The Firearms MagEzine

The Firearms MagEzine
A publication of
CenterFire Central
http://www.centerfirecentral.com

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The Firearms MagEzine is no longer published

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VOL. 1 ISSUE 4 AUGUST 1998
Circulation 800

IN THIS ISSUE

THE EDITOR'S NOTES
Projects

FEATURE ARTICLE - MEASURING PRESSURE
By Norman Johnson

PRODUCT REVIEW - RANGE BOX
Getting it all to the range with you

RESOURCES
Other resources for related information

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A WORD OF CAUTION
CenterFire Central and contributing writers are not responsible for
mishaps of any kind which may occur from use or misuse of data or
information published, electronically or otherwise by CenterFire
Central. Activities involving firearms, ammunition, components and
equipment require strict safety precautions and training which are not
detailed herein.

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EDITOR'S NOTES

So many projects so little time. One project that I am working on and I
hope you will find interesting is an accessible copy of all of the
"Favorite Loads" that have been submitted to CenterFire Central.

The database got rather large so I removed some of it so that it would
load faster. I am currently working with a couple of ideas on how to
make this information available to those interested.

One approach is a hard copy that I could make available for the price
of postage and printing only. It is not my intention to sell what you
folks added to the database for a profit, just get it to you in a
usable format. I may look into sending x number of calibers per month
in this Ezine then you could print it yourself for pennies.

The second approach is to reformat the output of the database so that
it loads faster and somehow compress what is out there.

Computers are wonderful but sometimes a paper copy is hard to beat, so
that is the direction I am leaning now. Be patient, I think it will
prove interesting.

I want to lay it out much like a loading manual so that it is most
readable. Once I get caught up I may just add a section to the Ezine
like "This
Month's Favorites" for the new loads that are added each month.

Any thoughts on this are welcome.

Bill Wade

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THIS MONTH'S FEATURE ARTICLE

MEASURING PRESSURE

I read this article on the RELOAD list and thought it worth repeating.
So with the authors permission, here it is.

By Norman Johnson

There are two approaches to practical pressure measurements
(really comparisons, since most of us have no real measurement
facilities) that have been used by the ordinary reloader.

The first is to measure the case in the web area (or the belt, in
the case of belted magnums) before and after firing. Maximum
pressure allowed is generally agreed to have been reached when
the web area measures .001" greater than that measured after
first firing of the factory loaded ammo. This is the method that
I used in the years before I became familiar with the writings of
Ken Waters.

The web method, while satisfactory in some aspects, is not ideal for
the reloader who uses his cases for a number of reloads. Measurement of
the web most often requires a micrometer with a blade anvil since the
web on most cases is narrow enough that the barrel anvil of standard
micrometers is too wide to make that measurement - the rim and the
enlarged pressure ring get in the way. I spent over a hundred dollars
on one of these micrometers that I used in my pre-Waters years.

Since dies do not size the web back to spec, once the .001" maximum web
expansion is reached, these cases may not be used for further pressure
comparison testing. In addition, cases (webs) tend to grow gradually
over a number of firings with loads that are at or near maximum so
false indications may be encountered.

The above method also suffers from the possibility that when pressures
are great enough to expand the web, some old firearms may be damaged or
destroyed. I used this method only for modern, high pressure equipment.

The second method is that advanced by Ken Waters and that which I have
touted here too many times to count. It uses the pressure ring, that
area immediately ahead of the web. This pressure ring is swaged back to
near its factory specs each time it is resized; and that is true even
for those of us who only partially (say 90%) resize as long as a full
length die (as opposed to a neck sizer) is used. It is also less
dependent on brass hardness because the brass is so thin in the
pressure ring area.

This method is usable for any firearm with which I am familiar. Allowed
(maximum) expansion of the pressure ring depends on the cartridge and
the gun in which it is fired. Ken Waters gives his guidelines for this
judgment in his excellent pressure article "Developing Pet Loads, Ken
Waters' Methods for Judging Pressure", a reprint from the September
1982 issue of Handloader magazine, available from Wolfe Publishing,
6471 Airpark Drive Prescott, AZ 86301 (602) 445-7810. It is also
reproduced in his collected series, "Pet Loads".

His article is a thorough dissertation on pressure comparison and
control. It is invaluable for developing loads in that it covers the
signs to watch for in order to stay out of trouble and dispels some old
wives tales that seem to persist.

Wolfe Publishing
6471 Airpark Drive
Prescott, AZ 86301
(602) 445-7810

Same address for Handloader and Rifle Magazines

I have not gone to the range in more than 20 years without my
micrometer.

God Bless!

Norm

If you do not already subscribe to the RELOAD list, it is a great
source of information and an excellent place to ask questions.
To find out more visit their site http://www.ar15.com/reload-l/

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THIS MONTHS PRODUCT REVIEW

I do not make it out to the range nearly as often as I would like, but
when I go I don't want to forget anything.

How long is your list of things that you have forgotten at one time or
another?

There is not a lot that is more frustrating than arriving at the range
only to discover you forgot something, especially if it is something
more than just a handy item to have.

I finally gave up and built a box to haul everything in except the
guns.
Of course the box weighs enough that it should have wheels, maybe even
a
license plate. If I don't rupture a disc lifting it, it is great.

In my spare time, that reads- when heck freezes, I am going to re-build
the box of lighter construction, however, functionally it is great.

While pondering how to build this box, the first concern was to find
the biggest piece of equipment that must go in the box, then build from
there.

In the June issue I reviewed the Pact Model 1 chronograph and mentioned
the optional skyscreen bar. Well, that happens to be the biggest piece
of equipment that I haul to the range. It measures 22" long, so this
meant the box had to have an interior length of at least 22" or be at
least that tall.

I chose a horizontal box design because no matter what I am hauling, if
it can fall over it will. Horizontal meant that the box would be
shorter and less likely to fall, tip, spill, roll, or any or all of the
above.

Next question I addressed was would I always take the chrono? No,
probably not. Solution - a 2 piece box.

The bottom third of the box can be removed and left behind, preferably,
left behind at home and not at the range.

In addition to the skyscreen bar, other items that I wanted with me at
the range included the following list.

Shells
cleaning rod
rags
targets
ear protection
staple gun and or tape
Allen wrench set
screw drivers
spotting scope
chrono unit and screens

I listed a cleaning rod; when I built the box I was taking a 3 piece
rod to the range for emergencies. If I am really working at tight
groups on a specific gun, I take a 1 piece rod and clean as I go, it
won't fit in the box but I try not to forget it.

Of course, like most gun enthusiasts, I was also certain that I would
discover other things that I simply must have to do the job right. This
meant leaving room in the plans to add an east wing to the rapidly
growing box.

I have included some pictures of the box/steamer trunk. Go ahead laugh,
it is fugly, but it works.

The HOMEMADE RANGE BOX

All jokes aside, it is too heavy even empty, however, being the
resourceful person that I am, I did not have to buy any lumber and very
little hardware. The heart of the box is hard rock maple from a
dismantled bar top in my basement rec-room.

There are some plastic tool boxes on the market that I looked at but I
just could not figure a way to make them work for me. Building the box
myself allowed me to customize it to suit. I did not get fancy with
mitered joints or anything, I really did not care what it looked like
as long as it worked.

Someday I will rebuild it of lighter construction but it will have to
be by choice because this box will never wear out. It has become one of
those things "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Time being what it is,
that project will have to keep for a while, but meantime my trips to
the range should include all the tools and equipment I need.

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IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Advanced Action Video

We have all seen hunting videos of some sort and I always appreciate
the effort that producers make to bring us useful information and
footage of "Real" hunts. Sometimes though, you have to wonder if the
cameraman has ever used a camcorder before.

Advanced Action produces a prairie dog video called "Exploding
Varmints", and the name pretty much describes the content. The filming
work and audio are both top notch.

Visit their site for more information.
http://www.advancedactionvideos.com

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READERS REQUESTS

The purpose of this Ezine is to share in-depth information through
articles of reasonable size. The Ezine is not intended to compete
with the fantastic resources that message boards offer.

If readers out there have experience related to requests in this
section and would like to share what you have learned, I will gladly
compile responses and deliver in the next issue. Send responses in the
form of a short article or maybe a source that would help these
individuals find the answers they are seeking.
Bill at bill@centerfirecentral.com

Reader:
There is one topic I would really like to see.
#1) I would like to see an in depth article on loadings of the .444
Marlin for single shot pistols. I am brand new into this sport and I
am finding a somewhat lack of articles on this subject.
#2) The other subject that I have always wanted to know about is, "The
truth about action strength!" I have heard a lot of here-say about
this topic, but no-one I have ever known has given factual one on one
comparisons about the pressures they can handle.

Feedback

For anyone who is loading a 44 magnum or .444 Marlin in a single shot
pistol or one of Ruger's new Rifles that is clip fed, Colorado Bonded
Bullets has 300 Grain Spitzer and H-base Bullet in .429 caliber. And
just to keep you all updated on my progress of developing the .444. I
have the scope mounted and brass on its way and all of the other
components sitting at home. My first rounds will be with new Remington
brass, and 300 grain Hornady XTP bullets. I will pass along info that I
uncover as I see what this round is capable of.

Erik Dyal

Reader:
Have you reported on any binoculars as to resolution and quality? I am
interested in varmint work using 10 x 50's +/-

James E. Phifer
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OTHER RESOURCES

Handloader Magazineand Rifle Magazine