By Duane Thomas
In the first entry in this five-part series on the components of priming compound, we discussed the initiator, which is stored energy, that, when it detonates, produces heat, gas, and a shockwave. Now we will discuss the sensitizer, which enhances the initiator’s susceptibility to ignition. Common sensitizers include tetrazene (also known as,…
By Duane Thomas
In the first two parts of this five-part series on the components of priming compounds, we discussed the initiator which is stored energy, and the sensitizer which places the initiator in a more-excited state thus makes it more likely to detonate when exposed to impact energy. Now let’s address the frictionator. Which…
By Gary “The Human Manual” Kieft
When the fully self-contained cartridge was developed in the 1850s and 60s, the first bullets used were little changed from those in use during the muzzleloading era. Lead, round nose, some hollow base, others flat based were the norm. But as firearms moved past the single shot and into…
By Duane Thomas
Polymer-coated bullets have become quite popular among handloaders, since they’re generally less-expensive that jacketed bullets, and avoid any of the negative issues than can attend firing bare lead bullets. However, loading coated bullets does require a bit of attention to detail, especially when adjusting the case mouth expansion die.
An important part…
By Duane Thomas
If there’s one area in which many handloaders’ final product, re: autopistol rounds, could be improved, it’s in crimping the case mouth. The case mouth must be expanded to accept a bullet, then after the bullet is seated, the flared case mouth must be smoothed back down, otherwise the oversized case mouth…
By Duane Thomas
At our reloading machine’s case-flaring station, we need to expand the case mouth to accept the bullet considerably more with plated bullets than we would with jacketed or hard cast lead. It would be impossible to overstate the importance of this.
Of course, with harder and/or jacketed bullets we don’t really like…
By Duane Thomas
There are two sorts of malfunctions that typically occur in the Winchester Model 92, a lever-action "rifle" chambered for pistol cartridges. They both relate to cartridge overall length. These are (1) failures to feed, (2) double-feeds, i.e. two cartridges coming out of the magazine tube instead of one.
The Winchester Model 1892…
By Duane Thomas
As you get into reloading, occasionally you’ll hear people refer to “carbide sizing dies.” What the heck does that mean? I’ll give you the technically correct definition, then the practical definition. The technical definition is that carbide is “a compound composed of carbon and a less electronegative element.” For all practical purposes,…
By John Kleespies
One of the most commonly used tools in a hand loader’s arsenal is a measuring caliper. However, that caliper cannot be trusted to be accurate: it must be known to be accurate. When building high-pressure ammunition, a caliper that provides incorrect measurements is worse than worthless – it is dangerous.
For about $40, rectangular…
By Duane Thomas
“Old West” lever action long guns chambered for pistol cartridges operated through two basic systems: the elevator/push rod system, with the latter piece sometimes called a follower rod though not by me (Henry, Winchester Models 1866 and 1873) and the shell lifter, sometimes called a shell carrier though also not by me (Winchester…
By John Bibby
You have heard all the talk about reloading. The itch is there, but the basic “know how” is not. You have a fist full of gift cards and you want to get started turning components into cartridges, so you can turn the same amount of money into a whole lot more noise.…
By John Bibby
For those of you who are adept at reloading, this is not a difficult task. It does however work a bit differently than working up a supersonic load. With a subsonic load, you start above your desired velocity and work towards slower. This “backward progression” is done for a couple of reasons. …