5 3,400
***A4A2700 39.5 3519 44,200 44.0 3865 53,500 200 38.0 3382 42,800 42.0 3683 52,700
760. 38.7 3107 ~—«33,900 44.0 3934 53,000 **N160 39.5 3388 42,500 44.0 3764 = «51,100
**IMR-4350 39.0 3509 AR0F 300 **IMR-4350 38.0 3356 — ALoe | 3767
*FRX19 40.5 3205——39,000. 45.0+ 3639 48,700 **RX19 40.0 3334. 43,800 = «44.54 3643 53,300
***60 gr. Jacketed V-Max BC: .265 63 gr. Jacketed SMP BC; 231
2.680" OAL SD: .171 2.680" OAL SD C179
Sugg Su 88 Max
Powder Grains _ fps" CUP: Grains fps) C.U.P. Powder = Grains_fps C.U.P, _ BGrainswar (psec rm
IMR-4064 33.3. 3296~——-45,800 537.0
__3572 53,800 **IMR-4895 30.0 3067, — A351 33785 ee
Varget 325) 82889 45,700. 36.0 3507 53,800 **IMR-4064 31.0 3144 — 35.0 waa?
IMR-4320 33.0 —«3227-~——43,800 375 3550~...53,000_ HIMG300 IO 316s SS 35.0 3436. > see
H-380 36.0 3173 45,500 40.0 3389 53,800 *H380 37.0 3356 — (<\0a;?.n
AA2700 37.8 3314 46,500. 42.0 3466 53,000 **AA2700 36.2 3264 ~—-48,300 = 40.2.-« 3417 ~—«453,000
760 37.5 3279 43,200 415 3585 52,700 *760 36.0 ~~ 3170~—«41,500 + 41.0 +:3488~—452,300
N160 378 3291 44,100 42.0 3568 52,300 **IMR-4350 37.0 332200 — ee. ee
IMR-4350 37.8 «3236 ~——-43,500 42.0+ 3559 53,100. *RX19 «39.5. 3241 46,200 +=440+ + 3530 54,000
RX19 40.0 3255 ~—-45,800 445+ 3540 54,000 |
AA-3100 39.5 3163 ~——-43,300 44.0+ 3497 53,800
***70 gr. Jacketed SP BC; .214 #225415 BC: .116

2.600" OAL $D: .199 55 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.546" OAL SD: .156
Sugg Max
Sugg Load Velocity Pressure Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps_— C.U.P. Grains fps C.U.P, Powder Grains fps C.U.P, Grains fps C.U.P.
IMR-4895 29.5 2987 45,000 33.0 3284 53,000 +++Red Dot 6.5 1730 — 10.0227 ee
IMR-4064. 29.5 3025_——-47,700 33.5 3282 53,000 +++700X 6.5 1710 = 10.0) 275ee
IMR-4320 29.9 2937 43,800 34.0 3251 52,500! +++Green Dot 7.0 1800, — Mes cee ee
AA2700 33.3 2880 42,200 37.0 3198 53,000 +++PB 7.0 1680 = 105,60, 2210 ae
760 34.3 3002 ~—-44,300 39.0 3324 52,900 +++Unique 7.5 1805 — 11.0 2320 —_—
IMR-4350 34.3. = 3112_——-44,000 39.0 3399 53,000. +++SR-7625 7.5 1765 — 11.0 2280 —
AA-3100 37.8 3046 ~——46,300 42.04 3260 54,000 ++2400 10.5 1772 16,500 17.4 2S Sk 500
RX22 38.7 3143——-49,200 43.0+ 3327 53,500 +4+SR-4759 12.2 1748 15,500 185 2683 30,300

** Tested in a Winchester Model 70 with Remington 91/2 primers.
*** Tested in a Universal Receiver with Remington 91/2 primers.
++4+4Tested in a Winchester Model 70 with Win. WLR primers. 15]
+4Tested in a Universal Receiver with CCI 200 primers.
6mm PPC|
A re cartridge has proven itself the
most accurate round ever developed.
Its originators, Ferris Pindell and Dr.
Louis Palmisano were the first of
many bench rest shooters to so prove.
Today the “Six” holds more records
than any other cartridge.
A group of 10 shots at 100 yards
going into a 1/4” center to center
group would not get the attention of a
serious bench rest shooter with 6mm
PPC experience. The cartridge will do
better. Naturally such accuracy
demands the very best in bullets,
loading technique, and the appropri-
ate charge of H322 or perhaps H335.
Still, we have fired a production Sako
single shot rifle with factory Sako
ammunition and obtained frequent 1/4” to 1/2” groups.
Nothing else has ever come close to this kind of
out-of-the-box performance.
The twist rate of most 6mm PPC’s works best with
bullets of 68 to 75 grains. Heavier bullets will not
2.050" OAL SD: .145
always stabilize and poor results may occur.
Sugg
Powder Grains p GULP.
N130 21.1 2634 29,500
KCASCS cepa Ys aes fobs Thnns: octagon TESS A SAKO AA-2015 25.0 2961 34,400
MUMUIOMLENBUM Se mss Ooo ge oe alent en es 12505" H-322 24.8 2846 33,000
DIME(St. seme ie he aes ee eto Ne Remington 71/2 AA2230 26.2 2876 35,400
PRIME SIZCMe a nes tat.ee Ua a eR Small Rifle H-335 26.5 2874 34,500
LVNAn PUCHMOKIOly pony tts ages oy cee nee No. 3 BL-C(2) 28.0 2803 34,400
Jacketed Bullets Used .......... Sierra HP #1500, 60 gr. AA2460 26.5 2846 34,600
Sierra HPBT #1505, 70 gr. 748 27.6 2819) 32/800
Hornady HP #2420, 75 gr. Varget 25.4 2672 29,900
Sierra HPBT #1530, 85 gr.
(Velocity & Pressure) 70 gr. jacketed HPBT BC: .259
Pireatiny (SOG 1-2 Sonakeo oo Universal Receiver 2.075" OAL SD: .169
Barre Mien &s.0o es.bsesdorvec’ «oR
Oi ole ane jay)
DIAS Letetcaea earpiece.
Mia te Pats. 2mer Pe EEA 1-14" Sugg
(GrOOVES® [amr tet ors oct ann te ee ro 2435" Powder Grains ¢ C.U.P.
N130 229 2753 $35,900
IMR-4198 21.0 2611 32,400
AA-2015 24.5 2801 35,000
H-322 24.5 2742 ~—-34,200
AA3930 — 260-9732 34,800
H-335 26.1 2674 33,800
BL-C(2) 275-2675 ~—-35,000
AA2460 26.0 2705 —-35,200
748 27.5 2697 34,000
Varget 2553 2561 30,400

75 gr. jacketed HP 85 gr. Jacketed HPBT BC: .282
2.120" OAL SD: .181 2.035" OAL SD: .206
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains p C.U.P. Powder Grains C.U.P.
N130 22.7 2639 34,500 N130 21.8 2484 35,300
IMR-4198 20.5 2555 ~—-34,000 IMR-4198 19% 2366 35,000
AA-2015° 23.2 2629 ~—«:33,800 AA-2015 22.0 2483 34,400
H-322 23.8 2645 35,400 H-322 225 2465 35,500
AA2230 25.0 2620 33,800 AA230 24,3 2473 34,000
H-335 26.3 2657 34,900 H-335 25,5) 2494 34,000
BL-C(2) 26.2 2533 32,400 BL-C(2) 252. 2429 34,400
AA2460 25.3 2ItO = Ba2M. AA2460 24.0 2440 34,600
748 26.8 2649 33,600 748 25.8 2500 34,400
Varget 26.5 2587 31,900 Varget 25.6 2560 36,100
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. 5

153
243 Winches
The 243 Winchester is one of the
first cartridges to evolve from the 308
Winchester /7.62 NATO. The late
Warren Page is the gunwriter most
closely associated with the 243 as a
result of his experiments with necking
down the 308 during the early 1950s.
Winchester’s 243 immediately proved
suitable not only for smaller varmints
but also for deer sized game due to its
1 in 10” twist rate. The 1-12” twist of
Remington’s concurrently introduced
244 Remington limited it to lighter
weight bullets generally unsuitable for
deer. Proper shot placement is crucial
as the 243/6mm bore size is the min-
imum allowed for pursuing whitetails
in many states. The fairly wide range
of .243” diameter bullets available make this a versatile
cartridge for the handloader. It is a good all-around car-
tridge for the more recoil-sensitive shooter. The 243 has fem
also found appeal in recent years with competitors on

58 gr. Jacketed V-Max BC: .250
the High Power Rifle circuit. Its “overbored” nature
2.625" OAL SD: .140
require use of slower powders normally associated with
larger magnum rifles. IMR-4350 and Reloder 22 often Sugg
produce best results, especially with bullets over 90 Powder —_ Grains Ds P.S.I.
grains. RX7 33.3 3404 45,900
IMR-3031 38.7 3482 42,000
N135 38.0 3520 44,700
IMR-4895 40.5 3490 45,000
Varget 40.9 3526 44,400
AA2520 38.7 3423 43,300
Test Components: IMR-4320. 40.9 3531 46,800
ASCSM sateen ore ers: abba dos aioeeemear me let Remington H-380 44.6 3437 42,800
ACHO LEN, suc. ¥. aos cc ee ea 2.035" H-414 45.0 3488 44,530
PLUIMCTS Secs has rk «235 2 COR Remington 91/2 IMR-4350 45.0 3331 41,200
PHINESIZEMS eectaees ou cek ee eee ee Large Rifle H-4831 477 3267 —- 38,100
Lyall OnelMEOIIGH is2a ose ens otiene oceans No. 2
Sierra HP #1500, 60 gr.
Speer SP #1211, 80 gr. 60 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .182
Sierra HPBT #1530, 85 gr. 2.600" OAL SD: .145
Sierra FMJBT #1535, 90 gr. Sugg
Hornady, BTSP #2453, 100 gr. Starting Velocity Pressure
Hornady A-Max #24562, 105 gr. Powder Grains fps
IMR-3031 36.0 3365 36,400
N135 36.2 3298 41,500
BL-C(2) 37.0 3323 = 37,300
IMR-4064 38.0 3409 —-38,100
IMR-4895 38.0 3488 43,300
IMR-4320 39.0 3385. 41,100
Test Specifications: H-380 40.0 3448 = 42,000
IMR-4350 42.0 3291 37,300
Acelian USC) aan saenchouauceustos Universal Receiver
H-4831 43.0 3057 ~—-34,000
Barrel-Lerigth: 4).ysenwerreom
na orn tee oe hci 24"
fv.) Ue Peron PCace RIN ohee | OhPode tl een ee 1-10"
Groove, Diao. a eee eee se eee JAY
In pressure column, C=Copper Units of Pressure (CU P);
P=Pounds per Square Inch (PSI)
65 gr. Jacketed V-Max BC: .280 70 gr. Jacketed HPBT
2.625" OAL SD: .157 2.625" OAL
Sugg Max Sugg Max
Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure Starting Velocity Pressure © Load Velocity
Powder Grains fps P.S.I. Grains PS.1. Powder = Grains_—fps Grains fps _ aa
RX7 30.7 3175 45,800 34.2 3445 58,000 AA-2015 31.0 —-3081_-~—« 36,800 = 37.0 3448
IMR-3031 36.4 3360 45,900 | 40.5 ho
3636) 57/000). IMR-3031 35.0 328141600 | 39.5 3482 sa
N135 35.0 3256 ©43,300 = 40.2 3621 58,000 1335 326 3011 42,300 ee
IMR-4895. 38.7 3328 45,800 43.0 3645 58,000 BL-C(2) 35.0 +3142 41,100 | 39.0 3419 i)
NI
Varget 38.2 3342 45,100 42.0 3644 = 57,100 IMR-4895 36.0 3257S 41,100 40.0 ~—-3539 —)
AA2520 36.2 3329 48,000 40.5 3603 58,800 IMR-4064 37.0 3316 ~—42,900~—s 41.0 3610
IMR-4064 39.6 3369 45,900 44.0 3696 58,400 Varget 375 3301 47,900 A ases ‘@) Be
IMR-4320 39.6 3363 47,600 44.0 3676 = 59,400 AA2520 34.0 3031~—-38,600 = 39.0 +3345 i
BigGame
H-380
40.5
43.2
3125
3346
39,500
46,500
45.5
48.0
3611
3670
58,400_
59,700
IMR-4320 37.0 3177 38,600 = 42.0 +—«3526
H-380 37.0 ~~ 3136 ~—:39,900 41.0 3440 =)
7)
760 43.7 3306 42,800 = 48.5 3685 = 58,300 BigGame "40.5 3232 42,900 (Naeem =
H414 44.0 3294. 43300 | 49.0 3664 57,600 N150 39.0 3261 45,500 reas
IMR-4350 43.2 3209 42,700 48.0 3602 57,400| 760 41.6 3146 39,300 47.3. ~—-3492
H4831SC 47.2 3260 44,100 Sy ey ae 3607. — 58,500 H-414 43.1. «3263 «43,100 | 49.04 —3592
IMR-4350 40.0 3193 39,900 = 45.5 3578
H4831SC_ 43.0 3142 ~—38,100 49.04 3552

2.600" OAL SD: .181
80 gr. Jacketed SP
Sugg Max ‘
Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure 2.655" OAL
Powder Grains Grains _ fps Sugg
AA-2015 30.0 2937 40,600 34.5 3224 51,900 Starting Velocity Pressure
IMR-3031 34.0 3097 38,600 38.0 3407 -~—«49,000C Powder Grains fps es Grains
H-335 32.6 2930 46800 37.0 3193 52,000C IMR--4895 32.0 2873 35,000 38.5
BL-C(2) 34.0 2974 41,100 38.0 3264 50,400C IMR-4064 34.0 2958 +=36,400 39.5
IMR-4895 34.0 3041 37,700 39.0: 3407_—«50,800C AA-2520 31.9 2861 ~— «46,900 35.5
IMR-4064 36.0 3127. 39,000 40.5 3460 50400C IMR-4320 36.0 3057 — 40,700 = 40.5
Varget 37.5 3181 47,900 41.0 3446 59,700P RX15 33.0 2051 43,100. ae
IMR-4320 37.0 3155 42,000 41.0 3437 50,000C H-380 35.0 2956 41,600 39.0
H-380 36.0 3020 42,000 40.0 3294 52,000C N150 35.5 3048 47,000 | eas
N150 38.0 3149 47,400 42.0 3419 58,700P 760 38.2 3019 48,600 42.5
BigGame 39.0 3111 43,800 43.3. ~—-3428 ~—57,700P H-414 40,0 “3058. 46,300 aes
760 40.5 3027. 38,000 | 46.0 3375 _51,200C IMR-4350 39.0 —-3035-—-39,400 41.5
H-414 41.4 3077. 41,300 47.0 3435 51,900C Hunter 42.5 2958 43,600. as
IMR-4350 40.0 3160 44,200 45.0 3425 51,200C RX19 43.0 3087 42,600 48.0
H4831 43.0 3099 41,100 480+ 3486 51,600 C H4831_ 42.0 3059 41,600_—-| 47.04
RX22 42.1 3048 44,000 47.0+ —3474_—-59,400 P RX22. 42.1 ~~3064. — 46,000 47,04

In pressure column, C=Copper Units of Pressure (CUP);
85 gr. Jacketed HPBT BC: .282 90 gr. Jacketed FMJBT BC: .387
2.615" OAL SD: .206 2.650" OAL SD: .218
Sugg Sugg,
Powder Grains fps Powder Grains fps P.S.I.
IMR-4895 33.0 ——-2883~——-38,600 IMR-4064. 34.5 = 2887 48,600
IMR-4064 34.0 2824 ~—-33,500 Varget 34.0 2901 49,300
Varget 35.2 2991 48,600 IMR-4320 35.5 2952 ~——53,200
IMR-4320 35.0 2920 38,600 AA2700 39.5 2830 44,900
AA2700 39.0 ~—=—-2937_—-46,700_ RXIS 7 34.2 2891 49,400
RX15 32.0 2787 36,800 H-380 35.0) 2741 —-£457t00
H-380 33.0 2686 36,400 Hea ao 208s 48 800.
N150 35.0 2992 46,900 N160 405). 92953 52,500
760 Bo 2907 ~—41,000 IMR-4350 40.5. 2934 48,400
H-414 40.0 2924 41,600 Hunter 40.0 2794 — 39,200
IMR-4350 38.0 2844 36,900 RX19 Aly 2922 46,100
Hunter 40.7 2970 = 45,500 AA-3100 41.0 ~—-2788 =~ 42,100
RX19 41.0 2847 = 42,100 H4831 43.0 2916 47,100
XMR3100 42.7 2813 = 41,200 RX22 40.3 2807 44,800
H-4831 41.0 2832 36,400
RX22 41.2 2837 43,900
100 gr. Jacketed BTSP BC: .405 105 gr. Jacketed A-Max BC: .500
2.630" OAL SD: .242 2.710" OAL SD: .254
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains i PS.I. Powder Grains is PS.
Varget SKS) 2636 = 52,200
H-414 355 2613 48,800
IMR-4350 35.5 2579 48,500
AA-4350 364 2613 48,200 37,300
Hunter 38.9 2719 45,000
RX19 373 2600 48,100
IMR-4831 37.8 2588 41,900
AA-3100 37.8 2471 46,200
N160 39.0 2586 41,000
RX22 39.55 2612 44,200

5mm Remington
The 6mm Remington has a slightly
larger case capacity than the 243 sug-
gesting a bit more velocity. However
since most shooters have found it
slightly less accurate than the
Winchester round it has never been fem pee
extremely popular.
Early rifles marked 244 Remington WN ae 4
had a1 in 12” twist and shot best with ll - 471 —— —— —— — = oa ee
bullets of 90 grains or less. Rifles with
the 6mm Remington markings usually
have a 1 in 9” twist and shoot well
with bullets up to 100 grains.
IMR 4350 is the ideal first propel-
lant selection for all jacketed bullet
weights.
Test Components:
1m Rr IER 5 RI SEE eyes daca as RRA Remington
Fig 8 OI ie SS i a ar a Se ya 60 gr. Jacketed HP
BO eee tie oighee Tas won = 0+ 4 oh Remington 91/2 2.750" OAL
DMR LE aye sh cles ee sees ooh 2 wie a8 Large Rifle —
Pete eresonieie he SS ere No. 2 ; :
Jacketed Bullets Used .......... Sierra HP #1500, 60 gr. Powder cae a CUP
Sierra HPBT #1505, 70 gr. AA-2015 35.4. ~—-3374~—« 42,700
Speer HP #1205, 75 gr. IMR-3031 37.0 3290 39,400
Speer SP #1211, 80 gr. IMR-4895 38.0 ~—-3279 -~— 42,400
* Sierra HPBT #1530, 85 gr. IMR-4064 38.0 3164 36,900
Hornady V-Max #22440, 87 gr. Varget 39.0 3456 40,200
Hornady BTSP #2453, 100 gr. AA-2520 38.0 3454 42,100
IMR-4320 39.0 3194 39,900
N140 38.5 3328 41,000
H-380 40.0 3279 300)
Big Game 43.6 3430 42,200
IMR-4350 = 42.0 3021 36,400
H-4831 46.0 3154 — 39,000
Fircainn Weenie. vce es ms eee Universal Receiver
oP aS TM oe Tete aepesRe re debcnea ar wae OL A PR 24"
TRATES Gian,ecient scar trae aaa ar 1-9" 70 gr. Jacketed HPBT
oea llDYE ae ing i ele we ae 243" 9.825" OAL
Sugg
Starting Velocity Pressur
Powder = Grains_fps C.U.P.
IMR-3031 36.0 3105 36,400
IMR-4895 37.0 3067 38,600
H-335 35.0 3308 45,900
IMR-4064 37.5 3067
Varget 36:7 3261
AA2520 33.0 2875 37,700 41.0 3423 49,300
IMR-4320 38.5 3105 40,300 = 44.0 + 3509 52,000
N140_ 37.0 3248 42,300 SOR hoo
H-380 39.0 3095 36400 pee
Sonic
45.0
3588a eb 52,000
BigGame 41.4 3260 40,900 46.0 3633 ets Y
760 40.0 3222 42,800 46.0 3611 50,700.
H-414 40.0 3299 40,300 += 46.0 -3643.—«S 51,400
IMR-4350 42.0 2976 38,600 = 48.5+ +3484. «51,200
H-4831 45.0 2967 36,400 ~—-50.5+ +3413 48,800
75 gr. jacketed HP BC: .234 80 gr. jacketed SP BC: .365
2.825" OAL SD: .181 2.825" OAL SD: .194
Sugg Max Sugg

Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure Starting Velocity Pressure we Velocity Sees
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains CUP. Powder Grains fps C.U.P.__ Grains _fps -U.P.
IMR-3031 36.0 3105 40,300 40.5 3485 50,700 IMR-3031 35.0 2994 37,300 39.5 3412 ee
IMR-4895 37.0 3105 40,300 39.0 3385 51,400 - IMR-4895 35.8 3107 44,000 40.0 3325 49,000
H-335 36.3 3168 44,600 40.5. 3424 50,800__ IMR-4064 36.5 2915 36,000 42.0 3390 50,400 _
IMR-4064 37.0 3048 37,300 42.5 3448 51,600 Varget 35.4 3188 44,500 39.6 3364 49,400 |
Varget 36.3 3164 40,600 40.5 3457 __—_—-49,400 IMR-4320 36.7 hoe 43,700 41.0 3376 49,900
AA-2520 32.0 2790 40,000 ~ 40.5 3333) 52,000 N140 35.8 3044 42,900 40.0 —-3301_~—- 50,400
IMR-4320 37.5 2994 37,700 + 41.0 3400 52,000 H-380 35.0 2785 34,500 43:0) 23290" 50,800
N140 36.7 3092 40,600 41.0 3398 50,300 Big Game 39.6 3199 43,600 44.0 335/100
H-380 36.0 2865 34,500 43.5 «3423 «48,100 760 41.3 3152 40,700 47.0 3467. 51,800
IMR-4350. 41.5 2976 37,300 48.0+ 3448 52,000 H-414 40.4 3209 42,600 46.0 3447 48,900
AA-3100 42.0 2761 37,700 48.5+ 3249 __50,700 IMR-4350 41.0 2873: ) 36,000 47.0+ 3367 52,000
H-4831 44.0 2941 37,700 48.0+ 3288 45,000 H-4831 44.0 2890 36,400 50.5+ 3322 48,400
RX22 40.0 2922 40,600 49.0+ 3294 49,600

2.825" OAL SD: 206 87 gr. Jacketed V-Max BC: .400
Sugg 2.825" OAL SD: .210
Starting Velocity er ened Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps Grains CU. . Sugg Max
IMR-3031 34.0 2906 as
aa 59.0 3354 52,000 Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains fps C.U.P.
IMR-4895 35.0 BS)i)'5) 39,900 40.0 3236 51,600
IMR-3031 35.4. «3031 -42,600.——239. 0 3276 50,100
IMR-4064 36.0 2865 37,300 ALO. 01327951200.
IMR-4064 36.0 2948 37,900 40.0 3266
48
Af8,800_
Varget 35.8 3075 43,200 | 40.0 3295 50,300 Varget «35.8 ~~ 3034.~=—s41,800 += «40.0 :~=«3278
~—«50,000
IMR-4320 36.0 2849 36,900 42.0 3268 51,200 IMR-4320 35.8 2954 -—-39,500 + 40.0 +~—«3253-~—«49,800
N140 36.0 3020 43,600 30.55), aayOn 51 ADO:
BigGame 38.4 2955 42,200 += 42.7, ~—«:3225_-~—«451,100
H-380 35.0 2770 37,300 = 41.0 3362 _~——_52,000
760 40.8 2993 37,200 45.5 + «3335 ~—-50,200
BigGame _ 39.6 3061 45,700 44.0 —-3257_—«451,300
H-414 40.5 2979 38,300 A522 3290 48,900
760 39.0 3055. 41,100 = (R45 0341 700051700
N160 42.0 2987 40,000 ‘47.0 3320 50,000
H414 38.0 3029 41,800 45.0 3436 ~——-52,000 -
IMR-4350 40.0 2882 36,400 44,7 3256 — 49,100
IMR-4350 40.0 2808 35,500 = 46.5+ 3300 52,000
AA-3100 42.6 2882 37,900 47.5+ 3251 51,200
RX19 42.0 2836 39,100 46.5 3211 —_50,800
Hunter 41.8 3012 40,900 46.5 3361 51,500
H4831 44.0 2979 39,000 —-49.0+ +3300 ~—-49,300
RX22 45.0 3091 40,400 ~—-50.0+ 3435 ~—-50,700
XMR3100 42.5 BUNS 39,500 47.5 3130 ~=49,900
H-4831 44.0 2958 38,600 47.5+ 3394 51,600
RX22 44.0 2879 38,000 49.4 3301 51,900
100 gr. Jacketed BTSP BC: .405

2.820" OAL SD: .242
Sugg Max
Powder Grains C.U.P. Grains _fps C.U.P.
IMR-4064 — 33.8 2811 38,500 38.5 3089 50,100
AA2520 31.0 2457 39,500 37.2 2869) 751,000
H-380 34.0 2570. — 39,000 38.5 2865 51,600
BigGame 35.0 2643 ~—«37,500 39.0 +3028 ~—«51,600
760 37.8 2800 39,600 43.0 3093 48,000
H-414 36.9 2769 36,300 ASS O22 SO S00
N160 39.0 2852 45,500 43.5 3049 50,300
IMR-4350___ 37.4 281139500 42.5 3143 «51,100
RX19 38.0 2559 38,100 46.0 3058 51,700
AA-3100 40.0 2576 39,400 45.0 2959) 51,000
H-4831 42.0 2883 44,200 -47.0+ 3131 50,900
RX22 415 2723 38,300 466+ 3084 50,300
IMR-7828 43.0 2841 40,900 48.0+_ += 3149 50,300 —
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. Magnum 44.0 2620 44,100 «49.0-—-2973-_—51,000
Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate load. H-1000_ 45.7 2869 40,400. 51.0+ 314149,300
Wischesee: introduced the 243
WSSM (along with the 223 WSSM) in
2003, and designed it to provide out-
standing long range varmint and light
game performance. The case is based
on the familiar shape of the
Winchester Short Magnum line of car-
tridges, however with a much shorter
body length. The result is a rather
unusual looking cartridge, with a
large diameter body stepped down to
a small diameter neck. The short, fat,
high volume case is meant to produce
a very uniform powder burn, excel-
lent accuracy, and very high veloci-
ties. To go along with this very short
cartridge, Browning developed a
Super Short Action rifle, which allows
for a light, stiff receiver with a short bolt cycle.
In our testing, we found the 243 WSSM to produce
around 100 to 200 fps more velocity than the popular
243 Winchester cartridge. It produced velocities similar
to that obtained with the 240 Weatherby Magnum.
2.215" OAL SD: .157
With lighter varmint weight bullets, we found H380
powder produced very uniform results. With heavier Sugg Max 2
weight bullets, slower burning powders such as IMR- Powder Grains fps PS... |
4831 and Accurate's 3100 worked well.
IMR-4895
Varget 41.0 3535
RX15 41.5 3608 55,300
IMR-4350
54,700
Test Components: 55,400
Hunter
eee cs oe erste eek nwre seWinchester
Mme CMU ao ris oo 2-53 ete eyo e tel1.660"
ASS cs os Re Punts Winchester WLR
RR Pr 8 55 5nd se ee Sl Large Rifle
Pyne nen PIOIE! .. ..... cS RE ORs Se pee lanes No. 34
75 gr. Jacketed V-Max BC: 330
Barnes TSX #24341, 85 gr. 2.225" OAL SD: .181
Swift Scirocco, 90 gr.
Su 88 \
Nosler Partition SP #16315, 95 gr. Starting Velocity Pressure
Sierra SPT #1540, 100 gr. Powder Grains fps P.S.L.
IMR-4895 56,800
Test Specifications: IMR-4350 57,700

SPE Ta es Universal Receiver
AA2700 55,900
BARE Ue sc Ges siaversiele oo nisa Kicieye ous ayeSn 24"
760. 56,900
a VV S laPet late
ne ela niaisey one) elaceneraye ace) 1-10" Hunter
GeO DiB «sali. ald oh Be ies BO DOO Cee ae oI er 243"

80 gr. Jacketed SP BC: 365 85 gr. Barnes TSX BC: 333
2.250" OAL SD: .193 2.260" OAL SD: .206
Sugg Sugg Ma’
Powder Grains S P.S.I. Powder Grains fps P.S.I.
IMR-4350 IMR-4350
57,100 IMR-4831 55,400
IMR-4831
55,800
90 gr. Jacketed Scirocco BC: .419 95 gr. Jacketed SP BC: 379

2.300" OAL SD: .218 2.270" OAL SD: .230
Sugg Su gs f
Powder Grains fps P.S.I. Powder Grains fps P.S.1.
IMR-4350 38.7 3064 IMR-4350
760 56,400
IMR-4831 IMR-4831
57,600
Hunter
55,400
100 gr. Jacketed SPT BC: 373

2.300" OAL SD: .242
Sugg
Powder Grains P.S.I.
IMR-4350
IMR-4831 54,500
Hunter

The 240 Weatherby is very fast, very
accurate, and not very popular.
Weatherby introduced their 240
Magnum in 1968 as the fastest of the
6mm/243 bore size available in
factory form. This cartridge can be
thought of as a 30-06 necked down to
6mm, with a belt added to the case.
The fact that it is an original case
design, which cannot be formed from
any other cartridge, has not helped its
appeal. The 240 requires slower burn-
ing powders for top performance.
IMR-4350 produced best results with
bullets up to 90-grains, H-4831 per-
formed best with the 100-grainers.
Despite the good availability of .243”
diameter varmint bullets, the 240
shouldn’t be considered for such as extended shooting
would be rough on barrel life. This data is intended for
commercially produced and chambered rifles. It is not
for use in custom guns which may lack the free bore 75 gr. Jacketed V-Max
found in standard Weatherby chambers. 3.062" OAL
Su 88 i
Powder Grains fps
N160
aU ES en e OR Ngo unas Weatherby RX19
MMIC ea ee cin does. as,edna cee x Owen 2.490" H4831SC
eR I ee fe cee Fa oo SedSe Federal 215
CLS SS at a a ee Large Rifle Magnum
Brn PIOIIET 2. ac nc os ea tee ee ewe No. 2
Jacketed Bullets Used ...Hornady V-Max #22420, 75 gr.
Nosler Partition #16314, 85 gr.
80 gr. Jacketed SP
Hornady BTSP #2453, 100 gr.
3.062" OAL
Su 88
Powder Grains fps
N160 50.0 3288
IMR-4350
RX19
Test Specifications: AA-3100 2
H4831SC
Velocity Only)
ee ed SR cr en Pe re Weatherby Mk vi
Dame WOU gets ee ct.e scat esonade He tale oe eri os 80% 24"
Ree ee Porte eee rt ie creo bats A ewes ates1-1 0"
are) Ate cers Foda ola oie od ay in ee a ela 243

240 Weatherh
85 gr. Jacketed Partition BC: 315 90 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .385
3.062" OAL SD: .206 3.062" OAL SD: .217
Sugg Su 8s
Powder Grains Powder Grains fps
N160 49.0 N160 47.0
IMR-4350 IMR-4350
RX19
AA-3100 XMR3100
H4831SC 52.0 H4831SC _
ace
100 gr. Jacketed BTSP

3.062" OAL
Su es
Powder Grains
N160 47.0
IMR-4350
RX19
AA-3100
H4831SC
RX22

iit data is not for use in old
firearms designed for black powder. It
is intended only for use in firearms
designed for smokeless powder loads
and in good condition.
When loading for tubular maga-
zines you must use flat, blunt or round
nose bullets. It is suggested that a light
crimp be employed in ammo assem-
bly for cartridges that will be used in
a tubular magazine.
— .8573
IMR 4198 is a good first powder
choice. Data is brief due to the limit-
ed popularity of the cartridge.
Test Components:
(CASES ee ee ek Remington, Winchester
SR CAEN Fs cece cw nee es dos 1320 86 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .191
RD MEN ett ie og o% yin ces Remington 612, Win. WSR 1.592" OAL
TO SES ie ce ee enn a ae Small Rifle
Sugg
DSSS INS 3 Sr No. 10 Starting Velocity Pressure
_ Max
Load
Jacketed Bullets Used ..... Remington SP #22735, 86 gr. Powder Grains fps Grains
Unique 4.5 Tg ~-
Re EN EISEED acta one. o 2.2 an Fie ew os (sized to .257) la a i =
*gas check bullet *257420, 65 gr. IMR-4227 8.0 1213 —
IMR-4198 10.5 1283 _ :
H-110 7.0 1060 a aeeso) 1294 — |
Velocity Only)
SST es ee Winchester Model 92 *#257420 BC; .129
ERT ae area? pide iit sbaiaais gota Dg 20"+24" 65 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.560" OAL SD: .140
TRVIRE e:h.c c/s Geer eee Sa re ca ciacs eee eo ee 1-14" Su eg Max ati
(HOME DIE Bee eee ee oe ny acer nee Omer 256" Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure —
Powder = Grains —s fps_——C.U.P. Gra
RedDot 3.5 560 ae lu)
700X__—__—3-5 ae
Green Dot 4.0
edie 4.0.
Unique 45
SR-7625 oes

* Fired in a 24" barrel with Winchester cases and primers.
250 Savage
Tits cartridge is extremely accurate,
but the proper length (weight) bullets
must be selected. Early firearms had a
1 in 14” twist because the only facto- 2.515
ry bullet weight was 87 grains (at
3000 fps.) for the cartridges original
name (250/3000). In these barrels 100
grain bullets seldom perform well. 26° 30° {
When the 100 grain bullet was intro- -t —.414 —.288
duced a twist rate of 1 -10” was eat
adopted. This twist often works with
bullets as light as 75 grains and as 1.511 eed |
heavy as 117 grains. 1.637
Due to the cases small volume 1.912
the 100 grain bullet is the best for light
big game. Be sure to select a big game
style bullet as some 100 grain bullets
are of the varmint type. Due to the
limited ballistics of the cartridge it would be wise to
select a premium grade bullet to optimize performance
on light big game.
IMR 3031 is the best choice for accuracy in most
rifles with all bullet weights. 2.450" OAL SD: .162
When loading for lever action rifles use extra Cau-
tion in developing a maximum load. Many lever actions Sugg
will not allow the listed maximum load to be used safe- Powder Grains s C.U.P.
ly. IMR-3031 32.0 3003

IMR-4064
(CASES RNR eter ee es See Nats ee cS Remington
Varget
HET AONEIN Aer Aeagcka hte cle ooo tStsee orca ere1.902"
IMR-4320
RAINS wie pays cas aero la itecvcte des Sine enh Remington 91/2
PININN IZO ote tate atc aa Hm en aetiel & ee See Large Rifle
ENA ORS UE NOMEN 4 ap auc cio one mecboelanis aoteee No. 2
Jacketed Bullets Used .......... Sierra HP #1600, 75 gr.
Sierra SP #1620, 100 gr.
Test Specifications: 87 gr. Jacketed SP

(Velocity & Pressure) 2.450" OAL SD: .188
PRCA e SCCM Re emigre sa. cium cee Universal Receiver Su es Max
Custom Mauser 98 Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains Ds C.U.P.
ESTO RINSTTYE Ey,Ace ene nen ae 24"
IMR-3031 31.0 2840 =
TRIS is RAI 5 Oe tin i Pa area Mr comsoe BaCGALRARE 1-14"
BL-C(2) 33.5) 2625 34,900
GTrOOVE Diatwer vac oi ea eis ne eee en eee 257 u
H-335 33.0 2645 —
IMR-4895 31.0 2467 34,500
IMR-4064 33.0 2816 —
Varget 32.4 2576 35,100
IMR-4320 31.0 2567 36,600
N140 32.0 2670 36,600
RX15 32.0 2681 38,100
H-380 37.0 2824 —

. age) 290 Savage
100 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .330 117 gr. Jacketed SP BC: 388
2.515" OAL SD: .216 2.515" OAL SD: .253
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains DS C.U.P. Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
IMR-3031 30.0 2695 — IMR-3031 28.0 2444 —
BL-C(2) 31.0 2463 — BL-C(2) 29.0 2283 ==
H-335 32.0 2544 - H-335 30.0 2369 a
IMR-4895 Si-O 2563 36,200 IMR-4895 28.0 2304 35,200
IMR-4064 31.0 2OLE — IMR-4064 30.0 2463 _
Varget 32.0 2587 37,900 Varget 29.0 2317 38,400
IMR-4320 31.0 2522 37,500 IMR-4320 28.0 2246 = 35,500
RX15 31.0 2530 38,100 H-380 32.0 2427 —
H-380 tee gess ie RX19 34.0 2254 36,100
H4831SC 34.6 2228 36,800

257 Roberts
Noted gun-writer Ned Roberts had
experimented with the 7x57mm
Mauser cartridge necked down to 25-
caliber during the late 1920s and
early thirties. Remington introduced
the 257 Roberts in 1934 as a stan-
dardized version of this wildcat. This
was one of the most common deer
cartridges before being overshadowed
by later developments such as the 243
Winchester. While its popularity has
waned over the past few decades, it
has had some renewed interest in
recent years.
The Roberts is an excellent all-
around cartridge, which offers low
recoil even in a lightweight rifle.
Handloaders can tailor a load for
everything from varmints on up to deer sized game.
Unfortunately, many older rifles have a long throat
while using a short magazine. This can make peak
accuracy difficult to attain. Most new rifles have cor-
75 gr. Jacketed HP
rected this condition. Medium to slower burning pow-
2.735" OAL
ders provide the best accuracy with Varget being per-
haps the best choice for all bullet weights. Sugg
Any +P loads listed here should not be used in Powder Grains ps C.U.P.
older guns. They should be used only in modern, IMR-3031 36.0 2976 —
recently made rifles approved by the manufacturer for BL-C(2) 36.0 2801 —
high-pressure +P loads. IMR-4895 38.0 2890
IMR-4064 40.0 3012 —
Varget 39.0 2920 aoa
IMR-4320 38.0 2808 —
AA2700 44.0 2982 —
RX15 39.0 2967 —
H-380 41.0 2906 =
Test Components: 760 40.2 2849 33,500
H-414 42.5 3016 37,800
Casey aa aan Aide bute ue ed Fat ee Ee, Remington
AA-4350 45.0 2728 —
irate toseretht: s-.aAezicce eis. ors.6 Smee Meee 2223"
PIATIIC Sens Sethe cc arenas os Ce Remington 91/2
Pei oIZeg eee. | 6s muna seeaieiteiers make Large Rifle
yiiain Se MOMdeinatraceere sate eo keer No. 2
Jacketed Bullets Used .......... Sierra HP #1600, 75er.
Speer SP #1241, 87gr. 87 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .300
Sierra SP #1620, 100gr. 2.750" OAL SD: .188
Sierra SP #1640, 117er.
Sugg
Powder Grains Ds U.P.
IMR-3031 35.0 2840 —
Test Specifications: BL-C(2) 37.0 2824 —
(Velocity & Pressure) IMR-4895 36.0 2724 —
PI FEATINN LeSOUIe vaca renee ake oes Remington M700 IMR-4064 39.0 2932 —
and Universal Receiver Varget 38.0 2893 _
IMR-4320 36.0 2659 —
Barre: emathige: sors carne hey eras eatery tree eet24"
AA2700 39.5 2708
SIWWASC are een nA cn eey ore ered Lane. etn ses 1-10"
Groove: ia mentee ee eee eas eecree ink rots 257" RX15 39.0 2953 we
H-380 40.0 2849 =
760 41.1 2879 38,700
H-414 40.5 2896 38,500
AA-4350 43.0 2642,

100 gr. Jacketed SP BC: 330 117 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .388
2.775" OAL SD: .216 2.775" OAL SD: .253
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains i CUR Powder Grains _fps C.U.P.
IMR-3031 De eo ale = IMR-3031 30.0 2341 —
BL-C(2) i 2747 — BL-C(2) 32.0 2380 _—
IMR-4895 34. 2557 = IMR-4895 31.0 2288 —
IMR-4064 36.0 2631 — IMR-4064 32.0 2347 —
Varge' 2712 — Varget ne a
IMR-4320 2463 a IMR-4320 33.0 2369 =
H-380 38. 2564 _— H-380 34.0 2325 =
760 2591 35,700 760 36.3. 2319 34,300
H-414 — 2683 38,000 H-414 35.0 2394 36,500
AA-4350 2480 - AA-4350 40.0 2444 —
RX19 43.0 2644 f= AA-3100 ZL) ES

RX22 42.0 TASS Rae
BA3100. 43.7 2552 ‘al

25-06 Reming
Gunmaker Adolph O. Niedner first
necked down the 30-06 to accept
.257” diameter bullets during the
1920s. However, the slow burning
powders necessary to maximize the
performance of this round were sim-
ply not available at the time. The lack
of such powders handicapped many
wildcat cartridges based on 30-06
cartridges necked down to smaller
calibers. The post-World War Two
availability of propellants such as H-
4831 and IMR-4350 changed all this.
Such “overbore” cartridges now
became viable. The 25-06 was a 3.250 Maximum
rather popular wildcat for many years
before Remington legitimized it as a
factory offering in 1969. This data is
intended for use in standard commercial rifles original-
ly chambered for this round. Shooters may occasional-
ly encounter custom chambered rifles built before the
25-06 became standardized. If in doubt, a chamber cast
by a qualified gunsmith is in order to verify chamber SD: .162
3.065" OAL
dimensions.
Su 88 ;
IMR-3031 43.0 3304 42,400
IMR-4895 43.5 3170 42,000
IMR-4064 45.0 3304 42,000
Varget 45.5 3288 40,300
N150 46.3 3286 44,100
AA2700 49.5 3375 41,200
WCASCSM ters dares eo ra sere tals Oe ee Remington
NCIC OREN OU ee tate neteetiwy naan tid area Megane 2.484" H-380 47.0 3373 42,900
PRUNES ence eh ioctees Se cin ah.deen See te Winchester WLR 760. 50.6 3160 39,300
PEVICho Ze eet nes oe es Hac bey Se mooe Large Rifle H-414 Biles 3477 45,000
Byniat nen sHOMGer diosa oho. Ree cae oan ta No. 2 IMR-4350 50.0 3128 41,600
Jacketed Bullets Used .......... Sierra HP #1600, 75 gr. Hunter 52.6 3434 42,300
Hornady SP, #2530, 87 gr. H4831 53.0 3105 41,100

Nosler AccuBond #53742, 110 gr.
87 gr. Jacketed SP BC: 322

3.096" OAL SD: .188
(Velocity & Pressure) Starting Velocity Pressure
Firearm Used Powder Grains CUP
BarrelbemgthiJon ico ae oie > 2 di eee 26" IMR-3031 42.0 3113 41,600
TWAStE 2siol nsec keke cPanel oe eo eon eee eee 1-10" IMR-4064 44.0 3153 42,900
Groovell gar rk Coen ee oe ee eee 572 Varget 43.0 3304 42,800
IMR-4320. 44.0 3080 41,100
RX15 43.0 2943 35,000
H-380 — 45.0 3111 41,600
H-414 46.4 3210 43,400
IMR-4350 49.0 3078 = 41 ,100
Hunter 49.5 3056 37,800
RX19 50.5 2963 36,000
AA-3100 52.0 3011 37,200
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. H-4831 52.0 3015 40,300
100 gr. Jacketed SP 110 gr. Jacketed AccuBond BC: .418
3.155" OAL 3.250" OAL SD: .238
Su 88 Su 88
Powder Grains C.U.P. Powder Grains fps P.S.1.
IMR-4064 40.0 2856 IMR-4064 39.6 2845 43,300
IMR-4320 41.0 2822 IMR-4350 45.8 2836 40,700
H-380 —- 43.0 2951 RX19 48.6 2845 41,600
IMR-4350 46.5 2622 AA-3100 48.6 2757 41,100
Hunter 48.6 2984 H4831 48.0 2856 42,200
RX19 51.0 2956 RX22 48.6 3017 42,200
AA-3100 ~—51.0 2878 IMR-7828 49.5 2773 41,300
RX22 B27. 3024 H1000 54.0 2837 42,600
H1000 55.8 2933 Magnum 50.8 2591 38,600
117 gr. Jacketed S BC: 388 120 gr. Jacketed HP

3.155" OAL SD: .253 3.250" OAL
Su 88 E Su es
Powder Grains CUR: Powder Grains C.U.P.
ari 2566 IMR-4064 40.0 2715 43,500
41.0 2681 IMR-4350 44.4 2631 39,200
43.2 2762 RX19 48.0 2793 41,900
IMR-4350 46.0 2735 AA-3100 49.0 2715 42,000
RX19 48.2 2807 H-4831 48.0 2781 43,500
AA-3100_ 49.0 2675 RX22 46.8 2826 47,000
H-4831 49.0 yp) IMR-7828 49.5). 2723 41,400
RX22 48.2 2863 Magnum 50.4 2603 43,900
IMR-7828 49.5 Pie) H1000 Sirs 2787 42,600
Magnum 50.4 2556 N170 52.0 2722 43,000
H1000 522 2758

+Designates a compressed powder charge. 169
25 WSSM «
WSSM in 2004, and designed it to do
everything that the popular 25-06 car-
tridge can do. The 25 WSSM can do it
however, from a short action, light
weight rifle. Like the 223 and 243
WSSM cartridges introduced a year
earlier, the 25 WSSM possesses the
familiar shape of the Winchester
Short Magnum line of cartridges,
however with a much shorter body
length. The result is a rather unusual
looking cartridge, with a large diame-
ter body stepped down to a small
diameter neck. The short, fat, high
volume case is meant to produce a
very uniform powder burn, excellent
accuracy, and very high velocities. To
go along with these very short cartridges, Browning
developed a Super Short Action rifle, which allows for
a light, stiff receiver with a short bolt cycle. In our test-
ing, we found the 25 WSSM to produce nearly identical
75 gr. Jacketed HP
ballistics as 25-06 Remington cartridge. It produce
2.200" OAL
velocities ranging from 100 to 300 fps faster than simi-
lar weight bullets in the venerable 257 Roberts. With Sugg
lighter varmint weight bullets, we found that IMR-4895 Powder Grains Ss P.S.1.
and Varget produced very uniform results. With heavier AA-2495 36.0 3306 58,000
weight bullets, slower burning powders such as IMR- N135 3OR7. 54,500
4350 and Winchester 760 worked well. 57,300
TAC 42.7 3374
IMR-4895
Test Components: Varget
(CAGES ds [Mail ba eee a on eae er eS Winchester BL-C(2) 45.6 3601
54,200
MINICOM CT eee Mean sete clan. e husseinats amare ale 1.660"
HIS Se atk See oe a ee Winchester WLR
PNRMETeSI ZOCOR ieee tscate dg ch tune 7 Large Rifle
TATA ONS CGH ICHE Ties oes once ovaaceoncee aeaetieees SSR No. 34
Nosler Ballistic Silvertip #51050, 115 gr. 87 gr. Jacketed SP BC: 322
Nosler Partition SP #35643, 120 gr. 2.300" OAL SD: .188
Sugg
Powder Grains ps P.S.I.
IMR-4895 56,600
Varget
BL-C
RX15 41.8 3278
Test Specifications: Big Game
Firealnn Usenet
rer teers ©Universal Receiver
Bartel. Lenethics tas. veven eaten intent
aaa 24" Hunter 55,900
TIWWAS teeec pepe tea erica aaeterna Steen ew ates 1-10"
GIOOVE| DEAR Ae se ear ee een etm ree 257s

100 gr. Jacketed SPT BC: .330 110 gr. Jacketed AccuBond BC: .418
2.300" OAL SD: .216 2.325" OAL SD: .238
Sugg Su
Powder Grains fps P.S.1. Powder Grains fps P.S.I.
Varget 370 3013. 57,200 IMR-4350
BL-C(2) 38.0 3004 ~—-59,200
RXIS- = 2387
Big Game 56,400 Big Game
IMR-4350 57,000
H380 42.8 3025 58,400 Hunter
58,100
45.4 3045 54,400
57,300
115 gr. Jacketed Silvertip BC: .453 120 gr. Jacketed SP BC: 391
2.340" OAL SD: .249 2.335" OAL SD: .260
Sugg ae Soe Sugg ie
Powder Grains PS. Powder Grains ps PS.I.
IMR-4350. 41.3 IMR-4350
H380 56,500 H380 56,200
760 Big Game
Big Game _
Hunter 56,500 Hunter

+Designates a compressed powder charge. ,
257 Weatherby
=
The 257 Weatherby Magnum is
about as much power as one can get
in the 25 caliber rifle. It is one of the foe ASIR
original Weatherby cartridges devel-
oped around 1944 based on the 300
H&H case. Careful handloading can
wring around 200 feet per second
over the 25-06. It has never been one
of Weatherby’s more popular offer-
ings despite its impressive
performance. This performance level
predictably requires use of premium
bullets such as the 115-grain Ballistic
Silvertip for larger game. The 75 and
87-grain bullets are best left to
varmints and smaller game. The
“overbored” nature of the 257 man-
dates the use of slow burning pow-
ders. H-4831 has long been the powder of choice and
Reloder 25 provided best results with the 115-grain bul-
let. Shooters should not overheat barrels with extended
firing and prevent fouling from accumulating through
75 gr. Jacketed HP
proper cleaning. This data is intended for commercially
3.025" OAL SD: .162
produced and chambered rifles. It is not for use in cus-
tom guns that may lack the free bore found in standard Sugg
Weatherby chambers. Powder Grains ps
IMR-4064 _
IMR-4320
H-380
IMR-4350
Test Components:
OO sos Be ee ise es Aone! oh te yt ae Weatherby
Wis apt ett cots e ou AW at St ee neato oe 2.540"
BIRO e area esa sak AGREE Gene nes See Federal 215
GIST NGIZen em sc UG ics ms aos Large Rifle Magnum
[Vitae SCL IOIGET a:Pcie aug beta ote tee ee No. 13
Sierra SBT #1620, 100 gr.
Nosler Ballistic Silvertip #51050, 115 gr. 87 gr. jacketed SP BC: 322
3.185" OAL SD: .188
Sugg ‘aes
Powder Grains fps
IMR-4064 52.0
IMR-4320
H-380
(Velocity Only) AA-3100
Fite iI secl wee ee ae tee Weatherby Mk V H-4831
ANP DOIN
ST tage. eet eens oe enon nee ee 26" RX22
Ng Se Saal ce SOR re ne ky Se 1-12" IMR-7828
CON Siar ames Ao ves cacao pays

172 +Designates a compressed powder charge.
100 gr. Jacketed SBT BC: .355 115 gr. Jacketed BT BC: .453
3.250" OAL SD: .216 3.250" OAL SD: .249
Sugg Sugg Ae amie ey
Powder Grains ps Powder Grains
IMR-4064 50.0 2898 IMR-4831 60.0
IMR-4320 52.0 3021
380 58.0 3086
IMR-4350 59.0 3048
AA-3100 65.5 3227 IMR-7828
H-4831 63.0 2923
RX22 65.0 3237
IMR-7828 70.0 3445
RX25 71.0 B32?
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. 173

Loads shown in bold designate potentia lly most accurate load.
260 Remin:
Many High-Power shooters have
used a number of 6.5mm _ wildcats
over recent years to great effect.
Various 6.5 wildcats based on the 308
Winchester case had been around for
ih 2645
years before Remington standardized
the 260 as a factory round in 1997.
While ballistically similar to the
|
6.5x55 Swedish Mauser cartridge, the
260 enjoys the advantage of being
loaded to higher pressures due to the 1.5598
absence of older, weaker actions in
this chambering. An ideal package of 1.7755
2.035
low recoil, high accuracy potential,
2.800
plus a wide selection of match grade
and hunting bullets with good ballis-
tic coefficients offer a very useful
combination. The ability to launch
the 120-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip at 2,900 feet per sec-
ond makes a handy whitetail cartridge at the closer
“non-magnum” distances found along the east coast.
High Power shooters should find the 142-grain Sierra
85 gr. Jacketed HP BG 225
Match King with IMR-4350 a winner. Shooters loading
2.670" OAL SD: .174
for custom rifles marked 6.5-08, 6.5-308, or any
similarly designated rifle -— especially semi-autos — Sugg |
should exercise caution as minor dimensional varia- Powder Grains DS PS.I.
tions can be encountered in such custom chambers. If IMR-4064 39.0 3022 40,000.
in doubt, a chamber cast by a competent gunsmith is Varget oN) 3097 43,600
recommended. Laboratory tests showed good results RX15 41.0 3084 42,800
with most of the VihtaVuori powders as well as Varget N150 40.5 3106 46,100
and IMR-4350. Big Game 42.5 3028 43,100
AA2700 44.0 2965 38,300
760 43.5 2988 37,200
Test Components: H-414 45.0 2966 38,100
(eS wy nt en ee Remington IMR-4350 44.1 2813 35,600
Mnthnaste MeSH). i sced esate Co gloss Be ee 2025" RX19 46.0 2777 34,600
PUI HtS MP es I< cit he ors lgt th Remington 91/2 IMR-4831 44.0 2IST A W314 j000
PARED SIZOlina tent, ocx ravasots ee ae eeeLarge Rifle AA-3100 44.0 2603 30,200
iyman shell older ct .% 2.22.0 eee ae No. 2
Nosler Ballistic Tip #26120, 120 gr.
Hornady A-Max #26332, 140 gr.
Hornady RN #2640, 160 gr.
2.785" OAL SD: .195
CacuButlets sedi 2 5 can cna eee (sized to .264" dia)
*gas check bullets *#266469, 140 gr. Sugg
*#266673, 150 gr. Powder Grains DS P.S.I.
IMR-4064 38.5 2899 40,100
Varget 38.0 2987 44,800
RX15 40.0 2964 43,400
Test Specifications: N150 39.8 2928 42,900
(Velocity & Pressure) Big Game 41.0 2890 = 43,100
Eiréarminl Sec meeaeerees
weer cetera Universal Receiver AA2700 43.5 2958 46,600
Barrel ubeniethy Sarco eage st ne toa weer ee 6 24" 760 44.0 2944 ~—-40,600
i 7 Cs ORa PR ARR ts Ac tTae ee 1-9" H-414 44.5 2882 39,400
(GrOOVe Diak ois eee ee ae ee nee 2645" IMR-4350 44.0 2832 40,000
RX19 46.0 2804 39,400
IMR-4831 44.0 2736 36,000
AA-3100 43.0 2542 31,300
260 Remington
100 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .259 120 gr. Jacketed Ballistic Tip BC: .458
2.710" OAL SD: .205 2.785" OAL SD: .246
Sugg Max Sugg Max
Powder _Grrains fps P.S.I. Grains _ fps PSil. Powder Grains fps P.S.I. Grains _ fps P.S.I.
IMR-4064 375 2846 41,500 41.5 3175 = 57,500 Varget 36.5 2619 47,500 40.5 2844 = 58,500
Varget Dino 2895 46,000 41.7 3161 58,200 RX15 36.5 2648 48,900 40.5 2875 59,400
RX15 39.0 2905 45,400 43.0 3193 59,000 N150 36.5 2593 48,800 40.5 2799 58,900
N150 39.3 2877 46,100 43.7 3126 = 59,300 Big Game 38.0 2524 44,800 42.0 2821 58,700
AA2700 42.0 2831 43,300 46.5 3116 = 58,600 AA2700 38.7 2472 41,400 43.0 2799 58,900
760 42.7 2886 42,300 47.5 3221 58,500 760 40.5 2603 42,300 45.0 2902 58,000
H-414 44.0 2864 42,600 49.0 3213 59,700 H-414 40.7 2560 41,400 45.2 2892 58,700
IMR-4350 43.7 2766 40,000 475+" 3156) 58,100 IMR-4350 41.0 2589 43,900 45.7 2900 59,100
RX19 45.0 2745 39,300 50.0+ 3106 54,700 RX19 43.0 2594 42,500 47.7+ 2894 56,800
IMR-4831 44.0 2695 37,000 BIO SOD. 55,300 IMR-4831 42.0 2570 41,500 46.5+ 2889 56,600
AA-3100 44.0 2582 35,400 48.0+ 2950 50,600 AA-3100 42.3 2458 39,600 47.0+ 2754 52,900 A9QU
OLC-
IMR-7828 40.5 2288 33,400 45.0+ 2552 43,200
ini ae
ela
140 gr. Jacketed A-Max BC: 550 142 gr. Jacketed HPBT BC: .580
2.785" OAL SD: .287 2.800" OAL SD: .291
Sugg Max Sugg Max
Powder Grains fps PSI. Grains _ fps PSA: Powder Grains fps P.S.I. Grains _ fps P.S.1.
RX15 34.7 2399 45,800 38.5 2635 58,000 Varget 34.5 2457 47,300 38.5 2669 57,400
AA2700 37.8 2383 45,400 42.0 2625 58,400 N540 35.5 3475 46,000 39.5 2712 58,000
760 38.7 2412 42,500 44.0 2714 58,700 N550 Byes, 2469 42,900 41.5 2729. 56,000
H-414 39.0 2413 42,800 43.0 2705 58,100 700 Sie. 2477 45,200 42.0 2718 55,700
RX19 38.3 2295 38,500 42.5+ 2513 46,500 H-414 39.0 2454 42,800 43.5 2755, 59,300
N160 BLD 2315 42,100 41.5+ 2520 50,000 IMR-4350 39.5 2546 49,000 44.0 2760 57,800
Hunter 38.0 2331 43,000 43.0 2631 57,800 N160 40.5 2517. = 45,500 45.0 2763 58,000
IMR-4350 37.5 2298 39,400 41.54 2557 51,200 Hunter 38.0 2410 46,500 42.5 2627 ~—_57,800
IMR-4831 37.5 2263 37,300 + 41.5+ 2500 46,900 N560 42.3 2473 43,100 47.0 2749 56,600
AA-3100 37.0 2131 34,500 41.0+ 2344 42,400 RX19 41.5 2557 ~— 47,200 46.0 2787 —_57,000
IMR-7828 36.0 2006 30,000 40.0+ 2220 36,200 IMR-4831 40.5 2516 45,100 45.0 2767. ~—-57,200
H1000 38.3 2049 31,100 425+ 2229 36,000 H4831SC 42.3 2489 45,600 47.0 L723 DO 200
RX22 43.2 2523) 44,500 48.0+ 2819 58,800
160 gr. Jacketed RN #266469 BG:323

Sugg Max ; Sugg Max
Powder Grains fps P.S.I. Grains _ fps PS.I. _ Powder Grains fps P.S.I. Grains _ fps P.S.I.
N160 JOD 2246 52,600 39.5 2409 58,900 SR-4759 15.0 1633 22,300 24.0 2227 = 55,500
Hunter 351) 2221 47,800 40.0 2450 58,500 AA-5744 17.0 1666 20,600 25.0 2194 39,000
RX19 39.5 2334 47,300 44.0 2561 58,500 IMR-4198 17.0 1641 18,700 28.0 2326 45,900
IMR-4831 38.3 2301 47,400 | 42.5 2513 58,700 RX7 18.0 1651 19,900 27.0 2198 37,900
AA-3100 39.3 2242 47,100 43.7 2466 58,700 IMR-3031 21.5 1661 17,500 30.0 2201 31,900
RX22 41.0 2341. +47,600 45.5 2566 58,300 IMR-4895 22.0 1609 16,300 32.0 2261 34,400
IMR-7828 40.5 2287. +47,100 45.0+ 2514 58,800
H1000 43.0 2310 47,600 | 480+ 2524 59,000

260 Remingt
#266673 BC: .305
150 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.800" OAL SD: .307
Sugg
Powder Grains PS.1.
SR-4759
XMR-5744 21,100
IMR-4198
IMR-3031
IMR-4895 18,200

ba was for many years the least
known of the Mauser military car-
tridges to American shooters. Recent
importation of large numbers of inex-
pensive — and well made — Swedish
Mausers have popularized this fine
old cartridge as never before. The
accuracy of many of these rifles rivals
that of currently produced factory
models. Indeed, most American rifle
manufacturers have added this cham-
bering in the past few years.
Scandinavian hunters have used this
cartridge for many years on game as
large as moose as well as a match car-
tridge. Its combination of excellent
accuracy and low recoil have found
favor with American shooters as well.
The 6.5x55 suffered for many years due to the lack--or
great expense--of factory ammo. Shooters loading for Test Specifications:
the Swede should not under any circumstance attempt
(Velocity Only)
to form brass from 30-06 cases. Case diameter of the BILCAR NY SOUP ges) hones
«eae Swedish Mauser M38
30-06 runs .008” to .010” smaller than the Swedish car- Barrelbengthy cues cas Sten esa. oe ee 24"
tridge. Such reformed cases will bulge dramatically IWISERBRS Siucr Actas ch ee ks oe eee 1-712"
when fired, or worse. GiOOVE: Dias execu ds coscrkn eee eee 264"
All major ammunition manufacturers currently offer
loadings for this caliber as well as bulk brass so such
case forming operations are unnecessary. Although well
made, shooters loading for any of the M94, M96, or
M38 Swedish military rifles should work up loads cau-
tiously, observe for pressure signs, and back off accord-
ingly should any arise. The same warning applies to any
100 gr. Jacketed HP
Norwegian issue Krag-Jorgensen rifle one may be load-
2.850" OAL
ing for. SAAMI established a Maximum Average
Pressure (MAP) of 46,000 CUP in deference to design of Sugg
these older military actions. Powders in the medium to Powder Grains Ds
medium-slow range usually give the best results. IMR- IMR-4895 BRON ia Asya ae
4895 and IMR-4064 usually produce excellent results IMR-4064 oehb) 2654 —
with bullets up to 140-grains. Many surplus rifles show Varget Bou) 2351 —
variation in the groove diameter and the Swedish N150 37.0 2419 an
Mausers are no exception. Shooters should slug their N550 39.5 2399 um
bore and size accordingly. AA2700 41.5 2441 i
H-414 45.0 2724 uae
AA-4350 43.0 2407 ae
RX19 46.0 2612 ey
Test Components:
OB CLS OTT 6 ra ee One aaa Federal
Merete CASINO a pte > aicuegagele < k cteptan's «ees» 2,155"
coppers |e 0 0 ee ee ee Federal 210
a ae ee ete arc Fae ates a ace wei Large Rifle
Sidetae (2.0 (0)(0 re er No. 27
Jacketed Bullets Used ......... Sierra HP #1710, 100 gr.
Hornady SP, #2620, 129 gr.
Sierra HPBT, #1740, 140 gr.
Hornady RN, #2640, 160 gr.
Get BUele SOR Gian eves eae (sized to .264" dia)
*gas check bullets *#266469, 140 gr.
*#266673, 150 gr.
6.5 x 55mm§
120 gr. Jacketed Ballastic Tip 129 gr. jacketed SP BC: .445
3.000" OAL 3.0350 Q0AL SD: .264
Sugg Sugg :
Powder Grains p Powder Grains fps
IMR-4895 37.0 2474 is IMR-4895 35.0 2301
IMR-4064 36.0 2406 = IMR-4064
Varget 35.0 2383 s
N150 36.5 2431 =
N550 39.5 DAG i ae
AA2700 40.0 2413 =
H-414 40.0 2379 Zs
AA-4350 41.5 2374 =
RX19 43.0 2459 ae
140 gr. Jacketed HPBT 160 gr. Jacketed RN BC: .283

3.050" OAL 2.785" OAL SD: 328
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains ps Powder Grains ps
IMR-4895 32.5 2177 _ EAA 984.0 2108) =
IMR-4064 ayeL) 2188 — N160 38.7 2125 —
Varget 35.5 225) — N560 Abbi D062 —
H-414 37.5 22772. — AA-4350 39)) 2065 —
N160 3955 2273 — RX19 38.7 2061 _
N560 42.0 2300 — IMR-483 1 38.7 2100 —
IMR-4350 SYS) 2180 = AA-3100 39.5 2003 _
AA-4350 BIS 2163 — H-4831SC 41.5 2166 —
RX19 40.0 2234 — RX22 AVS 72129
AA-3100 41.0 2162 —
H4831SC 41.5 2258 —
RX22 42.3 2275 —
PEE
P rritiiiitittisome
#266469 #266673 BC: .305

140 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.925" OAL 150 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.025" OAL SD: .307
Sugg Sugg 2 NMax ty aes o
Powder Grains PS.I Powder Grains D PS.I.
AAHS EL ie eee 13.0
2400 TAS 1435 —
SR-4759 13.0 W375. = SR-4759
IMR-4227 17.0 1630 _- IMR-4227
AA-5744 18.5 1674 =
IMR-4198 15.0 1443 —- IMR-4198
RX7 15.0 1425 cee

178 + Designates a compressed powder load.
The 264 Magnum was the smallest
of several belted magnums offered by
Winchester during the late 1950s. The
264 Winchester Magnum has been
regarded by some as ahead of its time.
Most American shooters had known
the 6.5mm bore size only through
ballistically lackluster, foreign military
surplus. Its high velocity and flat tra-
jectory necessitated the 26-inch
barrel of Winchester’s Model 70
Westerner to achieve peak perform-
ance. Factory ammunition utilized a
unique two-step projectile similar in
design to a bore-riding cast bullet.
As with any overbore rifle such as
the 264 Winchester, barrel life is an
issue. The availability of slow-burning
powders for reloading at the time of the 264s introduc-
tion was limited. Fortunately, the current selection of
powder suitable for the 264 Magnum is quite good and
allows the handloader to bring out its full potential.
140 gr. Jacketed SBT
Bullets from after market suppliers are of conventional
3.340" OAL
design and will need to be seated deep in order to clear
the rifling. Sugg
Remington’s introduction of their 7mm Magnum in Powder Grains fps Est
1962 immediately outshone the 264 and it never quite IMR-4831 57.5 2869 ~——-48,500 :
recovered. Shooters loading for the 7mm enjoyed a bet- H-4831SC 58.0 —-2824 47,500 ane _ 54
ter selection of bullets weighing up to 175-grains. RX22 56.0 2770 41,600 SO one ae,
IMR-7828 54.5 2662 38,600 Sines 46,
4
H1000 60.0 2752 44,400

RX25 60.5 2854 45,200
H50BMG 66.5 2734 43,300
AA8700 69.5 Pei 39,400
Test Components:
(SBS SoA ok ee Winchester
TSTETily RST 2 aa 2.490"
Beet iit fortes
<oes Remington 912 Magnum
ne a Ae Me ohio Pn Suis ea ieLarge Rifle
SE asl", lit (6,003) ean ear ea era No. 13
Jacketed Bullets Used ........ Sierra SBT #1730, 140 gr.
Fiera) WEG) a6.cc 55 Melo eee Universal Receiver
Barreengin wise .cite ts. cape. wk tae ene 24"
TRIBE so ooo blevd 510 oR mE ee eee ee
Groover Diam tee yrs ce cie Biase es 264

Remington began development of
the 6.8mm Rem. SPC (Special
Purpose Cartridge) in 2002, and it
was approved by SAAMI in 2004. It
was requested by, and developed
with the assistance of, US Army
Special Forces. The object was to
develop a round that would offer an
increase in lethality, particularly in
the M4 carbine, compared to the
standard 5.56 NATO round. The
6.8mm was originally planned to
have a 115 grain bullet traveling at
2800 fps with 2002 ft-lbs of muzzle
energy. Factory 115 grain ammunition
however has been reduced to 2625
fps with 1759 ft-lbs of muzzle energy.
Remington currently has four loads
available with 115 grain bullets at these specifications.
Hornady currently offers ammunition with a 110 grain
bullet traveling at 2550 fps and having 1588 ft-lbs of
muzzle energy. 90 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .195
In our test shooting, we found that we were not
2.260" OAL SD: .168
quite able to reach 2625 fps with 115 grain bullets and
still stay within the 55,000 psi maximum pressure level Sugg rare
set for this cartridge. When working up loads, approach Powder Grains DS PS.I.
the maximum charge weights with caution. The rela- IMR-4227
tively fast burning powders used in this cartridge will IMR-4198 48,300
jump up in pressure quickly with fairly. small increases.
Powders such as VihtaVuori's N133 and Ramshot's X-
Terminator did well in our testing.
Benchmark 39,900
X-Terminator 27.4
H335
Test Components:
GABOSoe re wage ors Ser ste Ee avalcna = 5s RMN ea Remington
SEIN EOL)StlVata creegeke stcarn ceo mieararsae perored in akepe 1.676"
PMIINENS antares vou oben alera Aue. teat heat si feeRemington 9 1/2
SLs SPielPANS ayeton nen ce tere ee ke Large Rifle
Lyin Shell older ee ae ee ee ae No. 15
Speer HP #1447, 100 gr.
100 gr. Jacketed HP
2.260" OAL
Hornady BTHP #2715, 115 gr.
Sugg
Powder Grains BSI
IMR-4227
IMR-4198 42,700
Test Specifications: 39,000

(Velocity & Pressure) AA-2230 27.0
Pive@atant Sed ditt ents seater
cere Universal Receiver Benchmark 39,300
Barrel eratyaies ccr<(cte, tease nacre ee care int ae 24" X-Terminator 26.0
H335 28.3 2511 40,100
STWiStibe., vesteaRuteecan: ore peeearn eae ated Seesae 1-10"
Groove Diawte ee ere ite ee ae DAE

110 gr. Jacketed V-Max BC: .370 115 gr. Jacketed BTHP
2.260" OAL SD: .205
Su es
Starting Velocity Pressure 88
Starting
:
Velocity
IMR-4198
37,300
Benchmark 41,600
IMR-3031
X-Terminator 25.6
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. F

270 Winchest
er a
The 270 Winchester has become

one of the classic American rifle car-
tridges over the last 75 years. It has
Saeeaee
taken virtually every thin-skinned
game imaginable and provides end-
less debate as one half of the “30-06
Springfield versus 270 Winchester”
argument. Indeed, 270 Winchester — 441 —.310—
dies have consistently been among 1 _Y
the top three in Lyman’s rifle die sales
for many years. Winchester intro-
duced the 270 in 1925 in their Model
54 rifle. The cartridge is essentially a
necked down 30-06 with minor
dimensional changes. The .277”
diameter bullet was entirely new to
the shooting public. Some sources
indicate Winchester may have based
this bullet size on an obscure prototype for a Chinese
military cartridge dating to the turn of the century.
The 270 Winchester has become synonymous with
the late Jack O’Connor of Outdoor Life magazine. His
90 gr. Jacketed HP BC: 195
untiring advocacy of the 270 Winchester loaded with
3.090" OAL SD: .168
130-grain bullets established it as a potent, flat-shooting
cartridge suitable most Noith American hunting situa- Sugg
tions. Properly loaded, the 270 will do much of what Powder Grains fps eu
the 30-06 will do on all but the larger species in North IMR-4064
America. Varget 38,000
RX15
IMR-4350
Test Components: IMR-4831 37,400
(CASCSaee RR re enc eeae sere Winchester
iriipetonuleenethime nt es S orarctnc!. aspen sat eae 25530"
PECTS ae eon Not ONC ae Winchester WLR
Bue OL Ze eh eect to an UE cae ok ieee Large Rifle
BSE
Ceines fe (65 Cen eevee No. 2
Sierra SPT #1810, 110 gr. Bek
Hornady BTSP #2735, 140 gr. 100 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .307
Hornady SP #2740, 150 gr. 3.175" OAL SD: .186
Nosler SP, #16324, 160 gr. Sugg
IMR-4895 46.5 3134 44,600
IMR-4064 46.0 3067 ~—-40,300
Varget 47.5 3071 41,200
IMR-4320 46.0 2976 39,900
RX15 48.0 2991 38,700
H-380 48.0 3086 39,900
Test Specifications: AA2700 50.5 3039 45,200
IMR-4350 50.0 2949 41,100
incarhnnl SCCM er Pites
tar oa Universal Receiver IMR-4831 53.5 2763 ~—-37,000
BanrenUength: owisss 24ers
eee eee 26" H4831 55.0 2702 40,300
I WiStic tute i: nek i ee oe EE etree tee 1-10" **SR-4759 —-23.0 2279 33,900
GrOOVE Dans Pe ae eens ene oe Dig *AA-5744 26.5 2326 31,200

**Designates a reduced load.
110 gr. Jacketed SPT BC; 318 130 gr. Jacketed SBT BC: .436
3.285" OAL SD: .205 3.250" OAL SD: .242
Sugg Sugg Nax :
Powder Grains fps CUP. Powder Grains ps C.U.P.
IMR-4064 = 45.0 2920 40,000 IMR-4064 44.5 2695 39,500
Varget 46.0 2922 40,000 Varget 42.0 2723 41,500
RX15 45.0 2861 38,000 H-380 44.0 ~—-2680_~—-41,100
AA2700 48.0 2881 43,200 H-414 48.5 2726 40,700
H-414 49.2 2833 35,500 IMR-4350 49.0 2654 ~—-38,200
IMR-4350 49.2 2873 38,700 N160 50.0 2652 37,700
IMR-4831 54.0 2846 = 37,500 RX19 48.5 2486 35,000
AA-3100 52.0 2655 36,100 IMR-4831 53.0 2823 ~—-40,800
H4831 54.0 2824 38,600 AA-3100 50.0 2536 ~—-36,300
H4831 52.0 2726 40,200
RX22 51.0 2564 35,600
IMR-7828 53.5 2600 39,200
**SR-4759 24.0 2210 39,000
**AA5744 27.0 2223 35,100
140 gr. Jacketed BTSP BC: .486

3.335" OAL SD: .261
Sugg
Starting Velocity Pressure 150 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .462
Powder Grains p GULP: 3.285" OAL SD: .279
IMR-4064 41.3 2612 39,000
Sugg Ma) :
H-414 46.2 2684 44,200 Starting Velocity Pressure
N160 50.0 2588 38,900 Powder Grains DS C.U.P.
IMR-4350 49.0 2604 38,800 IIMR-4064 - 42.5 2510 41,800
RX19 yee! 2651 40,200 H-380 40.4 2434 41,300
IMR-4831 52.0 2703 39,900 H-414 46.0 2547 44,200
AA-3100 48.8 2453 36,000 N160 48.0 2494 41,600
H-4831 51.0 2603 35,000 IMR-4350 48.0 2524 40,400
RX22 ba 2587 = 37,100 RX19 46.9 2386 36,300
IMR-7828 53.0 2544 37,300 IMR-4831 50.3 2614 42,000
AA-3100 48.0 2354 36,300
H-4831 50.5 2440 39,400
RX22 48.8 2466 36,300
IMR-7828 51.5 2465 38,300
RX25 56.0 2569 39,400

3.340" OAL SD: .298
Sugg
Powder Grains ps CUP:
IMR-4350
IMR-4831 37,000
Komeyay

270 WSM winch
a
ci late Jack O’Connor spent much

of his long career spreading the 6381
gospel of the 270 Winchester in the
pages of Outdoor Life magazine. : |
75550
Along with Weatherby’s 270 Magnum | P2780
developed in 1943, they constituted
the only two factory produced cham-
berings in the .277” bullet size for
many years. Aficionados of the .277”
diameter bullet now have their own
Short Magnum cartridge. U.S.
Repeating Arms/Winchester intro-
1.8235 ——
duced the 270 WSM in 2002 as the
first new factory offering in the 270 ——_—___—__ 2.100
caliber in nearly 60 years and the first 2.860
designed for a short action. The 270
WSM is a necked down version of the
300 WSM sharing its 35-degree
shoulder and 2.100” length. Ballistic performance of
the WSM tops the time-proven 270 Winchester by
around 200 feet per second and is about on par to that
of the 270 Weatherby Magnum. The overall length of
many premium bullets may require that they be seated
2.700" OAL SD: .114
deeper into the case than they would be in a longer
action. Unfortunately, the configuration of Lyman’s cur- Su 88
rent 270 caliber cast bullet prevented its use in the Powder Grains fps P.S.1.
WSM. Powders that gave best results in laboratory tests IMR-4350 66.5 3544 50,900
included Alliant’s Reloder 19 and Reloder 22, IMR- Hunter 64.3 3475 50,000
7828, and VihtaVuori N165. RX19 71.0 3545 51,900
Test Components:
ASE eer, ea cts aCiti 4k eS Winchester
AO MCIISU NM wetter sc curd wk sever cia omc ate2.090"
PANICIS MIEN ae ele cc tee oes dae mesWinchester WLRM
PELAGI IO(ZO wees Sim crade.chsecre eLarge Rifle Magnum
ran onolMidtOlGhesc. <a. 5. Geekeee No. 34
Jacketed Bullets Used .......... Sierra HP #1800, 90 gr. 110 gr. Jacketed SPT BC: .318
2.750" OAL SD: .205
Speer Grand Slam #1465, 130 gr. Su 88
Swift Scirocco, 130 gr. Starting Velocity Pressure
3316 56,800
IMR-4350 3274 52,000
Nosler SP #16324, 160 gr.
N160 3378 59,000
Hunter 47,800
RX19 52,700
PIRGATTINUMISEG toe vo aawtesetouticaca.
Aeotcae Universal Receiver
BAINES CINE sees cet ict eolessne caters a Ae gene 24"
BIWWSlietrt cate No teeee eens ties Aun eceerige Ione Eeeeee 1-10"
GhOOVEID IA Oe a eee Oe ne eee DHE

um) 270 WSM
130 gr. Jacketed GSSP BC: 345 130 gr. Jacketed Scirocco BC: .450
2.765" OAL SD: .241 2.860" OAL SD: .242
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains Ds ESI Powder Grains ps P.S.I.
760 56.5 2977 53,500
H414 57.0 2979 53,300
IMR-4350 59.5 3074 54,700
IMR-4831 63.0 3105 54,000
H-4831 64.0 3054 55,900
RX22 64.5 3196 58,000
Magnum 68.0 2896 49,600
MagPro 69.5 3133 53,000
140 gr. Jacketed BTSP BC: .486 150 gr. Barnes TSX BC: .386
2.785" OAL SD: .261 2.860" OAL SDE279
Sugg
Sugg M TOTS
Powder Grains fps BS: Powder Grains DS P.S.I.
H414 54.5 2880 53,000
IMR-4350 58.5 2992 ~—-54,400 IMR-7828
IMR-4831 58.0 —-2954-——52,900
AA-3100 61.5. ——-2953.-——‘52,800 MagPro
RX22 60.0 3021 55,100 N165
IMR-7828 60.5 2966 53,000
N165 61.5 2998 56,300 Magnum
RX25 64.0 2960 51,600 Retumbo
MagPro 65.5 2925 48,300
Retumbo 68.0 2984 52,300
Magnum 66.5 2770 47,600
150 gr. Jacketed RN BC: .269 160 gr. Jacketed SP BC: 434
2.775" OAL SD: .279 2.830" OAL SD: .298
Sugg Sugg Max ii Re
Powder Grains DS PS.I. Powder Grains Ds P.S.1.
H414 55.0 2846 56,700
IMR-4831 58.0 2887 54,900 54,800
RX22 59 2944 56,500
N165 61.5 2894 56,100
IMR-7828 61.5 2900 53,600
RX25 65.0 2961 55,700 MagPro
MagPro 64.5 2896 53,200 Retumbo
H1000 67.0 2868 _ 53,800
Magnum 64.8 2703 48,000

Roy Weatherby developed his 270
Magnum as the first in his long and
distinguished line of high velocity rifle
cartridges in 1943. Based on a blown
out 300 Holland and Holland case, its
instantly recognizable double radius
shoulder became the trademark of all
future Weatherby designs. This was
for many years the last word in high
performance in the .277 bore size giv-
ing on average, some 200 feet per
second over the 270 Winchester.
1.793
Winchester’s recent introduction of
their 270 WSM however has given the
Weatherby some competition. This
cartridge works best with slower pow-
ders. IMR-7828 and H-1000 gave
good results in our tests although H-
4831 is a longtime favorite. Weatherby recommends
exclusive use of the Federal 215 Magnum primers for
use with all jacketed bullets. Shooters loading cast bul-
lets should use standard primers. This data is intended
130 gr. Jacketed GSSP BC: 345
for commercially produced and chambered rifles. This
3210" OAL SD: .242
data is not for use in custom guns that may lack the free
bore found in standard Weatherby chambers. Sugg ; Bae ;
Powder Grains fp
IMR-4831 65.5
66.5
68.5
IMR-7828 67.5
Test Components: 72.0
Os cae Oe ace oe asperans os ease cmeFederal
“DELTRCoy(EFS PR ss Sateen ae ncn ee ee ne 2.540"
PimiCis wr mp tec Oats Seve oot Federal 215 Magnum
PMU eteIL teats cn ceranrs oe ane ce ogmane ae ree Large Rifle
AW ae ecu [lela (8)(6(2)et eeets Poa ee No. 13
Jacketed Bullets Used . Speer Grand Slam #1465, 130 gr.
Barnes X #27735, 150 gr.
Nosler Partition #16324, 160 gr. 140 gr. Jacketed BTSP
3.240" OAL
Sugg
Powder Grains s
IMR-4831 62.5 2897
IMR-7828
(Velocity Only)
PICA TIHSER Se eta eee ns tsane te eee Weatherby Mk V
Pail enethiae wa sweet cite scene. sere aren ren tte.26"
TMi tePeer peep erect <hr tant .te Any Pe Rei ge 1-10"
GiGOve Dinwe mre oe ee ee ee a 277"

150 gr. Barnes X BC: .491 160 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .434
3.250" OAL SD: .279 3.250" OAL SD: .298
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains fps Powder Grains fps
IMR-4831 62.5 IMR-4831
RX22
IMR-7828 IMR-7828 -
H1000 67) e216) mee

187
7-30 Waters —
Attempts to improve the ballistics of
the 30-30 over the years resulted in
various "Improved" or wildcat cham-
berings. Gunwriter Ken Waters devel-
oped this cartridge during the 1970's
to give shooters of lever-action, tubu-
lar magazine rifles a flatter shooting,
higher velocity cartridge than what
was generally available. The 7-30 is
basically a necked down and blown
out 30-30 Winchester featuring a
shorter neck and approximately five
percent more powder capacity. U.S.
Repeating Arms commenced produc-
tion of Model 94 rifles chambered for
the Waters in 1983. As the only tubu-
lar magazine rifle built for .284" diam-
eter bullets, bullet selection has been
rather limited through the years. The Speer 130 gr. FN
bullet shown in our data is one of the few that is still
available. Both the Nosler and Hornady bullets shown
in our data have been discontinued, but were left in this
120 gr. Jacketed FP BC: 195
edition for any old stock that may be on hand. Shooters
2.530" OAL SD: .213
can expect an 80 to 100 foot per second increase in
velocity over the listed data if a 24" barrel is used. In Su 88 /
addition to our accuracy loads, IMR-3031 and 748 will Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
often give good results with jacketed bullets. Caution: IMR-3031 24,200
Never use pointed bullets in rifles built with tubular IMR-4895
magazines. (Data for the single shot Contender or H-335
Encore handgun using pointed bullets appears later in BL-C (2) 26,500
this book.) 28,000
29,400
Test Components:
Gacesty Petes, PAE... SOUR. ck AT, Dae Weare Federal
intantO" Lengtn’ 3) .cc,oa 5 ete ae Be eee us 2.030"
PAO
le Chee te rae E RE emaninan Soe em res Gano CEl200
PRIGCN SIZe arta hho ta ten Pe eet Large Rifle
ivnanionell Holdetee onsrrc ehanantes wrcnutru koe No. 6
Jacketed Bullets Used ....... Nosler FP #28121, 120 gr.
Speer FN #1625, 130 gr. 130 gr. Jacketed FN BC: .257
Hornady FP #2822, 139 gr. 2.500" OAL SD: .230
@asuBulletsiUsediee ate eee ee(sized to .285" dia) Sugg
*gas check bullet *#287346, 135 gr. Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps PS.I.
IMR-3031
IMR-4895 28,700
H335 29.7 25,700
BL-C(2) 28,500
26,100
AleeeinenUSoN esBae ad eee tech cade Universal Receiver
Balter Benotiiauon stcocnrep mentite
toeee trai e a tne20"
TVS teres He eRe Sn Ne de Mee wae reg eA eetr 1-9.9"
GTOOVE: [Dia aa eee tee ane ne een eae ee 284"

7-30 Waters
(Ga Oe kk
A ior
55 BE HIN I I
139 gr. Jacketed FP BC: .196 #287346 BC: .235

2.545" OAL SD: .246 135 gr. (#2Alloy) 2.475" OAL SD: .239
Sugg Sugg
IMR-3031 SR-4759
IMR-4895 25,000
H-335
BL-C (2) IMR-3031 16,800
27,500
28,500

7mm-08 Re
iAe cartridge was designed to fill a
need for silhouette shooting. It is a .4540
054
necked down version of the 308 and
has the advantage of less recoil as 3150 .3150
compared to its parent round. The
7mm-08 ranks right near the top eae
among deer hunting cartridges. It has 473 .2845
a flat trajectory and great accuracy. It
is somewhat handicapped with the
heavier bullets due to the short maga-
zines used in rifles chambered for this 200
round. 1.5598
The factory ammo we_ have
1.7508
looked at was loaded with a Ball
2.035
Powder that was just a tad faster burn-
ing than Winchester 760. Thus, 760 is 2.800
as close as possible to duplicating fac-
tory specs. Nonetheless best accuracy
often occurs with all weight bullets when using
Hodgdon H380. Second choice would be IMR 4350
but this will mean the inconvenience of compressed
powder loads. 120 gr. Jacketed SPT BC: .328
2.790" OAL SD: .213
Sugg
Starting Velocity Pressure —
Powder Grains p C.U.P.
Lettie!Sheil ayi age ee ae OP REED ee Remington

IMR-4064 37,000
iiiseOnlenicuitsce eine Secs te ene acme ae 2025"
IMR-4895
6 FUE Sl hogs egeee eRe ee Reg: bate aeieke Remington 91/2
Piet SIZep Arica cena no. ss peds rte oe Oe Large Rifle
ETN GS!O21 Ale(0)(6 esee Ae ee eo ee ee ee No. 2
Jacketed Bullets Used ........ Sierra SPT #1900, 120 gr.
Speer Grand Slam #1643, 175 gr. 139 gr. Jacketed SP BC: 392
@asibillets sedi... acne een (sized to .284" dia) 2.750" OAL SD: .246
*pas check bullet *#287346, 135 gr. Sugg | -
*#287641, 160 er. Starting Velocity Pressure —
Powder Grains Ds CUR
IMR-3031 37.5 2564 39,000
AA2460 37.0 2433 36,700
748 41.5 2591 38,200
IMR-4895 38.7 2534 36,100
IMR-4320 37.5 2381 33,500
RX15 37.3 2467 35,400
Eireann SGC meer ate cite ae rack ore Universal Receiver
H-380 41.7 2513 +36,200
Bante Menathis ct vat-ch ets my ir Sod Seine een eee ee 24"
760 43.0 2500 34,900
AWWiSCE Ree re cath Oe IO Acne ora 1-91"
GiGOVEsD aa eee irs coe er es eee! 284"
H-414 42.3 2516 33,500
IMR-4350 45.0 2600 39,400
RX19 46.0 2512 37,500
*SR-4759 20.0 1879 33,700
**AA-5744 23.0 1904 30,700

nm-08 Remington
154 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .433 162 gr. jacketed BTSP BC: 514
2.800" OAL SD: .273 2.800" OAL SD: .287
Sugg . Max Sugg Max
Powder Grains fps C.ULP. Grains _ fps C.U.P. * Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains _fps C.U.P.
IMR-3031 34.3 2335 34,000 S90 ess a7 200) IMR-3031 34.3 2339 35,700 (SOQ oat ot sn0
AA-2460__ 35.3 2262 38,500 (RMGIS250a 51100 AA2460 33.3 2181 37,000 (eager
IMR-4895 37.0 2371 37,200 ~~ 40.0 ~—s-2644~—s- 49,500 IMR-4895 36.5 2350 37,500 39.5 ~—-2604 ~—-50,000
IMR-4064 36.7 2388 36,300 += 41.8+ 2702 51,600 IMR-4064 35.5 2317, 35,000 ~—s 40.5 + ~—«2626 ~—-49,700
IMR-4320 36.5 2315 37,000 AN er 2641 50,100 IMR-4320 36.0 2301 36,200 er 20
RX15 38.7 2478 40,800 42.0 2736 _51,000 RX15 38.5 2421 __ 39,100 _ Eee OU
H-380 38.5 2388 38,300 = 43.8 +~—«-2668 ~—51,000 H-380 38.7 2325. 35,800 ae 9 9627) S000
760 40.5 _—-2315 ~—«33,300 emerge een aan 760 41.8 2395 37,200 455+ 2663 49,400
H-414 40.5 2357___—34,800 AGG a7at We at oo H-414 40.0 2312 34,500 SA e775 a0
IMR-4350 39.5 2324 35,000 450+ 2622 46,900 IMR-4350 39.5 2343. 36,000 ~~45.0+ 2622 47,300
RX19 44.0 2394 37,800 49.54 2676 ~—_-47,400 RX19 42.0 2264 34,800 | 49.04 —2702 50/200 pe :
**SR-4759 22.0 1910 40,900 2S i sc aan :
**AA-5744 24.0 1911 33,000 AS Cy
me
@
168 gr. Jacketed HPBT BC: .494 175 gr. jacketed GSSP BC: .465 ee
2.800" OAL SD: .298 2758 OAL SD: .310
Sugg Max Sugg Max
Powder Grains ips) CUP. Grains fps CUP. Powder Grains fps C.U.P. _ Grains CUR
IMR-3031 33.5 2290 36,500 38.2 2575 _51,500 IMR-3031 32.3 2112. 37,200. ee aed te
AA2460 35.0 2347 41,200 38.0 2607 _~—d551,900 AA2460 31.0 1997 39,800 | 37.3. —«-2323_~——«51,300
IMR-4895 34.2 2306 39,200 += 38.9 2555 ‘51,300 IMR-4895_ 34.3 2207. 40,300 39.0 ~—-2473~——«50,600
IMR-4064 35.6 2339 39,600 ~—-40.5+ 2605 51,800 IMR-4064 35.5 2260 41,900 39.2 «2487 ~—«51, 400
IMR-4320 34.7 2251 37,300 39 2a1O ee 49,100 IMR-4320 34.3 2171 40,200 BO aoe Sr ao
RX15 ao 2361 38,100 «40.5 «2628 ~—«51,700 RX15 36.2 2275 40,900 ~~ 40.0 + ~—-2476 ~—50,900
H-380 38.2 2256 37,000 —43.5+ 2555 51,600 H-380 35.8. 2103 38,000. ee te oe
760 39.5 2280 36,200 43.5 _—2632_~—_—«51,800 760 38.5 2208 37,500 43.8 2485 48,500
H-414 39.0 2287 ~—-36,800 ~—44.5 2628 ~—«51,900 H-414 39.0. 2301. 38,000 ea oe aad
IMR-4350 39.5 2357 38,300 ~—-45.0+ 2605 _50,700 IMR-4350___-38.7 2251 39,000 ~——44.0+ 2529 ~—_—-51,300
RX19 43.0 2467 42,500 480+ 2718 52,000 RX19 40.3 2191 38,700 47.0+ 2539 51,400
#287346 BC: .235 #287641 BC: .382

135 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.600" OAL SD: .239 160 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.705" OAL SD: .283
Sugg
Max
Load Velocity Pressure
Sugg
Licey eae
Powder Grains fps CUP. Grains _fps C.U.P. Powder Grains _ fps C.U.P. Grains _ fps CUP
ISR-4759_——-15.3 1529 13,300 [Ae ioene es Unique 12.0 1497 24,000 FAVS oa eo ite
IMR-4227 15.8 1584 14,600 24.0 2183 34,400 _ ” SR-4759 20.7 1761 21,500 | 260 2154 45,100
IMR-4198 16.8 1546 11,500 25.5 2161 __—:32,300 IMR-4227_ 21.0 1748 20,800 | -27.0 2105 38,500
AA-5744 16.5 1558 12,600 25.0 2128 32,200 IMR-4198 23.0 1805 19,500 | 29.5 2181 36,100
RX7 17.4 1559 12,200 aioe ee ce AA-5744_18.0 1601 25,000 +=.26.0 ~=—.2108 ~——36,400
IMR-3031 19.8 1495 10,900 30.0__—-2171_—«27,300 RX7 22.0 1716 18,200 [ea ieegnn as ane
748 HA Wise. 9600 32.0 2179 28,000__ IMR-3031 28.7 1906 18,800 __33.0_-2238_32,000
AA2015 1302 2060 26,900 340 2332 47 0007)
H-335 515 1999 23,800 AS36.0a ~=—-ee
2266Oe ~— 34,400
ae
IMR-4895 29.5 1871 19,200 3} 2296 36,000
748 345.1949 20,000 BG 3906 33 500)
The 7x57mm Mauser enjoys a
longevity that few rifle cartridges can
match. The 7mm Mauser made its
name on both the battlefields and
hunting grounds around the world.
Even though it is one of the earliest
smokeless cartridges, it’s outlasted
almost all of its contemporaries and is
still popular after 110 years. This car-
tridge first earned its reputation in the
hands of Spanish forces in Cuba dur-
ing the Spanish-American War in
1898. Its range, flat trajectory, and
rapid rate of fire from the clip-fed
Mauser Model 93 rifle was an
unpleasant surprise for American
troops armed with the archaic
Trapdoor Springfield chambered in
45-70. This harrowing experience helped lead to adap-
tation of the M1903 Springfield and the 30-06 cartridge Test Specifications:
several years later. (Velocity & Pressure)
Military sales of rifles chambered in the 7x57 were Firearm: USedn mate tae re hee rae Mauser 95
wide spread, particularly in Central and South America. Universal Receiver
As a result, it has been one of the most popular—and Barrell RST -ic/nun Soape ated ne tare eae ee Mauser 29"
useful—of the military cartridges on the surplus market. Universal Receiver 24"
The original military load consisted of a 173-grain bul- TWASC ech wires Be eae Eo aus cet ce ee Mauser 1-10"
let with a muzzle velocity of approximately 2,300 feet Universal Receiver 1-8/4"
per second. Several other military loads featuring lighter CGorOOVe: Dilale seater
oko tag ee ee Mauser .2865"
bullets at higher velocities also appeared. The 7x57 Universal Receiver .284"
loaded with 175-grain bullets became legendary as a
hunting cartridge and eventually served as the parent
case for the 257 Roberts. Rifles chambered for this car-
tridge often have a relatively fast twist, usually around 1
in 8 1/2.” In light of this, shooters may not always get
the best results with lighter weight bullets. IMR-4350
has long been a favorite for loading the 7x57. SAAMI
established the Maximum Average Pressure (MAP) of 120 gr. Jacketed SPT
46,000 CUP due to the large numbers of rifles in circu- 2.945" OAL
lation built upon the older M93 and M95 style actions. Su 88
Most American manufacturers have produced rifles Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps CUR:
chambered in 7x57 in recent years while loaded ammo IMR-3031 39.0 2717 —
and bulk brass is in ample supply. As with most any for- H-335 sys} 2693 39,100
eign military surplus, a variation in groove diameters BL-C(2) 41.0 2688 —
can be expected. Shooters should slug their bore and IMR-4895 41.0 2824 —
size cast bullets accordingly. Cast bullet # 287641 has IMR-4064 41.0 2770 —
produced excellent results in our testing. Varget 39.5 2661 32,630
IMR-4320. 42.0 2816
H-380 43.0 2652 ae
Test Components: 760 46.7 2669 34,700
(BAC Soe eS PRE an oo siree Ayasigtee Winchester IMR-4350 45.0 2652 as
ARUN AOMEN
ION Ne Sake hone
te eats eee 2225" H-4831 50.0 2666 =
PLINGTS aoe ite as aro ered oe Winchester WLR
PRRITIGESIZe nae remit.ote chan eae eae Large Rifle
Lyman SneinMoWertcn. ot sca s.che alnrcentne
alan.No. 2
Sierra, HPBT #1915, 150 gr.
Speer Grand Slam #1643, 175 gr.
Cast Bullets Used: 2.2.36 enone (sized to .284" dia) Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum.
*gas check bullet *#287641, 160 gr. Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate load.
m 7mm Mauser
139 gr. Jacketed SP BCT .392 150 gr. Jacketed HPBT
2.970" OAL SD: .246 3.025" OAL
Sugg Max Sugg Max
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains _ fps C.U.P. Powder —_Grrains fps C.U.P, Grains _fps C.U.P.
H-335 36.0 2457 37,200 |)405° 2687 45,300 IMR-4895 32.0 2331 34,000 36.0 = 2619 45,500
BL-C(2) 39.0 2427 ae 430° 2695 IMR-4064 36.0 2381 Ss ——S (Fe
IMR-4895 34.5 2420 32,800 380 2724 44,800 Varget 345 2370 35,000 ae pela as 1008
IMR-4064 39.0 2557 a 43.0 2824 pee AA-2520 29.0 1894 31,200 38.4 «=.2418 44,300
Varget 36.0 —-2432-—Ss 33,000 +=
«40.5 +2741 :~=—«43,700 IMR-4320 37.5 —-2334.—-33,300 = 41.5 2555 40,900
AA2520 31.4 2050 32,700 42.0 2605 44,500 N150 38.7 2342 35,200 43.0 +2576 +=45,100
IMR-4320 41.0 2666 = 45.0 2898 Sa 760 413-2300 34,300 A664 43000
H-380 41.0 2525 — —enres Ss H-414 41.5 2316 29,700 46.0 2590 42,200
N150 39.0 2444 32,600 44.0 2703 42,800 IMR-4350, 420° 2407
760 44.0 2430 32,700 49.0 2721 39,700 RX19 «43.5 2202-—31,600 48.7 ~—«-2529 44,900
IMR-4350 43.0 2475 — «=e: a H4831 48.0. 2538 =
RX19 41.0 2040 31,000 50.8+ 2681 45,400 RX22. 45.0 2119 28,600 500+ +2478 ~—-43,200
H-4831 49.0 2583 = 53.5+ 2816 en
RX22 44.8 2180 32,700 548+ 2796 45,700
A9Qu
8z
162 gr. Jacketed BTSP 3.050" OAL SD: .298
3.037" OAL Sugg Max
Sugg Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains _ fps C.U.P.
Starting Velocity Pressure IMR-4064 35.9 2327 24600 40.8 2531 45,000
IMR-4064 36.3 2358 = 35,000 41.3. = -2597_—«44,200 Varget 33.5 2253 35,500 | 37.0 2498 44,500
IMR-4320. 35.0 2178 «32,300 § 398-9) 2475 45 400”
Varget 38:9 2281 34,500 37.55 2514 44,400
H-414 38.0 2179 29,200 425 2484 43,500
AA-2520 33.5 «2185 30,900 37.5 2415 «42,200 N160 43.0 2201 +=«-31,200+= 48.0 +=2509 += 44,200
IMR-4320 35.5 2181 +~—«:32,800 | 40.5 2498 42,800 IMR-4350 39.0 2199 31,300 444 2537 44,900
H-380 36.0 2236 + 33,800 ~—40.5 2446 43,000 RX19 38.0 1940 32,700 47.0+ 2460 45,100.
760 40.0 2272 30,500 | 45.5 2560 44,800 AA-3100 38.2 1859 32,000 47.8+ +2427 45,300
H-414 39.5 2296 32,900 44.0 2551 44,500 H-4831 422" 2165 29,800 AROE 9435 3G400|
N160 40.8 2258 30,900 48.7 «2563 43,000 RX22 40.2 2017 «32,500 AO Nzaa7 easiaog
IMR-4350 39.4 2188 -~—29,200 44.8 = 2564 44,700
RX19 42.7 2234 ~=—-31,400 47.5 2543 44,800
H-4831 44.0 1905 24,600 —48.0+ +2560 44,900
RX22 45.5 2158 28,300 49.5+ 2492 43,600
=r
#287641 BC; .382
175 gr. Jacketed GSSP BC: .465 160 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.900" OAL SD: .283
2.935" OAL SD: .310
Sugg Max
Sugg Max , Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure
Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure Powder Grains _fps CUP Grains fps C.U.P.
Powder Grains fps C.U.P._—_ Grains
SCs
C.U.P. “Unique 9.7 *1258__-20,500_ 14.2 1625 33,400.
IMR4064 9502178 SR-7625 _10.0___*1153__20,200.7__1351__28,100_
H-380 39.0 2320 = 43.0 2500 =
SR-4759 19.7 1581 20,500 | 24071919 35,200
39.0 2169 33,000 44.5 2478 45,700
760 IMR-4227 22.0 1723 __-22,700 27.0 2066 _ 38,600
H-414 39.0 2165 32,500 44.4 2465 44,300 AA-5744 20.0 ~—'1672,— 21,600 29.0 2268 ~—45,500
iIMR43500 410. 2079 — a AA-1680 23.2 1686 23,100 += 30.0 «2094 38,200
AA3100 38.0 1854 31,200 47.6+ 2365 45,000 RX A 1647 21,900 eg care
H-4831 415 2134 31400 460 2403 41,600_ IMR-3031 27.0 1687 20,500 34.8 +=.2195 32,600
RX22 38.6 1948 33,000 48.64 2473 45,800 AA-2230 29.4 —-'1832—-23,600 agree atoa
IMR-7828 44.0 2107 «31,300 + 48.0+ 2398 += 43,700 748 ~ 33.5 «1869-22800 += 37.0 «2104 ~—«32,700

284 Winche:
like 284 Winchester was a departure
in cartridge design for American
shooters. Its rebated rim, larger diam- 475
eter body, and 35-degree shoulder |.320 .320
were designed to obtain greater ballis-
tics than previously possible with a
short action cartridge while using a
standard bolt face. Winchester intro-
duced the cartridge in 1963 in their
Models 88 and 100 rifles while a few
other manufacturers offered it at dif-
ferent times. Winchester currently lists
a 150-grain factory loading although
the 284 is pretty much extinct as a
commercial cartridge. However, the
idea of rebated rims lives on through
the current trend of the Remington
Ultra Mag and Winchester Short
Magnum families. The 284 is presently most notable as
the basis of the 475 Wildey pistol cartridge, the 6.5x284
Norma, and a few other wildcats popular among the ays
varmint and long-range shooting fraternity. 120 gr. Jacketed SPT BC: .328
2.800" OAL SD: .213
Sugg
Starting Velocity
Powder Grains p
IMR-3031 41.0 2645
Test Components: IMR-4895 42.0 2544
IMR-4064 44.0 2660 ae
CERES ed Se as eel ee fopacirns Winchester
IMR-4320 44.0 2610
Wii 1OWONG creek: Seater Ae en acer 2168:
Rinne te erere te ees. Se eee Winchester WLR H-380 47.0 2590
PRIN (e ZO eerie ota Ann cw aati Ue cea tas Large Rifle IMR-4350 51.0 2710
EVEAlbonelOlGChater oe sa = crs oo serene No. 2 RX19 52.5 2738
Jacketed Bullets Used ........ Sierra SPT #1900, 120 gr. AA-3100 53.0 2660
H-4831 53.0 2557
Cast Bullets WISed meee Gand
a eek (sized to .284" dia)
*gas check bullet *#287346, 135 gr.
139 gr. Jacketed SP

Test Specifications: 2.800" OAL
(Velocity & Pressure) Sugg
Starting Velocity Pressure — Load
Pilea lisedite ee teem
rec oes Winchester Model 88, Powder Grains fp CUP. |
Universal Receiver IMR-3031 40.0 2525
Bancrrenalieneemenet 1 te en: tere a el 2 IMR-4895 41.0 2427
ARIS Roa & See es, Sh Re te, AEE RRC ee eee 1-10" IMR-4064 42.0 2506
GO@VEYD aye eee ee ee olarn ee eeeens 284" IMR-4320 42.0 2444
H-380 47.0 2613
IMR-4350 50.0 2617
RX19 49.5 2533
AA-3100 50.5 2441
H-4831 52.0 2444

GEXECGRES RAID
150 gr. Jacketed SBT BC: .436 #287346

Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains 0 C.U.P. Powder Grains p C.U.P.
IMR-3031 37.0 2298 — SR-4759
IMR-4895 40.0 2488 42,100 AA-5744
IMR-4064 41.0 2487 = IMR-4198
IMR-4320 41.0 2525 44,900
H-380 —_ 43.0 2506 46,100
IMR-4350 49.0 2610 —
RX19 48.5 2548 42,100
AA-3100 48.5 2373 40,100
H-4831 51.0 2439 —
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. oe

This cartridge started life as the 280
Remington. When it proved less than
popular it was subjected to a name
change - 7mm Express Remington.
With the name change came some
modifications of the factory loads.
Eventually, Remington went back to
the original designation.
Ballistically the 280 fills a very
narrow gap between the 30-06
Springfield and the 270 Winchester. It
seems best with bullets of about 160
to 162 grains, though it does well with
a wide range of weights.
Hodgdon H4831 is particularly
well suited to balancing uniform bal-
listics and accuracy in this cartridge.
IMR 4350 is also a fine performer with
this round.

3.237" OAL SD: .213
Test Components: Su 8s Aa» eer ks
OASES ee i A Mie nic dort Ont ete Remington Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
inte rehietla aint 2 oeroh a! Foes tage ca hea 2530" IMR-4064
EIUMMiS Meni Hee aii rad fant n.g aha rat Remington 91/2 Varget
PUI SZ me Ses kes, sara a Sloe wis neho Meee peewee Large Rifle
Lyman Shell Holders. cce esc eeale At NORIO No. 2
Jacketed Bullets Used ........ Sierra SPT #1900, 120 gr. IMR-4350
Coc Bullets Sed: 2.12 «3.4 aoe ee(sized to .284" dia)
*#287641, 160 gr.

3.270" OAL SD: .246
Su 88 Ma
Test Specifications: Powder
Starting
Grains
Velocity
fps
Pressure
C.U.P.
(Velocity & Pressure) IMR-4064
RHCATITEWISCO boo esa tates Remington Model 700, Varget 38,300
Universal Receiver RX15, 43.0 2526 40,000
Pane MECKP oo cdots ati ena acs eae on Model 700 22", H-414 34,800
Universal Receiver 24" IMR-4350
WISH eter reas Oe aoe ah Oe ee 1-91/2"
GhOOVEID anor han eRe ee Oe re rene 284"

150 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .456 162 gr. Jacketed BTSP BC: 514
3.280" OAL SD: .266 3.320" OAL SD: .287
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains S CUR. Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
IMR-4064 43.0 IMR-4064 41.0 2426 38,000)
35,200
H-414
IMR-4350
IMR-4350 46.0 2480
AA-3100 50.5 2473
H-4831 51.0 2550
168 gr. Jacketed HPBT BC: .494 175 gr. Jacketed GSSP BC: .465
3.290" OAL SD: .298 3.300" OAL SD: .310
Sugg Sugg ms
Powder Grains fps CUP. Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
IMR-4064 40.0 2345 37,800 IMR-4064 40.0 2252
Varget 39.0 2280 37,800
760 44.0 2365 _ 39,200
H-414 43.5 DES 37,700
IMR-4350 = 46.0 2451 38,700 IMR-4350
RX19 45.5 2375 38,000
AA-3100 46.0 2298 37,300
H-4831 47.5 2338 36,000
RX22 47.0 2402 38,300
#287346 BC: .235 #287641 BC: 382

135 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.176" OAL SD: .239 160 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.205” OAL SD: .283
Su 88 Sugg
» Unique 15.5. 1596 |
AA-5744 SR-7625 13.0
SR-4756
RX7 SR-4759
IMR-3031_ AA-1680
748 Bio 2188 IMR-3031
IMR-4895 AA-2015
748
IMR-4895

Dc is easily the third most popular
big game cartridge in this country. It
started with the need for a cartridge
with more punch than the 30-06 but
not more recoil.
The 7mm Remington Magnum
has been used to take every big game
animal that walks on this continent. It
really peaks out however with game
as large as elk, although some would
disagree. Bullets of 160 to 175 grains
are best when the game gets tough.
Magnum primers and slow burn-
ing propellants such as Hodgdon
H4831 and IMR 7828 are naturals for
this application. Hercules Reloder 22
would also be a good choice.
Cast bullets need to be kept under
1800 fps for acceptable accuracy.
Pane ey
'
Feu
fires+ oe

Test Components: 3.290" OAL
CLES eo a5 9 baie 6 OO Ae ee ene Remington Sugg
SAISON eccreche ache Sth Oe pa teens ele ane ane 2.490" Starting Velocity Pressure
MULE Re 6 oa 5G a Remington 912M Powder Grains p P.S.1.
REliieh oI Zena eects. te. 5:oe Large Rifle Magnum IMR-4064 BERS 3037 45,900
LAI OIE IIEIONCET ByAeteuivravn 51s de veyact aed r weagege ne No. 13 H-414 57.0 2938 44,600
Jacketed Bullets Used ..Hornady V-Max #22810, 120 gr. N160 61.0 3013 47,400
Speer SP #1623, 130 gr. IMR-4350 61.0 2990 44,300
_ Nosler SP #16325, 140 gr. Hunter 63.0 3095 47,900
Comb. Tech. Bal. Silvertip #51110, 150 gr. AA-3100 63.5 2929 43,900
Hornady SP #2830, 154 gr. H-4831 65.5 2957. 43,600
Swift A-Frame, 160 gr. RX22 66.0 2990 43,700
Sierra HPBT #1930, 168 gr. IMR-7828 65.0 2927 43,000
Speer Grand Slam #1643, 175 gr. H-1000 70.0 3011 44,500
GastiBulletsiW secre ree. (sized to .284" dia)

3.235" OAL
FCN SOC street cin.5 crake: cece tae Universal Receiver Sugg
Barrelmdtengtina erries « 4... sce 5s oad eee 24" (PSI), Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps
WON, ee Tt a as «SURI See: «eee 26" (CUP) IMR-4064 53.0 2914 42,400
nLWiStipermeereee toe barra as tes oa non Seema eR Re 1-91." H-414 56.0 2859 47,000
EYOOVOSDIAE Stes efee ak ops Adee Aen aes Ea 284" N160 57.0 2909 52,300
IMR-4350 58.5 2946 49,400
Hunter 62.0 3015 51,200
AA-3100 62.0 2902 48,600
H-4831 64.0 2887 38,600
RX22 65.0 2992 48,000
IMR-7828 64.5 2941. 47,800
H-1000 68.5 2996 49,800

198 In pressure column, C=Copper Units of Pressure (CUP); P=Pounds per Square Inch (PSI)
140 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .434 150 gr. Jacketed Silvertip BC: .493
3.290" OAL SD: .248 3.290" OAL SD: .266
Sugg Max Sugg
Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure Starting Neoaty Pressure er Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps Grains Powder Grains fps Grains fps _ ,
IMR-4064 46.3 2674 37,700 54.5. 93038 51,700 C H-414 54.02639 44,400 60.0 +—-2940 «60,000
H-414 49.5 2702 39,100 58.0
| 3017 51,500C Ni60 54.0 2642 44,200 + -60.6
+=:2918 ~—«59,100
Ni60 55.0 2788 49,800 ~— 61.0 2993 58,400P IMR-4350 57.5 2700 ~—-45,000 += 64.0 «3013= «59,800
IMR-4350 58.0 2842 42,400 660
| 3133 52,000C IMR-4831 59.5 2729 ~=—«44,200 66.0 3053 ~—«59,800_-
AA-3100 61.0 2819 48800 68.0 3083 60,900P AA-3100 61.0 —-2591_~—41,700 67.5 ~—-2955 58,900
H-4831 62.0 2791 39,000 67.5 3146 50,600C H-4831 60.0 ——-2701_——45,200 «67.0 2975 «58,700
RX22 64.5 3037. 42,900 705 3275 59,000P RX22, «60.0 ~—s2742~—«43,900 ~—s «67.0 «3106 ~—«60,400
IMR-7828 62.0 2834 47,300 685 3105 59,100P IMR-7828 61.0 2701_~—«44,300 = «68.0 3035-—S—«59,800-
H-1000 66.0 2885 48,200 —-72.7+~—-3139 «60,600P H-1000 65.0. «2713 42,600 (ene sa a0
RX25. 64.5 2682 40,600 ~—s72.0 +«3086~—58,900 Ny
oo
C)
oe
=
©
=
154 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .433 160 gr. Jacketed A-Frame BC: .450
3.290" OAL SD: 2/3 3.290" OAL SD: .283
Sugg Max Sugg Max
Powder Grains Grains Powder Grains fps PS... Grains fps PS.
H-414 53.5 2570 47,000 59.2 = 2856" 60,700 P N160_ 51.2 2564 48,600. ee ae ea
N160 52.0 2627 52,700 58.0 2797 59,600 F
P IMR-4350 55.0 2699 50,200 61.0 2906 58,600
IMR-4350 55.0 2I23 40,300 63.0 3012 51,400 C RX22 5700 (2735 49,900 RG a eae
IMR-4831 BYps) 2738 50,400 64.0 2952 59,800 P- IMR-4831 57.0 2704 49,200 63.5 2907 56,600
AA-3100 59:5 2669 50 400 66.0 2891 59,900 P IMR-7828 57.5 2624 ~— 42,400 | 65.0 2939 57,700
H-4831 59.0 2710 37,700 | 66.0 3051 51,200C AA-3100 58.0 2550 42,700 +=65.0 «2869 ~—«58,000
RX22 60.0 2755 48,200 67.0 3014 59,800 P H-4831 58.0 2707 48,900 eae 2077 ene poe
IMR-7828 61.0 2743 50,400 68.0 ~—-2972_—«60,500 P RX25. ss «63.0~—s.2725 «44,400 + 70.0 3024 + 57,600
H-1000 64.0 2818 56, 100 71.0 2953 59,600 P- H-1000 64.0 ~—.2702_-—s 47,000 += 70.0+=2929 ~—457,400
RX25 64.5 2842 53,200 | 71.5 3021 _59,600P Magnum 65.0 2556 = 38,400 = 72.0 «2899 57,800
Magnum 70.0 2796 ~=—«49,100-—s 74.5 2986 59,000P
seme —
168 gr. jacketed HPBT BC: .488 175 gr. Jacketed GSSP BC: .465
3.290" OAL SD: .298 3.260" OAL SD: 310
Sugg Max : Su 88 : Max
Powder Grains _
Grains Powder Grains Ue WAM, (SER.
N160 50.0 2600 49,400 56.5 2817 59,500P_ N160 2449 53,300 56.0 2629 60,300P
2498 50,300 _ _ 58.0 2706 60,200P
IMR-4350 53.0 2571 37,700 | 61.0 2925 52,000C
WRB 5,
IMR-4350
IMR-4831 58.0 2638 45, 900. 64.0 2915. 60,500 P (2515 49,600 59.5 2732 60,200 P
H-4831 59.0 2685 38,600 65.0 2971 52,000C H-4831 ~ 2521 ~~ 40,200 60.0 2748+46,400C.
RX22 570 2594 38,500 66.0 2978 50,400C RX22 2566 49,400 62.5 2797 60,300P
IMR-7828 61.5 2622 37,500 66.0 2870 52,000GC IMR-7828 2510 43,000 64.0 2820 52,000C
H-1000 655. 2645 38,500 [eee te H-1000 2559 ~~ 40,200 71.0 2897 51,400
Magnum 63.0 2559 42,000 aamuadgettese) Magnum 2525 +44,300 70.5 2819 59,600P
RX25 61.5 2594 41,900 685 2943 59,200 P RX25 2687. 53,300 68.5 2871 59,900P
AA8700 70.0 2629 37,800 78.5 2948 49,900 C AA8700 eee 2481 42,700 770+ 2799 57,600P
US 869 76.0 2698 44,900 80.0 2899 55,100P. US 869 rae 2661 45,900 79.0 2864 56,200P_

In pressure column, C=Copper Units of Pressure (CUP); P=Pounds per Square Inch (PSI) | 199
7mm Remin:
#287641 BC; 382

160 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.170" OAL SD: .283
Sugg ax
Powder Grains p
Unique 17.0
SR-4756
SR-4759
IMR-4227
IMR-4198

In pressure column, C=Copper Units of Pressure (CUP); P=Pounds per Square Inch (PSI)
ih is one of Roy Weatherby’s orig-
inal cartridges developed in 1943.
The 7mm shares the double-radius
shoulder and 300 H&H parent case of
its siblings, the 270 and 300
Weatherby Magnums. The 7mm has
never been one of the more poplar
calibers in the Weatherby line. it has
been largely overshadowed by the
7mm Remington Magnum despite a
slight ballistic advantage. What the
future holds for the 7mm Weatherby
remains to be seen due to the recent
introduction of several high perform-
ance 7mm Magnum cartridges by the
major manufacturers. Nevertheless, it
is a capable cartridge suitable for thin-
skinned game almost anywhere in the
world:
Like other Weatherbys, slow burning powders and
premium bullets are in order. Shooters should also
refrain from overheating the barrel with sustained firing.
Hodgdon’s H-4831 has been extensively used by 140 gr. Jacketed SP
3.300" CAL
reloaders over the years. Reloder 22 and H-1000 also
gave good ballistic uniformity in our tests. Weatherby Sugg
recommends the use of Federal 215 Magnum primers Powder Grains ps
for all jacketed loads. Those loading cast bullet IMR-4831 67.0 3043
#287641 should use standard primers as indicated. This AA-3100 67.0 3001
data is intended for commercially produced and cham- H-4831 69.0 3028
bered rifles. It is not for use in custom guns that may RX22 68.0 3044
lack the free bore found in standard Weatherby cham- IMR-7828 68.0 2979
bers. H1000 73.0 3021
Test Components:
ES ae a ee oe a ee Federal
FTES S79 ak aA 2.540"
Bee a ie oe ee oS ws Federal 215 Mag and 210
BEWNIEE SIZE 5 ec mse Large Rifle, Magnum & Standard
POA OEE IOHOET 25s Acyl vince css eis No. 13
Jacketed Bullets Used . . .Nosler Partition #16325, 140 gr. 150 gr. Jacketed Bal. Silvertip
Nosler Ballistic Silvertip, #51110, 150 gr. 3.250" OAL
Combined Tech. Fail Safe #53160, 160 gr. Sugg
Speer Grand Slam #1643, 175 gr. Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps
CISA ICCO lo cerned ©«i 44«(sized to .284" dia) IMR-483 1 65.5 2930)
*gas check bullet *#287641, 160 gr. AA-3100 66.5 2976
H-4831 67.0 3011
RX22 66.5 2978
"IMR-7828 66.5 2905
H1000 73.0 3058
Velocity Only)
= ey Ue a ee nee Weatherby Mk :
BOOT eb na sory wniecrom eas mre eae es 26"
SEM ss ls Ae toegerg ie ee nla ede niga e 7 1-10"
POO OE cites GG in ee Hye e Uns 284

7mm Weathe
160 gr. Jacketed Fail Safe BC: 382 175 gr. Jacketed GSSP
3.250" OAL SD: .283 3.350" OAL
Sugg Sugg
IMR-4831 64.0 2802 —
AA-3100 65.5 2812 —
H-4831 66.5 2834 —
RX22 65.5 2811 — IMR-7828
IMR-7828 66.0 2787 —
H1000 70.0 2826 —
#287641 BC: .382

160 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.250" OAL SD: .283
Sugg ;
Powder Grains
SR-4759 19.0
IMR-4227
IMR-4198

202 *Designates use of 210 primers.
The 7mm WSM is Winchester’s first
development in the .284” bore size 5377
since their 284 nearly forty years ago.
Like its 300 and 270 WSM brethren,
the 7mm WSM is designed to take
advantage of the short stubby position
of powder for more efficient ignition.
The WSM is a non-belted design and
will function in short actions unlike
most other high performance 7mm
chamberings. The 7mm WSM features
a longer body and shorter neck to pre-
vent the cartridge from being mistak- 1.8565 —
enly chambered in 270 WSM cham- > 100
bered rifles. On paper, ballistics of the ,
7mm WSM are on par with the time 2.860
honored 7mm Remington Magnum.
The 7mm WSM displayed unusually
good ballistic uniformity with nearly every powder test-
ed. IMR-4350, IMR-4831, and Reloder 19 performed
especially well. The short neck found on the 7mm
De beraes effective use of our current cast bullet 120 gr. Jacketed SPT
. (P2220 AN
Sugg
Test Components: Powder Grains fps P.S.I.
Mi mene ene ee i eas ag hoe Winchester oe AY
TRS SPne oe, i, ne ee 2.090" IVR S90 OT ae 2)
OES ee Ek Oa nr ar ene Winchester fo SN OM eet
BEER IZ arse hr as eens. +s bee Large Rifle Magnum AAAS) _62.5 __ 3025 _ 45,500
PACU IONUCE «Sinus eclinx 44s allashet. No. 34 IMR-4031 6407 2997 44900
Jacketed Bullets Used ........ Sierra SPT #1900, 120 gr. RX19 66.5 3060 47,200
Speer SP #1623, 130 gr.
Nosler Bal. SilverTip #51110, 150 gr.
Swift A-Frame, 160 gr.
Nosler Partition SP #35645, 175 gr.

(Velocity & Pressure) 2.800" OAL
Erreanini SCO Mres niin. ots Sires a aes Universal Receiver Sugg
CNR OHRUN FG 2 otro oe a De sigue ee ee bee 24" Starting Velocity Pressure
TROWER sc em Aa one ORE SRRC
R eo COE ee Rio 1-91/." Powder Grains fps P.S.I.
(EL OOVCID AM wedi ioless slates ceotarnras ov. 284" 760 55.8 2896 48,600
Hunter 57.6 2877. 50,200
IMR-4350 57.6 2940 -~——-53,600
RX19 63.2 2968 53,000
IMR-4831 60.3 2929 50,900
AA-3100 62.2 2850 49,200
N560 63.0 2983 53,500

140 gr. Jacketed Ballistic Tip BC: .485 150 gr. Jacketed Silvertip BC: .493
2.810" OAL SD: .248 2.850" OAL SD: .266
Su 8S Sugg
Powder Grains fps P.S.1. Powder Grains fps_ >I
H-414 58.5 2941 51,600 HAl4 7) 36:5.
760 58.5 2896 49,000 aa
IMR-4350 58.5 2833 46,400 IMR-4350
AA-4350 60.0 2835 45,200
IMR-4831 61.0 2878 47,100 IMR-4831
N560 62.5 2832 45,800
AA-3100 62.5 2825 47,000
RX19 64.0 2912 47,700 MAGPRO 51,800
RX22 64.0 2868 —_50,000
MAGPRO 70.0 3013. = 49,700
Magnum 68.8 2819 54,000
160 gr. Jacketed A-Frame BC: .450 175 gr. Jacketed Partition SP BC: 519
2.860" OAL SD: .283 2.860" OAL SD: .310
Su 88 Sugg af Pee
Starting voority Pressure Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains P.S.I. Powder Grains PS.I.
49,500
IMR-4350 : 53,900
IMR-4350 IMR-4831
IMR-4831 “50,500
AA-3100
MAGPRO 61. ~ 50,000
49,200 Magnum

Newly introduced for 2002, this is
the second short action version of the
non-belted Ultra Mag family of car-
tridges from Remington. The 7mm
SAUM shares the 30-degree shoulder
of its parent, the 300 SAUM, but has a
nearly 1/16”longer neck than its 7mm
WSM counterpart. Factory data from
Remington shows performance of this
cartridge neck in neck with their old
standby, the 7mm Remington Mag-
num. Lyman offers data using several |
Beit
BS
premium hunting bullets. Also includ- ‘ame nete
ed is data for the 115-grain Speer HP 2.035
for those with the urge to take their 2020 Ra
SAUM varmint hunting. The 120-
grain Sierra and 130-grain Speer bul-
lets are best for plinking or coyote-
sized game. All powders listed with cast bullet #
287641 gave good ballistic uniformity, particularly SR-
4759 and IMR-4198. Overall length with the cast bullet
allows the lube grooves and gas check to both remain
within the neck of the case. Those shooters loading this 115 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .257
2.590" OAL SD: .204
cast bullet may want to run the bore-riding nose portion
through a .277” diameter H & | sizing die, as this bullet Sugg BAR e ee
Starting oot Pressure
will engage the rifling. Best performance with jacketed Powder Grains C.U.P.
bullets came from moderate to slow burning powders 60.0 ne
such as H-4831 and MagPro. IMR-4350 61.0 3203 53,600
RX19 64.5 3208.) 59,900
MAGPRO 71.0 3315 55,200
Test Components:
SGSie esc. a ee oe ae Remington
“UL ES 1 a 2025"
PENIS nae catagos. es Remington 912 M & 91/2 (cast bullets)
1))Se) 2 er Large Rifle, Magnum & Standard
Pow IRIOINCR oo aes Sade ye eee ss No. 13
Jacketed Bullets Used ......... Speer HP #1617, 115 gr.
Speer SP #1623, 130 gr.
Nosler Partition #16325, 140 gr. 120 gr. Jacketed SPT BC: 328
Barnes TSX #28444, 140 gr. 2.675" OAL SD: .213
Swift Scirocco, 150 gr. Sugg
Nosler Partition #16327, 160 gr. Starting Velocity Pressure
H-414 59.5 3224 55,800
Foret RINETS SEU bee a = Gig inle © wie 4 wore(sized to .284" dia) IMR-4350 60.0 52,700
*gas check bullet *#287641, 160 gr. N160 62.0
Eelinn UBSCh coos ceacosacsuaaeut Universal Receiver
ACR encOM ee e
a ent see xem Daas 24"
TRAVAIL rae DR 5 ee AS) Geis (ROEM ‘ollepinh aeae oreer RRS annem 1 4
(ELOOVERD ae otra fie tenons eG ee teas 284

130 gr. Jacketed SP BC: 394 140 gr. jacketed SP BC: .434
2.660" OAL SD: .230 2.800" OAL SD: .248
te —
Su
Starting Yelocity Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains Powder Grains fps P.S.1.
H-414 58.0 3122 H-414 55.0 2995
IMR-4350 58.0 3057 IMR-4350
63.0 3094 IMR-4831
MAGPRO-
140 gr. Barnes TSX BC: .394

2.820" OAL SD: .248
Sugg
Powder Grains P.S.I. 150 gr. Jacketed Scirocco BC: 515
IMR-4350. 2.825" OAL SD: .266
Sugg
Starting Noa Pressure
IMR-4831 Powder Grains P.S.1.
RX19
N560 IMR-4350.
MAGPRO Hunter
IMR-4831 i
RX19
H-4831SC
MAGPRO

2.825" OAL SD: .283
Sugg
Powder Grains PS.I.
IMR-4350 52.5. 2782 #287641
Hunter 54.6 2814 160 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.740" OAL
IMR-4831 Su
H-4831SC Starting Melocey Pressure
Powder _Grains __PS.I.
IMR-7828
IMR-4198

2.825" OAL SD: .298
Bi Besa
Starling Nelosity
Powder Grains
IMR-4350 54.0
IMR-4831 56.0 2789 56,200
RX19
H-4831SC

: ner) 7mm STW
While many cartridges languish in
wildcat status for years before being
legitimized as factory offerings, the
STW’s performance gained early—
and widespread—acceptance. Gun
writer Layne Simpson developed the
STW in 1989 based on a necked
down 8mm Remington Magnum. Flat
trajectory, hard-hitting power, excel-
lent accuracy, and a wide selection of
.284” diameter bullets led to a popu-
larity level never enjoyed by the par-
ent cartridge. Remington standardized
the STW in 1997 and other manufac-
turers including Ruger and
Winchester soon followed. This high
intensity cartridge offers approximate-
ly 200 feet per second over the vaunt-
ed 7mm Remington Magnum and 50 to 100 feet over
the 7mm Weatherby. One-shot kills out to over four
hundred yards and beyond are not unheard of with this
cartridge. The STW works best with slower burning
powders including, IMR-7828, H-1000, Reloder 22,
3.585" OAL SD: .213
Reloder 25, and Federal 215 Magnum primers. Shooters
loading this cartridge should stick with premium grade Sugg i
hunting bullets designed to withstand the STW’s veloc- Powder Grains DS PS.1.
ity levels. While the pressure test barrel held up reason- IMR-4350
ably well in our lab, shooters should refrain from shoot- 49,800 | 80,
ing long strings to prolong barrel life.
IMR-7828
Test Components:
eRSe eM i ee eae Federal
TL Oese DES ST ND ae 2.840"
EOE, Sp GS ny SE en nen ea Federal 215
BZ O eins ony Nels says eae se Tee 6 Large Rifle Magnum
ever MetgS Mie[6(6 = gate One eee ee No. 13
Nosler SP #16325, 140 gr. 140 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .434
Combined Tech. Bal. Silvertip #51110, 150 gr. 3.585" OAL SD: .248
Hornady BTSP #2845, 162 gr. Sugg
Speer Grand Slam # 1643, 175 gr. Starting Velocity Pressure
eg St OS eee eee (sized to .285" dia)
*gas check bullet *#287641, 160 gr. H-4831
MAGPRO 58,100
RX22
IMR-7828 48,100
H-1000 51,700
AA 8700 82.5 2938
44,100
EineanninileSGCmerrtnc utcpeccus sre euvieicie reneUniversal Receiver
Ot laste gc rac ciaaamagieine sis cece soblom went 24"
PEM CCU
SIVSi I ee ee op re Pe Aes oe chs Cle alicericyas: = 1 91/2"
(GOOVEND ae ene Alerece telesecs sree 284

7mm STW (Shoo
150 gr. Jacketed Silvertip BC: .493 162 gr. Jacketed BTSP
3.585" OAL SD: .266 3.645" OAL SD: .287
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains Ds P.S.1. Powder Grains fps PS.1.
H-4831 70.0 2853 47,700 H-4831SC 70.0 2807 57,100
N165 73.5 2909 54,100 MAGPRO 72.0 2830 55,400
MAGPRO 74.0 2986 54,700 IMR-7828 71.0 2837 55,200
RX22 71.0 2884 45,800 RX25 74.0 2821 52,000
IMR-7828 70.0 2801 44,000 N170 73.0 2765) 50,000
H-1000 74.0 2840 44,700 H-1000 75.0 2815 55,300
RX25 74.0 2844 43,500 Magnum TAN 2892 57,300
Retumbo 79.0 3047 56,600 Retumbo Hes 2811 52,100
H50BMG 85.5 2810 47,900 AA-8700 83.0 2849 54,800
AA8700 81.0 2825 43,900 US 869 84.5 2784 51,800
H-870 86.0 2932 45,800
tS
>
175 gr. Jacketed GSSP BC: .465 #287641

Sugg Sugg /
Powder Grains p PSH Powder Grains ps PSs
H-4831 66.0 2751 54,900 SR4759 27.0 1881 25,000
N170 70.0 2782 57,700 AA-5744 30.0 1959 =. 22,300
MAGPRO 72.0 2840 59,500 IMR-4831 50.0 2020 20,500
RX22 68.0 2753 49,900
IMR-7828 67.5 2746 52,100
H-1000 69.0 2772 54,400
RX25 70.0 2763 50,900
Retumbo 74.0 2840 54,800
US 869 83.0 2704 52,700
H50BMG 84.5 2858 58,300
AA8700 81.0 2715 46,100
H-870 82.0 Dine. 45,200

" eeprcenese introduced the 7mm
Ultra Mag in 2001 as the smallest cal-
iber in the non-belted Ultra Mag fam-
ily of cartridges. Advertised by the
factory as 20 percent flatter shooting
than the 7mm Remington Magnum
and approximately 150 feet per sec-
ond faster than the 7mm STW, the
7mm RUM is about as big as one can
get in current 7mm _ factory rifles. .200 al
Recent developments in slow burning
2.3873
powders and premium bullets such as
the Swift Scirocco bring out the full 2.5631
potential of the 7mm RUM. Perhaps 2.850
the most highly over-bored of current
3.600 -
Magnum rifle cartridges, the 7mm
RUM has an insatiable appetite for
slow burning powder. Hodgdon’s
H50BMG and Accurate’s 8700 produced good results
with almost all bullet weights. Initial feedback also
reports excellent results with Alliant’s Reloder 25. This
cartridge has what one would expect in a long-range
hunting cartridge; more speed, more downrange ener-
3.600" OAL SD: .230
gy, more recoil, and more barrel wear. Shooters should
take care not to overheat the barrel with sustained firing Sugg
and not allow excessive fouling to accumulate. Three- Powder Grains DS P.S.I.
shot strings are about maximum before excessive barrel MR-4831 82.0 2309 57,200
heat necessitates cooling off. The use of a bore guide AA-3100 86.0 3311 54,200
and a coated cleaning rod should give years of service H-4831SC 85.5 3303 57,100
to the long range hunter who fires only a few shots per RX22 87.0 3365 55,600
season. IMR-7828 87.0 3353 55,700
H-1000 93.0 3312 56,000
RX25 90.0 3325 53,500
H50BMG 102.5 3270 55,100
Test Components: AA8700 104.5 3369 55,000
Bee ea POs Ben Salad eR ones eysh dhanspen bees aseRemington H870 102.0 3164 47,700
Rete MLENA a ea gs ro 8 cae wsos hy Seatac eon" 2.840"
iti a Federal 215 Magnum and 210
[TSP ze a a eee ee eee Large Rifle
BRINE SHC CIOIGEE cone ona on nie os erat oases No. 13
Jacketed Bullets Used ......... Speer SP #1623, 130 gr.
Hornady SP #2845, 162 gr. 140 gr. Jacketed Partition BC: .434
Bae WNRS MISO ccs os Satie smont os (sized to .284" dia) 3.600" OAL SD: .248
*gas check bullet *#287641, 160 er.
Sugg ,
Powder Grains Ss P.S.1.
IMR-4831 80.0
Test Specifications: » AA-3100 81.0 55,600
(Velocity & Pressure) H-4831SC 58,200
Pipa SCCMmae te ets eu es oe Universal Receiver RX22 85.0 3328
STORE CH ron Co smile gies dc les o'rteenie wicin eee A 26" IMR-7828 57,700
LINAS MRR INI nso os Alea hale bce amenege eke eeu 1-91) H-1000
(GLOOVCID ee ed ere ety retinas. attach enetts 284 RX25 56,200
H50BMG 99.0 3228 55,300
AA8700 53,300
H870 100.0 3218 52,200

150 gr. Jacketed Scirocco BC: 515 162 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .514
3.600" OAL SD: .266 3.650" OAL SD: .287
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains fps P.S.I. Powder Grains fps P.S.I.
IMR-4831 VI) 3144 56,000 IMR-7828 80.0. 2940
AA-3100 79.0 3132 53,800 49,800
H-4831SC 80.0 3126 56,300
RX22 83.0 3196 = 55,300 H50BMG
IMR-7828 82.5 3150 50,800
H1000 88.0 3063 52,300 56,800
RX25 86.5 3139S 252/900
H50BMG 99.0 3156 = 56,500
AA8700 100.0 3180 53,100
H870 100.0 3159 = 52,500
*#287641 BC: .434

160 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.620" OAL SD: .248
Sugg
Powder Grains S PS.I.
SR-4759
19,000
IMR-4198

* Designates use of 210 primers.
0 M1 Carbine
The United States Army developed
the M1 Carbine just prior to the out-
break of World War Two. The Carbine
was originally intended as a small,
lightweight rifle for engineers, mortar
crews, and other personnel for whom
the M1 Garand would be too
unwieldy, but would have been
“under-gunned” with the .45 caliber
pistol. The M1 Carbine saw wide-
spread use in World War Il, and
Korea, and was widely distributed
throughout the world via military aid
programs in subsequent years. Its first
major civilian use occurred during the
1960s through surplus sales. The M1
Carbine’s low recoil and ease of han-
dling make it a fun cartridge to shoot
and well suited to introducing new shooters to center-
fire rifles. Large numbers of M1 Carbines have returned Test Specifications:
from overseas in recent years, many in rather worn con- (Velocity & Pressure)
dition. EirearnmWSed aac eters ee eee Universal Receiver
The 30 Carbine closely resembles a lengthened Barrel Lemeth tac icvc. sate cea (kee Oe eae 20"
INV 1ST cetireeN os ei esNorte aint) Arle Rn geae eres ene ee eas 1-20"
semiautomatic pistol cartridge. Several manufacturers
GhOOVe: Diae eben ore oe een ae es eae 308"
have in fact chambered pistols for this round over the
years. Winchester based the 30 Carbine round on their
short-lived 32 SL cartridge. The 30 Carbine has its lim-
its and they should be adhered to. Original specifica-
tions call for a 110-grain round nose bullet at just over
1,900 feet per second...not especially impressive for
30-caliber ballistics even 60 years ago. This cartridge
has a straight-walled, rimless case which headspaces on 100 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .144
the case mouth. Case length should be uniform and
1.625" OAL SD: .151
should not be trimmed below the “trim-to” length. The
Sugg
internal ballistics of the cartridge and its required over- Starting Velocity Pressure
all length limits bullet selection. Most major manufac- Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
turers produce bullets designed expressly for the little 11.8 1818
Carbine. Much like the 22 Hornet, the shape and small 30,300
capacity of the case requires powders considered slow N110 12.8 1912
pistol or fast rifle propellants. VihtaVuori N110 pro- Lil’ Gun
duced good ballistic uniformity in our tests. H110
Enforcer 32,100
IMR-4227
Test Components: AA-1680 24,700
rN ee cree rca (Sibug eicis Se ve Pelee es Remington
MAP OMUENIIUD cee ce de ree cide ee alee 1.286"
CUM ARSED tee Cee ea Remington 61/2
MGHIOE SIZE ain ois. 6 olan 3.6 bre ance wiz ea Small Rifle
Bey CACHED 5 5 oie wyeislde bie04 as Baia ge No. 19
Jacketed Bullets Used .. .Speer Plinker SP #1805, 100 gr.
Sierra RN #2100, 110 gr. ~ 110 gr. jacketed RN BC: .170
1.680" OAL SD: .166
Gasebtdiets WSedlo cee es(sized to .308" dia)
coc n% ceed
*#311359, 115 gr. Sugg
*gas check bullet Starting Velocity Pressure
#311410, 130 gr. Powder Grains ps C.U.P.
SR-4756
29,900
29,200
IMR-4227
AA-1680.
#311359 BC: .181 #311410 BC: .239
Sugg Sugg :
Starting Velocity Starting Velocity
Powder Grains Powder Grains p
Unique 55 Unique
SR-7625 4.6 SR-4756 5.0
SR-4756 Se) 2400
IMR-4227__ 10.6 1366 24,600__

IMR-4227

a eapeiret introduced the 30
Winchester Center Fire (WCF) car-
tridge in their new Model 94 lever-
action in 1895. The rest is history.
Probably no other cartridge in North
America has put as much venison on
the table as the venerable old “thirty-
thirty”. Although ballistically unim- t F
pressive by today’s standards, the = 401. =.333=-
lightweight, fast-handling rifles often pS
chambered for the 30-30 proved well
suited to hunting the brushy wood lots
of the east coast and New England.
Even if it had faded into obsoles-
cence, the 30-30 would have earned
its place in history as the first sporting
cartridge to be loaded exclusively
with smokeless powder.
The vast majority of rifles chambered for the 30-30 Test Specifications:
have tubular magazines. Such rifles require the use of
blunt or flat nosed bullets with a cannelure, and should FirearninUsed™ ete aire te ae ee
be crimped in place. Loaded cartridges must be kept Barreldoniytinh wits, sahara sched coment ere eee
within the maximum overall length or they will not W/1Steeet aarti ct ne UNM CReL ieee Re -
cycle through the rifle’s action. All major bullet manu-
facturers offer projectiles designed especially for the 30-
30. Shooters should trim all cases to uniform length
prior to crimping. Many opt to purchase an additional
seat body and seat and crimp in two separate opera-
tions. 110 gr. jacketed RN
Despite the indelible association with lever action 2.470" OAL
rifles, there have been a few bolt action rifles cham-
Sugg :
bered in 30-30 over the years. Shooters loading for bolt- Starting Velocity Pressure —
action rifles or any of the Thompson/Center Contenders Powder Grains DS C.U.P.
should refrain from exceeding maximum loads due to IMR-4198 28,200
strength limitations of the cartridge case itself. The 30- IMR-3031
30 works well with a number of powders including IMR-4895
IMR-3031, IMR-4064, and 748. Cast bullet # 311041
was originally designed for the 30-30 and has a good
reputation for accuracy. Reloder 7, AA-5744, and IMR 748
IMR-4064
4198 should work well with any of the listed cast bul-
IMR-4320 27,700
lets. Best results with cast bullets usually occur between
1,500 and 2,100 feet per second. Shooters loading for
Marlin rifles with Micro-Groove® rifling should keep
cast bullet velocities below 1,600 feet per second for
best accuracy.
Test Components: 125 gr. Jacketed HP/FN

Cee eee cs te dalsav er eiaen™ Winchester 2.420" OAL
MRE CMIOUN are is ysis nye wines oon Be ED 2.028" Sugg
PGHIENS 6 ecco sh wie Seajs 50-45 Winchester WLR and CCI 200 Starting Velocity Pressure
Drie COs ks iis Se Ae ee we Large Rifle Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
rian Stel HIGIGEh abs oc. cn os Adee eames No. 6 IMR-4198 25.0 2171 28,000
Jacketed Bullets Used ...... Hornady RN #3015, 110 gr. RX7 27.0 2214 27,400
Sierra HP/FN #2020, 125 gr. IMR-3031 2959) 2012 24,100
Hornady RN #3035, 150 gr. AA2230 29.0 2075 25,400
Hornady FP #3060, 170 gr. IMR-4895 30.5 2074. = 26,500
H335 34.0 2398 32,800
@astpuillets:Wsecinmeswaceneascs oe. (sized to .308" dia)
BL-C(2) 34.5 22 29700
«#311041, 173 gr. 748
IMR-4064
35.0
31.5
2338
20700
29,500
27,300
IMR-4320 31.5 2090 27,400
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. 760 34.5 2056 =.25,200
Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate load. RX15 32.0 2200 28,300
150 gr. Jacketed RN 170 gr. Jacketed FP
2.540" OAL SD: .226 2.540" OAL
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains Ds GU Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
IMR-4198 20.5 1884 30,000 IMR-3031 25.0 1786 27,600.
RX7 25.0 2154 30,500 IMR-4895 24.5 1807 31,200
IMR-3031 26.5 1876 25,200 H-335 295 1913 26,700
AA2230 30.0 2108 27,800 BL-C(2) 32.0 1996 29,000
IMR-4895 26.5 1944 30,500 748 32.0 1961 28,800
H-335 30.5 2151 29,600 IMR-4064 27.0 1845 28,200
BL-C(2) 33.0 2050 29,500 AA-2520 29.0 1974 27,500
748 32.0 2153 31,600 IMR-4320 24.5 1708 30,200
IMR-4064 —-.29.0 2055 32,000 RX15 29.0 1831 27,200
IMR-4320 29.0 1956 31,000 IMR-4350 30.0 1816 28,200
760 34.0 2027. ~—-.29,200
IMR-4350 32.0 1980 31,000
#311291 BC; .202 #311041 BC: .220

Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains Ds C.U.P. Powder Grains p C.U.P.
Unique 7.0 PA 19,800 Trail Boss 8.0 1054 31,300
Herco 9.0 1328 28,200 Unique 7.0 1240 21,600
SR-4756 7.0 1123 19,800 Herco 8.5 1281 25,800
2400 15.0 1624 25,500 SR-4756 7.0 1102 19,800
*SR-4759 14.8 1530 19,900 2400 14.5 1586 27,000
IMR-4227 16.5 1575 26,500 *SR-4759 15.5 1613 23,700
AA-5744 18.0 1607 =.28,200 IMR-4227" 747.0 9615 26,100
IMR-4198 18.0 1606 25,200 AA-5744. 18.0 ~—«'1605_~—«.26,100
N130 19.0 1581 23,000 IMR-4198 18.0 ~—-1602—.23,200
*RX7 19.0 1635 20,200 N130 19.5 1608 = 22,800
*IMR-3031 22.5 1599 18,300 *RX7 20.0 1632 19,800
*H-335 20.3 1638 18,500 *IMR-3031 21.5 1555 20,100
*748 23.8 1604 16,900 *H-335 22.0 1596 23,200
*748 25.0 1613 22,500

“Designates use of CCI 200 primers.
300 Savage
Sack first offered this caliber in
their lever action Model 99 beginning
in 1920. It has been chambered in
several different firearms over the
years. This cartridge remained quite
popular until it gradually lost favor to
the 308 Winchester. The 300 Savage
enjoyed a ballistic advantage over the
30-30 Winchester due to its ability to
fire spitzer bullets without the prob-
lems normally associated with tubular
magazines. The cartridge looks very
similar to the 308 Winchester when
compared side by side until the shoul-
der. The Savage has a sharper 30-
degree shoulder and shorter (by
.082”) neck. The 300 Savage is best
loaded with flat-based bullets because
of this short neck. IMR-4064 and Varget gave best
results in our testing while IMR-4320 has also been a
longtime favorite. Cast bullets #311359 and #311291
will need to be seated with the gas check well below
the neck for proper overall length.
2.425" OAL SD: .166
Sip nee
Test Components: IMR--3031
re IN ae <2 See vata ss eyeieles «organi ainRemington IMR-4895 41.0 2659 —
SG TE 3h en rae aD 1.865" AA2460
MINS eM cai sx. os Remington 91/2 and Federal 210 N135 40.5 2765
CTR 0 ee Large Rifle IMR-4064
OEY ONS 1 9 [05 eh i ra re No. 2 Varget
Sierra RN #2170, 180 gr.
Cee te 0s i a (sized to .309" dia)
*gas check bullet F511 359, AD Br
*#311672, 160 gr.
*#311291, 170 gr.

2.565" OAL SD: .196
Sugg Wa
Test Specifications: Starting Velocity Pressure
(Velocity & Pressure) Powder Grains DS C.U.P.
PTL Cen Nae ee Savage 99 IMR-3031
and Universal Receiver IMR-4895 39.0 2412 34,600
keine nau, Ao 04 Savage 99 22",
AA2460
PCR ETTOUe Oo) Cas hist eee 748 41.5
Universal Receiver 26"
IMR-4064
SCCUM ey eae eer eesa Storie aii tehos dayrenouogn eda 1-1 2"
(GTOOVERD ae che os seeds eek Savage 99 .3075",
Universal Receiver .309" 33,500

150 gr. Jacketed SP BC: 338 180 gr. Jacketed RN BC: .280
2.600" OAL SD: .226 2.560" OAL SD: .271
Su: es Sugg ’
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Powder Grains C.U.P.
IMR-3031 IMR-4895 35.0 2145
IMR-4895
35,700
#311359 #311672 BC: .245

Su Sugg
Powder Grains Powder Grains C.U.P.
Unique
SR-7625 XMP-5744 20.0
IMR-4198
SR-4759 RX7 15,200
XMP-5744 IMR-3031
IMR-4198
#311291 BC: .202

170 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.358" OAL SD: .256
Su Az
Starting Velocity
Powder Grains i
SR-4759 20.0
XMP-5744
IMR-4198
RX7 220 1812
IMR-3031
17,000

30-40 Kr
The 30-40 Krag enjoys the distinc-
tion of being the first smokeless rifle
ag
cartridge adopted by the United States
Army. Technical advances in small
arms cartridges came fast and
furious in the last fifteen years of the
nineteenth century. The Model 92
Krag-Jorgensen rifle chambered in 30-
40 became standardized—if not
widely issued—in 1892 in response to
developments in high-velocity,
smokeless cartridges by several
European powers. The Krag was orig-
inally a Norwegian design and fea-
tured an unusual side-loading maga-
zine.
The new American cartridge was
loaded with a 220-grain round nose
bullet with a muzzle velocity of 2,200 feet per second.
Many shooters regard these rifles as the smoothest oper- Test Specifications:
ating bolt-action rifles ever produced. However, its sin- (Velocity & Pressure)
gle locking lug does not qualify it as the strongest action EEA Ee CCUM cas ce cuts dee Universal Receiver
around. SAAMI has established a Maximum Average BanCl ROn etn metas srl. caeat tisa.cts.cgh nts oc mee nae24"
cLWiStistetenrontnrets
uteare 20708 creel ett a nN 1-10"
Pressure (MAP) of 40,000 CUP for this cartridge.
Groove Diaweyerrets Soca eee 309"
Shooters loading for a Krag should have it inspected by
a competent gunsmith for cracks in the receiver and
bolt. The 30-40 earned an excellent reputation on game
as large as elk with the 220-grain bullet despite its mod-
est (on paper anyway) ballistics. The chamber throats of
Krag-Jorgensen rifles are configured for this rather long,
heavy bullet. Those loading lightweight bullets may 150 gr. Jacketed SBT BC: .380
have indifferent results. Shooters can also encounter the 3.000" OAL SD: .226
30-40 chambering in the Winchester Model 1885, Su 8s Max ;
Model 95 and Ruger Number 3. Starting Velocity Pressure
Like any elderly military rifle, variations in bore Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
sizes of Krag rifles do exist. Fortunately, the Krag- IMR-3031
Jorgensen is a great candidate for a cast bullet gun. IMR-4895
IMR-4064
Shooters will need to slug their bores and size bullets
32,900
accordingly. Cast bullet #311284 was originally
designed for the 30-40 and closely replicates both the RX15 30,200
weight and profile of the 220-grain jacketed loading. H380
Shooters wishing to load cast bullet #311332 may use IMR-4350 33,900
the data for bullet #311644 and seat the bullet to an XMR-4350 30,000
overall length of 3.025”. Reloder 7, SR-4759, and AA-
5744 provided the best results in our cast bullet testing.
Test Components:
(CARES occ ga crmeat oh Ce ae a Remington
RE OE NET ih yas aia ci he pus 9 oR ores d ae 2.304"
BRINE A Ae ei leanag inlet eves Wien KoesRemington 91/2
2 SH ie a a Pe rat ar Large Rifle
iyinam Shell Holder............ Ce ee No. 7
Jacketed Bullets Used ........ Sierra SBT #2125, 150 gr.
Speer SP #2053, 180 gr.
et Det USER erie. sce aur eww eas (sized to .309" dia)
*#311672, 160 gr.
Seno, 170 st.
+#311041, 173 gr.
*#311644, 190 gr. Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum.
*#311284, 210 gr. +Designates a compressed powder charge.
30-40 Krag
180 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .483 220 gr. Jacketed RN
3.080" OAL SD: .271 3.080" OAL
Sugg Sugg Max :
Powder —_— Grains fps C.U.P. Grains GUE: Powder Grains fps —s—C.U.P. — Grains — fps C.U.P.
IMR-3031 36.0 2151 31,300 40.0 +2408 +~—«-38,700 IMR-4895 35.0 1896 30,700 38.5 2132 39,500
IMR-4895 38.0 2172 ~—-30,800 += 42.0 +—-2432-——-39,900 IMR-4064 35.5 1910 31,100 395 2120 39,000
IMR-4064 38.0 2148 29,700 42.0 2389 —_39,300 NI50...-34.0..-1877 «33,500. aa Gyegs me eer
Varget 36.0 +~=—«2077—Ss 28,900» 40.0 «2341 ~—«38,900 IMR-4350 40.0 1874 29,500 | 45.0 2177 39,200
RX15 «37.0 ~—s.2167_~—«30,100-~Ss 41.5 += 2386 ~—-38,400 XMR-3100 41.0 1728 29,400 = 45.5 2042: 38,700_
N150—-38.0~—s2181 ~ 33,200 += 42.0 «2389 ~—«39,400 RX19. «42.0 ~—s'1937 30,000 += 46.5 += 2204 «= 38,500
H380 420 2164 31,000 460 2402 39,700 H-4831SC 44.0 2109 36,600 485 2169 39,700
IMR-4350 42.0 2031 ~—«-29,700 += 46.0 ~—«-2293~——«-38,800
XMR-4350 41.5 1921 28,400 46.0 2247 38,600
#311672
#311359
160 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.900" OAL
115 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.725" OAL Sugg Max
Starting Velocity Pressure | Load Velocity Pressure
Sugg
Max
Powder _Grains_fps_——C.U.P._ Grains fps. C.U.P.
Powder = Grains ~—fps_—sC.U.P._— Grains _fps C.U. RANG ASO, 1571 — foto ie
S . AA#9 14.5 1666 — 19.0 2049 — 21S aie 0 esa) wae 20.5 1936"
2400 140 1622 = 18.5: = 1989 5 = SY OME CE = BS 23a eee
a
7 Vv
2
SR-4759 15.0 _—«‘1613 = 200° 2049 IMR-4227_ 17.0 1494 — |i? QNNNG Gee
IMR-4227, 170 1630 — (io AA-5744 18.0 —«'1513 ae 270°! 2036 ee
AA-5744 19.0 _—'1708 = ee ee IMR-4198 180 1519 — 70 “208 ae
Es IMR-4198__ 19.0 1691 ~=s§— — aaa = RX7 2001608 es eee
> Ni35 24.0 1528 Oe
Varget 500 Oe 35.0 (20670 ae
#311291 BC: .202

170 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.825" OAL SD: .256 #311041 BC: .220
Sugg Max 173 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.835" OAL SD: .258
Powder —_Grrains fps C.U.P. Grains __fps C.U.P. Suge Max
AAW? «16.0169 = 22.0 1991 = Starting Velocity Pressure | Load Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains _fps C.U.P. Grams" fps) CURE
Te ie Tea 23.0 2038 ue AAHO 15.5 1579 an 215.) 1903
SR4759 17.0 1620 — (emo eee 2400 13,5: bres 5680 ca tee DiS. 1948 (yeaa
IMR-4227. 175 1549 — | 240 1961 = SR-4759 16.0. 1562, — 235. 2051., Seen
AA-5744 20.0 ~—s—-1638 = 268 M0005 eee IMR-4227_ 1751541 —
IMR-4198 200-1648 = — 27.0 2043 — MASTMia. 190g 10a ee 26.5; 2085 aaa
Rxveet OOO 599 — aoe IMR-4198 19.0 1566 — 27.0... 2054.5 fee
Ni35. 2401578 sh eee REG = 27.0. 2034) eae
Weigel 270 loose 340, 2059 N135. 240 ~——«*1547 = 32.0 — 20a4> ee
Varget 27.5 1644 = 3403006" ee
#311644
190 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.925" OAL #311284
210 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.025" OAL
Sugg Max
Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure Sugg Max
Powder = Grains ~—fps_—SsC.U.P. ~— Grains _fps C.U.P. Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure
SR-4759 16.0 1489 — 240 1997 — Powder Grains _—_—fps_—sC.U.P._— Grains _fps C.U.P.
IMR-4227_ 17.0 1481 — (ice SR47EG. Sosi5S ace Ife a oe 245 1945) eeeee
AA-1680 19.0 1475 — 26.5 O27, = IMR-4227 16.5 1405 — 22:0; 1731 eee
AA-5744 19.0 1547 = 27.0 2015 — AA-1680 19.0 1425 = 25.0. | ee
1810"
IMR-4198 19.0 1516 — ZED 2023 _ AA5744 18.0 —«-1429 ES 28.0 1995 ee
RX7 19.5 1522 _ 28.5 2062 — IMR-4198 18.0 1441 = 280.” 19781 ee
N135 24.0 1504 _ SYa55) 2043 — RYT e a house 1437 os 29.0: 5) GOS ee
Varget 25.0 1514 _— 35.0 2065 — N135 23.0 1442 ie 33.0; 2000) | aus
Varget 25 igh 1515 ae ae 35.0: 20465 Wea
qBs 308 Winchester/7.62 NATO is
one of the most versatile and popular
center-fire rifle cartridges ever made.
It is the end result of the U.S. military's
experiment with shortened 30-06 car-
tridges during the late 1940s. It will
do much of what the 30-06 will do
with bullets up to 180-grains.
Winchester introduced the 308 as the
civilian counterpart to the 7.62 NATO
in 1952, several years before its adop-
tion by the U.S. military. It works well
with a wide range of powders 2.015
although those in the medium range
such as IMR-4895, IMR-4064, Varget,
N140, and Reloder 15 usually give
best results with most common bullets
weights. The 308 has been cham-
bered in every conceivable type of rifle as well as the
T/C Encore pistol. It has spawned a family of standard Test Components:
cartridges and wildcats too numerous to list. The car- GASES. Ss Rate ia ecient ren NR sane Remington
tridge enjoys a high level of inherent accuracy and its rin=tO LENth cs tage yatta oleote 2.005"
2.810” overall length functions in short actions. EMUNICUS Betang eae E MN es sc 9-5 ¢ aig eb anehettoa-eie Remington 91/2
The 308 has proven effective for both hunting and POU SIZ EI a tate NEE Sieh ae sae Large Rifle
competitive shooting. 110, 125, and 130-grain bullets Lyman Shel NAOIGEn te. tin tence, 6 eee epee No. 2
should be relegated to varmints and smaller game. The
150, 165, and 180-grain bullets are suitable for white-
tails on up to elk with proper shot placement. The 308
loaded with the 168-grain Sierra MatchKing has been a Nosler J4 Match #53155, 155 gr.
standard match load in High Power Rifle competition Nosler Partition #16330, 165 gr.
for many years. Sierra’s newer 175-grain Matchking is Sierra HPBT #2200, 168 gr.
suitable for the same situations but offers a higher bal- Sierra HPBT #2275, 175 gr.
listic coefficient. Sierra’s 190-grain MatchKing will Hornady A-Max #30712, 178 gr.
shoot accurately out to 1,000 yards. Many shooters Nosler Ballistic Tip #30180, 180 gr.
loading for M1A/M14 rifles find best results with IMR- Sierra HPBT #2210, 190 gr.
4895 or IMR-4064. Shooters reloading military cases Sierra HPBT #2230, 200 gr.
will need to remove the primer crimp in order to re- GasuBulletsiW seca nee eee (sized to .308" dia)
prime cartridge cases. Shooters should also stay one to *eas check bullet *#311359, 115 gr.
two grains below the listed maximum charges due to *#311672, 160 gr.
the smaller volume of GI brass. *#311291, 170 er.
The 308 Winchester also works well with cast bul- *#311041, 173 gr.
lets. Best accuracy will usually occur in the velocity *#311332, 180 gr.
ranges of 1,600 to 2,000 feet per second. Cast bullet *#311644, 190 gr.
#311672, #311644, and #311299 have proven popular *#311299, 200 gr.
with metallic silhouette shooters. Reloder 7 and SR-
4759 will often give best results with cast bullets.
11 0 grJacketed HP BC: 177

- 2.603" OAL SD: .166
Sugg
Sse as Te eae Universal Receiver Powder Grains ‘
GIS) ETE i ea : 24" RX7
TM a I SS a ee 1-1 0" IMR-3031 30,300
NR eee oo. 5,acess shane onve)'a-n oe.m ne ele hw 308 748 27,200
31,400
BL-C(2)
TAC
IMR-4064
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. IMR-4895
Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate load. IMR-4320 34,500
H-380 49.0 2994 41,600
308 Winchester 7.62
125 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .279 130 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .295
2.622" OAL SD: .188 2.690" OAL SD: .196
Sugg Max Sugg
Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure Starting Velocity Pressure toad Velocity Pressure
Powder —_—_Grrains Grains fps Powder Grains fps Grains
RX7__——s«35.0 «2624 +~—=«31,000 PaO s02t StzcuC XMR-2015 41.0 2830-38800 45.0 3123 51,200
IMR-3031 38.7 2656 ~—41,200 +=-44.0+ 2996 52,100C IMR-3031 40.0 2755 39,600 45.0+ 3085 57,100 P_
748 45.4 2687 29,500 «51.2 3034 41,600C_ Benchmark 41.5 2743 41,400 46.0 3077 «60,500 P
H-335 41.0 2685 31,600 47.0 +3108 +~—«49,400C AA2230 41.5 2665 35,400 ~— 47.5 —-3056 51,600C
BL-C(2 ) 450 2793 36,400 50.0 3086 50,000 C_ IMR-4895 43.0 2754 40,700 ~~ 47.0 —-2958 50,000 C
TAC 44.3 2816 42,500 49.3 «3133: 59,800P_ H-335 41.0 ~—-2664_——33,400 47.0 3085 48,800 C
IMR-4064 42.5 2702 -~—«36,300 += 48.0+ +3017 -—«50,500C_ TAC 43.6 2673. 40,500 4e5 7)3067) 59200
IMR-4895 43.0 2747-38600 += 47.0 +—«-3003 «49,600 C BL-C?2) 45.0 2770 36400 50.0 3058 50,800C
IMR-4320 45.0 2724 +=-38,600 = 49.5+ 2994 51,200C 748 44.0 2645 30,200 + 50.6+ +~—-2992- 44,200 C
H-380 48.0 ~—-2890~— 42,400 ~— 54.04 3115 49,600 C N135 42.0 ~—s2813——43,100 +=46.7+ 3096 59,800 P
IMR-4064 44.0 2770 ~—-39,000 = 47.0+ 2983 49,000C
Varget 46.0 ~—«-2892 -~——-44,600 + 50.0+ 3174 59,900
IMR-4320 45.0 2702 «37,300 += 49.5 2941 50,000C_
H-380__ 48.0 2873 «43,300 += «54.0+ 3125 50,400C
2.735" OAL SD: .226
Sugg, Max
Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure 155 gr. Jacketed J4 BC: .450
4 dea
a Y
Powder __Grains__fps_— é 2.800" OAL SD: .233
XMR-2015 38.0 2588 39,300 i 42. OF 285649) 800 oe
= IMR-3031
AA2230
40.0 2544
405-2538
36,000
i) 300.
43.55+ 2942 —49,100 C
Baa 2002) SA, 100 ¢
Sugg
Starting Velocity Pressure al Velocity Prucl
Powder Grains fps PS.I. Grains PSI.
fps
“Ws IMR-4895
H-335.
40.0 2403
938052457
32,000 WAS: 0 a (2777 50,,000C
32,300) Bee 0 2923 52,000 C
Benchmark 39.5 2577. 42,800 += 44.0. 2861_—61,100 -
TAC 41.0 2426 36,600 45.5 2841 _~—«60,500
TAC 41.4 2502 39,600 § 46.07 2 2856 59,500 P
4 i—)
IMR-4895 42.0 ——-2636 =~ 43,600 += 46.0+ +2914 ~—-59,000
BL-C(2) 45. o 271 He 40,700 49.07 291 5 52,A00 (e
C
748 43.0 2546 ~—34,700+~| «48.0 «2910 :~—+57,700
AA2460 40.0 ‘ 2533 _ 49/500& 44,5 2786 51,800 Cc
Ni35 39.5 2574 41,800 aa eas eae
748 44.0 2690 32,700_ 50.Ot 2990 43,200 ‘C
IMR-4064 41.0 2566 + 39,600 «46.0 2885 56,700
IMR-4064 43.0 2645 41,100 48. 0+ 2890 52,000 Gs;
Varget 43.0 ~~ -2601_~—40,700 +=48.0+ +2905 58,300
Varget 42.5 263205 42,200 47.0 2891 58, 000 P.
AA2520 41.0 2551 35,600 eaaay une eager
IMR-4320 42.5 2544 41,200 [a0 —2874— 59,900 P_
N140 39.5 2566 = 40,800 44.0 ~—-2843—-59,200
N140 AVS, 2487 39,400" tew 2795, 56,700 P
N540 43.0 2590 39,600 48.04 2923 58,200
RX15 r Al 0 n2a21 3630075 46.2 2047 50 000 Cc
H- 380 ae 48.0 : 2607 38,700 _ 52: 0+ DET 459,200 P-

2.775" OAL SD: .253
165 gr. Jacketed Partition BC: .410 Sugg Max
2.780" OAL SD: .248 Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps Grains
Sugg
Max
IMR-3031 37.0 2336 ~—35,000 += 42.0 +—-:2645 «49,600
Powder _Grrains fps Grains f ate irae Benchmark 37.0 _2381_~—41,200 +=41.0 +~—«2639:~=«56,300P
IMR-3031 37.0 2331 35,000 Azo) 2652 49,600 C IMR-4895 38.0 ——.2331_—S35,500 42.5 + +2624 +—-51,200C
H-335 36.0 2354 SOO eae 0 aes 47,000C BL-C(2) 41.0 2444 37,700 45.0 2695|48,800C
TAC 40.2 2350 38,400 44, 7 DZS SON AA2460 38.0 2336 =~ 36,900 ~— 42.0 -~—«-2608~—«51,000C
IMR-4895 38.0 2426 39,300 43. ee 2704 Oy800 C 748 40.0 2371 32,800 -45.7+ 2714 ~—-50,200C
BL-C(2) 41.0 2398 35,000 46.0 2732 52,000C IMR-4064 40.0 2415 «35,500 45.0 2717 52,000C
AA-2460 39.0 DOM 38,700 44.Oe 26455 0, O00 Ke Varget «41.0 2491 «42,200 +-—«45.7 (2766
+61,100P_
TAS 42.0 2449 33,800 4752756 49,800 C AA2520 40.5 2511+ «46,800 += 45.0 +—«-2732:~=«60,800 PP
IMR-24064 __ 39.0 2406 35,300 44.5+ 2698 50,300 Cc IMR-4320 42.0 _—-2475~—«40,700 «45.0 +~+—«2659 «50,800.
Varget 41.0 NW ‘43/900 46.04 2756 = i: 800 Pp Ni40 39.0 2339 39,000 Serena es
AA2520 40.0 2466 39,800 46.0 as 2 51200 G RX15_ 40.0 2411 41,000 44.8 +~—«-2724 6 1,200P
IMR-4320 42.0 2463 _ 42 400 Saab 0026325 51,200, G N150 410 2438 41,900 45.5 «2690: 57,300P_
RX15 41,0 2424 34,800 | 445 2684 47,900
47 G
C N550 445 2524 43,300 —48.5+ ~+~—«-2819 «59,300
H-380 Aree as 38,800 50. Sree 2641 45,900 es IMR-4350 45.0 2339 38,600 = 50.04 2666 55,100P
N150 42.0 2512 45,400_ 47.0 274559) A00 P
760 45.0 2328 31,800 _ Bicoe 2646 43,51
500 c Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum.
IMR-4350 45.5 2360 40,400 50. 5+ 209; 100 P + Designates a compressed powder charge.
In pressure column, C=Copper Units of Pressure (CUP); P=Pounds per Square
Inch(I
175 gr. Jacketed HPBT BC: 505 178 gr. Jacketed A-Max BC: .495
2.800" OAL SD: .264 2.780" OAL SD: .268
Sugg Max Sugg Max
Powder Grains fps PSA: Grains P.S.I. Powder Grains fps_—s PS... ~—Grains _ fps FS le
IMR-4895_ 39.0 2429 -43,100 43.5 ~—-2692-~—=—«59,400 IMR-3031 37.0 -2292——-39,700 = 41.0 ~—-2591 «58,500
748 40.5 2360 ~—«35,700 ae uaza) oSeq00 IMR-4895 37.5 2267 ~—:39,500 ~~ 42.0 +2600 ~—«60,400
IMR-4064
Varget
39.5
40.0
2370 ~—-38,600
2459 ~—43,900
+~—44.0-—s- 2688
45.24
-~—«458,000 H-335 385 —2253_—-39,700 428-2604 57,600
2708 59,300 TAC 38.0 ~—s-2279~—«39,900 42.3 ~—«-2602_~—«261,100
AA2520 38.5 2375 «37,900 eee) een BL-C(2) 40.0 2325 39,200» 44.8 ~—-2687_—«59,300
IMR-4320 39.0 —-2370~=—« 41,600 + 43.5 ~—«2659~=«59,800 AA2460 37.0 ——-2262-~—=«39,000 +=42.0 +2596 ~—«59,400
N140 39.0 2370 40,800 43.5 +~=—«2651~—«S58, 700 748 40.5 2346 39,900 _ ~ 45.0 2662 60,500 —
RX15
N150
40.0
41.0
2428 ~=—41,500
2430 41,900
44.3.
45.5
~=—«2697
2701
~—«58,600
59,900
IMR-4064 395-2373 43,600 4432669 61,100.
Varget 39.5. 2401 43,700. Ba Ooo te 00)500
N550 43.5 2405 38,700 48.5+ 2753 58,900 AA2520 38.0 —-2357_—«45,000 += 42.3 «2593 59,500
IMR-4320 38.5 2273. 40,100 ~~ 42.6 ~—-2585 «58,700
N140 39.5 2340 44,500 + «43.8 ~—-2614_~—«6 1,700
Ni50.. 40.5 2390 44,600 5 aber acco,
760 46.0 2432 44,100 50.7 ~—«-2691:~——«59,000_
H-414 44.0 2357. 43,700 += 49.3.~S-2632-——458,900
IMR-4350 45.0 2326 ~—41,600 ~——-50.0 +—2631:~—«58,400
180 gr. Jacketed Ballistic Tip BC: 507 RAR
oe)
2.800" OAL
Sugg Max
SD: .271
190 gr. jacketed HPBT BC: 533
S
Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure 2.775" OAL SD: .286 le
Powder
TAC
Grains
39.0
fps
2419
PSil,
52,400 41.2
Grains _ fps
~=—«-2544 ~—«60,600
PSI.
Sugg Max a
=
IMR-4895 38.0 2320S 45,400 42.5 +=2550 58,500
IMR-4064 38.5 ——-2298~— 44,700 =~ 43.0 ~—-2550__—57,500_
Powder
IMR-4895
Grains
37.0
fps
227 35,500
_ Grains
41.5 2500 51,200 C
o
=
Varget 39.0 2273 +—-44,800 | 43.5 2521 56,500 AA2460 37.5 «2300 :~=—«45,600 += 41.8 «2546 «61,700P-
AA2520 38.0 2192 37,400 42.2 2549 58,100 748 39.0 2281 +~—«35,500 | 444 2573 51,100C
IMR-4320 38.0 2234 42,900 420 2505 58,400 IMR-4064 35.5 2192 -~—-37,100 + 41.0+ 2470 +48,100 C
N140 38.0 2204 40,900 42.0 2503 _58,800 Varget 38)5 2322 43,900 42.8+ 2575 60,200 P
RX15 39.0 2278 + ~—41,900 43.5 2548 ~—57,800 AA2520 37.5 «2291 :~—S—«45,100 (gaa ne 200 Pe
N540 39.5 2276 ~—«41,300 ~~ 44.0 ~—«-2578 ~—_—58,500 IMR-4320 39.0 2247 39,000 _ 43.0 2481, 50, 800 C
N150 39.5 2289 +=«42,600 +~—«43.7,_~—s-2524 57,900 N140 S/R) 2231 40 900 42.0 2500 58,300 P
760 43.0 2345 44,600 48.0+ 2549 54,700 RXI5 385 2332 38,500 Me eneeea meee
H-380 43.0 2409-~—«42,400 48.04 2624 ~—-51,200C
N150. 39.5 2338 ~——«45,500 44.0+ 2571 60,700P
N550 42.5 2396 44,300 + 47.0+ 2667 60,900 P
760 420 2225 36,300 Ae 5a So god
H-414 40.5 2166 32,400 46.04 2426 44,300 C
ae a
IMR-4350 385 2101 _—+35,000 44.04 2366 45,800 C
2.780" OAL SD: 301
Sugg
Starting Velocity Pressure al Velocity Pressure #311359 BC: .181
Powder Grains fps ____ Grains 115 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.430" OAL SD: .173
IMR-4895 37.0 2150 ~—-36,900 =~ 40.5 ~—-2392_—«451,600C Sugg Max
IMR-4064 38.5 2290 + 46,400 43.0 2521 60,400 P Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure
Varget 38.0 2291 46,600 42.5 2503 60,200P Powder Grains fps C.U.P Grains fps C.U.P.
AA2520 34.5. 2105 36,300 [ieaOe2se60) 51,2006 Red Dot 00 1623 24,000 10 2000 39,400
IMR-4320 39.0 2178 37,300 42.5 2409 52,400C 700X 9.0 1540 24,600 225) 1879 40,300 —
N140 37.5 2218 44,800 42.0 2465 62,000P Green Dot 11.0 1692 25,200, BRS. O2049 e400)
RX15 375.2257 38,500. Gaayeee7 St bo PB 10.5 1601 _—-24,600 _ eR aaae 1879 38,600—
H-380 39.0 2178 33,200 45.0+ 2447 43,800C Unique 12.0 1831-24600 ~—'17.0 2272 :~—«40,700
N150 38.5 2259 45,700 43.0 2476 60,200P SR-7625 12.0 1704 26,400 alee 1953 39, 400—
AA2700 42.0 2211 40,700 47.5+ 2458 51,300 Herco 14.0 1886 25,800 WON PES 38,600 3
760 41.0. 2124 + ©35,000 —46.2+ 2423 47,500C
H-414 39.5 2075. 32,500 45.0+ 2347 43,200C Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum.
IMR-4350 43.0 2145 36,000 48.0+ 2457 51,200 Loads shown in bold designate poe neal most accurate load.
Designates a compressed powder charge.
H-4831 45.0 2061 32,500 49.5+ 2309 42,000C ak
In pressure column, C=Copper Units of Pressure (CUP); P=Pounds per Square Inch (PSI)
#311672 BC: .245 #311291
160 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.635" OAL SD: .241 170 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.510" OAL
Sugg Max Sugg { i
Powder Grains _fps PS.I. Grains _ fps PSies Powder Grains _fps : ___ Grains ips
Unique 9.8 ~=——-1386~—-20,700 += -13.0 +~—«*1646 ~—-31,800 Unique "10.0 1368. 23,400 IS Osta a7 70
SR-7625 10.7 ~—«-'1391_-~—-20,000 = 14.0 +—*1655-—31,800 SR-7625 10.0 (1290 28,800 | 713.01560 39,900'C
SR-4756 11.3 1404 17400 145 1656 27,900 SR-4756 12.0 1416 30,000. 14.5 1607 __-37,700C
2400 3~—«*15.5 1501 14600 19.5 1805 23,200 2400 —s«'16.5 «1606 21,600 Rane
SR-4759 18.0 1638 15,000 27.5 2317 49,900. SR-4759 19.5. 1847-22300 = 26.0 2255 47,800C
IMR-4227. 20.0 1596 13,000 30.0 2328
40,600 IMR-4227__21.5 _-1867 «22,400 (e270 ee sonie
XMP-5744 20.0 1672 17,000 31.0 2337 40,700 XMP-5744 19.0 1615 18,100 31.0 2356 51,600P
IMR-4198 21.0 1674 14,200 [ieee emer oan IMR-4198 24.0 1897 22,700 305 e2a41 as 2001:
XMR-2015 25.0 1602. 12,300 35.0 2318 30,900 RX7. 23.0. 1870 21,200 ae eee
RX7 25.0 1703 13,600 (=eaguGaumean
700 IMR-3031 28.5 1868 20,200 39.54 2653 49,800C
IMR-3031 28.0 ~——-'1634.-—s-'13,400 += 38.0 ~=—-.2347-—— 30,900
‘ #311332 BC: 320

% 180 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.705" OAL SD: .271
_— #311041 BC: 220 es er
YY 173 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.617" OAL SD: .260 Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure
. ote Sugg Max Powder —-Grains_—fps__ Grains _fps
Des Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure Unique 12.2 1425 23,000 (ee ie emtn oes
3 i) Powder Grains fps Grains= ips
Ps SR-7625 11.5 1270 ~—-21,500 | 140 1492 36,400:
q Unique 10.0 1368 ~—-23,400~—s«*15.0 «1816 +37,700C SR-4756 13.0 1378 22,700 [eS 1587 ee 4une
a) SR-7625 10.0 1290 28,800 ~=—-13.0 +1560 39,900C 2400 17.0 1599 20,000 24.0 + —-2034_-—«-40,100P
mY) SR-4756 12.0 —«*'1416~— 30,000 += 145 +~=—-1607 37,700 SR-4759 23.5 1827 25,000 ~—s-26.3 ~=—.2035 «38,600C
2400 165 1606 21,600 23.0 2010 37,700P IMR-4227 25.0 1867 24,300 = 29.0 ~—«.2126 +=36,900C
SR-4759 19.5 1847 22,300 = 26.0 +~—.2255-— 47,800C XMP-5744 21.0 1667 19,300 += 32.5 ~—S-2308 +=49,200P
IMR-4227 21.5 1867 22,400 + -27.8 2270 +49,500C IMR-4198 26.5 +1856 22,000 32.0 2229 40,200C
XMP-5744 19.0 1615 18,100 31.0 2356 51,600P RX7.s—s«28.0- 1827-20800 +=es nnn om te eee
IMR-4198 24.0 —-1897—22,700 + 30.5 + ~—-2341 -—«-48,200C XMR-2015 31.0 —«*1891_-—«*19,500 +——-36.0 +~—«2324~—«37,900C
RX7_ 23.0 1870 21,200 = 41.5 ~—-2602:-—«49,700C IMR-3031 33.0 --2001-~=—20,500 37.5 2361 37,800C
+
IMR-3031 28.5 1868 20,200 + 39.5+ 2653 49,800C H-335 32.0 ~—«1902-21,800 39.0 +~—«2316 +—-36,800C
IMR-4895 33.5 1909 20,000 +=39.0-—-2372-—«:39,100C
#311644 BC: .272 #311299 BC: .377

Sugg Max Sugg Max
Powder Grains fps Grains _ fps. au Powder Grains fps PSI. Grains PS.I.
Unique 105 1289 21,000 145 1614 40,700C Unique 11-5 1400-28300 16.0 «1699 45,400
SR-7625 10.0 ~—«'1174_~—s21,300 | 14.0 1501 42,200 AAH9 —s«‘17.0 1616 =~ 23,600 += 23.0 +=«1983 «43,400
SR-4756 11.5 1292 22,000 ‘FRIIS tia coo 2400 18.0 1638 23,600 ~—24.0 1995 43,700
2400 17.0 1596 21,500 uaa eg es SR-4759 17.0 1590 22,300 AON iSoaiunas 700
SR-4759 20.0 ~—s-1682—s21,600 26.0 ~—-2029-—-47,100C IMR-4227_ 19.5 1617 «19,400 ~ 26.0 +=—«1994- 38,100
IMR-4227. 21.0 1720 = -23,100 ~—28.0
= 2117_—-42,300P- XMP-5744 20.0 _—*1608 ~—«19,700 27.0 2016 ~—«35,300
XMP-5744 19.5 1578 18,200 32.5 2349 55,800P Ni30_- 22.0 1598 17,200 (985 ons mesa enes
IMR-4198 23.5 —-1760~—-21,900 31.0 ~—-2192_-- 45,400C IMR-4198 20.5 1615 18,300 ~——-27.3.~=—«1999 30,900
RX7 25.0 1738 «18,500 ue es RX7__— 22.0 1622 19,300 90 20f4 aaeno
XMR-2015 28.0 1833. ——-21,200 + 38.0 2340+ 47,700C Varget 28.0 1608 ~—'15,700 34.0 «21994 «25,800
IMR-3031 32.0 1943 22,700 -40.0+ 2435 48,100 C a Z
H-335 31.0 _—*'1875~—«22,300 amas cones
IMR-4895 33.0 «1923. 22,800 +=42.0+ 2447 49,200C
wD) + Designates a compressed powder charge.
In pressure column, C=Copper Units of Pressure (CUP); P=Pounds per Square
Inch (PSI)
-06 Springfield
dhe 30-06 has reigned for 100 years
as probably the most popular
American center-fire rifle cartridge. Its
ability to shoot bullets from 110 to fs 3.340
220-grains and digest a wide number
of smokeless powders gives it a flexi-
bility that few rifle cartridges can
match. As a military cartridge, it
served the United States in both
World Wars and Korea. In civil guise,
it has hunted all of North America and
most — if not all — of the rest of the
world, and dominated High-Power
rifle competition for years. The 30-06
has served as the basis for many of our
current rifle cartridges as well as the
parent of innumerable wildcats. The
30-06 is still going strong despite the
best efforts by some gunwriters over the years to declare The 30-06 also works extremely well with cast bul-
it obsolete. Reloading dies for the 30-06 have consis- lets. Results can vary from one gun to the next and
tently been one of the three best selling Lyman die sets shooters will often need to experiment with sizing
for decades. diameters and seating depths but the results are well
The 30-06 evolved from the short-lived 30-03 car- worth it. Shooters loading for the M1903A3 rifles with
tridge originally chambered in M1903 Springfield Rifle. two-groove barrels have had particularly good accura-
In spite of the thoroughly modern design of the new ‘03 cy frorn Lyman cast bullets #311291 and #311644. Best
rifle, the ballistics of the 30-03 showed little improve- powder choices for cast bullets include Reloder 7,
ment over the 30-40 Krag, which it replaced. The XMP-5744, and SR-4759.
German military’s refinement of their 7.92x57mm car-
tridge with a 154-grain spitzer bullet in 1905 caught the
attention of the world’s major powers. The just-adopted Test Components:
30-03 with its 220-grain round nose bullet at 2,300 feet EASES tecar meee Gre REP MR « eco due An a Winchester
per second became obsolete overnight. The U.S. mili- Uriran tOnerates cuca eicsarncs mata eaeee 2.484"
tary refined the 30-03 into the 30-06 in short order. The DYN yerShee tte oe peste ok cance oe eth cote Winchester WLR
newly altered cartridge featured a case shortened by PRIME SIZE rena rin eee Se rae eres: Large Rifle
Lynran Shelliroider.seis: os ones ranean en ee No. 2
.070” and fired a 152-grain bullet at 2,740 feet per sec-
ond. This cartridge served in the U.S. military in numer-
ous loadings into the early 1960s. The original 30-03 Hornady SP #3020, 130 gr.
round survived a few more years as a chambering in Hornady SP # 3031, 150 gr.
Winchester’s Model 95 before finally fading into history. Nosler Ballistic Tip #30165, 165 gr.
While the 30-06 is an extremely flexible cartridge, Sierra HPBT #2200, 168 gr.
shooters loading for the M1 Garand rifle must follow Sierra SBT #2160, 180 gr.
certain precautions. The Garand’s gas system is Sierra HPBT #2210, 190 gr.
designed around military issue ammunition with bullets Sierra HPBT #2230, 200 gr.
usually weighing either 152 or 173-grains. The best Hornady RN #3090, 220 gr.
powders for loading in the M1 Garand are IMR-4895, or Gast: Bullets Used esac acc. ceteaen: (sized to .309" dia)
IMR-4064. Garand shooters should stick with spitzer *gas check bullet *#311359, 115 gr.
*#311672, 160 gr.
bullets weighing between 150 to 168-grains. Round
*#311291, 170 gr.
nosed bullets may not feed properly through the M1’s *#311041, 173 gr.
mechanism. Moreover, the use of heavier bullets can *#311644, 190 gr.
eventually damage the rifle’s operating system. Shooters *#311299, 200 gr.
reloading military cases should keep maximum loads *#311284, 210 gr.
one to two grains below those listed here. Cases should
be full-length sized for proper functioning as in any
semiautomatic rifle.
The wide-range of bullet weights usable in the 30-
06 mandate some discretion in powder selection. Mid- Firearm be Seceremt...chettetas
«ten Universal Receiver
range powders such as IMR-4895 usually work well Batrel Leripuin serine serena. seeks Sattar 24"
with all bullet weights. Lighter bullets will work with IV IStaee eee eee e Paeeer RN. key ee i 1-10"
faster powders such as, IMR-3031 or H-335. Heavier Groove Dia eit eo aa oe tee ave 308"
200 and 220-grain bullets should respond well with
IMR-4350, Reloder 19 and other slower burning
powders.
30-06 Springfield (7.62 x 63mm) |
110 gr. Jacketed HP BC: 177 125 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .279
3.000" OAL SD: .166 3.080" OAL SD: .188
Sugg Max Sugg J Max ;
Powder _ Grains fps Grains _ fps Powder = Grains _fps : Grains fps)
RX7 (37.0 2736 35,500 Oo ea gone RX7 "385 2710 38,500 |) 43.0 | 2932) sazcoe
IMR-3031 47.0 —-2930-~— 35,000 += 52.0 3257 «46,700C IMR-3031 45.0 2732 __—-33,000___—50.0 3095 _ 45,000 C
H-335 45.0 2923 40,400 51.0 3203 48,900C H-335 45.5 2815 37,500 51.5 3144 48,500C
IMR-4895 49.0 3012 39,400 535 3266 50,000C IMR-4895 48.0 2815 36,500 53.5 3096 47,300 C
BL-C(2) 51.0 3144 41,100 55.0 3378 50,400C BL-C2) 49.0 2890 35,000 54.0 3215 -48,000C
AA2460 53.0 3122 41,900 585 3453 58,600P AA-2460 50.5 2737 35,600 56.0 3222 57,000 P
748 —=s«51.0 «3060 ~—«39,000 += 60.0 -~—=«3387 ~—«49,000C iss _ 515 2890 35,300
IMR-4064 50.0 3030-~—-39,000-~—Ss« 55.5 3356 +=48,800C IMR-4064 48.0 2762, 31,500 55.0 3.215: 47,200C
IMR-4320 49.0 2770 ~—-36,000 = 55.0 3105 +46,700C
IMR-4320
:
50.0 2906 +~—-38,600 = 55.5 3184 49,600C H-380 51.0 2967 39,000 56.5 3194 49,600C
Big Game_55.8 _2992 _40,800 _ [SAEs ace BigGame 55.0 2884 42,900 61.0 3212 57,000P
700385 2922 33,800 760 56.0 2801 34,200 63.0+ 3215 47,600C
IMR-4350___56.0 2898 37,300 _ ie crs IMR-4350 55.0. -2754.”~«+34,000.~-«61.0 3105 46,000C
H-4831 55.0 2557 —s-28,800 = 61.5+ 2985 39,400C IMR-4831 57.0 2700 33,600 63.0 +3017 43,200
H-4831 55.0 2544 30,000 61.5+ 2906 40,000C
. 130 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .295 ee

a 3.090" OAL SD: .196
4 = 6 we 150 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .338
ugs ! 1 .
—— Starting Velocity Pressure | Load Velocity Pressure 3.200" OAL SD: .226
ms") Powder —_Grrains fps Grains _ fps Sugg , Max ,
as) IMR-3031 45.0 2793 36,400 50.0 3048 45,000C Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure
En H-335 46.0 2813 ~—«40,800 +~=—«+52.0 3081 +—50,000C rowder rains Ee Graing___fps ee
8 IMR-4895 48.0 2890 42,000 51.0 3036 49,900 — ;ae te aa 2 sae aoe
r BL-C(2) 49.0 2932 38,100 53,5 3174 48,400C a PED Ea la lt mel Rea
AA-2460 49.5. 2856 ~—42,000 ~—«'55.0 3196 58,800 P IMR-4895 46.0 2680 -~— 36,900 += 51.5 ~—-2958 49,200C
BL-C(2) 46.0 2770 44,600 51.0 2932 48,000C
748 «53.0 ~—=«2967 «46,800 58.0 3214 56,500P AA-2460 46.5 2597 38,500 51.7 ~—-2869 -—«48,500 C
IMR-4064 48.0 __-2808__—36,000_ SHOT S164 22 S00C IMR-4064 48.0 2695 36,000 += 53.0 «3012 :-—«49,600C
IMR-4320__ 49.0 2793 39,000 __ i ae een IMR-4320 47.0 2624 ~—37,300 +=53.0 ~—«-2923-«48,400C
H-380 51.0 2967 42,000 54.5 3125 50,000C RX15 50.5 2777 +40,000 [SaOl29n7 uemoant=
BigGame 57.4 3022 49,900 | 60.5 3199 59,100P H-380. 48.0 2724 40,300 53.0 2976 50,000C
7600555 2822 35,000 63.0 3111 44,200C BigGame 55.0 2805 46,600 += 58.0 +~—«-2983-—«56,100P
IMR-4350 51.0 = 2623S 34,200 += 58.0+ 2949 44,200 760 48.0 2535 34,200 56.0 2878 49,600C
IMR-4831_ 57.0 2686 32,900 62.0+ 2984 44,400C N160 54.5 2588 35,900 ~—«60.5+ +2919 50,500P
H-4831 55.0 —-2570-~— 32,500 + 61.5+ 2923 41,600C IMR-4350 49.0 2545. 37,300 +=57.0+ 2887 47,800C
RX19 58.5 2690 40,800 64.34 +2925 +—49,600 C
IMR-4831 55.0 2571 ~—33,800 ~—s-61.0+ 2903 +47,100C.
H-4831 55.0 2551 33,000 ~—s615+ 2890 43,300
165 gr. jacketed Ballistic Tip BC: .475

3.285" OAL SD: .248
Sugg Max
Powder _— Grains _— fps_—s~éPS.I._ = Grains —sfps_—Ss PASI.
IMR-3031 44.0 2495 38,500 += 49.0-S«s«:2784_~——«56,100
H335. ss 43.0. ~—s 2474.= 42,600 += 48.0 +=-2690 54,300
IMR-4895 45.0 2503 —37,700 += 50.0 +=:2815 ‘56,200
IMR-4064 47.0 2495 38,000 = 52.0 2851 + 58,100
IMR-4320 47.0 2542, 41,200 = 52.0 =2843S 57,500
RX15 ss 47.0 ~—s.2531 ~—39,300 neat mogreoe
H-380 485 2515 40,100 53.0 2804 54,000
BigGame 53.2 2709 50,200 56.0 2865 58,300
760 52.5 2697 43,500 57.0 2959 58,600
IMR-4350 52.5 2613 45,100 57.0+ 2878 56,600
| RX19 54.5 2464 37,600 604+ 2816 53,300 Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum.
N160 aR 2597. 41,100 61.0+ 2895 56,500 Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate loac
IMR-4831 54.0 2485 38,400 59.0+ 2786 52,000 + Designates
a compressed powder charge.
H-4831 56.0 431 34,900 62.0+ 2754 49,000 In pressure column, C=Copper Units of Pressure
224 (CUP); P=Pounds per Square Inch (PSI)
63mm) 30-06 Spri ngfield
168 gr. Jacketed HPBT 180 gr. Jacketed SBT BC: .475
3.300" OAL 3.280" OAL SD: .271
Sugg Sugg Max
Powder Grains ————— i Powder Grains fps Grains
IMR-3031 42.0 2463 34,000 48.0 2808 49,600C IMR-4895 42.0 —-2386_~—« 36,000 = 47.5 +2659 ~—-48,000C
IMR-4895 43.0 2444 35,500 48.5 +—-2762:~=«47,600C IMR-4064 43.0 —-2403'—=— 35,000 ~~ 49.0 ~—«2710:~=—«47,200C
IMR-4064 45.0 2551_—-34,000 50.0 ~—-2816 ~—-46,700C AA2520 41.0 —-2275-—=—« 35,400 «47.3. ~=—«2572 ~+49,700C
AA2520 42.5 —-2383-—-36,200 ~~ 48.0 «2653 48,800C IMR-4320 41.0 2281 +~=—«35,800 46.3. ~—«2584 49,900 C
IMR-4320 45.0 247536400 51.0 2816 50,000 760 _ 45.0 2360 35,500 «52.0 2666 ~—-49,000C
RX15 475 2592 38,800 | 51.8 2832 50,000 IMR-4350 50.0 2469-38300 -—«-56.0++2801 50,000 C
AA2700 495 2475 41,800 55.0 2745 +54,900 P. RX19 52.0 2497 41,200 583+ 2698 ~—-48,800C
760 50.0 2541 37,300 +570 2839 :~—«-49,700C Hunter 54.0 2577 45,800 60.0 2802 ~+58,000P
IMR-4350_ 52.0 2590 38,000 ~——57.0+ 2873 + 50,400C N160 53.0 2418 37,700 585+ 2743 55,100P
RX19 55.0 2489 «37,800 ~—-60.9+ ~~2810 +—-50,000C IMR-4831 52.5 2525 «39,000 «58.44 2788 48,700C
N160 55.0 2559 39,800 61.0+ 2891 58,800P XMR-3100 53.5 2425-38300 +~—«-59.0+ 2648 48,300C
IMR-4831 54.5 2544 35,700 60.6+ 2847 47,800C H-4831 55.0 2604 40,300 60.0+ 2840 50,000C
H-4831 55.0 2564 37,300 ~—«61.5+ 2873 47,200 RX22 55.5 2536 39,300 ~—«60.8+ +2780 ~—48,400C
190 gr. Jacketed HPBT BC: 533 : ——

1 .
Fee a oe Eee 200 grJacketed HPBT BC: .565
Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure 3.280" OAL SD: 301
Powder Grains fps _ Grains Sugg Max
IMR-4895 41.0 2288 35,000 46.0 2569 50,000C Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure
IMR-4064 42.0 2309 + 32,500 +475 +2624 +48,400C Boer Oras ps Sete ee
AA2520.
IMR-4320
41.0
44.0
2233 +~«36,800 + +~«46.0
2341 34,500 49.0.
+«-2469 ~—«48,500C
2631 +48,800
IMR-4895
IMR-4064
AN
42.0
22629300
2309 '-~—=«-38,100 ~~ —-47.0 + «2552 50,000C OF
sq
a5 46.0 2350 36200. 53.0 2662 50,000C IMR-4320 43.0 2294S 38,600 ~—s47.5 +~—«-2502- 47,600C
H-414 47.0 2368 36,200 54.0 2694 49,800C As 45.0 2224 36,300 eee
IMR-4350 45.0 2205 31,500 51.0 2586 50,000C ae 46.0 2258 35,000 ee
Ete S15. 2341 37300 [ns IMR-4350 49.0 2380 39,900 ‘540+ 2638 48,400C
Hunter 51.7 2482 43,900 57.0 2739 58,400P ge 51.5 2302 36,500
N160 52.0 7383 39,800 58.0 2695 57,4
57,400 P- Hunter 49.0 2379 43,100 54.5 2615 56,200P
IMR-4831 51.0 2395 37,300 56.8+ 2686 49,300 ae S15 2340 38,500
XMR-3100 53.5 2368 36,800 + 59.0+ 2614 48,600 IMR-4831 _50.0_2323_35,800 _ ASS ee
H-4831 53.0 2450 36,900 59.0+ 2724 47,200C XMR-3100 53.0 233639000
RX22 55.0 2461
an
37,800 | 60.5+sae npc
2722 48,700C
as
H-4631_—i52.0
RX22__
2343 40,900
53.0 2340
36,400 59.0+ re
2650 56,600P
220 gr. Jacketed RN BC: 300

3220" OAL SD: .331
Sugg Max
Powder Grains fps Grains fps"
IMR-4064 41.0 2183= 37,300 = 46.52439 49,200 C
IMR-4320 41.0 2118 36,400 47.5 2421 49,200
760 445 2106 37,200 + ~—«50.5 2381 49,400 C
H-414 45.0 2153 40,200 51.0 2379 49,200C
IMR-4350 49.0 2309 40,700 ~—53.0+ 2500 49,200 C
Hunter 476 2193. 39,700 [SaueenO ines200
RX19 50.0 2127 34,600 55.8+ 2451 48,800C
N160 52.0 2303 46,400 58.0+ 2463 57,900P
IMR-4831 49.5 2192 35,700 546+ 2458 47,100C
XMR-3100 51.5 2172 _ 37,800 57.5 2427 49,000 C Note: | Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum.
H-4831 51.0 2283 38,600 |575+ 2583 50,000 C Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate load.
RX22 53.0 2201 36,100 58.0+ 2477 51,600P- + Designates a compressed powder charge.
IMR-7828 51.0 2058 +~—-33,800 «56.04 2357 48,900P aeae See eu ee Pressure a
#311359 #311672
115 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.909" OAL 160 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.050" OAL
Sugg Sugg bene : '
fps Grains _fps Powder — Grains__fps PSI. Grains —— fps PSH
Powder _Grains
Red Dot 11.0 1683 23,400 ~—-'15.0 +—-2000 36,900 C Unique 18.0 = 1852 34,300 = 24.0 —-2182_—56,700_
700X 10.0 1610 22,000 14.0 1953 38,100C. SR-4759 25.0 1950 24,700 _-33.0_—-2381__— 50,400
Green Dot 13.0 1792-28800 ~=—'16.0 «2020: 38,600 XMP-5744 26.0 1929 22,000 35.0 2396 _~—_—«37,800
Unique 14.0 1960 27,000 19.0 —-2331_~—«-42,000C IMR-4198 27.0 1940 19,600 37.0 2421 36,000
SR-7625 12.5 1677 21,600 ~—*'16.5 + 2008:~—«42,400C RX7 28.0 1904 17,600 38.0 2411 36,700
Herco 14.5 1876 28,200 =:18.0 ~—-2132:~—«39,000C IMR-3031 32.0 1752 13,800 [aSOa ieaes Mea
XMP-5744 24.0 1904 15,600 32.0 2399 26,600P.
#311291
170 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.013" OAL #311041
Sugg cBe 173 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.968
Starting Velocity Pressure | Load Velocity Pressure Sugg :
Powder Grains fps Grains fps. Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure
Unique 12.0 ~—-1508 24,000 +=16.5 ~— 1842 36,400C Powder _Grains_fps rato Np eee
4 SR-7625 11.5 «(1363 -—-23,400 +='145 «1585 36,000 C Unique 12.0 1504 24,000 16.5 1811 35,500.C
i o Herco fos 1488 26, A400. a 16. oO 1697 35,500 C SR- 7625, 11.5 1346 24,000 94. 3 1570 36,900 C
_ SR-4756 12.5. «(1418 ~—«-22,200 +s-*16.5 1692 35,500 C Herco __—-'13.0.——*1497_—27,000 16.0 1689 _36,000C
Ss 2400 185 1635 18,200 29. 5 2296 43,100@ SR-4756 125 1406 22,800 16.5 1653 36,400 Cc
a) SR-4759 20.0 ~—s-'1666 ~—'16,700 += 31.0 «2325 46,900C 2400 20.0 1751 22,200. ae
4 O XMP-5744 26.0 1928 25,000 35.0 —-2388 ay 600 P- SR- 4759 200 Oa2y 13,900 § Soe 2329 47 AUG
} IMR-4198 25.0 —-*'1729-—s«'15,100 38.5 2501 ~—-45,100C XMP-5744 26.0 1929 24,300 34.0 2393 43,000 P
i RX7 25.0 1733 15,100 38.3 2480 47,600 IMR-4198 25.0 1717 13,100 38.5 2463 +43,100C
oc IMR-3031 29.0 1710 13,900 42.0 2469 38,200 RX7 25.0 1661 12,800 405-2515 __46,900 C
See ee eae IMR-3031 30.0 -—s-1636~—s'11,100 == 44.0 2522 ~—-40,800 C
#31 1 644
esate
190 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.075" OAL aera

Sugg #311299 BC: .377
Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure 200 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.250" OAL SD: .301
Powder Grains fps ssa Sugg Max
Unique 13.0 1404 21,800 + ~=—'17.2 ~—«'1677~—«36,800C Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure
SR-7625 12.2 1295 —«-23,400 ‘eee OOOrC Powder Grains__fps PS. Grains _fps PS.
Herco 145 1437-20500 ~—«'18.0~—«:1664_—«31,100C Unique 12.7: 1398 «25,500 Ny
SR-4756 185 = 1378 23,600 ba70 1587 34,100C 2400 15.0 1376 15,400 [ae
SR-4759 23.0 1716 21,000 as 1975 37,700 C SR-4759 19.5 1626 23,100 (970) 2002 "emaa aan
XMP-5744 27.0 1891 25,900 37.0 «2385 49,900P IMR-4227 21.0 1600 _~—*'19,100-s«29.0-—«1992 «35,400
RX7 22.0 1650 21,000 = 38.0 = 2250 40,500P_ XMP-5744 21.0 1609 ~—_—19,500 29.5 1998 33,200
N130 MMA ©
IMR-4198 21.0 ——-1601_~—Ss*19,100 += 30.0-~Ss:«*1997 —-30,800
RX7 22.0 1588 17,700 305 1989 30,300
er
210gr.(#2 Alloy) 3.063" OAL e e
SD: 316
B 13300 _ ee
Sugg Max
Powder _ Grains fps ; Grains fps_
Unique 11.5 1326 26,400 (ie eta ese 40
SR-7625 (11.5. —«*:1242 ~—«-30,000+~=—«'13.0 +~—«1320 36,400
Herco 125 1335-30500 ‘(9955 1510) 139,000C
SR-4756 125 1264 26,400 |15.5 1445 35,000C
sears) 2201679 274-2 20452006

2400 10D, 000 24.0 —4827 32,0000 C Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum.
XMP-5744_ ree 1885 30,300. fase : “2327 _57,900P

Rare
i carr
el alee gta
In pressure column, Cope Units reir
RX7 25.0 1685 22,200 38.2 2254 47,000C (CUP); P=Pounds per Square Inch (PSI)
Lhe 300 Holland and Holland is the
grandfather of the modern belted 30-
caliber Magnums. In contrast to the 3.600
later 300 Winchester and 300 i
Weatherby, this cartridge requires the >| 8° 30°
belt for proper headspacing due to its
long, sloping shape. Holland and
Holland introduced their “Super 30”
in the early 1920s. Its availability via
only expensive imported or custom
cE| se
tlt
(496 Gea Ol Ome OOO
rifles limited its access to the average

American hunter. The 300 H&H came
to prominence in America when Ben
Comfort won the 1000-yard stage of
the National Matches in 1935.
Winchester offered the chambering
two years later in a Magnum-length
Model 70. American shooters now
had a reasonably priced 30-caliber Magnum rifle. The
300 H&H is suitable for most North American hunting
and has seen extensive use on the African plains. It is
still a potent cartridge but has been overtaken by later
110 gt. Jacketed HP
developments. The current generation of premium bul-
3.600" OAL
lets are well suited to the performance levels of the
H&H. IMR-4350 and IMR-4831 produced the best Sugg
results in our tests. Powder Grains Ds
IMR-4064
760. 64.0 2891 =
IMR-4350
Test Components:
ORES. ak" Te Sa Winchester IMR-4831
MearePOMPCNVOMIM ee ono ais wit ees ee kee 2.840" XMR-3100
OWE Re tage eG ee ee WLR
RE eI rae = eine nd os nid > Brae Large Rifle
Peer IP IOWION ce. oa oni ss Sa wayee oes No. 13
Nosler SP #35626, 200 gr. 130 gr. Jacketed SP
Hornady RN #3090, 220 gr. 3.600" OAL
Gastbuites Used os ... e c s (sized to .309" dia)
Sugg
*gas check bullet *#311291, 170 gr. Starting
Powder Grains
IMR-4064 60.0
760 62.0
IMR-4350 65.0
RX19 67.5
(Velocity Only)
Remington Model 721 IMR-4831 66.5
SMES TAD 89 (rr
Pe OUUE erin. Oa tpt soba A eanlcs ae 26" XMR-3100 70.0,
Tea RA oy Je SLs Che eee ORs « 1-10" H-4831 73.0
CHD OLUSH DYE De eepte ge ate Meir esoe ee Ce 308"

150 gr. Jacketed SP 165 gr. Jacketed Ballistic Tip BC: .475
3.600" OAL 3.600" OAL SD: .248
Sugg Su 88 /
Starting pe Pressure Starting
:
Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains Powder Grains ps
IMR-4064 59.0 ar2 —
760 61.0 2633 — IMR-4350
IMR-4350 63.0 2799 —
RX19 65.0 PETES) — IMR-4831
IMR-4831 65.0 2809 — XMR-3100
XMR-3100 68.5 2792 — H-4831
H-4831 72.0 2923 =
180 gr. Jacketed Ballistic Tip BC: 507 200 gr. Jacketed Spitzer BC: .481
3.600" OAL SDeZAl 3.600" OAL SD: .381
Su 85 Sugg
Starting Velocity Pressure Starting ey Pressure
Powder Grains Powder Grains
IMR-4350
IMR-4350 IMR-4831
XMR-3100 61.0
XMR-3100 65.0
H-4831
220 gr. Jacketed RN BC: 300 #311291 BC: .202

3.600" OAL SD: 331 170 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.335" OAL SD: .256
Sugg Sugg
Starting Nelocity Pressure Starting eau Pressure
IMR-4350 SR-4759 27.0 1 aa
IMR-4831 XMP-5744 29.0 1905
XMR-3100 28.0 1801

ieininstan introduced their own
concept of a rebated rim Short
050 — ||—— 5347
Magnum in 2002 as a short action
adaptation of the popular Ultra Mag
series. This was not however their first
experience with short magnums.
Remington first offered their belted
350 and 6.5mm Remington Magnums
in the short action Model 600 rifle
back in the mid-sixties. Neither car-
tridge enjoyed significant commercial
success and both are long discontin-
ued. Case length of the 300 SAUM is
.085” shorter than the 300 WSM with
a gentler 30-degree shoulder set
approximately .125” farther back. The
SAUM family of cartridges shares the
appearance of the PPC with its short,
fat disposition of powder. Factory specifications average
around 150 to 200 feet per second over the 30-06 while
using seven to eight percent more powder. Tests in
Lyman’s ballistic lab showed the 300 SAUM to average
only around 30 to 50 feet below Winchester’s short 300 150 gr. Jacketed Scirocco BC: .430
while using three to four percent less powder. All pro- 2.800" OAL SD: .226
pellants listed displayed fairly uniform ballistics Sugg
throughout with IMR-4350, Reloder 19, Reloder 22, Powder Grains fps P.S.L.
and the various VihtaVuori powders giving particularly H414 61.5
consistent results. Cast bullets were selected for their IMR-4350
capability to seat properly in the case while remaining XMR-4350 62.5
within the maximum overall length. IMR-4198 and
H4895 provided the most consistent results during cast
bullet testing. MAGPRO 52,900
Test Components:
“ELS ko Se ae Se a ee Te eae Remington
RCN ie ee so ace ee bee e's2.005"
BEMNIENS nya olde gsin.o Remington 91/2 M & 91/2 (cast bullets)
Beet SIZE Gio ie. 3k x Large Rifle, Magnum & Standard
Bema PTE TINO! fon os i et i ee nae 8 No. 13
Jacketed Bullets Used ........... Swift Scirocco, 150 gr.
Nosler Ballistic Tip, #30180, 180 gr.
Nosler Partition, #35626, 200 gr. 165 gr. jacketed Scirocco BC: .470
2.800" OAL SD: .248
SEICIONISOUT 8 nian pee «oo (sized to .309" dia)
*#311672, 160 gr. Sugg
*9as check bullet Starting Velocity Pressure
*#311644, 190 gr. Powder Grains DS P.S.I.
-H414
IMR-4350 57,200
XMR-4350
Test Specifications: N160 56,500
(Velocity & Pressure) IMR-4831 56,000
IRCA SCC Maren nat qists Gs Sisuece- creo Universal Receiver RX19
BREN EMOUL ofr. fe ainales Rison se’ do ea eG KEE T™ 24"
“TRMOAESE seats ce a see Ree epee iesare Fe noe 1-10"
MAGPRO 53,700
CHROMED DIB ee On e Ca 308

180 gr. Jacketed Ballistic Tip BC: 507 200 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .481
2.800" OAL SD 227i 2.825" OAL SD: .301
Sugg Su 88 :
Powder Grains fps P.S.I. Powder Grains fps P.S.I.
H414 58.0 2743 ~~52,900
IMR-4350 59.0 2778 57,300
XMR-4350 60.5 2808 55,800
N160 61.0 2807 56,400 IMR-4831 55,100
N560 63.5 2776 ~—-56,100 RX22 :
RX19 63.0 2747 54,500 H-4831 62.5 2666
IMR-4831 61.0 2761 55,500 IMR-7828
RX22 63.5 2767. ~—-51,400 MAGPRO 68.5 2789 57,900
N165 64.5 2649 45,300
MAGPRO 69.0 2802 53,600
#311672 BC: .245 #311644 3

Su 88 \ Sugg
Powder Grains fps P.S.I. Powder Grains PS.I.
SR-4759
XMP-5744 23.0 XMP-5744 27,600
IMR-4227 IMR-4227 23.0 W710 127,800
IMR-4198 IMR-4198
21,800 25,500

N agnum) 300 WSM
BW incheste: launched their Short
Magnum line of cartridges with the
300 WSM in 2001. The 300 WSM is
Winchester’s first completely new car- .3090
tridge to come along in quite a few
years as well as their first non-belted
magnum. The appearance of the
WSM is very similar to the PPC series
of cartridges and features a slightly
rebated rim. Benchrest shooters dis-
covered long ago the inherent accura-
cy advantages of short, stubby car-
tridges. Many shooters report out-
standing accuracy with this cartridge
as well as lower perceived recoil. The
absence of the belt found on tradition-
al magnum cartridges offer smooth
feeding and more positive head spac-
ing. Its 2.100” case length, 35-degree shoulder, and
pressure limit of 65,000 psi are designed to offer mag- Test Specifications:
num level performance in a short action rifle. (Velocity & Pressure)
Ballistics of the 300 WSM averaged 30 to 50 feet Rireaka S@Ce. exter arena ee ee eae Universal Receiver
per second below the full-sized 300 Winchester Batrelelenpthimean ies. cnc cet oo eee Mae 24"
Magnum while consuming around eight to ten percent FIWWISUieper crete ates tee. cworeuceet < pete eae maa Ae 1-10"
less powder in our lab tests. Powders in the medium to GKOOVEID Iam reser oi cote «ee ee ee 308"
slow burning range such as H-414, IMR-4350, and
Reloder 19 all produced very good results. Cast bullets
listed in the data section can be seated to within the
maximum overall length while keeping the !ube
grooves and gas check contained within the neck. In
addition to the listed accuracy loads, SR-4759 and
Reloder 7 provided good results with cast bullet
#311672. XMP-5744 and H-4895 worked well with
150 gr. Jacketed Scirocco BC: .430
cast bullet #311332. Initial public response has been 2.850" OAL SD: .266
quite positive and this cartridge will surely keep the es nies ,
wildcatters busy for years to come. 85
H-380 Ses) 2895 48,600
760
H-414
Test Components:
Hunter 61.0 2945
eee ee oii aidiars canis oe) ae tedeWinchester
N160
MRR CH AN VAEY Wentra ci a Giles? © soc aoe Bains 2 ars ZH90"
IMR-4350 44,000
1.2 i Winchester WLRM and WLR (cast bullets)
XMR-4350 = 61.0
PIVER SIZES pe he ew Large Rifle Magnum and Standard
RX19 63.0 45,600
EORAAE SICNEIOICEN 0 vcetreneige aioe gos ceed ween s No. 34 Magpro 72.0 2888 43,800
Jacketed Bullets Used ........... Swift Scirocco, 150 gr.
CAs DUNCIPUISEON as bul dee cea (sized to .309" dia)
*#311332, 180 gr.

165 gr. Jacketed Ballistic Tip BC: .475 180 gr. Jacketed Scirocco BC: .520
2.850" OAL SD: .248 2.860" OAL SD: .271
Su Sugg Max G
Powder Graiiis fps PS.l. Grains tosses.) Powder Grains fps PS.1. Grains P.S.I.
760 59.0 2812 49,800 65.5 3067 ~—61,400 TS
H-414 58.0 2822 51,700 [R@457 e015 o0 2000 H-414. 56.0 ~—2665 49,800 += 62.0 2931 «62,200
IMR-4350 59.0 2684 44,200 65.5 3049 62,500 IMR-4350 58.0 2632 47,600 64.2 2921 62,900
XMR-4350 60.0 2730 44500 66.5 3053 60,900 XMR-4350 57.5 2606 ~—-45,000 += «64.0 «2916 63,200
N160 61.5 2785 _ 47,800 (663073 61/600) N160 575 2611 46,600 64.0 2880 62,500
Hunter 60.0 2851 54,000 66.5 3074 62,500 Hunter 58.5. 2673 «51,100 65.0 —-2974 _—_—«63,900
RX19 62.0 2688 43,800 | 68:5 3046 60,900_ RX1I9. OTS. 2604. 50,100 Ga 2ese ese
IMR-483 1 62.0 2688 45,000 68.7 3016 61,200 IMR-4831 60.0 2599 47,800 66.7 ~—«2902-6 3,000
H-4831_ 65.0 2775 49,700 72.04 3024 62,400 H-4831 62.0 ~—s.2579~— «46,100 + 68.0+ 2865 62,300
Magpro AO 2821 44,100 79.0% 3103 55,800 N165 —-63.0_~—.2650~— 46,000 70.0+ 2936 ~—60,500
RX22.s«C61.0 ~~ 2697_-—S «48,900 ~—s67.0 —«-2978 ~—«62,700
Magpro 68.0. 2630-— 41,600 75.5+ 2907 ‘52,600
190 gr. Jacketed HPBT BC: 533

2.860" OAL SD: .286
;© Powder
Sugg
Starting
Grains’
Velocity Pressure Load
fps—PS.._— Grainsfps PSL.
Velocity Pressure
200 gr. Jacketed SP
2.860" OAL
BC: .481
SD: .301
760 —s«i565 2630 ~—«50,500 «62.7 ~—«-2864 «62,600 Sugg Max
2 H-414 55.0 2610 50,200 61.0 2844 62,800. Powder
Starting
Grains
Velocity
fps
Pressure
PS.l.
Load Velocity
Grains _ fps
Pressure
P.S.1.
“S IMR-4350 56.0 2574 46,300 625 2859 61,600
S XMR-4350 57.0 2582 46,300 ~~ 63,5 «2858 ~—«61,300
[ie 55.0
H-414 55.5
2523)
2534
50,500 [aaiOuene aa
52,500 |eMeme ames ome
eerie
—) Ni60 57.0 2611 «49,400 «63.5 2851 _—_—62,500_ IMR-4350 55.0 2488 ~—47,300 ~—Ss«61.0 —«-2734_~—«6 1,200
oe) RX19 61.0 2609 47,300 675 2904 62,800 XMR-4350 57.0 2529 48,600 ~—-63.0-~—«2775 ~—«61,900
IMR-4831 59.0 2536 45,300 65.5 2865 63,200 N160 57.0 _—.2537. «51,600 «63.0 -~—«s-2763 ~—=«63,500
H-4831 60.0 2541 46,300 +665 + —«-2822~——«6 2,900 RX19 60.0 2565 48,300 ~—«67.0 —-2826 ~—«63,300
N165 «62.0 —s2592 «44,600 «69.0 ~—«-2861 «58,700 IMR-4831 58.0 2445 +=45,300 ~—s64.0 +~—«-2740:~—s«6 1,600
RX22 60.5 2692 50,000 67.0 2947 «63,800 H-4831 58.5 2493~— 48,800 ~—s65.0 ~—«-2719 ~—«62,300
Magpro 67.5 2665 44,800 —75.0+ 2968 60,400 N165 62.0 -—s2539-~—« 48,400 ~—s«68.0 ~—s-2805 ~—«62,400
RX22 58.5 2590 50,100 | 65.0 2822 62,500
Magpro 67.5 2587 45,600 74.0 2855 58,900__
200 gr. Jacketed HPBT BC: 565
2.860" OAL SD: .301
Sugg Max
Powder Grains fps P.S.L. Grains _ fps P.S.1.
760 55.) 2561 51,100 _RGIS 27825 6 B008
IMR-4350 bo 2520 47,500 61.5 2783 62,300
#311672
XMR-4350 57.0 2549 48,600 ~—-63.0 «2813 «63,000» 160 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.725" OAL
RX22_ 58.5 2631 —+52,100 65.0 «2842 ~—«62,800 SD: .240
N165 62.0 2603 51,100 68.5+ 2821 61,400
Powder Siarthg Veloc He
Grain fe FS. ee
SR-4759_ 21.5 -:1800-—22,900 + 30.2:~Ss «2250 ~—«40,300
XMR-5744 25.0 1782 20,100 = 34.3.» 2242 ~=—«31,000
IMR-4198 25.5 1824 19,100 35.0 +—«-2263~—S—«431,200
#311332 N133 30.0 1791 16,800 39.0 +2251 +~=—«28,600-
180 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.850" OAL RX7___— 26.0 1805 4 19,100 semaes ua eon
Sugg Max H4895 33.0. 1806 ~—*17,000 42.5 +~—«2258 +~—«27,200
Powder _ Grains fps _—s~P.S.l.._
= Grains fps PS.
SR-4759_ 23.5 1804 25,600 33.0 2241 45,500
XMP-5744 26.5 1792 _—-22,500_ 36.0 2245 36,100
IMR-4198 27.0 __—'1823 22,000 37.0 2248 36,600
N133 31.5 1794 19,200 | 41072251 34,700 Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum.
RX7 28.0 _1822 21/300 eae 2247 36,600 —
H-4895 34.0 1818 19,900 43.5 2234 30,200 +Designates a compressed powder charge.
232
This cartridge will duplicate the bal-
listics of the 300 H&H Magnum. Its
main advantage is that it will work in
a standard length action whereas the
H&H round requires a magnum
length action.
This cartridge tends to give the
480
best results with Winchester primers. are 308
Our data was developed using the

standard Winchester primer and the
use of a magnum primer will cause a
pressure increase. When using mag-
2.196
num type primers work up loads cau-
-2.356
tiously and stay at least one grain 2.620
below the maximum listed loads.
S670) Eoin i} <= = = 5)
Favored powders should be
Hodgdon H4831 and IMR 7828.
Strongly constructed bullets of 180 to
220 grains usually give the best balance of internal bal-
listic uniformity and accuracy
130 gr. jacketed SP

3.215" OAL
Test Components: Sugg
EEA og Se rr ena Winchester Starting Velocity Pressure
PES ee ee 2.610" Powder Grains
SU CSIR oh gs Oe, on Winchester WLR Varget 63.5 49,300
PCT ACE sdk ee Large Rifle RX15 64.0 48,200
OLED SS Ls le]{0s en ae No. 13 AA2700 67.5 44,200
Jacketed Bullets Used Hornady SP #3020, 130 gr. 760 69.0 3209 50,200
Hornady SP #3031, 150 gr. H414 66.0 43,500
Nosler Partition #16330, 165 gr. N160 73.0 3121 45,200
IMR-4350 VA) 3086 _—
XMR-3100 72.0 2871 38,100
IMR-4831 73.0 3039 41/300
Swift A-Frame, 200 gr. H4831 75.0 2982. —
Cast Bullets Used spy wee area (sized to .309" dia)
*#311291, 170 gr.
*#311644, 190 gr.

3.340" OAL SD: .226
Sugg Max
Starting Velocity Pressure Load
Test Specifications: Powder Grains fps _Grai p
(Velocity & Pressure) _ AA2700 63.5 2876 47,500
Firearm Used met Site Welt B) 9) 6 .¢. 61 9 ©. 6.10.6 8.8. cane 760 66.0 2958 _ 51,300
H-414 60.0 2800 _43,000
ee MECHOUI BNE En. «vdheeo ee wane s+aie24" N160 69.0 2950 47,000
ee Fe oiefoes disunisie > BeiGielorw'® ix nae eo he 1-1 0" IMR-4350 68.0 WeO.Oe leas none
rae
«sg ect se main oe Selsle ets .308 RX19 70.0 2912 44,500 [zOMmmsoesuoos
CRANE
IMR-4831_ 69.0 2886 43,300 77.0 3299 63,300P
XMR-3100 70.0 2782 43,100 77.5 3141 62,200P_
H-4831 73.0 2793 ee BONO ES 1G4y Guerra
RX22 74.0 2889 43,600 820+ 3218 61,300P-
IMR7828 75.5 2944 38,600 —-81.0+ 3268 =52,500C

Square Inch (PSI)
In pressure column, C=Copper Units of Pressure (CUP); P=Pounds per
300 Winchester Mag
165 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .410 180 gr. jacketed HPBT
3.340" OAL SD: .248 3.340" OAL
Sugg Max Sugg i
Powder Grains fps ; Grains fps Powder Grains fps —__|_ Grains—
H-414 60.0 2781 48,400 ~—-67.0 +3059 _-—-63,300 P IMR4350. 650.2704
IMR-4350 67.0 2865 — 740 319 RX19. «68.0 2647 ~—-38,200 |740 2962 «49,700C
N560 71.0 2761 46,200 —78.5+ 3098 61,500 P. IMR-4831 66.0 2674 ~—43,700 73.0 3035 _63,000P
RX19 68.5 2795 45,300 | 760+ 3111 61,800P_ XMR-3100 68.0 2562 37,200 75.5 2936 51,400 C
IMR-4831 67.5 2807 44,200 += 75.0 3164 +63,200 P- N560 67.5 2668 43,600 75.0 3036 63,000 P
XMR-3100 68.0 2758 ~— 45,100 75.5+ 3071 63,200 P H-4831 70.0 2666 — eee
H-4831 71.0 2724 — 780+ 3066 — RX22.—s« 705.2696 ~—-37,800 OR cot zoe ada
RX22.72.5 «2786 «37,700 Jeanie ule IMR-7828 69.0 2596 42,000 76.0+ 2894 58,000P
IMR-7828 74.0 2892S 41,600 79.5+ 3149 51,200C RX25.s«73.0—— «2741 46,200 | BIO ei ses ea oo)
a. 190 gr. Jacketed HPBT BC: 533 200 gr. Jacketed A-Frame BC: 444
> & 3.340" OAL SD: .286 3.315" OAL SD: .301
2 Sugg Max Sugg Max
—— Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure
» CS Powder = Grains_fps Grains _ fps Powder Grains fps _PS.L. Grains _fps PSA.
me YW IMR-4350 59.5 2583 42,800 68.0 «2880 53,700 C IMR-4350 63.5 2663 51,900 67.5 2867 63,400
: IMR-4831 65.0 2603 ~—-44,000 ~ 72.5 +2936 62,500 P RX19 67.5 2687 54,500 71.5 2850 63,900
4 = N560 68.5 2599 45,100 75.0: 2926 62,400P. IMR-4831 68.0 2707. «54,000 72.0 «2866 ~—«63,500
. XMR-3100 67.5 2536 42,000 ~—-75.0+ 2890 61,000 P- AA-3100 67.0 -2612~—«51,000 71.8 +2822 ~—«63,300
H-4831 64.0 2522 37,600 [eumeer7es ane H-4831SC 67.0 2627. 50,100 72.0+ 2824 —«63,300
RX22.s«69.0-—s-2633. 44,400 ~—-77.0+ 2985 62,600P RX22 67.0 2637 48,900 72.5 «2874 ~—«63,100
IMR-7828 69.0 —-2614~— 45,600 ~—77.0+ + 2932-6 2,400 P IMR-7828 70.0 2668 ~— 49,700 = 75.5+ 2911 63,100
RX25 72.0 2633 44,000 ~—-80.0+ +2992 63,300 P MagPro 72.0 ——.2684_—— 50,700 77.0 + —«-2893~—«6 3,200
H1000 76.0 ~—-2623— 45,600 83.5+_+~—-2930 62,900 P RX25.s73.0 «2678 «51,100 a eeoO aaa
AA8700 78.0 ~—=s2353 «37,000 ~—-86.0+ 2607 48,300 P H-1000 74.0 —-2722——«53,600 ——-79.0+ +2887 ~—«63, 100
Magnum 77.0 2756 ~—«457,100 ~—-82.0+ 2863 ~—«62,900
200 gr. Jacketed HPBT BC: .565 220 gr. Jacketed RN BC: .300
3.340" OAL SD: 301 3.340" OAL SD: .331
Sugg Max Sugg Max
Powder Grains Grains _ fps af Powder Grains fps Grains
IMR-4350 62.0 2597 — oo . — IMR-4350 59.8
2418 ~—50,400 66.5 +2654 63,300
IMR-4831 63.5 2569 + 44,800 ~~ 70.5 ~—-2881 «62,500P. IMR-4831 63.0
2440 ~ 46,100 70.0 2705 62,000P
RX19 64.5 2480 = 35,600 = 73.0 2877 -—+51,800C RX19_ 63.0
2404 48,800 70.0 «2694 ~—«63,200P
XMR-3100 64.0 2392-36000 == 72.5 2751 -51,000C AA-3100 62.5
2389 «45,000 «69.5 «2674 ~—«62,600P
H4831 670 2531 — Se H-4831SC_ 64.3
2397 «49,900 71.5 +~—«2640 ~—«63,400P
RX22 65.0 2489 35,800 74.5+ 2878 51,500C RX22, «63.4. —«2508 56,100 70.5 2696 —63,500P
IMR-7828 67.0 2476 ~—37,700+=74.5+ 2828 -—-51,800C IMR-7828 67.5 2445 ~—«45,000 +—71,0+ ++:2747 +~—«63,300P
RX25 71.0 2608 45,500 78.0+ 2938 62,900P RX25 69.0 2446 43,100 760+ 2772 61,900P
H1000 70.0 ~—«-2442-~=—««36,000 80.0 2798 49,900 H1000 69.0 2337 36,800 7B Ge zens eera nos
AA8700 74.0 —«-2253~——«35,000 82.0 2483 44,500 P AA-8700 75.0 2278 «38,300 -—-83.0+ 2552 _51,300P
H870 80.0 «2460 44,000 84.0+ 2641 51,400P

234 In pressure column, C=Copper Units of Pressure(CUP); P=Pounds per Square Inch (PSI)
er Magnum
Veale
Bie he hte CN
#311672 BC: .245 #311291 BC: .202

Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains P.S.I. Powder Grains p
SR-4759 SR-7625
XMP-5744 SR-4759
XMP-5744
IMR-4831
XMR-3100 39.5
Ldcbb ooldidwakb totlucksoms

"ee SGU RS i a i
#311644 BC: .272

190 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.405" OAL SD: .286
Sugg ;
Powder Grains D PSA:
Unique 18.0 1609 27,200
SR-4759 25.0) 1637 19,400
XMP-5744 26.0 1641 17,400
RX7 28.0 1672 16,300
H-4895 32.0 1667 15,800'
IMR-4064 = 32.0 1640 15,300
IMR-4831 40.0 1599 14,200
XMR-3100 44.0 1695 16,200
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. a

load.
Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate 235
Tag
300 Remingtor
eee»
Remington launched the Ultra Mag

family with this, their first 30 caliber
magnum in 1999. Remington broke
with the long held magnum ortho-
doxy by basing the cartridge on the
beltless 404 Jeffery case featuring a n
slightly rebated rim. The absence of 534
the belt allows for increased capacity u
in comparison to the traditional belt-
ed Magnums while using the same
diameter bolt face. Additional benefits
include more positive headspacing
and smoother feeding. Predictably,
the new cartridge thrives on healthy
charges of slow-burning powder and
premium bullets. The 300 RUM is
capable of some 200 feet per second
over the 300 Winchester Magnum
150 gr. Jacketed Scirocco BC: .430

Test Components: 3.600" OAL SD: .226
(GELS At: acre ee a ts Seen Eee AAC Remington Sugg
liplefete eininh Seine eee ere area etn anenoe es 2.840" Starting Velocity Pressure
PEM Sa eee oo es te ete esRemington 912 M and 91/2 Powder Grains fps RSE
PrimenoIZe. eo. coe Large Rifle, Magnum and Standard IMR-4831 81.0 3062 46,200
Vinal Sel nO eReterrcnta ee he heen ae No. 13 H-4831 87.0 3193 54,300
Jacketed Bullets Used ........... Swift Scirocco, 150 gr. AA-3100 87.4 3187 50,800
Nosler Ballistic Tip #30165, 165 gr. RX22 88.3 3382 58,400
Swift Scirocco, 180 gr. N560 89.7 3263 ~=—-52,500
Swift A-Frame, 200 gr. IMR-7828 89.3 3245. 52,000
Gast bulletsuwsed sac'. cu.ek Gale ane (sized to .309" dia) H1000 93.5 3168 51,700
Magnum 96.4 3199 52,700
AA-8700 106.0 3196 52,100
US 869 107.8 3251 53,900
165 gr. Jacketed Ballistic Tip BC: .475

3.600" OAL SD: .248
PIPE ATIA SEU tite eer ice eee eaten Universal Receiver Starting Velocity Pressure
Barrel Lengths. a0 ltvc.2 a ano. ae eee 24"
UINAALS Ties ween erate so: Rete ren ealws. meat Re ne eee ee rr 1-10"
IMR-4831 845 3133 56,700
XMR-3100 86.5 3033 52,000
(GTOOVElTD asi. ee sects ee ee 308"
H-4831 87.0 3073 57,700
RX22 89.0 3178 57,300
IMR-7828 89.0 3111 56,000
MAGPRO 92.0 3175 ~—-55,300
RX25 92.0 3086 52,300
H1000 94.5 3015 51,500
N170 95.0 3164 60,300
Retumbo 98.0 3145 50,900
AA8700 107.0 3120 57,300

200 gr. jacketed A-Frame BC: 444
3,535" OAL SD: 301
start Velocity Pressure

Powder Grains 0s PS.I.
XMR-3100 = 81.0 2636
RX22 83.0 2904
IMR-7828 83.0 2872
MAGPRO 60.0 2770
N170 65.0 2778
RX25 66.0
H1000 88.0
Retumbo 91.0
H50BMG 95.0
H870 104.0
AA-6700 104.0
"#311644 BC: .272

190 gx. (#2 Alloy) 3.600" OAL SD: .284

load.
+Designa tes a compres sed powder charge.
237
*Designates use of 91/2 primers
in is probably the most popular--
and one of the oldest--of all the cal-
ibers offered by Weatherby. Roy
Weatherby based this 300 Magnum
on a blown out 300 Holland and .3080
Holland case featuring the famous
double radius shoulder in 1943. It has
been the king of factory 30-caliber
Magnums for many years being only
recently challenged by a new genera-
tion of cartridges based on the 404
Jeffrey case as well as Weatherby’s
own 30-378. The 300 Weatherby can
best the 300 Winchester Magnum by
around 200 feet per second when
properly loaded. The popularity of the
300 Weatherby has prompted most
major manufacturers to offer rifles
chambered for it over the years. H-4831 has been one
of the more popular powders for loading this particular
300. Weatherby recommends the exclusive use of the
Federal 215 Magnum primer for all jacketed loads. Cast 150 gr. Barnes XLC BC: .428
bullet shooters should use the standard primers as indi-
3.560" OAL SD: .226
cated. All cast bullet propellants produced good results
with XMP-5744 giving top ballistic uniformity. This data Sugg
is intended for commercially manufactured and cham- Powder Grains ps
bered rifles. It is not for use in custom chambered guns IMR-4350
that may lack the free bore found in standard XMR-3100
Weatherby chambers.
IMR-7828
Test Components:
CEES, ORI ROR ie SEIS Mere ere eh eon a! Federal
MRR VeNCt my tcuson ts a Meee ie oats 2.825"
PINGS eae red ae Se ok oh oe Federal 215 and 210
Briinenolzemr sc Large Rifle, Magnum and Standard
Eyiaianahell Oder 284 Grantee eh No. 13
Jacketed Bullets Used ...... Barnes XLC #30854, 150 gr.
Barnes X #30835, 180 gr.
Swift A-Frame, 200 gr. 165 gr. Jacketed Ballistic Tip BC: .475
Hornady RN #3090, 220 gr. 3.560" OAL SD: .248
Gast uilets, I cece so 0 vase cd (sized to .309" dia) Sugg any ?
*gas check bullet *#311291, 170 gr. Starting Velocity Pressure

*#311644, 190 gr. Powder Grains fps
*#311284, 210 gr. N160 78.0 3234
IMR-4350
XMR-3100
H-4831SC
IMR-7828
Test Specifications: H1000
(Velocity Only) RX25 85.5
Pipeatiia CSCO mane «ioe ee ee ee Weatherby Mk V
Barrel Men ethinada stints watt ence ere ae ee ere 26"
WVU USE oa,caeek galt tpicesauce iene cztehcoe groans 2 Seo em a err 1-10"
CSHOOVE Dds abe ene sec eh eno are 308"

180 gr. Barnes X 200 gr. Jacketed A-Frame
3.560" OAL 3.560" OAL
Sugg, Sugg
Starting Velocity Pressure Starting bai) Pressure
Powder Grains p Powder — Grains
N160 — 76.0 3028 XMR-3100
IMR-4350 68.5 2721 H-4831SC
RR3100. 70 2949 =
H-4831SC__77.0 2877 es IMR-7828
Ror 78.0 2959 es
IMR-7828 80.0 3033 as
H1000 81.0 2818 oa
RX25 83.0 3108 =
220 gr. Jacketed RN BC: .300

3.545" OAL SD: 331
Sugg
Starting Velocity Pressure *#311291 BC: .202
Powder Grains 170 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.390" OAL SD: .252
Sugg
H-4831SC Starting ee Pressure
Powder Grains
IMR-7828 SR-4759 22.0
XMP-5744 245 1616 Se
RX7 25.5
Feei als a eRe
#311644 *#311284
Sugg Sugg
Starting Velocity Pressure Starting weeny Pressure
SR-4759 215 1594 SR-4759 21.0 ai
XMP-5744 24.5 XMP-5744 23.0 1488
25.5 1613 24.0 1521

Loads shown in bold designate potentially most golive load.
*Designates use of 210 primers.
30-378 Weatherby
Roy Weatherby first necked down
his massive 378 case to 30-caliber in
joint experiments with the United
States Army during the 1950s. This
cartridge survived in various wildcat
incarnations since then, particularly
with long-range benchrest shooters,
before Weatherby formally intro-
duced it as a standard chambering in
their lineup in 1996. This is not a
varmint cartridge. Shooters looking
for a fast 30-caliber magnum rifle
would be hard pressed to surpass this
chambering. The latest generation of
slow burning powders enable over-
bored cartridges such as this to per-
form to their full potential. While
probably a bit more than many shoot-
ers would care to shoot extensively, this Weatherby is
hard to beat — 3,400 feet per second with 180 grain
bullets — for driving heavy bullets long distances.
Slow burning powder and premium bullets are in
165 gr. Jacketed Ballistic Tip BC: .475
order for the 30-378. Powders well suited to this behe-
3.630" OAL SD: .248
moth include H1000, H50BMG, and Reloder 25. The
Swift Scirocco is ideal for the high velocities generated Su
by this cartridge although shooters may have to experi- Powder Grains fps
ment with seating depths for best accuracy. Limited cast
bullet data is included for those shooters looking for off- IMR-7828
season recreational shooting without the substantial
recoil and blast of full house 30-378 loads. This data is
intended for commercially produced and chambered
rifles. It is not for use in custom chambered gun that H50BMG
may lack the free bore found in standard Weatherby
chambers.
Test Components:
ASCSM Paso. ccnlocu sethon bas waa Weatherby
ITER COn CIR
Sth ne SPE 5.xcass: EIS ovtse selene oe2.903"
PUHGTS: cece aoe ae aac. Federal 215 and 210
Phihaele SIVAEY on an osocx Large Rifle, Magnum and Standard 180 gr. Jacketed Scirocco BC: .520
Ivinan shell tOldets cc ns 23,ee ee No. 17 3.630" OAL SD: .271
Jacketed'Bullets: Used |... etareeetey
tetas rene a ore Saco openrs ane ee :
Nosler Ballistic Tip, #30165, 165 gr. Starting Velocity Pressure
Swift Scirocco, 180 gr. Powder Grains fps
Swift A-Frame, 200 gr. RX22
GactiBullets Wwsed crew cotce weesoer (sized to .309" dia) IMR-7828
*#311644, 190 gr.
*#311284, 210 gr.
H50BMG
(Velocity Only)
PIPCAT SCO tei c ag lees aad apace ee Weatherby Mk V
Patrelierigth siecevttn iets tl eke cine kane 26"
OVS babbitcn cab rmpenibiceras chetractris terenine Gio Go eras Am 1-10"
CGOVE Didar |b aes ein dete earner cere 308"

eo
VA dh Ee”
200 gr. Jacketed A-Frame BC: .444 “#311291

3.615" OAL SD: .301 170 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.500" OAL
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains Powder Grains DS
RX25 SR-4759_ 25.0 1655 =
H1000 100.0 XMP-5744 —.28.0 1645 —_
AA8700. 111.0 RX7 500 mM
HS0BMG 111.0
H870 110.0
eeimim@iniken 1 i en
ps re bn in gg
*#311644 BC: .272 *#311284 3

190 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.630" OAL SD: .284 210 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.700" OAL SD: 314
Sugg Su 88 Max.
Powder Grains Powder Grains DS
SR-4759. 27.0 1710 SR-4759 26.0 1620
XMP-5744 30.0 1695 XMP-5744 31.0 1701
28.0 1628 30.0 1620
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. :

*Designates use of 210 primers.
7.62 x 39 R
The 7.62x39mm cartridge originated
in the SKS rifle in the Soviet Union in
the midst of World War Two. Some
sources state that it was based on the
German 7.92x33mm Kurz cartridge
but it may have preceded the German
development by a year or so. A fair
number of Soviet pattern rifles includ-
ing the SKS have been imported in
recent years. Ruger offers the Mini-
Thirty and bolt action rifles for this lit-
tle cartridge. Ruger rifles utilize bar-
rels with a .308” groove while those
produced overseas use the standard
.311”. Lyman’s die sets for the
7.62x39mm_ contain both — size
expander balls. Shooters are. still
advised to slug their bore to verify
actual groove diameter before reloading.
Tons of surplus 7.62x39mm ammunition have been
imported. Much of this is steel cased and/or berdan
primed. Reloaders should properly discard these fired 110 gr. Jacketed HP
cases and use boxer primed brass cases for reloading 2.200" OAL SD: .166
purposes. Shooters should be advised that Winchester
cases use Large Rifle primers whereas Remington cases Sugg
use Small Rifle primers. Ballistically, this cartridge is Powder Grains p C.U.P.
usually lumped in with the 30-30. However, the 30-30 IMR-4227
can be loaded with a wider range of bullet weights.
Bullet selection is limited to the 110'to 130-grain range
due to this cartridge’s ballistic levels. Most semiauto- IMR-4198
matics chambered for this cartridge are doing pretty RX7
well if the shooter achieves three-inch groups at 100
yards. H-335 produced the best results in our lab tests.
Listed starting loads for cast bullets may not function the
action of semiautomatics.
Test Components:
PAGES CL Ga kona cones em eee Winchester
[LCE ONES a iy are tern ery. tere we eee 12518?
BENIICTS Capit Ae ostse OO Reece Winchester WLR
IW BBS oY Palco Sao? Me RRC DN ee eer te a Large Rifle
Ly invalaroniel WAGIeI eft eens, Seton ee ona concen No. 3
2.200" OAL SD: .183
Hornady SP #3140, 123 gr. (.310") Su 8s .
Hornady SP #3020, 130 gr. Starting Velocity Pressure
Cast Bulletsdised rk
aes eee (sized to .310" dia)
#311410, 130 gr. IMR-4198
PifealiiCIseciie ceri tie an cece eceeeee Universal Receiver
ANPOU WEN
SUNeen teste. coe cata ona eae ni eee 20"
SIWAIStins eta hee tic see rn anc cee: 1-91."
GHOOVEID aS waecncte oe eee ee ee Re SOP

39 Russian
130 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .295 #311359
Sugg NM ; Sugg ;
IMR-4227 19.0 Unique
30,700
AA1680 —.22.0 IMR-4227 25,800
IMR-4198 28,200 XMP-5744 ‘17.0
IMR-4198
28,100
32,000
#311410 BC: 239

130 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.200" OAL SD:193
Sugg
Starting Velocity
Powder Grains fps
Unique 8.0 1552
SR-4759 16.5 1935 29,900
IMR-4227
XMP-5744
30,600
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. se

7.62 x 54R.
This is currently the longest-lived
military cartridge around. It was ini-
tially adopted by Imperial Russia in
1891 and continued to serve in the
post-Soviet era as a light machine gun
cartridge. It was the Russian mainstay
of both World Wars and saw wide dis-
tribution among communist-bloc
countries. Original ballistics yielded a
210-grain bullet traveling approxi-
mately 2,000 feet per second.
Following the trend of the world’s mil-
itaries, it was upgraded to a 150-grain
bullet at 2,600 feet per second in
1909. American shooters first became
familiar with the cartridge after World
War One. Several U.S. companies
produced Mosin-Nagant rifles under
contract for the Czar but withheld delivery following Test Components:
the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. Many of these brand Cases 3 ra-nee we Mee oes ee Ree eee Norma
new rifles chambered for the Russian cartridge subse- Trimeto: Length’ xen pees ates cee ere 2.105"
quently turned up on the U.S. market. Many Mosin- PrintienspAapng So occ ous, ope econ Federal 210
Nagant rifles have recently been imported from various PRIMEHSIZE ofre sh ¢-. ner ee Large Rifle
countries in condition ranging from mint to truly awful. Lyman Shell Holderes.<\. 0%), sosmenu
gore No. 17
Shooters should have their rifle examined by a qualified Jacketed BulletsWsed 5. cc. <.s 5 pier eee
gunsmith before shooting. Winchester also produced Sierra SPT #2305, 125 gr. )
the Model 95 in 7.62x54R for the Russian government, Hornady SP # 3120, 150 gr. )
and these occasionally turn up. Hornady RN #3130, 174 gr. ree
SK
ES,
ASR
Surplus ammunition is usually abundant but more Sierra SPT #2310, 180 gr. (3
www)
often than not it is corrosive and berdan primed. Bullet Cast Bullets: Wsediecets.
. nevane. . near (sized to .313" Aik
diameter is nominally .310”, however, large variations *gas check bullet *#314299, 200 gr.
in groove diameters are the norm here. Our test data
utilized .311” and .312” diameter bullets, as the dimen-
sions in many rifles chambered for this caliber tend to
run large. Some rifles will shoot .308” bullets just fine. Test Specifications:
Most of the bullets listed in our data are available from (Velocity Only)
their manufacturers in .308” diameter should the shoot- Firearni Used im. inana chee SAKO Mosin-Nagant
er have a rifle with a smaller size bore. Use of .308” Barrel’ Lengthi2 s.r. nate gers ee ae lee eee 26"
diameter bullets will require use of the smaller 308 cal- TW Stresses accessvofaya auc taais ariseasean ee 1-9.5"
iber expanding button in the full-length resizing die for COOVE Dae aoe ee cent eee ae Sts*
proper bullet tension. This can be an extremely accu-
rate cartridge in a good rifle. It’s been used throughout
Scandinavia as a big-game cartridge and has been
necked up and down to just about every conceivable
bullet size in Finland. Norma and Lapua both offer
boxer primed cases. Hodgdon’s Varget and IMR-4350
provided the best ballistic uniformity with jacketed bul- 125 gr. Jacketed SPT BC: .274
lets. Data is provided for cast bullet #314299 but shoot- 2.800" OAL SD: .185
ers can substitute cast bullet #311299 if the bore meas-
Sugg iia)
ures small. Starting Velocity Pressure
XMR-2015 415
IMR-4895

4R Russian
Se
150 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .274 174 gr. Jacketed RN BC: .262
2.870" OAL SD: .185 2.815" OAL SD: .255
Sugg Sugg :
Powder Grains GUP Powder Grains Ds C.U.P.
XMR-2015 IMR-4895
IMR-4895 XMR-2495
IMR-4350
= aehes haps nl
aay ey
180 gr. Jacketed SPT BC: .411 #314299 BC: 377

2.975" OAL SD: .266 200 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.915" OAL SD3292
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Powder Grains DS CUR
IMR-4895_ 41.0 2115
XMR-2495
IMR-4227- 20.05"
XMP-5744 20.0
IMR-4198
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. eal

load. 245
The 7.65x53mm cartridge led a
long, if not particularly illustrious,
military career. This was Paul
Mauser’s first smokeless military car-
tridge. Its original incarnation in 1889
propelled a 215-grain round nose bul-
let at approximately 2,000 feet per
second. However, this cartridge was
not immune to the advances in ballis-
tic technology at the turn of the twen-
tieth century. Military loadings soon
included a 182-grain bullet at 2,590
feet per second, and a 154-grain bul-
let at 2,750. Many rifles chambered
for this caliber were sold throughout
Latin America. Consequently, large
numbers of foreign military surplus
made their way to American shores
over the years. The 7.65x53 features a shorter neck than
typically found on other Mauser cartridges. This caliber Test Components:
CASES cdeads iarcd Poentar ste eee oe ee eee Norma
never achieved the popularity with American shooters
Tinto Length. cs. cree ee et ee ee ee ome 2.100"
as did its 7x57 and 7.9x57 cousins. The 6.5x55 Swede Priniels. see vs oie oe oe Remington 91/2
has recently eclipsed its appeal on the surplus market. PrImetesiZ@' Actua oe tiee aie ae eee eee Large Rifle
Remington and Winchester both offered rifles cham- Lyman, Shell oleletas. 220d =a eee eee No. 2
bered in 7.65x53 and factory ammunition for several Jackéted! Bullets WSOG EF505 5 oss eh oe ae
years between the World Wars. Norma still offers a soft- Sierra SPT #2305, 125 gr. (.311")
point factory load. Surplus ammunition is fairly com- Speer SP #2217, 150 gr. (.311")
mon but it will be berdan primed and is often corrosive. Hornady RN #3130, 174 gr. (.312")
Ballistics of this Mauser cartridge are similar to the Sierra SPT #2310, 180 gr. (.311")
308 Winchester. Powders suitable for the 308 will work Cast:BulletssUsed Sees on
8 2 ee (sized to .311" dia)
here. The handloader also has a decent, if not overly *gas check bullet *#311291, 170 gr.
broad selection of .311” and .312” diameter bullets to *#311299, 200 gr.
work with. There is no SAAMI pressure limit for this car-
tridge. Some shooters use reformed 30-06 cases so
common sense is imperative when working up loads.
Many of the recently imported rifles are in excellent
condition and make good shooters. Those with an orig-
(Velocity Only)
inal Model 1889 should not use the listed maximum
PireannesUsed! a. t0ran
sa ere Argentine Mauser M1909
loads for jacketed bullets. Although well made, they do Balreb Bemsthie ic, <a ances tie eile eee nae pe
not have the inherent strength of later rifles built upon TWISE sci aoe eesti ek ee 1-9.8"
the stronger Model 98 action. Some Mauser rifles from Groove: Dian. e.25.5 sue aie ee SAie
South America have mismatched bolts. Like any surplus
rifle, examination by a qualified gunsmith is in order.
Shooters loading cast bullets should slug their bore and
size bullets accordingly. Cast bullet #311291 may be
too small if the rifle’s groove diameter exceeds .312” If
the bore exceeds .312" diameter, cast bullet #314299
can be substituted for #311299. XMP-5744 and SR-
4759 provided the best results in cast bullet testing.
125 gr. Jacketed SPT 150 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .411
2.740" OAL 2.815" OAL SDE 222
Sugg
Sugg
Starting Velocity Pressure Starting vena Pressure
Powder Grains CUE:
IMR-3031 39.5 2527 = IMR-3031
H-4895 41.5 2625 _
748 42.0 2542 Be
N135 40.0 2632 a
IMR-4064 —-43.0 2602 —
Varget 42.5 2600 —
IMR-4320 42.5 2618 SS
N140 43.5 2694 —
174 gr. Jacketed RN BC: .262 180 gr. Jacketed SPT BC: .411
2.820" OAL SD: .255 2.875" OAL SD: .266
Sugg Sugg
Starting Velocity Beare Starting seer Pressure
Powder Grains fps U.P. Powder Grains C.U.P.
IMR-4895 38.5 2250 IMR-4895
IMR-4064 IMR-4064
Varget
IMR-4320 IMR-4320
N140
ee
#311291 BC: .202 #311299 BG: 377

Sugg Sugg
Starting Sept crews Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains C.U.P. Powder Grains Ds C.U.P.
SR-4759 SR-4759
IMR-4227
IMR-4227
XMP-5744 ”XMP-5744
IMR-4198
IMR-4198
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. az

Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate loa
303 Britist
The 303 British is another cartridge
that owes its popularity to inexpen-
sive, surplus rifles. This round should
not be confused with the long obso-
lete 303 Savage. The 303 has seen
extensive use as both a hunting and
military cartridge around the world,
especially in the vast reaches of the
former British Empire. Great Britain
adopted the 303 in 1888. Unlike most
other small bore cartridges developed
at this time, the 303 was originally
loaded with compressed black pow-
der and a 215-grain bullet around
2,000 feet per second. This loading
changed to the smokeless Cordite
propellant just four years later. The
cartridge was altered again in 1910
with a 174-grain flat-base spitzer traveling approxi- run around .312” or .313”, some have measured as low
mately 2,550 feet per second. The newly designated as .308”and others as high as .317” Those reloading for
MK VII cartridge served until its replacement by the an undersized bore can use cast bullet #311299 in
7.62, NATO In’ 1957. place of #314299. Slug the bore and size accordingly.
The majority of 303 rifles encountered are of the Varget and Reloder 15 produced very good accuracy
Short Magazine Lee Enfield design (SMLE). Their fast- with the heavier jacketed bullets in our test rifle. Lighter
working action and 10-round magazine made them a bullets responded to IMR-3031 but individual rifles may
formidable battle rifle throughout both World Wars. have different preferences. SR-4759 and XMP-5744
Unfortunately, “Enfields” as they are known are not an gave best results during cast bullet testing.
overly strong design. The rear locking lugs on these
rifles do not provide the strong lockup as the front lock-
ing lugs found on firearms such as the Mauser 98 or
Model 70 Winchester. The SAAMI Maximum Average Test Components:
Pressure (MAP) is set at 45,000 CUP in deference to this CASES eeei cera oR Rote sho.5 Tees19a 2c ne Remington
fact. Most major manufacturers currently offer factory Trimeto: Length 28 a5 Leek ot ec eee 221
ammunition with the 180-grain bullet being the most PIRIMGNS 274son yt, foe oo aah) eee ee Federal 210
common. Surplus ammunition is quite plentiful but is Prinier Sizeretia0.5,. sate ae eee Large Rifle
usually berdan primed and corrosive. Ballistics of the Lyman. Shell Holder’ <5: 2s.aaxte sone eee No. 7
303 British are generally regarded as a step above the jacketed Bullets Used «...4., .0.4 oe oe oe ee
30-40 Krag. Careful handloading increases the flexibili- Sierra SPT #2305, 125 gr. )
ty of the 303 as long as the shooter follows certain cau- Hornady SP #3120, 150 gr. )
tions. Persistent use of maximum loads in SMLE rifles Hornady RN #3130, 174 gr. o_o Se )
BES
will reduce case life expectancy considerably. Sierra SPT #2310, 180 gr. (3
Www
w )
Reloaders should pay close attention to the length of Gast-Bulllets:Used: 0,22 yteceeee(sized to .313" 2 )
resized cases and trim when necessary. The generous *gas check bullet *#314299, 200 gr.
chamber dimensions encountered in many SMLE rifles
only compound this situation. Shooters should pay
close attention for incipient case separation when sizing
and trimming.
Enfields have been a popular surplus item over the
years. Their production span covered over fifty years
and four continents. Condition of these rifles vary from
(Velocity Only)
unissued to unusable and everywhere in between. Firearin, Seda pmeres
. caus...
v5 ee Enfield #1 MK III*
Rifles should be checked over by a qualified gunsmith Barrel herigth: <2... 80.004 5, oe 2514"
before firing. Rifles chambered in 303 sometimes con- TWiStig ee 2 eno eke: toe toe ee 1-10"
tain extreme groove variation. While most rifles usually Groove Dias tec.ai smy.cci ince eee ioe
248
303 British
125 gr. Jacketed SPT BC: .274 150 gr. Jacketed SP
2.900" OAL SD: .185 2.975" OAL
Su 8S ae Sugg
Powder Grains fps GUP: Powder Grains fps
IMR-3031 IMR-3031 37.0 22360"
H4895 38.0 2254
748 3910 2149:
IMR-4064 39.0 2212
IMR-4320. 39.5 2298
N140 39.0 2173
RX15 40.0 2335
Big Game Big Game 43.0 JQDS
AA2700 43.0 2100
H414.—s« 43.0.—«<2T1
174 gr. Jacketed RN 180 gr. Jacketed SPT

2.945" OAL 3.075" OAL
Sugg Su 8s
Powder Grains fps CUP: Powder Grains fps GuiE
IMR-4895 37.0 2032 oa IMR-4895 36.5. ~——.2020
IMR-4064 37.0 1981 =. IMR-4064 Med 2040
Varget a. es. Varget B75 198%
IMR-4320 380 2043 ae IMR-4320. 37.5 2046
N140 375-2021 = N140 o75 2067
RX15 38.0 2107 — RX15 38.0 2125
Big Game 40.5 2053 BigGame 40.5 1957
AA2700 41.0 1945 AA2700 41.5 1994
H414 41.5 1978 H414_ 41.5 2008
#314299 BC: 377

200 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.930" OAL SD: .292
Sugg Mi
Powder Grains fps CUP.
IMR-4227
IMR-4198
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. ted

249
0 W i n c k
32-2
Tie 32-20 dates back to 1882 when
Winchester first offered it in the
Model 1873 rifle. The cartridge has
drifted in and out of popularity
depending on who chambered it at
any given time. Most manufacturers
produced rifles in 32-20 at some
point. It has been periodically pro-
duced in revolvers and more lately in
the T/C Contender. Cowboy Action
Shooting and Marlin’s recent produc-
tion of their Model 1894 in 32-20
have kept it going. The 32-20 also
served as the parent cartridge for the
25-20 and the 218 Bee.
Factory ammunition with cases
under the trim-to length has been
encountered. This will cause no prob-
lem as long as they are segregated and the seating die
adjusted to their particular length. Cartridges intended
for tubular magazines should only be loaded with flat or
blunt nosed bullets and crimped in place. Both bullets
listed in data section are suitable for tubular magazines
1.560" OAL SD: .147
and are designed to perform at 32-20 velocity levels.
Shooters need to be careful when seating bullets in the Sugg Max
Starting Velocity Pressure —. Velocity
32-20. Case neck wails are very thin, only .006” to Powder Grains Ds C.U.P. Grain:
.007” on average. An improperly adjusted seating die
can lead to crushed cases. Seating and crimping in two IMR-4227 7.8 10,200
separate steps will eliminate much of this aggravation.
SAAMI established the Maximum Average Pressure IMR-4198 1122
(MAP) for the 32-20 at 16,000 CUP. RX7 1086
This data is not for use in older firearms originally
designed for black powder or in handguns. Use only in
modern firearms in good condition.
Test Components:
(CEES (522 Pate A Sc a RPS tk arte he cone Winchester
ALINO Cnet ie nee nn mo eee eee eee ete
#311008 BC: 154
PIIIMClS Hay eee cee Nee ee Winchester WSR
BRIIMICIASIZORe eee. ee Reh eee ne ae Small Rifle 115 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.590" OAL SD: .169
tymanShelltHolders. a2 ck Aaa here ee No. 10 Sugg M
Jacketed Bullets Used ........ Speer JHP #3981, 100 gr. Starting Velocity Pressure
GastiBullets Wsedieaneeme eee ee (sized to .312” dia.)
Unique 943
#311008, 115 gr. 2400 6.6 1043
IMR-4227 7.8
AA1680 11.0
IMR-4198 10.0
RX7 12.4
FInGatinid SCC meet enter ea ere eee Universal Receiver
Bae eLNec eter wine Ae or ne meee 14"
HLAwdkcRae rena an Onin Onin uMirnag se cates AUR I NTR Cae,Chusevte SE E208
CiTOOVE Diam ear eee eee ea regen Sills

he 32 Winchester Special is little
more than the 30-30 necked up to
321” diameter bullets. It should not
be confused with the 32 WCF (a.k.a.
32-20). The history of the 32 Special
has been the subject of debate for
some time. Smokeless powder was
not yet widely available to reloaders = ADI Qa a 404 ah 945 are
in the late nineteenth century. Some
sources argue the 32 Special was
equipped with its 1-16” twist to
enable factory cartridges to be
reloaded with black powder. Others
speculate the wide availability of 32-
caliber rifle bullets in contrast to the
then new 30-caliber led to these two
very similar cartridges. Nevertheless,
the 32 Special never achieved the
universal acceptance enjoyed by the 30-30 and 32-cal-
iber rifles gradually lost ground to 30-caliber cartridges.
Winchester discontinued the 32 Special chambering
many years ago but the cartridge still has its followers.
170 gr. Jacketed FP
Winchester and Federal both currently list a single 170-
2.605" OAL
grain factory load. Shooters should carefully check all
case lengths for uniformity before reloading. Any proce- Sugg
dure applicable to loading the 30-30 will apply here. Powder Grains DS C.U.P.
IMR-4198
RX7 28.0 2123 --
IMR-3031
IMR-4895
Test Components:
SEE eNO Es eee ae ana er Remington IMR-4064
MP RP CNICIYS nes. or ha. be peed te a 2.030" IMR-4320
SMM MR rte heIp Sor "scoShas, ann no do ose. Remington 91/2
OM OM oo ispeele ae a one EG Seles Large Rifle
DeraahBENE ONO 1S9 oan aS a. s ns «one ee 2 No. 6
Jacketed Bullets Used ....... Hornady FP #3210, 170 gr.
(Velocity Only) :
CE 19On ey a re Winchester Model 94
BCTICUR EME Geo occ sos cs vas ns mile ps ware ss 20"
TRAE 6 Gun ooo Gacy SOO cen ae eae a 1-16"
(G@GOUCMD IAM ere ue ee etc eee eee Bole
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. ne

Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate 10ad. 251
8mm Mauser ex
This data is for use in rifles cham-
bered only for the 8x57mm JS (a.k.a.
7.9x57 or 7.92x57) German military
cartridge with the .323” diameter bul-
let. It is not for use in any rifle with the
older .318” J-bore. The 8mm Mauser
has caused no end of confusion to
American shooters. This cartridge had
its birth not from Waffenfabrik Mauser
but from the Model 88 Commission
rifle adopted by the German Infantry
er
431.3507
vaay
Board in 1888. This cartridge was

originally loaded with a .318” diame-
ter, 226-grain round nose bullet at
2100 feet per second and replaced
the 11mm black powder cartridge in
use since the 1870s. The German mil-
itary revised it in 1905 with a .323”
diameter bullet weighing 154-grains at nearly 2900 feet smith can get the most out of their rifles by careful
per second. This revolutionized small arms ballistics handloading. Bullet selection is not nearly as extensive
and prodded the United States Army to revise the just as for 30-caliber or even the 7mm but handloaders
adopted 30-03 cartridge into what we now know as the should be able to find a bullet to suit their needs. The
30-06. Military ordnance departments around the world 220-grain Hornady bullet was designed for the 8mm
scrambled to follow suit. All German military rifles Remington Magnum and may not expand well at the
manufactured since 1965 have the .323” diameter JS- 8x57’s performance level. IMR-4895, IMR-4350 and
bore. However, German gunmakers continued to pro- IMR-4064 have all been used to good effect in the
duce .318” J-bore sporting rifles for the civil market in 8x57. Reloder 7, SR-4759, and XMP-5744 are good
the post-World War One era due to the Versailles powder choices for cast bullets.
Treaty’s restrictions of military arms production by
German companies. Moreover, many Model 88 rifles
reportedly were rechambered to accept the new .323”
JS cartridge but retained the original .318” barrel —
confused yet? Test Components:
American shooters first became acquainted with ASESNME S55 Fa enc ee eee te ae Federal
the 8x57 immediately following World War Two when Trim-to:: Length. 22% « ..o8 215.0 een eee 22308
many Gls returned home bearing newly liberated K98 Prinmers..d this ¢ Sk ee eh ee oc Federal 210
rifles. The lack of suitable boxer primed cases led to the PRIMED SIZO% sak San ora ae roeenee Neat ae eee Large Rifle
development of the 8mm-06 wildcat, which remained Lyman’ Shell Holder: i yaanta eke eee eee No. 2
popular for many years. Large numbers of surplus rifles Jacketed Bullets Used ....... Hornady SP #3230, 125 gr.
produced by various manufacturers have also been Speen SP#2277, loo ge
imported even up to the present day. Surplus ammuni- Hornady RN #3235, 170 gr.
tion is still common but is usually berdan primed and Hornady SP #3238, 220 gr.
corrosive. Eventually, the major suppliers produced CastiBullets Used eee on cc ccockeee (sized to .323" dia)
8x57 ammunition and reloading components, which *gas check bullet *#323470, 165 gr.
are readily available. The 8x57 is often compared with
the 30-06. However, SAAMI established a Maximum
Average Pressure of 35,000 PSI for the 8x57 JS-bore in
light of the real possibility of .323” cartridges being
inadvertently chambered in .318” J-bore rifles.
Ammunition offered by European manufacturers not Test Specifications:
confused by such designations has been loaded to the (Velocity & Pressure)
full ballistic potential that this cartridge is capable of. Fire arin CISCO aa u-o ea ve a aie ee Mauser 98
Variations of the basic Model 98 Mauser were pro- and Universal Receiver
duced in very large quantities in different locales over a Barrel Lensthin.: mace oe ace eee Mauser 98 - 23"
nearly fifty-year period. Quality of materials and work-
Universal Receiver - 26"
manship will vary. Some are pristine while others show TWistxascol ee te ee Mauser 98 - 1-91/4"
the rough finish of wartime production. Still others were
produced by forced labor or under occupation. Universal Receiver - 1-91/2"
Groove: Did vg oooh ec ee py
Shooters can encounter some specimens of dubious ori-
gin, which have manufacturers codes, or other identifi-
cation marks removed. However, those with an 8x57
Mauser given a clean bill of health by a qualified gun-
Mauser
125 gr. Jacketed SP 150 gr. Jacketed SP BC: 369
2.875" OAL SD: .171 2.945" OAL SD: .205
Sugg Sugg Ah:
Powder Grains : Powder Grains ps
IMR-3031 46.0 2865 IMR-4895 44.0 +2476 ~—«34,400
IMR-4895 50.0 2898 748 47.0 2625 37,800
748 51.0 2813 IMR-4064 46.0 2522 ~——-35,600
N135 46.0 2793 Varget 45.0 2562 37,000
IMR-4064 49.0 2840 IMR-4320. 48.0. —-.2577 ae
IMR-4320 50.0 2824 N140 45.5 2529 37,000
RX15 49.5 2811 37,300 RX15 45.0 2541 36,500
H-380 50.5 2557 25,900 H-380 53.0 2652 ~~38,000
‘AA2700 52.0 2610 30,000 AA2700 52.0 2624 37,800
760 51.0 _ 2493 27,500 760 47.5 2316 28,200
H-414 50.0 2519 26,700 H-414 47.5 2394 30,300
IMR-4350 50.0 2421 — IMR-4350 50.0 2347 —
170 gr. Jacketed RN 220 gr. Jacketed SP

2.850" OAL 3.000" OAL SD: .301
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains D Powder Grains
IMR-4895 425 2368 36,400 IMR-4895
748 40.5 2187 28,100 IMR-4064 _
IMR-4064 43.5 2313 33,600 IMR-4320
Varget 43.0 2415 38,000
IMR-4320. 46.0 2421. —
N140 43.0 2350 36,600 IMR-4350
RX15 43.5 DRT = = 30,300 — XMR-3100
N150 44.5 2430 39,100
760 43.0 2100 28,100
H-380 48.0 2371 34,500
IMR-4350 49.0 EL
XMR-3100 49.0 2053 29,000
#323470
165 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.730" OAL
Sugg
Powder Grains
XMP-5744

253
This was Remington’s answer to the
338 Winchester Magnum. With its
larger case (a necked down 375
H&H) it offered greater potential; but
nevertheless it never became popular.
This may be due to the fact that its
hunting use is limited to the heaviest
North American game. Or perhaps as
some found the original factory bul-
lets were really too soft for use on
heavy rugged game. In any event
when properly loaded with a good 2.3890
premium grade bullet the 8mm 2.5302
Remington is a cartridge that can han- 2.850
dle almost any situation to be encoun- — 3.600
tered in North America. And it will do
nicely for much of the African plains
game.
With standard bullets it will perform well in
non-demanding situations.
This round is at its best with a good bullet loaded
with either Alliant Reloder 19 or 22. 150 gr. Jacketed SP BC: 369
3.580" OAL SD: .205
Su 88
Powder Grains fps CUP
IMR-4895 57.0" ZB)" 135) 200)
OTE ace,Ga NS ene et RR I Remington H-380 65.0 2805 34,300
Pititicaetu eineilmes eeacataan ote scsatteer etn in Orato ee 2.840" 760 71.0 3045 43,800
PHIMS ce cpcoesastete ns ee osEEL ee CCI 250 H-414 68.0 3042 42,700
PHIM SIZehe waa near ores oan a Large Rifle, Magnum IMR-4350 74.0 3102 41,800
Sie OMe MAOKChS to. Fees cries aa vane wee No. 13 RX19 80.0 3070 41,600
Jacketed Bullets Used ......... Speer SP #2277, 150 gr. XMR-3100 81.0 3014. 41,400
Hornady RN #3235, 170 gr. H-4831 80.0 3144 41,200
CacshBulletsiWsedi |. 22s: s2hta.Gn eee (sized to .323" dia) m:
*gas check bullet *#323470, 165 gr. ae
170 gr. Jacketed RN
3.440" OAL
Sugg
eke Starting Velocity P
Test Specifications: Powder can ee CUP.
(Velocity & Pressure) H-414 715-2955 44,300
Pirearinie sec) ne ners tere eases Universal Receiver IMR-4350 70.0 2919 42,900
Barrel Length ..........
02.00 sees eeeeeeeeeens 24" RX19 770 2921 42,300
Twist ... bebe ee ee ce eee ee cence estate eee sees 1-1 0" XMR-3100 76.5 2806 37,700
GiTOOVE|D lat aren eee ceeel co ner S eein ee eee 323) H-4831 78.0 2979 43,000
RX22 81.5 3004 40,600
IMR-7828 83.0 2977 ~—43,100
RX25 83.0 2822 39,000
AA8700 925. 2908 ~ 41,400

175 gr. Jacketed SPT BC: 381 180 gr. Jacketed Ballistic Tip BC: 394
3.585" OAL SD: .240 3.595" OAL SD: .247
Sugg mei Sugg
H-414 69.0 2889 45,000 H-414
IMR-4350 71.6 2871 41,100 IMR-4350
RX19 75.0 2852 42,100
XMR-3100 77.0 2851 41,000 XMR-3100
H-4831 753 2843 42,100
RX22 81.5 3034 42,500
IMR-7828 78.5 2812 39,100 IMR-7828
RX25 84.0 2848 43,300 RX25
AA8700 92.5 2920 42,500
200 gr. Jacketed AccuBond #323470

3.590" OAL 165 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.398" OAL
Su Sugg
IMR-4350 68. 2626
SR-4759
IMR-4227
40,400 XMP-5744 24.5
IMR-4198 26.0
43,200
45,500
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. ei

259
325 WSM.
The 325 WSM is the most recent
addition (in 2005) to Winchester’s
popular Short Magnum line of car-
tridges. Winchester simply necked-up
their 300 WSM case to accept .323”
bullets to form this round. It joins the
8mm Remington Magnum as being
one of the few American designed
8mm cartridges available. The 325
WSM offers a performance level that
is just a notch below that of the
Remington Magnum, however, it
operates out of short action, lighter
weight rifles and burns less powder. It
is quite similar to the 338 Winchester
Magnum in velocity and perform-
ance, which means it is suitable for
nearly all North American big game
and much African plains game. Throughout our testing,
we found the 325 WSM to produce very uniform veloc-
ity and pressures. Our accuracy loads highlight the most
uniform load tested, however, all powders listed had
150 gr. Jacketed SPT BC: .336
excellent uniformity, which often translates into excel-
2.790" OAL
lent accuracy.
Our 165 grain cast bullet woutd be excellent for Sugg
low recoil and low cost practice loads. Powder Grains ps PS.I.
IMR-4064_ 57.0 2990. 51,200 |
Varget 53 3031 53,900
AA-2700 65.0 2950 50,300
H-414 64.8 2979 50,700
Test Components:
SACO RTT ck Met og Se ae sone Winchester IMR-4350 64.8 2874 48,400
760 65.7 2985 49,000 =7
ICL OCMCUAE ENS rs ni oda so oss 9s 2.090”
Hunter 67.4 2945 50,000
PriiMmersi ashe Winchester WLRM and WLR (cast bullets)
N160 67.5 2952 49,500
PRIMO ery noapttrs-s Large rifle, Magnum and Standard RX19 67.5 2857 48,100
Lyman Shell Holden c.ocd..1—aeneernr td eet +No. 34
Speer SP #2283, 170 gr.
Swift A-Frame, 200 gr. 170 gr. Jacketed SP BC: 311
Sierra SBT #2420, 220 gr. 2.745" OAL SD: .233
Gast Bullets sed... dnc. aerate (sized to .323” dia.) Sugg a i
*gas check bullet *#323470, 165 gr. Powder Grains ps P.S.1.
IMR-4064 54.0 ~—-.2786~——«452,300
Varget_ 56.0 2836 55,200
AA-2700 61.2 2845 55,100
H-414 61.0 2855 54,700
IMR-4350 60.7 2708 — 48,900
760 61.6 2855 53,500
Test Specifications: N160 63.0 2764 ~—-50,200
(Velocity & Pressure) Hunter 64.0 2818 51,100
PITGATITICU SEC setae sea ere a Reet se eee Universal Receiver
RX19 65.2 2760 50,500
Batvel Langit. na men Wen meta tame canny weet 24”
TIWES tisgrcas tessao a coir Beer sec eae ne emeete eee 1-10”
Groove: Diaw 2 une Bien oe ee Spey"

175 gr. jacketed SPT BC: 381 180 gr. Barnes TSX BC: 381
2.855" OAL SD: .240 2.830" OAL SD: .246
Sugg Sugg th ee
Powder Grains — DS PS.I. Powder Grains ps P.S.I.
Varget 55.0 2764 54,000 Varget
IMR-4350 60.5 2686 49,400 IMR-4350
H-414 60.0 2781 +~—+53,800
AA-2700 60.7 2789 54,300
Geiase bie 2808: 83,300
N160 62.5 2721 49,900 Hunter
‘Hunter OG ee 2 469> 5000 N160_
IMR-483 1 63.0 2666 49,400 IMR-4831
RX19 643 2692 49,200
195 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .410 200 gr. Jacketed A-Frame BC: 357
2.855" OAL SD: .267 2.800" OAL SD: .274
Sugg Sugg eae
Powder Grains fps PS.I. Powder Grains DS P.S.1.
Varget 52.0 2629 55,400 Vareet 515 2563 54,300
H-414 57.6 2651 56,700. H-414 57.6 2604. 54,400
AA-2700 57.6 ——-2650_~—«57,400 AA-2700 58.0 2580 53,400
760 57.6 2626 54,200 760 58.0 2583 51,800
Wieo 59.4 = 2588 52,900 N160 59.5 2557. _-+51,600
Hunter 60.3 2617 53,100 Hunter 60.5 2579 50,200
IMR-4831 60.3. 2563. = 51,800 IMR-4831 61.2 2561 51,800
RX19 61.6 2618 54,000 RX19 61.2 2550 51,600
IMR-7828 62.0 2525 51,600 (MR-7828. 62.0. 2471) 50,100.
220 gr. Jacketed SBT BC: 521 #323470

2.860!" OAL SD: .301 165 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.590" OAL
Sugg
Sugg
Powder Grains fps _ P.S.1.
Varget 48.6 2435 55,500. SR-4759 20.5 1668
H-414 55.3 2518 54,600 AA-5744 .
2471 53,600 IMR-4198 25.0
veo 555
AA-2700 56.2 2531 55,500 12,500
Ni60 56.7. 2449 «52,200
11,300
Hunter 57.6 2490 51,800
IMR-4831 58.5 -2472_~—«50,600
RX22 60.3 2531 53,500
IMR-7828 60.3. ——-2441._~—_—«51,400

e d e r a l
338 F a
Introduced in 2006, the 338 Federal

is the first centerfire rifle cartridge to
bear the Federal name on it’s head-
stamp. The 338 Federal shares the
same body dimensions as the 308
Winchester case, however it is
necked-up to accept .338” bullets. It
produces energy levels just a notch
above the 30-06 and very similar to
the 7mm Remington Magnum or the
358 Winchester. It also has less recoil
than many larger magnum cartridges.
This makes the 338 Federal suitable
for a large variety of big game, with
the advantage of being chambered in
lighter, short action rifles.
The size of the 338 Federal case
necessitates the need to use medium-
fast burn rate powders. Slower burning powders will fill
the case before top velocities are reached. Even with
some of the faster burn rate powders, many of our list- Sareei aie
ed loads contain compressed powder charges. In our

testing, we found that Ramshot’s TAC powder consis- 180 gr. jacketed AccuBond BC: .372
tently gave some of the highest velocities. Hodgdon’s 2.820" OAL SD:4225
H335 powder produced excellent uniformity for pres- Sugg
sures and velocities with most bullet weights. Starting Velocity Pressure
IMR-4198 34.3. 2420 -~—-46,800
RX10 37.3 2457 45,500
AA-2495 42.0 2447 ~=—-44,700
Test Components: N135 42.3 2562 48,300
Cases ONC ie, Beers
ai FeSean eegae Sele Federal H335 42.5 2465 44,900
UAT AYE ROS ey fea| Pst 5 Boe eect ene Pires mer Neer ners 2.005” TAC 44.5 2592 49,800
IMR-4895 43.0 ~—-2437——45,000
BRUT ICTSy eel nce 8 bp MPa 2a a Federal 210 IMR-4064 41.5 2441 = 44,400
PUIMNCE SIZC yet ontiaulseriab sake xasaeee Galact- Large Rifle Varget 44.0 +2473 ~=—-43,200
Ismanronel FiGnen: vac s07 tcwonadonesnasaates No. 2 748 44.0 2477 41,600
Jacketed Bullets Used .Nosler AccuBond #57625, 180 gr.
Barnes MRX BT #33863, 185 gr.
Speer SP #2405, 200 gr.
Nosler Partition SP #16336, 225 gr. 185 gr. Barnes MRX BC: 379
2.820" OAL SD: .231
Sugg
Powder Grains P.S.I.
IMR-4198 34.0 2332S 43,900
RX10 37.0 2392 44,200
H335 2403 2479 47,900
AA-2495 42.5 2401 43,400
TAC 43.5 2567 51,000
IMR-4895 43.0 2404 44,800
IMR-4064 41.4 2358 41,700
Piteartn-Wsed =or tense ccned hs oe wees Universal Receiver
Varget 42.3 2324 37,300
BarreliPencuin sa.s6 het rhe ha ceneetiats o eanaee 24” 748 44.0 2437 42,100
ALWWSbwe << ren ayayaui = ay ee a RY a, I= 107
Groove: Dias.« saiets oe ho oe kee Bee ee oes Boon

338 Federal
oe a ‘ iC ASD C7. 7
Be) : y
200 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .448 210 gr. Jacketed Scirocco BC: .507
2.820" OAL SD: .250 2.820" OAL SD: .263
Sugg Sugg Max. ;
Powder Grains DS PS.I. Powder Grains DS PS.1.
IMR-4198 33.0 2245 ~—-44,300 IMR-3031 37.0 2222 43,900
RX10 36.0 2348 48,800 H335 37.3 2134 40,100
H335 40.5 2272 42,800 NGBS ce 387 2292 46,000
AA-2495 40.5 2304 47,100 AA-2495 39.5 2266 45,300
TAC 43.0 2408 47,200 TAC 40.5 2329" «49.400
N135 40.5 2359 46,100 IMR-4895. 40.5 2221 43,900 _ |
IMR-4895. 42.3. 2284 _~—=—-42,800 IMR-4064 39.6 2234 44,700.
IMR-4064. 40.5 2294 42,200 Varget 41.5 2275 44,200
Varget 43.0 2306 40,500 748 41.0 2286 45,400
748 45.4 2431 44,500 RX15 40.5 2255 “44,400
215 gr. Jacketed SPT BC: .485 225 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .454
2.820" OAL SD: .269 2.820" OAL SD: .281
Sugg
Powder Grains CLO Powder Grains DS P.S.I.
IMR-3031 37.8. 2220 -~——-43,000. IMR-3031 0 37.0. 2147.) 42,0001
N135 39.0 2244 42,500 N135 37.0 2132 41,500
335400 > 2955. 43,300 H335 38.0 2134. ~—-40,400
AA-2495 39.6 2200 42,700 AA-2495 39.0 2187 48,700
TAC 40.8 2340 ~—-47,600 JAC 396 2194 43,000
IMR-4895 40.5 2213 43,800 IMR-4895 40.0 2192 45,400
IMR-4064. 40.5. ~——-2277_——-46,800 IMR-4064 39.6 2187 44,100
Varget 42.3 Zoi 46,200 Varget 41.4 2251 45,300
748. 490. _ 2311 _43,300 748 AVS 2906) 42.200
RX15 40.5 2265 44,600 RX15 40.5 2218 45,000

259
This cartridge has attained classic
status over the last 40 years. It started
slow but gradually gained a momen-
tum equal to its ability to handle most
of the world’s game.
This round is best served with a
premium style bullet but for nonde-
manding situations many use popular-
AD ae 0
ly priced bullets. Y
Propellants that have proven very
accurate include IMR 4831, Hercules
Reloder 22, and IMR 7828 with all
bullet weights. The shooter who real-
ly wants one cartridge for a wide vari-
ety of game, and who can see past the
30-06 mystique, would do well to
learn to shoot a 338 Winchester
Magnum. It has been used successful-
ly on 30 pound duiker, 140 pound deer, giant Alaskan
bear, and a lot of in between sized game around the Rae
world. It rivals the 375 H&H Magnum as being the most
versatile of all big game cartridges. The 338 has the 180 gr. Jacketed AccuBond BC: 372
edge on lighter game whereas the 375 H&H can be 3.340" OAL SD: .225
pushed to the limit and used (carefully) for the likes of Sugg
African cape buffalo. Starting Velocity Pressure
N150 59.0 2838 51,600
H-380 65.5 2875 47,000
IMR-4350 65.0 2604 40,700
Test Components: AA-3100 66.5 2498 40,600
CAG re Ne ee rn sah oteseneRe Gris Be Winchester
Hunter 68.5 2805 42,400
Trim-to Length ......... SE CN ene ys as 2.490"
RX19 71.0 2714 43,300
PEDETS Ortlet ee cecae Cea, ea, seas’ ater Remington 91/2 M
IMR-4831 70.0 2692, 45,900
PUM OIZE na Geta «epee a Large Rifle, Magnum
RX22 71.0 2706 42,600
USNa ONE LOMO ac retwech ct cresusienn ©.eterna chen eae No. 13
Jacketed Bullets Used .Nosler Accubond #57625, 180 gr.
Speer SP #2405, 200 gr.
Nosler Partition SP#16336, 225 gr.
200 gr. Jacketed SP
Fineanhing CSCC menue mae eee ee Universal Receiver 3.340" OAL
Bamelmenctiiaenensscs
dias tea ao oe aoc oe 24" Sugg
HIN ISU ne erece Fs eee ie hale thle rec Sedat ena 1-10" Starting Velocity Pressure
GiroovelD iat. eke eh ee ce eo ON 338"
IMR-4350 65.4
Hunter
42,100
IMR-4831 41,700
40,700

210 gr. Barnes TSX BC: .404 225 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .454
3.310" OAL 3.340" OAL SD: .281
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains fps GU. Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
IMR-4350 62.5 2550 46,600 IMR-4350.
H-4350 64.8 2661 46,000
AA-3100 64.8 2412 40,700 RX19
RX19 66.5 2547 «42,700 IMR-4831
IMR-4831 65.3 2520 42,600
N165_ 66.5 2480 41,000 IMR-7828
IMR-7828 69.3 2505 42,900
MAGPRO 70.0 ~—2520.~—S—«45,400
Magnum 70.5 2337 ~~ 44,000
250 gr. Jacketed RN BC: .291 *300 gr. jacketed HPBT BC: .768
3,300" OAL SD: .313 3.410" OAL SDz3/5
Sugg Sugg
IMR-4350 H-4350
H-4831SC
IMR-7828
IMR-4831
N165 66.0 RX25
IMR-7828 MAGPRO
RX22
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. en

load.
Loads shown in bold designate peri most accurate
+Designates a compress ed powder charge. ic
maximum length.
* 300 oie HPBT bullet is loaded above the SAAMI
This and the 338 Winchester were
the only Magnum rifle chamberings
available in the .338” diameter bore
for many years. The 338 Winchester
became quite popular while the
Weatherby offering languished in pro-
prietary status with a small, but loyal
following. Only time will tell how the
340 fares against the new 338 Ultra
Mag and its Weatherby stable mate,
the 338-378. IMR-4350 and H-4831
often give best results. Weatherby rec-
ommends the exclusive use of Federal
215 primers. This data is intended for
commercially produced and cham-
bered rifles. It is not for use in custom
guns that may lack the free bore found
in standard Weatherby chambers.
Test Components: 225 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .397

CASetG Seer ena eH Ne Aah Cw ne on ee Federal 3655" OAL SD: 281
TimMetOMceneUlye:teent asker gat is osteo Cl . ei
PINION See sae area oe Be cs hee, suet shun teeFederal 215 Sugg |
Balthasar Large Rifle, Magnum Starting Velocity Pressure
Byarein Ste liete
Gl 7... er eee eee eee No. 13 ai ee El
IMR-4350 _
ES
RX19
Hornady SP #3320, 225 gr. IMR-4831
Hornady RN #3330, 250 gr. XMR-3100
H-4831
IMR-7828
(Velocity Only)
PIG AMINSCG 4a ara:obs,arses alo eae alesWeatherby Mk V
Barrelilenetn: sx a:s.<rs «1 eves See ies tle 2e s. ar® 26"
PIV ISU Bcc attaossrestt5 oiewera’ c's Gye ena eated Neola tole te 1-10"
GHOOWE Dae sonic aie seo Wane. Hemme Spiow

3,655" OAL SD: .313
Sugg
Powder Grains Ds
i IMR-4350
RX19 76.0 PUN) —
200 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .448 IMR-4831
3.560" OAL SD: .250 XMR-3100
Sugg
Powder Grains Ss IMR-7828
IMR-4350 76.0 2724 —
RX19 81.0 QOH, —
IMR-4831 79.0 2851 Se
XMR-3100 84.0 2964 =
H-4831 81.0 2604 a
RX22 85.0 3004 =
IMR-7828 86.0 3019 =

+Designates a compressed nowder charce
on Ultra Mag
Remincion introduced the 338
member of the Ultra Mag family in
1999. This is Remington’s first offering
in a 338 caliber. The 338 RUM differs
from the rest of its siblings by featur-
ing a case body shortened by .090”.
This non-belted, magnum cartridge
offers performance very similar to
other large capacity 338 calibers such
as the 338 Lapua and the 340
Weatherby Magnum. Reloder 22 pro-
duced excellent results with a variety
of different bullet weights.
Test Components:
ENESS os,Pay beeing iid Pe Remington
7 ihe Soa 21 2 ie ple Se ae Sana 2750" 200 gr. Jacketed Silvertip BC: .414
TSS ee ae gg Remington 91/2 M 3.600" OAL SD: .250
TOSS Sl ee Large Rifle, Magnum Su Parry 3; a oe
PR IOIGEE eo coc oc bow eee steele be No. 13 88

ee Ne Os a rn Powder Grains fps PSE
Combined Tech. Ballistic Silvertip #51200, 200 gr. IMR-4350 655 2794 52,500
Barnes XBT #33883, 210 gr. RX19 90.0 3015 50,800
‘Barnes X #33885, 225 gr. IMR-4831 88.0 3039 53), 1100
Combined Tech. Fail Safe #53230, 230 gr. XMR-3100 91.5 2984 53,200
Swift A-Frame, 250 gr. H-4831 91.0 2940 51,800
Swift A-Frame, 275 gr. WXR 92.0 3010 51,300
N165 97.0 3026 51,200
RX22 93.0 3019 51,300
IMR-7828 94.0. 3062 56,000
H1000 100.0 2999 53,500
SiGe ets Oe ee Universal Receiver
PCH Marta aes atk ane eA a eden nan wae 24" 210 gr. Barnes XBT BC: .471
TRIS ee g ee ooNeco 1-10" 3.575" OAL SD: .263
UI ON Cal) emrere RRM stage ciais) setae suas ors,Sete Sister 2 4s yates
Sugg Max
Powder Grains PS.
IMR-4350
RX19 55,000
IMR-4831
* XMR-3100
RX22 53,000
IMR-7828
H1000 97.0 2881 52,800

225 gr. Barnes X BC: .482 230 gr. Jacketed Fail-Safe BC: .436
3.600" OAL SD: .281 3.600" OAL SD: .288
Sugg Sugg
Starting Velocity Pressure Starting Velecity Pressure
Powder Grains fps P.S.1. Powder Grains fps I.
RX19 84.0 2831 57,500 IMR-4350 81.0 2699 51,400
IMR-4831 82.0 2856 61,100 RX19 86.0 2801 54,000
XMR-3100 = 84.5 2/3 tam 300) IMR-4831 84.0 2773 ~—~+55,000
H-4831 84.0 2775 60,200 XMR-3100 87.0 2739 53,500
WxXR 83.5 2843 = 60,200 H-4831 87.0 2718) 753; 500
N165 80.5 2699 55,900 WXR 86.0 2747 53,900
RX22 86.0 2852 56,600 RX22 89.5 2780 53,100).
IMR-7828 84.0 2749 54,600 IMR-7828 88.5 2771 54,900
H1000 92.0 2761 55,500 H1000 94.0 2796); 90,200
RX25 86.5 2748 = 51,500 RX25 91.0 2769 53,000
MagPro 93.0 2869 53,600
Retumbo 97.5 2807 48,100
US 869 102.0 2642 49,000
250 gr. Jacketed A-Frame BC: .427 275 gr. Jacketed A-Frame BC: .469
3.575" OAL SD: 313 3.490" OAL SD: .344
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains PSE Powder Grains PS.I.
RX19 83.0 2720 55,000 RX19 79.0 2566 56,000
IMR-4831 81.0 2684 54,600 XMR-3100 79.5 2449 50,400
XMR-3100 83.0 2628. 451/300" H-4831 80.0 2540 60,100
H-4831 84.0 2651 55,200 RX22 81.0 2569 54,900
WXR 62E5i299) 1 57, 300 IMR-7828 79.0 2519 55,800
RX22 86.0 2752 955300 H1000 85.5 2482 51,700
IMR-7828 85.0 2703 55,500 MagPro 85.5 2603 54,700
H-1000 90.0 2660 54,000 Retumbo 89.0 2637 54,600
RX25 87.0 2707 ‘53,000 AA-8700 96.0 2452 49,400
MagPro 89.0 2748 53,000 US 869 99.0 2563 53,400
Retumbo —- 96.0 2801 53,900
US 869 100.0 2587 50,100

The 338 Lapua was originally
designed for military use as a long-
range sniper round. It is based on a
modified 416 Rigby case. The car-
tridge gave excellent accuracy at long
range and as such has seen most of its
use in competition or tactical situa-
tions. It has also seen use by hunters
looking for a powerful medium-bore
caliber. Sako has chambered rifles for
it, as well as a number of custom or
semi-custom rifle builders. The per-
formance level of the 338 Lapua is on
par with other large capacity 338 car-
tridges such as the 338 Remington
Ultra Mag and the 340 Weatherby
Magnum. To master calibers such as
these, practice will be needed as
recoil is rather heavy. In our testing, we found that
VihtaVuori N560 did very well with lighter weight bul-
lets. Ramshot Magnum and Hodgdon US 869 did very
well with heavier weight bullets.
180 gr. jacketed AccuBond BC: 372
3.620" OAL
Sugg.
Powder Grains _fps
ACES ERP cleans ale ss SE CAB ee ee ea Lapua
MPNGECOR RENN ff os s,- woh bac Gass aa hiae e Peas 2:7 14"
VCE EOS A ea Federal 215 IMR-7828
GM AEG e552 Gv aoe eaeos Large Rifle, Magnum Magnum
VR CH THOMIET oo eae eee ce cree eee No. 17
Jacketed Bullets Used .Nosler AccuBond #57625, 180 gr.
210 gr. Jacketed Scirocco

3.600" OAL SD: .263
Sugg. Max oH
Test Specifications: Powder Grains _fps PS.I.
Pies SCE fk naceni ©ei ds b>Universal Receiver
hie
SETAE We) et eea Pe 24” 55,500
TRIS ©acocd oo ao obea oes Ge on cera gare 1-10”
tensa ae 338" IMR-7828
WE FERIA eee eit cnre AI ea ts tla ena
Magnum

250 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .431 275 gr. jacketed A-Frame BC: .469
3.565" OAL SD: .313 3.450" OAL SD: 344
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains P.S.1. Powder Grains D PS.1.
H-4831SC 72.5 2511 ~—-56,800
H-4831SC IMR-7828 74.0 2577 ~—-56,600
IMR-7828 H-1000 78.0'' 2508 54,600" -
N170 80.0 2494. 55,300
RX25 7 BAS OB B6N a 54.5000|
Retumbo 83.0 2577. ~—+55,100
Magnum 86.0 2609 57,500
US 869 96.0 2606 54,700

3.680" OAL SD: .375
Sugg
Powder Grains fps sdb
H-4831SC 74.0 2467
IMR-7828 76.0 2505
Retumbo
55,000

by Magnum
This cartridge is similar to the old 338-378
Keith/Thompson wildcat, also based on the
378 Weatherby case. Powder capacity is
approximately 15 percent more than the
338 Remington Ultra Mag and over 20 per-
cent more than Weatherby’s long time entry
in the field, the 340 Weatherby Magnum.
This cartridge can justifiably be called king of
the factory 338s. Best performance requires
large volumes of slow burning powder ignit
ed by Federal 215 primers and premium bul-
lets. IMR-7828 and H-1000 provided good
ballistic uniformity with several different
weight bullets. This number should amply
handle anything in North America as well as
much of Africa. This data is intended for com-
mercially produced and chambered rifles. It
is not intended for use in custom guns which
may lack the free bore found in standard Weatherby chambers.
185 gr. Barnes XLC BC: .437

Test Components: 3.700" OAL SD: .231
eeSSS90 eS eee ee Weatherby
Sugg
GSES 201 rr een 2.903" Starting Velocity Pressure —
CEP Sea ae Sars ra eee ee Federal 215 Powder Grains fps
Se tesi A ee ae Large Rifle, Magnum XMR-3100 |
Drie Ie ONCE... . ... oc aces sae ante No. 17 H-4831 SC
Jacketed Bullets Used ...... Barnes XLC #33854, 185 gr.
Comb. Tech. Bal. Silvertip #51200, 200 gr. IMR-7828
Barnes XBT #33883, 210 gr.
Barnes X #33885, 225 gr.
(Velocity
Only)
ee Bite he Reg eae ere Weatherby Mk Vv 200 gr. jacketed Ballistic Silvertip BC: .414
CteINO eee Sine os. ea ye nega os TRO. 3.740" OAL SD: .250
TRAM, Sy a Bat OSes, 0 Ben peer tee ote ae ioreara as Air icnc1-10" Sugg
UT DET 2 a a eeen ae ae 338 Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains DS
XMR-3100 98.0 3052 a
H-4831SC 99.0 3165 —
RX22 99.0 3125 —
* IMR-7828 99.0 3061 —
H1000 108.0 3129 Bs

267
210 gr. Barnes XBT BC: .471 225 gr. Barnes X BC: .482
3.740" OAL SD: .263 3.720" OAL SD: .281
Sugg Sugg |
XMR-3100 99.0 3167 — XMR-3100 98.0
H-4831SC =:98.0 3119 — H-4831SC
RX22 100.0 3208 — IMR-7828
IMR-7828 101.0 3183 —
H1000 108.0 3110 _—
250 gr. A-Frame BC: .427 275 gr. A-Frame BC: .469
3.675" OAL SD: 313 3.640" OAL SD: .344
Sugg Sugg a a
XMR-3 100
H-4831SC
IMR-7828
H50BMG
H870

The Model 71 Winchester is the only
rifle made to ever chamber this car-
tridge. Conversely, this cartridge was
offered in no other rifle but the Model
71. Winchester commenced Model
71 production in 1936 and discontin-
ued it twenty years later. Browning
resurrected the 348 when it ran a lim-
ited run of reproduction Model 71s t
during the 1980s. Factory ammuni-
-.485— 378 —
tion included 150, 200 and 250-grain
loadings at one time, however,
Winchester currently lists only the
200-grain loading. The 348 is about
the most firepower that has ever been
packed into a lever-action rifle. The
348 retains a small but dedicated
band of disciples, especially in the
Alaskan bush. IMR-4895 is a good place to start for
accuracy. Roll crimping is essential as on any tubular
magazine.
200 gr. Jacketed FN BC: .246
2.830" OAL SD: .236
Su es
Test Components: Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps CHU
USGS fen ee ar Winchester
ee CPCI itn 8. eS avacth bi ent w isGe cldiaieis = 2.245" IMR-4895 49.0 2340 35,000
PES o65 loo beens eo ee Winchester WLR IMR-4064 48.0 2348 36,700
OVC
AP RT STdae tsOe Large Rifle Varget’ 50.0 2406 33,300
MOLE NRIOIAST ae)... oa sve siye ob bade tiewee No. 18 IMR-4320 44.0 2202 36,800
Jacketed Bullets Used ....... Hornady FN #3410, 200 gr N140 43.0 2243 34,500
RX15 44.0 2286 35,200
N540 47.0 2310 34,700
N150 44.0 2279 ~~34,500
N550 48.0 2197 34,900
AA2700 50.0 2193 34,700
(Velocity& Pressure) J XMR-4350 56.0 2148 33,600
Ei acmetbsek iayells
nbd eae okUniversal Receiver H-4831 60.0 2166 ~—-33,100
DICT ee eer es oe eae tee ee see 24"
ANANSI MEO vid cheep. sinus fereveys omileve i,« Mibwakoudienye lant.1-12"
(CARS ONWE DB, coota cee 8 CE Ee en oe 348"
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. ~.

9mm Lug i
pass
aie 9mm Luger has been one of the

most popular pistol chamberings in
the world. It has lost ground in recent
years to the 40 Smith and Wesson.
The data listed below was worked up
in a pressure barrel and fired through
a Ruger PC-9 Carbine. Do not go
below listed starting charges.
Doing so may cause a bullet to
lodge in the rifle-length barrel. Firing
a round with a bullet stuck in the bar-
rel is extremely dangerous. Alliant’s
Power Pistol provided the best results
in our testing.
Test Components:
(CASOs were ae ce Sel I PLP ne PM ees Federal
SINAN EOE NGSLIAE os he che cartelThrone
nen Se ween
ee cami ee CCI 500 aes Lai HE
RISC EOZe re eas vec «a ceoee re) Saltor. Small Pistol
Vine NESCHU OMIChika- isa syoons 1 dapertee a deere No. 12 Sugg
Jacketed Bullets Used ..... Hornady HP #35540, 115 gr. Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains DS
Sierra FM) #8345, 130 gr.
Speer TM) #4006, 147 gr. Poner Patol g9
KCASSUMES SCC aaraska . + coke.
«4 ine (sized to .355" dia) Blue Dot 68
#356242, 120 gr.
#356637, 147 gr.
(Velocity Only)
ireatinCised) a. ures ae catcaik stars Ruger Carbine, PC9 125 gr. jacketed HP
DAIVeu er GUnr Mean nny Saat aden eae, here ser eas 1614" 1.075" OAL
HIS ee fats een ete ore reo 1-10" = -™
GT OOVEID a aerate
eer ae eee car eeLIM ets 354" Starting Velocity Pressure |
Powder Grains
3.9
N340
Power Pistol 5.1
AA#5
Blue Dot 6.3

130 gr. FMJ BC: 160 147 gr. TM) BC: .208
1.160" OAL SD: 147 1.115" OAL SD: .167
Sugg Sugg
Titegroup 2
Unique
Power Pistol Power Pistol

AA#7
Blue Dot
#356242 BC: .154 #356637 %

Sugg Sugg
Grains fps Powder Grains fps
25 863 —
Universal
N340_
Power Pistol 5.0 — Power Pistol
AA#7
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. .

Me acactin carbines chambered in
revolver calibers have become quite
popular recently. Part of this can be
attributed to their lightweight and
handling while the sport of Cowboy
Action Shooting has also helped. All
bullets used in rifles equipped with
tubular magazines should be crimped
in place. Powders that work well in
357 handgun loads, i.e. H110, 2400,
N110, also worked well in the test
rifle.
Test Components:
RAC ee he. SS Ak os wie ety eee Federal
UATEPeo RSTese te ac en gee 1280} 110 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .122
DRM CTS ener eeamr CART. + Glut eRe wiahlsytlnd «ote Sinchlas CCI 550 1.590" OAL SD: .123
BNC IZM MI Ie odes ose 6 sce Small Pistol, Magnum Sugg
van eorte! lardOIE G-cuind exo sitet «as eh atonal No. 1 Starting Velocity Pressure
Jacketed Bullets Used ........ Speer JHP #4007, 110 gr. Powder Grains
Hornady JHP #35710, 125 gr.
Blue Dot
Speer JHP #4203, 140 gr.
N110
Sierra JHC #8365, 170 gr. IMR-4227
Cast Bullets Used UE AE ett Rene (sized to .357" dia)
*eas check bullet *#358156, 155 gr.
#358429, 170 gr.
Test Specifications: 125 gr. Jacketed HP

(Velocity Only) 1.590" OAL
Firearm Used .... Sugg
Barrel Length .... Starting Velocity Pressure
BIWAStaea wees
cea Powder Grains fps
Groove Dida Siete Neary e Varn aseta oie nae 350: Power Pistol 9.1
AA#5 10.6 1725
Blue Dot
IMR-4227

140 gr. Jacketed HP BC: 152 158 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .206
1.590" OAL SD: .157 1.590" OAL SD: .177
Sigs . eee a
Sugg
Powder Grains D Powder Grains p
AAHS. ee Ce e Blue Dot
Blue Dot ;
2400
IMR-4227 IMR-4227
170 gr. Jacketed HC BC: .176 #358156 BC: .213

1.590 OAL SD: .191 155 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.590" OAL SD: .174
Sugg Sugg Kant a
Powder Grains fps Powder Grains D
AA#7 __ 9.8 1347
IMR-4227 IMR-4227
#358429 BC; .286

170 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.553" OAL SD: .191 .
Sugg
Powder Grains fps
Blue Dot 8.3 1338
WE 1514 ==
Woo ts. 1474
N110 233 1552
14.4
IMR-4227 12.0 1268
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. :

35 Remington |
The 35 Remington made its debut in
1906 as one of several chamberings
(the others being the 25, 30, and 32
Remington) offered in Remington’s
new model 8 semiautomatic rifle.
While the other calibers are long
gone, the 35 Remington lives on 2320"
today in the Marlin 336. Several dif- =, PE) — lshel=
ferent rifles have been produced in 35
Remington over the years. Rifles with
tubular magazines are limited to flat
or blunt nosed bullets. It’s long been a
popular brush cartridge out to 150
yards and is considered by many in
the field to be superior to the 30-30.
The diminutive little Remington is
the mildest of the 35 caliber rifle car-
tridges. Some current 358” diameter
bullets feature heavy construction designed for the
higher velocities of other cartridges. Such bullets may
not perform at 35 Remington levels. The Lyman staff
selected the bullets listed in our data section based on
180 gr. Jacketed FSP BC: .245
their suitability for the 35 Remington’s ballistic levels.
2.470" OAL SD: .201
Cast bullet # 358315 was originally designed for the 35
Remington. Shooters reloading for Marlin rifles with Sugg
Micro-Groove® rifling should keep velocities below Powder Grains C.U.P.
1,600 feet per second best accuracy. N133 820)
XMR-2015
RX7
IMR-3031 28,700
Test Components:
CAE Es ors ihe og A ar an a Remington
MIRO PC INGLY vista as haiti tea ae ees eSNG: IMR-4064
EIEN Stee ere arom ne aa w womcveosaeeRemington 91/2 28,300
PNR OLZE Be rcos a carta avin oe wucese aie ek eeeLarge Rifle
LVinaioiell HOMeI arm 5.5% al esoeiye mere eee No. 2
Jacketed Bullets Used ........ Speer FSP #2435, 180 gr.
Speer FSP #2439, 220 gr.
Casi Builleis USE) ssccacssssououned (sized to .358" dia)
2.475" OAL SD: .223
*gas check bullet #358430, 195 gr.
*#358315, 204 gr. Sugg
N133 31.0 1803
XMR-2015
IMR-3031 27,900
H-4895
(Velocity & Pressure) 748 31,000
Rireannay) SCC peter wane nee erga Universal Receiver IMR-4064 26,300
Barrel Renatiipecs ss cen arin eae ce ere pa
IWS peer eateries eke mere ce ote ong ee pn eae 1-16"
irOOVESD ae tera eee ieeeeae Bey

220 gr. Jacketed FSP BC: 316 #358430
2.470" OAL SD: .245 195 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.215" OAL SDE
Sugg, Su Max | Pees
Starting Velocity Pressure Staring Velocity Pressure
XMR-2015 ~ 16,500
RX7 27.0 32,300
IMR-3031 IMR-4227 18.5
H-4895 XMP-5744 16,100
IMR-4198
#358315 BC: .165

204 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.470" OAL SD: .227
Sugg
2400
SR-4759
XMP-5744 ~ 16,500
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. ve

358 Winc
Py
j= Pe a ;
ae
Lie 358 Winchester is another

promising cartridge that never
achieved great commercial success.
Winchester brought out this necked
up 308 in 1955. It gained a reputation
as a handy brush cartridge with a bit
extra range to spare for open areas.
225 or 250-grain bullets and IMR-
4064 usually give good results in the
358. Shooters loading ammunition
from necked up GI brass should
approach maximum loads cautiously
due to the smaller capacity of military
cases.
Test Components:
RE Ae ee eee ee Leen Winchester
THe
ntsCOCETeR oP nee a RETR reves 180 gr. Jacketed FSP BC: .245
REET RE ON cee eae Oe ee Remington 91/2 2.680" OAL SD: .201
and Winchester WLR ae Geis — Ma
PEHICMOIZON RES Oe ose MA ets. <iehes cee anos Large Rifle spel cS Mg? Seed
Viet SINE |ON GH racet la’ .cnseae. Seslard oleoe ONG 2 coe Soe ip ene
Speer FSP #2439, 220 gr. XMR-2015
_ Hornady SP #3520, 250 gr.
GACtBUIICISM SECA teria td. ooo ts SOs (sized to .359" dia)
*#358315, 204 gr.
(Velocity & Pressure) 200 gf Jacketed RN
BircArtiiel SOC Mai che.c <lece- cannes es hee Universal Receiver 2.550" OAL SD; 223
Baten MEM etl tausnce Wisk cahsoakiy. 3 aon4342 NSE eee 24" Sugg aoe
TROT cee oro carota et ee oho ah Crore cacao 1-12" Starting Velocity Pressure Load
ELE OtSLB] EO eet te RON GRRE tr inet allOh eer 359" Powder __ Grains ps CUP. Gra
IMR-4895

220 gr. Jacketed FSP BC: .316 250 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .375
2.680" OAL SD: .245 2.810" OAL SD: .279
Sugg
Sugg
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Powder Grains C.U.P.
IMR-3031 IMR-3031
35,500
IMR-4895 IMR-4895
33,600
IMR-4064 Varget
*#358430 BC: .145 *#358315 BC: .165

S Sugg
Powder Grains Powder Grains C.U.P.
SR-4759 17.5 1536
IMR-4227 20.0 1549
XMP-5744 21.0: 1540
XMP-5744 =.23.0 23,200

* Designates the use of Win. WLR primers. 277
350 R e m i n g t o n
my
“toe Z
Remington introduced the 350

Remington Magnum cartridge along
with the Model 600 rifle in 1965. A
.4952— — -388
few years later, it was chambered in
the Remington Model 660 and also in
the Model 700. Although the idea of a
short, medium bore, magnum car-
tridge chambered in a light, short
action rifle certainly had merit, the
350 never really caught on. It had a
small group of supporters, but for the
most part was headed for obsoles-
cence. In 2003 however, Remington
decided to try to revive the round and
chambered it in their new Model 673.
They also added the caliber to their
Model Seven rifle. Time will tell if the
350 Rem. Mag does any better this
time around.
200 gr. Jacketed Ptd. SP

Test Components:
(COGS nots did oe ee Remington 2.765" OAL
LIER MCN) Sian genes) HAR». < « qnblcX 5 maar ls 221607 Sugg
Erneta. Neg wa ake ats Gus a th ohne. Remington 91/2 Powder Grains Ss
Paneth Ze mmmemat rite Soa iil ez Sreeitig i's. ets Large Rifle IMR-3031
Eviniaimoie lanOMWeh nee: sarees! mates occ areNo. 13 IMR-4895 54.0 2429
Jacketed Bullets Used ..... Remington Ptd. SPCL, 200 gr. IMR-4064
IMR-4320 53.0 2159 -——
BAS BUNETS MISE Me rcs eircom troutae(sized to .358” dia.)
#358315
Test Specifications: 204 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.760" OAL
(Velocity Only) Sugg
Pieaitan Sed teen hae aliens Satan a, Remington 700 Starting Velocity Pressure
DPCPCN ON etter cient ce oar nee street ie ate24” Powder Grains Ss
ISR cen e hieiere eeachete abies tir anchors cise siren 1-16” Unique 12.0 1345 —
SR-7625 12.0 1305 ----
CHOOVE DiS 2a se ears Socata BAG ees es 358”

35 Whelen
Th is yet another popular wildcat
legitimized by Remington. The 35
Whelen is essentially a 30-06 necked
up to accept .358” diameter bullets.
The cartridge had been around since
the early 1920s before it became fac-
tory sanctioned in 1988. The Whelen
ably fills a niche between the 30-06
and 416 Rigby for those shooters with
an aversion to belted magnums. Its
ability to be chambered in standard
length actions and ready source of
parent cases made it an economical
alternative to the 375 H&H for many
shooters. Credit for its creation has
been the subject of some debate.
Although the namesake of Colonel
Townsend Whelen, the first rifles orig-
inated from the firm of Griffin and Howe. Factory
ammunition and bulk cases are available from
Remington but many shooters still choose to neck up
30-06 cases. Shooters reloading GI cases should
approach maximum loads with caution due to the 180 gr. Jacketed FSP BC: .245
3.045" OAL SD: .201
smaller capacity of military cases. IMR-4064 has long
been a favorite for loading the Whelen. This data is Sugg Max? OO
intended for standard Remington chambers. Older, cus- Powder Grains p C.U.P.
tom rifles may have minor dimensional variations in the IMR-3031-
chamber.
38,900
Test Components:
GEES5 5 5.0\0 0) Beh Sia era aoe Remington IMR-4064 41,200
eae oie is 1S etie ewe a bh + 2.484" Varget 41,700
eM NGS ES HSA ees cia ricom s+ ube Ho Remington 91/2 AA2520 55.5 2628 41,800
Ug ean ne ee ee ae ee Large Rifle IMR-4320
EME CEO REN a. sre cudnt a ote ie inetzi ees dksNo. 2 RX15 57.0 2567 43,400
Hornady HP (Pistol) #35750, 158 gr.
Gxstulels WISE. = ses es visi velba ws (sized to .358" dia)
*#358315, 204 gr.
3.045" OAL SD: .223
Sugg
Test Specifications: Starting Velocity Pressure
(Velocity & Pressure) Powder Grains Ds C.U.P.
tae ee tiaineascniactars.s Universal Receiver ~ IMR-3031 5120
ihe animale SCC
Damen marrmmor cst nae AR et hae eee 24" AA2230 49.5 35,200
TRAWIGIE. Bt onesBho cay 4c ee Ate Re EPSIP OS Se nie earec are orem eee 1-16" H-335
(Gieore DIRE. dpat on eeeestoneo tonenmoe nmin: iS 5/ ae H-4895
748 56.5
N135 53.0
IMR-4064 53.0
41,800
AA2520 52.0 2287
IMR-4320 52.0 37,800
RX15 54.0 2428 41,700
Hunter 61.0 2364 38,900

+Designates a compressed powder charge. 279)
35 Whelen
225 gr. Barnes TSX BC: 359 250 gr. Jacketed SP BC: 375
3.340" OAL SD: 231 3.255. OAL SD: .279
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains C.U.P. Powder Grains C.U.P.
IMR-3031 45.5 2131 33,400 IMR-3031 46.0 ener 85,400
H-4895 49.0 2281 37,400 H-4895 48.0 2104 34,300
H335 49.5 2343. ~~42,100 Tao i oO. eobe AG 00
AA-2520 50.5 2314 36,400 IMR-4064 48.5 2088 38,000
N135 51.5 2347 =39,000 Varget 49.5 2178 40,300
IMR-4320. 49.0 2117, —-39,500 AA2520 48.0 2149 37,300
Varget 51.5 2284 38,900 IMR-4320. 47.0 2024 -~— 38,900
IMR-4064 48.5 2224 42,200 N140 51.0 2213 40,400
RX15 325 D265 359, 000 RX15 49.0 2095 37,400
748 oD 2477 ~—-45,600
Hunter 58.0 2276 42,600
Re HA I 8 Oenner
eGR
RR one
158 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .206 #358430 BC: .145

(Pistol Bullet) 2.787" OAL SD: .177 195 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.805" OAL SD: .217
Sugg Sugg
2400 26.7 1405 23,300 Unique
SR-4759 22.0 1435 23,000 17,800
XMP-5744 = 22.5 1411. —-22,000 SR-4759
IMR-4198
IMR-3031
#358315 BC: .165

204 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.045" OAL SD: .227
Su 8s San
Powder Grains fps CUR
SR-4759
IMR-4227
XMP-5744
IMR-4198 22,400
IMR-3031

Winchester
Marlin first introduced the 38-55 in
1884 as a black powder cartridge for
Ballard target rifles. Winchester pro-
duced rifles chambered in 38-55
shortly thereafter. This caliber sur-
vived into the smokeless era in the
Model 94 along with several! other
makes and models before being final-
ly discontinued in 1940. The cartridge
developed a reputation for accuracy
and effectiveness in the field that still
serves it well today. The 38-55 has
experienced a revival of late among
the Black Powder Cartridge Silhouette
and Cowboy Action Shooting estab-
lishments. U.S. Repeating Arms,
Marlin, and several smaller custom
manufacturers have offered 38-55
chambered rifles. The 38-55 also served as the basis of
several other cartridges brought out by Winchester over Test Components:
the years including the 30-30. CASES kta a agehcriey hte Seni g eed meee he Winchester
The 38-55 responds well to handloading, especial- Trine. Lertgthica” tery ss cee ate ee eee 2.075.
ly with the use of cast bullets. Many 38-55 caliber rifles MALS omit side RAMs.) Regent eerie norrte Remington 91/2
show wide variations in groove diameters. Some older PRIETO SOFZE vores cs fees a ae aor ahros5 eens Soria Large Rifle
rifles measure as large as .382” Shooters should slug Lyman ShelliMolder<2hr...22. 2.1... eee eee No. 6
their bore and size bullets accordingly. Cast bullet Jacketed Bullets Used ...... Barnes FNSP #5520, 255 gr.
#375248 was first introduced around 1905 and has GastiBulletstdsed neater: (sized to .379" dia)
been a favorite for the 38-55 ever since. It is also com- #375248, 249 gr.
patible for lever action rifles. Bullet #378674 exceeds #378674, 335 gr.
the maximum overall length when seated and is for sin-
gle shot rifles only. Shooters may occasionally
encounter older brass that exceeds 2.085” in length.
Maximum cartridge case length was originally 2.129”
but has been established at 2.085” by SAAMI. All listed
data has been worked up with the newer, shorter cases. Test Specifications:
SAAMI has also established a Maximum Average
Rirearmt Used ete Sein tcrre ier eee: Universal Receiver
Pressure (MAP) of 30,000 CUP for the 38-55. Shooters Barrel ‘Lenwtly % avtowt.a ages ee an te en SUE
should exercise caution if loading for older guns as INAS aed en ee nena tc oa ea a ee Re oe ee ee 1-20"
many have developed excessive headspace. The fol- GrOOVe: Dias 5 Vers ahs in ene ac ee 378)
lowing data is intended for use in modern firearms such
as the Winchester 94. Shooters should never attempt to
fire any 375 Winchester ammunition in any rifle cham-
bered for the 38-55.
The 375 Winchester is dimensionally similar but
loaded to substantially higher pressure. If in doubt, all
older rifles should be examined by a qualified gun-
smith before shooting. 255 gr. Jacketed FNSP BC: .290
2.480" OAL SD: .256
Sugg
AA-5744 20.0 18,200
IMR-4198 20.0 1075 13,500
RX7 24.0 1315 14,400
IMR-3031 18,000
IMR-4895 14,300

38-55 Win
#375248 BC: .290 #378674 BC: .360
249 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.550" OAL SD: .248 335 gt. (#2 Alloy) *2.900" OAL | sc SD: 333
| Sugg
Starti
ate Velocity Pressure Starting
ing Velecity Pressure
Powder Gil S au CUP Powder Grains C.U.P.
Trail Boss Trail Boss
AA-5744 22.0 1456 AA-5744
IMR-4198 IMR-4198 or
RX7 24.0 1661 :
RX7 24.0 1470
IMR-3031 IMR-3031
IMR-4895 16,300 IMR-4895. 30.0 1345. ——:18,500

Loads shown in bold designate potenially most accurate load,
*Exceeds SAAMI maximum length. For use in single shot rifles only.
> Winchester
This cartridge was the first attempt to
beef up the ballistics that could be
.400 .400
obtained with a 94 Winchester car-
bine. Basically it is the rebirth of the
38-55 loaded to higher pressure lev-
els. The rifle was called the Big Bore.
Never put a 375 Winchester
round into a 38-55 Winchester. Nor
should you attempt to use 38-55
ammo in the 375 Winchester.
Incompatible neck diameters can
cause serious hazard.
Test Components:
(CREE: 995 5 hus hear eee, Winchester
CLUES3gS| oe Se 2.010" 220 gr. jacketed FP
PITTS: 6G Se ee Winchester WLR
2.500" OAL
NSPE Shee Se Sa Large Rifle
STS NGSSDL GG 2: 2 a a eee No. 6 Sugg
Jacketed Bullets Used ....... Hornady FP #3705, 220 gr. Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
Barnes FP #375W20, 255 gr. IMR-4198
Pe MEIC WISEET cub. « seoiacs seas moh (sized to .377" dia) RX7 31,000
*gas check bullet #375248, 249 gr. IMR3031 303 173
*#375449, 264 gr. 25,200
30,000
Firearm Used™.......... Winchester Model 94 Big Bore
Universal Receiver
BRCM Oli js auccous 28 wins n 2a EA Winchester; 20"
Universal Receiver; 24"
“UE Sse a 8 TSO Far oar RS ROR et oe 1-12" 255 gr. Jacketed FP BC: .290
MO ee ios se Sales suit vidi onc teh LAYS 379" 2.560" OAL SD: .259
Su 88
IMR-4198 23.0 34,500
RX7
_ IMR-3031
37,700

375 Winche
=
*#375248 *#375449 :
me Velocity P e Serie Velocity Pressure

Powder Gene ea CUP. Powder Grains Ss = cota
2400 2400. 19:5) Osa
SR-4759 SR-4759
IMR-4227 IMR-4227
IMR-4198 IMR-4198
RX7
IMR-3031 IMR-3031

* Fired in a Winchester Model 94.
Vii is the godfather of modern belt- t~
ed magnums. Introduced by Holland
and Holland in 1912, it sired the 300
H&H in 1925. These two cartridges
thus served as the basis for almost
every popular belted magnum since.
The 375 H&H made its reputation in
Africa over many years. It may be
considered a bit overpowered for
much of the lower 48 but has seen
quite a bit of use in Alaska. The 375 is
one of the few magnums that actually
needs the belt for proper headspacing
due to the long, sloping configuration
of the case. The length of this car-
tridge mandates use of a long, mag-
num length action. The big H&H
properly loaded with the right bullets Ss es ee ES Ee eS Pel et
is also an exceptionally accurate, flat shooting car-
tridge. Do not attempt to crimp bullets without a can-
nelure. IMR-4350 and Reloder 15 are good powder
selections for loading the 375.
3.575" OAL SD: .239
Sugg 3
Powder Grains Ds
Be ee oe alo cs Rise wee asWinchester
IMR-3031
“OPTSaSSe aera 2.840"
N135 65.7 2635
CU Se Seer ee a es Winchester WLRM
RURMCE ZG oe Soci.
.F508 oe. Large Rifle Magnum IMR-4895
Lyn Cao |0]07 cr or No. 13 IMR-4064

Big Game
H380
37,300
Barnes Banded Solid #37526, 300 gr.
Meter DUINCTS WSC ie 6 a aieiceenesos 0 (sized to .378" dia)
*gas check bullet *#375449
#378674
260 gr. Jacketed SP

Facets WSC) ec.c.cn ee Winchester Model 70 Starting Velocity Pressure
and Universal Receiver
IMR-4895 63.0 2414 —
MICRON Ra. Suigian se saya tele aces ninsieFina 98S 24" IMR-4064 66.0 2433 —
TIRMIE 5 oo 8 oo db SS Oc 6 eee emer cee 5 1-1 2
_ X15 675 a2 ne
Growwe: DIB. cabrio o Ga eee Ore Correct icecaticee carina On
H-380 71.0 2481 am
AA2700 69.0 2449 OE
N160 76.0 2496 aa
AA-4350 75.0 2401 wv

375
H & Hi
270 gr. jacketed A-Frame BC: 349 285 gr. Jacketed SP

3.575" OAL SD: .274 3.600" OAL
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains fps P.S.I. Powder Grains fps
IMR-4064 IMR-4895. 57.0 2130
IMR-4064 62.0 2254 —
Big Game RXIB 63.0 2324
H380 67.5 2346 36,800 AA2700 66.0 2168 =
IMR-4350 iGO) 5 (725 ee
AA-4350 73.0 2255 —_—
RX19 72 eee
44,400 H-4831SC 76.5 2262 =
300 gr. Jacketed A-Frame BC: 325 300 gr. Banded Solid BC: .307
3.550" OAL SD: .305 3.575" OAL SD: .305
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains fps Powder Grains fps P.S.1.
IMR-4064 61.0 ZING — IMR-4064
RX15 60.0 2244 — Big Game
AA2700 67.5 2375 —
N160 73.0 2298 — IMR-4350 _ 41,100
AA4350 71.0 2209s
IMR-4350 73.0 23692 — H-4831SC
RX19_ Ct S20 =
HAes1SC 9876.06 62232
#375449 BC: 315 #378674

Su 8s ae Sugg .
Powder Grains Powder _ Grains fps
SR-4759 —«-.21.0 SR-4759 23.0
XMP-5744 XMP-5744 26.0
IMR-4198 IMR-4198 25.0
RX7

3/75 Ruger
In 2007, Hornady and Ruger teamed
up to introduce a new .375 caliber
African/Alaskan hunting cartridge.
The goal was to produce a round that
would equal or better the perform-
ance of the venerable 375 H&H
Magnum, but do it from a standard
length action. The result was the 375
Ruger. The case is a fairly straight,
non-belted design with slightly greater
capacity than the 375 H&H. The max-
imum overall length of a loaded car-
tridge is the same as a 30-06 (3.340”)
however, allowing it to be easily
chambered in standard length actions.
In our testing we found that the 375
Ruger did indeed better the perform-
ance of the 375 H&H. We achieved
velocities that were around 50 to 100 feet per second
faster than the same weight bullets in the H&H when
fired from equal length barrels. Alliant’s Reloder 15 did
particularly well with all jacketed bullet loads, giving
very good uniformity along with some of the higher 235 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .301
velocities. We have also included several cast bullets in 3.300" OAL :
our reloading data. These would be an excellent choice Suge
for reduced recoil, low cost practice rounds; or as Powder Grains _fps P.S.I.
reduced energy loads for deer hunting. Alliant’s Reloder IMR-4320 70.0 46,500
7 did very well with both cast bullets tested. Varget
RX15
Big Game
Test Components:
aL es RO ie Ss ONS as Sa Hornady
Eee PWG aeIES eg a eo DOr
RANICOES Seb hea oe4 8s lvpaid Fe Remington 91/2 M & 91/2
BROT SIZE sce be an es Large Rifle, Magnum & Standard
PEO MOUNONGET: oie sared olan seek es neste « No. 13
Sierra SBT #2950, 250 gr. 250 gr. jacketed SBT BC: .353
Swift A-Frame, 270 gr. 3.340" OAL
Barnes Banded Solid #37526, 300 gr. Sugg
CxeEDONCIS SED cos en ne ceceane(sized to .377" dia) Starting Velocity Pressure
*gas check bullet *#375449, 264 gr. Varget 68.0 2586 46,100
#378674, 300 gr.
RX15 67.0 2646
Big Game
IMR-4350
Ere SHiSCU oe hc cst sonle sleet a Universal Receiver
Bee HCHO Mia epi ts eeechuis ny ech eteed > viocdvente eo 4 24"
TRAVIS sd. 5 opcode teh He OPP outer ners rar arene oe a2
(GROOVE UD eee ro Cr eis
e cas cccus auetnaatens B75}

375 Ruget Se
270 gr. Jacketed A-Frame BC: 349 300 gr. Banded Solid BC: .307
3.310" OAL SD: .274 3.290" OAL SD: .305
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains P.S.I1. Powder Grains p P.S.I.
Big Game 52,100
IMR-4350
i 1 £98 mei 1690954 i € Recto

- oo
*#375449 BC: 315 *#378674 BC: .360

Sugg Sugg Map ae
Powder Grains fps P.S.I. Powder Grains P.S.I.
SR-4759 297) 1767 SR-4759 BO
AA-5744 B3e7, 1765 23,800 AA-5744 34.0
IMR-4198 33.5 IMR-4198 34.0 |
23,600

Loads shown in bold designate potenially most accurate load.
* Designates the use of Remington 91/2 primers
Remington introduced their 375, the
largest of the Ultra Mag family, in
2001. The 375 Ultra Mag offers
approximately 25 percent more
capacity than the old standby, the 375
Holland and Holland. The Ultra Mag
produces on average some 300 feet
per second increase in velocity over
the H&H. A cartridge of the magni-
tude of the 375 Ultra Mag mandates
the use of premium bullets such as the
Barnes X, Speer Grand Slam, or Swift
A-Frame. Do not attempt to roll crimp
bullets without a cannelure. IMR-
4831 produced the most uniform
results with several different bullet
weights. The 375 Ultra would seem to
be somewhat over powered for the
lower 48 but should make a name for itself in Africa.
Test Components: 235 gr. jacketed SP BC: 301

ESE a ee er ae ee ae Remington 3.550" OAL SD: .239
UMN oe o bieeyd wo ws2 nyhlR H > man ee he 2.840" Sugg
0S te a Federal 215 Starting Velocity Pressure
MMF O noc es cs Se ce Large Rifle, Magnum
ETN Ve gO rr No. 13 AA-2700 91.0 3038 54,700
Jacketed Bullets Used ........ Speer SP #2471, 235 gr. 760 92.0 3087. ~—-57,100
H-414 92.0 B11 59,300
Nosler Partition #44850, 260 gr
N160 96.0 2989 47,400
Barnes X #37585, 270 gr.
IMR-4350 93.0 2952 47,200
XMR-4350 95.0 2946 44,400
RX19. 99.0 2977. 47,700
Barnes RN Solid #37525, 300 gr. IMR-4831 98.0 2965 48,300
H-4831 —- 99.0 2906 46,400
Mag Pro 103.0 2962 41,500
PIRCALRIEW SCC ite c se aici... save ane acs we Universal Receiver
COLE GES ed
Cn ee te aioe ae26"
TORRES cc 6!och Se SR ere ae ee 1-12"
(REGGAE lee a Bee oe eee OO eae cnet 375.

3.565" OAL SD: .264
Sugg a ;
” Powder Grains fps P.S.1.
48,500
N160
IMR-4350
XMR-4350
IMR-4831 45,600
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. f

SA
270 gr. Barnes X BC: .503 285 gr. jacketed SP BC: 354
3.565" OAL SD: .275 3.570" OAL SD: .290
Sugg Su 88 .
Powder Grains p P.S.L. Powder Grains p P.S.1.
H-414 83.0 2669 _ 47,700 H-414 81.0 2631 49,000
N160 88.0 2729 48,600 N160 86.0 2650 46,600
IMR-4350 ‘85.0 2687 46,900 IMR-4350 85.0 2657. 46,400
XMR-4350 88.0 —-2740_~—-48,400 XMR-4350 86.0 2623 44,000
IMR-4831 90.0 2730 49,300 IMR-4831 88.0 2646 46,200
RX19 91.0 2739 48,500 RX19 90.0 2650 44,500
H-4831 —- 93.0 2725 50,400 KMR-2100: |)900°") 962345900
IMR-7828 _92.0 2682 46,200 H-4831 91.0 2630 46,400
g Pro 99.0 2763 43,700 BXD2 GOs 2762 50,700
IMR-7828 92.0 2681 47,200
300 gr. Jacketed A-Frame BC: 325 300 gr. RN Solid BC: .307
3.550" OAL SD: .305 3.590" OAL SD: .305
Sugg Su
Powder Grains p PS.I. Powder Grains p BSE
N160 83.0 2542 46,400 N160 _ 89.0 2685 50,500
IMR-4350 83.0 2560 46,300 IMR-4350 86.0 2681 50,300
XMR-4350 _ 84.0 2552 45,200 XMR-4350. 89.0 2698 49,800
RX19 88.0 2578 _ 45,700 RX19 92.0 2661 47,000
XMR-3100 88.0 2524 45,200 XMR-3100 91.0 2585 45,800
H-4831 89.0 2575 _ 48,200 H-4831 91.0 2619 48,400
RX22 85.0 2638 50,000 RX22 91.0 2662 46,400.
N165 89.0 2581 45,800 IMR-7828 91.0 2566 43,600
IMR-7828 89.0 2559 45,800 Mag Pro 94.5 2610 40,900

i his is one of the world’s most pow-
erful cartridges. It uses the 416 Rigby
case necked down to accept a 0.375”
bullet. Its recoil is in proportion to its
enormous power. Few shooters can
handle this cartridge unless the rifle is
equipped with a muzzle brake. Due
to extremely heavy recoil, the crimp-
ing of all bullets is urged.
With a muzzle brake and good
reloads it is not difficult to get groups
approaching one inch at 100 yards.
Very strong premium grade bullets are
required to withstand impact forces.
Lesser bullets will simply disintegrate
before penetration. Popular priced
bullets are satisfactory for range prac-
tice. Shooters will need practice to
avoid flinching when using this round. It is the smallest
diameter round that many serious African professional
hunters will recommend for cape buffalo or elephant.
Magnum primers are essential to igniting the heavy
270 gr. Barnes X BC: .503
powder charges. The Federal 215 primer is exclusively
recommended by Weatherby.
3.625" OAL SDii275
Sugg He es FESO RUS
The accompanying data is for use only in
Weatherby Mark V rifles. Powder Grains
XMR-4350
Test Components:
lS set ee re Weatherby IMR-7828
EMMI ere ee oe sleet eet 2,903"
Semoun ee. a 2 NG Federal 215 & 210
PTNHEN SIZE. 6. i. es Large Rifle, Magnum & Standard
eames IAOWIET oe cc cs ae vd eis oe ewe en oe a No. 17
Jacketed Bullets Used ........ Barnes X #37585, 270 gr.
Barnes RN Solid, #37525, 300 gr.
Maeno lets USE0. 2. 2 es. aes eee eee (sized to .375" dia)
*gas check bullet #375248, 249 gr. 300 gr. RN Solid
*#375449, 264 gr. 3.625" OAL
Sugg
Powder Grains fps
RX19 100.0
XMR-3100 100.0
H-4831 104.0 2739
RX22
Test Specifications: IMR-7828 103.0
(Velocity Only)
PCAN SOD chic adore cutee ae aw ee wed « Weatherby Mk y
Ee SRIOC Ne Ae arin eke We oan Rieldays knee wn Dre 26"
PIT igh g siilsneng aiack duosoi ou 0!oo 4 lone.B0a on 1-1 2"
(GROOVE IBYBo. wevdho.d Bosc ele Rao io Canteen ornend arcncears BS:
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. hog

Cea
378 Weatherk
Q
ah.
Cisiiieee
*#375248 *#375449
Sugg Sugg
Starting Velocity Pressure Starting Velocity Pressure Loz
Powder Grains fps Powder Grains fps_
SR-4759 26.0 1535) ees SR-4759
IMR-4227. 30.0 1509 = IMR-4227
XMP-5744 29.0 1525 = XMP-5744
IMR-4198 29.0 1538 = IMR-4198
RX7 32.0 1506 as

*Designates the use of Federal 210 primers.
inchester
Winchester introduced this car- [
tridge in 1886 for use in both the
1885 single-shot and 1886 lever
action. This was originally a black 432
powder cartridge that survived in
smokeless form before finally being | fea
dropped during the 1930s. This num-
ber has enjoyed resurgence in popu- 608
larity in recent years in both Cowboy
Action Shooting and Black Powder 408
Cartridge Silhouette. The 40-65 has
several factors in its favor; forming
brass requires little more than running
ever plentiful 45-70 Springfield cases
through a full-length sizing die.
Lyman offers several moulds produc-
ing bullets with good ballistic coeffi-
cients suitable for long range shoot-
ing. Recoil with even the heaviest 400-grain bullets is
mild thus enabling shooters to fire sixty-round matches
without tiring out. Many older guns will show varying
#410660
groove diameters, often around .406”. Newly manufac-
385 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.940" OAL
tured reproduction rifles utilize groove diameters of
408” to .409”. All current Lyman die sets for the 40-65 Sugg
are manufactured to accommodate .408”/ .409” bullet Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
diameters. There is no SAAMI pressure limit for the 40- SR-4759 19.0" 1270 11,200
65. Lyman determined the maximum pressure limit IMR-4198 ANS 1271 11,800
used here by firing 40-65 cartridges loaded with com- XMP-5744 =:18.0 1135 11,900
pressed black powder in a special pressure barrel. RX7 10,200
Reloder 7 and XMP-5744 are excellent powder choices IMR-3031
for this cartridge. IMR-4895 12,100
This data is intended for use in modern, newly
manufactured guns rated for smokeless powder. This
data is not for use in antique guns originally built for
Sy
black powder. i<e
#410655 BC; .350

Test Components: 400 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.780" OAL SD: .340
08S 2 Sle Sk eee er ree Remington be = —
el PCY ee ie eee ae ne tee gah 2.100" 88
Remington 91/2 Starting Velocity Pressure
OE Owe re Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
ACS Ves wks oe ik oobi pie whee Large Rifle SR-4759 11,200
AP ONEMRIOINET <5 ee cee ee eee es No. 17 IMR-4198
Cast Bullets Used ..... Sf ae oar (sized to .410" dia) XMP-5744 : 13,800
#410660, 385 gr. RX7 17.0 1064 13,000
#410655, 400 gr. IMR-3031 13,300
#410663, 400 gr. IMR-4895 15,400
(Velocity & Pressure) #410663
SHES Gere fi i ce Universal Receiver
400 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.860" OAL SD: .340
See MECIIGN MEMEN G.
0 ce cde enenee rth ors32"
BTS lee ee eee <u crsece anctor 2,siya S ete: 8s lel 6" Su 8 i
(GGONGDIIE. & 6 cdc! a cop nen OR eC Des Dino can OPECREC 409 Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
SR-4759 17.0 1140
IMR-4198 21.0
XMP-5744 17.5
RX7
IMR-3031
IMR-4895 28.0 1249
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. ee Varget
load.
40-70 Sharps |
This is yet another cartridge brought
back from extinction by the Black
Powder Cartridge Silhouette crowd.
This cartridge dates to about 1876
and should not be confused with the
bottlenecked 40-70 also produced by
Sharps. Ballistics of the 40-70 Sharps
Straight average around 70 to 100 feet
per second over the 40-65
Winchester. Original Sharps specifica- .408
tions called for a (sometimes) paper-
patched bullet of .403” diameter.
Currently manufactured reproduction
rifles feature groove diameters of
.408”/. 409”. All Lyman die sets for
the 40-70 are designed for use with
bullets sized to these diameters.
There is no SAAMI maximum
average pressure for this cartridge. Lyman determined bitin AA NR eS
the maximum pressure limit of 20,000 CUP by firing 9 509 »ener
40-70 cartridges loaded with various granulations of

#410660 BC: 352
compressed black powder in a special pressure test bar-
385 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.250" OAL SD: .327
rel. The cases used in load development were based on
unformed, full-length (21/2 inches long) 30-40 Krag Sugg ues
Starting Velocity Pressure |
cases with a Remington headstamp and were supplied Powder Grains Ds CUP. @
by Buffalo Arms of Sandpoint, 1D. Shooters loading
cases of different manufacture may have different case XMP-5744
volumes and should carefully work up loads. IMR-4198
This data is intended for use'in modern, newly RX7
manufactured guns rated for smokeless powder. This IMR-3031
data is not for use in antique guns originally built for Varget 36.0 1337; 10,100
black powder.
Test Components:
#410655
RBABE ere as Facey Gaines Malte ened Ae Buffalo Arms 400 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.115" OAL
LWIA OKETSUY S'S 0 ener Se ee 2.490" Sugg
Briel Smee Cue r «Site. SRIASY <wheeRemington 91/2 Starting Velocity Pressure
BMC S |ZOwe Pete ee Seiten te ee pe a eee Large Rifle
SR-4759 19.0 1141 10,600
[vara shell Holder... < sos ce su.caie ees eatin ewes No. 33
XMP-5744 =—.22.5 1224 14,100
GacrDUleiWSCO Mayo Stas tq care: (sized to .409" dia)
IMR-4198 12,600
#410660, 385 gr.
10,600
#410655, 400 gr.
#410663, 400 gr.
Test Specifications: PY lemons

16101 eee,
Rian USO ek acc hess eee Universal Receiver #410663
Batrent CNetiie wscracks Wractcn a oieae rags S25 400 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.170" OAL
UWATS ethene Stee Re ec caePia nee ne eae ee A eR PeRcy 1-16" Sugg
(GOOVEND att ne ee clove i shld Sua cesses Ree as 4075" Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains DS CUP
XMP-5744 11,700
IMR-4198
RX7 21.0 1084
IMR-3031
Varget 30.0 1218
im 405 Winchester was introduced
in 1904 and was available in
Winchester’s 1895 lever action rifle.
At the time, and for many following -073-—+-=
years, the 405 was the most powerful
factory cartridge available in a lever
action. Its 300 grain bullet travels at
2200 feet per second muzzle velocity
and is suitable for any North
American game. American President,
Theodore Roosevelt became one of
the biggest supporters and proclaimed
it to be his favorite lion round after
taking it on African safari. While the
405 Winchester has the appearance
of an early, straight-tapered black
powder cartridge, it has always been
loaded with smokeless powder.
Currently, Hornady is the only major American manu-
facturer producing loaded ammunition. Our loads were
developed using Hornady brass. Only use modern
cases in good condition with this data. Never use early
405 brass. In our testing, we found that IMR-4198 gave
300 gr. Jacketed FN
very good results with both jacketed and cast bullets. 3.085" OAL
Hornady currently has two 300 grain bullets available Su 58 :
for the 405 Winchester. One is a flat nose, and the other Powder Grains fps P.S.I.
is a pointed soft nose. Our data used the flat nose ver- IMR-4198
sion, but it is also suitable for the pointed design. If the
pointed bullet is used, the’ cartridge overali length
would be increased to 3.140”. IMR-4895
Varget
29,800
Test Components:
EN Hornady
Ee a aris hie Vo oh Make ee PITY bos
ME eet ees Cer 200
#412263
OS a ns te ee Large Rifle
SL IONIET <6 36 + ce oleee yaecninnaeNo. 33 288 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.170" OAL
Jacketed Bullets Used ..... Hornady FN #41050, 300 gr. Su 88 :
Ce ROS NS I rr (sized to .413” dia.) SR-4759
#412263, 288 gr. AA-5744
IMR-4198
RX7 13,000
AA-2015 15,400
__IMR-3031
SELES Whee aa see ea Universal Receiver
Be OTA sis | Aaee = Saierein to nde sean ena ts 24"
TRAE oe cb cote ener kan RC ONE ROS ICRA CSc 1-1 oy
“SO BBs Se a 412
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. hae

416 Rigby
Whe 416 Rigby has been a standard
African safari cartridge for most of the
twentieth century. The Rigby is a non-
belted case that operates at fairly low
(40,000 CUP) chamber pressure. Its
positive feeding and easy case extrac-
tion offers piece of mind when the
hunter is pursuing large, disagreeable
game. This particular 416 also has a
reputation for longer case life than
belted cases. Many shooters had
known of the 416 Rigby only through
its formidable reputation for many
years. The Rigby’s availability had
been restricted to expensive custom
or double-rifles since its introduction
in 1911. The cartridge has seen
increased popularity in recent years
due to its availability in Ruger’s M77 and #1 rifles. IMR-
4831 and 7828 are favored powders to fill this huge
case. The Rigby case has also served as the parent case
for a number of new cartridges over the last several
350 gr. Jacketed A-Frame BC: 321
years.
3.590" OAL SD: .289
Sugg
Powder Grains p PS.I.
IMR-4350
Hunter
Test Components:
(ES a ha oa Oe hyPTE Hornady IMR-4831
dt oibeisetinmetee.. vac. ¢yccren. cs he c 2.890" IMR-7828 96.0 33,400
HUMES Soe ater ee an es ok Soe ee ee Federal 215 RX22
EXMelsiZementr ec are wf eee ee Large Rifle, Magnum
vimaticone| OOM hasan mrte ot nue hoe wens aaaNo. 17
Jacketed Bullets Used ........... Swift A-Frame, 350 gr.
Barnes Banded Solid #41635, 400 gr.
400 gr. Banded Solid

3.630" OAL
Pireatinil sede et betas, tees sek we Universal Receiver Powder Grains H PS.
BaeMleno iment ete scree a4 Seto oc tuna. eee 24" IMR-4350
AWiSteeaetirt tener nat oP aemein esas ee 1-161/2" Hunter
GRO ONGNBIE 3 8 0 i VR i en ae,2 415" RX19 93.0
IMR-4831
AA-3100
IMR-7828

nis case is the 416 Rigby with a belt
added and loaded to substantially
higher pressure. The much_ higher
chamber pressures result in almost
300 feet per second additional veloc-
ity with the 400 grain bullet com-
pared to the 2400 feet per second
velocity of factory 416 Rigby ammo.
Recoil may exceed most shooters’
ability. Of course the 416 Weatherby
can easily be loaded down to Rigby
ballistics which makes it a manage-
able round.
The slowest burning powders are
ideal. For Rigby level ballistics IMR
4831 seems best. For full power
loads, IMR 7828 is the wisest selec-
tion, though all the listed propellants
are quite satisfactory. This is enough cartridge to make
almost anyone believe in muzzle brakes. Even then full
power loads are nothing for the timid shooter. Such
loads would undoubtedly give an advantage when
hunting elephant as compared to the Remington or 350 gr. Solid RN
Rigby 416’s, but for almost any other purpose they
3.640" OAL
might be overly potent. Sugg
IMR-4350 98.0 =
Test Components: RX19 106.0 2533 =
USSES oo. 7 Ae Oe Weatherby IMR-4831
16 OEE en hr rr ra 2903"
OES Se ee Federal 215
SS ee Large Rifle, Magnum IMR-7828
hE S96 3 606 No. 17
Jacketed Bullets Used ........ Barnes X #41682, 325 gr.
Barnes Solid RN #41628, 350 gr.
(Velocity Only)
Bat OSCU cs ae eee Tc ee ees Weatherby Mk V 400 gr. Solid RN
NM iG) 9 Gus hae ws vee 18 lpn Cake <3 24" 3.640" OAL
Se eS es ans viFg ole Wie pink oot ted wo 1-14" Sugg
Powder Grains fi C.U.P.
IMR-4350
RX19
IMR-4831
325 gr. Barnes X

3.700" OAL
" IMR-76281
Sugg
IMR-4350 102.0 ie
RX19 108.0 2613 =
IMR-4831 105.0 2603 ae
AA 3100 107.0 2551 —
RX22 111.0 2586 ae
IMR-7828 — 110.0 2536 =

416 Remingtc
This cartridge is a necked up 8mm
Remington Magnum. It is ideal for big
game applications from brown bear to
elephant. 513
The 416 Remington Magnum is
not much different from the wildcat
416 Hoffman. It offers all the power
of the 416 Rigby (albeit at higher
chamber pressure) and the advantage
of more shells in the magazine
because of its narrower case diameter. 220
The 400 grain bullet offers the
most punch, but lighter bullets better eo
fit the needs of most North American
hunting. Alliant Reloder 15 is the sin-
gle best propellant and 1” groups are
possible with it and the 400 grain bul-
lets.
Test Components:
MOACGME Te arate, Gta Peon sw vin oad sae ade aesRemington 350 gr. Solid RN
A Mpnet Ichilees otic ie as yest wn SSIs 2,oooh 2.840" 3.590" OAL
GRA sere aerate eo cy) ch «See pias ts Remington 91/2 M Sugg
WINE SLO Ueo role ey ae a ee Large Rifle, Magnum Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains _ fps C.U.P.
EYiiiaiar MeL ONE here css, caters arn Sen sry ie ae No. 13
Jacketed Bullets Used ........ Barnes X #41682, 325 gr. XMR-2015 65.0 B17 37,700
IMR-3031 74.0 2389 41,200
IMR-4895 75.0 2370 41,300
IMR-4064 76.5 2364 39,700
Varget 76.0 2371 38,200
IMR-4320 TO) 2341 40,300
Test Specifications: RX15 79.0 2442 41,800
(Velocity & Pressure) N140 76.0 2339 38,100
eeetinn ol ee aes ee ees ieee Universal Receiver H-380 81.0 2329 39,800
Bare PEON yr ac Pi Bs ire aes ome onsen anes24"
TRAVERSE cise ors UR ae Me ee alta tre OE a a ln 1-148
400 gr. Solid RN

325 gr. Barnes X BC: .467 3.590" OAL
3.600" OAL SD: .268 Sugg
Sugg Powder Grains fps CUE
Starting Velocity Pressure IMR-3031 67.5 2149 40,700
XMR-2015 68.0 2345 42,900 IMR-4895. 69.0 2151 40,000
IMR-3031 74.5 2466 40,300 IMR-4064. 71.0 2156 39,800
IMR-4895. 75.5 2450 39,700 Varget 70.0 2131 37,700
IMR-4064 77.0 2426 38,200 IMR-4320. 70.0 2106 39,000
Varget 77.0 2445 37,400 RX15 71.5 2155 38,000
IMR-4320 76.0 2428 39,800 N140 700) 2 2112... 37,700
RX15 80.5 2552 42,200 AA2700 78.0 2103 32,400
N140 78.0 2448 40,400 H-380 78.0 2200 42,200
H-380 81.0 2389 38,300

ie loads should not be used in
handguns or in rifles that were
designed for black powder.
Individual tolerances vary greatly
in rifles chambered for this cartridge.
Therefore, extreme care should be
used in working up maximum loads.
Suto 7 THE RELATIVE se
STRENGTH OF 44/ 40 FIREARMS
VARIES GREATLY WITH ACTION
DESIGN AND DATE OF MANUFAC-
TURE.
As a reference we have catego-
rized actions into two groups:
For Group 1 we recommend not

to exceed 13,700 CUP maximum
pressure and for Group 2 not to
exceed 22,000 CUP maximum pressure. Our data is
divided up into loads for each category. In all cases use
caution in working up to maximum loads.
Cases should be examined to determine if they are
of the old balloon head construction. These cases 200 gr. Jacketed HP BC: 122
1.600" OAL SD: .155
should be considered unsafe for smokeless powder
Group 1
loads. Due to variations in groove diameters, it is rec-
ommended that you slug your barrel before reloading. Sugg
Powder Grains fps C.U.P,
GROUP I (Weaker Actions) GROUP 2 (Strong Actions) Unique 7.6 865 10,600
Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Winchester Model 1892 Lever Action 2400
Whitney-Kennedy Lever Action Marlin Model 1889 Lever Action
Colt-Burgess Lever Action Marlin Model 1894 Lever Action
IMR-4227 16.5 895
Marlin Model 1888 Lever Action Remington-Keene Bolt Action
Colt “Lightning” Slide Action Remington Model 1412 Slide Action Group 2
Euroarms Replica 1873 Lever Action Winchester Single Shot Rifles
Navy Arms Replica 1873 Lever Action Remington No. 1 Rolling Block Sugg
Remington No. 2 Rolling-Block S.S. “Remington “Baby Carbine” S.S.” Starting Velocity Pressure
Ballard No. 2 Single Shot Stevens Model 44/2 Single Shot Powder Grains p CUP
Stevens Model 44 Single Shot Unique 8.5 981 13,300
18.0 1380
SEE no Winchester
1 ES SS seh 1295)
PANGS. eee 2 ee Winchester WLP
RRR ee yee aon Ho POSH nae Large Pistol
LEE) UNS (6)2 i No. 14B
Jacketed Bullets Used ........ Speer JHP # 4425, 200 gr.
Miner inlets Used 2.006... cece ee ees (sized to .429" dia)
#427666, 200 gr.
#427098, 205 gr.
GEN Ess a ee Universal Receiver
Navy Arms 1873 Carbine
PONS | Universal Receiver; 24"
1873 Carbine; 19"
TEED =e ee Universal Receiver; 1-36"
1873 Carbine; 1-20"
Ua oyBe Universal Receiver; .429"
1873 Carbine; .427"
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. mer

Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate 1oad.
#427666 BC: .149 #427098
Group 1 Group 1
Sugg Sugg
Bullseye Bullseye 52 952 --
Red Dot 5.5 980 7,500
700X 4.8 921 —
Unique Green Dot 7.0 1059 8,700
SR-4756 AA#2 5.4 871
2400 32 1035 Unique 6.3 895
IMR-4227 SR-4756 74 848
2400 12.0 885 as
IMR-4227 12.6 685
Group 2
Sugg
7.0 1180
Green Dot 8.0 1194 12,900
Unique 9.5 131g

Pesce limits for this cartridge are
the same in rifles or handguns. High 457
primers are an extraordinary danger
in semiautomatic rifles. Be extra care-
ful. Cast bullets tend to foul the gas
piston in these same firearms and
hence are not recommended for use
in the semi-autos. aie 432
In rifles with shallow multi-
groove rifling cast bullet velocity must
a=EN
be held to 1,600 fps. or less. The use
of hard alloys and maximum sizing
diameters will also help accuracy in
these rifles. 1.285
Use the exact listed overall length RE is lel Bs wg
to get correct seating depth with cast
bullets.
Use only flat nosed bullets in
tubular magazines.
Test Components: 200 gr. Jacketed HP/XTP BC: .170

LE A ao etal I eee Remington 1.610" OAL SD: .155
EMT Pe re foe es sn vem oe a ep areTeo Sugg ;
Oy. ee CCI 300 & 350 Starting Velocity Pressure
ME NIC Lat ewes Oe Large Pistol, Std. & Magnum Powder Grains fps
Beem EIONIET ce. Soe Sek No. 7
ee a5 ga SCR 2s EE
Hornady HP/XTP #44100, 200 gr.
Me MINGIS ISCO 3055.
5. ns es es oaee (sized to .429" dia)
#429667, 240 er.
225 gr. Jacketed HP

1.610" OAL SDS.175
(Velocity Only)
SLES AL, 5 oes Winchester Model 94AE Sugg _ Max
SL ORV ste east biikay habanero Moma s Te 9 Op 20" Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps HK
TRRARED 5 Sy RR ge nee ee Or eR er 1-26"
Unique 10.8 1349
OO Cr Ameen ico rs ats Pye aes,oeraepeam ue iuna—e 429"
Blue Dot 14.1
2400

*Designates the use of magnum primers.
, eae
Q fe
240 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .165 265 gr. jacketed SP BC: .189
1.610" OAL SD: .186 1.610" OAL SD: .205
Sugg Sugg -
Unique 10.8 1310 = 12.6
Blue Dot 14.4 1457 =
2400 18.4 1479 =
N110 18.7 1555 wes
*H110 23.5 1690 =
*296 23.0 1654 =
*H-4227 21.8 1504 —
#429215 #429667 BC: .149

Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains Powder Grains 0
Titegrou 9.0 1408 = Titegroup 9.0 1356 ee
HS-6 15.0 1621 net Unique 10.0 (sl Vee
AA#7 17.2 (V5 ee Herco | 105 oC Wen ys Se
Blue Dot 14.9 1588 + 800X (OM 1477 =
2400 19.8 1550 Ee Blue Dot 13.9 1447 =
N110 19.3 1683 =e AAH9 18.2 1560 =
*H110 26.4 1929 ae 2400 a SRB 1874 ae
*296 25.9 1887 = N110 18.0 1578 a
ATO. 23 4709 ae
IMR-4227 21.6 1504 —

302 *Designates the use of magnum primers.
444 Marlin
The 444 Marlin has earned a reputa-
tion as a hard-hitting, short-range
brush cartridge since its introduction
in 1964. Some think of the “Triple-
four” as simply a 44 Magnum
stretched .940” to 2.225” case length.
The performance —and appearance
of the 444 is similar to the various 40-
caliber black powder cartridges so
prominent in the latter nineteenth and
early twentieth century. The 225-grain
bullet is best for plinking or off-season
target practice. Hornady’s 265-grain
Flat-Point is constructed especially to
feed and perform in the big Marlin.
Many of the jacketed bullets loads are
heavily compressed. Best results in
loading may require seating and
crimping in two separate operations. Those shooters
loading cast bullets for Marlin rifles with Micro-
Groove® rifling should keep velocities below 1,600
feet per second for best accuracy. A hard bullet alloy of 225 gr. jacketed HP
at least 15 bhn will also help. 2.550" OAL
The 18-inch ported barrel of the Winchester Timber Su
Carbine used in our tests yielded a dramatic difference Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains DS
in velocity compared to other published data. This dif-
XMP-5744 36.0 1729, —
ference is often upwards of two to three hundred feet
N120 46.0 2184 —
per second. Most other sources of data for the 444
IMR-4198 41.0 1871 —
Marlin utilize unported 24-inch test barrels. Reloder 7 H-4198 42.0 1702 —
and IMR-4198 with jacketed bullets have worked well RX7 47.0 1883 —
in the Marlin over the years. IMR-3031 49.5 (sl = =
IMR-4895. 51.5 1767 as
Test Components:
Noon isn Sia sb we bdo Pe age Remington
MMT CIR as piste po 2 nas pee ee pe one Oe D215"
mE IIS © PE 7 pes o's,00.0) SSO Se 8 Remington 91/2
ME en oy Sine. 0.Fisbesagie rele PL Large Rifle
PNR TIOIGEY, croc. 4 5 xn a Yauayereie teHew BI Ph) No. 14B
Jacketed Bullets Used ........ Speer JHP #4435, 225 gr.
esrECIS WISE. Gun Ves aee alc a ns (sized to .431" dia) 240 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .165
2.505" OAL
#429667, 240 gr. Sugg Ma
Powder Grains fps
XMP-5744 33.0 1624 —
* N130 48.0 1954 —
Test Specifications: IMR-4198 = 42.0 1944 —
(Velocity Only) , H-4198 44.0 1841 _—
Firearm Used ..... Winchester Model 94 Timber Carbine RX7 46.0 1901 —_
SMe MUNI OLED cies 5 oh Sein are nist nk ny ae wtoades 18" IMR-3031 49.5 1796 —
TRAVIS soc oy ace SOA BeEO Pech Ee orarra 1 38" AA2230 50.0 1881 —
(GiGOVe DI, a5 Rese Seo oe he oe eo nmaic ae 431 IMR-4895 51.0 1799 —
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. me

265 gr. Jacketed SP 300 gr. Jacketed HP/XTP BC: .245
2.560" OAL 2.570" OAL SD: .232
Sugg Sugg :
XMP-5744 = 31.5 1516 — XMP-5744 33.0
N130 46.0 1879 a IMR-4198
IMR-4198 40.0 1799 =
H-4198 42.0 1803 —_
RX7 42.0 1691 — IMR-4895 |
AA2230 47.0 1769 —_
IMR-4895 48.0 1633 _—
#429215 BC: .188 #429667 BC: 149

Sugg Sugg M
Powder Grains S Powder Grains p
SR-4759 26.0 1546 —
XMP-5744 30.5 1569 — XMP-5744
IMR-4198 31.5 1345 a IMR-4198
RX7 39.0 1185 — RX7 37.0 1494 as
IMR-3031 40.0 1273 w — IMR-3031

'ifle Data) 45 Colt
While this cartridge has been cham-
bered in revolvers since its inception,
it’s only recently been offered in lever .480
action rifles. Shooters should be cau-
tious when resizing this particular car-
tridge. The unusually small rim_ is
prone to tearing off thus leaving the
case stuck in the die. Powders favored
for 45 Colt pistol loads will also work
with the rifle although the longer 16-
inch barrel may work better with
slower burning powders such as
2400. Some Lyman customers ask if
the 45 Colt can be loaded to the high-
er pressures of the 44 Remington
Magnum. The 44 Magnum case is
built to withstand the 40,000 CUP
pressure level,...substantially more
than the original loading for the Colt back in 1873.
Those requiring 44 Magnum level performance should
trade their rifle in for one chambered in 44 Magnum. A
Model 94 in 45 Colt will otherwise be adequate as a
185 gr. Jacketed HP
short-range brush gun with the 250-grain XTP on deer
1.520" OAL
sized game with proper shot placement. Cast bullet
#452664 is our Cowboy Action Shooting bullet and Sugg
produced excellent accuracy in the test rifle. Powder Grains Ds
700X 6.0 946 =
N320 8.3 1102 =
231 7.6 1021 =
AA#5 13.0 1416 =
Unique LS 944 ae
Test Components: HS-7 13.0 1121 —
ST a a Winchester Blue Dot 12.0 979 —
Ts ee en eee A ee Los IMR-4227 16.5 843 ae
OE SSS 1 es a Winchester WLP XMP-5744 = 18.5 1099 —
SEES SO ee ene eee Large Pistol
(NU SULELLN 6)(0S a a No. 11
Jacketed Bullets Used ........ Sierra JHP #8800, 185 gr.
Sierra JHC #8820, 240 gr.
Meets CSE eos ears se onesee(sized to .452" dia) 225 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .169
#454190, 250 gr. 1.557" OAL SD: .158
#452664, 250 gr. Sugg
#452424, 255 gr. Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains ps
231 74
Test Specifications: Mae in elt

Unique 8.3
ae
(Velocity Only) Power Pistol 8.5
OEM SC rr Winchester Model 94AE
SR-7625
a) TEL eS aa ea 16"
TAAVIIGIE” ccs \coee iM eee ae CRE: Oceaneter 1 38"
OOUCID a eet ne ne ke aie eee Eas 451
Blue Dot
IMR-4227 16.5
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. my

Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate 10ac.
240 gr. Jacketed HC BC: ;50 250 gr. Jacketed HP/XTP
1.575" OAL SD: .168 1.590" OAL
Su 88 Suge :
Powder Grains fps Powder Grains
Titegroup 5.6 828
231 6.5 824
Power Pistol AHS e Gat 1124
Unique Te) 878
Power Pistol 8.0 987
N340 8.6 979
i ee eMC
IMR-4227 IMR-4227 949
XMP-5744 XMP-5744 927
#454190 #452664 BC: .150

Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains Powder Grains fp
Red Dot AS. 763 = Red Dot 58
700X 4.5 816 —_ 700X 5.4
Titegroup 5.6 9330) ene == Titegroup 5.6
N320 5.9 769 — N320 6.0
231 6.5 967 — Green Dot 6.3
Unique 6.0 809 — 231 6.5
AA#5 10.5 — PB 6.7
SR-7625 6.0 767 — AA#5 95
HS-6 95 — Unique 6.3
SR-7625 7.0
HS-6 8.5
#452424
255 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.575" OAL
Sugg
Powder Grains
Red Dot 45 746 —
Titegroup 5.6 933 —
700X 4.5 809 =
N320 5.8 790 —
231 6.5 —
AA#5 10.0 1119 —
Unique 6.0 836
SR-7625 6.0 775 —
HS-6 8.8 832 —

Few rifle cartridges rival the longevi-
ty and versatility of the 45-70
Government. The United States Army
adopted this cartridge in 1873 as a 504 .480
replacement for the short lived 50-70.
The 45-70 has become synonymous |
with the Model 1873 Springfield rifle,
nicknamed the “Trapdoor” due to the 458
unique operation of its hinged breech.
The cartridge was originally designat-
ed the 45-70-500 to indicate its 45-
caliber bullet, 70-grains black pow-
der, and 500-grain bullet composi-
smal 2.105
|
tion. The Army subsequently devel- ~2.550
oped a lighter load designated the 45-
55-405 for use in cavalry carbines.
The 30-40 Krag rifle and cartridge
officially replaced the Trapdoor
Springfield in 1892 but it soldiered on in various mili-
tary units well into the twentieth century. It survived Test Components:
into the age of smokeless powder and is currently one CCASOS wiles cat es os ils a Ree er ee Remington
of the more popular cartridges in the realm of hand- PUTERCOOLIU fe, cer nserear,oydees er aneiosatetar aged:Z.095-
loading. PRINS apc ecateania potehietea wiih ardeoeaeee Remington 91/2
The three different loading levels of the 45-70 list- PYNUETC SIZE. atetats tc iare theeke:Gl hove Ocean Ae Large Rifle
ed in Lyman’s 49th Edition reflect this cartridge’s versa- Liytnanizohel Prtoteber css ats oida aS ne eee No. 17
tility. The Trapdoor Springfield is not regarded as a Jacketed Bullets Used ....... Nosler PP #45325, 300 gr.
strong action. It is perfectly adequate for its intended Hornady FP #4503, 350 gr.
black powder pressure levels but shooters must exercise Speer FN #2479, 400 gr.
extreme caution when loading the modern smokeless Cast Bullets Used eR? Sat eee MN Sas!(sized to .458" dia)
powders. Overzealous reloaders have destroyed more #457191, 292 gr.
than one Trapdoor through high-pressure loads. The fol- #457122, 330 gr.
lowing data is held to a pressure level of 18,000 CUP #457124, 385 gr.
for use in the Model 1873 Trapdoor. It is also suitable #457193, 405 gr.
for Remington Rolling Blocks, Sharps Rifles and replicas #457658, 480 gr.
of any of these rifles as well as the Harrington & #457125, 500 gr.
Richardson Trapdoor. The exclusive use of cast bullets #457132, 535 gr.
is recommended for the older, original rifles. As one
might expect, many of these rifles show variations in Test Specifications.
groove diameters. Shooters should slug the bore and (Velocity & Pressure)
size cast bullets accordingly for best accuracy. Never Firearm Used
fire any older 45-70 unless it has been thoroughly Batrel empthsarata vnc ccractoure
ae ec ee24" & 30"
checked over by a qualified gunsmith. TWIST ates cada vounies tess eraetare hiermiei Rete eae eeTe 1-18"
Older cases of unknown age or origin should not be Ci OOVEtD lajetas Siete
nba eae aera ciara es 57"
used as they may be of the weak balloon head construc-
tion or have been fired with mercuric primers. The wide
availability of current production cases renders use of
such older cases unwise and unnecessary. Cast bullet
#457125 duplicates the original 500-grain military bul-
let and has been in our product line for over 100 years.
This has been a very accurate bullet in Black Powder
Cartridge Silhouette competition. Reloder 7 has long
been a favorite for loading both jacketed and cast bul-
lets in the 45-70. XMP-5744 also works well with cast
bullets.
300 gr. Jacketed PP BC: .199 350 gr. Jacketed FP BC: .195
2.500" OAL SD: .204 2.550" OAL SD: .238
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains C.U.P. Powder Grains DS C.U.P.
SR-4759 IMR-4198 30.0 1293: 13,100
XMP-5744 RX7 32.5 1367. «14,200
AA201S B46) 1208) 2 600
IMR-4198 X-Terminator 36.0 1318 13,200
Hao sea aa 7 94,000
IMR-3031 40.0 1332 13,100
N-135 42.3 1449: 13,500
Varget 45.0 1401 ‘14,800
400 gr. Jacketed FN BC: .214 #457191 BC: .201

Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains Bode Powder Grains DS C.U.P.
IMR-4198
X-Terminator 35.0
IMR-3031
#457122 #457124 :
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains C.U.P. Powder Grains fp C.U.P.
SR-4759 SR-4759 24.0 1252 ‘10,400
XMP-5744 XMP-5744 26.5 1217. 12,500
IMR-4198 30.5. = 1298 ~—='11,300
IMR-4198 N130 36.0 1367 12,600
XMR-2015 XMR-2015 39.0 1403. ~—-14,400
RX7 RX7 38.5 1543 14,400
IMR-3031 IMR-3031 40.0 = 1254. ~S-9,100
Varget 44.0 1292 9,700

#457193 *#457658
405 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.550" OAL 480 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.990" OAL SD: 341
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains p GULP. Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
SR-4759_ 24.0 ~—-1258 ~—'12,600 SR-4759
XMP-5744 26.0 1189 12,200 XMP-5744 26.5
IMR-4198 HIBS) 1312 12,400 IMR-4198
XMR-2015 36.0 1247 12,300 RX7
RX7 37.0 1534 ‘16,400 IMR-3031
IMR-3031 34.0 1161 11,100 IMR-4895
N135 42.0 d272 11,100 Varget 40.0 1248
Varget 42.0 1258 11,100
#457125 *#457132 :
500 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.835" OAL 535 gt. (#2 Alloy) 2.930" OAL SD: .364
Sugg 88
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Powder Grains _ fps C.U.P.
SR-4759 21.0 1108 SR-4759
XMP-5744 XMP-5744
IMR-4198
XMR-2015 10,500
RX7 30.0 1119 IMR-3031
12,400 IMR-4895 11,200
N135 39.0
13,000

* Fired in a 30” barrel. 309
45-70 Governme
lies 45-70 Government has proven
itself on most North American game
over the last 130 years. Those looking
for an effective, large caliber brush .480
cartridge out to 150 yards would be
hard pressed to beat it without going
belted. The stronger lock up of the
458
Winchester Model 1886 and Marlin
1895 lever action rifles allow the
reloader to safely exceed the pressure
levels associated with the elderly
Trapdoor rifles. The data listed in this
section is worked up to the SAAMI
Maximum Average Pressure (MAP) of
28,000 CUP. Cartridges intended for
lever action rifles should not exceed
2.550” overall length and must be
crimped. Cast bullet # 457643 is
specifically designed for lever-action rifles and gives
excellent expansion when cast in a 20 to 1 alloy. Some
Marlin rifles utilize shallow Micro-Groove® rifling.
Bullet alloy should be at least 15 bhn and velocities
300 gr. Jacketed PP BC: .199
should remain below 1,600 feet per second if cast bul-
2.500" OAL SD: .204
let accuracy is to be acceptable in these rifles.
This data is not safe for Trapdoor Springfields or any Sugg
of the rifles listed in the previous data section for 45-70. Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
It is intended for use in Model 1886 Winchester/ XMP-5744 = 37.0 1624 19,500
Browning rifles and the 1895 Marlin rifle. Use of this IMR-4198 36.0 1688 17,000
data in Trapdoor Rifles is potentially hazardous. RX7 38.0 1628 17,000
N130 49.0 1878 20,700
XMR-2015 50.0 1847 — 21,200
IMR-3031 48.0 1657 17,000
Test Components:
H-322 51.0 1732. 717,400
(CA OES nstotead canpeiie ican epne teeta eke Se Remington
H-4895 56.0 1713. 16,700
AENeC OMEN YeMldeye each ties opsne eevee Sener eraty rege ae 2095!
IMR-4064. 55.0 1611 —-15,900
POLGRCTS — 3 Obl. 2c” ies a res «is ee Remington 91/2
MBAR SIZE Eyee oie ious tes eset ee Large Rifle Varget 57.0 1821 18,600
vimaivomenltHOlder=6. <0... . eae ean No. 17
Jacketed Bullets Used ....... Nosler PP #45325, 300 gr.
Hornady FP #4503, 350 gr.
Remington SP #B22899, 405 gr.
GastuBullets Wseduesces
eo eee (sized to .458" dia)
#457191, 292 gr. 350 gr. Jacketed FP BC: .195
#457122, 330 gr.
2.550" OAL SD: .238
#457643, 400 gr.
#457193, 405 er. Sugg i
Starting Keo Pressure
IMR-4198 5 20,700
X-Terminator 42.0
Piréaiiin: Useless. tee: &. oc ee Universal Receiver
Barrel Ieenethise% at os, fear oe ele 24" IMR-3031
SLWIS Paeeeyo.* eek: Gc teNes «as aca ene ee 1-18"
GFOOVE Dasma Seer one ory ee ANS 7
18,300

405 gr. Jacketed SP "BC: 251 #457191
2.550" OAL SDre277 292 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.550" OAL SDSS
Sugg Sugg | wae: eek
Powder Grains Ds CUP: Powder Grains _fps C.U.P.
IMR-4198__ 37.0 1513 19,100 SR-4759 30.0 ~—'1602
RX7_ 41.0 ——1602__20,500 XMP-5744
N130 43.5 1556 _ 19,300 IMR-4198
XMR-2015 44.5 1479 19,200 XMR-2015
IMR-3031 46.0 1469 17,700
H-322 45.0 1430 15,100 16,200
H-4895 49.0 1439 15,900
IMR-4064 49.0 1466 19,500
Varget 50.0 1481 —*16,500
#457122 BC: .274 #457643 Be

330 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.550" OAL SDF 225 400 gr. (20 to 1) 2.530" OAL SD: .272
Sugg Sugg . es
Powder Grains D CUP Powder Grains ps C.U.P.
SR-4759. —s-:30.0 1637. —«*17,200 SR-4759 26.0
XMP-5744 34.0 1571 17,200* IMR-4227 31.0 1481 21,400
IMR-4198 40.0 ~—s-1784._~—=s.20,900 XMP-5744
XMR-2015 50.0 1768 18,000 IMR-4198 19,400
N130 48.0 1798 18,200 XMR-2015 41.0
H322 49.0 1631 21,200
RX7_ 49.0 1853 16,700
IMR-3031 50.0 1665 16,900 17,700
Varget 56.0 1798 19,100
#457193 BC: .307

405 gr. (20 to 1) 2.550" OAL SD: .276
Sugg
SR-4759 26.5
XMP-5744
IMR-4198
XMR-2015
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. one

45-70 Governm
The performance of the 45-70
Government is impeded only by the
strength of the rifles for which it is
chambered. 45-70 factory ammuni-
tion has always been loaded on the
light side due to the large numbers of
older, weaker designed rifles in circu-
lation. Handloading is particularly
advantageous when the shooter pos-
sesses a Ruger #1 or one of numerous
Siamese Mausers converted to 45-70.
The following data is worked up
to a Maximum Average Pressure
(MAP) of 40,000 CUP. Some of the
listed loads exceed the SAAMI maxi-
mum overall length of 2.550 inches
but will not be a problem with single
shot rifles. Heavily compressed loads
should be crimped regardless of rifle type to
prevent cartridges from “growing” in length after seat- Test Components:
ing. Shooters using any of the following data should CASCS = Sens ha.Pande Ae he oe Pe Remington
take careful precautions that no cartridges accidentally ANIGRHOSECNBEN ee re ce cre nara ences oe eae 2.095"
find their way into Trapdoor or lever action rifles. Those BGIENGES: ~ = sacocs eis «canara, aus ret tae serene Remington 91/2
loading 45-70 ammunition to more than one pressure PriinenSIZe;..\sk siete as 05 an oe eee ee Large Rifle
level for different rifles should mark the primer or bot- Lyman Shellsoldetiacsy -« s.s,..cac setae ere No. 17
tom of the case head with a marker to identify one Jacketed Bullets Used ....... Nosler PP #45325, 300 gr.
batch from the other. Reloaders should also consider Speer SP #2478, 350 gr.
using different brand cases to further reduce the chance Speer FN #2479, 400 gr.
of a high-pressure load being mistakenly fired in a Hornady RN #4504, 500 gr.
weaker gun. Cast'BulletssWsed "x 52.5... steelers eres(sized to .458" dia)
The following data should not be used in any other *gas check bullet #457122, 330 gr.
rifles than the Ruger No. 1, Ruger No. 3, or bolt-action #457124, 385 gr.
rifle built upon a Model 98 action rifle that has been #457193, 405 gr.
deemed safe by a qualified gunsmith. They should be *#457671, 475 gr.
loaded only in newly manufactured cases that have not #457125, 500 gr.
been repeatedly fired. Firing any of the following loads #457132, 535 gr.
in any weaker gun listed in a previous section will be
dangerous.
Eieanmi CSOs. Seaeecnct
es cee mee Universal Receiver
Barrel. Length... ccm ae tea ee 24" + 28"
TWiStosuscacntianesueucu
eis oss ke 1-18", 1-20"
Groove Diat | ett... ce, * 457", 456"
300 gr. Jacketed PP BC: .199 *350 gr. Jacketed SP
2.550" OAL SD: .204 2.710" OAL
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains C.UP. Powder Grains CUR
SR-4759 35.0 1786 23,000 IMR-4198
IMR-4227 32.0 1702 22,800 RX7 31,900
*XMP-5744 41.0 1803 26,900 XMR-2015
IMR-4198 49.0 2047 24,000 IMR-3031
*RX7 51.0 2092 32,900 Benchmark —
*N130 51.0 2001 29,800 24,400
*XMR-2015 52.0 1907 31,900 N133
IMR-3031 55.0 1958 26,400 27,800
H322 55.0 +—«'1984 23,900
*H-4895 58.0 VASE 23,400
*400 gr. Jacketed FN BC: .214 500 gr. Jacketed RN BC: .287
2.550" OAL SD? 2.930" OAL SD: 341
Su 8s Su 85
XMR-2015 46.0 IMR-4198 35.0 1440 = 27,500
H-322 25,800 RX7 37.0 1487 31,200
H-335 55.0 *XMR-2015 44.0 1529 29,800
25,100 IMR-3031 44.0 1444 22,300
¥*H-322 44.0 1460 27,200
H-4895 50.0 1646 =.28,100
*N135 47.0 1543 28,000
*Varget 49.0 1533 29,700
*AA2520 50.5 1608 31,100
*#457122 HP BC: .274 *#457124

Sugg Su 68 } !
XMP-5744 XMP-5744 36.0 24,200
IMR-4227 IMR-4198
IMR-4198 N130
24,200 XMR-2015 28,600
RX7 23,200
XMR-2015 24,000 25,600
21,700

* Fired in a 24" barrel.
*#457193 BC: 307 *#457671 BC: .477
405 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.550" OAL SD: .276 475 er. (#2 Alloy) 2.800" OAL SD: .323
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains Powder Grains ps C.U.P.
SR-4759 SR-4759 28.0 1415 25,000
XMP-5744 XMP-5744 33.0 1413 25,200
IMR-4198 IMR-4198 38.0 1570 26,300
RX7 43.0 1650 24,700
XMR-2015. 48.0 1693 27,000
XMR-2015 IMR-3031 47.0 1657. 32,400
H322 46.0 1539 21,800
N135 47.0 1495 21,100
Varget 52.0 1699 29,400
et 8 Hs REIN
Til
(1 ey
"#457125 BC: .391 *#457132 BC: .402

500 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.835" OAL SD: 341 535 gr. (20 to 1) 2.930" OAL SD: .364
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains C.U.P. Powder Grains ps CUP:
SR-4759. 27.0 4328. "26,000
XMP-5744 XMP-5744 33.0 ——-:1385_—__—-28,200
IMR-4198 38.0 1499 27,500
XMR-2015 46.0 RX7 42.0 1501 —_-24,50€
XMR-2015 46.0 1534 24,000
IMR-3031 45.0 1469 24,100
H-322 44.0 1459 22,300
N135 48.0 1551 24,300
Varget 49.0 15525 25,900

* Fired in a 24" barrel.
~ 450 Marlin
1 450 Marlin evolved from a joint
effort between Hornady and Marlin
to produce a magnum version of the
venerable old 45-70 Government.
Readers of Lyman’s reloading manual
will find three different sections
devoted to the 45-70 rifle with data
appropriate to particular rifles.
Shooters for many years now have
hand-loaded 45-70 cartridges to high-
er than SAAMI approved levels for use
in high-strength firearms such as the
Ruger Number 1 and Mauser-based
actions. The large number of older
guns of weak or questionable design
— notably the 1873 Trapdoor
Springfield — prevented the 45-70
cartridge from ever being factory
loaded to its full potential. The Marlin cartridge dupli-
cates in standard factory form what was previously
available only by handloading the 45-70. While below
458 Winchester Magnum level in performance, the 450
Marlin offers distinctly more punch than the 28,000 ae eee ml aea
CUP level of current 45-70 factory ammo. The loading 2.520" OAL - =
procedures for the Marlin are the same as the 45-70. Sugg Max | - ,
Powders and components used in the 45-70 are also Powder. Grins s PSI.
suitable for the Marlin.
IMR-4198
33,800
Test Components: Benchmark
ESS. a ee Hornady H-322 33,100
EC INN yee cS cies 25 wees oo eels 2090! X-Terminator 55.0
BM fis 6 rena isos os ao antes Winchester WLR
SS SS at a Large Rifle
mike ecla's|la [e)6S ekeee No. 13
Jacketed Bullets Used .. .Barnes TSX FN #45841, 250 gr.
moray Teo as 300 gr. jacketed HP BC: .197
CS5ES e195 a | (sized to .457" dia) o ma aan
#457643, 400 gr. Powder Grains ps PS.L.
AA-1680 45.0 2029 31,600
IMR-4198 44.5 1997 30,000
RX7 46.0 2047 31,300
XMR-2015. 51.0 1919 31,000
N133 52.0 2070 29,900
Benchmark 55.0 2106 34,500
Test Specifications: H-322 BSL Ie as SOO
(Velocity & Pressure) ; IMR-3031 55.0 2075 35,200
29,900
ENIGETNLUKeS| ope clo co oem ous Universal Receiver aT AO 1969
Be Cnet Ws a ein t ee ois ane ese 24"
TRAAISE: ache Arcot Oy eacea CIEE Een CarmoTOnG ceERD Orca)1 -20"
(Gio DIE: 3 ern bop Soca oom oat 456
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. e

:oad.
450 Marlin
350 gr. jacketed FP BC: .193 400 gr. Jacketed FSP BC: .214
2.530" OAL SD: .238 2.540" OAL SD: .272
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains Ds P.S.1. Powder Grains pS P.S.I
IMR-4198 41.0 1824 31,700 RX7 40.5
RX7 43.0 1837 33,500 XMR-2015 31,000
XMR-2015 48.5 1807 34,400
N133 48.0 1857. ~—-30,300
Benchmark 49.5 1798 30,800 IMR-3031
H-322 50.0 1888 32,800 35,000
IMR-3031 49.5 1791 31,200
AA2230 55.0 1991 36,400
748 56.0 1869 32,200
SL eet ult AL AL AA AL usssssscel
wee isis cities
#457122 BC: .274 #457643 BC: .280

Sugg d Sugg
Powder Grains Ds PSH Powder Grains Ds P.S.I1.
SR-4759
IMR-4227 _ 23,200 IMR-4227
XMP-5744 | 29.0
IMR-4198 IMR-4198
RX7 RX7 31.0
XMR-2015 23,400 XMR-2015

Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate load,
) Winchester
ie 45-90 had its origins with
Winchester’s 1885 High Wall and
1886 lever action. This was for many
years about as big a cartridge as one
could get in a lever gun. Newer and
more modern developments rendered
this cartridge obsolete by the 1930s
when it was discontinued. This car-
tridge has made a comeback in recent
years on the Black Powder Cartridge
Silhouette circuit. Being originally a
black powder cartridge, Lyman rec-
ommends the exclusive use of cast
bullets. The 45-90 case is essentially a
45-70 case lengthened from 2.100” to
2.400”. Tests in Lyman’s ballistic lab
showed an increase of around 200
feet per second over the 45-70 with
Lyman cast bullet #457643.
This data is intended only for new or recently man-
ufactured guns recommended for smokeless powder.
This data is not for use in antique rifles originally
made for black powder. #457643 BC: .280
400 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.800" OAL SDs272
Test Components: Sugg | :
(DOCS ant Se ee Buffalo Arms Powder Grains DS C.U.P.
0) SUS TESTE oe ee ar 2.390" SR-4759
2S RS Rates Sede Remington 91/2 XMP-5744
PUTS Sas Bs Ae eee ee Large Rifle IMR-4198 38.0
217 osSI CO [a[et ae No. 17 16,000
MORONS SCH Mur. 2 ee ccna (sized to .458" dia)
#457124, 385 gr.
#457643, 400 er.
#457125, 500 gr.
#457132, 535 er.
Test Specifications: #457125 BC: 391

(Velocity & Pressure) 500 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.210" OAL SD: 340
EireannnulWsealarwers cree se aes choke wt Universal Receiver Sugg
SECTS LACS pesca ln thine Ae Se aaene Aira tear il 2912" Starting Velocity Pressure
TRAC 3 Seyi ae Dare sg are ne rn ee eR 1-20" Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
Groove ian reins ik tr ee a ee 4565" SR-4759 Bis)
XMP-5744 39.0
IMR-4198 42.0
RX7 46.0 1579 15,200
10 1 m0 88 Mere
LyAdebbebdibacs
#457124 BC: .299

385 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.850" OAL . SD: .262
Sugg
SR-4759 33.0 1675 15,400 #457132 BC: .402
XMP-5744 535 gr. (20 to 1) 3.300" OAL ;
IMR-4198 47.0 Sugg
18,800 Starting Velocity Pressure
H-322 49.0 Powder Grains p C.U.P.
Varget SR-4759 35.0 1519
XMP-5744 40.0 1542 21,800
IMR-4198 40.0 1496 16,200
This cartridge has been known under
different designations with the pri-
mary difference being bullet weights
and powder charges. The 45-100 saw
limited use during the late 1870s
before the demise of the Sharps Rifle
Company. Renewed interest in Black
Powder Cartridge Silhouette shooting
have revived this number to an extent.
Test results of the 45-100 in Lyman’s
ballistic lab showed little or no gain in
velocity compared to the 45-90 due
to the differing capacities of the par-
ent cases. The 45-100 cases utilized
here are based on unformed full-
length 348 Winchester brass while
cases used in our 45-90 data were a
45-70 case lengthened by .300”.
Loading the 45-100 is no different than for the 45-70. Test Specifications:
However, extreme care should be taken not to allow (Velocity & Pressure)
excessive amounts of case lubricant build upon the Fifeatii Used eens Stay per nee eee Universal Receiver
mid-section of the case during full-length resizing. The Barreblengthi yao ryee8 e288 SU fee ee eae 2912
thin walls of this case are particularly prone to lube TWISU Sorc elencisl'e: nese dete sas aen > ee 1-20!
dents in this area. For best results, apply lube by hand Groove’ DIB isco cccgeles 3 hedeccueaee SIR eee ee 4565"
— sparingly — to the neck area and lower portion of
the case. If lube dents do occur, the inside of the full-
length sizing body should be thoroughly cleaned with 21010)
solvent before sizing additional cases. #457658 BC: .372

Data listed here is intended for modern, new pro-
480 gr. (20 to 1) 3.525" OAL SD: .340
duction guns intended for use with smokeless powder.
This data is not for use in antique rifles originally Su 88 _ Ma
made for black powder. Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
SR-4759 325 1514
XMP-5744
Test Components:
IMR-4198
OSES OR ee AORN eer Cone eer Buffalo Arms
RX7 47.0
DU IMILOMCNGLIN, Sackstale ck via Seta neta eee as acs25090!
XMR-2015
IIDC Seer ayaa tak atresia Remington 91/2 Magnum
Phe oLZe- tas ois mie winnie eeeroet Large Rifle, Magnum
bymatvohell biGider..ca:.< oss. tee eee eet No. 17
CaceBuilets Wise Pee. 36 6ounce owes Ss
(sized to .458" dia)
#457193, 405 gr.
#457658, 480 gr. #457125 BC: .391
#457125, 500 gr. 500 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.420" OAL SD: .340
#457132, 535 gr. Su es
SR-4759 30.0 1454 ~—-.21,600
XMP-5744 36.0 1479 20,100
IMR-4198 39.0 20,700
#457193 BC: .307 18,800
405 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.040" OAL SD: .276
Su 88
Starting Velocity Pressure PU
Powder Grains C.U.P. TUet eee
SR-4759 29.0
#457132 BC: .402
XMP-5744 36.0 19,000
IMR-4198 38.0
535 gr. (20 to 1) 3.550" OAL SD: .364
Sugg Max
Powder Grains fps CUP. i
XMP-5744 = 36.0 1479
IMR-4198 36.5 1450 ~— 20,500
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. BLA) 1481 16,200
This is another circa 1870s black
powder cartridge that has gained
some nostalgia appeal in recent years.
The same procedures for resizing and
loading the 45-100 are applicable
here. The cases used in our lab tests
were based on unformed, full-length
348 Winchester cases provided by
Buffalo Arms of Sand Point, ID. Refer
to the previous comments section for
the 45-100 for information regarding
resizing these cases. Lab results show
a velocity gain of 125 to 175 feet per
second over the 45-100.
This data is intended for use
modern, newly manufactured guns
rated for smokeless powder.
This data is not for use in antique
guns originally built for black powder.
Test Components:
SMES. be? Oo oA Buffalo Arms
UIE) ee 2.865" #457125 BC: .391
SVG Saal Se ee a Remington 912M
500 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.750" OAL SD: 340
JTS SS os a Large Rifle, Magnum
Lyman Shell Holder ....... Bi 8 OE ei ar Re No. 17 Su 88 axe Pe
mastpunels Used ...... 2.522222 0565 (sized to .458" dia) Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
#457193, 405 gr. SR-4759 38.0
#457125, 500 gr. XMP-5744 43.0
#457132, 535 gr. IMR-4198 45.0 14,700
RX7 45.0 1526
XMR-2015 49.0 14,400
GAT) ANCES 0 og Universal Receiver
“or KS os ee ae a 30" SRL 1 enna
WR Re ee
Te Re PE Oe lS Gs a old aig whni whee Sue Sale 1-20"

ULES SE oS Se ee ee 4565" #457132 BC: .402
535 gr. (20 to 1) 3.730" OAL SD: .364
Su 88 ;
SR-4759 36.0 1470
XMP-5744 40.0 16,500
IMR-4198 42.5
XMR-2015 50.0 15,900
#457193 BC: .307
405 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.320" OAL SD: .276
Sugg
SR-4759 34.0 —
XMP-5744 38.0
IMR-4198 40.0
Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. Ee

Note:
load.
45-120-31/4
This is yet another old-timer revived
by the current popularity of Black
Powder Cartridge Silhouette Shooting.
This cartridge came on to the scene
around 1879 shortly before the
demise of the Sharps Rifle Company.
Although widely considered one of |
the great buffalo cartridges, its exact 608
history has been the subject of some |
debate. Many rifles from both domes- |
tic and foreign sources have come on
to the market in recent years. Some of ol ae | Le
our consumer correspondence indi-
cates that some rifles made overseas
have groove diameters as small as
456”. The 45-120 was originally
designed to be loaded with com-
pressed black powder and cast lead
bullets. It is a very large case that operates at relatively
low pressures. These circumstances limit the number of A 0
smokeless powders suitable for loading this cartridge.
Those looking for a good first powder choice should try #457658 BC: 372
Accurate 5744. Accurate formulated this propellant 480 gr. (20 to 1) 4.125" OAL SD: .339
specifically for reduced ioads and large cases such as Sugg
the old Sharps cartridges. Shooters should slug their Starting Velocity Pressure
bores and size bullets accordingly. SR-4759 36.0 1476 ~—.21,200
This data is intended for newly manufactured guns XMP-5744 41.0 (5/6522; 7.00
rated for smokeless powder.
This data is not intended for use in antique guns
originally built for black powder.
#457125
Test Components:
500 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.960" OAL SD: .339
CARES) TiS ie ae arn ae amar ere arate rae Bertram
LUST STS GL 572 UN Rese ne ene On ee 3.240" Sugg
PSION Sartes spies tae Seamed. aN od ootdune aka Federal 215M Starting Velocity Pressure
PINE ONZS seer eats = 2sa craps’aysiatse Large Rifle Magnum SR-4759 52.0 1383
ivmaneonel IOC cla iia’. ss steep pee No. 17 XMP-5744 39.0 1532
GxcCPalets Used 18.0.0 8) Lecvnaeene (sized to .459" dia)
IMR-4350 60.0 1562
#457658,
480 gr.
#457125,
500 gr.
#457132,
535 gr.
Fireanny Used See art eto ee te, eee Universal Receiver #457132
BAL ClLOMGUN ses, szeionacdon sh itsys sean eRe eee265 535 gt. (20 to 1) 4.030" OAL
MWS teers eee Wsteae ea ennsci Rca otcn ce ee 1-20"
CHOOVE Dias tariodtotams, ose ce ee ee 458" Sugg Max
Powder Grains fps C.ULP.
XMP-5744 39.0 1495 21,300

320
ster Magnum
Reinchoacr threw its hat into the
belted Magnum ring in 1956 with the
458. The cartridge has made a name
for itself since then on the most dan-
gerous game in Africa and around the
world. The 458 Magnum has also
developed a reputation for punishing
recoil. Fortunately, it is a flexible car-
tridge which responds well to hand-
loading. Shooters can load 500-grain
bullets to full power or download it to
45-70 levels. Those loading the 458
should heed several cautions. Many
maximum loads are heavily com-
pressed. Use of Reloder 7 can mini-
mize difficulties with powder com-
pression, particularly with the long
500-grain bullets. Seating and crimp-
ing are best done in two separate operations to avoid
crushed cases. Proper alignment of case mouth and bul-
let cannelure is crucial. Use of lighter weight bullets
turn the 458 into a potent brush cartridge for much of
North America. *300 gr. Jacketed FN
2.940" OAL
Sugg
Test Components: Powder Grains flps GUE:
OS eee Peete ee Winchester 39,600
(OS PE ae 0 gp nea 2.490" IMR-4198
Dae Serte oes «a 62Winchester WLR and WLRM XMR-2015
BHMer SIZE. oases. Large Rifle, Standard and Magnum RX7
ECS SAS (a)[sl ee ae aa No. 13 IMR-3031
Jacketed Bullets Used ......... Sierra FN #8900, 300 gr. H-322 35,700
Speer SP #2478, 350 gr.
Remington SP #B22899, 405 gr.
Barnes X #45818, 450 gr.
Bree PAINCES WISE a as oe ee ee ee (sized to .459" dia)
*eas check bullet #457191, 292 gr.
#457124, 385 gr. *350 gr. Jacketed SP
*#457671, 475 gr.
3.105" OAL
Sugg
Powder Grains fps CALM
(Velocity & Pressure) IMR-4198 43,100
RIncaniniUSeClmamr er aeWinchester Model 70
erates . ce este XMR-2015 37,900
Ruger No.1 RX7 68.0 2350
Universal Receiver ” IMR-3031
AE MBCTIC Aen Ade. o's ao ee carne ss « Model 70; 22" 37,700
Ruger No.1; 24"
Universal Receiver; 24"
hie < of RS SSO Sarees eco oo. ile 4
(GLCOVE Dla ee cote ona Model 70: .457
Ruger No.1: .459"
Universal Receiver: .457"

* Designates use of magnum primers.
tt 405 gr. Jacketed SP * 450 gr. Barnes X
3.090" OAL 3.280" OAL SD: .306
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains S Powder Grains p
IMR-3031 IMR-4198
IMR-4895 XMR-2015 36,200
H-335 RX7
IMR-4064 IMR-3031
BL-C (2) IMR-4895
IMR-4320 H-335 36,200
6 So 8 1 RR
500 gr. Jacketed RN ttt #457191 BC: .201

Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains D CUP Powder Grains fps
tt RX7 60.0 1709
tt IMR-3031 62.0 1890
tt IMR-4895 66.0 1886 SR-4759
tt H-335 73.0 1821 IMR-4227
IMR-4064 64.0 1785 XMP-5744
tt BL-C(2) 70.0 1736 IMR-4198 54.0 2135
+t IMR-4320 67.0 1858 IMR-3031
**SR-4759 30.0 1216 IMR-4064
**XMP-5744 34.0 1212
ttt #457124 oF ttt #457671

Sugg : Sugg
Powder Grains DS Powder Grains DS
Unique SR-4759
IMR-4227
SR-4759
IMR-4227 IMR-4198
XMP-5744
IMR-4198
IMR-3031
IMR-4064

* Designates use of magnum primers.
tt Fired in a Model 70.
ttt Fired in a Ruger No.1.
** Designates a reduced load,
i 460 Weatherby justifiably made
its reputation as the last word in stop-
ping power on dangerous game. It
evolved as a necked up version of the
378 Weatherby in 1958 and was one
of the earliest developments of that
particular case. The 460 is designed
to stop the most dangerous game on
earth. By all accounts it does this very
well. It’s not especially useful for
North America save maybe certain
Alaskan situations but is a fun gun to
shoot the first time around.
Weatherby recommends the use of
Federal 215 Magnum primers for all
jacketed bullets. This data is intended
for commercially produced and
chambered rifles. It is not for use in
custom guns that may lack the free bore found in stan-
dard Weatherby chambers.
Test Components: 500 gr. RN BC: .287

OGL? . hao Weatherby 3.710" OAL SD: 341
GSS S502 Ss i an 2.903" Sugg Xa ay
BORD Mr te fone oN. nae teas 2 3 Federal 215 & 210 Starting Velocity Pressure
Reel ZO.) . 24553".5.Large Rifle, Magnum & Standard Powder Grains
MSC AAOICIC! 2. oo. ye es dee ae No. 17
Jacketed Bullets Used .. .Remington SP #B22899, 405 gr. IMR-4350
Hornady RN #4504, 500 gr. XMR-4350
Sie Os ¢ (sized to .458" dia) RX19
*gas check bullet *#457671, 475 gr. H-4831SC 119.0
#457125, 500 gr. AA8700 _128.0+
*SR-4759 50.0
Test Specifications: **XMP-5744 56.0
(Velocity Only)
VOM eirate nt: seein es Weatherby Mk V
SS OSS aa ae eevee 26"
I Tea ih gras Pata sna oxs end|<.4/anes cael bree1-16"
NNN GER
WGN
9HAo Romana
*#457125 BC: .391

405 gr. Jacketed SP 500 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.650" OAL SD: 340
3.485" OAL Sugg Rey Cine yi A YA +,
Sugg Starting pene Pressure

Starting Velocity Pressure Powder Grains
Powder Grains fps
_ SR-4759 46.0 1a
SR-4759 49.0 1868 —
XMP-5744 52.0 1702
XMP-5744 56.0 1856 —
61.0 1745
IMR-4198 SAO eae S18)
Delia
ialGG cee cana
*#457671
475 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.700" OAL
Su 88
Starting Miele Pressure
Powder Grains
Sea75o. 460. 1717 Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate load.
XMP-5744 50.0 1700 — + Designates a compressed powder charge.
ho STS 1686 = * Designates the use of 210 primer.
50-70 Gov
The 50-70 Government led a short
military career as the first general
issue center-fire rifle cartridge in U.S.
Army service. It served from 1866
until its replacement by the 45-70 in
1873. The 50-70 enjoyed fairly wide
spread post-military usage throughout
the remainder of the nineteenth cen- 666
tury. The cartridge is most commonly |
encountered in rolling blocks and
reportedly saw extensive use during
the buffalo hunts of the late 1870s.
The 50-70 has made a bit of a come-
back recently among black powder
cartridge aficionados.
This data applies only to modern,
brass cases of recent manufacture. Do
not use any old balloon head cases.
This data is for use in newly manufactured replica
rifles approved for smokeless powder. This data is not
for use in antique firearms originally designed for black
powder.
Test Components:
CEES LA oe BANOS, 7 Nee RAI Ee era Bell
arimietGuCenelinemerewes. toes. oe eR ees eet 1.740"
#515141 ae
PVCIS teen ee es Ss Reha A. Federal 215
PHIMGR SIZE eecr eas: s ee Large Rifle, Magnum 425 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.312" OAL SD: .232
IEVTENELalteiale) ar 1)(0's hs he eeipareretars
Aeneas. eeDeeb No. 22 88
Cart Bulla USS6l oc pc enonamostocoe (sized to .511" dia) Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps
#515141, 425 er.
Unique 11.0 1003
SR-4759 22.0
IMR-4227
IMR-4198
(Velocity Only)
flea SeClane tare sak oan een ete. Shiloh Sharps
Bartoien eget. are socom o98 is,tocoahe ae ee eae ar 22"
IWiStgeeAper eres can counts tocretueura nn einen eS iO 1-48"
CENOVIGME) A eee rent shi osate Fem E s eethe eeena oie

Fn developed the 5.7x28mm along
with their P90 submachine gun, in the
mid-1990’s. The goal was to produce
a light, easy to handle, military
weapon for close quarters combat. An
additional goal was the ability to
defeat body armor without the con-
cern of over-penetration as can occur
with the 5.56 NATO round. The mili-
tary version of the 5.7x28mm car-
tridge became known as the SS190.
Other versions are also produced
such as the L191 tracer round and
SB193 subsonic round for suppressed
P90 firearms. On the civilian market,
the 5.7x28mm is available from FN in
their Five-seveN® pistol and PS90
Carbine. The current civilian ammu-
nition is called the $S197SR Sporting round. A 40 grain
Hornady V-Max bullet is loaded in this cartridge with
an advertised muzzle velocity of 1700 feet per second
(from a 4.75” barrel). 35 gr. Jacketed V-Max BC: .109
1.525" OAL SD: .100
In our testing, we found that the 5.7x28mm is not a
Sugg
good cartridge for beginning reloaders. It proved to be Starting Velocity Pressure
a very sensitive cartridge. Always begin at the recom- Powder Grains fps
mended starting charges and work up slowly in 0.1
grain increments. The blow-back design of this pistol
True Blue
also presents challenges to the reloader. Cases from
once fired factory ammunition are often encountered
with shoulders that are blown forward up to .050” in
length. These should be set-back to factory specifica-
tions with the sizing die. It is a good idea to use the bar-
rel as a gauge when setting up your size die. Sizing dies
may need to be set very tight against the shell holder to
resize the shoulder back to proper length. Obviously, 40 gr. Jacketed V-Max
this excessive working of the brass will cause early case 1325" OAL
failure. We would not recommend reloading these Sugg
cases more than 2 or 3 times. Good powder choices for Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps
this cartridge include Ramshot’s True Blue, Hodgdon’s
N340 43 1533000 =
(recently discontinued) HS-7, and Accurate’s #7. 800X 5.0 1594 _—
True Blue 52 1587 a
Test Components: Blue Dot 5.8 1638 ----
ES le oe 1 eee FN HS-7 6.0 1633 -
AA #7 6.3 1549 —
ACME CHOU caylee Lins Ser aaarie ep earwons ee ad 12130"
RIT INT eetohree ihe Lilia acare eee Pee « Remington 7 1/2
DR MENI OMI ee Sly ns ewes <Gaieoe Small Rifle
IGEN OU (60.
[D0 Ga cae No. 35
Jacketed Bullets Used .. .Hornady V-Max #22252, 35 gr. 45 gr. Jacketed SP
Hornady V-Max #22241, 40 gr. 1.570" OAL
Sierra SP #1210, 45 gr. Sugg
Powder Grains fps
TrueBlue 5.2 1404
Test Specifications: Blue Dot 5.8 1454 =
Velocity Only) HS-7 6.1 1419
lean eed’ BD 3 CAR FN Five-seveN® USG AA #7 6.2 1471 a
BANE LONGI Ta ay0u aie eccter ans renee eee: 4.75"
TRAGER Gosia opdeo See Exe Orolo, CR Ono On OD Reon ome carer ee
GLOOVEID (Aa eine ise crocus ce VDP
25 ACP
The 25 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol)
came to prominence to American
shooters in the Colt Vest Pocket pistol
designed by none other than John M.
Browning. This cartridge owes much
of its popularity to the small size of
the pistols chambered for it rather
than its ballistics. Its marginal per-
formance as a defensive round has
drawn the ridicule of numerous gun
writers over the years. The 25 ACP is
most commonly encountered today
through pocket pistols imported from
overseas from sources such as Beretta.
Most high quality handguns cham-
bered in this caliber are quite reliable,
however, there have also been many
inexpensive handguns on the market
that have proven to be anything but reliable.
Due to it's small size, the 25 ACP is rather difficult to

reload. It has never been widely regarded as a hand-
35 gr. jacketed HP BC: .072
loader’s cartridge and bullet selection is not extensive.
.860" OAL SD: .079
Charge weights for the 25 ACP are quite small. Shooters
should take care not to accidentally double-charge Sugg Mi
cases with powder. The 25 ACP case is semi-rimmed Powder Grains Ds C.U.P.
and can be lightly roll crimped. Bullseye and 231 are Bullseye
preferred powders. Red Dot
Test Components:
ASRS aA es Ia PAY is te a Remington
AIM AON CUT mee eee are. er ees cee oe 610"
PRIMEKERGEC SMe wyit. Sue5 nate gays 2 Winchester WSP
PULTE SIPC) ae ne ee aa eee Small Pistol
50 gr. Jacketed FMJ BC: .116
aA SDC MOC ans: os,awcruihe ose aang aes No. 32
900" OAL SD: .113
Jacketed Bullets Used ...... Hornady HP #35450, 35 gr.
Hornady FM) #3545, 50 gr. Sugg Az 3
Powder Grains fps G@Uu:P:
Bullseye 1.0 558 11,000
11,800
HP-38 0.8
Test Specifications: Red Dot 11,800
BILGAnle SCClmeitn ewer ne nee Universal Receiver
Bartle engthirs. i) iaes herd soot teee Ee Rem ake 2
AUNAELSTae eee ae ea SRI AN at le I Ie Rb: De (eG.
CrOOVELD aaa ee ne ee ne As |

Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate load
The 30 Luger (7.65mm) was
designed by Georg Luger for the Luger
pistol and introduced in 1900. It had
a short life as a standard issue military
pistol cartridge for several countries,
however, it never became very popu-
lar cartridge for this use or as a sport-
ing round.
Groove diameter variations are the
norm in firearms chambered for this
cartridge. In some handguns the start-
ing load may not function the action.
In such an instance work up the load
cautiously.
For best results with cast bullets, size
bullets to, or 0.001” above groove
diameter. Cast bullet #313249 should
be crimped on the leading edge of the
first driving band.
Test Components:
CORES oso god than 5
OU SOS et eR ae 845" #311252 Re
SOMME Ree on peedieivee eswoes aa ee ao Remington 1 1/2 75 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.125" OAL SDs 12
IRM en ae ew ees
ae eres Smal! Pistol Sugg Max 7
IAS Us 68 No. 12 Starting Velocity Pressure —
Jacketed Bullets Used ....... Hornady FM) #1419, 93 gr. Powder Grains fps P.S.I.
SOMES VISCO 455 vac cis cea s (sized to .309" dia) 700X
#311252, 75gr.
SR-4756
#313249, 85 gr.
Bullseye
Green Dot
(Velocity Only)
RAMON ys dns os dee vee ve Sass Walther P-38
021PeLBL SE § Co Saal a Aha"
TRIE. 5 caalge eee eee 1-9.85"
NOG |S 8 ae Setar he Pee cae ee aera 3085"
#313249
85 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.125" OAL SD: .127
93 gr. Jacketed FMJ BC: .102 Sugg Ma y Wie
1.175" OAL SD: .140 Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps
Su 88 :
Powder Grains
Bullseye
Unique
231
HP-38 35 1028 —

7.62 Tokarev/3
Tne 7.62x25mm_ Tokarev and 30
Mauser are two different cartridges. 333.333
However, their dimensions are so 388 377
close that it has been common prac-
tice to use them interchangeably. The
30 Mauser had its origins in the
Borchardt semiautomatic pistol devel-
oped in 1893. It became best known
as the cartridge most often encoun-
tered in the Mauser C96 “Broom-
handle” pistol. The Soviet Union
adopted the 7.62x25 cartridge cham-
bered in the Tokarev TT-30 during the
early 1930s. The Soviets also pro-
duced large numbers of submachine
guns chambered in this cartridge. The
7.62x25 became widely distributed
throughout the Soviet sphere of influ-
ence during the Cold War and both pistols and ammu-
nition have been commonplace on the U.S. market
since the demise of the Eastern bloc. Much of this
ammunition is useless to reloaders as it is steel cased.
86 gr. FMI
Like any mass-produced military arin, groove diameters
1.290" OAL
can vary. Cast bullets should be sized as close to groove Sugg b
diameter as possible. Make up a dummy round with a Powder Grains fps
bullet of the chosen diameter to ensure the cartridge Bullseye 48 1187 =
both chambers and falls freely. Bullets should be cast of 700X 4.6 1190 a
a hard pistol alloy, preferably linotype. The listed start- Red Dot 5.0 1240 --
ing loads may not function the action of some pistols. AA#2 Imp. 4.5 1125 -
Do not use this data for the older 7.65 Borchardt pistol. N320 48 1178 —
Borchardt pistols operate at a lower chamber pressure. HP-38 5.0 1157 —-
231 5.0 1177 —
Unique 5.0 1165 —
AA#5 6.0 1098 —
Test Components:
(ORTSE WU tvn o sk a ae ee ear Serer ee ee Starline
LTeRn SCO WEY aPeas Sear eR nee ne aor Wer en 980"
PANMMENS ae dee oreo ie techn, Shs,aoe Smee Remington 11/2
Pineal ZOU ree wis ee cincee cede sincere nae Small Pistol
Verelens ite lWi [6\(6 clameaeareecn wean war re aera enae =No. 12 93 gr. FMJ BC: .102
PACK CSG DUNG WSECiys.5 Seok Savarese ction etna crane ates 1.310" OAL SD: .140
Hornady FM) #1502, 86 gr. Su Max
Hornady FMJ #1419, 93 gr. Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains ps
GaseBulletss Seca e cee ee (sized to .311" dia) Bullseye
#311252, 75 er.
#313249, 85 gr.
Test Specifications: Unique

(Velocity Only) AA#5
PBA GCC eee Meee lie pave hee heen Sen eRe eee Oe C75?
BARCLL CHOUM BE OMAN cousin tae aia a 4.7"
WiStieet tis era nee ae hoe 1-121,"
GlOovenD lava wets: sec eric src dire eee nee SOP

#311252 BC: 121 #313249 ;
75. gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.280" OAL SD: .112 85 gt. (#2 Alloy) 1.290" OAL SD: .127
Sugg Sugg
Bullseye

te load.
Loads shown in bold designate potentia lly most accura 529
The 32 Auto (also known as the 7.65
Browning) was designed by John
Browning in 1899. Early on it was
used in the Browning designed Colt
Model 1903 pocket automatic. The
32 Auto gained a strong following in
both the United States and Europe.
Most major pistol manufacturers have
chambered for it, and many European
police forces have used it in standard
issue sidearms.
Today, the 32 Auto is considered mar-

ginal as a self defense round and _ has
largely been replaced by the 380 Auto
and 9mm Luger. It is still chambered
however, in several high quality com-
pact handguns such as the Beretta
Tomcat and the Walther PPK/S.
The loads listed may be used with 0.312” jacketed bul-

lets in pistols which have a groove diameter as small as
60 gr. Jacketed HP
0.309 inches. Groove diameter variations are extensive
S258 0OAL
in handguns chambered for this cartridge. Chamber
limits make it unsafe to attempt to use larger diameter Su
bullets, regardless of groove diameter measurement Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
The very fast powders, such as ‘Alliant’s Bullseye, Bullseye

Hodgdon HP-38, and Winchester 231 are best for this Red Dot 2.0
tiny cartridge. Titegroup
Unique
Test Components:
BASES MIRE, Ske rate oats as Remington, Winchester
Miata VeMpi a meticin ene. < a eens Scere ee reas 672"
PLIMIGISHe eee nekiss Remington 11/2, Winchester WSP
PANIC IBS Zear nalSates ncehon Gala comenhy a crea ccleSmall Pistol
Pyne SineIMIOGCh eek ake ek fv Stare enn No. 23
MACKCLEC DUELS WSO = Acie oe sce eo tere enacts
Sierra FMJ #8010, 71 gr.
71 gr. FMJ
(Casi BUIGS USe6) occcananesooedose (Sized to .309 dia.) 984" OAL
#311252, 75 gr.
Sugg
**700X 1.7 706 9,500
Bullseye {hes 603
Test Specifications: Red Dot 1705
(Velocity & Pressure) Unique 2.0 571
FReArARLISCCuae aon eaten
Ae eee Mauser HSc **HP-38 1.7 733
Universal Receiver Titegroup 2.0 744
Dame eiiRitaat acts: econ ate an Snranaee Mauser; 3" 231 21 700
AA#5 2.9 652
Universal Receiver; 3/4"
ATT epee) 2 AN ROLT orn a Titel ON OOD rr ot 1-16"
Groove Diaper lok oer ee eee 309"

“Designates use of Winchester cases and primers.
#311252 #313249
75 gr. (#2 Alloy) 975" OAL 85 gr. (#2 Alloy) .984" OAL SDRI27
Su Sugg _ Max
Starting Velocity Pressure Starting Velocity Pressure Loa¢
Powder Grains ps GULP: Powder Grains GUE:
700X 1.5 750
PB 1.6 665
SR-7625 | Reve 675 SR-7625
Bullseye 5 685 Bullseye 1.5 660
Red Dot 5 695
Green Dot 1.6 705 Green Dot 1.6
Unique 1.8 625 i
231 TkS 620
*HP-38 ila) 688
Titegroup 1.8 814
AA#5 22 622

**Designates use of Winchester cases and primers
. 331
32 Smith &
gt
> 72 ¥
5)
Wis
The 32 Smith & Wesson Long was

developed for use in Smith &
Wesson's First Model Hand Ejector
revolver, which was introduced in
1896. It soon became available in
most well known revolver brands
such as Colt and H&R, as well as a
number of Spanish and European
handguns. It has seen some police use
through the years, mostly by plain
clothes officers needing a small-
frame, lightweight, concealable
revolver. The 32 Smith & Wesson
Long has developed a following
among European target shooters due
to its high accuracy potential. Walther
and Hammerli have produced high
quality, match grade, semi-auto pis-
tols for this use.
This data is intended for use only in solid frame Test Specifications:
revolvers. We do not recommend use of these loads in (Velocity Only)
older revolvers of the top break design due to their age Firearm sed ssc0005% occ Smith & Wesson Model 31
and relative weakness. The 32 Smith & Wesson Long is Barrelsbenptly” s.2icccove's ime acute orcaeee 4"
dimensionally identical to the 32 Colt New Police. The TWiASt she cto sods cateva cba codecs eee 1-183/4"
main difference between the cartridges is the bullet GhOOVE Didtimnce sien 1 aed oe oe le
weight of factory ammunition. Neither of these car-
tridges should be confused with the 32 Long Colt.
Cartridge body diameter of the 32 Long Colt is nearly
.020” smaller than these cartridges.
Cartridges bearing the 32 Long Colt headstamp should 85 gr. Jacketed HP

not be fired in any revolver marked 32 S&W Long or 32 1.160" OAL
Colt New Police. Ruptured cases will result. Sugg
Powder Grains p
Internal barrel dimensions can vary widely from gun to
Bullseye Dal 654 —
gun. Shooters should slug their bore and size bullets to Titegroup Ds 704 —
groove diameter or .001” larger. Make up a dummy AA#2 Pl 742 —
round to ensure that your revolver will properly func- HP-38 25 842 —
tion with bullets of the chosen diameter. Fast propel- 231 2.6 752 —
lants work best in these small cases. Alliant’s Bullseye or AA#5 BD 655 —
Winchester 231 are good choices. Unique page 709 —-
Test Components:
(SACOG ieee eae oie aeais, Ane ne aint ca Remington
Lege(Ou M2 Alo1plee Cacia Smee NUR ete err. Sage 910"
PRIMCIS Peas J ecitarcs bow siprica, eee a: Remington 11/2 100 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .170
Paine SIZOR Pai waar ka ah ae a ee Small Pistol 1.160" OAL SD: .147
Eade OTE icONT rex, ed chars oe ine ocd es opis ee No. 9 Sugg
FACRETEC IBULEIS USEC mia ateem oat he caera ann ems Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains Ds
Cap euilets Usedian.a Sends aes (sized to .312" dia)
#311252, 75 gr. SR-4756 r/,
#313249, 85 gr. AA#9 218) 626 —
SWaned: Lead WUNGKUSEd Ge ctegeen eis: ee wee
Hornady #10028, 90 gr. HBWC

#311252 #313249
Sugg Sugg
N-310 2
Bullseye 2.3
Titegroup 22
Green Dot 700X P25
231 Red Dot 24
Unique Green Dot 2.6
SR-7625 231 Dis)
Zip Dy,
Unique © 3.0
SR-7625 3.0
AA #5 3.6
90 gr. Lead HBWC

920" OAL
Sugg
Powder Grains fps
N310 6 728 —-*
Bullseye 1.8 =
Titegroup Aes ee
AA#2 1.8 —
Red Fas —
HP-38 9 =
231 2.0 _
Unique 7p —
AA#S 2.6 =
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. a

load.
Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate SB)
32 H&R Magnur
ite 32 H&R Magnum was. intro-
duced in 1984 as a result of the com- .337
et
bined efforts of Harrington &
Richardson and Federal Cartridge
Company. The 32 H&R Magnum was
advertised as being equal to or more
powerful than standard 38 Special 375 | 312
loads, while producing less recoil. It is
basically a lengthened 32 S&W Long
loaded to a higher pressure. The 32
H&R Magnum is well suited to small
game hunting, target shooting or .055 [
plinking.
.075
Revolvers chambered for this car- 1.350
tridge will also fire 32 S&W, or 32
S&W Long ammo. However the
reverse is not true.
Do not load 32 H&R data into any case except those so

headstamped.
71 gr. FMJ
Alliant’s Unique, Hodgdon HP-38, and Winchester 231
1.350" OAL SD: .105
will provide the best accuracy.
Su 8s Max
Test Components:
(Cases ee ee ae Federal 14,900
Mts OyCiel etre ese coe ta ol kee 1065"
PATI MALENESS ois.Sone ceoR aoe Ree ae Cee a Federal 100 Unique 45 1004
Ete Ze eee ornate rs cis ecc he tal cos are Ree,Small Pistol SR-4756 47 900
DvinahissnicltdOlden sz). cy, «ick Bet cee eet ee No. 9 5.4 15,600
Jacketed Bullets Used ......... Sierra FM) #8010, 71 gr. 48
Hornady HP/XTP #32050, 85 er. Blue Dot 6.5
(acta itlleisSOU ice aes 5euee ce Caen: (sized to .313" dia)
#311252, 75 gr.
#313249, 85 er.
Swaged LeadiBullet Used Suh sb aah J. ee ae
Hornady #10028, 90 gr. HBWC
1.310" OAL SD: 125
Test Specifications: Stee 2s ;
Fieri USEC! 2occcsenconecaceccac Universal Receiver Powder Grains Ds C.U.P.
Patettciialin sac ence Uta Ne ete Sear pene on Bullseye 33 914 —-16,800
STRVARS sed ek te neSapiens a Gemaret erate Ohg BAN cit (lee HP-38 23 755 «13,700
(KOOVED lave eee eae eae ere eee 3 231 28 773° 13 300
Unique 4.0 859 14,900
AAHS 4.0 788 13,000
SR-4756 35 641 ‘11,500
HS-6 5.0 897 15,100
800X ay 758 —-13,600
Blue Dot 5.5 798 12,700

90 gr. Jacketed HC BC: .146 100 gr. Jacketed HP
1.315" OAL SD: .132 1.315" OAL
Sugg
sue
tartin Vel i locity._Pressure | Starting Velocity Pressure siete Velocity Pressure
Powder ae rs = CUP. cc ‘ TLR Powder _ Grains fps C.U.P._ Grains _ fps C.U.P,
Bullseye Sul 844: 16,700 _ 1008 __20,300 Bullseye 2.9 717. ‘15,400 3.3 838 19,500
HP-38 2.0 612 12,100 = 941 20,600, 231 32 706 15,000 36 841 19,500"
231 2.5 679 12,500 980 20,600 Unique 3.6 781 15,900 40 928 20,800
Unique 3.8 869 13,600 43 1003 18,400" AA#5 45 766 —*'15,300 5 931 ~—-20,100
AA#5 4.0 723 ‘11,900 54 1064 20,700 Herco a7 740 15,200 4.2 895 19,700
Herco ay 880 _ 13,900 4.2 1005___ 19,400__ HS-6 4.9 754 15,100 5.4 911 19,500
SR-4756 oD 549 9,800 4.6 1015 20,500 - Blue Dot) 5.4 Zit 14,300 ee ee
HS-6 5.4 863. 14,300 6.0 1016 18,900
800X 3.8 805: 13,400 5.0 1057 20,600
Blue Dot 5.0 719 ‘11,800 65 1014 19,700
296 9:9 1177: 19,400
#311252 #313249
Su 88 Sugg ;
Starting Velocity oiseet Starting veory Pressure Load Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps CUP: Powder Grains C.U.P. Siac MEDS el
Titegroup 31 03 15,900 | 35) 1080. 17,000
Bullseye 3.0 1064 14,900 Bullseye DES 803 12,400 AO he 20,900
AA #2 34 998 13,800 = 3.5 ~~ 1142 _~—.20,000_ Red Dot 2.5 801 12,800 38 1110. 20,400
Red Dot 3.1 1083 15,100 36 116819300.
49300. < AA#2 DD 959 16,700 36: 10345 20,200
N-320 34 1048 14,400 3.8 1173 19,300 HP-38 2.0 738 10,900 35° 1082 - 20,700
Zip a7 1105 _ 15,600 “2 1212 20,000 231 25 777: 12,500 4.11101 20,400
231 3.7 1077 _ 15,800 1205 20,600 Zip 3.7 976 _ 15,800 (ieee ile; 0
HP-38 3.9 1136 18,100 Fe 20,200 N320 3.1 953 16,200 35) 1017) 17,300
Unique 4.0 1068 14400 4.5 1228 20,200 _ Unique 3.0 747 ‘10,800 45 1092 20,100
AA #5 5.4 1080 15,700 6.1 1217 20,400 AA#S 4.0 820. 11,500 54): 1424. 19,200
SR-7625 4.3 1076 14,700 48 1204 20,400 SR-7625 27 709 9,700 4.3 1083 19,800
Herco 43 1088 15,600 48 1294 19,600 Herco 3.5 845 12,500 4: 1080 19,300
SR-4756 4.5 1027. __ 14,400 5.0 1248 18,700 SR-4756 3.0 659 8,000 1091 18,900
Power Pistol 4.6 1161 ‘17,800 5.2 1237___ 20,100 800X 3.8 889 12,400 :5 1136 19,300
800X 4.9 1113 16,900 551227 20,500 Blue Dot 5.0 B24) 12,700 65) 1105) 19,000 |
Blue Dot 6.0 1045 14,300 67. 1170 18,300
90 gr. Lead HBWC :

1.100" OAL
Starting Velocity Pressure toad Velocity Pressure

Powder Grains fps C.U.P. CUP.
Titegroup 2.7 937. _ 16,900 Se
AA#H2 27 930 _ 16,800 —30__1007_ 18,00
Bullseye 2.9 957._: 17,500 .
N320 ey 936 19,200
HP-38 2.9 958 _ 17,900
231 3.1 942 17,100 3.5 1042 20,600 __
Unique 2.9 912 15,800. 3.4 1015__-20,000_
SR-4756 3.6 861 14,100 _ aes cee
AA#S 4.5 980 18800 5.0 1060 20,500
800X 3.6 862 _ 13,300 41 992 18,200|
The 32-20 dates back to 1882 when
Winchester first offered it in the
Model 1873 rifle. The cartridge has
drifted in and out of popularity
depending on who chambered it at
any given time. Most manufacturers
produced rifles in 32-20 at some
point. It has been periodically pro-
duced in revolvers and more lately in
the T/C Contender. Cowboy Action
Shooting and Marlin’s recent produc-
tion of their Model 1894 in 32-20
have kept it going. The 32-20 also
served as the parent cartridge for the
25-20 and the 218 Bee.
This data is for revolvers made by

Colt, Smith & Wesson and Ruger
designed for smokeless powder 32-20 Winchester
ammunition. Do not use this data in old guns designed
for black powder or any of the old cheap Spanish
copies of the S&W revolver.
85 gr. Jacketed HP
1.535" OAL
The 32-20 Winchester has been chambered in revolvers
for many years as a companion to the numerous lever Sugg
action rifles which also chambered the cartridge. Powder Grains Ss CUP 4
This is a good game cartridge when fired in well-made Titegroup weit 747 9,100
revolvers. 231 3.2 745
SR-7625 3.3 703
SR-4756 45 748
Unique 41 742
AAH5 4.2 554
2400 76 939 12,000
Test Components: Lil/ Gun 7. 893 10,200
PPS TER, Of Spa ir4 Ae ta ae ee ee Winchester
AA-5744 93 797 9,800
iiisiorbeastn ee era ator tc mea 1-305"
PiINCKSE eee. Sock ee ons Winchester WSP
REN Ole arZOath te eaten ite acer eh at Small Pistol
ium CM MOIOCtRE ; eayriee.:
=ones coe No. 10
JaGReted BUets. UWSede itera Serre A ORR” iis ee
GaSe Bile WSCC tenia
ne Sais eoneerns (sized to .313" dia) 90 gr. jacketed HC BC: .112
#311008, 115 gr. 1.535" OAL SD2132
Sugg ma
Titegroup 33 722 9,300
Test Specifications: 231 3.4 679
SR-7625 3.7
SR-4756—s«O5 2
Pireannvlisedienn 4 uircgmcpu
eae. Ruger Blackhawk
Unique 3.6
and Universal Receiver
AA#S — 47
BAnenengtlig oc.c.occnsrscaoae.
ores aetens one Lae 6" 2400 7.6 7,500
INA\SLetre ee re sirpete fe eee, Cue tw at ele eee 1-16" Lil’ Gun UDP 10,300
GirOOVED iad acces teat erential yao eee snap SDs AA-5744 9.2 9,200

/inchester
100 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .167 #311008 BC; 154

Sugg Sugg iin
Powder Grains p (eau Powder Grains C.U.P.
Titegroup 3.1 628 10,900 Titegroup
231 3.6 657 11,000 231 3.1 782 a
SR-7625 4.2 591 8,600 SR-7625
Unique 3.6 652 9,500 SR-4756
SR-4756 AB? 95 1683 11,500
AA#5 4.8 668 9,800
AA#7 6.0 733 10,900
Lil’ Gun 6.8 747 9,700
AA-5744 B68 - 695. --. 9,000
2400 7.6 742 10,700
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. ee

load.
380 Autom
The 380 Auto is another John
Browning design that was introduced
in 1908 when it was chambered in
the Colt Pocket Automatic. In Europe,
it became known as the 9mm
Browning Short. The 380 Auto has
always been fairly popular mostly due
to its availability in small, lightweight,
handy pistols. Most pistols that cham-
ber the 32 Auto can also be made in
380 Auto, which will offer much
improved stopping power. In recent
years, improvments in hollow point
bullet design have moved this car-
tridge up a notch in acceptance for
self-defense use. Almost all well
known commercial manufacturers of
compact semi-auto pistols chamber or
have chambered for the 380 Auto.
Groove diameters have been measured as small as

0.355” to as large as 0.362 inch. Such variations can
90 gr. Jacketed HC BC: .115
play havoc with accuracy. Because of chamber restric- 925" OAL SD: .102
tions it is generally not safe to load bullets of a diame-
ter larger than 0.355 inch. Sugg
Heavy (long) bullets of 0.355” diameter may cause case Bullseye 2.0 713 9,100.
bulging due to the internal case taper. This may be Titegroup 828 13,300
ignored so long as the outside diameter of the case at Red Dot i 691 8,400
the bulge does not exceed 0.374 inch. 700X 704 9,100
Winchester 231 is an outstanding performer with all N320 ; 769 ‘11,300
weight bullets in this cartridge. AA#H2 : 772 ~—-12,500
231 : 681 8,100
Unique 709 8,700 _
SR-7625 583 8,100
Test Components: Power Pistol 3.6 881 14,300
(GASCS INET ES BOT a AS oa SE ANT OE Federal
“WATT SOUS I Esns ee ee PP nearer ee ne eee G77)
PRINTS #eP fs. ce aes Federal 100 and Winchester WSP
BUALGGLST bastVAST oreea Gh a peer we ACN oe ate Small Pistol
lyiman shel Older ”....n.2 see ne aeraaia etter No. 26
Jacketed Bullets Used ......... Sierra JHC #8100, 90 gr.
Hornady HP/XTP #35540, 115 gr. 95 gr. FMJ BC: .116
(Cast UIE URE6) oc dscc5
as bdebhoss (sized to .355" dia) 900" OAL SD: .108
#356242, 90 gr. Su gs Map a
Powder Grains D Gu:
Bullseye 2.0 724 9,400
Titegroup 24 861 14,500
Red Dot 20) 712 9,600
700X 7 693 9,500
Test Specifications: N320 2 825 11,300
(Velocity & Pressure) AA#2 19 694 9,900
PHCAINMISCd Ton ns.fone ate ne Universal Receiver 231 21 704: 9,700
TeCel We p22 ae ee err arnt coma ne TPde sk 33/4" AA#5 3.0 9,100
WE 2 inks oo ee Ree Te ee cn NRT de 1-16" Unique 23 9,600
GrOOVEND ann aA eee eee ee eee 355s SR-7625 BE) 11,300
Power Pistol 3.5 13,500

115 gr. Jacketed HP #356242
956" OAL SD: .130 90 gr. (#2 Alloy) .980" OAL SD: .102
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains Powder Grains ps C.U.P.
Bullseye 2.4 750 11,800
Titegroup 2.4 755 11,600
Red Dot 2.0 is 1h,000;
700X WS) 695 11,106
Green Dot 24 655 10,000
Power Pistol 2.9 13,500 Amer. Select 2.7 843 13,100
231 23 701. ~—«7,900
PB DP. 645 10,300
Unique 35 eee)
SR-4756 2.8 633 6,900
Blue Dot 4.0 667 7,000
#356242 BC: .154

120 gr. (#2 Alloy) .980" OAL SD: .136
Sugg een
Bullseye 1.6 600 10,500
Red Dot 1.6 615 11,000
i ae 610 11,300
Green Dot 1.7 620 10,800
aot 7t6 «9,200
PB 17 605 10,800
Unic 2.2 630 ‘11,300
SR-4756 23 662 7,800
BlueDot 3.7 732 9,000
a
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. load.
ala
9mm Luger @
The 9mm Luger, also known as the |
391 .380
9mm Parabellum or 9 x 19 mm, like-
ly has more firearms chambered for it
today than any other handgun car-
tridge. It was designed by Georg
Luger in 1902 and adopted by the
German army in 1908. Since that 394.347 .305
time, it has become the most popular
military/police handgun and subma-
chine gun cartridge made, in addition
to being chambered by nearly every
major handgun manufacturer for the oso] b- .200
civilian market.
754
The most common diameter for this 1.169
cartridge is 0.354 inch. However, the
industry standard has recently been
eee
established at 0.355 inch. All barrels
of 0.354” to 0.356” are correctly matched with a bullet
diameter of 0.355 inch. Barrels with larger groove
diameters will often provide poor accuracy with a Test Specifications:
0.355” bullet but chamber restrictions prevent the safe (Velocity & Pressure)
use of larger diameter bullets. Firearm Wseds > svece 2. ties conn | eons Universal Receiver
Barrel’ Eength) sas es-4¢ << uicae ae cy qe Sear one ee 4"
GrooVvel Didiven.: sc.c54 096 030 eee sie)
This cartridge headspaces from the mouth and therefore
case trimming must be uniform and accurate. Do not
reduce cases below the trim-to length. Additionally do
not roll crimp bullets as this will prevent the case from
properly headspacing on its mouth. A modest taper
crimp may be employed:if found necessary.
The most popular cast bullet for this round has been 90 gr. Jacketed HP
#356402. However, there are many good choices based 1.010" OAL
upon intended use. Bullet #356637 (147 gr.) closely Sugg
duplicates the U.S. Military subsonic bullet design and Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps CURT |
has proven to be very accurate.
Clays 3.0 982 22,000
Titegroup 44 1170 24,100
Alliant’s Bullseye, Winchester 231, and Alliant’s Unique
Bullseye 4] 971 21,600
are very good popular propellants for this cartridge.
700X 3.6 1027 25,000
With any handgun cartridge, it is important not to seat 231 4.0 1156 20,600
bullets to a shorter length than specified in the data. AA#5 en, 835 16,600
This is especially important with 9mm loads. Pressures Unique 5.0 1089 26,900
can be raised dramatically with deep seating. Power Pistol 6.3 1216 23,800
N340 1552 1161 24,400
SR-4756 5.0 1028 24,000
HS-6 5.9 858 20,200
Test Components: Blue Dot 7.0 1072 24,800
ASS tee CM yaa a ilai igen sh ios atin Seaceaeetnapare ae Federal
ANI AOUCCOEUMA atertemuns Goeadic cnet oat Ora rece eeeZale
DEMING etcesta tat a in hee eae erect CCI 500
AGHA CsPA REE: cea ae EN oe ee RNS Cee Small Pistol
Griegtaesia(oll lig(10[=aaPalen Woon oeArras yeNo. 12
Jacketed Bullets Used ......... Sierra JHP #8100, 90 gr.
Sierra JHP #8125, 125 gr.
Speer TMJ #4006, 147 gr.
(cape BiNlleis Wise Ue...t wn snene a eeierine (sized to .356" dia)
#356242, 90 gr.
#356242, 120 gr.
#356402, 120 gr.
#356637, 147 er.
95 gr. FMJ 115 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .129
1.005" OAL SD: .108 1.090" OAL SD: .130
Sugg Su
Titegroup 4.3. 1150 25,500 Titegroup 4.0 1046 =.27,100
Bullseye 3.5 893 19,400 Bullseye 3.5 945. ~—«:18,700
700X a0 893 19,600 700X Bal 918 20,200
231 a7 1068 19,200 231 2 959 20,700
Zip 49 1224 ~—-27,800 Unique 44 996 20,600
AA#5 5.2 915 —-18,100 Power Pistol 5.9 1102 27,100
Unique 4.5 1007. 22,000 N340 4.5 999 24,300
Power Pistol 6.2 1214 26,000 SR-4756 45 946 +8,600
Universal 47 939 —-15,600 True Blue 6.0 1133 28,000
N340 5.1 1162 ~—-.25,200 HS-6 Sui! 956 17,400
SR-4756 45 983 20,700 AA#7 6.8 871 20,700
HS-6 5.8 952 ~—-.20,100 Blue Dot 6.8 1110 27,300
Blue 68 1101 ~—-22,900
125 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .137 147 gr. TMJ BC: .208
1.075" OAL SD: 142 1.115" OAL SD: .167
Sugg Sugg
Clays 31 872 26,700 Titegroup. 3) 914 27,700
Titegroup 3.8 962 ~—-26,100 Bullseye 3.4 871 23,500
3.9 979 ~—.27,900 700X 2.8 766 23,300
700X 3.8 930 22,900 231 os: 855 23,000
2t= 3.9 960 27,000 Unique Bu, 873 20,500
AA#5 ; 955 24,200 Power Pistol 4.5 960 26,900
Universal Bal 778 19,000
Power Pistol , 23,100 N340 Bo) 935 «28,500
t al 17,400 WSF 35 790 21,500
21,900 True Blue 5.0 871 28,700
28,100 HS-6 48 866 22,000
23,800 AA#7 6.0 852 20,200
PN i 26,700 Blue Dot joe: 864 19,000
Blue Dot 27, A00

341
Imm
-
Luger or
#356242 2 #356242
Sugg Sugg d
Powder Grains D CUP. Powder Grains DS CUE
Titegroup 43 1215 26,100 Titegroup B02 TO2Ty 9725)200
Bullseye 4.0 1060 19,800 Bullseye 3.4 939 23,600
700X 41 25 e227 300 700X 3.0 940 26,000
Red Dot 4.1 1120 22,800 Red Dot 3.0 919 25,100
231 3.8 1093 20,500 231 3.0 1010 20,000
Zip 49 1116 27,400 SR-7625 3.0 852 21,400
SR-7625 5.0 1180 23,400 PB sp 872 24,500
PB 48 1115 19,800 Green Dot Si) 966 26,200
Green Dot = 4.3 1095 20,400 Zip 4.2 1035 28,400
N340 B22. 1201 23,800 N340 4.0 1047 27,300
Unique 5.0 1065 ~—-19,800 Unique —s- 4.0 1013. 26,500
Power Pistol 6.3 1280 27,700 Power Pistol 5.0 1107 27,700
HS-6 5.8 1011 19,500 HS-6 5.0 904 23,000
AA#5 6.6 1163 23,100 AA#5 5.4 1021 24,600
SR-4756 333 1168 = 22,400
#356402 #356637
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains p CUP: Powder Grains D C.U.P.
Titegroup Sie) 997 24,400 Clays 1.9 21,000
Bullseye 3.8 1047 28,400 Titegroup Dio 870 26,800
700X 3.6 1031 26,600 Bullseye 2.8 780 24,900
231 29 963 17,000 700X 2.7 803 26,500
Green Dot 3.8 1038 28,000 Universal S20) 875 26,300
N340 4.0 986 23,300 Unique Be) 25,600
Zip 45 1089 28,600 N340 3.4 25,400
Power Pistol 5.1 1124 28,200 WSF 3.4 26,900
HS-6 5.0 910 20,000 SR-4756 Bl 25,000
AAHS 5.4 1030 24,600 Power Pistol 4.1 26,100
HS-6 44 846 26,700
True Blue 4.7 876 24,800
AA#7 63 986 —-26,500
Blue Dot 5.1 864 26,700

is 38 Super is identical in dimen-
sions to the older 38 Auto cartridge
except that it is loaded to a higher
pressure level. When it was intro-
duced in 1929, the 38 Super was
known as a very potent cartridge. The
357 Magnum quickly overshadowed
406 .345
it however, when it was introduced
several years later. More recently
IPSC shooters began using the "Super"
in an effort to find a cartridge with
similar power to the 45 Auto, but with
less recoil and greater magazine
capacity.
Use this data only in pistols specifical-

ly marked 38 Super by the manufac-
turer. This data would be extremely
dangerous if used in a pistol marked 38 Automatic. The
38 Automatic uses the same size case but loaded to Test Specifications:
much lower chamber pressures. (Velocity & Pressure)
Fiteaniti SCC etek ae waren ae eet Universal Receiver
This has traditionally been a semi-rimless case that Barrel Lengthigrat oo hee bu ce en eae eee 5
headspaces on the small rim. Some modern pistols and TWASUS Ah Becers e foee eig ae : 1-16"
replacement barrels headspace on the case mouth. If GrooversDids 2. ca oe ee re ee aes 355"
your handgun headspaces on the case mouth do not
roll crimp.
38 Super has become extremely popular with IPSC 90 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .095
shooters due to its lower recoil which allows for faster 1.125" OAL SD: .102
recovery time. None of the loads shown will make Sugg
USPSA/IPSC major power factor however. To make Starting Velocity Pressure
"major", loads will exceed the industry pressure levels Powder Grains ps CUR:
and are not recommended in standard, factory built pis- Titegroup 5:3 1382. 26,500
N320 a3 1274 29,300
tols. IPSC shooter's using "major" 38 Super loads do so
Bullseye 5.0 1222)" 17,600
in custom made pistols designed to withstand higher
PB bye) 1193 20,400
pressures.
Zip Br tae 28 500
231 5.5 1198 20,500
Test Components: Unique 6.0 1221 19,400
Power Pistol 7.1 1393 24,600
Re ose baile Sle ee hee eeRemington
EMT PUN ay cece te hp Fol ees adn ee oe nies 895" SR-7625 6.0 1203 21,200
Herco 6.0 1193 17,500
MMe ed Sica ati vias oie'csck een vale toe P= as CCI 500
N340 6.5 1354. —-22,500
Winchester WSP (Cast Bullets Only) HS-6 7.5 1210 20,000
Rt ties nia cule aang so ee Small Pistol
PTOI AONE ic esse sie nea ae hee No. 12
Hornady FMJ/FP #35567, 124 gr.
95 gr. FMJ 0
Speer TM) #4006, 147 gr. 1.175" OAL SD: .108
% von ceed edenhes(sized to .355" dia) Sugg

teeet BUNS UGE Starting Velocity Pressure
#356242, 90 gr. Powder Grains fps He
#356242, 120 gr. Titegroup 5:2 12575: 20)300
#356402, 120 gr. N320 16,500
#356637, 147 gr. Bullseye
#358311, 158 gr. Zip 18,000
231
Unique
Power Pistol
Herco We) 1358
' N340 6.4 1325
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. HS-6 S83 22,300
load.
115 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .129 124 gr. FMJ/FP BC: 174
1.265" OAL SD: .130 1.165" OAL SD: .141
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains DS Powder Grains DS C.U, \
Bullseye 5.0 1084 Bullseye’ (RAO 64a" 195007
N320 48 1014 231 44 879 22,400 |
700X 44 1032 20,206 Unigge 46 776" Te 600)
231 5.4 933 AA#5 57 908 19,300
Unique 5.4 1039 Power Pistol 6.0 1000 24,700.
Power Pistol 6.6 1067 21,500 Herco 48 801 18,200
SR-7625 5a = 1042 19.200 N340 54> 1009. 21,400
Herco 5.6 1039 19,600 WSF 55 961 23,100
N340 SOs 10a) 2 000 SRA756 A ar. gd
WSF 6.3 1002 19,400 Silhouette 6.3 1054 — 20,500 |
Sb = Poe One) 700" Hoe O70 880. 26,200|
Silhouette MP 1061 17,100 HS-7 7.0 816 16,000 |
AAHZ 87 1101 —-19,200 AAR OBS TOSh i 20700
Blue Dot 6.5 904 20,400
N105 CB Oss 20,100
Lil’ Gun 12.5 1267. ~—-27,400
147 gr. TMJ *#356242

SD: 102
Sugg 8s
Starting Velocity “Pressure Starting Velocity Pressure
Bullseye 43 972 22,000 Bullseye 4.2) 9022-19500
231 45 966 —-20,300 HP-38 4] 1026
Unique 47 962 21,300 307 Aur 1039
Power Pistol 5.6 831 24,300 PB foes 18,900 |
Universal 45 G50 500) Zip Ty: 21,800
Herco ~——5.0 940 ~—-19,500 ~ 20,400
WSF B2 cn uin 24100 22,500
SR-4756 5.0 895 16,300
Silhouette 5.7 958 21,600. Power Pistol 7.4
AA#7 8.3 1047. 21,500 SR-4756 58) 1089 19,700
BlueDot 7.0 1051 24,900
AA#9 9.3 883 22,000
NIOS: 875-896 21,600.
Lil’ Gun 10.2 1063 22,900

*Designates use of Winchester primers.
344
per Automatic
*#356242 BC: .154 “#356402 BC: .146

Sugg Mi ee Sugg
Bullse AOS 970 ‘17,600 Titegroup 4.2
700X ei 979 19,800 Bullseye 18,600
231 43 988 17,700
HP-38 3.9 975 17,800
N340 49 1106 27,700
AA#5 6.9 1052 24,300
Unique 49 1031 20,000
Silhouette 5.9 1172 28,700 Unique 20,400
Power Pistol 6.1 1128 —-24,900 Power Pistol
SR-7625 42 978 18,100 SR-7625
Silhouette
*#356637 BC: .073 *#358311

Sugg aes Sugg Ma j
Powder Grains ‘ CUP Powder Grains Ds C.U.P.
Titegroup 3.6 27,700 Unique 44 — 958 20100
Bullseye 43 24,300 Herco 4.5 920 21,000
Unique 4.5 22,900 SR-4756 49 927 18,900
Universal 42 21,700 Silhouette 52 22,900
Herco 49 25,200 3N37 5 24,400
3N37 5.4 27,700 AA#7 UP 24,500
HS-7 6.7. 23,900 HS-7 6.8 20,200
AA#7 Lee 22,200 Blue Dot 6.5 Q 20,900
Blue Dot 6.6 24,000 AA#9 8.9 23,300
AA#9 9.4 24,500
F
in bold designat e potential ly most accurate load.
Loads shown
*Designates use of Winchester primers.
9x 21mm
The 9x21mm originated in Italy, due
to a law which prohibits civilians
from owning firearms chambering
military calibers. Since this law
banned the 9mm Luger (9x19mm),
the answer for shooters desiring a
9mm was to lengthen the Luger case
by 2mm creating the 9x21mm.
In this country, IPSC shooters have

adopted this cartridge to make major
power requirements which can not be
safely reached with the 9mm Luger.
Even though the 9x21mm case is
longer than the 9mm Luger, the same
overall cartridge length was main-
tained to allow for the easy conver-
sion of 9mm Luger handguns. If this
overall length is maintained, it is difficult to obtain
major loads without exceeding the 33,000 c.u.p.
S.A.A.M.|. pressure limit set for 9mm Luger firearms.
Since most IPSC shooters fire well-built custom hand- 1.063" OAL SD: .102
guns, they often exceed this limit. We choose not to, as
Sugg May
quality of the firearm to be used is not known to us. Starting Velocity Pressure Lo
Within this limit we have one 147 gr. jacketed bullet Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
load which meets major requirements. 700X 4.5
SR-4756
For lightweight bullets, we found 231 to work very well. Bullseye
For heavier bullets, try Blue Dot, HS-6 or AA 7. Unique Dee (219
Blue Dot
23,800
(CASCSr ee eee eter ect nnte ce ne eee Geco
Mp eitOn CN CU a. atten. sac nk 2 cent eet 830"
Pi MMCUS HRM eee eee eed eee es Winchester WSP
Pinel cizewter tet ws. cache’. . cole ates ot Small Pistol
Lyman cell Olen. ree. caterer tants eee No. 12
Hornady FMJ/FP #35567, 124 gr.
Speer TM) #4006, 147 gr.
Gast Bullets ised. aneore (sized to .355" dia)
115 gr. jacketed HP BC: 1Eis
#356402, 120 gr.
1.063" OAL SD: .130
#356637, 147 gr. x gg
7 . .
700X
SR-4756 24,600
Test Specifications: Bullseye 23,000
(Velocity & Pressure) Unique 5.0 24,800
PITGATIIE SCC eer ea we sue Soshala des Universal Receiver 25,100
Pealiteen ROO tacasre cat ecitce Gah ec ANS rere? ees Be
GRATES ps ae hag een rat reecmepintren rem irom aney IE 1-116"
GiOOVE;Dilahers is Regen ta: tases. Sear ee one B55"

124 gr. FMJ/FP 147 gr. TMJ
1.090" OAL SD: .141 1.169" OAL
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains p C.U.P. Powder Grains fps GUE
700X 4.0 22,000
SR-4756 5.0 20,800 20,000
Bullseye 42 20,000 Blue Dot 20,000
Unique 45 20,500 HS-6
Blue Dot LS 24,100
HS-6 6.5 21,500
AA#7 7.3 19,800
231 4.5 20,000
#356402 #356637
Sugg Sugg
pt 3.6 868 23,900 SR-4756 4.0 23,300
SR-4756 4.8 826 18,100 Bullseye
Bullseye 3.8 836 18,200 22,300
Unique 43 888 21,000 Blue Dot
BlueDot — 7.0 1031 23,200
HS-6 6.1 934 20,500 18,800
AA#5 ia = SI 20,800
231 4.1 870 —-20,000
Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. aa

Note: load.
357 Sig
The 357 Sig was the result of the
joint effort between Sig Arms and
Federal Cartridge to produce 357
Magnum level ballistics in a midsized
semiautomatic pistol. The 125 grain
JHP load in the 357 Magnum car-
tridge has long been known to have
superior stopping power. The 357 Sig
was designed to offer this perform-
ance and a semi-automatic pistol with
greater capacity than a six shot
revolver.
The simplest description of the 357

SIG is that of a 40 Smith & Wesson
necked down to accept .355” diame-
ter bullets. Reloaders should not how-
ever attempt to form brass by necking
down 40 S&W cases, as they will be approximately
.020” short. 10mm cases should also not be used due to
their use of a large primer. Only .355” diameter bullets
should be loaded for the SIG despite the 357 designa-
tion. Do not use .357” diameter bullets intended for use
1.140" OAL SD: .102
in the 38/357. The 357 SIG is a bottleneck cartridge but
headspaces on the case mouth and cartridges should Sugg
not be roll crimped. Uniform case length is imperative Powder Grains fps PS.I.
for proper functioning. Unfortunately, the short neck of AA#2 6.3 1280 30,800
the 357 SIG proved unsuitable for use with any of HP-38 7.3 1422 33,000
Lyman’s cast bullets. The SAAMI Maximum Average Amer. Select 7.9 1395 = 33,600
Pressure (MAP) is 40,000. PSI. AA#5 10.0 1422 30,200
Unique 8.1 1420 31,700
Universal 7.8 1343 26,600
N340 7.6 1288 27,300
Silhouette 9.2 1350 26,300
Power Pistol 9.7 1488 31,600
Test Components: SR-4756 9.4 1451 34,300
(ACOs ee ace eee ee OMe ca Be Federal HS-6 10.0 1289 25,900
WM IeCOS eM eat ccc tin ee ae eis ns eter cee .860" True Blue 9.9 1501 33,900
PVINIRCI SEER ne teres bck ees eee Federal 100 AA#7 12.0 1419 = 29,100
PIIICIPSIZ OR ee ee en ee ae Small Pistol N105 12.1 1399 =.26,300
iivmarionellMiolderce;. 2 s..3> Une aerenee No. 15
Speer Gold Dot #4360, 125 gr.
Speer TM) #4006, 147 gr.
Fike atta ISOC erat tatates
conn ree Universal Receiver
Barre lalefisinina yeast c.s.8 oc orks cian et ee oe 4"
BIWWiSeregte crs ceePewe tetera tsae awk sense ee 1-16"
CiTOOVEsD latea.cots ict te ae eee B53)

115 gr. Jacketed HP BC: 127 125 gr. Jacketed HP
1.140" OAL SD: .130
Su
Starts Velocity Pressure 88
Starting
:
Velocity
Powder Grains p
WAH 8B ik: 30,900
Unique 6.9 1236 33,200
Universal 6.4 1131 27,800
N340 6.5 1186 31,800
Power Pistol 8.1 1287 32,700
Silhouette 8.1 1292 31,400
True Blue 8.1 1261 32,000
SR-4756 8.2 1242 31,400
800X
80 8.5 1315 33,800
HS-6 9.0 1206 29,700
AAH7 10.0 1268 31,900
BlueDot 9.2 1235 31,000
N105 10.8 1331 31,100
AA#9 12.4 1367 31,900
147 gr. TMJ BC: .208

1.135" OAL SD: .167
Sugg
Powder Grains p P.S.I.
AA#5 | 7.3 968 32,600
Power Pistol 6.7 1060 33,600
SR-4756 = 6.2, ——«*1030——- 34,300
N350 6.7 1095 32,100
Longshot 7.0 1151 31,100 ©
800X 72 1141 35,200
Hee 71 880 31,500
AA#7 9.0 1033 31,600
Blue Dot 6.8 948 33,200
N105 8.1 1092 31,300
AAO 97 1166 32,200
Enforcer 123 1170 30,800
Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. ror

Note: !oad.
+Designates a compres sed powder charge.
38 Smith &
The 38 S&W was designed by Smith
and Wesson for use in their top break
revolvers introduced in 1877. The
cartridge became fairly popular due
to the small, concealable revolvers
that chamber it. The 38 S&W was
adopted by the British as their service
revolver cartridge before World War
Il. The British loaded a 200 grain bul-
let and called the cartridge the
380/200. In addition, the cartridge is
also known as the 38 Colt New
Police. It is the same cartridge as the
38 S&W, only loaded with a flat nose
bullet rather than a round nose.
The data listed is intended only for

use in solid frame revolvers.
We do not recommend the use of reloads in revolvers of

the top break design due to their age and relative weak-
ness. #358477 BC: .286
150 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.070" OAL SD: .168
Because of wide internal barrel dimensions it is wise to Sugg
slug your bore before beginning to reload. If possible Starting Velocity Pressure
size cast bullets to groove diameter or 0.001” larger. Powder Grains Ds C.U.P.
Then make up a dummy round to ensure that your
revolver chambers will easily accept ammo with bullets Titegroup
of the chosen diameter.
Ramshot's True Blue Powder did very well for us with

SR-7625
all bullet weights. Bullet #358430 is similar to the
True Blue
British for 380/200 load.
Test Components:
NDASCS are Ae icra cEaca nis ia < iw Cras Cee Remington
LTE OMESS ey eee Ten ree roe 705" #358311 BC: .228
PilLIMeSeate wer cAce ake ho iotce Lace tera arenes CCI 500 160 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.150" OAL SD: .177
PINE aS(ZO Rati ein ten 05 Ot co.conte en ieee mea Small Pistol Sugg M
LVintalome OIE cise cei eres once ere tree No. 21 Starting Velocity Pressure
Pac DUNES UISE ca aa. ee eee ae(sized to .359" dia) Powder Grains Ds C.U.P.
#358477, 150 gr. Nitro 100 1.8 632 9,500
#358311, 160 gr. N310 1.6 624 9,500
#358430, 195 gr. 700X 2.0 634 8,900.
Bullseye 2.0 650 10,000
231 21 632 9,800
Test Specifications: SR-7625 24 622 8,500
(Velocity & Pressure) AA#5 3.1 653 9,500
RIRCATIM ROSCC meee ean nen wenomen anne Universal Receiver True Blue 2.7 636 —_—«8,400
Darel aneth: 7.0. ae ee eee ee eae cee 52"
AW Stenece rclttewes eoseah steer saat wut ise Reyoes (4h
GTOOVElD ante eee ee rer een a BDOn

#358430 BC: .145
195 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.175" OAL SDe 217
Sugg
Bullse 1.4 7,200
700X 1.4 7,900
Titegroup =—s-'11.5 9,400
N320 is 9,500
231 1.6 9,100
Unique Le 8,100
SR-7625 eo 8,800
AA#5 2.6 9,200
True Blue 22 8,200

Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate load. 35]
38 Special
The 38 special was designed by
Smith and Wesson and introduced in
1902 along with their Military and 379
Police Model revolver. It was made to
offer improved performance over the
38 Long Colt cartridge. The 38
Special proved to be a more powerful —_—_—— 358
and more accurate cartridge. It was
originally loaded with a lead 158
grain round nose bullet. A load with
a lead 158 grain flat nose bullet 058
became known as the 38 Colt Special. nee ee ie
A later load became known as the 38- <«—______——1.550
44. This was a high velocity load
intended for use in heavy ".44" framed
revolvers, similar to modern +P loads.
The 38 Special was extremely popular
as a police service cartridge up to the
1980's when semiautos took over. The 38 Special is
accurate, has reasonable power and is easy to control; Test Components:
making it one of the most successful handgun cartridges COBSES ~ uuceecuah are ers d Beh tee eee ae ee Federal
ever. Tritt Lengths hc 6 fees eee ae eee 1.149"
PELTIGES eee Ee ae tin. caee vel pe ea en eee CCI 500
Loads designated with a +P symbol are higher pressure Pritnier SiZ@nunc'a = oon ola oe ee Small Pistol
loads and must not be used in standard 38 Special Lyman Shell: olden tice.-. taendes.<
9 eee eee No. 1
revolvers unless the firearm manufacturer has suggested Jacketed Bullets Used ........ Speer JHP #4007, 110 gr.
the use of such ammunition in your specific revolver. Hornady JHP #35710, 125 gr.
This caution should not be ignored. Under no circum- Speer JHP #4203, 140 gr.
stance should +P (plus P) ammo be used in revolvers Speer JHP #4205, 146 gr.
with aluminum frames and/or aluminum. cylinders. Hornady JHP #35750, 158 gr.
Standard 38 Special or 38+P loads can be safely fired in Gast Bullets: ised". hoe ee (sized to .358" dia)
357 Magnum handguns. *oas check bullet #356242, 90 gr.
#356242, 120 gr.
Do not use charge weights below the starting load to #358091, 150 gr.
prevent bullets from becoming lodged in the barrel. *#358156, 155 er.
#358665, 158 gr.
For target (mid-range) loads we suggest bullet #358091 #358311, 160 gr.
with the suggested starting grains load. Bullet #358311 #358429, 170 gr.
duplicates the factory lead round nose 158 grain bullet
very closely. Bullet #358429 closely duplicates the fac-
tory 158 grain semi-wadcutter. This is the Elmer Keith Test Specifications:
design bullet and makes an excellent choice for hunt- (Velocity & Pressure)
ing. FireatintWsedics nee
a ee Universal Receiver
Barrel Lengui®.. 2 dds 0 .0<, non eee 4"
Handguns can vary in groove diameter and it is wise to WISE) 4. au eck et ok ne ate oe er 1-183"
slug your barrel before sizing cast bullets. Groove, Dias. v0.3 Ba,s cee ee eee sy
Bullseye and 231 consistently provide the best accura-

cy with all bullets.
110 gr. Jacketed HP
125 gr. Jacketed HP
1.430" OAL
1.470" OAL
Su
Starting Velocity Pressure Sugg
Powder Grains fps GUie: Starting Velocity Pressure
Bullseye 4.0 836 12,200 Clays 3.2 719) 11,800
Bullseye 3.2 568 10,200
700X 4] 13,700
Titegroup 43 837. —-:11,500
700X 2.8 473 8,100
N320 46 742 9,900 Titegroup 4.0 816 12,500
231 5. 12,700
N320 4.6 871 13,800
Unique = 5.8 13,400 AA#2 43 11,800
231 3.9 10,600
Power Pistol 5.7 — 11,300
Unique 4.0 498 8,000
SR-4756 5.8 675 9,100 Power Pistol 5.4 776 12,400
has 65 SR-4756 48 535 7,400

HS-6 5.6 600 9,400
Blue Dot (iS) Blue Dot 7.6 718 ‘11,400
140 gr. Jacketed HP “BC: .152 146 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .159
1.470" OAL SD: .157 1.408" OAL SD: .163
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains CUP. Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
Bullseye 3.5 533 «11,900 Titegroup 3.3 609 12,400
Titegroup 3.4 634 13,900
Zip 4.0 13,700
231 3.9 496 —-12,100 Unique 43 11,200
Unique | 43 537. —«*11,200
SR-7625 42 505 10,800 Power Pistol 47 14,500
N350 5.8 713 ~—«:13,800
HS-6 5.6 526 ‘11,200 Herco 5.0 711 15,100
Blue Dot 72 688 13,600 SR-4756 5.0 13,400
HS-6 6.2 14,800
Blue Dot 6.7 595 12,500
2400 8.9 690 12,900

(+P) Designates higher pressure loads. See introductory copy. 353
38 Special
158 gr. Jacketed HP #356242 BC: .105

1.480" OAL 90 gr. (Linotype) 1.456" OAL SD: .100
Su 85 Su 85
Powder Grains fps GUE Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
Clays 2.8 648 14,500 700X 3.0 675 5,700
Unique 47 645 14,400
Clays 45 1101 10,400 _
AA#5 5.0 674 ‘12,100 Bullseye 333) 765 7,600
Power Pistol 4.3 659 —«:14,800
Red Dot 3.8 830 8,800
SR-4756 49 611 13,800
True Blue 45 609 14,100 231 Be) 689 5,900
N350 Dee 657 14,700
HS-6 52D 572 12,400 Titegroup yi 1006 10,300
Blue Dot 6.0 607 13,500 _
2400 8.4 645 13,500
#356242 BC: .154 #358091

120 gr. (Linotype) 1.450" OAL SD: .134 150 gr. (Linotype) 1.317" OAL
Sugg Sugg
Clays ES 860 10,600 700X 29 854 43/300 —
700X P25) 647 7,600 Bullseye 3.1 837. —-13,100
Titegroup re 854 ~—-13,600
Bullseye 2.8 690 8,600 AA#2 3.1 829 12,700
231 3.7 872 14400
Red Dot 3.3) 749 10,100 Unique yi 820 13,000
Clays 27 843 12,400 |
SR-7625 4.0_ 788 10,600 Red Dot 2.8 839 12,400
Zip 45 969 14,900 N320 a 841 12,100
231 Se OS®) 8,800 Zip 3.5 845. ‘11,500
Unique 4.0 725 9,000

Titegroup 3.8 900 12,700

(+P) Designates higher pressure loads. See introductory copy.
354
NIN eee
OSA Gitt ta.
#358156 BC: .213 #358665

Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains p C.U.P. Powder Grains p CUP:
Bullseye 28 638 | 10,000 Clavsrue 2.6
Titegroup
PBs oO 584 8,700 Bullseye
231 SH) 11,100 231
Unique
AAS 5.0 13,300 Universal
‘Unique 3.4 8,900 True Blue
AA#5
Universal 43 12,600 N350
SR-4756
TrueBlue 4.3 13,300 Blue Dot —
N350 4.5 12,100
SR-4756 4.2 ) 9,500
HS-6 4.4 8,000
Blue 6.0 10,400
2400 is) 11,500
#358311 BC: .228 #358429 BC: .286

160 gr. (Linotype) 1.550" OAL SD: .178 170 gr. (Linotype) 1.537" OAL SD: .189
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains 0 CUR Powder Grains p C.U.P.
Clays ay 776 Clays 23 722 11,500
Bullseye Sy 796 Bullseye 2.8 781 13,600
Titegroup er ee ei
Titegroup ED Uke 231 3.0 599 9,300
os aes 3.5 675 Unique ay 761. 12,200
SR-7625 621 9,700
Unique 4.2 AA#5 755. 11,500
SR-4756 645 ‘10,000
True Blue 4.3 HS-6 5.0 11,000
SR-4756 4.2 Blue Dot 6.0 12,700
N350 4.9 Universal 4.0 12,500
AA#5 ey
SG 45 True Blue 44 14,100
Blue Dot 6.3 N350 48 12,700

(+P) Designates higher pressure loads. See introductory copy. 355
357 Magnum —
When introduced in 1935 by Smith
and Wesson, the 357 Magnum was
the first true high-performance hand-
gun cartridge. To handle the pres-
sures of this new cartridge, the fine
Smith and Wesson 357 revolver was
carefully hand assembled and fitted.
Unfortunately, the soft lead bullets
used at the time were not up to han-
dling the performance of the cartridge
and caused heavy leading after a few
shots were fired. Reloaders at the
time found hard cast bullets to be the
answer. Later, when high-quality
jacket bullets became available, the
357 Mag reached its true potential.
Never use 357 Magnum Loads in 38

Special cases as very dangerous pressure will result.
Handguns can vary in groove diameter and it is wise to
slug your barrel before sizing cast bullets. Test Components:
Co ee a ge 3: a ae eS. Federal
In order to maintain a maximum overall cartridge length Trimtsto: Length. 7.250 Wo) ea ere ce eee 1.280"
of 1.590”, it is sometimes necessary to crimp cast bul- PICIS We amen srk cys 5 LE ths eNen SO era erasCCI 550
lets on the forward edge of the first driving band. PRINCI SIZER OR retrace thn teeta Small Pistol, Magnum
Lyman. Shell Holler sors «0.0 cam uncneye etn ere No.1
Jacketed Bullets Used ........ Speer JHP #4007, 110 gr.
Bullet #358156 is extremely popular for heavy loads.
Bullet #358429 closely duplicates the factory 158 grain Hornady JHP #35710, 125 gr.
semi-wadcutter. This is the Elmer Keith design bullet
Winchester Silvertip #357ST145, 145 gr.
and makes an excellent choice for hunting.
For light loads Bullseye works best. Heavy loads work
well with a wide range of powders but you might want
to try 2400 for your first accuracy tests. Cast Bulletsiised™ (3s... 025s ae (sized to .357" dia)
*eas check bullet #356242, 90 gr.
#356242, 120 gr.
#356402, 120 er.
#358477, 150 gr.
+FDO DO a oer
#358311, 160 gr.
#358429, 170 er.
Firearm Used
Barrel’Lengih estas striie one ee 4"
TWISE sw ace no eae ee ee 1-183/4"
Groove Dia. de Ai eich
ee 50s
110 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .122 125 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .151
1.590" OAL SD: 123 1.590" OAL SD: .140
Sugg Max Sugg Max
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains C.U.P, Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains fps —_ C.U.P,
Bullseye 7.0 1030 20,500 9.7 1471 40,300 Bullseye 6.5 864 21,000 8.6 1315 38,400
231 89 1142 «29,300 asain ne Unique 7.0 990 18,900 ‘Sev 1359 41,600
Unique 74 1052 17,300 10.0 1392 36,400 AA#5 10.6 1223 31,100 11.8 1471 =39,300
True Blue 10.3 1347 34,600 ies 1474 44,400 Power Pistol 9.0 1238 32,100 10.0 1479 38,600 Ls OS
Pa
N
Blue Dot 10.0 930 12,400 14.6 1545 . 39,400 N340 8.1 1147 31,800 9.0 1366 40,800 3@
2400 13.5 1045 17,400 203 156i 39,100 True Blue 9.4 1263 37,500 10.5 1370 44,100
HS-7 10/9 1098 21,400 14.4 1403 =39,200
5
N110 17.8 1568 33,900 19.8 1693 = 41,300
IMR-4227 14.8 1100 20,700: 19.5+ 1383. 30,100 Blue Dot 10.4 1113 20,000 13.3. 21402 36,700 —oe
2400 13.0 1159 24,900 17.7. 1478 40,600 so beh
pr
bas
i
ae
i
N110 14.5 ia7 26,000 17St 13 71. 3 338,500

H110 21.0 1357 33,500 22.0+ 1506 42,600
IMR-4227 15.6 1232 31,200 19.5+ 1427 37,400
140 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .152 145 gr. Jacketed Silvertip

1.590" OAL SD: .157 1.575" OAL
Sugg Max ; Sugg Max
Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains C.U.P. Powder Grains fps CUP Grains
Bullseye Def: 705 20,300 8.0 TIVO=— 397200) Unique 6.9 1139 31,600 Va 1263 42,900
Unique 7.0 949 20,800 8.9 1233 40,000 True Blue 8.7 1236 31,800 97. AB53: 43,300
AA#5 9.4 1035 30,600 10.5 1218 36,000 Blue Dot 9.9 1142 = 29,200 TT 1352 41,400
HS-6 8.4 1076 30,200 9.5 1257-37500 AA#7 10.9 1210 30,200 12.3 1382 — 41,100
Blue Dot 2 917 17,900 iN) 12725 535,200 2400 irene) 1240 34,200 1525: 1398 41,800
2400 12.5 1047 26,500 16.5 1343 40,300 N110 14.8 1309 34,300 16.5 1434 44,800
N110 15.3 1258 32,200 7A 1505 = 39,900 H110 16.4 1279: 37,800 17.0 1352 40,400
H110 17.3 1287 31,600 18.0 1324 35,700 IMR-4227 15.0 1249 37,100 PAPUA Ok alo alvelova 43,300
IMR-4227 15.0 1106 28,800 178 372 Aw
146 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .159 158 gr. jacketed HP

1.590" OAL SD: .163 1.590" OAL
Sugg Max Sugg Max

Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains U.P. Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains CU:
Bullseye 5.7 759 23,300 Zed 1077 39,900 Unique 6.4 887 18,900 83 1185 38,300
Unique 6.3 928 25,900 8.1 1200 = 41,100
TrueBlue 8.1 1164 35,700 SUI t262 2 400)
N340 7.6 1066 34,600 85 1212 45,000 Blue Dot 9.6 929 27,600 FOZ eyi5s ) 39/00
AA#H5 9.5 1034 32,100 10.6 +~—-1208~—-38,500 AA#7 10.2 1005 31,200 Seatac
Blue Dot 9.0 943 21,300 deo) W27aeu 3,700
Enforcer 12.7. 1148 27,800 es aioe
AA#7 10.8 1027 26,400 12.0 13370) 41,700
N110 1.5 851 21,800 |140 1139 38,200
2400 11.0 895 20,800 15.1 1242 39,100 2400 11.3 938 20,700 +149 1279 41,800
N110 14.5 1075 27,700 16.2 1358 37,200 AAHS 13.4 1158 32,900 | 149 1357 42,900
H110 16.3 1336 36,000 17.0 1380 41,900
H-110 16.3 1178 31,700 17.0 +~—-1309 = 38,400
IMR-4227 14.5 1045 29,500 16.0 1196 =.36,000_-
IMR-4227 12.2 944 21,500 16.1 1249 41,400

180 gr. jacketed HP #356242 BC: .105
1.585" OAL 90 gr. (Linotype) 1.585" OAL SD: .101
Sugg Sugg I
Powder Grains fps CUP: Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
Blue Dot
Bullseye
20,700 \

IMR-4227
#356242 BC: .154 #356402

Sugg Su gs ‘
Starting Velocity Pressure Starting Velocity Pressure —

Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Powder ——Grains__fps C.U.P.
Unique ; 7 __15,800
19,600 Power Pistol

Power Pistol HS-6
Blue Dot
2400
25,700
#358477 #358156
150 gr. (Linotype) 1.510" OAL 155 gr. (Linotype) 1.590" OAL SD: .174
Su 8s Sugg Sus
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Powder Grains. C.U.P.
Bullseye 46 V7 AyS00 Bullseye 4.8 828 ~—-18,000
Herco 6.2 WYP 17,700 Herco 5.0 785 16,300
Blue Dot 8.2 950 ‘13,000 HS-6 8.8 1069 —- 29,100
HS-6 9.0 1103 32,600 Blue Dot 8.5 975. 21,500
AA#7 10.8 1068 25,300 AAH7 ‘10.8 893 28,300
AA#9 12.1 1096 ~—-31,100 Enforcer 12.4 1073 28,400
2400 11.0 998 —- 17,900 AAHS 150. 998 29,500
N110 13.2 1152 32,400 2400 10.6 999 24,900
H110 16.3 1245 31,300 NINO -= 120 1074—_ 97 400
IMR-4227. 11.8 1044 —-21,700 H110 15.0 1310 35,800
IMR-4227, 114 + 973 ~—-24,100

#358311 #358429
160 gr. (Linotype) 1.590" OAL 170 gr. (Linotype) 1.553" OAL
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Powder Grains fps CUP:
Bullseye 49 821 17,500 Bullseye 41 813 16,500
Herco 6.3 963 18,700 Herco 5.6 885 17,900
Pees 1046 32,600 Blue Dot 8.3 970 18,400
BlueDot 8.2 888 11,600 Enforcer 11.9 1153 32,800
AA#7 10.2 1004 ~—-27,400 AA#9 11:7 1028 33,800
AA#S 12.3 28,700 2400 OM 879 15,900
2400 11.4 20,200 N110 123 1053 33,700
N110 12.6 26,400 H110 14.4 M72 33,500
H110 15.8 34,500 IMR-4227 9.8 835 ~ 14,100
IMR-4227 11.8 19,600

The 9mm Makarov was a standard
caliber for Russian military handguns.
Adopted shortly after World War II, it
is also in use by other former Soviet
Bloc countries. The 9mm Makarov
was seldom seen in the United States
until the early '90s when there was an
influx of surplus arms imported after
the breakup of the USSR. The
Makarov offers a very similar perform-
ance to the 380 Auto.
While called a 9mm this cartridge

actually uses a .363 inch (9.2mm)
diameter bullet. As such, finding suit-
able buliets used to take some look-
ing. Recently, however a number of
suitable bullets have come onto the
market. The jacketed bullets used were obtained from
Schroeder Bullets, 1421 Thermal Ave., San Diego, CA.,
92154. Other bullet makers, such as Sierra and
Hornady, have introduced bullets as more handguns
have become available. 970" OAL SD: .097
Cases were obtained from Starline, 1300 W. Henry St., Su 88 Ma
Sedalia, MO., 65301, for our test work. Cases can also Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
be formed from 9mm Luger brass trimmed to the prop- Bullseye
er length and fireformed. The volume of these cases is
often less, however so approach maximum loads with
caution.
231 and 7O00OX gave us our most uniform results

throughout our testing.
Test Components: 95 gr. FM]

(CESES assheen Ate ie Ce PER A Seen on oe Starline
970" OAL SD: .103
MriteeUO epOLE) era eenare Sans 4 Anh eee eae ees er"
TaUNQEES Be eee cis as oa eee a Remington 11/2 Sugg
PVC I Cras hae a saa cc co ee nee Small Pistol Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
Lyman Shell Holdernas, «ce sxc a heme mrae No. 12 Bullseye 22 587 —
Jacketed Bullets Used ............ Schroeder JHP, 90 gr. AA#2 24 670 —_
Schroeder FMJ, 95 gr. 231 25 613 —
Schroeder JHP, 100 gr. 700X 23} 616 o
AA#5 3.8 574 —
Unique 32 672 —
(Velocity Only)
FirearniaWSeciee cease
ee cee eee East German PM
Barrel Lemeth > sc... <igut.s.0..epace
4caeese 361 100 gr. Jacketed HP
sIWiISTAR eer eees cate oe aR Ee: 6 ee 1-19" 970" OAL
GIOOVE Dias ws...on. 8 8 eee La eee ee 366" Sugg
Starting Velocity Pressur
Bullseye 2.0 573 =
AA#2 DP 540 a
231 Jes) 542 —
700X Dat 501 _—
AA#5 3.6 616 —
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. Unique 3.0 639 an
The 38-40 was introduced by
Winchester in 1874, making it one of
the oldest cartridges still in common
use today. The 38-40 case is based on
the 44-40 necked down to 40 caliber.
It is also known as the 38 WCF. The
38-40 was first offered in the
Winchester 1873 rifle. Later, Colt,
Remington and Marlin also cham-
bered rifles for it. The 38-40 is most
often encountered chambered in the
Colt SAA revolver. Recently, Cowboy
Action matches have renewed interest
in this cartridge. 1.074
1.305
This is a very old cartridge and care ilpskey
should be taken not to use the data
listed in any handgun which has dete-
riorated. Additionally this data should not be used in
conjunction with any firearm designed for black pow-
der cartridges.
#401043
Individual tolerances vary greatly in firearms cham-
175 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.575" OAL
bered for this cartridge even among the same make and
model. Therefore exercise extreme caution when devel- Su 8s
oping loads as you work up from the suggested starting Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
grains listing. Clays 4.6 723 9,400
Trail Boss 5.2 823 10,600
Never load old brass as it may be of the weaker balloon Bullseye 4.9 706 9,700
head types or have been fired at one time with corrosive Nitro 100 4.4 803 —-11,600
primers. AA#2 IMP 4.6 697 9,200
Titegroup 50) 685 9,000
38-40 brass is very thin. Crimps should be applied care- 700X 5.0 806 —-10,700
fully to avoid crushing cases. N320 5.6 817 10,800
Unique) 07.7 815 9,700
True Blue 8.3 825 11,500
XMP 5744 ~—-14.0 VE 10,800
Test Components:
(OS ee | ee a ee Starline
Maree ISU ce ria ee ee ea g FE a we AO 1 1.300"
OOUUSPEnUS Os Pe eG oe 2 CCI 300
RIP OMPE IG e s cone tn « Wei inle.sae Large Pistol
Pyrat Ne IOIDEL 8 wiv veiwlew a ete ns ts No. 14B
fech Duets USedeswes . co...
2 cade (sized to .401" dia)
#401043, 175 gr.
En@stina WRS6) g Sadak 6 Ee ee oe Universal Receiver
eC AGAI VO RT A en eae a 72"
VG) sane 0 oa Re ee er 1-20"
(GiGSVelDIR, ox de node Gets Sep Sob Oo en eterna 400"

40 Smith & V
Over its relatively short lifetime, the
40 S&W has quickly become a very
popular cartridge for both law 085 423
enforcement departments and civil- 424 |
ians. Introduced in 1990, it was the |
result of the combined effort of Smith |
& Wesson and Winchester to produce
4005
a 40 caliber cartridge that would have 424 347
the energy of a 45 ACP cartridge,
while fitting into a 9mm frame semi-
automatic. The earlier 10mm Auto
cartridge had some interest from the Bue
law enforcement community, howev- .850
er, many considered it to be overpow- 1.135
ered and the pistols to be too bulky for
police use. The 40 S&W is basically a
lightly loaded 10mm Auto with a
shorter case, offering greater maga-
zine capacity than the 45 ACP and similar power.
Accuracy in most handguns is very good, especially

with Bullseye, Winchester 231 and Accurate Arms No. 135 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .093
5: 1.085" OAL SD: .121
This cartridge headspaces from the mouth and therefore Sugg Fas
case trimming must be uniform and accurate. Do not Starting Velocity Pressure
reduce cases below the trim-to length. Additionally do Powder Grains fps_——_—C.U.P.
not roll crimp bullets as this will prevent the case from Bullseye 22 Less hie
AA#2 5.0 1014 19,300
properly headspacing on its mouth. A modest taper
231 55 1005 —-17,800
crimp may be employed if found necessary.
Zip 57 981 17,000
It is important not to seat bullets to a shorter length
N330 6.1 955. ——-16,000
than listed in any handgun cartridge; but especially so Unique 5.8 1025 18,500
in this one. Pressures can be raised dramatically with AA#S io 1026 17,500
deep seating. : : Power Pistol 7.3 1027 19,200
Warning: Only use this data in handguns that fully N340 63 1020 19.300
support the cartridge in the chamber. If used in unsup- HS-6 80 1022 17,600
ported chambers, cases can rupture and cause harm to BlueDot 9.0. +1058 ‘19,500
the shooter or bystanders.
Test Components:
ASCs ete mI Eeelois, Jen dehatie Sry ee Winchester : '
ISeCOMMe NOUN etal A. kon © 2c ceee eee 845"
TANT RUSEL Sy 0S ener arr an Winchester WSP Ve Bf Jacketed HP BC: 130
Riginietwol terete ay <b 5,0 as ae eee eee Small Pistol 1.100" OAL SD: .134
Eyinan Stell HOMEY ce.22 2 2. ecucs alee eee ee No. 15 Sugg
Jacketed Bullets Used ...... Nosler JHP #44838, 135 gr. Starting Velocity Pressure
: Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
Winchester Silvertip p #SHP40, G 155 BI.gr. Eee
Bullseye =49 So
740 18,200
Speer TM) #4410, 165 gr.
175 gr.
Winchester Silvertip #SHP10, an 5.0 799__17,900
Zip 511 928 —-17,200
:
Sierra FP} #8480, 190 er. Na ses ed
Gasebitlete Used) .Gvcacs.
4c eee (sized to .401" dia) = 6.9 998 18.00
#401654, 150 gr. WST 5.5 968 19,100
#401043, 175 gr. Power Pistol 6.7 954 19,000
#401638, 175 gr. N340 5.7 922 18,800
; : 3N37 6.7 16,700
Test Specifications: TrueBlue 6.9 «998 -~—«*18,800
(Velocity & Pressure) HS-6 7.6 17,100
PITACEL) SEAN oa oer as ths bay an aeeee Universal Receiver 800X 6.9 999 18,500
BAROLO gose0 0 9 3:5 nsx or asen Gnenee 4" Blue Dot 8.6 999 18,800
SWISH ree Bos crctain eis5)cs olantadl ook ene eee 1-16"
GiOOVE Da tea od don ie ie ee ee 401"
36
155 gr. Jacketed Silvertip BC: 166 165 gr. TMJ BC: 135
1.125" OAL SD: .138 1.120" OAL SD: .147
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains C.U.P. Powder Grains fps (AUN
Bullseye 5.1 771 19,500 Bullseye 4.8 (33 19,200
135 5.3 877 18,000 231 5.2 937 19,300
Unique 5.8 18,300 Unique 5.4 952 19,300
AA#5 Feil 18,400 AA#S 6.9 934 18,400
Power Pistol 7.0 20,400 Power Pistol 6.3 855 _—-17,900
N340 5.5 893 19,800 N340 By) 873 18,700
N350 63. 867 ‘16,000 N350 60 —— 858 15,800
3N37 67 15,800 3N37 6.6 883 16,700
True Blue 6.9 : 18,300 True Blue (sere 938‘ 18,800
HS-6 7.6 18,900 HS-6 7.6 833 17,400
800X Jie 19,800 800X Biante 891 19,700
Blue Dot 8.2 18,800 Blue Dot 8.3 922 19,900
175 gr. Jacketed Silvertip BC: .142 180 gr. Jacketed HP

1.125" OAL *
SD: .156 1.115" OAL
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains Cup Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
Bullseye = 4.7 j 20,000 Clays 34 551 17,900
WST 5A 19,800 Bullseye 4.9 628 18,200
231 5a 864 19,900 231 5.0 O27 20,400
Universal 49 889 19,400 Universal 48 815. 18,500
Unique Res 19,500 Unique 49 839 18,800
Power Pistol 6.0 18,900 Power Pistol 6.0 876 19,300
N340 54 20,600 N340 5.4 904 20,800
WSF 5.8 20,700 WSF 5.0 853 —«+17,700
N350 57 19,300 N350 5.4 847. —-17,200
3N37 6.0 17,700 3N37 6.1 916 ‘19,100
True Blue — 6.6 19,200 True Blue 6.4 955 19,300
HS-6 6.9 18,000 HS-6 6.9 860 19,600
800X 6.8 20,200 800X 5.9 906 ~—-18,700
Blue Dot 7.9 19,500 Blue Dot 7.3 754 «18,000

190 gr. Jacketed FP BC: .190 #401654
L135 OAL SD: .170 150 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.090" OAL SD: .133
Sugg Sugg
Bullseye 520 16,200 Bullseye 5.0 1056 =:18,600
231 540 16,800 231 DD) 1079 19,000
Universal : 730 14,600 AA#2 5.0 1041 18,600
Unique 45 535 ~~ 15,900 N340 Seo) Dili 17,800
Power Pistol 5.9 720 ~~ 19,900 Zips 5.0 934 16,100
AA#HS 55 545 16,000 Silhouette 6.8 1000 18,200
N340 5.0 773 18,900 Unique 5.0 980 16,200
WSF 49 530: 16,100 Power Pistol 6.3 971 18,700
N350- SA 837: 18,100 AAH5 6.3 969 16,200 _
3N37 6.0 17,000 N330 5.1 927 15,600
HS-6 6.4 16,200 HS-6 75 1038 18,000
800X Se 17,200 800X 6.8 1085 19,800
Blue Dot 6.7 567 _—:16,800 Blue Dot 8.3 1033. 18,400
Enforcer 10.4 845 16,400
#401043 | #401638 BC: .088

Su es vA Su es PoMax oe
Bullseye 4.2 665 17,100 Clays 3.3 641. —«*17,800
231 43 15,400 Bullseye 4.0» 654 ~—-16,900
Universal 48 15,300 231 43) 706 416 (00
Unique 48 ~ 15,900 Universal 47 871 17,400
Power Pistol 5.9 18,900 Unique 47 898 18,600
AAHS 6.1 19,300 Power Pistol 5.8 873 18,900
N340 5.2 18,700 AA#5 6.0 844 ~—-:18,600
N350 5.6 14,600 N340 4.8 873 ‘18,800
3N37 6.0 913 —-16,800 N350 5.4 929 18,200
True Blue 6.3 957 18,100 Silhouette 6.1 955 18,800
HS-6 7.0 940 ~—*'17,000 3N37 5 18,000
800X 5.6 853. 16,500 True Blue 6.3 960 19,900
Blue Dot 7B 17,900 HS-6 : = 0) 18,600
800X 5.8 878 17,000
Blue Dot 6.9 18,100

The 10mm Auto was developed in
1983 by Norma for use in the
Dornaus & Dixon Bren Ten pistol.
The advertised muzzle velocity for a
200 grain bullet was 1200 FPS. The
original intent of the cartridge was for
it to be a superior combat handgun
round, and it certainly is if the shoot-
er can handle the recoil. The FBI
became interested in the cartridge.
However, after some study, they
requested a slightly reduced load.
Ultimately this led to the develop-
ment of the 40 S & W cartridge, which
has completely taken over the 40 cal- 992
iber handgun market. 1.260
The 10mm Auto cartridge headspaces

on the mouth and therefore case trimming must be uni-
form and accurate. Do not reduce cases below the rec- Test Specifications:
ommended trim-to length. Additionally do not roll (Velocity & Pressure)
crimp bullets as this will prevent the case from proper- Fireettieldsed cnc. su eater areacatiten Universal Receiver
ly headspacing on its mouth. A modest taper crimp is Barrels Length oa semis ae etles enters anton ale oan SF
also suggested. AINVISLREaS choeer etre en Mert re orres ed Ce en ee ee 1-16"
GiOOVE Diarra pair eee 400"
It is important not to seat bullets to a shorter length than
listed in any handgun cartridge; but especially so in this
one. Pressures can be raised dramatically with deep
seating. i
Winchester 231 frequently provided the best accuracy

though not the highest velocities when used in this car-
tridge.
For full power loads, we suggest trying Alliant Power

Pistol or Accurate #9 powder *135 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .093
1.225" OAL SD: .121
Sugg
Powder Grains CUP.
Titegroup
Bullseye 23,300
Test Components: Red Det 17,100
2 Si get ieNe ad seme) aaa Winchester, Norma Unique
OCHS e lasce se penne reeae ceed 982" 19,800
eect gy aos ES pumicds and CCI 300
RIE CM rai atte re cena. i. cecsieno ree Large Pistol
DIA SNCIPEIOIIER 4 rc 5.0.0 stay emis ales, «PsNo. 15 19,900
Jacketed Bullets Used ...... Nosler JHP #44838, 135 gr.
Winchester Silvertip #SHP40, 155 gr.
Speer TM) #4410, 165 gr.
Winchester Silvertip #SHP10, 175 gr.
Sierra FP) #8480, 190 gr.
Gace Bullets Used .iiea.os 5.26% abe (sized to .401" dia)
#401654, 150 gr.
#401043, 175 gr.
#401638, 175 gr.
*Designates the use of Norma cases.
10mm Automatic
*150 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .130 155 gr. Jacketed Silvertip

1.250" OAL SD: .134 1.250" OAL
Sugg Max Sugg
Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains _fps C.U.P. Powder Grains fps C.U.P. ral ps
Titegroup 5.6 1134 =.24,500 6.3 1209 28,600 Titegroup BA 1081 24,100 (oA orn OO
Bullseye 5.5 1049 20,900 7.0 1263. 28,500 231 6.5 1105. 25,500 (ee ee
Red Dot 47 864 19,300 65 ~ 1243 28,800 Zip 6.3 1067 23,500 Gy teh ea
Unique 6.5 994 21,800 8.1 1265 29/500 Universal 6.5 973 14,200 Testes NSS)
700X 5.0 937 20,700 68 1282 30,000 Unique 6.7 1085 22,000 P55
(20K:
800X 7.0 1029 20,200 9.0 1301 28,900 N340 6.8 tne 8 8=
231 57 1053 20,700 75 1292 29,800 WSF 72 1061 20,100 Pe
] Zip 6.4 1122 24,300 Ho AP 28 00 Power Pistol 8.0 1140 23,500 (ieee tent S
N340 6.8 1105 20,300 76 1231 ~ 29,100 True Blue 8.3 1106. 22,900 Beate
, ® HS-6 8.3 959 ~—«-17,900 99 1278 27,200 800X 8.8 1221 25,500 O8 1315 28.000
2] - AA#5 7.0 986 —-18,100 9.0 1278 29,800 HS-6 9.5 1139 23,700 OG is08 a
== AA#7 11.2 1183 23,000 [Ai eet
Ss BlueDot «9.7 1158-23500 108 ~—«*1303~—~29, 00
~eéE AA#9 14.0 1240 22,300 15.5 1343 27,900
i's =
e-
165 gr. TMJ BC: .135 175 gr. Jacketed Silvertip BC: .142
1.250" OAL SD: .147 1.250" OAL aE UAE
Sugg Sugg
Starting Velocity Pressure yee Velocity Pressure Starting Velocity Pressure a Velocity Pree
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains _fps C.U.P. Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains CUR”
Titegroup 5.6 1072 24,000 63 1160 28,800 Titegroup 5.3 1033 25,300 5.9 1130 29,100.
231 6.3 1045 22,500 7.1 1182 28,600 231 5.9 1004 23,500 6.6 1109 28,900
Zip 6.2 1038 22,400 69 AISI -28/200 Universal 5.8 930 18800 65 1065 26,900
Universal 6.3 963 ~—-14,500 Tal 1118 = 23,700 Unique 6.3 1011. +=-23,600 = 7.0 1107. 28,300.
Unique 6.5 1012 18,800 PNT a 300 N340 6.1 997 —-23,300 6.8 1096 28,800.
N340 6.5 1004 ~—-17,900 Pee ee WSF 6.4 984 22,900 7.2 1129 28,800
WSF 69 1057 21,700 (eau once Power Pistol 7.2 1076 24,100 81 1199 29,700
Power Pistol 7.8 1157. ~—-23,000 8.7 1265 29,000 3N37 72 968 20,800 8.0 1128 28,600
True Blue 8.2 1106 = 23,500 Oo 1199 28,200 True Blue Taf. 1053 = 24,200 8.6 1162 28,200
800X 8.3 1133 21,600 93 1266 28,900 800X 8.1 1086 24,900 90 1209 29,000
HS-6 9.3 1098 21,500 10,4. 981235 28,300" HS-6 8.6 1050 22,200 96 1186 29,300
AAHZ7 10.3 1035 18,300 1.5 1174-25000 AA#7 10.2 1079 22,600 11.4 1201 28,600
Blue Dot 9.1 1087 20,900 [102 1230-= 27 400 Blue Dot 8.7 1048 -21,400- EARS ete tees soa)
AA#9 135 1183 20,900 15.0 1318 29,100 AA#9 12.5 1088 «22,900 aa taieee a7 Onn.
*180 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .170

1.250" OAL SD: .161
Su Max
Starting Velocity Pressure coe Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. C.U.P.
700X 45 892 17,300 58 1053 28,800
Bullseye be 998 21,000 6.5 1088 29,300
231 5.9 1037 26,300 66 1125 28,700
Unique 5.8 1018 21,800 6.7 1064 28,100_
Universal 55) 989 22,600 6.2 1100 29,200
3N37__ 7A 990 20,700 7.9 +1120 _—*27,800
Power Pistol 7.2 1107 24,800 += 8.0 ~—-1209 -—-28,900
800X 68 831 20,300 ~~ 84 _—*1073_—28,000
HS-6 8.1. 1057 21,000 Oat ee aan 700
Mareen isigBORA 18,000 115 1087 28,300 Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum.
Shue Dol eC TIT 108 4133 30,000 Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate load.
366 = =e ESS = aa *Designates the use of Norma cases.
10mm Automatic
*190 gr. Jacketed FP BC: .190 *200 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .199
1.250" OAL SD: .170 1.250" OAL SD: .179
Sugg Max Sugg Max
Powder Grains fps CUP: Grains __ fps C.U.P. Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains _ fps C.U.P.
Clays 43 878 22,900 5.6 1071 29,800 700X 4.4 936 19,900 5.8 1080 =—_.29,500
700X 4.8 951 20,300 5.8 1086 29,800 Bullseye 4.8 910 20,400 5 yf 1059 =.26,500
Bullseye 4,7 879 18,400 6.1 1088 28,200 231 5.6 984 24,600 6.3 1067 =28,400
231 5.8 980 22,900 6.5 1075 29,000 Unique 4.8 836 17,700 6.1 1071 29,000
Unique 55 896 19,200 6.5 1001 27,600 Universal 5.1 949 24,000 She 1031 28,100
Universal 5.4 936 23,400 6.1 1041 29,300 3N37 6.4 924 21,000 72 1041 27,600
3N37 6.9 936 19,300 7.7 1079 28,100 Power Pistol 6.3 1000 22,700 fe 1092 28,200
Power Pistol 7.0 1060 25,000 7.8 1168 28,800 800X 8) 963 22,600 76 1119 29,200
True Blue e2 979 21,400 8.1 1100 27,900 HS-6 Tes, 987 22,600 8.6 1126 29,500
800X 6.4 987 22,200 8.5 1189 29,300 AA#7 9.0 987 — 19,900 10.6 1145 28,200
HS-6 EOL 744 20,700 322 1037 30,000 Blue Dot 8.0 1015 22,900 9.6 1148 29,900
AA#7 9:0 932 20,600 10.5 1106 28,000
Blue Dot 8.3 968 19,200 oS 1175 28,600
unspue
br-0r
19qQ
*#401654 *#401043
Sugg Max Sugg Max
Powder Grains fps CUE Grains _ fps C.U.P. Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains _ fps C.U.P.
Titegroup aif 1152 25,200 6.4 1240 28,600 Titegroup 5 1103 24,200 5.9 1186 28,300
700X 5.5 1167 24,000 6.5 1310 30,000 700X ay 1102 24,700 5.8 1170 28,200
Red Dot 5.5 1144 21,800 6.5 1300. =—.29,700 Red Dot AS) 1087 24,500 6.2 1194 29,300
Bullseye 6.2 1205 24,600 Leo 1336 29,000 Bullseye 58) 1069 22,200 6.5 1199 =.28,300
Zip 6.3 1141 23,600 7.0 1227 28,300 231 5.5 1023 20,300 6.7 1189 =—28,800
231 6.5 1206 23,800 74 1320 28,500 Universal 5.5 1032 20,100 6.2 1145 27,600
Unique 6.3 1133 20,300 7.5 1323 29,000 Unique 6.1 1097 23,300 7.0 1224 28,800
N340 6.7 1124 22,000 7s 1233 28,800 N340 6.4 1127 24,200 7.2 1214 = 28,300
AA#5 8.0 1205 21,000 9.0 1343 28,900 AA#5 7.0 1038 18,100 8.2 1236 28,400
800X 8.4 1265 23,700 9.4 1381 28,600 Power Pistol 7.4 1155 23,300 8.3 1265 28,400
Blue Dot SET 1218 23,600 11.0 1369 29,400 800X 7.0 1090 20,300 8.2 1242 27,600
True Blue Tell. 1117 24,000 8.6 1202 28,200
HS-6 8.0 1071 20,300 9.4 1236 29,000
Blue Dot 9.0 1100 21,100 10.4 1245 28,100
*#401638
175 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.253" OAL
Sugg Max
Powder Grains fps CUP. Grains _ fps C.U.P.
Titegroup 5.1 1072 25,400 si 1146 28,700
Red Dot 5.4 1113 23,900 6.0 1152 28,700
Bullseye 5) 1115 23,500 6.4 1197 28,400
WS oye) 1115 24,000 6.5 1181 29,400
Universal 5.5 1058 23,600 6.1 1138 28,900
Unique 6.1 1104 22,900 6.8 1180 28,900
WSF 6.2 1094 22,800 1.0 1176 28,600
N340 6.3 1052 21,700 Al 1190 29,100
AA#5 LED 1138 24,000 7.6 1196 28,700
Power Pistol 73 Hise 23,300 8.2 1239 28,100
800X _ 7d. 1092 23,300 8.6 1269 28,300
True Blue US 1119 24,100 8.6 1205 28,700
Blue Dot 9.3 1175 23,800 10.4 R275 29,900 Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate load.
*Designates the use of Norma cases.
367
41 Remingtor
——
Remington and Smith & Wesson

introduced the 41 Magnum in the
Model 57 revolver in 1964. The orig-
inal factory ammunition was offered
in two performance levels. The first
was a full power load with a 210 grain
jacketed soft point bullet, and the sec-
ond was a 210 grain lead semi-wad-
cutter "police" load. The police mar-
ket never really developed for the car-
tridge however. The civilian market
was better but never very large.
Handgun hunting is the area that is
given the 41 Magnum its largest fol-
lowing. Hunters found it to be as
effective as the 44 Magnum with a
slightly flatter trajectory.
Those reloading for the 41 Magnum have a decent, if

not extensive, selection of bullets to choose from.
Alliant’s 2400 and AA#9 produced the best results in
our testing. A heavy roll crimp should be used with 200 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .113
these powders. This data can be used in the T/C 1.590" OAL SD: .170
Contender. Su 8S eS
Unique 8.5 979 29,200
Test Components: Blue Dot Wiha 28,300
CERES ain,Marnie ker aeae 2ae a hi ph ee Ete Winchester AA#9 29,300
LainiePolKesar ay eens ee ee ee ee aes 1.280"
Ri els Peis sea So sins See Or Winchester WLP
TROLS Pas VAe cs caer, ee I ee i Large Pistol IMR-4227
LVnnAoelm lOldetta 22 S454 key teen aes No. 30 296 24,100
Jacketed Bullets Used ........ Sierra JHC #8500, 170 gr.
Speer JSP #4417, 220 gr.
eons
210 gr. jacketed HP BC: 182

Test Specifications: 1.585" OAL SD: 178
Su es
Fimeeiian WESC) naaoadenengSadsesonnd Universal Receiver Starting Velocity Pressure
Ba CeeNet ilid atrrctay katasehca voit etncraves coer We tales here 4" Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
UIVISE oh 5.5% See Oo cg te aM cmt Eo nth pate a1-183/4"
CiOOVEAD aimee eee Woe rien eae cee tet oan teed rge te ta 409" Blue Dot 25,900
26,500
IMR-4227 —
170 gr. jacketed HC
1.580" OAL SD: .144
Sugg
Unique
N350 24,700 220 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .137
True Blue 28,700
1.590" OAL SD: .178
Blue Dot — Sugg
Unique AS 924 30,100
Blue Dot 10.8
IMR-4227 31,300
AA#9

368 Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate load. IMR-4227
Pye 44-40 Winchester was_ intro-
duced in 1873 along with the
Winchester 1873 lever action rifle.
This was a great year for American
cartridge design as the 45-70 and the
45 Colt were also introduced. The
44-40 (also known as the 44 WCF)
soon became available in the Colt
SAA revolver and quickly became a
frontier favorite for its ability to be
used in either a rifle or revolver. A
number of other well-known firearms
such as the Colt Lightning and the
Winchester 92 also became available
for it. Through the years, as other cal-
ibers were introduced, the popularity
of the 44-40 began to diminish.
Recently, however the sport. of
Cowboy Action Shooting has breathed new life into this
old round, and once again a variety of rifles/revolvers
are available for it.
This is a very old cartridge and care should be taken not

poz OAL SD: .155
to use the data listed in any handgun which has deteri-
orated. Additionally this data should not be used in con- Sugg i ne ee a
Starting Velocity Pressure Loa
junction with any firearm designed for black powder Powder Grains fps C.U.P. — Grai
cartridges. Nitro 100 5.1 Too 11,100
700X Bal 743 10,800
Individual tolerances vary greatly in firearms cham- Bullseye Be? 747 11,100
bered for this cartridge, even among the same make and Titegroup 5.4 713 11,000
model. Therefore exercise extreme caution when devel- Zip 6.9 C91 AA 000
oping loads as you work up from the suggested starting Unique 7.6 809 11,000
grains listing. N340 — 8.4 Si7 co
True Blue 8.1 808 11,000
Never load old brass as it may be of the weaker balloon SR-4756 8.6 746 11,100
head type or have been fired at one time with corrosive 2400 14.4 790 11,300
IMR-4227 16.1 716 10,700
primers.
44-40 brass tends to be very thin. Crimps should be

applied carefully to avoid crushing cases.
#427666 BC: .149

200 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.580" OAL SD: .155
Test Components: Su
Max DS athe
Me ee Gs sg Pir iecdae ols F nlefe-eint es Winchester Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
Fy (PayUT are 1,295" Nitro 100 47 862 11,000
ETE escaesar Winchester WLP Trail Boss 59) 737 10,700
Pam OIE OP ROI fo oie.ois nes Nereus ns weesLarge Pistol 700X 5.0 808 7,400
Pema Onell Holder 5 cco. ccs cease ee les No. 14B Titegroup De, 873 11,400
Jacketed Bullets Used ........ Speer JHP #4425, 200 gr. AA#2 6.0 824 7,400
ME OUEISAISED 2 fag ds lee ene (sized to .429" dia) Bullseye 5.6 852 7,700
#427666, 200 gr. Zip HAD) 850 10,700
#427098, 205 gr. True Blue 7.6 893 10,700
Unique 6.9 853 6,700
N340 8.1 870 11,000
Test Specifications: SR-4756 7 727 5,900.
(Velocity & Pressure) 2400 13.0 885 7,900
Finearman Weel sa cane one ee oeomer Universal Receiver IMR-4227 15.0 910 7,700
eC ieee MA ust oki be bee Ee ee 6"
TRAWIREE cen ae doen ote Riba lols Seathic 6S o Cla Cnciee eae ene eae1-20"
COOOVOIBTEL Ges oocsuc @nohe® Eee ret tho eee 428
#427098 BC: .103
205 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.592" OAL SD: .159
Sugg
Nitro 100 4.5 836 10,800
Titegroup a2 902 11,200
700X 4.8 789 7,200
Trail Boss 5.6 801 10,800
AA#2 5.4 THES 6,300
Bullseye 5.2 833 8,200
231 6.2 863 10,800
Zip 6.5 846 10,700
Unique 6.3 739 5,700
True Blue 7.6 930 10,500
N340 8.1 870 10,800
SR-4756 74 773 5,700
2400 12.0 7A 5,100
IMR-4227 Ie 699 5,300

44 Russian
Smith & Wesson designed this car-
tridge for use in the Model 3 revolver
to be sold to the Russian government
starting in 1870. This black powder
cartridge was found to be very accu-
rate and was also offered for commer-
cial sale by Smith & Wesson, and later
Colt. It was a fairly popular cartridge
until the 44 Special was introduced.
The more powerful 44 Special car-
tridge pushed the 44 Russian into
obsolescence. Recently however, the
sport of Cowboy Action Shooting has
given the 44 Russian new life. In this
sport, the Russians accuracy and low
recoil are a big plus, as is the ability to
be fired in 44 Special revolvers.
This data is intended for modern firearms designed for

use with smokeless powder. Do not fire these loads in
old black powder or top break revolvers. The 44
Russian cartridge can be safely fired in 44 Special or 44
Magnum revolvers. We recommend that only new brass
be used to load this cartridge. Never load old brass as 180 gr. Swagged Lead FN BC: .114
it may be of the week ballon head design or may have 1.185" OAL SD 139
deteriorated with age. Su 88 cade
Powder Grains fps ule.
Trail Boss 33 695 8,100
Nitro 100 3.4 742 9,100
Bullseye Bul 752 8,600
Red Dot 3.6 734 8,300
Test Components: Titegroup Sys 756 8,700
SMe ee ois ys ee tre eo as Sok BUG Starline AA#2 Be, 714 8,700
MRO UU tre ee ate vaya 2s)0.7Pass eee eee965" N320 3.8 703 6,900
CDSS Ua are Winchester WLP HP-38 4.5 776 9,900
RRIe DECC ree Furcadia aes Heo stow wae Large Pistol 23s 44 729 7,800
Print SHEN IOIGCI ayy tosses cane ese ees oteNo. 7 Unique 49 776 8,300
Swaged Lead Bullets Used . .Hornady FN#11058, 180 gr.
eae PUNCISRISED 2 ooo fleece de oon: (sized to .430" dia)
#427666, 200 gr.
#429667, 240 gr.
#429383, 245 gr.
#429421, 245 gr.
#427666 BC: .149

Test Specifications: 200 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.255" OAL SD: .155
FITCAIIMe SCCM re sear ere Universal Receiver
rare tesserae Starting Velocity Pressure
uate geitas oeeew ee ee he Ss 61," Powder Grains fps P.S.I.
Beene te ts
Rr ek cee AeTee 1-20" Nitro 100 2:0 668 8,000
TRIUTETE.. gnagees ee ese ccs Ree ARTEL Cl eat
ona ar ok: A429" Trail Boss 3.0
GiGows DEES voc ee Gc ot tl cere
Bullseye
Red Dot Bhs 648 7 AO0O
Titegroup 3.4 726 9,200
AA #2 3.8 621 7,500
Unique

#429667 #429383
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Powder Grains _fps C.U.P.
Nitro 100 29 611 7,500 Nitro 100" Gane ear 000 Se
Trail Boss 3,2 611 10,300 Trail Boss Ball 677 10,600
Bullseye 3.4 647 8,500 Bullseye 32 6831 9.200
AAH2 32 = 620 9,200 AA#2 oy 626 9,200
Red Dot va 8,400 Red Dot 32) at G00.
Titegroup 3.4 7,600 Titegroup New 658 SOO p a
N320 3.5 9,700 N320 Be : 6200 |
HP-38 3.6 8,000 HP-38 37 628 8,400
231 3.7 8,500 — ae EGR B00”
Unique 4] 7,600 Unique 4.0 607 7,200
#429421 BC: .209

245 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.390" OAL SD: .190
Sugg
Nitro100 2.8 608 8,000
Bullseye OW) 649 8,600
AA#2 3.1 615 ~—-9,300
Red Dot ae 633 8,600
Titegroup 3.2 647 ~—-9,000
N320 3.3 614 8,300
HP-38 a7 631 8,500
231 37 631 8,200
Unique 4] 652 8,500

The 44 Special came into being in
1907 as a lengthened version of the
old 44 Russian cartridge in order to
better utilize smokeless powder. The
cartridge developed a sterling reputa-
tion for accuracy in the following
decades. The large number of older
revolvers of weaker construction kept
commercially loaded ammunition on
the mild side. Reloaders with a good
heavy framed revolver could signifi-
cantly improve the factory ballistics
by careful handloading. Elmer Keith
used the 44 Special extensively in
pursuit of high-velocity handgun
loads. His efforts culminated in the
introduction of the 44 Remington
Magnum in 1955. The 44 Special sub-
sequently fell by the wayside for quite a few years but
interest has picked up recently. Two factors contributed
to its recent popularity: Cowboy Action Shooting, and
new generation compact revolvers chambered exclu-
sively for the 44 Special.
180 gr. Jacketed HC
1.470" OAL
Cast bullets should be sized to either groove diameter Su 85
or .001” over. Shooters should slug their bore before Powder Grains CUR:
beginning to reload, especially if they have an older N320 6.0
revolver. Shooters should make up a dummy round to 11,600
ensure that the finished cartridge will chamber easily in 231 6.5 689
all cylinders. Elmer Keith designed bullet #429421, Unique
which has been very popular in this cartridge for many 2400
years. 231, Unique, and 2400 produce good results in IMR-4227
the 44 Special.
Test Components:
02 EEA RENEE a re me Rear ae Winchester
WUE ETI 7 ere ois ob a scant Se oe wee ee IDC"
OE Eee oe ea er CCI 300
SCRE deg oO lee RP ae teeee Large Pistol
BYRON VCH F FOIE 2 Biers nse a pie weoiiicars oc ness No. 7
Hornady HP/XTP #44100, 200 gr. 200 gr. jacketed HP BC: .170
Speer JHP #4435, 225 gr. 1.495" OAL SDint55
Speer JHP #4453, 240 gr. Su €8
Cast DULIEIGLISEH 33cite
an, eisAes(sized to .429" dia) Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
*gas check bullet #427098, 205 gr. N320 5.4 703
*#429215, 210 gr. Red Dot 660 9,000
#429667, 240 gr. 231 707. —«*11,100
#429383, 245 gr. Unique 6.7 771 ~—*9,300
#429421, 245 gr. 2400 12.0 599 —-8,000
*#429244, 255 gr. IMR-4227. 14.3 657 ‘10,200
Fireanniee SecGen ecene cere cnet Universal Receiver
Werte iii tacc en acim ane eater sinele es AM Se 7a"
TRatGlc ae a es Gr eo rece eae 12202
(revel DIET 2 hae hehe bene tie cee nae ace eee 429"

44 Smith & |
225 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .146 240 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .165
1.460" OAL SD: .175 1.465" OAL SD: .186
Su 85 Sugg
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Powder Grains s Cc. U.P.
Red Dot
Unique
IMR-4227 IMR-4227
#427098 #429215
Sugg Sugg ohn
Bullseye Bullseye
Titegroup Titegroup
Unique 10,500 Unique

SR-7625
10,800

#429667 *#429383
Sugg Sugg a
Titegroup 4.3 701 9,800 Bullseye 4.2 696 9,900
Bullseye 43 720 11100. Titegroup 43 719 9,600
N320 4.5 709 11,000 231 4.6 703 9,200
231 5.2 719 ‘10,100 Universal by 675 7,400
Universal 5.6 696 8,100 Unique 52) 77\ 10,100
Unique 5.8 708 8,100 SR-4756 6.4 704 8,300
SR-4756 74 724 9,200 HS-7 7.6 729 8,700
2400 11.2698 7,800 2400 10.0 706 7,600
IMR-4227_ 12.7 «664 ~ 8,300 IMR-4227 12.6 784 7,500
#429421 BC: .209 #429244

& _
Sugg 88
Powder Grains fps GUP Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
Bullseye 4.2 733 ‘10,500 Titegroup
Titegroup 45 715 8,800 Bullseye ; 10,900
N320 4.5 679 7,300
231 44 679 7,700 Unique
Unique 6.0 649 10,300 SR-4756
SR-4756 6.8 661 9,000
HS-7 9.1 728 ‘11,300
2400 11.4 704 10,400
IMR-4227 tie 674 7,100

* Designates fired in a 7'2” barrel. 375
44 Remington
The 44 Remington Magnum is the
product of Elmer Keith’s experimenta-
tion with high-pressure loadings in
the 44 Special during the early 1950s.
Smith & Wesson first produced
revolvers for it in 1955 and Sturm,
Ruger & Co. soon followed. The 44
Magnum has since been offered by all
of the major handgun manufacturers
and most of the smaller ones as well.
It has also proven an effective short-
range brush cartridge when cham- 060-—>
bered in various lever action and
semiautomatic carbines. The 44
Magnum requires practice for the
average shooter to shoot well due to
its noticeable recoil and muzzle blast.
Many new owners of 44 Magnums
fire 44 Specials in their revolvers to acclimate them-
selves to the gun or for use as a general purpose target Test Components:
load. CASES a a ayeuehins Ain oot chateset aha ay eo ee Remington
Trimeto Length panies se eee eee exis
This cartridge offers a lot to the hand loader. It has a PrinerSage austen axe shetees Sse gSeer CCI 300 & 350
high degree of accuracy, ai extensive selection of bul- PRIMERS IZE: ae att crates weoesLarge Pistol, Std. & Magnum
EvanarShell Holders.) 84s. Seer are ee scene No. 7
let designs and weights, and is well suited to cast bul-
lets. The loads listed for cast bullet #429215, #429244,
#429421, #429650, and #429667 exceed the standard
maximum cartridge length. However, the cylinders of Winchester Silvertip #44ST210, 210 gr.
most newer revolvers chambered for 44 Magnum will
accept the listed overall length. All bullets must be well Speer JHP #4453, 240 gr.
crimped to prevent bullet movement under recoil. Hornady FP #4300, 265 gr.
Bullet # 429215 features a gas check and is a good gen-
Speer GDSP #4461, 270 gr.
eral purpose bullet. Elmer Keith designed bullet # Sierra JSP #8630, 300 gr.
429421 and many handloaders consider it to be the
Cast: Bullets: Used oeesuy 5 eas. ora (sized to .429" dia)
bullet for loading the 44 Magnum. Cast bullets should
be made of a hard alloy, preferably Linotype or an
#429667, 240 gr.
equivalent of 22 bhn. Alliant 2400 is a favored powder #429421, 245 er.
among those loading the 44 Magnum. Winchester 296 *#429244, 255 gr.
and Hodgdon’s H-110 are also popular for full power *#429650, 300 gr.
loads. This data can be used for the T/C Contender.
Shooters loading for lever action rifles should refer to
the rifle data section for more approximate velocity lev-
els. Test Specifications:
Firearnmmlsedi ac, | >. ote aa ee Universal Receiver
Barrell length 25 ee dana ek ee cee ee 4"
TWIStie ie viel ees aaa ee ee 1-20"
GHOOVE (Dias cay Sasi aoe ee ee A298
376
ngton Magnum
180 gr. Jacketed HC 200 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .170

1.610" OAL 1.610" OAL SD: .155
Sugg Sugg Max
Powder Grains QUP Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains _fps U.P.
Unique 12.0 1061 25,100 Unique 10.5 905 21,100 13.2 1148 35,100
231 10.2 1077 22,100 SR-4756 11.0 894 18,500 13.6 1164 36,300
SR-4756 11.4 970 17,400 800X 12.0 861 20,200 14.9 1239 36,100
AA#5 12.8 976 16,400 True Blue 14.0 1116 28,300 15.6 1248 38,800
True Blue 15.4 1222 30,400 AAH7 18.0 1163 28,800 20.0 1365 38,600
HS-7 ies) 1111 24,200 Blue Dot 74 942 19,600 18.7 1245 35,100
Blue Dot 25,800 N110 21.0 1142 25,500 24.0+ 1381 38,700
2400 21.3 1103. 24,800 00 2400 195 972 23,100 23.6 1227 35,000 |
*H-110 29.0 1541 31,700 100 *H-110 277. 1444 34,600 28.8 1492 39,800
*296 29.0 1498 32,400 700 *296 27.0 1432 (31,700 [teens ae oag
IMR-4227 24.2 1136 27,600 ‘ 34,800 — IMR-4227 22,8 1000 22,800 26.4 1261 36,600
*H-4227 25.0 1306 30,600 278 37,600 *H-4227 23.8 1221 31,000 26.5 1383 39,000
210 gr. Jacketed Silvertip 225 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .146

1.590" OAL
1.610" OAL SD: .175
Sugg ae ae
Starting Velocity Pressure oad — ressure Sugg Max
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Etgrains aes Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains _ fps C.U.P.
Unique 10.6 994 26700 11.8 1114 38,600 Unique 10.8 1021 29,900 12.0 1200 39,300
800X 13.2 1091 27,900 147 1235 37,000
SR-4756 10.2 865 ~—«20,800 «12.6 + ~—«*'1123~—«36,500
True Blue 13.5 1096 31,000 +~|§«150 —*1218 «38,600 800X 120° 958 37,700
Blue Dot 15.4 1076 28,100 17.2 1240 38,200 True Blue 13.0 ~—«*'1099-—« 33,100 = «145 ~—«1217-~—«39,200
AA#7 17.7 1066 24,900 19.7 1261 38,500 AA#7 155. 836 23,300 NG ete eece
2400 21.0 1090 25,500 23.3 1285 39,100 BlueDot 14.0 982 28,700 ~—«*'15.7_+~—«1264~—=—«437,500
N110 as 1111 25,700 ae eae N10 19.0 1168 +~—-30,800 ~=—21.1 +~—«'1354 ~—38,000
*H110 26.6 1280 26,700 275 1358 38,100 2400 17.7935. —-22,300 ~=—«220 ~=—«'1199-——-36,000
*296 26.6 1279 31400 (27.5) 1344 "36,400. *H-110 35.0% 1348 34,100 260 141s 39200
IMR-4227. 23.6 1047 25,700 26.34 1199 37,300 *296 24.0 1112 —«-27,600 (ae eee ee tog
H-4227 22.7 1142 29,300 25.3 1260 38,800 IMR-4227, 204) 1010 24,800, ae 1205 7 35,600
*H-4227 (22:5 —«'1027_—=—«33,600 ‘ea nse O
240 gr. Jacketed HC BC: .172

1.610" OAL SD: .186
Sugg Max 240 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .165
Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure 1.610" OAL SD: .186
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains CUP.
Sugg Max
Unique 10.3 957. —-:31,400 11.5 1074 39,000 Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure
SR-4756 9.9 854 —-23,700 PE Te Powder Grains _fps C.U.P. Grains _ fps C.U.P.
800X 11.0 776 23,700 [ae eo ar aus Unique 10.8 951 30,500 12.0 1084 38,700
BlueDot 13.4 939 29300 149 1155 38,600 800X 11.2 807 24,700 13.9 1068 36,500
N110 17.3 999 25,500 ++=19.5+ 1189 37,400. True Blue Veh 1033 32,200 14.2 DAO 6900)
2400 17.5 993 30400 19.5 1179 38,400 Blue Dot 14.4 960 29,000 16.0 1160 38,400
AA#9 19.0 829 22300 —eee epeeesor N110 ins HOS2 cy 31,000 20.8 1217 39,400 _
*H-110 22.5 1169 34,200 23.5. 1271 38,800. 2400 18.4 1028 30,600 20.5 1154 37,700
*296 22.5 1168 34,700 eS 264 8 39.200 AA#O 19.0 815 22,100 22.0 (19S es A100
IMR-4227. 19.3 921 22,600 23.44 1177 _ 36,800 *H-110 23D) 1196 35,900. 24.5 1233 37,400
*H-4227 20.5 1032. 30,100 Sa Wier 37,500) *296 23.0 1193 34,000 (aga. 6 ig02 ap ade
IMR-4227. 193 884 «23,100 +| +234 + 1109 36,000
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. “14207218 1021 30,500. eae jet aeeco
44 Remington Ma
265 gr. Jacketed FP BC: .189 270 gr. jacketed SP BC: 193
1.610" OAL SD: .205 1.585" OAL SD: .210
Su _ Max
BEE Velocity Pressure load Velocity Pressure Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains _ fps C.U.P. Powder Grains fps C.U.P. fps CUP,
800X 10.7 745 25400 134 999 36,700 800X 11.5 697 31,000 ae oe
Blue Dot 12.6 883 29,500 14.0 1051 38,600 True Blue i O25) 29,200 fe n2s5i 1047 37,000. I
N110 16.6 965 29,800 18.5 ise) 38,900 - Blue Dot aNQk7. 914 28,700 14.2 1050 38,400 —
2400 16.5 937 31,800 18.3 1105 38,700 N110 16.2 960 25,900 | 18.2 128 38,600 i
AA#9 18.0 823 25,300 2S 1066 35,600 2400 16.3 905 26,900: |" Bake2 1072 37,700
*H-110 20.6 1036 33,200 ezine 1140 38,400 AA#9 143 1004 30,400 SES) 1149 37,000 5
*296 Ziel 1092 35,000 22.0 1150 38,700 *H110 20.4 1056 27,500 21 Bl 1124 37,500
a IMR-4227. 18.5 870 23,800 22.0 1088 34,800 *296 20.9 1053 31,400 21.6 —-'1108_—_—-36,100_
5 *H-4227 ho: 950 29,600 21.5 1116 ~ 37,400 IMR-4227 197 932 28,100 22.0 1067 38,300
oO a *H-4227. 19.0 965 28,700 (aati ens
> ©
o—
an.)
UTS
35
a
a
=
300 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .250 #429215, |
BC: .188
i = 1.720" OAL SD: 232 210 gr. (Linotype) 1.645" OAL SD: .163
a Su Max Sugg : Max ae
Starting Velocity Pressure © Load Velocity Pressure Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains _fps C.U.LP. Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Gr auiis C.ULP.
800X 10.0 785 25,200 125 968 35,200 Titegroup 9.0 1023 30,700 10.0 1143 =37,400
Blue Dot 12.4 765 26,800 13.5 923 36,800 231 9.3 914 21,000 D2 6ed Ot o 37 O00S,
N10 16.0 870. 27,000 esas eo Unique 10.0 930 21,000 13.2 1221 _36,000_
2400 15.7 820 30300 175 934 37,800 Herco 11.4 984 22,800 13:5) 1205 36,000)
AA#9 ies 895 27,200 193 1020 35,200 SR-4756 12.2 1036 24,900: 15.2 1228 36,100—
*H-110 19.6 909 34,500 20.5 982 38,300 True Blue 33 1090 30,700 14.8 1226 39,800 —
*296 19.8 892 32,400 20.7 966 36,800 HS-6 15.0 1105." 29,700 16.7, 1290. 37 A005
IMR-4227. 18.5 790 22,000 21.0 1046 36,100 AA#7 72 1094 27,500 iO
*H-4227 18.7 839 29,600 20.8 985 38,600 800X 12.0 922 23,900 15S 1274 = 36,2005
Blue Dot 14.9 1036 26,700 16.6 1324 38,500
N110 1933 1180 21,200 21,5 1413 38,200.
2400 19.8 1191 31,600 22.0 1348 37,100
*H-110 26.4 1298 27,500 27.5+ 1447 33,800 |
#296 255) 1340 29,500 27.0+ 1508 36,400
IMR-4227 21.8 TOlZ 22,100 Zoot 6227 32 800
#429667 BC: .149
240 gr. (Linotype) 1.645" OAL SD: .186
ae
Starting Velocity Pressure ie
Load 1
Velocity PPressure #429421 BC: 209
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains _fps C.U.P. 245 gf. (Linotype) 1.710" OAL SD: 190
Titegroup 9.0 1003 33,900 10.0 11397300 : ; us
Unique 10.0 937 25,300 Tie — iso 3900 Sugg ; MON” casting Stnienees
Herco 105 958 28400 117 1101 37,500 Batis Seat ew cee ibe
800X 12.0 1046 __30,600_ [iis Titegroup 8.5 «915 —«29,400+~—=«9.5~—«1028. «37,100
BlueDot 140 933 24500 15.5 1159 36,000 Oren 12 20000
aa
N10 Bo
18.0
tte. ao
1064_-28,700
a
20.0
SS
1283
Se Herco 10.9 918 22,900 13.1 1090 34,600
900 TueBlue 126 1039 29500 140 1155 38,200
2400
: 18.5 1101 34700
5 206
ee 1258 38,900 800X 10.6 = 812 ee
20,700 (ee ea
ee ee : 2 BlueDot 14.5 1034 «29,800 «16.0 +—*1194 «36,600
IMR-4227, 21.5 1036 29,000 | 240 1263 37,800 . : ke
*11-4227_
“H 207; +1032 «27,500 | 230
3. 1248 37,300 ae
N10 Wo
18.0 7M
1034 15100
25,900 20.0 1300 38,800.
2400 18.5 1087 30,300 +=
+='1248-~—=«37,200
206
*H-110 240 1218 31,900 aa egeaanoe
IMR-4227 20.2 *938-——«21,300 | aan tOmmn ae aganl
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. "H-4227 21.5 1083 29,400 23:8 1287) 38/400
#429244 ¥ #429650
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains ps CUP. Powder Grains _ fps C.U.P.
Titegroup | 8.1 873 31,800 SR-4756 8.5 796 24,800
Unique 8.9 805 17,500 Herco 8.1 793 30,100
SR-4756 10.5 892) | 21/500 800X 8.5 794 23,800
Herco 11.0 927 24,500 True Blue 9.8 912 31,700
800X 10.6 842 25,300 Blue Dot 10.5 761 = 22,400
True Blue 11.6 1017 33,100 AA#9 3 875 25,700
HS-7 4145 921 22,600 N10 — 14.2 _ 873 24,300
Blue Dot 14.0 911 20,300 ( 2400 14.0 857 27,600
AA#9 ie 750 17,000 *H-110 ve 976 34,300
2400 18.2 915 21,600 *296 18.2 982 34,500
4H-110 21.8 ~—«:1097__—:31,500 IMR-4227. 16.5. 837.__—«-24,000
*296 22.5 1150 33,400 *H-4227. «17.0 «916 ~—«31,100
IMR-4227_ 20.2, —:903——.20,600
*H-4227. «19.8 ~~ -992—=—«29,900

Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate load. -
45 Automatic«s
The 45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol)
originated in the Colt Model 1905 pis-
tol developed by John Moses
Browning. The United States Army
sought a 45-caliber pistol to replace
the 38 Long Colt that proved semi-dis-
astrous during the Philippine
Campaign. John Browning subse-
quently chambered his masterpiece,
the Model 1911 pistol, in 45 ACP and
the legend was born. The original mil-
itary loading consisted of a 200-grain
bullet traveling just over 900 feet per
second. This soon changed to the
now standard 230-grain bullet at 850
feet per second. The Model 1911 and
1911A1 pistol served as the standard
U.S. military sidearm for over 70
years. Although officially replaced by the 9mm Beretta our line and makes for a good mid-range practice load.
in 1985, the 45 ACP cartridge remains in use with Sizing this bullet through a lube-sizer such as our
Special Operations units. Law enforcement agencies Lyman Model 4500 will often leave a small deposit of
have shown increased interest in the cartridge lately. bullet lubricant around the bevel. Many shooters simply
Several European arms makers are now also producing wipe the base of the bullet on a clean sheet of paper
45 ACP chambered pistols. after sizing. Groove diameters can vary from .450” to
.453” but the shooter should not size cast bullets larger
The 45 ACP has long been one of the most accurate and than .451” due to chamber dimensions.
popular pistol cartridges around and shows no sign of
slowing down despite its age. It is not however a car-
tridge that one can shoot once or twice a year and
remain proficient with. The wide availability of compo-
nents and bullet designs make the 45 ACP a great can-
didate for handloaders. Test Components:
Gases a. waeie cc ens no Shee eae Remington, Federal
Bullseye, Unique, and 231 often give best results with Trtm-to Length sae oo ee eee ee 888"
most bullet weights in this cartridge. The 45 ACP head- PHIMGTS Ss... sige:
aie nie. on ee Remington 2'2, CCI 300
spaces on the case mouth so cartridges must not be roll Proven Sizer. ts 2 ee ee Large Pistol
crimped. The roll-crimping feature in Lyman seating ymatr ShellsHolder 2... <4 <akcs-. Aen eee No. 2
dies for the 45 ACP is for use with the 45 Auto Rim car- Jacketed Bullets Used ..... Remington SWC/FMJ, 185 gr.
tridges used in revolvers. A slight taper crimp can be Hornady HP/XTP #45100, 185 gr.
used on the 45 ACP if necessary. Reloaders should trim Speer Gold Dot HP #4478, 200 gr.
cases only if necessary and chamfer the case mouth Speer JHP #4479, 225 gr.
only enough to break the burr. Shooters should adhere Speer TMJ #4480, 230 gr.
to the listed cartridge overall lengths. Variations in over- Cast Bullets: sec! =. 20st siete (sized to .451" dia)
all lengths may result in excessive pressures or difficul- #452460, 200 gr.
ty feeding. #452630, 200 gr.
#452374, 225 gr.
Many 1911 pattern pistols will not function well with
anything but round nose bullets unless a qualified gun-
smith alters the feed ramp. Cast bullet #452374 has
been in the Lyman line since 1924 and is ideal for orig- Test Specifications:
inal, unaltered pistols. This bullet closely duplicates the (Velocity & Pressure)
shape and weight ofthe original military full metal-jack- Fireanin sed... onan wl ee ae ee Universal Receiver
eted load. Cast bullet #452460 has been a popular semi Barrell Lenetlt 2. Sasha Asean teste ee oy
wad cutter bullet since 1950. Cast bullet #452630 is a IWISES share a ete ee 1-16"
bevel-based design. This is a relatively new addition to Groove Diag +5 ers. eee ee ee 450"
380
185 gr. Jacketed SWC 185 gr. Jacketed HP
1.135" OAL SD: .130 TASS OAL.
Sugg Sugg
700X 3.4 675 7,900 Clays 4.1 766 13,500
Bullseye 35 678 8,000 700X 3h) 612 7,500
231 4] — 680 9,100 Titegroup 49 881 13,000
SR-7625 44 706 9,100 Bullseye 5) 610 7,300
Unique 47 7,700 231 mea. 640 7,500
SR-4756 Dil, 7,900 HP-38 35 599 7,500
HS-6 6.6 689 8,000 Red Dot Go feu = 200
Blue Dot Theses 8,000 N320 Sy, 10,500
PB 4.6 9,100
SR-7625 “49 7,100
Unique 48 7,800
AA#5 74 10,700
Power Pistol 74 13,400
200 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .138 WSF TZ 12,300
1.178" OAL SD: .140 True Blue 7.6 9,600
Sugg
Powder Grains CUP
Clays 3.9 otis. 43,100
700X 33 7,400
Titegroup 47 13,700 225 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .169
Bullseye 3.4 7,100 1.243" OAL SD: .158
231 55) 11,900
Sugg
N320 5 12,500 Starting Velocity Pressure
SR-7625 4.5 7,300 Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
Unique 4.0 7,300 700X 3.1 549 7,500
SR-4756 5.4 7,100 Bullseye 3%! 554 7,300
AA#5 6.8 9,400 SR-7625 4.4 587 7 A400
HS-6 Bee j 6,500 Unique 4] 548 6,800
Power Pistol 6.6 12,900 SR-4756 48 552 6,700
WSF 65 13,600 N340 6.0 689 11,700
TrueBlue 7.2 13,900 Power Pistol 6.5 776 14,500
BlueDot 8.7 10,400 WSF 6.0 14,100
ey 6.7 6,800

45 Automatic «sacr)
230 gr. TMJ C3 1 #452460

I275ZOAt SD: .162 200 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.161" OAL
Sugg Max Sugg aaa
Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure Starting Velocity Pressure Load Ve
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains _ fps C.U.P. Powder Grains fps C.U.P. _ Grains
700X 3.6 667. ‘11,200 48 867 17,900 *Titegroup 4.5 813 13,800 ae
Bullseye 3.8 662 10,400 53 878 17,100 700X 4.0 745 10,300
231 5.2 758 12,900 58 849 16,200. Bullseye 3.5 645 «6,900
SR-7625 49 678 10,800 59 838 15,800 Red Dot 4.0 695 8,400
Unique 59 749 12,500 66 825 15,800 *N320 4.6 774: 13,400
SR-4756 6.0 695 11,200 70 866 17,400 *WST 4.2 750 13,300
N340 5.9 742 ‘12,700 6.6 838 16,500 Zip 5.2 B57 13.700
Power Pistol 6.4 SDS 13,500 7.2 858 16,600 — Green Dot 45 715 9,000
WSF 6.0 775 12,200 6.7 864 15,500 231 4.0 694. 9,200
True Blue 6.4 804 13,800 72 287i — 16,000 SR-7625 5.0 735 9,000
Longshot 6.4 816 12,800 70 922° 17,100 Unique 5.0 670 7,700" ee
Blue Dot 8.3 684 ‘11,000 9.2 806 15,100 *SR-4756 5.3 704 9,100 ieee
*Power Pistol 6.3 816 13,300 hl
True Blue 6.4 857 13,000 72 944
a **AAHS 6.4 686. 10,000 60. =970 1 70n0.
: **HS-6 6.0 690 _ 8,600 87. 1016 700
‘ 7m **Blue Dot 7.1 701 8,900 10.6 1092 17,2005,
[= =
G3
(Oe)
oe§ |
y #452630 BC: .063 #452374

Sugg Max Sugg
Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure Starting Velocity Pressure tat Velocity Sorts
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains _ fps C.U.P. Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains ip ne
Clays 3.9 701. 10,200 44 — 839~—-'15,500 **Clays 3.6 683 10,600 43. -316
*Titegroup 4.8 801 12,200 5.4 920 ~—s-17,100 *Titegroup 45 735 11,200 jiaeae 841 ae
700X 4.4 676 10,000 5.5 884 17,500 700X 4.0 695 10,500
Bullseye 4.9 840 12,900 6.0 909 17,000 Bullseye 4.0 680 10,100 5.0 815 14,400
Red Dot 44 713. 12,400 55 894 17,600 Red Dot 43 705 11,100 5.3 835 15,300
*N320 5.1 746 10,000 57 865 14,800 *WST 4.2 707 —«*11,500 4.7 794. 17,100
*WST 44 735. 11,100 | 49 840 16,300 Zip 5.0 770 13,000 57 844 16,000
GreeniDou oul TT, 11,900 6.4 894 16,900 Green Dot 4.8 725 11,400 5.8 845 15,100.
*231 5.4 769 12,700 aeeeeneeney tg 00 **231 4.0 661 9,200
Zip 5.6 834 12,700 6.3 918 16,300 SR-7625 5.0 675 9,000 6.0. 850 9 15,200
SR-7625 5.4 653 8,600 6.7 900 _—‘16,800 *\WSE 6.0 749 12,300 67. 839 15,100.
*WSF as 815 12,200 7.0 904 16,600 *N340 5.9 730 10,300 86864 16,300
Unique 6.0 Fiz. 11,400 75 Ss 17 AO Unique 5.5 695. 10,100. 73 905 16,500.
SR-4756 6.4 660 —_ 9,300 8.0 933 ‘16,700 SR-4756 5.5 662 ~—_—-8,800
*Power Pistol 6.6 810 12,700 74 955- 17,500 *Power Pistol 6.3 764 ‘11,900
True Blue 6.7 854 13,900 eS 929 16,500 True Blue 6.2 805 12,900
AAHS 7.0 697. 10,500 8.5 927 16,800 AHS 6.6 625 9,200
*HS-6 8.5 795 12,800 95 912 16,800 **HS-6 6.2 664 8400 86 921 16,600
BlueDot 8.5 679 9,800 | Olen gs ey7oce **Blue Dot 7.5 660 8,600 awe se

* Designates use of CCI primers.
387
** Designates use of Federal cases.
45 Auto Rim
Durie World War | the U.S. mili-
tary found that there were not enough
1911 pistols available to meet their
needs. Their solution was to have
Colt and Smith & Wesson produce
revolvers chambered for the 45 Auto
cartridge. Since the 45 Auto case is
rimless, half-moon clips were devel-
oped to provide for headspacing and
extraction of the cases. After the war,
these revolvers were sold as surplus to
civilians. To avoid the inconvenience
of using the clips, Peter's Cartridge
Company developed the 45 Auto Rim
cartridge, a rimmed version of the 45
Auto cartridge.
Bullets used for this cartridge are

often designed for the 45 Auto and therefore may not
have a cannelure. For these, a taper crimp is suggested.
Otherwise, a roll crimp may be used. Bullseye, 231 or
Unique should give the best results.
1.180" OAL SD: .140
Starting oy ean
OSES ODS ee RO ee a ee Remington Powder Grains GULP.
LR Ee ae 888"
RUMORED Mr traee Gees tte Sa oes we sla eS Remington 2'/2 SR-7625
OTS I te, ie Oe a Large Pistol Bullseye
PURE ONE RIOIGCE i456 es alge wee No. 14A Red Dot
Jacketed Bullets Used .Hornady HP/XTP #45100, 185 gr.
Speer GDHP #4478, 200 gr.
More pinets ised... o.. fA86 eo nd (sized to .451" dia)
#452460, 200 gr.
#452374, 225 gr.
Test Specifications: 225 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .169

(Velocity & Pressure) 1255" OAL SD: .158
TS Universal Receiver
Sugg
Smith & Wesson Model 25 Starting Velocity Pressure
EC YS 0 Universal Receiver 41/2" Powder Grains Ds C.U.P.
Model 25; 61/2" SR-7625 44 518
Unique
TAMIR o e.g aa ene
res creer 1-16"
Blue Dot
(Cie owe: DIB. jsiat Sono ae OR a ae ANE ||

1.236" OAL SD: .130
Sugg
SR-7625

#452460 #452374
Sugg Su 8S
Starting Velocity Pressure essur Starting Velocity Pressure
700X 4.0 625 Pai
PB 4.5 565 =
SR-7625 5.0 560 —
Bullseye Bullseye 3.0 475 —
Red Dot 4.0 Red Dot AO OSES moe
Green Dot Green Dot 4.5 615
Unique EHO) 550
231 4.0 660
HS-6 Ties) 799

e
The 45 GAP was introduced in 2003
as a result of the combined efforts of
Glock and Speer. This new compact
45-caliber cartridge is designed to
compete with the 45 ACP and 40
S&W. The overall length of the 45
GAP allows it to fit 9mm/40 S&W
frame sizes and provide power equal
to the 45 ACP. While it can fit into a
9mm/40 S&W frame, it functions at a
lower chamber pressure than either
the 9mm or 40 S&W (23,000 psi vs.
35,000 psi). The cartridge is similar to
a shortened 45 ACP case, but there
are important differences. The GAP
case uses a small primer as opposed
to the large primer used in the ACP
case. The rim on the GAP is also
slightly rebated and the internal construction of the
cases differs. Glock introduced the Model 37 for the 45
GAP. The 37 has a smaller grip frame than their Model
21 (chambered for the 45 ACP) and provides a more
comfortable fit due to its thinner, narrower dimensions
and shorter trigger reach. Springfield Armory has also 1.060" OAL SD: .130
adopted the 45 GAP and chambered it in their XD pis- Sugg
tol. Powder Grains P.S.I.
Clays a7 809. 12,000 ae
Do not attempt to convert 45 ACP cases to 45 GAP. This Titegroup 44 874. 18,900
would not be safe for a number of reasons. As stated 231 5.1 856 «18,200
above, the cartridges use different size primers, different Universal 5.4 859 17,700
rim diameters and have different internal constructions. N340 59 863. 17,500
Most 45 ACP die sets can be used however to reload the WSF 6.3 923. 19,400
45 GAP. Several powders showed very good uniformity Power Pistol 6.4 885 18,800
during our testing. In particular, Ramshot True Blue Longshot 6.7 919 17,400
powder gave excellent results throughout. True Blue 6.9 912. 19,500
Blue Dot 8.2 896 19,800
Test Components:
(CARES 3 oe 5 iySa ee ee Winchester
WRC CHINN fara ancy Pasi os PR 755
RMN RMT Se es Noose gcd Pip ised 6 Winchester WSP
Se ha age tea ee neae Small Pistol
ee LN CT ION 5 928race wien rteacetoacetate
FleNo. 2 200 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .138
re otec eta © 5 oi io s6a 4.00, ok I a ee ea 1.080" OAL SD: .140
Hornady JHP #45100, 185gr. Sugg .
Speer JHP #4478, 200 gr. Starting Velocity Pressure
Speer TM] #4480, 230 gr.
18,200
AGE DUNO USER oe oie iid oie ga nano (sized to .451" dia) " Titegroup 19,500
#452460, 200 gr.
#452630, 200 gr. Universal 15,200
#452374, 225 gr. N340 53 15,400
WSF 18,100
Longshot 15,100
True Blue
Test Specifications: Blue Dot 18,100
rent SEU ee tee an aideUniversal Receiver
Bare Penge chee angler esa rete ans cee tes 3"
TRATES Dern oeiacittal cae din ta ola ao Cle Sie Rie eee 1-16
eee ite Ae eR I A oh is bao > 450"
230 gr. TMJ BC: .153 #452460 BC: .076
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains PS.I. Powder Grains p P.S.1.
Universal Clays 5 i Ob8 iet 200
Titegroup 4.2 20,700
231 47 20,100
Power Pistol Universal 4.6 18,500
N340 5.1 18,500
True Blue WSF 5.4 18,800
Blue Dot Power Pistol 6.1) 9,100) ae
True Blue 6.4 18,900
Blue Dot 7.6 18,700
#452630 BC: .063 #452374

Sugg Su
Starting Velocity Pressure Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains p PS.1. P.S.
Cla’ 3.5 20,200 4.0 876 19,700
Titegroup 4.2 19,700
PAT ne 47 19,500
Universal 45 17,600
N340 5 17,000 Be
WSF 5S 18,200 Ey
True Blue 6.5 19,100
Blue Dot 7.5 ) 18,600

&W Schofield
The popular sport of Cowboy Action
Shooting has made many old car-
tridges "new" again. The 45
S & W Schofield is certainly one of
these. The cartridge was introduced
in 1875 and used in the S & W
Schofield revolver. This hinged-frame
revolver had a barrel release latch
designed by General Schofield for use
by the calvary. The cartridge was
shorter than the 45 Colt, which was
already in use by the military. To
avoid confusion, the 45 Schofield
became the standard issue cartridge
as it could work in either the Colt
Single Action Army revolver or the S
& W Schofield revolver. The ability to
work in either chamber and the
Schofield's reduced recoil versus the 45 Colt cartridge
prompted its recent rise in popularity with Cowboy
shooters.
This data is intended for use in modern, newly manu- #452460 BC: .076
factured revolvers rated for smokeless powder and is to 200 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.340" OAL SD: .140
be loaded in newly manufactured cartridge cases. This Su 88 a aI Be
data is not to be used in antique revolvers originally Starting Velocity Pressure
built for black powder loads or in old ballon head Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
cases. Although there is a slight difference in rim diam- Nitro 100 AW) 818 9,300
eter, most 45 Colt revolvers will except and fire 45 Trail Boss 4.6 803 10,400
Schofield cartridges. Clays 4.0 747 7,000
700X 45 821 8,400
Bullseye 4.7 840 9,300
Amer. Select 4.6 783 7,900
Red Dot 49 840 9,300
N320 ey 810 7,800
231 DD 781 7,600
Zip 5.8 822 8,800
Test Components: Unique 6.1 824 7,700
CAGES: 's,«:dinsd porous center
a eae ee Starline
Mea UENT Pig 3.5 p aes igi sse meersiz cern gre 1,095"
PRT INPERSie: ake arogs Dike eo eee eR er Winchester WLP
MCN i REET AO cls oa ea os cen bop cle wa shotsLarge Pistol
He re UMN NOCR: ch ete soe aro gh ee actservin6 od No. 14B
Cash UMEIS WISE oiics cud cre om ences (sized to .452" dia)
#452460, 200 gr. #454190 BC: .269
#454190, 250 gr. 250 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.390" OAL SD: .175
#452664, 250 gr. Shige superman
Powder Grains fps CUP.
Nitro 100 mee) 692 8,900
Trail Boss 43 708 10,500
Clays 3.6 690 8,200
Test Specifications: Titegroup 4.1 735 9,200
(Velocity & Pressure) Bullseye 4.2 743 10,400
retain Weel acces carte eoopouomees Universal Receiver Amer. Select 3.9 696 9,200
BEifelenietiticn feach-s sfocpe sats <a wietqccd ayo sees Tia
700X 4.0 735 9,600
TRA, sec Ae Sec oe neo cloe eonn ee aR eee (ei ey!
Red Dot 4.2 VA, 9,200
(CHEGNEIDIED S an Roce eb ee oe oe Oro oe ere PA a
N320 4.4 716 9,300
231 4.6 699 8,400
Zip Sal 714 9,100
Unique 5.4 732 8,300
45 S&W Scho
#452664 #452424
Sugg Sugg _ Ma zi
Powder Grains fps GUE Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
Clays 3.8 703 8,200 Trail Boss “4.2 688 MZ B00
Trail Boss 45 692 8,800 Clays 3.8 675 6,500
Nitro 100 39 728 9,600 Nitro100 4.0 — W728" 8,600
Bullseye 4.2 720. 9,500 Bullseye A2 706 ~—-8,800
Titegroup 43 725 8,400 JOOX S43 760) 9/500).
Red Dot 4.2 695 8,000 Amer. Select 4.2 728 8,800
Amer. Select 4.1 692 7,700 Titegroup 43 | P| BiB00
700 X 43 769 10,600 RedDot 44 7Al 8,900
N320 4.6 739 8,800 epee ee ae 7,800
231 49 8,600 231 52 737 8.900
Ji ES} 9,100 Zip oS 765 ~ 9200-7]
Unique De) 7,400 Unique 5.8 723 7,500
388 Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum.

The year 1873 was a milestone in
development of metallic cartridges.
1873 marked the introduction of the
44-40 (44 WCF), the 45-70
Government, and the 45 Colt. All
three cartridges are still going strong
135 years after their debut.
Widespread use in Cowboy Action
shooting is also contributing to their
current popularity. Colt introduced
their 45 cartridge in the famed Model
1873 Single Action Army. The original
loading propelled a 255-grain lead
bullet with 40-grains of black powder
around 900 feet per second. The 45
Colt is also known—mistakenly---as
the 45 Long Colt. In contrast to sever-
al other offerings from Colt, i.e. 32
Short/Long, 38 Short/Long, 41 Short/Long, there never
was a 45 Short Colt. Test Specifications:
Several caveats apply when reloading the 45 Colt. Firearm Used .. Universal Receiver & Ruger Blackhawk
Shooters must pay particular attention in regard to the Barrehbengthiicxswaos atxtaiecurcema
tae hed eek eee
cartridge’s small diameter rim. This rim provides less WAST gatiert ae sos. biter te Sree 2 Sea nee eee
bearing surface to the shell holder in comparison to
other cartridges and tears easily if undue force is
applied during the reloading process. The grooves of
Pre-World War II revolvers normally measure .454” in
diameter. Later production revolvers and lever action
rifles are built with .451” diameter grooves. Those load- 185 gr. Jacketed HP
ing for older revolvers with the original .454” groove 1.520" OAL
should stick with cast bullet #454190. This is our origi- Su 88
nal bullet for the 45 Colt and dates to the nineteenth Starting Velocity Pressure
century. If in doubt, slug the bore. Cast bullet #452424 Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
is an Elmer Keith design and has long been an accurate 700X 6.0 658
N320 8.3 873
performer. Bullet #452664 is designed for Cowboy
231 7.6 866
Action shooters. It will function through lever action
Unique Has 615
rifles and produced excellent accuracy with Hodgdon’s
AA#5 10.8 876
Titegroup. Unique and 231 are both long time favorites Blue Dot 12.0 692
for loading the 45 Colt. HS-7 130 700
IMR-4227 16.5 711
AA-5744 18.4 842
Test Components:
Re | aia ik so Fie eo vo mitaeenieipegs Winchester
Meihiler REV) Giccits vilisw.ihe
Ge einen eos i7
“iL Seen le pene Bee ae CR OMe Winchester WLP
Re TuIC REO? Cipriani of seid ener re ae se ae Large Pistol
Pye OMEI FIOMOEN a9 evs Ss x mauteteain da a toe No. 11 200 gr. Jacketed HP
Jacketed Bullets Used ........ Sierra JHP #8800, 185 gr. 15577 OAL
Speer GDHP #4478, 200 gr. Sugg
Speer JHP #4479, 225 gr. Starting Velocity Pressure
Sierra JHC #8820, 240 gr. Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
Hornady HP/XTP #45200, 250 gr. N320 Hof 843
Unique 8.5 847
Swaged Lead Bullets Used ..... 00 00- seer eeeees
.....
SR-7625 70) 581
Speer Swaged Lead FN #4681, 230 gr. AA#5 10.3 820
Act Bilets WSCC) cece exes Abts eres(sized to .452" dia) SR-4756 9 679
#452460, 200 gr. HS-6 10.3 740
#454190, 250 gr. EAL 560
#452664, 250 gr.
#452424, 255 gr.

225 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .169 240 gr. Jacketed HC BC: .170
1.575" OAL SD: .158 1.575" OAL SD: .168
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains C.U.P. Powder 7 Grains fps : C.U.P.
N320 Tee
231 7.4 Power Pistol 8.2
Unique 8.0 True Blue 8.0
SR-7625 8.4
Power Pistol 8.5
True Blue 8.2
N340 9.0
AA#5 10.0
HS-6 10.7
Blue Dot 11.7

Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Powder Grains Ss C.U.P.
Titegroup 5.6 653 Trail Boss SO 36737 10600.
231 6.5 681 Clays 5.6 837 8,400
Unique 78 755 700 X 5.9 922 10,200
Power Pistol 8.0 754 Nitro 100 6.0 955: 10,900
True Blue The 667 ‘Titegroup gone 928) 10,200:
N340 8.5 850 Red Dot 6.1 923 —-10,400
AA#5 10.0 777 Green'Dot. (6:9) 2936, 210,600
2400 14.8 755 N320 iis 918 9,100
SR-4759 Ss 742 PB E7938 A000
AA-5744 16.0 725 23%e. 74 928 10,200
Unique 8.6 918 8,700
SR-7625 9.0 941 10,100
True Blue 8.5 925 9,800
AAH5 10.1 964 ~—-10,500
HS-6 112 957 —-10,100

— 45 Colt
230 gr. Swagged Lead FN BC: .139 #454190 BC: .269

1.590" OAL SOs, 159 250 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.600" OAL SD: .175
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Powder Grains fps
700x SO 871 Trail Boss 52 762
ed Dot 6.5 908 Clays 47 762
Titegroup 6.3 Nitro 100 49 813
Green Dot 7.0 700X 45 535)
N320 74 Titegroup = 5.6 803
D3 7.6. Red Dot 4.5 535 —
PBs 7.6 N320 6.0 685 =
Unique 8.6 Green Dot 45 505
SR7625. 9.0 231 6.5 789
AA#5 10.4 PB” 5.0 545
HS-6 ie hoe ee
Unique 6.0 595
TrueBlue = 7.4 843
AA#5 9.5
HS-6 O15)
#452664 BC: .150 #452424 BC: .210

S Sugg
Starting Velocity Pressure Starting Mace! Pressure
Powder Grains fps CU. Powder Grains C.U.P.
N it 100 49 795 11,000 Clays 46 750. 8,700
Trail Boss 5 Weve 10,500 Nitro 100 4.7 807 10,600
‘Clays. 4.9 769 10,000 Trail Boss 52) 796 11/800")
700X 5.4 744 700X 45 IS¥S5)
814 Titegroup 5.6 816
egroup
Red Dot 752 Red Dot 45 550
N320 754 N320
Green Dot
5.8
45
692
500
Green Dot 750
OSits = He 796 231 6.5 797
730 PB 5.0 530
SR-7625 6.0 555
Unique 6.0 590
True Blue LQE We O54!
_ AA#S O38. ToL.
HS-6 8.8 676

454 Casull
are
The 454 Casull is a very powerful

cartridge designed by Dick Casull for
handgun hunting. In fact, it is one of
the more powerful production built
revolver/cartridge combinations avail-
able. The 454 Casull is based on a
lengthened and thickened 45 Colt
case. It uses small rifle primers, prefer-
ably magnum primers, to ignite the
heavy charges of slow-burning pow-
der.
The loads shown in this manual

should only be used in Casull cases
and fired in Casull pistols.
Cast bullets should be cast in linotype

or a similar strength alloy and sized to
451”. Larger bullets will not allow the cartridge to be
used due to the tight tolerances found in the chambers.
IMR-4227 and AA1680 will give very good results with 225 gr. jacketed HP BC: .169
this cartridge. 1.690" OAL SD: .158
Sugg M ee
Powder Grains ps C.U.P.
Test Components:
CONES Sho oy ee ce en Winchester Enforcer
Baap TOON OURS ica teades « ccpte y6 «ce ee ene 17a: N110
ERA SES crete eM eens al Fe ice sa Maer RA CCI 450 H110 33.9 1657
ERIC OIZORR: Sor tee cs nies 3 Small Rifle, Magnum IMR-4227
Iymman shell loldetiscy «6. c>.. soe o semetercrereoeNo. 11
Hornady Mag-XTP #45220, 240 gr.
Barnes XPB HP#45123, 250 gr.
Hornady Mag-XTP HP #45235, 300 gr.
Gast UllEts Sed meueyaccntese's ects (sized to .451" dia)
*#452651, 325 gr.

1.745" OAL SD: .168
Test Specifications: Sugg a)
(Velocity & Pressure) Powder _Grains _fp CUP. — ¢
FitcAMit SCUue eels cee ee Universal Receiver Unique 14.8 | 1372 43-200
Barrel ely obama s cre agri ea TO Nees Ns tare 6" 2400 28.0 1609 47,900
aA toe et:arte yo eee 9% enae a aig RS eres et Be rtd (24
AA#9 27.5 1646 40,500
(Groove Diane ers ese atresia
hades 451"
Enforcer 31.8 1628 43,300
N110 26.8 1551 41,100
296 36.1 1695 45,300
IMR-4227 32.3 1527 43,300
AA-1680 36.0 1405 35,200

250 gr. Barnes XPB HP 300 gr. Jacketed HP
1.770" OAL 1.745" OAL
Su Su
88
Starting
:
Velocity Pressure |
88
Velocity Pressure Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps C.U.P. Grains i AUP, Powder Grains fps CAVE
“47,700
Enforcer i 42,800
41,100
IMR-4227 43,500
AA-1680 37,000
#452490 BC: .160 #452651 BC: .191

Sugg Sugg nee
Starting Velocity Pressure Starting Velocity Pressure — | Velocity Pressur
Powder Grains GUP ps Ube Powder Grains fps C.U.P. ai swan
Unique 14.7 1344 46,500 ( Unique 13 1103 38,300
AA#9 25.7 1506 38,200 16,90! AA#9 20.2 1232 31,200
2400 25.6 1480 41,000 [4 2400 19:8 1188 31,700
N110 26.3 1531 42,700 N110 20.4 1242 30,200
Enforcer 28.9" 1514 — 41,000 296 23.7 1277 = 38,800
H110 33.9 1587 35,700 H110 25.4 1307 32,600
en 234, 1611 41,600 Enforcer 21.8 1237 35,400
IMR-4227. 29.4 1400 37,500 IMR-4227. 23.8 1176 31,700
AA-1680 33.2.—«1117_—«27,000 AA-1680 27.9 1147. 26,900

DS
Smith & Wesson introduced the 460

S&W Magnum caliber along with
their Model 460XVR_ revolver in
2005. The initials XVR stood for
“extreme velocity revolver”, and this
is certainly what it is. In our testing we
found that the 460 S&W produced
300 to 400 feet per second greater
velocity than the 454 Casull with sim-
ilar weight bullets. Of course, to reach
these velocity levels requires burning
large volumes of powders at rather
high pressure levels. Smith &
Wesson’s X-Frame revolvers which
chamber this round are fairly heavy
and most models are equipped with a
compensator, however, recoil and
muzzle blast are severe. This is not a
beginners handgun. The 460 S&W revolvers do have
the advantage of being able to fire 45 Colt and 454
Casull ammo if lighter loads are desired. When hand-
gun hunting with full power loads, the 460 is flat shoot-
240 gr. jacketed HP
ing and very hard hitting. It’s capable of taking a variety
2.160" OAL SD: .168
of big game up to and including dangerous game. Only
strongly constructed bullets capable of handling the Sugg
velocity and pressure level of this round should be con- Powder Grains fps P.S.1.
sidered for hunting loads. A heavy roll crimp should be 36.0 43,900
used to prevent bullet jump and to allow for complete Enforcer
ignition of the slow burning powders used. N110
52,200
IMR-4227 42.5
Lil’ Gun 46.0 43,200
Test Components:
COE, 5 6 ob Wie ts ee nie ene te oe Starline
TEST TESTES MSNUsd oe letersi AMe Re mse seca 1.7907
PIS MCT SHEP RIE a We eeNoyescae Sin:onayevera soeWinchester WLRM
PRINCI SIZ, Set vie Shs One Me eeu eS Large Rifle, Magnum 250 gr. Barnes XPB BC: .141
EVATTAMMOMON IAOIGEN ae ras acces orca tenes mera es No. 7 2.200" OAL
PACKCISO BUNS AO SOC 542 se ests toate ea erecta saves Sugg
Hornady Mag-XTP HP #45220, 240 gr. Starting Velocity Pressure
Barnes XPB #45123, 250 gr. Powder Grains fps P.S.1.
32.0
Nosler Partition-HG HP #45260, 260 gr.
Enforcer 32.5
Barnes XPB #45105, 275 gr. N110 32.8
Speer Gold Dot HP #3974, 300 gr. 36.5 46,700
Gas puliels WSeGl te tes.4.05 lates
Bes (sized to .452” dia.) IMR-4227 35.5 43,600
*9as check bullet *#452490, 255 gr. 36.0 44,000
*#452651, 325 gr.
EEA OSC Reals eae eee Universal Receiver 260 gr. Jacketed HP
Barrel Pench qin ctaa earn eet @crsctae ea: TO" 2.175" OAL
BRIS there icon a oPaS ead Pa AEA te eka ey ec. FO One1-20”
Su 88
CGiOOVE OlAserceee et ee ee ee eee 451” Starting Velocity Pressure
AA 4100 32.8
Enforcer

Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate load. IMR-4227
275 gr. Barnes XPB BC: .215 300 gr. Jacketed HP
2.300" OAL SD: .193 2.160" OAL
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains DS PSit Powder Grains fps P.S.1.
AA 4100 31.0 AA 4100
Enforcer Enforcer
45,100
48,600 H110 34.0 1798
IMR-4227 IMR-4227
#452490 BC: .160 #452651

Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains PS.I. Powder Grains fps C.U.P.
Trail Boss 824 16,300
20,700 AA 4100 30,000
Enforcer
26,200 IMR-4227 33,800

480 Ruger
The 480 Ruger is the result of a joint
effort between Hornady and Sturm,
Ruger & Co, to develop a cartridge
filling the ballistic niche between the
44 Remington Magnum and the 475
Linebaugh. Like the Linebaugh, the
480 case is also based on the 45-70
featuring a smaller rim. Case length of
the 480 measures .120” shorter than
the Linebaugh and is best described
as a'"Special" version of the 475 much
like the 44 Special’s relationship to
the 44 Magnum or the 38 Special to
4oo
the 357. The 480’s lower maximum
average pressure of 48,000 PSI also 1.650
allow revolvers to chamber six
rounds, instead of the five normally
found with the higher 55,000 PSI
pressure level of the 475.
Loading for the big Ruger is no different than other

straight-walled pistol cartridges. Not surprisingly, the 325 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .149
cartridge worked best with the slower pistol powders 1.620" OAL
one would normally associate with magnum pistol car-
tridges. The Lyman technical staff test-fired a Ruger Sugg
Super Redhawk and none found it particularly unpleas- Powder Grains P.S.I.
ant to shoot. Its 91/2 inch barrel and 3 Ib. 10 oz. weight
no doubt contributed to its shooting characteristics.
40,500
CARES «NC ao Se aes Ong eee oe eee Hornady IMR-4227
Niitatonten culm reece Sah Len tm, a nee ae ies" H-4227 24.5
DIMIGISU eT eee ao «cen Shs, anGe ewes Winchester WLP Lil’/Gun
PAMARTMOIZ grt ora cunt cin axons x owes ace AA Large Pistol
isramomnelM Older 2.4. cn 'svo.e ss donk nese = Se No. 17
Test Specifications: 400 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .182

(Velocity & Pressure) 1.620" OAL
Firearm-Used -. Axe ttn oem. oe Universal Receiver Sugg
Balrer ken gthi 2. tot.0r. os vais teenage
aes ee ae Tile Starting Velocity Pressure
SINS eeetures eck cu Sect eah capa cease opiermnen ange ee 1-18"
GiOOVERD ia wera eae cet eee ea Ce 475" 2400 15.5 1036 36,200
N110 16.5 1072 33,900
Lil’ Gun 16.6 1124 37,400
AA#9 ilies) 1147 34,800
H110 20.1 1204 40,500
296 20.8 1211 40,500
275 gr. Jacketed HP IMR-4227 19.0 1005 = 37,900
1.650" OAL H-4227 19.0 1070 36,500
Su Max AA1680 21.5 937 34,600
2400 24.5 1475 37,400
Lil’ Gun
H110
296 40,200
IMR-4227 35,000 Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum.
Ze. 1455 33,900 Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate load.
5 Linebaugh
John Linebaugh introduced the 475
caliber wildcat cartridge bearing his
name in about 1987. It was original-
ly chambered in a Ruger Bisley
revolver fitted with a 5 shot cylinder.
The cartridge immediately challenged
for the title of "most powerful hand-
gun cartridge". The 475 Linebaugh is
based on a_ shortened 45-70
Government that is straightened to
accept 475 caliber bullets.
Data for this cartridge was developed

using Hornady cases. We do not rec-
ommend its use with modified 45-70
cases. All loads were shot using a
heavy roll crimp. This is necessary to
prevent bullet jump and to allow the
heavy charges of slow burning powder to ignite.
Hodgdon's H110 and Ramshot Enforcer showed excel-
lent consistency throughout our test program.

1.740" OAL SD: .206
Sugg
CDS 2 le nS 5a Hornady Powder Grains fps P.S.1.
ES ge le a 1.395" 24.3
SOS oe Sa ee a rr CCI 350 36,400
ES ee Se Large Pistol, Magnum Enforcer
Be MONO iso bode bs Suse ces he cee No. 17 Lil’ Gun
aC” TOTS aOS
Barnes XPB HP # 48010, 275 gr.
Hornady XTP/HP #47500, 325 gr.
Hornady XTP/HP #47550, 400 gr.
RifCAUmSeG Merete.
ss eral efis5Universal Receiver
2 LSS Og renga 73"
TRAST eevee
ne 1-18
400 gr. Jacketed HP

1.740" OAL
Sugg
275 gr. Barnes XPB HP BC: .155 36,700
1.810" OAL SD: .174 N110
Enforcer 37,600
Sugg ;
35,900
38,200
35,900
AA-4100
Lil’ Gun
41,800
_ 47,900
50 ActionE
Tie 50 Action Express is a very pow-
erful cartridge design to be fired in the
semi-automatic Desert Eagle pistol.
The Desert Eagle added the 50 AE cal-
iber in 1988. It was previously
offered in 44 Magnum. The 50 AE
uses a rebated rim of the same diame-
ter as the 44 Mag, thus making the
cartridge easier to adapt to the exist-
ing pistol. The 50 AE can fire a 325
gr. .500 diameter bullet at nearly
1400 fps, making it an excellent hunt-
ing handgun.
Recoil is heavy, but due to the weight

of the handgun and its gas-operating
system, recoil is controllable.
Slow-burning powders are required to generate enough

gas volume to properly cycle the gas-operated action.
H110, IMR-4227 and AA1680 all gave us very consis-
tent results during our testing.
300 gr. Jacketed HP
1.580" OAL
Sugg
Powder Grains p
2400 PAE 1094 a---
AA #9 21.8 (NCD =
Test Components: H-110 29.7, 1284 a
Gases mete reer. i Cala ve ea ek eae Mees Speer IMR-4227 28.8 (25 cee
STE OECOUES GSES: 2 OR ate ach area rae rare Ree 1.280" AA-1680 33.7 1174 —
Biel oweeea ee ehcp ce sce class 2 tise es ee ara CEE350
PLUREM ZC enee osc: ne oS Se Large Pistol, Magnum
Minar onclendoldcter.: ores. oUt edt. ors nee oak No. 7
PACK ELC MO UIIENS Ao)SEU wen raat cor ba coney acuiandrs aaaiimer sis
Hornady XTP HP #50101, 300 gr.
Speer HP #4495, 325 gr.

1.575" OAL SD: .186
Test Specifications: Sugg Max
(Velocity Only) Powder Grains Ds
BATA pO rh eee woe gE teoe! A rome: POA creseen Desert Eagle
Bet CMeMek sche igach meted a UR. Air teats ee 6"
IWiiSteeteropsktee ects eset ys cichs roe one oS hovekee eee 1-19" IMR-4227
LATOTES(2,ET DeRin a ge Ra es WS BOIS

The 500 S&W Magnum was devel-
oped by Smith & Wesson and Cor-
Bon Ammunition as the new "King of
the Hill " in big bore Magnum hand-
guns. Revolvers and ammunition
became available in early 2003 and
this soon proved to be the case.
Factory loads reached 1675 fps with a
400 grain bullet producing 2500 ft/Ibs
muzzle energy. These figures were
out of the original 8 3/8" barrel length.
Smith & Wesson now also offers mod-
els with 4" and 10 1/2" barrel lengths.
We used Starline brass designed for

large rifle primers to develop this
data. Do not use cases designed for
large pistol primers with this data.
Starline brass designed for large rifle primers has a "R"
after "Mag" on the headstamp to designate a large rifle
pocket. A heavy roll crimp should be used to prevent
bullet jump and allow for complete ignition of the slow
burning powders used. 275 gr. Barnes XPB HP BC: .14]
We have included Unique powder in our data as a 2.085" OAL SD: .157
reduced load option. These loads would be a good Sugg
option for reloaders seeking less recoil. VihtaVuori Starting Velocity Pressure
N110 powder gave very consistent results throughout Powder Grains fps P.S.I.
our testing with all bullet weights. **Unique
33,200
The Barnes 325 gr. and 375 gr. bullets exceed the indus-
try 2.100” OAL, however they will chamber properly in
Lil’ Gun 37,700
the Smith & Wesson revolver.
Enforcer 34,200
Test Components:
IMR-4227 35,400
re SSS. ee pee Starline
TED FalaSSE RS ace ie 6 1b"
RR sin
Roz Sia ewe ee ©aisle ie,sve CCI #200
PE SOFe i ae ee er Large Rifle
ye S| dg 162 aa re No. 17
Jacketed Bullets Used ...... Barnes XPB #50025, 275 gr.
Barnes XPB #50026, 325 gr.
325 gr. Barnes XPB HP
Sierra FP #5400, 400 gr.
2.290" OAL
Hornady FP/XTP #50105, 500 gr.
Sugg
ROTECRSUNTOLS SEO oo 5 chUh ao sole miloa chad(sized to .501" dia) Starting Velocity Pressure
#501680, 375 gr. Powder Grains fps P.S.I.
*Unique 35,400
AA #9 31,800
N110 35,300
Test Specifications: Enforcer 34,300
Sian WEE) oacoem coamocudeanees Universal Receiver 41,800
yi) Welly nce an cee) nea area aaa 10" IMR-4227
SVAS ee ne ae tas teh Sadat on, eiiend seltcvenece 1-18"
(GlrOOVElD lane eet iors eee Hoens 500"

**Designates a reduced load. ou
500 Smith
350 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .145 375 gr. Barnes XPB HP BC: .261
1.985" OAL SD: .200 2.280" OAL SD: .214
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains fps P.S.I. Powder —_ Grains fps P.S.I.
**Unique
Lil’ Gun
IMR-4227 H110
IMR-4227
400 gr. Jacketed FP BC: 185 500 gr. Jacketed FP BC: .185
2.050" OAL SD: 229 2.065" OAL SD: .280
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains fps PSL Powder Grains fps P.S.1.
**Unique 14.4 1032:, 37,400
Enforcer Enforcer DP 1257 38,300
Lil! Gun 25.0 1300 37,100
AA #9 26.0 1313 38,100
N110 26.0 1308 ~—-40,100
39,300 AA4100 26.0 1289 38,700
H110 294 1394 46,400
IMR-4227 IMR-4227. 29.7 1246 33,200
#501680
375 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.035" OAL SD: .213
Sugg =
**Unique
Enforcer
Lil’ Gun 29,300
IMR-4227

400 **Designates a reduced load.
i Qo
Pr
Introduction =
Ce
o
©
Lon4
This data was developed for use in the T/C Contender and Encore handguns. It can also be used in other single shot or
bolt-action handguns such as the Remington XP-100 and Savage Striker. Do not use these loads in any other type of
handgun.
Single shot and/or bolt-action handguns have become extremely popular with handgun hunters and silhouette shooters.
They are available in a wide variety of calibers, many of which are best known as rifle cartridges. These range from the
22 Hornet up to the 500 S&W. We have included reduced loads for several of the cartridges listed if a lower velocity
and recoil load is desired.
Maximum overall lengths as suggested by SAAMI can be exceeded in the Contender or Encore. We recommend using
the exact cartridge overall length shown for each specific bullet in this data section.
The data in this section cannot be used without a full understanding of what it represents or without complete reload-
ing knowledge. Any attempts to use this data without the necessary cautions, procedures and background knowledge
could be extremely dangerous, causing personal and property injury, even death.
22 Hornet
‘The 22 Hornet was one of the origi-
nal Thompson/Center Contender cal-
ibers and has had good success in this
handgun. It is a fine combination for
short range varmint hunting, provid-
ing a rather flat trajectory out to 100
yds with a minimal noise level.
Taurus has also chambered the

Hornet in their Raging Hornet™ 8
shot revolver. The loads shown in this
section are suitable for this revolver.
Case walls of the Hornet are quite thin

and easily crush if dies are not proper-
ly adjusted. The expander button
installed in the full-length sizing die
must be adjusted as low as possible
without contacting the inside bottom of the case to
avoid the case neck being jammed between the die
wall and the expander button.
40 gr. jacketed JSP BC; 122
1.722" OAL SD: .114
Sugg
ASSIA aM
ot Ach 1.4CoeSar ea eR Winchester Powder Grains fps
ANTEC CIASUhetails. «coc eae ea See an 15393)
PINIICNS PES rok oe een Winchester WSR
Piero ZO besa as cniahicwastepsitaie
Sota Pastner Small Rifle
LymialrshelliHtOldeng 0.6 oleae ant aan eee No. 4 IMR 4227
Jacketed Bullets Used .......... Sierra JSP #1200, 40 gr.
Hornady JSP #2230, 45 gr.
ci[<P] Hornady V-Max #22261, 50 gr.
vo Hornady A-Max #22492, 52 gr.
a GacsaBulels Used 2 eee...
wore (sized to .224" dia)
a Son
3 oF *#225415, 55 gr.
45 gr. Jacketed JSP BC: .202
1.722" OAL SD: .128
Sugg Map
Starting Velocity Pressure — Loa
Test Specifications: Powder Grains fps
7.0 1920
(Velocity Only)
Peat SECs ete tce aa ciaThompson/Center Contender UES)
Baclenein trian Cees cane Seas ouscaress mai eee 10" 9.8 2280
aLWSU teen cecor etek Leer... dewey een eeneae 1-14" IMR 4227 10.0 2062
(Groove Diam: are. - Fen. ae art pee 224" AA1680 We?

1.723" OAL
Sugg
Powder Grains fps

Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate load. IMR-4227
402
52 gr. Jacketed A-Max #225438 3d
Su Sugg
IMR-4227 IMR-4227
AA-1680.
#225415 BC: .162

55 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.694" OAL SD: .157
Sugg
Powder Grains fps
700X.

22 K-Horne
he 22 K-Hornet was developed in
1940 by former Lyman employee
Lysle Kilbourn. Lysle started with
Lyman in 1953 on our Technical Staff
and produced a number of Reloading 242
Handbooks over the next 12 years.
His K-Hornet was one of the first wild-
cats formed by fireforming the shoul-
der to a sharp angle and the body to a
fairly straight shape. Many other wild-
cat calibers have been produced
using this method since then. Forming
cases for the K-Hornet is easy, as all
that is required is to fire standard 22
Hornet ammunition in the K-Hornet
chamber.
There have been several versions of

the K-Hornet made through the years. The main differ-
ence is the length from the rim to the shoulder and
slight changes to the angle of the shoulder. The version
used for this data is 1.130" from the rim to the start of 33 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .079
the shoulder with a 35 degree shoulder angle. If a dif- 1.700" OAL SD: .094
ferent version is used, approach maximum loads with
caution and back off if any signs of high pressure are Sugg Mae ao
encountered. Powder Grains _fps a
7400 «9
In the Contender with a 10" barrel, we noted a gain of Lil' Gun o
about 200 fps from the K-Hornet in comparison to the
standard Hornet for most bullets weights.
IMR-4227
=v
oS
= [s)
cc Test Components:
> Ll COTES ne St SeeR ne. Winchester
RTO SUEMOUN tins. wedosckc 0 Ae aaledes oo Neen 1.390"
a.) RELerSteeee eee re ery ce cc ee Lt Aen ae ON WSR
Riis |ZOREARer setae te crane ste. Uees ne epee ee Small Rifle
Esra
eaDsS nv 113ace
(0721econ men ee mR Sig ue oe er No. 4
Jacketed Bullets Used ...... Speer TNT-HP #1014, 33 gr.
1.722" OAL SD: .100
Hornady V-Max #22252, 35 gr. Sugg i
Speer SP #1017, 40 gr. Powder Grains fps
(Casi BuilleteUWee0! 2 <an5cschcoessnad (sized to .224" dia)
*#225415, 55 gr. H110
IMR-4227
AA-1680 14.4 2645 we
(Velocity Only)
Firearm, Used 22. has ae okThompson/Center Contender
Beare OI ot ena tarmac Suva manne ite Seana Biecue are cee io
SRS sic day hacen Sess Coa ie oe A Area penne a ees dee 1-14"
SORE: DIA fo oar een tesa oe ts RE cp renee ao 224"

22 K-Hornet
40 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .144 50 gr. Jacketed SP ’ BC: .217

1.722" OAL SD: .114 1.795" OAL SD: .142
Sugg Sugg
Lil! Gun Lil’ Gun
IMR-4227, 10.8 IMR-4227
#225438 BC: .094 #225415 BC: .162

44 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.675" OAL SD: 125 55 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.694" OAL SD ib
Sugg Sugg
Gna
Lil' Gun
IMR-4227 _ IMR-4227
AA-1680

218 Bee
Winchester introduced the 218 Bee
in 1938. It was designed as a small
game or varmint cartridge that would
give performance a step above the
popular 22 Hornet. It was chambered
in the Model 65 lever action rifle.
Accuracy in the lever action rifles
ranged from very good to fair, but
often was not quite as good as a qual-
ity 22 Hornet bolt rifle.
Winchester later chambered their

Model 43 bolt action for the Bee. In a
good bolt or single shot, the Bee is
very accurate and offers a mild report.
In more recent years, Marlin and

Browning have chambered rifles for
the 218 Bee. Thompson/Center has offered their
Contender single shot handgun and Taurus has intro-
duced their Raging Bee, an eight shot revolver.
Since our data was fired in a single shot action, pointed 1.650" OAL
nose bullets can be used. The data is also safe to use in
Sugg
the Taurus revolver. Do Not use pointed bullets in a Starting Velocity Pressure
tubular magazine. In the Contender, we found the Bee Powder Grains fps
to give only slightly higher velocities than the standard 104
22 Hornet and not quite as fast as the 22 K-Hornet. N110 9.9
IMR-4198 powder did very well for us in our tests, H110 11.6
closely followed by IMR-4227. These would be good IMR-4227
choices to begin accuracy tests.
IMR-4198 14.0+ 2400
a")
= i
Ae)
=
a =
= bade Test Components:
(BASES Pree rar aide ais ee carer ciatea ate Winchester
pO RIP Vern ite tt eae ts Os cen aes P35?
RII CNS MEN SR Perse etree Aeon. si us ceaesus meee tecaleuetenae WSR
BniIMnecleSiZepeecesti tre a 5 ee Bae ae Small Rifle
EV INidiae Sel OMe
T ier ah oe ree pee ac, ceeeeee oa No. 10
jacketed’ Bulletssed cowcrese Ss ste ct tena ee cee
Hornady V-Max #22252, 35 gr 40 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .144
Speer SP #1017, 40 gr. 1.680" OAL SD: .114
Speer FN #1024, 46 gr. Sugg
Barnes VLC #22491, 50 gr. Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps
GacseBullets sedan. ear
ak nee (sized to .224" dia)
2400 10.4 2292 —
N110 eg, 2225 _—
*#225415, 55 gr. IMR-4227 17. 2163 —
AA-1680 13.5 2211 —
IMR-4198 12.6 2002 —
(Velocity Only)
PIPSANy SEC) ahs ne ivcane Thompson/Center Contender
BUTS ON RUNS olseyans oe etn etter ee ee eee 10"
ARGS Sak inh na eectyeeckd Saad A bees Rona oe ee ee 1-16"
CifCHvye Dicssc.< wietoaie aicny cee ee ee nee a ee 224"

46 gr. Jacketed FN BC: .094 50 gr. Barnes VLC BCXZV7
1.655" OAL SD: .131 1.680" OAL SD: .142
Sugg Sugg zi
Powder Grains Powder Grains Ds
2400 2400 9.0 2012 =
N110 9.8 2007 —- IMR-4227
IMR-4227 1.3
IMR-4198 12.6
AA-1680 12.6 IMR-4198
RX7
RG CEP Re
#225438 BC: .094 #225415 BC: .162

44 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.590" OAL SD: 7.125 55 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.595" OAL SD: .157
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains Powder Grains Ds
IMR-4227
IMR-4227
IMR-4198 IMR-4198
Qo
Pal
>=
6 =
Oo
=
(a>) 2

221 Remington
Remington introduced the 221 Rem.
Fireball in 1963 along with their XP-
100 bolt action single shot pistol. The
pistol had a "space gun" look to it
being equipped with a plastic stock
with diamond shaped inlays along
with a ventilated rib on the barrel.
Later, Thompson/Center also cham-
bered their Contender pistol for the
Fireball. The cartridge is quite accu-
rate and an excellent choice for small
game or varmint hunting. A year after
introducing the Fireball, Remington
then introduced the 223 Rem., which
would soon make the Fireball nearly
obsolete. It does however fit nicely in
the small niche between the 22
Hornet and the 223 Remington.
This is a fine cartridge with much longer useful case

reloading life than the 22 Hornet. It will actually best
the Hornet in most performance categories. This car- 45 gr. jacketed Spire Point
tridge is excellent for varmint hunting, particularly 1.820" OAL
when loaded with 52 grain bullets. IMR 4227 and IMR
Sugg 10" Bbl. 14" Bbl.
4198 are the best powder choices. Starting Velocity Velocity
Powder Grains fps fps
2400
Test Components: IMR-4227 13.0
Cease s SS beac BR Oe ero Ee ee. Remington IMR-4198 16.0
MRIGAEtOne tiCtidies eee eine. cet. eer enter Pea Maeseee
IT URATSRicte thc oades STE Es ge eae Remington 7'/2
PT ENe tp Zeer een sence Cae acre ane ete Small Rifle
Sa
bo Eviniatino el MOON ee cee, 2a NA Vn acest nt No. 26
a) Jacketed Bullets Used .......... Sierra SP #1200, 40 gr.
= WY
5,= Hornady SP #2230, 45 gr.
baked Hornady HP #2249, 52 gr.
52 gr. Jacketed HP
oS Gasteeullets- Wised!" 2. sinc sw outed ae (Sized to .224" dia.)
1.820" OAL
*Gas Check Bullets *#225415, 55 gr.
Starting Velocity Velocity
Test Specifications: IMR-4227 12.0
(Velocity Only) IMR-4198 16.0
Firearm Wsed) sis¢ seer ees Thompson/Center Contender
BrAallOte eration teaser tiend cetke 9 eee aoe ee (Gx
NIWiISTHEE ee ate ee eeha ae et ee eee eee 1-14"
GOOVENIDIa aiwsta sis eceshg areteirtoe ees oe eho esa ane 224"
#225415
55 gt. (#2 Alloy) 1.665" OAL
40 gr. Jacketed SP Sugg 10" Bbl. 14" Bbl.
Starting Velocity Veloci
1.725" OAL Powder Grains cea fi 2
Sugg 10" Bbl. 14" Bbl. Unique 43 1444
Starting Velocity Velocity 2400 11.0 1924 —
Powder —_—_ Grains fps fps
SR-4759 10.5 1779
IMR-4227. —- 13.0 2284
IMR-4198 16.0 2254
15.0 1605
The 223 Remington/5.56 NATO has
become one of the most popular and
versatile commercial cartridges in the
United States over the last forty years.
It works well with a wide number of
components and is easy and econom-
ical to reload. Remington introduced
this cartridge to the commercial mar-
ket in 1964 soon after its adoption by
the U.S. Army as the 5.56 NATO.
Much like the 7.62/308 and the earli-
er 30-06, ready availability of surplus
Gl brass nurtured its popularity. The
223 Remington has been chambered
for a wide variety of firearms over the
years including the T/C Contender
pistol. In addition to its military serv-
ice, the cartridge has been used for
varmints, small game and target shooting with great
success along with use by law enforcement agencies.
The 223 Remington should not be considered a deer
cartridge.
The 223 Remington has seen extensive use with heavy
2 2A OAL
bullets in recent years in conjunction with faster twist
barrels. However, the 1-14” twist of the T/C Contender Sugg j
requires use of lighter weight varmint style bullets for Powder Grains
peak performance. Both the 40 and 50-grain jacketed IMR-4198
bullets used showed a 400 to 500 foot per second
reduction in velocity compared to a 24-inch barrel. The
listed bullets will ably perform at these velocities due to IMR-3031
their construction. IMR-3031 has usually worked well
for jacketed bullets in the 223. AA-5744 produced good
Qo
accuracy with both cast bullets. Approach all maximum
loads with caution and back off powder charges at any ==
a
sign of high pressure. On
ae)
O'=
Test Components:
OS A ee Onn en ee Remington
DME rages Fos tc use A 2 here Poa nat L750:
Ne PE A cities elit 2 oo Sie ali oe typeRemington 7'/2
RE ran Picea ices ee he KE Sun Small Rifle 50 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .222
SCN TIOIOES 5 ss eae eee cena No. 26 pppiay Ole SD: .142
PRE OTCCRDUNEGNISOU hoes de eared ne team aine et Sugg sh
Powder Grains fps
IMR-4198
aeDUNES SCO civ cease eae aves (sized to .224" dia)
*pas check bullet *#225415, 55 gr. IMR-3031
*#225646, 55 gr. Benchmark
(Velocity Only)
PRCA SEO ok ahs a Thompson/Center Contender
2200S Sone ee ae ee ee ar Ce ie
TCISD AY Ge pe orev tee snelase.e as Bnew 8 Vay
CROCS DEES Gk Om chee ee 224
55 gr. jacketed SPT BC:..237 #225646
Su 88 5 Sugg
Powder Grains D Powder Grains
IMR-3031 6.0
AA-2230 225 2461
IMR 4895
IMR-4227
AA-5744
AA-1680 11.0 1629 —
#225415 BC: .162

55 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.060" OAL SD: .157
Su es
Powder Grains S
SR-4759
IMR-4227

50 Remington
The 22-250 was a wildcat caliber for
many years before Remington made it
a factory round in 1965. Its name
describes its origins as a 250 Savage
case necked down to 22 caliber.
While always popular as a wildcat,
the 22-250 really caught on once it
became a standard factory caliber.
The 22-250 Remington has been a

very popular varmint round for some
time. The full power jacketed loads
fired in the 15-inch barrel of the
Thompson/Center Encore produced a
velocity 400 feet per second less than
with a full-length 24-inch rifle barrel.
These velocity levels with the Encore
are still about the same as they would
be if fired in a 223 Remington with a standard 24-inch
barrel with equivalent weight bullets. Lubing the nose
grooves on cast bullet #225646 is optional. Approach
all maximum loads with caution and back off powder
charges at any sign of high pressure.
45 gr. Jacketed SPT BC: .210
2.310" OAL SD: .128
Test Components: ; State Velocity Pressure

CCG ONS 8 a Rn aa ee Winchester Powder Grains. _fps
Wineto Lengthy «.....2...+- Br seta Caer ee 1.902" IMR3031 310 2925 ca
RS inaiaknveresc ecte SsWinchester WLR KA-2930. 393 3469 =
PRUNE Wee eee aesaecle avesareMeornasvS lad arate etersLarge Rifle IMR-4895. 32.5 2859 =
EP OIEN SIOIGET. J...060 DR ASE See os No. 2 AA-2460 34.0 3238 cz
Jacketed Bullets Used ......... Sierra SPT #1310, 45 gr. Varget oo te Ro :
Sierra Blitz #1340, 50 gr. RX15 33.5 2949 xe :
Hornady V-Max #22271, 55 gr. **SR-4759 —-15.0 2138 ue ay
BSCS LISEO eeeocc ie we Soo (sized to .224" dia) *AA-5744 18.0 2133 = as
*gas check bullet *#225646, 55 gr. = ;
(Velocity Only)
PHOCANTAISSO see eed: Thompson/Center Encore
ee s0S olen Gator geet ewes oped 15% 50 gr. Jacketed SP BC: 222
PAPC.
RET eh airs fice pee epaie aa ae where wie nh sale 1-1 2" 7.310" OAL SD: 142
OTS G ED Ea Oars ar PE Re ea 224 Sle . =
; Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps
_ IMR-3031 30.0 2918 —
IMR-4895 33.5 3067 —
AA-2460 31.4 2867 —
IMR-4064 32.0 2804 —
IMR-4320 33.0 2992 _
H380 36.0 2825

**Designates a reduced load. Al]
=
-
is
55 gr. jacketed V-Max BC: .255 #225646 BC: .155

2.345" OAL SD:t157 55 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.350" OAL SDs 157
Sugg Sugg
IMR-4895 Red Dot hell 1790
SR-7625
SR-4756
SR-4759
**SR-4759 IMR-4227
**AA-5744 IMR-4198
AA-5744
=o
ve
a)
<
> adel
(Ss

The 243 Winchester is one of the
first cartridges to evolve from the 308
Winchester/7.62 NATO. The late
Warren Page was the gunwriter most 2.71
closely associated with the 243 as a
result of his experiments with necking
down the 308 during the early 1950s.
Winchester’s 243 immediately proved 20° ;
suitable not only for smaller varmints 473 0 (ape a aesAeee es ev eae
but also for deer sized game due to its Y
1 in 10” twist rate. The 1-12” twist of
Remington’s concurrently introduced
244 Remington limited it to lighter
weight bullets generally unsuitable for
deer.
The 80-grain jacketed bullet is intend-

ed for varmint-sized game. This bullet
showed about 400 foot per second difference when
compared to a 24-inch barrel. Approach all maximum
loads with caution and back off powder charges at any
sign of high pressure.
80 gr. Jacketed SP
2.655" OAL
CEE 2 sa rr i eae Remington Starting Velocity Pressure
RU CT ION eee Se air Te os Ok AS 20385" Powder Grains fps
HID SBE SS cree ae Se tone rtRemington 91/2 IMR-4198 27.5 2531 ao
MRSC e eR TR oe ots Sa 6 vis eleOns Wh see Large Rifle AA-2015 26.0 2035 =
ETO CMF AMIS Coan coestcinta i votes ce wate No. 2 IMR-3031 33.0. 2622
Jacketed Bullets Used .. .Hornady V-Max #22415, 65 gr. IMR-4064 34.0 —-.2433 es
Speer SP #1211, 80 gr. IMR-4320 36.0 2619 zal
**AA-5744. 19.5 1866 ae Ge_
Sierra FM) BT #1535, 90 gr. PA =
Hornady BTSP #2453, 100gr.

Qn
Ooo
Test Specifications: =
(>) =
(Velocity Only)
UGA LEAS 2's gee ae Thompson/Center Encore 90 gr. Jacketed FMJBT
PR RMA TNE MR N ye < 2)oye salbcaldob i naan Gala Meee 15 2.650" OAL
TUES go 2 20S, a, 2) g R 1-10" Sugg
al) ee oie. ted a Rae Meets + 8 243" Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps
H380
Varget
RX15
IMR-4064
IMR-4320

2.625" OAL SD: .157
S
staring Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains
IMR-3031 100 gr. Jacketed BTSP
IMR-4895 2.630" OAL
Varget Sugg
IMR-4064 39.6 2802 _ Starting Velocity Pressure
IMR-4320. Powder Grains fps
Varget 31.0 2282 —
H414 35l| 2270 a
IMR-4350 35.5 2139 _—
Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. ter
Note: RX19 B/S 2093 o
load.
Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate AA-3100 37.8 2056 os
25-06 Reminet
aS
Gunmaker Adolph O. Niedner first

necked down the 30-06 to accept
.257” diameter bullets during the
1920s. However, the slow burning
powders necessary to maximize the
performance of this round were sim-
ply not available at the time. The lack
of such powders handicapped many
wildcat cartridges based on 30-06
cartridges necked down to smaller
calibers. The post-World War Two
availability of slow burn propellants
changed all this. Such “overbore” car-
tridges now became viable. The 25-
06 was a rather popular wildcat for
many years before Remington legit-
imized it as a factory offering in 1969.
The 87-grain jacketed bullet showed approximately a 400

foot per second difference when compared to a full-
length rifle barrel. Cast bullet #257420 was originally
designed for use in the 25-20 and is suited to the veloci- 87 gr. jacketed SP
ty levels shown with the 15-inch barrel of the 25-06 3.096" OAL
Encore. Approach all maximum loads with caution and
Sugg MV
back off powder charges at any sign of high pressure. Starting Velocity Pressure |
Powder Grains ie

(Go TO ie bees ar Remington IMR-4320
SUSU CRAP aeARe VARene POMS ies tse OW le Sarat 2.484"
PEIN Aa esate goacoc hg Sie ae a ara Winchester WLR RX19
OM TeltosP45) Serie i eee en eee ee Large Rifle *SR-4759
—a-}) Promo MaOWICI eer 2 fac ec Se ee ee No. 2 A574
— =
Y © Jacketed Bullets Used .......... Sierra HP #1600, 75 gr.
—a) Hornady SP #2530, 87 gr.
~ & Sierra SP #1620, 100 gr.
: LL
@acr Bulle sed watotns
4s career a.(sized to .257" dia)
7S
3.155" OAL SD: .216
(Velocity Only) Sugg Mi
iret Ulsecimameny
sw. Gees. Thompson/Center Encore Powder Grains
BARRE UEGIN Mee RR orkut chee eeMaret Peas tint oegabs
IRINA ore. 5 Benes cocesciay rh Opene erie Rae oe Str 1-10" IMR-4320
IMR-4350

3.065" OAL SD: .162
Sugg via» es: #257420
Starting Velocity Pressure 65 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.815" OAL
Powder Grains fps
Sugg
IMR-3031 Starting Seal Pressure
IMR-4895 Powder Grains
Unique
SR-7625
SR-4756
SR-4759
IMR-4227
**Designates a reduced load. IMR-4198
Remington began development of
the 6.8mm Rem. SPC (Special
Purpose Cartridge) in 2002, and it was
approved by SAAMI in 2004. It was .2780
requested by, and developed with the
assistance of, US Army Special
Forces. The object was to develop a
round that would offer an increase in
lethality, particularly in the M4 car-
bine, compared to the standard 5.56
NATO round. Currently factory
ammunition is available with 110
grain and 115 grain bullets. When
fired in rifles, these bullets will pro-
duce approximately 2650 fps and
2550 fps respectively. When fired in
the shorter 14” Contender barrel,
velocities were reduced by about 300
to 350 fps. During our testing, we attempted to use
heavier bullets ranging from 130 to 150 grains. Results
were poor. The combination of a short barrel length and
heavier weight bullets, produced unstable flights with
bullets often entering the target sideways.
2.260" OAL SD: .168
Su 8S ;
Test Components: Powder Grains fps
ESE a Epes athcnK Remington IMR-4227
UNRINT LIORIT Re ecg. ce wre viii4.0 9 a's 0° wo Rene 1.676” IMR-4198
MN MI yo 9 hee lac 6 casino ns ood Remington 91/2
uimeMmECetgres Seats 2Csi Stats. 1.bE aye ota a deeaoe Large Rifle
rent AP IIAOIIET iia. Seok Ps Bs oe’ No. 15 AA-2230 _
Benchmark
X-Terminator 27.4
Speer HP #1447, 100 gr.
Hornady BTHP #2715, 115 gr.
¥
3109U
(Velocity Only)
Pe NU SOU enirtb nese T/C G2 Contender
<snes ige
SE ye 14”
TRIS @ oo 0 5 epee NRCC SRC eRe neon nieces 1-10” 2.260" OAL SD: .186
(CHGS (DIB <a 7s seme See es cae orca BA
Su gg \
Starting Velocity Pressure — Lo
Powder Grains fps
IMR-4227
» IMR-4198
Benchmark
X-Terminator 26.0

e
6.8mm Remi i” ¢
thee
110 gr. Jacketed V-Max 115 gr. Jacketed HP

2.260" OAL 2.230" OAL
Sugg Sugg
Powder Grains ps Powder Grains ps P.
IMR-4198 21.4 2164 a+ IMR-4198 20.0 2037 —---
RX10 I WEE — RX10 218 1963 —
AA-2230 25.6 2096 N133 23.4 2025 —-
Benchmark 25.3 2114 —— AA-2230 25.0 2068 ----
IMB-3031-. 05. 0054. == Benchmark 23.6 1985 =
X-Terminator 25.6 2116 ---- X-Terminator 24.3 2062 ----
H335 25.0 1993 --- H335 24.7 1969 —
IMR-4895 26.0 1944 ==
Bo
~
a=)
= iS)
5 lee
oS

ff Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate load.
The 270 Winchester has become
one of the classic American rifle car-
tridges over the last 75 years. It has
taken virtually every thin-skinned 3.340
game imaginable and provides end-
less debate as one half of the “30-06
Springfield versus 270 Winchester”
17° 30° tH
argument. Indeed, 270 Winchester 4 ae <s10- |}
dies have consistently been among
the top three in Lyman’s rifle die sales
for many years. Winchester intro- su
duced the 270 in 1925 in their Model
2.156
54 rifle. The cartridge is essentially a
2.540
necked down 30-06 with minor
dimensional changes. The .277”
diameter bullet was entirely new to
the shooting public. Some sources
indicate Winchester may have based
——______
this bullet size on an obscure prototype for a Chinese

military cartridge dating to the turn of the century.
The 270 Winchester has become synonymous with the

late Jack O’Connor of Outdoor Life magazine. His untir-
ing advocacy of the 270 Winchester loaded with 130- 3.090" OAL SD: .168
grain bullets established it as a potent, flat-shooting car-
tridge suitable most North American hunting situations. Su
Properly loaded, the 270 will do much of what the 30- Powder Grains fps
06 will do on all but the ,larger species in North
America.
AA-2700 50.5
Loads for both the 100 and 130-grain bullets showed a IMR-4350 52.0
nearly 500 foot per second difference when compared
to a full-length rifle barrel. Approach all maximum
Qo,
en
loads with caution and back off powder charges at any
= om
sign of high pressure. Q =
io)
= =
fq?)
Test Components: 100 gr. Jacketed SP

EEE op
| a a gn Winchester
Sf OAL SD: .186
EMC OLA ee Pe cinc.cies or ene op mS eae:
CM NOMTIS EI ris oc = age ed ee os dyeoe Winchester WLR Sugg
Ee a Ry ccia Psp rages J. oo eee rageLarge Rifle Powder Grains fps
SMAI IACIOE! vs ws Phiten eon eh Sera ene 6 tae No. 2 IMR-4895
Jacketed Bullets Used IMR-4064
Hornady SP # 2740, 150 gr. **SR-4759
**AA-5744
(Velocity Only)
Firearm Used Thompson/Center Encore
Se ME, orlsien eC one Rea a iPi Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum.
TRvaattetee <. ofeh eeeoeh eieg R REaPOe ate Siren Bee Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate load.
TEMES I eles ice ithcensre)Sacasnsuucncunie oi cncuayese st : +Designates a compressed powder charge.
**Designates a reduced load. 417
ay
we
130 gr. Jacketed SBT BC: .418 150 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .462
3.250" OAL SD: .242 3.285" OAL SD: .279
Sugg a Sugg
IMR-4895
IMR-4064 IMR-4350
**SR-4759
**AA-5744
-=e)
aS)
aS
SS ball
~

his is an extremely accurate car-
tridge primarily used for silhouette
shooting. It started out as a wildcat He
cartridge that was based on a modi- 470
= ae .308
fied 308 x 1.5" cartridge necked down
for 7mm bullets. In 1980, Remington
began chambering their XP- 100
473
Silhouette pistol for the 7mm BR and
offered special BR cases. These were
308 match cases equipped with a
small primer pocket, which required 1 geet
reforming to 7mm BR. Eventually, POU),
Remington began producing fully
formed 7mm BR cases for the
reloader. Our data was developed
using these factory formed cases.
We strongly recommend the use of

factory formed cases with this data. If reloader formed
cases are used, only the special Remington case with
the small rifle primer will be safe with this data.
Winchester 748 is a good powder choice.
Excellent accuracy can be attained with cast bullet

115 gr. Jacketed HP
2.225" OAL
#287641, which has a bore riding nose design.
Test Components: IMR-4198 23.3 —_ 2122
er re ees 6 6S cain pares oa WPS ENA Wale ikeRemington RX7 DO. — 2076
IMR-3031 26.4 — 1949
tr MON OMe p a. ei 7, VOT Sdn Oh aes oe T5110"
748 29.0 _ 2040
SONS Oy ey a ee Remington 7'/2
AN EEE eee ne x ob als Sis tee a Small Rifle
H-335
BL-C(2)
2h
28.6
—
—
2075
2060
go"
Buia Snel) OWer. 3.20 ond oe so TR ERE ee kt No. 2 Pri
Jacketed Bullets Used ......... Speer HP #1617, 115 gr. >=

CO-
Hornady SP #2810, 120 gr. =)
a
Speer SP #1623, 130 gr. fa)
NES NISED. 251. seein
ng sah (Sized to .284" dia.)
*Gas Check Bullets *#287641, 160 gr.
120 gr. Jacketed SP
2.240" OAL
Test Specifications: Sugg 10" Bbl. 14" Bbl.
(Velocity Only) Starting Velocity Velocity
CAUSE, (hy fe curiae inved’ ecw Remington XP-100 Powder Grains fps fps
Sunt tt ee ds eel ele etree ee 147" IMR-4198 22.0
See RCS eae
nectar 1-10" RX7
TRAVIS eras, Bee oe Sab Sia Rn ccs OueC serio oe
» IMR-3031
3257.73 De ee Re en em 284"

7mm Remingte
a:
130 gr. Jacketed SP 140 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .434

2.240" OAL 2.275" OAL SD: .248
Sugg 10" Bbl. 14" Bl. Sugg 10" Bbl. 14" Bbl.
Starting Velocity ee Starting Velocity Velocity
Powder Grains Powder Grains fps fps
IMR-4198 IMR-4198
IMR-3031 IMR-3031
748
BL-C(2)
IMR-4895
162 gr. Jacketed BTSP #287641 :

Sugg 10"Bbl. 14" Bbl. Sugg 10" Bbl. 14"Bbl. | Max 10" 14" E
Starting Velocity Velocity Starting Velocity Velocity
Powder Grains fps fps Powder Grains fi fps
IMR-3031
IMR-4227
IMR-4198
RX7
IMR-4895
=v
—
=)
=a)
a
> baked
0S

The 7mm TCU was developed by
Wes Ugalde for use in the
Thompson/Center Contender pistol.
This wildcat caliber is based on a 223
Remington case that is necked up to
7mm and fire formed to achieve the
40 degree shoulder and fairly straight
body shape. The cartridge became
very popular in the sport of handgun
silhouette shooting and was one of
the top selling Contender calibers for
a number of years.
Test Components:
OSs oo oi ree Federal
MIRE ete. oe mrs x apd xe Pues Pee hres 1.740" BC: 257
115 gr. Jacketed HP
MSE nates ts Sk. eo ble Se AV WSs Remington 6'/2 SD: 204
2.300" OAL
RZ Pitta Sele ho: Sig 3.0 2's)Sisgo.pene» ean Small Rifle
Sugg 10"Bbl. 14"Bbl. Max 10! A" Bb}
eRAEOME ACMOOT ys covimain ym< voctantie'd + eseervecs « No. 26 Starting Velocity Velocity
Jacketed Bullets Used ......... Speer HP #1617, 115 gr. Powder Grains fps fps
Hornady SP #2810, 120 gr. 2400 a7
Speer SP #1623, 130 gr. IMR-4227 16.5
Hornady SP #2820, 139 gr. IMR-4198 19.3
Merouininets USC 5... acess
ees snes (Sized to .284" dia.)
21.3
*Gas Check Bullets *#287346, 135 gr. goO
*#287641, 160 gr.
==
a xfs
fo) ~
=] om
Test Specifications: 4
(Velocity Only) 120 gr. Jacketed Spire Pt. BC: .350
PROQITSER 5.05555 oc ~ e Thompson/Center Contender 2.467" OAL SDs 213
OMRON. oioisive x Sct stess se10" and 14" Sugg 10"Bbl. 14" Bbl. | 14" Bbl.
TREE Soe nic2sGlhe ne GEORG SR eiecat aIaaa paeh Peririnc narcion 1-10" Starting Velocity Velocity
Powder Grains fps
SEE S|ne OE i ee IL Ae. arr Seek gear283"
IMR-4227
IMR-4198

130 gr. Jacketed SP BC: 394 139 gr. Jacketed SP
2.500" OAL SD: .230 2.500" OAL
Sugg 10" Bbl. 14" Bbl. Sugg 10" Bbl. 14" Bbl.
Powder Grains p : Powder Grains D 0
IMR-4227
IMR-4198 IMR-4198
IMR-3031
BL-C(2)
#287346 BC: .235 #287641 BC: .382

Sugg 10" Bbi. 14" Bbl. ; |4" Bol Sugg 10"Bbl. 14"Bbl. | 0" B
Powder Grains p Ds Powder Grains D
SR-4759 14.0 1449 1565
SR-4759 IMR-4227
IMR-4227 IMR-4198
IMR-4198 RX7 16.7

Attempts to improve the ballistics of
the 30-30 over the years resulted in
various “Improved” or wildcat cham-
berings. Gunwriter Ken Waters devel-
oped this cartridge during the 1970s
to give shooters of lever-action, tubu-
lar magazine rifles a flatter shooting,
higher velocity cartridge than what
was generally available. The 7-30 is
basically a necked down and blown
out 30-30 Winchester featuring a
shorter neck and approximately five
percent more powder capacity. U.S.
Repeating Arms commenced produc-
tion of Model 94 rifles chambered for
the Waters in 1983.
This modified version of the 30-30

Win. has gained some popularity, perhaps because of
the recent trend toward 7mm cartridges and bullets. The
cartridge is suitable for light big game at modest ranges.
The Thompson/Center Contender, being a single shot
design, allows the use of Spitzer bullets seated to a
length that exceeds the industry maximum of 2.550".
120 gr. jacketed SP BC: .326
Good powder choices are Winchester 748 and IMR
2.750" OAL SD: .213
3031. Sugg
Powder Grains fps
This data is meant to be used. in single shot handguns IMR-3031
only. Do not use it in tubular magazine rifles. H-335
BL-C (2)
Test Components: IMR-4895 Re
ESE Se SS Federal
Pri
UNMIS fee
eee ee ck ns ute ee OP 2.030" —
0 OE nae 5ae ere er ea ee CCI 200 ee) =
PS I ee ee Large Rifle Ce
On
=
Baranonell Holder =. ...... 05602. Cae Rese aeNo. 6

Jacketed Bullets Used ......... Sierra SP #1900, 120 gr.
eer ets VSO is no 9 5.2 Ses oe sv (sized to .285" dia)
*gas check bullet *#287346, 135 gr. 130 gr. Jacketed SP BC: 321
2.750" OAL SD: .230
Suge
(Velocity Only) IMR-3031 29.5
BHATT WISER 95 cn ke <os80 Thompson/Center Contender
PMU LENION Te cictee vo bn Sonaeln Hes oe eka e gle14
Re ety nines tien ie ne noe we Sain 1 9" BL-C (2)
OR GG UGS RIG NS ee n
eer eee 284 IMR-4895

140 gr. Jacketed SBT BC: .418 150 gr. jacketed SBT BC: .430
2.750" OAL SD: .248 2.750" OAL SD: .266
Sugg Sugg
IMR-3031 IMR-3031 26.2
IMR-4895
BL-CQ)
IMR-4895
160 gr. Jacketed HPBT BC: .394 #287346 BC: .235

Sugg, Sugg
IMR-3031 SR-4759 Rae Sew Se
AA-5744 20.0 1694 —_—
RX7 23.0 1901 —
IMR-3031 25.5 98: —
a H-335 26.2 1811 —
he 26.0 1847 _—
748 Sane 4 —
.c
ov)

3 Remington
Ie mingion introduced the 7mm-08
in 1980. It is basically a necked down
.054 .4540
version of the 308 Winchester. _ It
quickly became a favorite with the .3150 .3150
=
metallic silhouette shooters due to its
flat trajectory and greater accuracy.
The 7mm-08 ranks right near the top
among deer hunting cartridges. Jesse
1
The 7mm-08 has become popular for
High-Power, hunting, and metallic sil-
houette applications. The loads listed
below were worked up in a pressure
barrel and fired through both a 12 and
15-inch barrel. The 15-inch barrel
yielded velocities around 300 feet per
second below those listed for the full-
length 24-inch rifle barrel. The 12-
inch barrel showed a loss of one hundred to 175 feet
per second from the 15-inch barrel. Unique, SR-4759,
and AA-5744 all produced excellent ballistic uniformi-
ty with both cast bullets. Approach all loads with cau-
tion and back off powder charges at any sign of high
pressure. 139 gr. Jacketed SP
2.750" OAL
Sugg 12" Bbl.__ 15" Bbl.
Powder Grains fps Ds
IMR-3031 37.5 2162 2305
AA2460 37.0 2140 2398
IMR-4895 38.0 2160 2257,
Test Components: IMR-4064 —-38.0 2062 2173
ESS 2 (gl Oe Seer ae Remington **SR-4759 20.0 1717 1813
Ty FaS971 eS a aoe ea 2075) **AA-5744 23.0 1676 1777
SPEC sil SolOe a ar a area em Remington 9'/2
EM IITA Eh 2G gis hiareqs iat «en ai Large Rifle
REST ROHN igi d.c 3.5,Flees Gee whos ee as No. 2
Jacketed Bullets Used ....... Hornady SP #2820, 139 gr.
SO UNIS SER <n eae e ees Sa8% (sized to .284" dia)
*gas check bullet "#287346, 135 gr.
*#287641, 160 gr. 154 gr. jacketed SP BC: .433
2.800" OAL SD: .273
Sugg 12" Bbl. 15" Bbl. = May a
Test Specifications: Starting Velocity Velocity
(Velocity Only) Powder Grains fps DS
EREAMI IGG Geos ee ae anes Thompson/Center Encore IMR-3031
TEU NS C2 hee Mea APR ka 12" & 15" AA-2460
EER on Ma a A ee er rea 1-9" IMR-4895
MERGE CHUNAS Fi has Sic cis CO se oe Sash wo oe a ues 284" "IMR-4064 36.5
**SR-4759 22.0
**AA-5744 24.0

#287346 BC: .235 #287641 BC: 382
Sugg 12" Bbl. 15" Bbl. Aax 12" Bk 5 a Sugg 12" Bbl. 15" Bbl.
Powder Grains fps fps Powder Grains fps
Unique 12.0 1496 Unique 0 Be
SR-4759 59-3) SR-4759 21.0
IMR-4227 IMR-4227.
AA-5744 18.0
IMR-4198 IMR-4198
RX7

Winchester Center Fire (WCF) car-
tridge in their new Model 94 lever-
action in 1895. The rest is history.
Probably no other cartridge in North
America has put as much venison on
the table as the venerable old "thirty-
thirty". Although ballistically unim-
pressive by today's standards, the
lightweight, fast-handling rifles often
chambered for the 30-30 proved well-
suited to hunting the brushy wood lots
of the east coast and New England.
Even if it had faded into obsoles-
cence, the 30-30 would have earned
its place in history as the first sporting
cartridge to be loaded exclusively
with smokeless powder.
The 30-30 has been one of the more popular cartridges

used in the T/C Contender. Velocities obtained from the
14" barrel are fairly close to that of normal carbine
length rifle barrels. Recoil and muzzle blast are notice-
able, but are easily mastered with practice. 110 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .256
2.530" OAL SD: .166
When used in the Contender this is an extremely accu- Sugg ie
rate cartridge. Powder Grains fps
IMR-4198 25.0 2038
The 110 grain to 130 grain bullets are for varmints and IMR-3031 28.5 1854
plinking. This cartridge works very well with a number 35.5 1892
of powders including IMR-3031, Winchester 748 and
Reloder 7.
It is also very good with cast bullets, particularly rma
#311291. oe :ee
=)
125 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .277 = e
Test Components: 2.600" OAL SD: .188 o2
USS Loo ben epee Winchester
Sugg :
(OTIS) 1G SC? 2 eg gia es eee See 2.029" Starting Velocity Pressure
Wai, oRee Winchester WLR Powder Grains fps
OE ee tk Pes 0-58 8595 shay vanes Large Rifle IMR-4198 : 24.0 1909
OTE US oS 0)0: oa a mA or ce eaeNo. 6 IMR-3031 28.0 1893
jacketed Bullets Used ....... Hornady SP #3010, 110 gr. BoD 1907
Bae BWICISAISEO 2 oe oc eee vin re (sized to .309" dia)
*gas check bullet #5113591 15-eF
*#311291, 170 gr.
*#311041, 173 gr.
130 gr. Jacketed SP
2.620" OAL
Su 88
Powder Grains fps
Test Specifications: IMR-4198 23.0 1768
(Velocity Only) IMR-3031 27.5 1779
PICA WISER. ofa winnean a Thompson/Center Contender 748 35.0 1851
Bariel LENGHT occ nck oe eee de Sent sae n nee es 1a
eG Whe Mo dy itisnd clever Ne.he Oe es1 ie
TOON DOV Moin a ties ticle case nie ear sieraue 3087
30-30 Winche
150 gr. Jacketed SP #311359 BC: .181

Su 88 ; Sugg
IMR-4198 1935 1457
RX7 21.0 1595
IMR-3031 25.5 1602
748 33.0 1779 IMR-3031
IMR-4064 290) 1699
#311291 #311041 BC: .220

Sugg Sugg
Unique 7.0 1065 Unique 7.0 1084 —
SR-4756 7.0 962 SR-4756 7.0 980 _
2400 15.0 1459 2400 14.5 1425 —
SR-4759 14.8 1395 SR-4759 1525 1442 —
IMR-4227 16.5 1423 IMR-4227 17.0 1449 —_
AA-5744 18.0 1456 AA-5744. 17.0 1384 =
IMR-4198 18.0 1409 IMR-4198 18.0 1393 —
RX7 19.0 1761 RX7 20.0 1486 —
IMR-3031 22.5 1439 IMR-3031 DiS 1309 —
748 23.8 1429 748 25.0 1482 —

The 308 Winchester/7.62 NATO is i
one of the most versatile and popular
center-fire rifle cartridges ever made.
It is the end result of the U.S. military’s
=oeceeaaian
experiment with shortened 30-06 car-
tridges during the late 1940s. It will
do much of what the 30-06 will do
with bullets up to 180-grains.
Winchester introduced the 308 as the
civilian counterpart to the 7.62 NATO
in 1952, several years before its adop-
tion by the U.S. military. The 308 has
been chambered in every conceivable
type of rifle as well as the T/C Encore ileal
pistol. It has spawned a family of stan- 2.015
dard cartridges and wildcats too
numerous to list.
Ps ee al
Cast bullet #311359 produced excellent ballistic unifor-
mity with all powders listed. Cast bullet #311672 and
#311332 are ideal candidates for metallic silhouette.
AA-5744 also produced good results with the reduced
load for the 165-grain Partition and bullet #311332.
Approach all maximum loads with caution and back off
2.603" OAL SD: .166
powder charges at any sign of high pressure.
Sugg
Grains fps
Test Components:
OE NS a a Pan Remington
MEMOIR ey an cs ba edi ae bee ws 2.005"
TMI Ears @ envi eo Ne ee os Remington 91/2 Go
SUN ol. ge ie hr a Large Rifle Pri =
Pe LOUIS? on ee ct ce cee ts re oon No. 2 a
Jacketed Bullets Used ......... Sierra HP #2110, 110 gr. OQ
(=>)
=¥
Hornady SP #3020, 130 gr. = =
(q>) 2
Speer SP #2025, 150 gr.
eaet US WSCC. . nace ns se Te eos (sized to .308" dia)
*#311672, 160 gr.
*#311332, 180 gr. 130 gr. Jacketed SP BG35295
2.690" OAL SD: .196
Su 88
(Velocity Only) -IMR-4198
PIGAIIAO SEO ca auicr wie eense Thompson/Center Encore AA-2015
PCIE RICH gestist cz ss eso iv = Wied ole SOM a 1 5" Benchmark
eR os avascecans. vce AE oe wrerahebhe ois’9r31-10" IMR-3031 42.0
FORTE ee enoe e ee Ten 308 IMR-4895
Varget
**SR-4759
**KA-5744

**Designates a reduced load. 429
135 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .294 150 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .301
2.725" OAL SD: .203 2d50 OAL SD: .226
Sugg Sugg .
Powder Grains ps Powder Grains ps
IMR-3031 IMR-4198
IMR-3031
AA-2230
IMR-4895 IMR-4895
165 gr. Jacketed Partition BC: .410 #311359

Su Sugg
Powder Grains Powder Grains Ss
IMR-3031 10:00) 1547 —
Green Dot 11.0 1605 —
IMR-4895 : 12.0 1668 —_
SR-7625 12.0 1599 —
Herco 14.0 1805 —
**SR-4759
**AA-5744
Encore
&
.
#311672 #311332 BC: .320
SD: 241
Sugg
Powder Grains Powder Grains i
Unique 12.2 1429 —
SR-7625 SR-7625 (eS) 8 G27. 59 wee
2400 SR4756 = 13.0 1404
SR-4759 2400 aes (ese
IMR-4227 SRATGG 85 Te
AA-5744 20.0 IMR-4227_ 25.0 1764 —
IMR-4198 AA-5744 21.0 1522 =
IMR-4198 26.5 —_-:1797 =

The 30-06 has been America's most
popular rifle cartridge for about 100
years. As a military cartridge, it
served the United States well in both 3.34
World Wars and Korea. In civil guise, —
it has hunted all of North America and
most-if not all-of the rest of the world.
It is available in most action types, ee? ey
including bolt, pump, semi-auto, 473
lever and single shot rifles, as well as
the T/C Encore single shot handgun.
A member of Lyman’s technical staff

described recoil of the Thompson/
Center Encore with the 15-inch 30-06
barrel as “moderately heavy” with full
power jacketed loads. Those seeking
milder practice loads can utilize the
reduced loads with SR-4759 or AA-5744. Data listed
for the 170-grain Hornady FN bullet will duplicate, and
sometimes exceed, the ballistics of a 30-30 Winchester
with a 24” barrel. Cast bullet #311359 is a good choice
for casual plinking. Cast bullet #311672 and #311644
110 gr. Jacketed HP
are good choices for metallic silhouette shooting.
3.000" OAL
Approach all maximum loads with caution and back off
powder charges at any sign of high pressure. Sugg
Powder Grains Ds
RX7 37.0 2296 —
H335 45.0 2574 —
IMR-3031 47.0 2567 —
BS i NN ang Winchester 748 51.0 2640
MEM ia) ci) igor dois 8a walsiere2.484"
PMTTGIG o:6 2:4 ORR eee Winchester WLR
ETE SS7ZSy ee Ae ae ec Large Rifle
PAR tN FIOIIOR on oo. fans ee ene Sale 3 No. 2
Jacketed Bullets Used ......... Sierra HP #2110, 110 gr. F
3109U]
Hornady FN #3060, 170 gr.
A EBUNES (SEO iia
d ces emis ne (sized to .308" dia)
*gas check bullet #4311359, 115-9r.
*#311672, 160 gr.
*#311644, 190 er. 135 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .294
3.200" OAL SD: .203

MM
ie
(Velocity Only) Powder Grains DS
Pe CRE pete cisican sies6 2a Thompson/Center Encore . IMR-3031
PONV ace hoe cca oh oe een ne Sed eae 1 3" H335 46.0
ete ye ese ae arp 9 9)ok we Bins # uanee we ions 1-1 0" IMR-4895
MOU ANE dds aos oa cw ae ee eee eee ee 3075!

Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurate load. 43]
150 gr. Jacketed RN BC: .227 170 gr. Jacketed FN
2.970" OAL SD: .226 3.000" OAL
Sugg Sugg
IMR-3031
IMR-3031
IMR-4895 IMR-4895,
**SR-4759
**AA-5744 **SR-4759
**AA-5744
#311359 BC: .181 #311672 BC: .245

115 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.909" OAL SD 73 160 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.050" OAL SD: .241
Sugg Sugg
Green Dot
SR-7625 IMR-4198
Bohe
a)
=")
a &
#311644
190 gr. (#2 Alloy) 3.075" OAL
Su 88
Powder Grains fps
Unique
SR-4756
SR-4759

Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accu rate load.
432 **Designates a reduced load. :
The 357 Magnum was one of the
original cartridges chambered by the
Thompson/Center Contender. It has 379
been a popular choice for hunting
deer as well as competing in metallic
silhouette matches.
Lacking the cylinder gap of a revolver,

the Contender pistol will deliver a
higher velocity from the identical bar-
rel length.
060
Do not use 357 Magnum loads in 38
Special cases as very dangerous pres-
sure will result.
Bullet #358156 is extremely popular

for heavy loads. Bullet #358156 a
closely duplicates the factory 158 grain semi-wadcutter.
The Elmer Keith design, bullet #358429, is an excellent
choice for hunting.
Heavy loads work well with a wide range of powders 1.590" OAL $D33123
but you might want to try 2400 for your first accuracy
tests. Bullets may be seated in tune with the individual Sugg Max ee
Starting Velocity Pressure Load ity Pressure
Contenders rifling since there is no other constraint with Powder Grains fps - Grair Milnes
regard to maximum overall cartridge length. Unique 74 1334 —
AA#5 11.0 1832 _
Blue Dot 10.0
2400 (3%
IMR-4227 14.8 1446 —
Test Components:
CASS oy on URS ee Federal Be
EATER ke)? ypheel ye a SS eee 1.280" Pm
ROG ey oa ie1cbens migra yore s aa CClpe50 =)
(=) =
ION Fy oh ko rs ne diecast el Small Pistol, Magnum 125 gr. jacketed HP i)
BIWIANY SIM FIGIOET cca ca ese cates nee e ee No. 1 =e
1.590" OAL
Pee NEESER) 5 a td Se ee bhi beretas is es
Hornady HP/XTP #35700,110 gr. Sugg ia: eee. ee
Starting Velocity Pressure Le
Hornady HP/XTP #35710, 125 gr. Powder Grains fps G
Speer JHP -SWC #4205, 146 gr. Unique 70 1261
Sierra JSP #8340, 158 gr. AAHS ~ 10.6+
Hornady JHP, #35771, 180 gr. Blue Dot 10.4
GaceBunletWsed cc... 20552 cee esas (sized to .357" dia) N110 14.5
*gas check bullet #356242, 120 gr. Te ee ce
*#358156, 155 gr. H-110 21.0
#358429, 170 gr. IMR-4227 15.6
*#358315, 204 gr.
| 146 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .159
(Velocity Only)
PREC WISER 3. cae cess aes Thompson/Center Contender 1.590" OAL SD: .164
LENO os ah its yo wee eek Fars eee ede bee 10"
CEE oth, Be eA gt oe a ere era I ag ie Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure
356 Powder Grains fps __ Grains l
NOONE Ree fn een esa eR en Mees
Unique 62. 4108 — [eats Ba
AAHS OS 6s Cal ee
Be Dor 1 795 1335 — ee eee
AA#7 10.8 1277 — _— aor
N10 145) 5500) ee
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. 2400 1.0 1183 £=x— (ere
e load.
Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurat IMR-4227 1441167 _ ae o1355
158 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .161 180 gr. jacketed HP
1.590" OAL SD: .177 1.585" OAL
Sugg Sugg
Starting Mes Pressure Starting woot Pressure
Blue Dot 8.4 At ma =
9.6 AA#9 diez 1225 —
10.0 1129 —
H-110 13.9 1305 —-
IMR-4227 Ue 1093 i=
IMR-4227
ae Past
#356242 BC: .154 #358156 BC: .213

Sugg Sugg
Starting Velocity Pressure Starting yout Pressure
Power Pistol 9.9 Blue Dot 8.5
&
Encore
#358429 BC: .286 #358315

Sugg Sugg
Starting Velocity Pressure Starting Netocity Pressure
Blue Dot 8.3 Blue Dot 9.0 1225
2400 9.7 2400 12.0
N110 1233 H-110 15.8 1442

nington Maximum
The 357 Remington Maximum was
introduced in 1983, with Remington
producing the ammunition and Ruger
chambering their Blackhawk revolver
for the cartridge. The cartridge is basical-
ly a lengthen 357 Magnum loaded to a
slightly higher pressure level, and was
designed for silhouette competition and
handgun hunting. Dan Wesson and
Thompson/Center chambered handguns
for the round, as did a hand full of other
companies. The cartridge never really
took off however when it was found that
revolvers would suffer from excessive
gas-cutting of the top strap after about
1000 rounds were fired. The
Thompson/Center Contender, being a
single shot design, does not have this
issue.
Do not use 357 Remington Maximum loads in 357

Magnum cases as very dangerous pressure will result.
This cartridge will get all that can be had out of this basic
1.910" OAL SD:5177
case style with 0.357" handgun bullets.
Sugg 10"Bbl. 14" Bbl. Max 10" Bbl. 14" Bbl.
Starting cee Velocity Load Velocity Velocity
Powder Grains s fps Grains
2400 145. 1516 ~—-1554 17.2 1669 1754
RX7 20.0 1389 1477 es]
[.[ oree
Vie ee Se
H-110 170 1519 1635 205 1715 1769 oe
Test Components: rae) ,
CASS Se col ey Remington on
eRe hon. oo vd coon vnc Rose eens 1.600" s S ;
CICLO rs ooo a Nas as eee Remington 6'/2; CCI 450 S a
PRIEE OIZE Trica selene «Small Rifle; Small Rifle Magnum =5
ra OTC FIGICEL fi cc.2 52g hoe een Pe ees ewe 8 No. 1 os
Jacketed Bullets Used ..... Hornady JHP #35750, 158 gr. @
Sierra SIL FM) #8350, 170 gr. a
Cast Bullets Used 0... eee ss (Sized to .357" dia.)
...0.. ee aoa SIL FM) eeae
*Gas Check Bullets *#358156, 155 gr. ; vn wn - me
ugg " Bbl. " Bl. Max : bl. 14" Bbl.
#358429, 168 gr.
"#358315, 204 gr. powder Gane te ee!
2400 13.0 1306 1380 160 1603 1669
: : RX7 19.5 1310 1404 23.0 1657 1674
Test Specifications: IMR-4227, 160 1384 1375 190 1589 1651
(Velocity Only) "H-110—s 16.0 ~—=s«1503 1542 o\nng7 Sunt zaG
Firearm Used 2, oh Aah C ORCC OR) Thompson/Center Contender iS Le ae, SSS gays 2 a ae a ee ars
CUMIN ore 4.6dds oecaren ae10" and 14"

acces
TRADE! 2 a Ree sete nee een ae ae 1-14"
Ts NEE |DE i) a Pe EC B57"

357 Remington
Pe
180 gr. Jacketed JTC SIL #358156 BC: .213

1.890" OAL 155 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.895" OAL
Sugg 10"Bbl. 14" Bbl. Sugg 10" Bbl. 14" Bbl.
Powder Grains fps fps Powder Grains fps fps
2400 Blue Dot
IMR-4227 14.0
IMR-4227
#358429 #358315
**2400 12.0 1238 1337,
= V **RX7 18.0 1267 1404
a **IMR-4227 14.5 1267 1378
ae)
= IMR-4227
tS
ag bbs!
a.)

**Designates the use of CCl 450 primers.
The 44 Remington Magnum is the
product of Elmer Keith's experimenta-
tion with high-pressure loading in the
44 Special during the early 1950's.
Smith & Wesson first produced
revolvers for in 1955 and Sturm,
Ruger & Co. soon followed. The 44
Magnum has since been offered by all
the major handgun manufacturers and
most of the smaller ones as well. The
44 Magnum requires practice for the
average shooter to shoot well due to
its noticeable recoil and muzzle blast.
Many new owners of 44 Magnums
fire 44 Specials in their revolvers to
acclimate themselves to the gun or for
use as a general purpose target load.
The 44 Magnum was an early offer-
ing in the Contender line with a 10" barrel. In 1978 it
was Offered in the Super 14 barrel. The 44 Magnum is a
favorite of silhouette shooters, due to its high accuracy.
This is one of the more popular Contender cartridges

and it will fill a broad range of applications. 180 gr. Jacketed HC
1.610" OAL
Bullet #429215 is extremely popular. However, all cast Sugg 10" Bbl. 14" Bbl.
Starting Velocity eae
bullets designs generally work well. Powder Grains fps fps
Unique 12.0 1474 1505
IMR 4227 and Alliant 2400 are suggested for combin- AA#5 12.8 1448 1497
ing maximum accuracy with full power loads. Blue Dot 17.8 1570 1639
2400 21.3 1424 1481
*H-110
ee si le awere Ee eerRemington
EEN Tae yess gh Gok coogi oe BO pve we i275
217bySe ate a CCI 300 & 350
2) Ses 4 ee Large Pistol, Std. & Magnum
MUTATE SIEM NONGEN om ren tee aids os oe ee prea No. 7
Jacketed Bullets Used......... Sierra HC #8600, 180 gr.
Hornady FP #4300, 265 gr.
mrerhiets USER. oe. g. ed viewsoe ¥(sized to .430" dia)
*gas check bullet *#429215, 210 gr. 200 gr. Jacketed HP
*#429244, 255 pr. 1.610" OAL
*#429650, 300 gr. Sugg 10" Bbl. 14"Bbl. |Max 10"Bbl. 14"Bbi._
Starting Velocity Velocity —_ Load Velocity rage
. Powder Grains fps fps
Unique (en PCa Ps 44981567
Test Specifications: 800X 12.0 1412 1488 149 1646 :AVA
(Velocity Only) BlueDot. 15.7 1388 1421 BGG eats
Prrearmy USER I ose t... es Thompson/Center or AA#7 18.0 1503-1524 20.0 1678 ~ 1706 i
DAMEN LONG 24 aie s ob viele mee nis aoe a 10" and ee 2400 195 1324 1444 23 1562 1656
AGT ii caf usnn Gets fo S0nlen a son)tyme 1-22" *H-110 27.7___ 1807 —«'1894_ 28.8 1876) 19975
ee chew ale doa elolin win whe Beas Poucecba 430
LD
BSN IMR-4227 22.8 1353 1446 eee 1630 =:1709

*Designates use of a magnum primer.
240 gr. Jacketed HC 265 gr. Jacketed FP
1.610" OAL 1.650" OAL
Starting vovoctty bhai Starting Velocity urea
Powder Grains Powder Grains fp
Unique 8.0 920 =
Blue Dot 800X 10.7 1181 1248
BlueDot 12.6 1151 1172
N110 16.6 1224 91252
IMR-4227 2400 16.5 $228, 1256
AAHS 18.0 1336 1377
*H-110 20.5 1368 = 1413
IMR-4227. 17.5 1015-1037
300 gr. Jacketed SP BC: .230 #429215

Sugg 10" Bb!. 14" Bbl. Sugg 10" Bbl. 14" Bbl.
Starting Velocity Velocity Starting veloc aieah
Unique 10.0 1263 1 ae
800X 12.0 1426 1499
AA#7 Ae 1405 1506
Blue Dot 14.9 1372 1443
IMR-4227 19.3 1398 1542
i?) 2400 19.8 1479 1524
= he
A=) IMR-4227 21.8 1314 1403
—a)
~ &
> badd
oS
#429244 #429650 BC: .165

Sugg 10" Bbl. 14" Bbl. Sugg, 10" Bbl. 14" Bbl.
Starting Nelocity Nelocity Starting Veoct ves
Powder Grains Powder Grains u ¥
8.9 1111 Herco 8.1
Blue Dot
IMR-4227 16.5
IMR-4227

438 *Designates use of a magnum primer.
45 Colt
In 1873 Colt introduced the 45 Colt
in the famed Model 1873 Single
Action Army. The original loading
propelled 255 grain lead bullet with
40 grains of black powder around 900
ft. per second. The 45 Colt is also
known mistakenly as the 45 Long
Colt. In contrast to several offerings
from Colt, i.e., 32 Short/Long, 38
Short/Long, 41 Short/Long, there was
never a 45 Short Colt.
The 45 Colt was an early offering in

1.285
the Contender. Due to lack of a cylin-
1.600
der gap, the 45 Colt is improved when
fired from a Contender rather than a
revolver.
Shooters must be careful in regard to this cartridges

small diameter rim. The rim may tear off if excessive
force is applied during the reloading process. Unique is
a long time favorite for loading the 45 Colt, especially
with cast bullets. Data fired through the 15-inch Encore
barrel showed little or no velocity gain compared to the 200 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .138
1.580" OAL SD: .140
10-inch Contender barrel due to the long chamber con-
figuration to accommodate the 410 shotgun shell. Sugg 10" Bbl. 15"Bbl. Max 10" Bbl. 15" Bbl.
Starting Velocity Velocity Mise batadh Velocity,
Powder Grains fps fps i
Shooters using the 15-inch 45 Colt/410 barrel must Unique Tee 1279 1169 cre MBS HI
remove the internal choke before firing 45 Colt ammu- Blue Dot 12.8 1030 855 SB 305 1087
nition. Bullet #452424 is the Elmer Keith design and 2400 19.0 1161 1029 RES eertsienr 21502
has proven very popular over the years. IMR-4227, 188 1080 855 235 1341 1099
Test Components:
9
=e +
=
TASS 0 ane a or ey eee Winchester
Pam
RSS 6 a
le ne weal tks on IE op ee eS 1275"
ne ee Winchester WLP
3100U
aOR ce ae os Bee wince So'sLarge Pistol
eas SiestaINS [0 ere a ne ar No. 11
Jacketed Bullets Used ... Speer Gold Dot #4478, 200 gr.
pus
gic
Hornady HP/XTP #45200, 250 gr. 240 gr. Jacketed HC BC: .150
Cast Bullets Used he ee ae (sized to .452" dia) 1.580" OAL SD: .168
*gas check bullet #452424, 255 gr. Sugg 10"Bbl. 15" Bbl. Max 10" Bbl. 15" Bbl.
"#452651, 325 gr. Powder
Starting
Grains
Velocity
fps
Velocity
fps
seas
Grains
Velocity Velocity
Unique = 9.51096 = 1055.12.55) 1354 =:1378

Test Specifications: Blue Dot 11.8 973 754 148 1214 1127
(Velocity Only) 00 AOS ASS. 1207 23.0 1472 1483
Firearm Used Thompson/Center Contender IMR-4227 205 (1179 ~—s«1061Ssea AS aos
and Encore
she's10"-Contender and 15" Encore
Barrel Ceneti | a sissies
TRS, oe eee 1-24" Contender and 1-16" Encore
(GHOGNEIBDIER Asis ooo Oh eo ene bie coces eo cieecions A452

45 Colt
250 gr. jacketed HP BC: .146 #452424

1.590" OAL SD: 175 255 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.630" OAL SD: .178
Sugg 10"Bbl. 15"Bbl. | Max 10" Bbl Sugg 10"Bbl. 15"Bbl. Max 10" Bbl. 15"B
1027 966
Blue Dot 946 796 Red Dot
1060 1065
IMR-4227 1196 971 SR-7625 8.0
#452651
325 gr. (#2 Alloy) 1.585" OAL SD: .227
Sugg 10" Bl. 15" Bbl. 10" Bol. 15"
Red Dot
SR-7625
:=?)
—a
vo
—ae)
~ &
Ou

«454 Casull
Pre 454 Casull is a very powerful
cartridge designed by Dick Casull for
handgun hunting. The 454 Casull is
based on a lengthened and thickened
45 Colt case. It uses small rifle
primers, preferably Magnum primers,
to ignite the heavy charges of slow-
burning powder.
Shooters who like the 44 Remington

Magnum should love the 454 Casull.
The following data was worked up in
a pressure barrel and fired through a
Thompson/Center Encore for velocity
readings. This provided on average an
increase of 50 to 150 feet per second.
Cast bullets should be produced from
linotype or its equivalent. Refer to the
454 Casull data in the previous section for additional
information.
Test Components: 240 gr. Jacketed HP

DS oa | Rs Eee ge, a Winchester 1.745" OAL
Retry NA Be see WP, fc aes foe a eee 1.380" Sugg ia
RMN rae Nee ee releeae< feta Ae ae hola wale oldsCCI 450 Starting Velocity Pressure —
Ae yd i »....Small Rifle, Magnum Powder Grains fps
BONA NICH FRONIEE feoi ace os Gat be ee Ree No. 11 N110 26.8 1682 _
Reh Peere ENS CISON cic noe ioe Ske dhe eeehe dees 2400 28.0 WA —
AA#9 2h 1862 —
Hornady Mag XTP HP #45220, 240 gr.
IMR-4227 B23 1673 —
Hornady Mag XTP HP #45235, 300 gr.
STIL 8 os (sized to .451" dia)
*#452651, 325 gr.
9
3109Uq
250 gr. Barnes XPB

(Velocity Only)
Sugg
PAPO AIT SU & spine e-<e-s so 3.shoThompson/Center Encore Starting Velocity Pressure
Bae OEE) aici e Lin owas dyes ser Pee 2 hr Ha 2 12 Powder Grains fps
eR R28 8 3 Sk ip gk re om 2 blogg ied ake 8 1-16" 2400 24.7 1578
Thre 0) eae eee ere A51" Enforcer 26.6
IMR-4227 28.5
> 296 31.0 1767 --

—

255 gr. (Linotype) 1.760" OAL
Startrg Velocity
Sugg
Grains D
IMR-4227 29.4
325 gr. (Linotype) 1.755" OAL
m:?)
hn
AA)
=a)
bbl

Smith & Wesson introduced the 460
S&W Magnum caliber along with their
Model 460XVR revolver in 2005. The ini-
tials XVR stood for “extreme velocity
revolver”, and this is certainly what it is.
In our testing we found that the 460 S&W
produced 300 to 400 feet per second
greater velocity than the 454 Casull with
similar weight bullets. Of course, to reach
these velocity levels requires burning
large volumes of powders at rather high
pressure levels. The Thompson/Center
Encore is a well built handgun and is fair-
ly heavy, however, recoil and muzzle
blast are severe. This is not a beginners
handgun. 460 S&W firearms do have the
advantage of being able to fire 45 Colt
and 454 Casull ammo if lighter loads are
desired. When handgun hunting with full power loads,
the 460 is flat shooting and very hard hitting. It’s capa-
ble of taking a variety of big game up to and including
dangerous game. Only strongly constructed bullets
capable of handling the velocity and pressure level of
this round should be considered for hunting loads. Even 240 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .160
2.160" OAL SD: .168
though this is a single shot handgun, a heavy roll crimp
should be used to allow for complete ignition of the Sugg Max
slow burning powders used. Powder Grains fps Grains i
AA 4100 36.0 ZT, —- 40.2 2220 ae
Enforcer 37.5 2140 --- 41.5 2204 =
N110 39'5 2194 ase A40+ 2343 aoe
H110 43.5 2200 — 48.0 2386 as
IMR-4227_ 425. «2063s se ge
Test Components: Lil’ Gun 46.0 2242 a — 51.0+
[ad 2390 —
Ue Nocera) _
WES, se oe ea oe Starline fa
RUNES MOTO oes oso terre d iis Sa wes 1.7900 io)
o
AUG CS 2 a a Winchester WLRM =
ESTEVES 72 nateaera Large Rifle, Magnum fa)

Priiaieied FIGIGEh coor ca ees sao tee No. 7
Be CAE PMCS RISER oie oscd de ke erk) wud 2 Seo oR
Hornady Mag-XTP HP #45220, 240 gr.
Nosler Partition-HG HP #45260, 260 gr.
Speer Gold Dot HP #3974, 300 gr. 250 gr. Barnes XPB BC: .141
nsineclletsWSeGio coe cn (sized to .452” dia.)
se aac. 2.200" OAL SD: .176
*pas check bullet *#452490, 255 gr.
Sugg Max
*#452651, 325 gr. } Starting Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure
Powder __Grains__fps_—s—— iam
AA 4100 32.0 1972 — 35.5 2055 ==
Entorcer = o2.9 6 5 1949 36.0 2059 a
NI ] 0 32 8 1 965 Mitcatss = 36.5+ 2060 and
H110 Gs 01s 38.5 2083 2

IMR 22 72,5 1821 _-- SOLO ao —-
Test Specifications: Li"Gun 36.0 1991 += ——S tee
(Velocity Only)
Firearti WSed: «Seguin ows cee 8Thompson/Center Encore
BoMrCLGNPUY os sauce tu tas kG wees eae he 15”
IVGta rR baht: Gout aaa ce wire wise ein sole Mey
CiOGVe Dig Ge n
oeiie = a dee in tie A5
nine e
260 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .174 275 gr. Barnes XPB
2.175" OAL SD: .183 2.300" OAL
Sugg Sugg
AA 4100 32.8 1972
Enforcer Enforcer
H110
IMR-4227 IMR-4227
Wart imme
300 gr. Jacketed HP BC: .233 #452490 BC: .160

2.160" OAL SD: .210 255 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.180" OAL SD:;:679
Sugg Sugg
Trail Boss 9.0
Enforcer AA 4100 275 1806 ----
Enforcer :
(<P) N110 27.0
= in IMR-4227 IMR-4227
LAS)
a=
aa |
oS
#452651
325 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.180" OAL SD: .228
Sugg aay
Powder Grains
Trail Boss
Enforcer
IMR-4227

rey rifle cartridges rival the longevi-
ty and versatility of the 45-70
Government. The United States Army
adopted this cartridge in 1873 as a
replacement for the short-lived 50-70.
The cartridge survived into the age of
smokeless powder and is currently
one of the more popular cartridges in
the realm of handloading.
This is not a cartridge for handgunners

of faint heart. Recoil is very severe
when shot in the T/C Contender.
Alliant 2400 and Reloder 7 are good
choices.
Test Components:
Lt ae SR a ee arr Remington
MME Nt eee. gs ois ese SKS 2.095" 400 gr. Jacketed FSP BC: .214
PUES Remington 9'/2 2.550" OAL SD: .272
ete es. . rce ee eee o RO, Large Rifle Sugg aes
Pea SO FIOINCT oo. wistuag 2 o's 0 ms Meee mae ees No. 17 Starting eal Pressure
Jacketed Bullets Used ...... Hornady HP #4500, 300 gr. Powder Grains
Speer SP #2479, 400 gr. Unique
ESET ESUs | a ne (sized to .459" dia) 2400
IMR-4227
#457191, 292 gr.
IMR-4198
#457193, 405 gr.
IMR-3031
Oo
fay
Test Specifications: —
Q=
4
(Velocity Only) i=)
Firearm Wsed~............ Thompson/Center Contender
=
@
BeAe RMA ruta! «chs 2m a 69 6 > co Prageg Bn eenpies 16"
SP ee ieee fn sha ANS,Woe Fie bn Bitlis = Sion «oe 1-14"
#457191 34
aN EMA Po ahi pla A eda Ftare bovea wees 458"
292 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.550" OAL SD: .198
Sugg x
Powder Grains fps
SR-4759 26.0
IMR-4198 28.5 1122
IMR-3031 34.0 961
2.550" OAL SD: .204
Sugg
Starting eine Pressure
Powder Grains
2400 24.0 os
IMR-4227. 27.0 1327 =
IMR-4198 31.0 1248 ae #457193
RX7 33.0 1347 - 405 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.550" OAL
IMR-3031 38.0 1206 ie Sugg
Powder Grains fps
IMR-4198 2V5 733
RX7 33.0 Cae
IMR-3031 34.0 1061 = oe

e load.
Loads shown in bold designate potentially most accurat
450 Marlin
The 450 Marlin evolved from a joint
effort between Hornady and Marlin
to produce a magnum version of the
venerable old 45-70 Government.
Shooters for many years now have
hand-loaded 45-70 cartridges to high-
er than SAAMI approved levels for use
in high-strength firearms such as the
Ruger Number 1 and Mauser-based
actions. The large number of older
guns of weak or questionable design
— notably the 1873 Trapdoor
Springfield — prevented the 45-70
cartridge from ever being factory
loaded to its full potential. The Marlin
cartridge duplicates in standard facto-
ry form what was previously available
only by handloading the 45-70.
While below 458 Winchester Magnum level in per-
formance, the 450 Marlin offers distinctly more punch
than the 28,000 CUP level of current 45-70 factory
ammo. 250 gr. Barnes XFN
2.530" OAL
Shortly after Marlin introduced the 450 Marlin in their
Sugg
Model 1895 rifle, Thompson/Center began offering it in Starting Velocity Pressure
the Encore handgun. The shorter 15" barrel used by the Powder Grains D
Encore will produce about 200 fps less than the full- AA-1680 43.5 1906 Se
length rifle barrel. Not at all surprising is the fact that IMR-4198 44.0 1847 =
recoil with this cartridge is very heavy. Shooters should RX7 45.5 1814 ae
be accustom to handling full power magnum handguns N130 46.0 1783 =
before attempting this one!
Reloading procedures for the 450 Marlin are the same
= Uv
—a as for the 45-70. Powders and components used in the
a)
om [©) 45-70 are also suitable for the 450 Marlin.
——
> baked
+) Test Components: 300 gr. jacketed HP

CIES, AGS SiR RI AES ear Ear eee ara Hornady 2.530" OAL
PUT RONG ec csca a.sexes ese orn, eR SL 2.090"
PLT PS:ASter eRePaR ey rtSEMEN eer araanne Sse ae emerees MNT? WLR Su 88
PEINICTROIZG ts reece tate onsws ars ee Duclos oe Large Rifle Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains fps
yinall OMeUsIGIGehiek 2. cores oc cceen Soegeee No. 13
AA-1680 45.0 1751 —
Jacketed Bullets Used ...... Barnes XFN #45831, 250 gr. IMR-4198 44.5 1764 —
Hornady HP #4500, 300 gr. RX7 46.0 1706 =
Hornady FP #4503, 350 gr. Benchmark 55.0 1794 =
Gast BUllels WSed bn..c- sok cack aoa (sized to .457" dia)
#457122, 330 gr.
#457643, 400 gr.
(Velocity Only) 350 gr. Jacketed FP
ean LISS. f.2 eines cette: Thompson/Center Encore
2.530" OAL
Bae eben Meet it fest uke eon ene oe hee
VSS testers eee aePeteee ee Sstals wwataateiee A Mantes «a % 1-20" Sugg
IECOOVEC,[Uae crore sees eran SER ya ee 456" Starting Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains DS
RX7 43.0
IMR-3031
Benchmark
Note: Loads shown in shaded panels are maximum. 748 56.0
#457122 #457643 BC: .280
Sugg Sugg i Max TP) ;
Powder Grains fps Powder Grains fps Grains fp 1
SR-4759 SR-4759 24.0 1290
IMR-4227
“a016
IMR-4227 27.0 1191
AA-5744 29.0 1260 —
in nr Bsus
aes Die di
Qo
Pm
=
ra
°
©
La 4

480 Ruger
T hompson/Center recently added
the 480 Ruger to its Encore handgun
line. This 475 caliber cartridge is an
excellent choice for handgun hunting
large game. For a complete history of
this cartridge, please refer to the
handgun section.
We found that the 15" barrel used by

the Encore gave a small velocity
increase over revolver length barrels.
The increase was not as much as
might be expected however. With
some powders, the shorter barrel
length actually gave higher velocities.
Loading procedures for the 480 Ruger
are the same as any other straight wall
revolver cartridge.
Test Components: 325 gr. Jacketed HP

COISese ie Oar as eS Hys ne maeNnies SM Okan 1.620" OAL
GRO OTCUNama socio ate uel cia dak hope tte ee
1275"
Sugg
PCIIIRCLS Pea 4 tec tetas lek Sct): Winchester WLP Starting Velocity Pressure
PSII ZO Bees sahil iA iia aed tions ete tna Large Pistol Powder Grains
ETSI ITEUA Vy (6(21pee eave cae ee ere eer No. 17
IMR-4227
=~ v
Pes
io)
—a©) Test Specifications:
on oe (Velocity Only)
a =
Pikealiian WSCC ce fe 28 ware hone Thompson/Center Encore
BanCMe lietreat uae alac teary sche te EN RS Ry 12
JIWHGE & 5 a.5 5.0.5.5 occ. 0 Cig een NEE cs eit cece Obtee1-18"
ESTO NGS IE eC ee area ae ee en 475"

1.620" OAL SD: .253
Sugg
Powder Grains fps
275 gr. Jacketed HP
1.650" OAL
Sugg
Starting Velocity Pressure IMR-4227. 19.0
Powder Grains fps
IMR-4227

ith & Wesson
The 500 S&W Magnum was devel-
oped by Smith & Wesson and Cor-
Bon Ammunition as the new “King of
the Hill” in big bore magnum hand-
guns. Revolvers and ammunition
became available in early 2003.
Shortly after, Thompson/Center began
chambering Encore single shot hand-
gun barrels for it. They are 15” long
barrels and come equipped with a
muzzle brake to help tame the heavy
recoil. T/C is also offering a 20” 500
S&W barrel for their Pro Hunter Rifle.
During our testing of the Encore, we
found that there was not very much
velocity gained over what our 10”
pressure test barrel produced.
We used Starline brass designed for large rifle primers

to develop this data. Do not use cases designed for large
pistol primers with this data. Starline brass designed for
large rifle primers has a “R” after “Mag” on the head-
stamp to designate a large rifle pocket. A heavy roll
275 gr. Barnes XPB HP BC: .141
crimp should be used to allow for complete ignition of
2.085" OAL SD: .157
the slow burning powders used.
Sugg d
Powder Grains fps
Test Components: Lil’ Gun

C288 oo ale ee Starline Enforcer
REE fii ee. SM eves Ges As 1:61:55
he 2 ek CCI 200
IMR-4227
EAS VEL. Le a ae ar are Large Rifle =| ;
Raa PTOMNON oo as ere age Salone Ss No. 17 Oe

Jacketed Bullets Used ..... Barnes XPB #50025, 275 gr. =f
Barnes XPB #50026, 325 gr. © &
Sierra FP #5400, 400 gr. 325 gr. Barnes XPB HP BC: .228
Hornady FP #50105, 500 gr. 2.290" OAL SD: .186
Sugg
Powder Grains fps
Test Specifications: AA #9 ce
(Velocity Only) AA 4100 B09 1604 ——
Ee SEO 2 owe ce eee Thompson/Center Encore N110 Sieh 1742 as
Bee OI ena o > Sh ce pismo eNews 1 Enforcer 35a 1561 o--
EGE 5 Synh FO A ee On aie 1-18” Lil’ Gun 36.0 1810 —
Cedar en ranting Giclee 2s ieale lee phe acy aa aaa 501” H110 40.7 1814
IMR-4227 38.7 1664 -—--

J —
-
350 gr. jacketed HP BC: .145 375 gr. Barnes XPB HP BC: .261
1.985" OAL SD: .200 2.080" OAL SD: .214
Sugg Sugg
N110 32.6 1673 —
AA 4100 33.0 1668 ----
Lil’ Gun
H110
333
38.8
1714
VIA
—
---
AA
4100
Lil' Gun
IMR-4227 37.3 1604 — H110
IMR-4227
400 gr. Jacketed FP BC: .185 500 gr. Jacketed FP

2.050" OAL SD: .229 2.065" OAL SD: .280
Sugg Su 8s
Powder Grains Powder Grains p
Enforcer
Lil' Gun
Lil’ Gun.
IMR-4227 IMR-4227
|e
#501680
375 gr. (#2 Alloy) 2.035" OAL SD: .213
Sugg Ma ee
Starting Velocity Pressure load Velocity Pressure
Powder Grains Grains _ fps
Enforcer 31.5 1568 =
AA #9 EDT. 1655 —
N110 29%. 1571 ——
AA 4100 30.2 1633 -—--
Lil’ Gun 30.0 1595 —
H110 32.0 1582 —
IMR-4227 35.0

Reference
ETODEDUINE NG eer nn ec le anes page 452
BMBeROIX By. 9:5472. SAR newer ee page 453
PRPC cee raster

inteeags 2 ns page 455
PVT
STV DDfetal tei ares eerasa marae ona page 458
Reloading Records Log ............... page 459

Bullet Type Abbreviations
BTSP: boat tail soft point

FM): full metal jacket
FMJBT: full metal jacket boat tail
FN: flat nose
FE: flat point
ESP: flat soft point
GDHP: Gold Dot hollow point (Speer)
GSSP: Grand Slam soft point (Speer)
HBWC _— Hollow base wadcutter
HPs hollow point
HPBT: hollow point boat tail
HP/XTP: Hollow Point — Extreme Terminal Performance (Hornady)
sels jacketed hollow cavity
ISP: jacketed soft point
JTC SIL Jacketed truncated cone silhouette
PP Protected Point (Nosler)
SBT; spitzer boat tail
Silk silhouette
SMP: semi-pointed
SP: soft point
Sppor spitzer soft point
SPSX: Soft Point Super Explosive (Hornady)
She spitzer
TM): Totally Metal Jacket (Speer)
WC: wadcutter
— Appendix B
Useful formulas for reloaders
Energyin foot-pounds
bullet weight ingrains x velocity”

450400 = ft-lbs
Example: 150gr. bullet at 2700 fps
150 x 2700° |
450400 = 2428 ft-lbs
Sectional Density
A bullet’s weight in pounds divided by the square of its diameter in inches.
7000 =sp
2
7000 = G
Sight Correction
This formula will show how much change in inches will be needed to correctly zero your sights.
M cia) x5 Where M = movement in inches needed to zero sights.

D = impact deviation of bullet in inches.
(how far off from the aim point that the bullet is hitting.)
R = range in inches.
S = sight radius. (distance between sights)
Example: firearm is hitting 6" low at 50 yards.
C= OMe =a Ue 5 Ot 1LO00 5 = 20"

eeseuis
Vie= 1G00 7 x 20%
ives (Oloye
.067" of sight adjustment is needed to zero firearm.
453
Appendix B
Free Recoil Energy
Using this formula, you can calculate the amount of recoil for any given gun and load.
Free Recoil Energy (ft-lbs) = (W1 Vp + 4700 W2)°

64.348 We
Where: W1 = weight of bullet in pounds. (grains divided by 7000 equals pounds)
W2 = weight of powder charge in pounds.
Wg = weight of gun in pounds.
Vp = muzzle velocity of bullet in feet per second.
Example: W1 for a 150 gr. bullet = 150 divided by 7000 = .021

W2 for a 50 gr. charge = 50 divided by 7000 = .007
We for a 9 pound rifle = 9
Vp for a velocity of 2700 fps = 2700
(O21 2700 +-4700..007)7

64.348 x 9
(56.7 + 32.9)
579 3.2 = 13.86 ft-lbs
17 Remington Fireball 10
17 Remington 10
204 Ruger 10
22 Hornet 14
22 K-Hornet 14
218 Bee 3
222 Remington 10
223 Remington 10
Save 12
222 Remington Mag 10
225 Winchester 4
224 Weatherby Mag te
22-250 Remington
223 WSSM
220 Swift RO
6mm PPC —\ NO
243 Winchester
6mm/244 Remington
243 WSSM
240 Weatherby Mag.
25-20 Winchester
250 Savage
257 Roberts
25-06 Remington
25 WSSM
257 Weatherby Mag.
6.5x55 Swed. Mau.
260 Remington
264 Winchester hom
Wnt
Ss
oo
So
6.8mm Remington SPC ih Ne)
270 Winchester
270 WSM On
270 Weatherby Mag.

7-30 Waters
7mm-08 Remington
7mm Mauser
280 Remington
284 Winchester
7mm WSM On
7mm Rem. SAUM

7mm Remington Mag
7mm Weatherby Mag
7mm STW
7mm Rem Ultra Mag
30 M1 Carbine SS
bom
cae
Wo
—=
ho
(Se)
—_—
|=
W
=
=
ie)
30-30 Winchester
300 Savage =nNuugnuy
30-40 Krag ——
308 Winchester ek
ee
oh
ew
4OI
oe
Ow
DOWWnwwwEaBNYNNNDAYQORNGTWMNNYQWENNNONENKNWCO
PWN —
Appendix C © 2
Rifle Cartridges Lyman Hornady RCBS Redding
30-06 Springfield 2 1 3 1
300 Rem SAUM es; © 30 6
300 WSM 34 oD 43 6
300 H&H Mag 13 5 4 6
300 Winchester Mag. is 5 4 6
300 Rem Ultra Mag. 13 5 38 6
300 Weatherby Mag. 13 5 4 6
30-378 Weatherby Mag. 17 14 14 18
120259 3 6 a2 {2
7.62x54R 17 os) is ie
7.65 Arg. Mauser 2 24 3 1
303 Britsh 7 i Hh 8
32-20 Winchester 10 fe 1 3
32 Winchester Spec. 6 2 2 2
8mm Mauser ) 1 3 1
8mm Remington Mag Us 5 4 6
325 WSM 34 35 43 6
338 Federal 2 1 3 1
338 Winchester Mag. 13 5 4 6
338 Rem Ultra Mag. 13 5 38 6
338 Lapua 17 43 14 aD
338/378 Wthby Mag. 17 14 14 18
348 Winchester . na 25 5 20
35 Remington 2 26 9 ]
358 Winchester 2 1 3 1
350 Remington Magnum {3 5 4 6
35 Whelen 2 1 3 1
38-55 Winchester 6 y 2 2
375 H&H Mag. 13 5 4 6
375 Ruger les 5 = 6
375 Rem. Ultra Mag. 13 5 38 6
40-65 Winchester 17 14 14 18
40-70 Sharps Str. 33 na 14 8
416 Remington Mag. if) » 4 6
416 Rigby ie 38 37 18
416 Weatherby Mag. WA 14 14 18
44-40 Winchester 14B 9 35 9
444 Marlin 14B 27 28 19
45-70 Government Iz 14 14 18
450 Marlin 13 § 4 6
45-90 Winchester Ly. 14 14 18
45-100 iP 14 14 18
45-110 7 14 14 18
45-120 iy 14 14 18
458 Winchester Mag. 13 5 4 6
50-70 Government ae na ou na
Appendix C
Pistol Cartridges Lyman Hornady RCBS Redding
5.7x28mm FN a5 ay 45 34
ZOLA EL a2 B7, 29 Dy
7mm T/C-U 26 16 10 10
30 Luger 2 8 16 13
30 Mauser 12 na 16 ips}
g2 ACP 23 22 WZ DD:
32 S&W Long 36 Oe: 10
32 H&R Mag 36 23 10
38 S&W 21 28 6 12
380 Auto 26 16 10 10
9mm Luger ie. 8 16 Us
357 Sig iff 10 Ly 5
38 Super 12 8 39 5
38 Special 1 6 6 12
357 Magnum 1 6 6 2
9mm Makarov 12 8 16 13
40 S&W 15 10 Dy 5
10mm Auto ibe) 10 27 5
38-40 Winchester 14B 9 35 )
41 Remington Mag 30 29 30 21
44 Russian 30 18 1g)
44 Special 30 18 19
44 Remington Mag 30 18 19
45 ACP ws 1 3 1
45 Auto Rim na 31 8 17
45 GAP 2 1 3 1
45 Schofield 14B 41 35 IS
45 Winchester Mag 2 1 3 7
45 Colt 11 32 20 23
454 Casull di 32 20 23
460 S&W Magnum 7 46 4 23
480 Ruger We 14 40 na
475 Linebaugh 17 14 40 18
50 Action Express ve 40 33 na
500 S&W Magnum liv, 44 44 15
Appendix D
RELATIVE BURN RATE CHART
Listed in order from fastest to slowest
1) R-1, Norma 41) True Blue, Ramshot 81) 2520, Accurate

2) N310, VihtaVuori 42) HS-7, Hodgdon 82) N540, VihtaVuori
3) Nitro 100, Accurate 43) Blue Dot, Alliant 83) N140, VihtaVuori
4) Bullseye, Alliant 44) 2400, Alliant 84) Reloder 15, Alliant
5) Titewad, Hodgdon 45) No. 9, Accurate 85) IMR-4320, IMR
6) Red Dot, Alliant 46) Enforcer, Ramshot 86) H380, Hodgdon
7) Clays, Hodgdon 47) N110, VihtaVuori 87) 2700, Accurate
8) 700X, IMR 48) 4100, Accurate 88) Big game, Ramshot
9) — Titegroup, Hod. 49) H-110, Hodgdon 89) N150, VihtaVuori
10) Amer. Select, All. 50) 296, Winchester 90) N550, VihtaVuori
11) “Solomt000, Acc. 51) SR-4759, IMR 91) 760, Winchester
12) Competition, Ramshot 52) N120, VihtaVuori 92) H-414, Hodgdon
i) Peo. nips, ACCU: 53) IMR-4227, IMR 93) IMR-4350, IMR
14) Green Dot, Alliant 54) H-4227, Hodgdon 94) H-4350, Hodgdon
15) Trail Boss, IMR 55) 5744, Accurate 95) 4350, Accurate
16) International, Hod. 56) N130, VihtaVuori 96) N160, VihtaVuori
17) N320, VihtaVuori 57) 1680, Accurate 97) N560, VihtaVuori
18) PB, IMR . 58) —Lil’Gun, Hodgdon 98) IMR-4831, IMR
[9)" > WST, Winchester 59) IMR-4198, IMR 99) Hunter, Ramshot
20) HP-38, Hodgdon 60) H-4198, Hodgdon 100) 3100, Accurate
21) 231, Winchester 61) N133, VihtaVuori 101) Reloder 19, Alliant
22) Zip, Ramshot 62) 2015, Accurate 102) H-4831, Hodgdon
23) *SR-7625) IMR 63) Reloder 7, Alliant 103) Reloder 22, Alliant
24) Unique, Alliant 64) H322, Hodgdon 104) N165, VihtaVuori
25) Universal, Hod. 65) Reloder 10, Alliant 105) Reloder 25, Alliant
26) N330, VihtaVuori 66) X-Terminator, Ramshot 106) IMR-7828, IMR
27) Herco, Alliant 67) Benchmark, Hod. 107) N170, VihtaVuori
28) No.5, Accurate 68) IMR-3031, IMR 108) H-1000, Hodgdon
29) Silhouette, Ramshot 69) 2230, Accurate 109) Magnum, Ramshot
30) WSF, Winchester 70) H335, Hodgdon 110) MagPro, Accurate
31) HS-6, Hodgdon 71) Tac, Ramshot 111) Retumbo, Hod.
32) Power Pistol, All. 72) H-4895, Hodgdon 112) H50BMG, Hod.
33) N340, VihtaVuori 73) IMR-4895, IMR 113) H-870, Hodgdon
34) SR-4756, IMR 74) 2460, Accurate 114) 8700, Accurate
35) 800X, IMR 75) BL-C(2), Hodgdon
36) 3N37, Vihta Vuori 76) 2495, Accurate
37) N105, VihtaVuori 77) 748, Winchester
38) No. 7, Accurate 78) N135, VihtaVuori
39) Longshot, Hodgdon 79) IMR-4064, IMR
40) N350, VihtaVuori 80) Varget, Hodgdon
ing Records Log
Date Brass Primer Powder Times | Times Bullet
Loaded Brand Lot No. Brand Type Lot No. Brand Type LotNo. Charge | Fired | Trimmed Brand Type Weight Lot No.
Notes
o/ anes
Fae) ies i
ae ak Dee
ey pak
eek
Wate
Notes
“Benchrest Clean for Every Firearm.”
Think Your Gun is Clean? Se

Be Sure with Bore Snine
rc)
Formulated by benchrest legend |

Butch Fisher, Bore Shine is
designed to remove the fouling
other solvents leave behind. Take
your cleanest firearm and clean it
again with non-abrasive Butch’s
Bore Shine. You'll be amazed at
what Bore Shine removes. |
For the best results try Butch’s

Triple Twill™ cleaning patches,
too. When you're finished cleaning,
lube and protect everything with
“Cartridge Precise, Snap-Cap Safe”
1000’s of safe dry-fires... no damage! A-Zoom®

A Lyman Brand
Precisely
Dimensioned,
Hard Anodized Snap-Caps
Deliver More Training, Practice & Testing.
A-Zoom training rounds are much more than just snap-caps. They are
precision machined to precise cartridge dimensions for a perfect fit.
In addition, their ultra-hard finish and A-Zoom exclusive “Dead Cap”
assure long life and smooth function.
If you can’t find an A-Zoom Snap-Cap to fit...
you probably can’t find ammo, either!
¢ Selection - over 120 Cartridges from
.17 rimfire to .50 BMG, plus shotgun
¢ Safety - perfect for safe training, storage,
testing and practice
e Precision - functions like real ammo
¢ Durability - thousands of dry fires
¢ Toughness - hard anodized
For a new Lyman catalog: Lyman

www.lymanproducts.com or 800-22-LYMAN 475 Smith St., Middletown, CT 06457 Dept 0000
462
Lyman
EVOLUTION
This versatile gun vise is engineered ms a full range of adjustments. It tilts, clamps and
has inserts to securely hold any firearm. The padded contact points protect the firearm
during cleaning, maintenance or gunsmithing, even bore sighting.
Just look at the collection of features
built into this - the amazing
Lyman
Revolution.
° The Only Vise
That Revolves!
Three
Lockable
Gustin wd
: Non StigBilt
Positions
oe rane.Hole
for Extre
Rods
0d sy ant be
° Wide Range of Adjustment ° Holds Any Firearm
Part # 7832250 UPC Code: 011516522504 463

“America’s Choice in Recoil Reduction, Tools and Accessories”
Pachmayr’
(Taming Tough T/C Recoil. gota
A Lyman Brand
Upgrade the comfort, style and performance

of any T/C handgun with Pachmayr’s popular,
no-gunsmithing grips & forends.
The Original Contender

Pioneered and perfected by
Pachmayr, this grip & forend set
s
a new standard for great look
and superior recoil control.
¢ Sling Swivel Studs Included

* Recoil Reducing Internal Chambers
e Fast, Easy, No-Gunsmith Installation
Call 800-22-LYMAN or 5
www.lymanproducts.com Lyman® 475 smith St., Middletown, CT 06457 Dept 0000
“America’s Choice for Powder Handling is =e
So Fast It Shoula
Have A Racing .
The Fastest Powder System Yet! \ gigs any Eater
More than twice as fast as the original, the new DPS — fo Equal the
3 sets a new standard for speed with no compromise New DPS3 High
to loading accuracy. This is the system for L Speed Performance.
any accuracy-minded reloader who wants : .
to load larger quantities of ammo with-
out sacrificing precision.
Auto-Repeat Setting
Adds More Speed
| Automatically throws the
| next charge each time
g the pan is put in place.
Weigh every charge you load nearly as —_— _ inexpensive

fast as using a measure with Lyman’s new DPS 7 replacement sy:
3. The DPS 3 is weighing your next charge while a | installs in seconds and
you're seating the bullet on your last charge. requires no tools. In fact,
it's easier than changing
Change Powders Faster and Easier powders. Best of all, it
Quick-Drain Powder Reservoir
speeds any earlier DPS to
the latest, state of the art
speeds powder changes and clean-up. performance.
For a new Lyman catalog: Dept 0000
Call 800-22-LYMAN or www.lymanproducts.com Lyman® 475 Smith St., Middletown, CT 06457
464
=
ao
Tua
oy
vam
-
{ bis
More Loads, Newest Components, Most Manufacturers
More Load Data Than Ever!
e Newest Rifle Cartridges
17 Rem. Fireball, 204 Ruger, 6.8mm Rem. SPC,
325 WSM, 338 Federal,.375 Ruger, 405 Win.
plus the Winchester line of Super Shorts. )
e Newest Handgun Cartridges

Including the 5.7x28mm FN, 45 GAP,
as well as the 460 and 500 S&W Mags. -
e Broadest Range of Bullets

Barnes, Hornady, Remington, Sierra, Speer, Swift
The time-proven source for reloading data, ~ and Winchester; Plus Cast Bullet Loads.
Lyman handbooks have always used the widest
possible range of cartridges, bullets and powders ¢ The Newest & Most Popular Powders
from all the major manufacturers. Accurate, Alliant, Hodgdon, IMR, Ramshot,
This new 49th Edition continues that tradition VihtaVuori and Winchester. 3
_,covering~ virtually every brand of commonly
available component including cast bullets. The ¢ Feature Articles by Today’s
- one handbook every reloader needs. _ Top Reloading Authorities
-
“Handloading Winchester’s Stubby Cartridges”
by Bryce Towsley
“Handloading the 1876 Replicas” by Brian Pearce
“Making the Jump to Premium Bullets”
by Greg Rodriguez
é
. Popular Features
“Accuracy Load” for each cartridge,
plus ballistic coefficients and sectional densities
for all jacketed and cast bullets used.
en ‘elemetd Handbook
— 49th Edition
il|
11516196049

Lyman Reloading Handbook 49th Edition

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lyman Reloading Handbook 49th Edition

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Reloading Handbo

Digitized by the Internet Archive

Providing Trusted Equipment and Information to Shooters

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored

First Printing: May 2008

American Single Shot Rifle Assoc.

Cast Bullet Assoc.

International Benchrest Shooters

International Handgun Metallic Silhouette Assoc.

United States Practical Shooting Association

National Rifle Assoc.

National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc.

Single Action Shooting Society (SASS)

Barnes Kaltron-Pettibone Sturm, Ruger & Co.

Hornady Manufacturing Starline

His interest in a wide range of

Editor: Thomas J. Griffin

Technical Staff: Daniel Guild

Graphic Designer: Elizabeth Friedmann

Contributing Authors: Brian Pearce

New Enlarged Loading Bats Section

This badger and jackrabbit were shot at 150 yards using

Another reason for reloading is increased accuracy.

Despite what you may have

There is never a justification for random experimenta-

Your first reloading efforts are best directed at duplicat-

Later, you may wish to assemble ammo for a specific

To insure continued savings and accuracy, the

Your initial purchase need not include every conceiv-

4. Reloading Die Set 5. Case Lubricant

Sizing dies for bottleneck cases include a spindle

The bullet seating die, seats the bullet to the correct

There are many styles of priming units available, but the

10. Powder Scale

11. Powder Trickler (aka Dribblers)

14. Dial Indicating or Digital Caliper

Each powder charge should be weighed on a powder

15. Case Trimmer 16. Deburring Tool

11. Powder weighing and charging.

a There is another consideration when selecting bullets.

Selecting Propellant Powders

tions. When selecting a powder for your first reloading

The basic steps of rifle case reloading.

Begin your inspection by wiping each case with a

Now look for split necks or bodies, signs of incipient

This operation simply involves three or four passes of

CAUTION: The material trimmed from a case flows

Note: The initial trim of new cases is not counted

After trimming, remove the burrs (formed by the trim-

Primer seating may be accomplished in many ways and

Most loading tools come equipped with a basic

Novices should avoid the use of compressed powder

NOTES ON USING A POWDER MEASURE

Bullet crimping is required whenever there is a possi-

The basic steps of handgun case reloading.

All cases reach a point when further reloading

Note: In the past, varying sources have suggested that

Note: Many handgun cases wear out long before any

Note: if you will be crimping cases to bullets (required

The proper trim-to length for cases is clearly shown in

Bring a box of 100 primers to the bench and read the

CAUTION: Primers seated too high (above flush) are a

CAUTION: Primers are explosive and require special