i.s., 5 i 0- - rifle magazine the complete selection of rws gamo airguns see ... garded this book as...

I.S., 5 50 - I

1

0 -

A standard for over 50 years. The 7mm Mauser Ludwig Olson

Sharps Model 1868 Conversion Carbine Dennis Bruns A page out of history. Light Rifles That Hit! Wayne van Zwoll Accuracy is the bottom line.

0 . . . 5mm Remington Rimfire Magnum Gus Cotey

24 The legend lives on.

30 33 38 The diminutive flop.

Versatile Loads for the Fiocchi 10-gauge Hull Wallace Labisky 40 Handloads for all seasons.

Air Rifles 8 Sizing up for Accuracy.

Custom Corner Steven Dodd Hughes 10 Conservative Model 21.

Capitol Watch Neal Knox 12 Senate Okays All-Gun Check.

The Armsmakers Wayne van Zwoll 14 Colt: Part 3 - From Double-Action to Selective Fire.

Dear Editor 16 Lott on the ,458 Lott, The One-Shot Group, Browning Single Shot.

Page 3 3 . . .

Rimfires A1 Miller How Far Is Too Far?

1 - A"

ProducTests Brown Pro Hunter, The RWS Diana Models 70 and 72 Air Rifles, Weaver Lens Cleaning Kit.

Reader Research Page 4 0 . . . 68 Experimental Military .22 Carbine. Ken Kogan

,350 Remington Magnum. Mike McGough

Book/Video Reviews Castner's Cutthroats Saga of the Alaska Scouts.

Tales from French Creek 76 78 Old Hunters.

G. Sitton

1 COPYRIGHT WOLFE PUBLISHING CO. 1991

On the cover . . . Weatherby's Safari Grade ,378 Weatherby features a hand-selected French walnut stock with fleur-de-lis fine line checkering and an ebony forend tip. The Weatherby Athena Grade V Field 3-inch over and under 12-gauge is accented with handcrafted floral patterns on a silver-gray surface and selected American Claro walnut. The boxlock action is fitted with a Greener crossbolt locking system. Weatherby's Integral Multi-Choke System is standard.

The double-gun case is from Americase and features a DuPont Cordura'9 cover in a full wraparound design with double reinforcedwear points. Key locking draiv bolts are standai Combination locks available on most models. Contact Weatherby, 2781 Firestone Blvd., South Gate %' CA 90280 or Americase, Box 271, Waxahachie TX 75165. Photo by Gerald Hudson.

.a$

".= 4 Rif le 137

AIR RIFLES Jess Galan

Sizing Up for Accuracy NE ~ R U C I A L aspect of precision 0 shooting with air rifles and air

pistols that perhaps too many shooters do not pay enough attention to is the pellets. It has always been rather puzzling to me how an individual will spend a sizable amount of cash on a precision adult airgun, and then give very little thought to the ammo that such a fine gun will shoot.

There is an old story in airgun circles about how a ho-hum utility air rifle with top quality match pellets can produce tighter gro'ups than an expensive air rifle with mediocre pellets. With some exceptions, that is quite true. It is also generally true that unless you buy only individually partitioned super-match pellets, a t around $6 per hundred, you are not really assured of getting near-perfect pellets. In this particular area, perfection translates into

unifirmity, which is a very elusive com- modity, indeed, when we deal with bulk-packed pellets.

Pellet uniformity, especially in the area of the skirt, is the single most important factor affecting the pellet's behavior after it leaves the gun. In the specific case of bulk-packed pellets, their thin, hollow bases can be easily deformed due to the softness of the lead. This is unavoidable and can occur even in the top brands. Incidentally, .177-inch pellets are particularly sensitive to distortion, far more so than .22-caliber pellets. The .177-caliber pellet has a greater surface area relative to weight than the .22-caliber counterpart, so that any deformation of the former will have a more pro- nounced influence on the pellet's trajectory.

Of course, all pellets are sized to a

Beeman Pel1 Size

I Beeman "Automatic" Pel1 Size Assembly

particular set of tolerances at the factory. There can be very subtle, but important, differences, however, in those pellets' fit in an individual bore. lbp accuracy, therefore, will not be realized unless pellets are custom-sized to the

HISTORY REPEMS ITSELF

Buzz cuts, t-shirts, and the 760 Dumpmaster'". True classics keep coming back. We're proud to honor the 25th anniversary of this Ameri- can classic. The 760 Limited Edition Commemorative features the original wood stock and forearm, metal re- ceiver, and carries a special 25th anniversary insignia. This is sure to be- come a collector's edition you won't want to wait another 25 years to get a hold of.

8 Rifle 137

individual gun. There are other con- siderations as well.

Although not generally known, some American and many British airgun bores and pellets are slightly oversized compared to their German counter- parts. This means that American and British pellets traditionally have had a rather tight fit in the bores of Ger- man airguns, while most German pellets often have a much looser fit in the bores of American and British guns. In the case of spring-piston guns, the relationship between pellet fit in the breech and peak pressure is extremely important. If the pellet is either too tight or too loose, optimum muzzle velocity will not be realized. Furthermore, if the pellet fits too loosely, the gun may be damaged, since there may not be enough air cushion- ing to slow down the piston a t the end of its compression cycle.

Fortunately, there is a way to squeeze every possible micron of precision out of just about any airgun pellet. It is called a pellet sizer. The latter is simply a device incorporating a die made to extremely precise tolerances. The pellets are run through the die and the outside of their skirts are resized to a uniform diameter, eliminating in the process any distortions which may be present due to bulk-packing, etc.

The accuracy obtained with resized pellets is often nothing short of outstanding. Groups fired with resized pellets are sometimes up to 50 percent

smaller than groups fired with the same out-of-the-box pellets. Another advantage offered by pellet sizers is that they allow shooters to purchase economy-grade pellets, which are sometimes notorious for their distortion, for plinking or informal target practice and still be able to shoot groups that often overlap the group sizes fired with unsized, bulk-packed top-brand match pellets.

One of the best pellet sizers I have ever tried - and I have tried most - is the Beeman Automatic Pell Size Assembly. This handy spring-loaded sizer comes with a stand that allows fast and easy resizing of pellets even while watching TV. The Automatic Pell Size is available in three calibers, .177, .20 and .22 inch. There are dies in several sizes, in .0005-inch increments, for each caliber, giving the shooter the opportunity to tailor fit each pellet type to a wide variety of guns. These dies are made from solid graphite tool steel and heat-treated to 60 Rockwell, while the plunger is made of DuPont Delrin. The spring-loaded plunger automati- cally opens the feed trough after each sizing stroke. The complete Beeman- Automatic Pel1 Size Assembly with one die retails for $39.98, while additional dies are $6.98 apiece. (Beeman Preci- sion Arms, Inc., 3440 Airway Drive, Santa Rosa CA 95401.)

As I have been saying for many years, airguns are highly individualistic

(Continued on page 55)

I THE LOOK OF A CHAMPION I

the intermediate or beginning oirgunner. A special match-style diopter and front sight gives you the shooting confidence you need. 450 fps velocity delivers the ,177 pellets with power. Single shot, automatic safety, mode in America. Set your sights on the future, ask for the Biathlon Trainer. Send for your free Morksmon cotolog todoy.

ENDORSED BY

11 sffnnnucT(I**

@MARKSMAN' DIVISION OF S/R INDUSTRIES INC PRODUCTS C Dept DD91 '5482 Argosy Drive Huntington Beach, CA 92649 USA (714)898-7535

September-October 1991

INTRODUCING THE NEW RWS

GAMO COMPACT The RWS Gamo Compact Air Pistol is a stylish affordable match air pistol that will please even the most discriminating shooter. Anyone looking for a club air pistol need not look any further. Available in .I77 caliber only the RWS Gamo Compact features include.. .

Walnut adjustable grips. Two-stage adjustable trigger.

Swiveling trigger shoe. Adjustable rear sight

distributor in the

Precision Air Rifles and Air Pistols. As with all Rws airguns, RWS GAMO Airguns will be protected with a Full Lifetime Warranty. For a closer look at the complete selection of Rws GAMO Airguns see your local dealer, and to make that visit easier send for our latest cata- log today. Send $1.00for3rd class, $2.00 for 1st class delivery to:

IYNAMIT NOBEL - RWS INC. 105 STONEHURST COURT

NORTHVALE, NJ 07647-0962

9

Twen tv-Tw o Caliber

VARMINT RIFLES

By Charles Landis

A classic shooting text available again. This work will acquaint riflemen with the real possibilities and vast number and types of .22 varmint rifles, cartridges, bullets and loads. Author Landis regarded this book as “the .22 caliber varmint rifle Bible.” It was written with the purpose to prove the extraordi- nary possibilities of .22 caliber rifles as a hunting arm and for target work. “It is entirely possible that one of the .22 varmint rifles described herein will give you a new understanding and meaning of the word accuracy.”

Wolfe Publishing Company 647 1 Airpark Drive

Prescott, Arizona 86301

r

Phone (602) 445-7810 Fax (602) 778-5124 Toll Free 800-899-7810

$32.00 x Arizona residents pleaae a&i 6%

Shipping & handling $3.00 Foreign $5.00 COT, M 00

ersatile Loads for the

Fiocchi 10-gauge Hull

Wallace Labisky

HILE PRODDING MY creative W side for an interesting way to begin this story, the time machine slip- ped into reverse and I was carried back a full quarter century. It was my first trip to Chicago, the purpose being to attend the NRA annual whingding where I was both privileged and awed upon meeting for the first time such luminaries as John Amber, Larry Koller, Elmer Keith, George Nonte and many others.

I also remember the occasion for another very important reason. That gathering of gun gurus served as the launching pad for a newly-born publi- cation The Handloader Magazine, as it was then named. The first issue was

there, passing in review and receiving well-earned salutes from the stands. All of us who played a part in putting it together were justly proud.

Before I headed back to the Dakota prairie, founding editodpublisher Dave Wolfe asked if I would be interested in cranking out a piece on handloading the 10-gauge magnum. I doubt if wild horses could have held me back.

Richland Arms, then a prominent importer of good-quality European double guns, came through with a Spanish-built Model 711 side-by-side gun. Components were assembled. Elmer Keith, who had championed the Big Ten for many years, was consulted. After a lot of loading and a lot of test shooting, the story saw print in issue number three. It was the beginning of

a love affair that has waned but very little.

Back in those days, Alcan was the big name in handloading circles, and if you were working with 10-gauge hulls there was really no other source for quality components, particularly wadding. There was the PGS (plastic gas seal), along with preciselydimensioned Feltan-Bluestreak fiber wads and a plastic shot wrapper called the Kwik- Sert. Alcan’s 220 Max-Fire primer was something of a legend in its own time. Of course, there was AL-8 powder from Sweden, which for a time, was widely

Below, these first-time crimps on the new Fiocchi 10-gauge hull were applied with a Ponsness- Warren Model 10 Magn-0-Matic loading tool. Right, Fiocchi’s new 3.5-inch 10-gauge hull is of straight-wall design with a synthetic asbestos basewad that i s seated and formed under about 20 tons of pressure.

40 Rifle 137

Above, Superbuck pellet\ are three percent antimony with excellent spherical quality Right, stacking 00 buckshot in two-pellet tiers inside the BPD-TUFF wad and buffering with a generous amount of Super Crex produced deadly patterns

regarded as the ne“ultrap1us propellant for payload weights of 2 to 2% ounces. When the word got out that Alcan had been sold to Smith & Wesson, a lot of handloaders wisely stocked up and still have quantities of those good old components stashed away. At least, that’s what my mail tells me.

Alcan even offered unfired hulls in 3.5-inch 10-gauge persuasion. The early “Magnamax” was an orange- colored paper hull that originally ac- cepted a 57-size primer, but was later upgraded to take the larger 209 size. Eventually, the paper-tube hull was replaced by a red-colored plastic-bodied shell with a wound-paper basewad. All were manufactured by Fiocchi in h c o , Italy. The paper-tube hull, as I recall,

had a thin steel liner that reinforced the head section.

quate capacity for the heaviest loads, both lead and steel shot. It’s of three-

Uncovering a hidden-away cache of those Magnamax hulls is not likely to happen, but it really doesn’t matter because there is a new kid on the block. Although Fiocchi of America does not offer factory-loaded 10-gauge ammuni- tion, it is bringing in a new, primed 3.5-inch plastic hull from the Italian plant. Gun dealers who handle the Fiocchi line probably do not carry this hull in stock, but it can be special ordered. If that doesn’t work out, the

piece design (Reifenhauser type), featuring a straight-walled plastic tube (ribbed exterior) and an all-brass head that is 3 6 0 inch in height. The non- integral plastic basewad stands just a tad above the nose of the primer. The latter is of the same size as the 209 and is roughly equivalent to the Fiocchi 616 component primer, which means that it has plenty of fire to ignite all of the slow-burn-rate canister shotshell powders.

hull is almost always obtainable from Ballistic Products, Inc. (PO Box 408, Long Lake MN 55356).

This is truly an excellent hull for the handloader to work with, offering ade-

It’s not quite correct to describe the basewad as being of plastic construc- tion, though that’s what it appears to be at first glance. Actually, it’s crafted from a synthetic asbestos that is ex-

Below, all of the multi-wad columns were built on this BPO-10 plastic seal. Right, Superbuck is offered in eight-pound plastic containers and is available in sizes ranging from .20 to .36-inch diameter. Super Grex has been used as a buffer in Winchester shot loads since 1966.

September-October 1991 41

Table I

Load Data powder

Solo 1500

Blue Dot I

I HS-7

charge wad column (grains) (thicknesses in inches)

46.5 48.0 42.0 42.0

47.0 44.0

48.0 45.0

BPO-10, % , 3b fiber, ,070 card, Teflon wrapper BPO-10, %, % fiber, ,030 card, Teflon wrapper BPD, 20-gauge %, % wool felt, .070 card BPD, 20-gauge %, y8 fiber, 5b Tyvek disc

BPO-IO, 3b, 3b fiber, ,070 card, Teflon wrapper BPD, 20-gauge ' A , % wool felt, ,200 card

BPO-10, 3b, 3b fiber, ,070 card, ,030 card, Teflon wrapper BPD. 20 gauge %, '/4 wool felt, ,135, ,135 card

shot size

No. 4 No. 4 No. 5 No. 5

velocity UPS)

1,155 1,214 1,146 1,147

extreme chamber spread pressure ups, uum 62 9,700 36 10,620 18 10,840 44 11,140

extreme spread UUP)

1,100 600 300

1,900

No. 4 No. 5

No. 4 No. 5

1,222 1,193

1,193 1,138

29 10,450 66 11,100

28 10,300 68 10,520

1,000 700

400 1,700

W-571 48.0 BPO-10, %, 3/8 fiber, ,070 card, Teflon wrapper No. 4 1,192 30 10,160 1,300 I 45.0 BPD, 20-gauge %, % wool felt, ,135, ,135 card No. 5 1,138 80 10,640 1,600

SI?-4756 41.0 BPO-10, 3b, 3b fiber, ,070 card, Teflon wrapper No. 4 1,167 35 10,080 500 '38.0 EPD, 20-gauge Y4, % wool felt, ,135 card No. 5 1,130 50 10,340 2,000 I

' 47.5 BPO-10, % , % fiber, ,070 card, Teflon wrapper No. 4 1,181 50 9,940 1,600 48.5 BPO-10, Y4, 3b fiber, ,030 card, Teflon wrapper No. 4 1,203 38 10,360 1,500 43.0 BPD, 20-gauge %, % wool felt, ,135 card No. 5 1,144 18 10,200 600

Note: Two ounces lead shot (non buffered). Fiocchi 10-gauge 3.5-inch plastic shell (new/primed) and six-point fold crimp. Test barrel length was 30 inches, bore diameter ,776 inch and no choke constriction. Velocities are instrumental at 4.5

feet from t h e muzzle using an Oehler Model 35 Proof chronograph with t h e Skyscreen ill system. Components: BPO-10, double-cupped plastic gas seal; BPD, Ballistic Pattern Driver wad; Teflon wrapper size, ~ X , X ~ ~ L , inch; 10 and 20-gauge fiber wads, Alcan brand; 20-gauge wml felt wads, Ballistic Products. WARNING: Chamber pressure will increase if th is data is u s e d with previously-fired hulls; useonly new, factory-primed Fiocchi hulls.

*L-8/

Be alert - Publisher cannot accept responsibility for errors in published load data.

ploded electronically, after which the substance is extruded into a pencil-like rod. The rod is then cut to the necessary length and placed inside the shell head where it is seated under a pressure of about 40,000 psi, causing it to flow into shape and lock the shell tube to the brass head.

Although the mouth of this Fiocchi 10-gauge hull is not skived (thinned on the inside), it still takes a beautiful six- point fold crimp. The secret, if it can be called that, is to use a sharp-edged crimp starter. A round-edged starter will result in a serviceable closure, make no mistake about that, but the finished crimp will be somewhat lack- ing in appearance, with wide, unsightly gaps between the folds.

For my load-development project, I used that Cadillac of the 10-gauge tools, the Ponsness-Warren Model 10 Magn-0-Matic This big rig is equipped with a sharp-edged steel crimp-starting die and the crimps were absolutely the epitome of perfection. I might add, however, that I did not use the factory- issue sizing die. A number of years ago .I purchased an extra sizing die and had

42

it shortened .075 inch for the purpose of working with new, unfired hulls. This shorter die permits making the crimp folds just a tad deeper, with the finished crimp benefiting appreciably. Incidentally, the shortened die also works out nicely with all previously- fired hulls, regardless of brand.

Fiocchi hull seems to be exactly .5 inch when using a rigid, built-up wad column that does not yield to tool force when closing the crimp. With the Ballistic Pattern Driver wad, where wool-felt fillers are used as shotcup inserts, an excellent closure will result with as little as x6 inch of crimp space, this owing to the fact that the wool-felt -

The optimum crimp space for the wadding will compress slightly.

I

The buckshot loads were tested in a Rernington SP-10 autoloader that was fitted with an extended- length, ported choke tube from Clearview Products.

Rif le 137

~~

Table I1

46.0 BPO-10, Yi, f fiber, % Tyvek disc, Teflon wrapper No. 3 1,164 26 10,660 900 40.0 BPD, 20-gauge Yi, lh wool felt, ,070 card NO. 2 1,083 51 10,600 700

Load Data

Blue Dot 44.5 BPO-10, 3h fiber, ,070 card, Teflon wrapper No. 2 1,168 38 10,320 700 I 40.0 BPD, 20-gauge 3/a. % fiber, 5h Tyvek disc No. 2 1,106 34 10,600 1,000

HS-7 46.5 BPO-10, 3&, 3h, ,070 card, Teflon wrapper No. 3 1,171 55 11,040 1,200 I 43.0 BPD, 20-gauge lh, Yi wool felt, .135. .135 card No. 2 1,120 42 10,960 1,400

W-571 46.5 BPO-10, %, 3h fiber, ,070 card, Teflon wrapper No. 3 1,153 54 10,600 900 I 43.5 BPD, 20-gauge Yi, % wool felt, ,135, ,135 card No. 2 1,096 20 10,080 500

SR-4756 39.5 BPO-10, 3/8. fiber, 3/4 Tyvek disc, Teflon wrapper , No. 3 1,159 26 10,780 800 ~~~ ~~ ~

AL-8 48.0 BPO-10. VI, 3, fiber, ,030 card, Teflon wrapper NO. 3 1,175 35 10,960 800 I 42.0 BPD, 20-gauge %, Yi wool felt, ,070 card No. 2 1,102 34 10,540 400

Note: Two ounces buffered lead shot, Fiocchi 10-gauge 3.5-inch plastic shell (new/primed) and six-point fold crimp and lacquer seal. All loads with 22.0 grains Ballistic Products' original fine-granule buffer.

Test barrel length was 30 inches, bore diameter ,776 inch and no choke constriction. Velocities are instrumental at 4.5 feet from the muzzle using an Oehler Model 35 Proof chronograph with the Skyscreen 111 system. In addition to sealing the crimps with lacquer, a very thin 3/4-in~h Tyvek disc was positioned Over the shotload to prevent the loss of buffer.

Components: BPO-10, double-cupped plastic gas seal; BPD, Ballistic Pattern Driver wad; Teflon wrapper size, 13Aex2X6 inches; 10 and 20-gauge fiber wads, Alcan brand; 20-gauge wool felt wads, Ballistic Products.

WARNING: Chamber pressure will increase if this data is used with previously-tired hulls; use only new, factory-primed Fioc- chi hulls.


As an adjunct to these remarks on crimping, I used a very thin disc of Tyvek paper over the shotloads that

against buffer loss through the crimp, a fair amount and it was for this reason that it was the finished closure was sealed with a

thin coating of lacquer (clear fingernail in my testing' The conclusion is that AL-8's burn rate isn't polish works well). Tyvek discs of

least two mail-order firms that spe- Years ago my favorite AL-8 loading cialize in shotshell components: for long-range waterfowling was put Apparently the original pressure/ Ballistic Products, Inc. and Precision together with 52.0 grains behind 2% velocity test was carried out using a Reloading, Inc., (Box 122-Crooked S ounces of buffered lead shot, the wad barrel that had not been calibrated

Road, Stafford Springs CT 06076). column being a multi-wad stack with a plastic shot wrapper. The lab that did the testing reported the muzzle velocity right at 1,300 fps, the chamber pressure averaging 11,000 LUP. When I recently ran this very Same loading through my own pressure gun, velocity was nearly the Same but the pressure

though AL-8 powder hasn't were buffered. an additional guard been imported for years, there is still

here and

.75-inch diameter are available from at nearly as Slow as we used to think. was well over 13,000 up. Hot!

Left, a 47.0 grain charge of Solo 1500 behind 15 pellets of 0 buckshot was 100 percent efficient at 40 yards. Center, with 16 pellets of 00 buckshot in the BPD-TUFF wad backed by 41.0 grains of Solo 1500,40-yard patterns

placed all 16 pellets in a 15.5-inch circle. Right, the 10-pellet 000 load powered by 48.0 grains of Solo 1500 delivered patterns that ranged from 14.5 to 19 inches.

Septernber-October 1991

Table I11

Load Data Superbuck

Solo 1500 wad column charge (grains) Uhicknesses in inches) (grains)

47.0 BPO-10, Yi, fiber, ,030 card, Teflon wrapper 15 - OB 738.5

738.5 16 - OOB

844.5 10 - OOOB

705.8

47.0 BPO-10, three ,200 cards, Teflon wrapper 15 - OB

41.0 BPD-TUFF, 12-gauge lI,. lI, wool felt, 16-gauge ,050 card

48.0 BPO-10, Yi, 318 fiber, ,030 card, Teflon wrapper

44.0 BPO-10, fiber, ,070 card, Teflon wrapper 12 - OOOB

Super Grex buffer

(grains)

33.0

33.0

40.0

34.0

40.0

extreme velocity spread

ups, ups,

1,209 65

1,181 30

1.126 48

1,236 32

1,150 78

chamber chamber

UUP)

9,680

9,540

11,060

9,460

10,740

extreme spread UUP)

1,100

600

1,600

900

1,900

Note: Lead buckshot (3 percent antimony), Fiocchi 10-gauge 3.5-inch plastic shell (newlprimed), six-point fold crimp.

Test barrel length was 30 inches, bore diameter .776 inch and no choke constriction. Velocities are instrumental at 4.5 feet using an Oehler Model 35 Proof chronograph with t h e Skyscreen Ill system.

Components: BPDTUFF wad, 4 slits in shotcup; BPO-10, double-cupped plastic gas seal; IO-gauge fiber wads, Alcan brand; Teflon shot wrapper, 1%,x27,, inches inches height for 12 pellets 000 buck). WARNING: Chamber pressure will increase if this data is used with previously-fired hulls; use only new. factory-primed Fiocchi hulls.


with SAAMI reference ammo. At any rate, I shot that hot load for years using the Richland M-711 side-by-side gun mentioned earlier. It patterned excep- tionally well, usually averaging 90 percent or better at 40 yards. Certainly the gun’s action was heavily stressed, but it definitely wasn’t damaged in any way; it’s still as tight as the day it left the factory.

Among the currently available canister powders, the surprise package was Scot’s Solo 1500, a single-base nitrocotton powder manufactured in Scotland by the Nobel division of ICI. When introduced a couple of years ago, the word was that its burn rate would be quite close to SR-4756. In my tests with the Fiocchi 10-gauge hull, it shapes up as a slower powder, one that looks good alongside Blue Dot, W-571 and HS-7. As the accompanying data tables show, there is about a six to seven grain difference between Solo 1500 and SR-4756, though I should point out that the particular lot of SR-4756 that I worked with burns somewhat faster than previous lots.

Solo 1500 does bulk up more than any of the other powders tried, but it still leaves sufficient space for a very adequate wad column with 2-ounce lead-shot loads. Moreover, it is a relatively clean-burning fuel, and that can be considered a big plus if one is using a gas-operated autoloader.

For the built-up wad columns, the BPO-10 plastic gas seal from Ballistic Products served as the foundation. This plastic wad, which I believe is made by Gualandi in Italy, is a double-cupped

44

Table IV

Superbuck Specifications (3 percent antimony)

average size diameter diameter charge

tinch) tinch) @rains)

000 .360 to .364 ,362 704.6

00 ,328 to ,334 ,330 844.5

0 ,317 to ,326 ,321 738.5

10-pellet

16-pellet

15-pellet

charge @rains)

848.3 12-pellet 949.3

18-pellet 885.3

18-pellet


design with both cups featuring iden- tical buttressing in the form of inner concentric “fences.” It doesn’t make one iota of difference, therefore, which end goes next to the powder. This over- powder wad is tough; it will not distort or fracture when suddenly slammed with many tons of pressure, yet it still offers adequate obturation.

In comparison with the built-up wad column, a substantial reduction in the powder charge is necessary when using the unit-type Ballistic Pattern Driver wad. If the propellant charge isn’t reduced, chamber pressure goes through the roof. The most logical ex- planation is that the long plastic wad (2.115 inches) sets up increased friction on load start. The extra resistance causes the powder to burn just a tad faster and the pressure escalates.

Obviously, when the two types of wad columns are loaded t o the same pressure level, the built-up column using the Teflon shot wrapper will generate

higher velocity by virtue of the heavier powder charge that is needed.

As most of you know, the Ballistic Pattern Driver’s shotcup features an internal taper and thus calls for a 20-gauge-size insert wadding, the purpose being both to control the chamber pressure and to regulate crimp space. Different types of insert wadding will change the ballistics of the load, though only slightly. With reference to Table I, note that I compared conven- tional fiber-type wads with the light and highly resilient wool-felt inserts. Using 42.0 grains of Solo 1500 behind the BPD, the velocity was virtually un- changed, while the fiber-type inserts (Winchester brand) produced an increase of only 300 LUP. The purpose of the %-inch Tyvek disc that was used over the Winchester fiber wads, and the .O7O-inch card over the wool felts, was to prevent the shot pellets from embedding.

For all of the Ballistic Pattern Driver

Rifle 137

loads detailed in the data tables, both buffered and non-buffered, the payload overflows the shotcup by anywhere from 1.5 to three layers of pellet%, depending on the density of the powder charge and the amount of insert wadding required to regulate crimp space. Upon firing the insert wadding will compress and the entire shotload will be fully contained within the wad, thus precluding the possibility of pellet abrasion and the build-up of lead foul- ing in the bore.

The loads were worked up using No. 2 and No. 3 shot, and 22.0 grains of Ballistic Products' original fine-ground polyethylene buffer was the correct amount to fill the pellet interstice areas, bottom to top. Will chamber pressure be affected by substituting a different brand or type of buffer? Very likely it will be, and the change will be in a hazardous direction. As always, the best rule is to follow a given recipe to the letter. Guesses and rules of thumb are usually good ways to end up in hot water.

Of the two types of wad columns, does one hold an edge over the other when it comes to delivering uniform ballistics? The data in the tables certainly do not provide a clear-cut answer. In some instances, the built-up column was the winner, while in others the Ballistic Pattern Driver copped the honors. The same can be said in regard to the powders used, the situation largely being six of one and a half- dozen of the other, as the old expression goes.

Contrary to common belief, it does seem to be a characteristic of new, unfired hulls to produce an extreme spread in both velocity and pressure that exceeds that given by a once-fired hull. I have encountered this strange twist a number of times when compar- ing factory target loads with handloads that were near duplicates. In those tests, the once-fired hull always showed a smaller difference between ballistic highs and lows. The extreme velocity spread is, of course, of greater concern than the spread in pressure.

Another factor that enters the equa- tion is the method used for measuring chamber pressure. With the lead- crusher system, the shell wall must be pierced to give the powder gases free access to the piston that acts on the crusher. This invariably disturbs the wadding, and in some instances the wadding may actually suffer enough damage to affect its function, but not necessarily to the exact same extent for

each shot in a given string. On the other hand, with the more sensitive piezo (transducer) system, there is no need to pierce the shell wall. So, if my loads had been piezo tested, chances are the extreme velocity spreads and pressure variation would be of lesser magnitude. At least that is the way the theory goes.

Only a handful of buckshot loadings in the larger pellet sizes were worked up for the Fiocchi 10-gauge hull, mainly because a t that point my hull supply was nearly exhausted. Since Solo 1500 had performed so well in the other loads, it got the nod for pushing the blue whistlers.

I believe in giving credit where credit is due, and I must say the Superbuck pellet from Ballistic Products stands head and shoulders above the rest of the pack. It is not a plated pellet, but it is hard (3 percent antimony), and it is round. Hardness and roundness are of vital importance to good patterns, and I don't believe there is a better component pellet to be found anywhere.

I ~~

I Armor Portable Shooting Bench

A rock solid. heavy duty. high quality benchresf Steel legs Unscrew lor transport Oulck easy assembly 33 ' hlgh. 29 Wx43'/2 L x 1% thick 10 ply Wood top 51 Ibs $119 95 + UPS ARMOR METAL PROD- UCTS, Box 4609R. HELENA, MT 59604. I4061 442-5560

\ a=

TIGER HUNT Curly Maple Gunsto

Send SASE for information Michael D. Barton (814) 487-7956

1 Custom Band Ramp Front Sights

Locks In Place ""c - w

Fully Machined - Standard % " Dovetail

15 sizes - ,500 M.D. to ,950 M.D. All of the loads listed in the buckshot

data table turned in a performance a t the pattern board that Eanged from ex- I I ,$,$:;gJfG:'a'og con'a'n'ng payrs and

cellent to outstanding. The patterning was done using a Remington SP-10 autoloader with a 30-inch barrel. The choke was an extended-length, ported tube of the conical-parallel type from Clearview Products, Inc. (PO. Box 12160, Oklahoma City OK 73157). Based on the Remington's .782-inch bore, constriction is .037 inch.

The 10-pellet loading with 000 buck pushed by 48.0 grains of Solo 1500 top- ped the list for pattern performance. This is by no means a heavy load for the Big Ten, the charge weight being just under 1% ounces. The pellets were stacked in five two-pellet crisscross tiers inside the Teflon wrapper then buffered with 34.0 grains of Win- chester's Super Grex. The best pattern opened to only 14 inches at 40 yards, while the poorest measured 19 inches. Average pattern width for five shots was 16.6 inches. In all instances, there was deadly pellet saturation in close proximity to the point of aim. The slower-moving 12-pellet loading with 000 buck (in excess of 1% ounces) wasn't patterned, but chances are it would also deliver a tight shot cloud.

The second best load in terms of pattern was the 16-pellet charge of 00 buck (over 1% ounces) phshed by 41.0 grains of Solo 1500. For this load the .33-caliber pellets were stacked in eight

P.M. E n t e r p r i s e s James L Wisrier 146 Curtis Hil l Kd Chehdlis W A 98532 (2C6) 748 374 3 Monday Fi td,r\ (9 5)

/ Rifle Barrels for all Seasons Quality barrels for sporting and target use. Ow barrels have won every major western states H.P. Silhouette match '84-'87, including CIS. and Canada Nationals '84. In '85 and '88 set m Coors '89 an

Rifle Barrelmaker. Gunsmfth SlSKlYOU GUN WORKS

405 Kubli Road, Grants Pass, OR 97527 (503) 846-6604

Wnle for Lls1

NOT A CORRESPONDENCE COURSE! You will be taught by an experienced faculty and learn through "hands on" experience in a step by step program with individual in- struction. Complete yourcourse inless than one year. Day and night classes available. We areaspecializedschool withaproven 44- year success record and graduates in 50 states as well as foreign countries. Approved for the training of eligible veterans and is an accredited member of National Association of Trade and Technical Schools. We partici- pate in some U S . Government financial assistance programs. Call (800) 234-4594or (303) 233-4697 for information today.

- 1575 Hoyt St. - Dept. R - Denver. CO 80215 . Colorado School of Trades

45 September-October 1991

Fiberglass Stocks Muzzle Brakes Rebarreling AU Cals. Mlni-14 Rebarrellr

Gunsmith Service A c c u r a t e S t a t e of t h e Art C u s t o m Rlfles

P.O. Box 41: Wilson. Wyoming 8301

Vlc Talmo. Gunsmith 1307) 733-3395

rn

In keeping with the Holland & Holland "tradition of perfection", no expense has

been spared in the creation of this defini- I with I tive, authorized history of the firm and it5 guns. Author Peter King has employed

I every resource available from the H & H archives - the day books, ledgers, sales

records, reports of experiments, and engi- neering and design files - and from the

personal records of members of the

SHOOTING FIELD

HOLLAND & HOLLAND Revised and enlaqed'editian

U family and shareholders! An oversizec

book, of 184 pages, luxuriously case- BLACKSMITH CORPORATION 0 PUBLISHERS bound and printed on heavy matte papei Box 1752, Chino Valley, AZ 86323 U.S.A. with gilt edges with over 100 color anc

black & white illustrations! Only $49.95! _J#197 Orders 800-531-2665 t

BALD EAGLE Front Rifle Rest

Material: Aircraft quality aluminum. Weight: 7 lbs., 12 02. (with bag). Features: Rack & pinion on primary rise

(4th leg). Options: Windage top, deluxe top with

rifle stop. Price: From $99.95 for basic rest to

$235 for deluxe windage rest with rifle stop & bag. In other words, it IS everything

you sad it would be and more You do good work1 I' Add $750 for shipping & handlmg. VISA & MC acceptel

Lifetme guarantee SASE for more information & prim 1Lst -Layne Simpson- BALD EAGLE PRECISION MACHINE COMPANY

101 Allison St., Dept. R, Lock Haven, PA 17745 TEL (717) 748-6772 FAX (717) 748-4443

Bill Gebhardt. Owner INRA Endowment Member - IBS Life Member)

GUNSTOCK CHECKERING TOOLS I

tools have enhanced ckering since 1945

46

two-pellet crisscross tiers in the BPD- TUFF wad, which is the steel-shot ver- sion of the Ballistic Pattern Driver. Again, the buffer was Super Grex, and the shotcup was given four slits to a depth of 1.5 inches. Care must be taken in positioning the bottom three tiers of pellets so they rest in a level pattern. After that, the balance of the pellets will almost fall into position by themselves. This stacking order ena- bles the pellets to survive the forcing cone squeeze and other threats with minimal deformation, and it's a big part of the secret in attaining top-notch patterns.

This 16-pellet loading of 00 buck in the BPD-TUFF wad produced 40-yard patterns that averaged 19.7 inches in diameter (15.5 to 27 inches). Even the poorest pattern out of five had enough pellets concentrated close to the point of aim to knock the socks off a deer.

I wanted to try the BPD-TUFF wad with 000 buck, but the interior diameter of the shotcup is such that it will not accept a stacking order of two pellets to the tier. The wad will accept 0 buck in two-pellet tiers, however, and I may be somewhat remiss in failing to move in that direction.

Two 15-pellet 0-buck loadings with 47.0 grains of Solo 1500 were tested using built-up wad columns comprised of different types of filler wadding. As the data table shows, both velocity and pressure averaged slightly less with the hard nitro cards than with the softer fiber-type wadding. The shotshell game is full of surprises and this is a prime example. I had fully expected just the opposite. One expectation that did ring true was that the extreme spread in pressure and velocity was much less with the card wadding.

Both loads patterned well, the softer wadding giving an average efficiency of 94.6 percent at 40 yards, while the card-wadded loading did better with a 100 percent average, another little surprise. The latter averaged 13.4 hits in the 20-inch core, while the former averaged 10. A few thousandths inch more choke constriction would probably have produced patterns with much stronger density in the core area.

Although there are cautionary remarks in the data table footnotes, it should be clearly understood that all of the information given in this report is intended for use only with Fiocchi factory-primed virgin hulls. The use of hulls that have been fired one or more times will result in increased chamber pressure. 0

Rifle 137

i.s., 5 i 0- - rifle magazine the complete selection of rws gamo airguns see ... garded this book as...

Documents