April 2007 No. 246 - Rifle Magazine

1 April 2007 No. 246. Rifle Magazine Presents - HANDLOADER. $ $ 04. 0 74808 01240 4. Printed in USA. $ $ Canada April -May 2007 . Volume 42, Number 2. ISSN 0017-7393. Issue No. 246. AMMUNITION RELOADING JOURNAL. 8 Cast Bullets Reloader's Press - 34 7x57mm Mauser Dave Scovill The Original Page 62.. 7mm. John Barsness 12 RCBS 45-270-SAA. From the Hip - Brian Pearce 44 .338 Winchester Magnum Use a heavy bullet and Page 24.. 16 Brass Management hunt with confidence. John Haviland Mike's Shootin'. Shack - Mike Venturino 52 Cast Bullets and Sixguns 20 .416. Remington Tips for Success Brian Pearce Magnum Cartridge Board - Gil Sengel 62 Light Bullets in the .223 Remington Mike revisits modern varmint rifles. 24 Vihtavuori N350. Propellant Profiles - Mike Venturino VanDenburg, Jr. 70 .250 Savage Newton's Original .25. Steve Gash 28 Ruger's Super Redhawk Classic Strength and Durability Stan Trzoniec Page 28.

2 Page 44.. 4 Background Photo: 2007 L. Voorhis/Royal Tine Images Handloader 246. On the cover .. Page 24. The Super Redhawk (left) is fitted with a Leupold 2x 20mm scope in Ruger rings. The Target Grey Super Redhawk Page 80. is chambered for the .454 Casull and .45 Colt. Photo by Stan Trzoniec. Page 28. 80 Ken Waters'. Notebook Issue No. 246 April -May 2007 . Book Reviews - Clair Rees AMMUNIT. AMMUNITION. ON REL. RELOADING. NG JO. JOUR. URNAL. AL. 82 Redding Model 2400 Publisher Mark Harris Associate Publisher Don Polacek Case Trimming Lathe Editor in Chief Dave Scovill Product Tests - Managing Editor Roberta Montgomery VanDenburg, Jr. Art Director Gerald Hudson Production Director Becky Pinkley Contributing Editors Associate Editor Al Miller John Barsness Ron Spomer 86 .444 Marlin Elk Load Bullets & Brass - Brian Pearce Clair Rees Stan Trzoniec Mike Venturino Brian Pearce Gil Sengel Ken Waters Advertising 90 What's New in the Marketplace Don Polacek: Stefanie Ramsey: Inside Product Tom Bowman: News - Advertising Information: 1-800-899-7810.

3 Clair Rees Circulation Circulation Manager Michele Morgan 94 Catalog Corner Subscription Information: 1-800-899-7810. Special Handloader (ISSN 0017-7393) is published bi- Advertising monthly by Mark Harris Publishing Associates, Inc., dba Wolfe Publishing Company (Don Polacek, Section - President), 2625 Stearman Rd., Ste. A, Prescott, Arizona 86301. (Also publisher of Rifle Magazine .). Telephone (928) 445-7810. Periodical Postage paid at Prescott, Arizona, and additional mailing offices. 98 North Subscription prices: possessions single issue, $ ; 6 issues, $ ; 12 issues, $ ; 18 issues, $ Foreign and Canada single issue, $ ; 6 is- Fork sues $ ; 12 issues, $ ; 18 issues, $ Please allow 6-8 weeks for first issue. Advertising rates fur- Bullets nished on request. All rights reserved. Change of address: Please give six weeks notice.

4 Hunting Page 80.. Send both the old and new address, plus mailing label if possible, to Circulation Dept., Handloader . Handloads - Magazine , 2625 Stearman Rd., Ste. A, Prescott, Arizona 86301. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Handloader , 2625 Stearman Rd., Ste. A, Prescott, John Barsness Arizona 86301. Wolfe Publishing Company Publisher of Handloader is not responsible for mishaps of any nature that might occur from use of published 2625 Stearman Rd. loading data or from recommendations by any member of The Staff. No part of this publication may be reproduced Suite A. without written permission from the publisher. Publisher assumes all North American Rights upon acceptance and Prescott, AZ 86301. payment for all manuscripts. Although all possible care is exercised, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for Tel: (928) 445-7810 Fax: (928) 778-5124.

5 Lost or mutilated manuscripts. Copyright Mark Harris Publishing Associates, Inc. 6 Background Photo: 2007 L. Voorhis/Royal Tine Images Handloader 246. RCBS 45-270-SAA. Brian Pearce n past issues of Handloader, I I have provided much data in conjunction with .45 Colt cast bullets from RCBS mould 45-270- SAA. The loads have been pre- FROM THE HIP. sented in a variety of guns, which have given a fair variance in ve- locities and pressures. The point being that different loads shot in a Ruger New Vaquero, Fire Arms Rodeo, Ruger Blackhawks and others with varying internal A Ruger stainless steel New Model Blackhawk Bisley fitted with a 51 2- inch barrel was used to develop accompanying load data. dimensions, barrel/cylinder gaps, barrel lengths, etc. have given a variety of velocities and results. bullet, it was designed by Editor and leave a substantial wound Dave Scovill specifically for the channel.

6 The crimp groove is Colt Single Action Army revolver, beveled and deep, which allows a thus its name. It is patterned heavy crimp and assists in reli- after the original Keith/Ideal/ able powder ignition but also Lyman design with three driving prevents bullets from jumping bands and a single grease groove, due to heavy recoil. although drastically improved. The nose measures around .375. For instance the front driving inch for an overall loaded car- band has been widened to near tridge length of around to .100 inch, which helps hold the inches, which is about maxi- bullet true in the throat and in mum in the Colt SAA cylinder yet alignment with the bore. This leaves enough room that bullets band also serves to immediately won't threaten to walk out of engage the rifling and reduce the cylinder during recoil (assum- skidding, which is especially im- ing a proper crimp is applied).

7 Portant when used in the com- With a substantial portion of the paratively shallow rifling of the bullet being outside the case, Colt SAA. On game, the driving powder capacity is increased, ef- band will cut a full-caliber hole fectively reducing pressure. The RCBS mould 45-270-SAA. was designed to maximize per- formance in the Colt Single Action Army revolver. So it seems prudent to select one gun and many powders that are likely to give the best results and help establish a better picture of how each performs. Furthermore the data will include different levels of pressures, suitable for a variety of modern revolvers. (More on that in a moment.). For those not familiar with this Brian used a variety of powders to establish data. 12 Handloader 246. Due to today's improved bullet lubes, the grease groove is less generous than the Keith bullet, but nonetheless retains the square-bottom design that holds plenty of lube to help prevent leading.

8 Naturally it is a plain- base design, which keeps costs down, gives minimal barrel wear and speeds the production process. A plain base also allows obturation or upsetting to fill throats (especially important with oversized throats) and cre- ate a proper gas seal, as long as bullets are not cast too hard. The plain base also creates less pres- sure than a comparable bullet with a gas check. The ogive is somewhat curved (to help pre- vent tumbling after impact), and the meplat runs more or less .310. inch, which also aids in straight penetration and delivers shock. When cast from wheelweight metal, bullets usually weigh 284. to 285 grains. One of the draw- backs with heavy-for-caliber bul- lets in sixguns is that many shoot high and won't sight-in properly without changing or adding height to the front sight. The RCBS cast bullet will allow most revolvers, even Colt SAAs, to shoot close to the point of aim.

9 Although the 45-270-SAA was designed primarily for the Colt SAA revolver, it works equally well in others, including Ruger, Smith & Wesson, Freedom Arms, etc. I have used it regularly on small game and pests and have even employed it on big game. And if one will take care to cast and size uniform bullets, select a proper powder and scrutinize handloading tools and processes, Target and Vintage Scope Repair Parsons Scope Service the bullet will be accurate. 19 CALIBER RIFLES Box 192, Ross, OH 45061. 513-867-0820. Regarding data presented in the & Re-Barrel Kits Cleaning, reticles, complete restoration accompanying tables, it is im- Bullets: 17, 22,19, 20 cal Please call for information Varminting Articles! PH: (406) 395-4079 Specialists in vintage scope repair since 1989. perative to use loads intended specifically for your gun.

10 For ex- ample, Table I lists pressures at Quality hand-cast bullets for reloaders, competitors & recreational shooters! 14,000 psi and is suitable for any Extensive selection of pistol, Rifle , post-World War II gun in good big bore & paper-patched bullets. NEWFOUNDLAND, CANADA. Website: working condition and with a 7730 Hesper Rd. Billings, MT 59106 Tel: 406-655-8163 Moose, Woodland Caribou & Black Bear Hunts Book now for 2007 & 2008 Tel/Fax: (709) 681-2191. cylinder long enough to accom- modate loads measuring Box 159, York Harbour, NL, Canada A0L 1L0. April -May 2007 13. High Plains twist Most calibers and rates. Inquire Table I .45 Colt Load Data 14,000 psi Reboring & about our fine line bullet (grains). powder charge (grains). primer velocity (fps). comments Rerifling cut-rifled barrels. of button and 285 RCBS 45-270-SAA cast HS-6 CCI 300 893.