Proven Reloads and Handloads

A good friend recently asked me about American trap clay target loads that work, no matter what. Manufacturers have made a science out of creating clay target loads that pattern very well. These loads toss a traditional payload of 1-1/8 ounce shot and come to market in three versions: Light (~1145 fps), Heavy (~1200 fps) and Handicap (~1235 to 1255 fps). For now, we're going to concentrate on the Light load. We'll talk about the other two loads in future articles. Traditional shot size for these loads are 7-1/2's or 8's. My friend understands this very well but wanted to "roll his own" target shells and was adamant about "no matter what." Those words made me wince a bit and the reason for this reaction is simple. In order for target loads to really shine, we have to assume the following: Shotgun Fit You'll shoot well if the shotgun you're using fits you properly and, due to proper fit, it shoots where you're looking. May sound strange to ...

  Barrel break-in procedures have been "cussed and discussed" for many, many years. From my point of view, it comes down to this. Are you a : "Once-a-year" hunter; Tyro (new or novice shooter) that has inherited a rifle from a relative or purchased your first used center-fire rifle; Prospective competition shooter with a new match barrel; Hard-core rifleman (It has to be perfect!) or; Shooter that wants that special hunting rifle barrel to shoot its very best for a long time? If you're a once-a-year hunter, breaking in a barrel makes no sense. This is due to the limited amount of shooting that you're going to do. The typical "once-a-year" hunter shoots less than a 20 round box of ammo through his or her rifle annually. This being the case, it'll take 10+ years before the barrel powder fouls and copper's up to the point of needing professional help to get it back to peak accuracy. The exception to the 10+ year rule involves fast and flat sho...

  This article covers a topic that I field a lot of questions about. When I say "a lot," I'm not kidding you at all (average runs 15 to 20 request for help/information per week). Regardless of how many other great match cartridges are out there (and there are quite a few), the venerable .308 Winchester still reigns as the premier "go too" match cartridge. The subject matter below is a bit dry and technical so, grab your favorite beverage, belly-up to your computer and hang with me! Also, as the title states, this is "old school." No modern powders need apply. Here we go! You’ve decided to handload for your accurized, match-grade .308 Winchester bolt action or M1A (civilian M-14 style) service rifle. Safety, accuracy, and consistency are your primary concerns. You’re not sure where to start and, don’t wish to spend a small fortune on components (by the way, powder prices have increased again averaging $30.00 per pound retail plus tax) or, all your time ...

  If you feel the need, there's no better way to start a hardcore discussion around the proverbial American deer camp fire-ring than "What's the best all-around rifle/cartridge combo available if you could have only one rifle to hunt with?" These days, there are so many different rifle platforms and cartridges to choose from that a person could truly spin themselves right into the ground trying to make up their mind. Given the parameter set above, my choice is a simple one. It's the .30-06 Springfield in a bolt-action rifle.   Everyone has their favorite(s) and, before you give this article a sideways look, I'd appreciate your consideration of the following:   ·        Over the past 110 years, this cartridge has taken big game on every continent in the world; ·        It was our primary service rifle cartridge during WWI, WWII and the Korean War (some folks called it a "conflict"...B.S.! It was a war); ...

  There's a reverence and a sense of history that envelopes you the first time you hold an M1 Garand (or an M1903, M1903A3, or M1917 Enfield, for that matter). Battle-proven firearms utilized by amazing individuals...many times, in harm's way. In order to truly appreciate them, there's a need to obtain the ammunition that was originally intended for these rifles. This includes either military M2 (Ball) or M72 (Match). Whether purchased or home-fabricated, it's time to head to the range. Once you've become familiar with your service rifle, you might as well try your hand at NRA High Power Rifle competition. The course is completed via four strings of fire as follows: Slow Fire - Standing - 10 rounds at 200 yards in 10 minutes; Rapid Fire - Sitting or Kneeling - 10 rounds at 200 yards in 60 seconds; Rapid Fire - Prone - 10 rounds at 300 yards in 70 seconds; and Slow Fire - Prone - 10 rounds at 500 or 600 yards in 10 minutes. Sounds like a challenge? Sounds like fun? I...