The
reloading tables use a variety of powders from several different manufacturers but since this is a Speer manual,
reloading data is for Speer Bullets only.
I'll cover spreader loads in more detail in another column, but I'll point out now that cooking up handloads that serve to increase pattern size delivered by tight-choked guns is another advantage offered by
reloading. A plastic insert (Poly-Wad) shaped like a giant thumbtack is placed post-down atop the shot charge before the shell is crimped and delivers patterns much wider than you'd expect from a given choke.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a way of extending your shooting enjoyment; you aren't concerned with the amount of time the process will take; you want to produce the best possible ammunition for your shooting purposes; and you are intrigued with the mechanics of shooting,
reloading may be just the new hobby you've been looking for.
Another aspect to
reloading is that it can give you the ability to bring a firearm back to life that's chambered for an obsolete, discontinued cartridge.
In conjunction with its milestone anniversary, Lyman has released a whole new line of
reloading presses and
reloading kits.
With the time and energy spent, along with the somewhat sore hands, using the 310 Tool I soon graduated to a Lyman American
reloading press and then in later years used a Lyman Orange Crusher press both with Lyman
reloading dies.
Included was a brief overview and introduction to
reloading, followed by actual hands-on training.
Let's consider two different methods of
reloading a revolver: one utilizes a cylindrical "speed loader," and the other loads from "speed strips." Both methods have advantages and disadvantages.
I presume the industry standard is 1/8 inch, and to ensure proper ignition the
reloading die manufacturers use a slightly higher shellholder setback of 0.126 to 0.127 inch and also likely have the same high side setback in the dies themselves to prevent the end-user from sizing the final cartridges too small, which might push them too far into the chamber and result in failure to fire.
RELOADING A SEMIAUTOMATIC PISTOL IS not complex unless you have to do it fast.
One market within the hunting and shooting industry that has become increasingly popular over the last few years is
reloading. Whether refilling shotgun shells or crafting cases of cartridges,
reloading is a rewarding hobby that lowers your customers' ammunition costs--while giving them satisfaction and confidence in the loads they're shooting.
John Taffin has written often about
reloading heavy loads for the .45 Colt, most recently in the June 2008 issue (www.