THE WORLD’S GREATEST HANDLOADING BOOK Handloader’s Digest PHILIP P. MASSARO Thank you for purchasing this Gun Digest eBook. Sign up for our newsletter and receive special offers, access to free content, and information on the latest new releases and must-have firearms resources! Plus, receive a coupon code to use on your first purchase from GunDigestStore.com for signing up. or visit us online to sign up at http://gundigest.com/ebook-promo Introduction Welcome back! It has been quite some time since a new edition of Handloader’s Digest has graced the shelves, and it has been long overdue. The world of reloading has changed radically, and there are so many exciting things to discuss and share that I can’t wait for you to delve into the meat of this tome. There have been many changes in products and tools on the market since the 18th Edition was published in 2003, so many, in fact, that sometimes it seems like the industry changes every couple of years, and while most of the old standbys are still with us, I’ve embraced some of the new designs and technologies that are offered. The ammunition crunch of the last couple of years has brought many new people into the fold; an unavailability of ammunition has generated both a need and desire for shooters to roll their own, and as far as I am concerned, the more, the merrier! If you’re completely new to reloading, you’ll find a basic reloading sequence in this book, but it might be wise to pick up a more in-depth basic manual and spend some time with it, so you’ll get the most out of the more detailed information here. While the products may have evolved, the basic principles are still the same. Still, there’s something here for everyone. As the President of Massaro Ballistic Laboratories, LLC, I am fortunate enough to create many different types of ammunition, from mild handgun loads for new shooters all the way up through the safari ammunition, firing bullets in excess of 500 grains. It certainly keeps me on my toes, and allows me to stay abreast of the newest products and techniques. Within these covers, not only will you find a rather complex listing of the tools and products that we use during every reloading session, including those new developments on the market since last you cracked the binding of Handloader’s Digest, but feature articles by names old and new. The names that you do recognize bring many years of field-proven knowledge to the table; those names that haven’t graced your ears yet will prove themselves herein. If you’re an old hand at the reloading press, you may enjoy the reviews of some of the new products available, and likewise, if you’re relatively new to reloading, you may enjoy some of the older techniques and technologies reviewed herein. Traditionally, each edition of Handloader’s Digest has become part of my reloading library, and I’ve often referred to the articles and reference material contained therein. I feel this edition is no different. Pistol or rifle, self- defense, targets, or hunting, it doesn’t matter; we’re all handloaders, and it’s all good stuff. In any manner, it’s great to see a new edition of Handloader’s Digest on the shelves and in your hands, and I am honored to be at the helm. For those of you new to the hobby, welcome to your new addiction. Welcome, all, to Handloader’s Digest 19th Edition, and I hope you enjoy! Philip P. Massaro Executive Editor Contents Special Offers Section 1: Feature Stories A Newcomer’s View on Reloading - Carol Finnegan The .358 Blando: A Short Success Story - Philip P. Massaro Handloading For The AR - Mark Nazi Handloading For Classic Hunting Revolvers - Marty Groppi Life in the .40s - Philip P. Massaro The Way of the Wildcat - Bryce M. Towsley How Strong a Bullet Do I Need? - Craig T. Boddington The Case For Self-Defense Handloads - Briana Loeb P.O. Ackley’s Improved Cartridges - Fred Zeglin Shoulder Position, Shoulder Bump, and Accuracy - Robin Sharpless Three Sixes - Philip P. Massaro Parent Cases and Power Potential - Andrew Chamberlain Shotgun Reloading - Dave deMoulpied Case Preparation: Some Tips to Make Life Easier - Philip P. Massaro Modern Smokeless Paper Patching - Marty Longbottom A Progressive Press Roundtable - Philip P. Massaro, Marty Groppi, Mark Nazi Section 2: Catalog Metallic Handloading: The Tools Presses Reloading Dies Powder Measuring Case Trimming and Preparation Bullet Pullers Priming Tools Reloading Manuals Metallic Handloading: The Components Bullets Powders Brass Primers Shotshell Reloading Presses RCBS - Reloading a Cartridge Step by Step Components Quick References A Compendium of Contacts: Your Electronic Rolodex Glossary Book Excerpts Understanding Ballistics: “Dangerous Game Rifles” - Philip P. Massaro Gun Digest Shooter’s Guide to Reloading: “Why Didn’t This Work Out?” - Philip P. Massaro Gun Digest Store Catalog A NEWCOMER’S VIEW ON RELOADING By Carol Finnigan Editor’s Note: When I first met Carol Finnigan, she was in the unfortunate predicament of being in the company of one Mr. Bill Loeb, author of Gun Digest’s The Custom 1911. You see, being wheelchair bound, and having to feign friendship with Mr. Loeb, she appeared to be trapped. I did my best to rescue her, at least in conversation. That conversation turned to shooting and reloading, and to my great surprise, Carol is not only a heck of a pistol shot, but also reloads her own ammunition. I immediately asked her to write a piece for HD19, about a new reloader’s point of view. Sometimes, it pays to listen to those who see things with new eyes. Please allow me to introduce Carol Finnigan. – Philip Massaro, Editor It’s important to me to choose activities that I can do successfully while sitting down. I am largely confined to a wheelchair, so it would be frustrating and a wasted effort if I had to stand for long periods of time. I am also “vertically challenged,” so for me too much walking is like reaching stuff on the top shelf; it just ain’t gonna happen. Sitting down on the job From an early age I had always wanted to learn how to shoot. When my dad caught me using my brother’s BB gun to blast the vegetable cans off of a tree stump in the side lot, he would snatch the gun from me, shake his finger and say, “Young ladies don’t shoot guns.” Not exactly an enlightened outlook. Dad’s disapproval or not, I never gave up on my dream. I wonder what he would think were he to know that I not only shoot and hunt, but also reload my own ammo? I would like to think that he would be proud of me. So, why do I love reloading? There are several reasons. First off, it is a means to acquire a scarce product. In addition, I can control the quality of my ammunition, as well as customize it for me and my purposes. I have to admit; the main reason that I love to reload is because I am all about saving money. If you see a penny with a bruise, it was probably me who pinched it. If there is a way to stretch my shooting budget, you can bet that I am going to find it. My only regret is that I didn’t invest in reloading equipment earlier. Had I done so, I would be a much better shooter today because my shooting budget would have allowed me to practice that much more. Death to cardboard! It wasn’t that long ago when the price of ammunition, at least for the popular cartridges like 9mm, was quite affordable. Many people, myself included, didn’t consider the cost of reloading equipment a worthwhile investment. Being a casual shooter who only shot a few thousand rounds a year, I couldn’t justify it. That is, until the cost of ammo skyrocketed. In addition to being expensive, ammo became hard to find. Since my entry into the gun culture was relatively recent, by the time I had gotten my first handgun we were on the cusp of an ammunition drought. Yeah, I know, great timing! Between the federal government procuring billions of rounds of ammunition and the nervous public on a buying frenzy, it was almost impossible to find ammo in the stores. When you did, the price was often inflated. This forced my hand. If I wanted my gun to smoke, I had to roll my own. Of course, thrift and availability isn’t the only reason I love to reload. Dry firing is quite useful, and it drives my family nuts, which is another benefit. Still, there is no substitute for live fire. Pulling the gun out of recoil and back on target just can’t be done in the living room. Well, it can, but the neighbors complain, the cops show up and it scares the cat.