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The Journal of Ammunition Reloading Handloader Number 143

January-February 1990 Volume 25, Number 1 ISSN 0017-7393

FEATURES

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Page 18.

Page 2 7 . . .

The .50 Alaskan John Kronfeld Another game-stopping wildcat for lever fans. The Wadcutter Gil Sengel There’s more there than meets the eye. Reloading Black Powder Rifle Cartridges (Pet Loads) Ken Waters More of Ken’s favorite prescriptions for the old-timers.

18 22 24

The .220 Weatherby Rocket

The .30 Gibbs Magnum performance from a non-belted case.

27 Roy’s first cartridge.

30

Layne Simpson

Roger Stowers

Duplex Shot Loads and Paper Turkeys Combining pellets of different sizes can improve a gun’s performance. Another Look at the .280 Trying slower-burning powders gives unexpected results.

Wallace Labisky

Don Zutz 32 3 6

The .300 Savage Contender A new career for an old standby. 39

DEPARTMENTS

Jay Turner

Reloader’s Press A1 Miller

Handguns Dave Scovill Heavy Bullets in the 9mm Luger. Cartridge Board Gil Sengel

Aiming for Answers .303 British, 7-30 Waters Brass, Overall Loaded Length, .416 Hoffman. Capitol Watch Neal Knox

Benchtopics Layne Simpson Precision Handloading - Part Six.

4 Swan Song.

6

8 .284 Winchester.

10

12 Congress Finally Adjourns.

14 Reader Bylines Mrs. Malaprop Strikes Again; Tensile Strength; Technical Literacy; Thanks, Ken.

Reader Research The Ideal Tru-Line, Determining Available Case Capacity.

ProducTests Simmons Model 1115 12x50 Wide Angle Focus-Free Binoculars, Optikare Kit.

Book/Video Reviews Handgun Safety; Cartridges of the World, Sixth Ed.; Trap and Skeet Shooting, 2nd Ed.

Product & Service News Omark Industries, Magnum Research, Inc., Conetrol, Forster Products.

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Page 3 9 . . .

Propellant Profiles Thunderbird Cartridge Company T-8208 Powder. 70

Gil Sengel

- January-February 1990 3

HANDGUNS Dave Scovill

Heavy Bullets in the 9mm Luger T SEEMS the 9mm Luger is in the I midst of unceasing controversy.

Some swear by it, others swear at it. The fat was thrown in the fire when the United States military adopted the 9mm in favor of the .45 ACF? A number of state and local law enforcement agencies have followed suit. The ra- tionale, it seems, is that if it is good enough for the armed forces, it must be good enough for domestic law enforce- ment as well.

There may be a flaw in that kind of logic, however. As a military weapon, a handgun is the last option that is brought to bear on the battlefield, after air or offshore bombardment has softened up the landing zone, mobile weapons and heavy artillery have moved in and finally, the infantry in- vades the front lines with automatic rifles. If a handgun sees any action, it is a last ditch measure - better than your bare hands and a bit more effec- tive than a bayonet. Against body ar- mor, the 9mm may be useless.

On the home front, a handgun can represent the only line of defense - often against semiautomatic rifles. The Dade County, Florida, debacle only fueled the controversy over the effec- tiveness of the 9mm and reports from a t least one firearms manufacturer suggest that there is a renewed interest

in the .45 ACP and lOmm semiautos. The FBI went one step further and dropped the 9mm in favor of the 1Omm.

In lieu of the controversy over the ef- fectiveness of the 9mm, experts who participated in the 1987 FBI Wound Ballistic Seminar recommended the new 147-grain subsonic 9mm round for further study. At that time, Winchester had a monopoly on the market with a factory load that featured a 147-grain JHP at 985 fps. Shortly thereafter, Speer began tests with a 147-grain TMJ FN bullet in the 9mm Blazer and Remington recently announced that a similar load will be coming out of Delaware in the near future. Rem- ington and Winchester factory loads, however, are earmarked for law en- forcement only.

Following the recent trend toward the use of heavier bullets at subsonic velocities in the 9mm, it was apparent that if the bullets were made available as reloading components, there was no published reloading data available. I was also curious about whether the average 9mm pistol would handle the heavier bullets with acceptable ac- curacy. As most handloaders are aware, it is one thing to cut against the grain with revolutionary bullet or ammuni- tion designs. It is quite another to do it successfully.

9mm Load Summary Speer

Browning Ruger Test Hi.Power P85 Barrel

A B A B A

velocity VpS]

powder charge (grains)

HS-6 5.7 1,017 1,031 1,032 989 957 Blue Dot 6.5 1,132 1,120 1,115 1,060 1,010 HP-38 4.0 1,050 975 1,010 975 965 W-231 3.8 1,004 992 962 968 NA Unique 4.5 1,010 NA 995 NA 967 Herco 4.6 998 972 976 967 950 AAC-5 4.9 1,011 998 987 977 979 ACC-7 6.9 1,120 1,106 1,098 1,046 NA

NA - Not available

A - Speer 147-grain TMJ B - Winchester 147-grain JHP

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

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Going on the assumption that the 147-grain bullets would eventually be made available as components, the folks at Winchester offered to forward a supply of the trend-setting 147-grain JHPs, primed cases and a box of factory loads for chronographing and accuracy comparisons against handloads. Speer’s Technical Services Manager Allan Jones provided a box of the Speer 147-grain TMJ FN bullets.

Allan also provided load data for their 147-grain TMJ FN in a four-inch SAAMI test barrel, saving me a lot of time and effort in developing loads from scratch with a variety of powders without the aid of a pressure barrel. The table lists velocities for the Speer and Winchester bullets with respective powders in a Browning Hi-Power and Ruger P85. The last column lists Speer data with their TMJ FN bullet in the SAAMI test barrel.

None of the Speer loads exceeds 33,000 CUP. From the table, the hand- guns generated 60 to 110 fps more velocity than the SAAMI barrel using Speer’s recommended maximum loads with selected powders. The Winchester factory load produced 988 fps from a 4%-inch Hi-Power barrel. Groups ranged from 1.75 to 2.5 inches a t 25 yards.

As a rule, maximum loads did not produce acceptable accuracy. At least not from my point of view. The Hi- Power, for example, will put five shots with 115-grain CCI Lawman loads into .7 inch or less at 25 yards - consis- tently. Winchester 115-grain +P fac- tory loads will print five shots inside 1.5 inches at the same range from the

Handloader 143 6

Hi-Rower and P85. The only maximum load to approach that standard was 3.8 grains of W-231 with the S p r bullet. A number of loads ranged from two to 2.5 inches from both guns. Some scat- tered over four inches or more.

Best accuracy with the heavier bullets was coincident with loads that ranged from 950 to nearly 1,000 fps from both handguns. As velocities ex- ceeded 1,OOO @a, groups swelled accord- ingly and beyond 1,100 fps, three to four-inch clusters were common.

The implication at that point was that the 10-inch twist in the Ruger and Browning barrels would not stabilize the heavier bullets above 1,000 fps or sa Somewhat confounded, I called Allan Jones once more and a brief in- vestigation confirmed that the Speer test barrel produced several groups that measured less than one inch for five shots at 50 yards. Velocity for a number of those loads hovered around 950 fps from the four-inch test barrel.

Since accuracy with 147-grain 9mm bullets in top loads was not partic- ularly impressive, it occurred to me that the 10-inch twist in both handgun barrels was too abrupt. By comparison, an 18%-inch twist is fairly standard for the .38 Special and .357 Magnum, both of which shoot very well with 168-grain bullets a t around 800 and 1,350 fps, respectively.

To test the notion that the relatively quick twist was responsible for sporadic accuracy with heavier 9mm bullets I fired a few of the top loads in a Smith & Wesson Model 39 with an 18%-inch twist. It didn't prove a thing. All but one of several pups fired from the Browning Hi-Rower were signifi- cantly tighter than those fired firom the Model 39 with the same loads. If the powder charge was reduced .2 to .4 grain, to lower the velocity, accuracy might improve The idea, however, was to investigate the notion that a slower twist might improve accuracy with heavier bullets at higher velocities. It didn't. At least not with that particular Model 39.

In all, I fired nearly 700 rounds with the 147-grain bullets from Speer and Winchester. Most loads were fired from an Outers Pistol Perch over a half- dozen range sessions. Where the same load was fired on two or three separate occasions, results remained quite con- sistent. Two loads, 3.8 grains of HP-38 and W-231 with the Speer bullet, were fired from four pistols. Groups ranged from 1.5 to 6.5 inches a t 25 yards. Ac- curacy may vary accordingly in other pistols as well.

January-February 1990

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The ultimate question is whether 147-grain 9mm bullets will do the job as well, or better than the 115 to 124-grain loads have in the past. Only time will tell. If nothing else, heavier bullets give 9mm fans something new to play with.

At this time, the Speer 147-grain TMJ will be made available as com- ponents in flatnose and hollowpoint versions. A similar bullet will be loaded in the CCI Blazer line. Win-

-cheater and Remington factory loads appear to be destined for military and law enforcement contracts. 0

PRACTICE DAMAOE CONTROL.

1 PERFORMANCE.

JACKET WALLS ARE TAPERED TO CONTROL WEIGHT RETENTION AND ASSURE MAXI. MUM EXPANSION AND ENERGY TRANSFER.

,357 CALIBER 150 ORAIN JHP.

75% AVO. RET. WT. AT 557 MAG VEL. I IMUZ. 123s FPS).

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Consistent knockdown power. Without blowing

up. You can count on it with Speer@ JHP handgun

bullets. Jacket walls are tapered for full, controlled

expansion and maximum energy transfer. In other words, they

do the job. Every time. You'll find Speer JHPs in 14 calibers

THE CALIBER.

and 12 weights. Just load up a box or two

before you go out next time. And practice

damage control every time you pull the trigg

YOUR RTNER. - 1

CCI - SPEER - RCB8 * OUTERS * WEAVER

oia.~ OMARK SPORTINO EOUIPYKNT DIVISION OF OLOUNT. INS, P.O. BOX 656, LCWISTON. ID oasot i . 6 o o - e z 7 - s 6 ~ ~ .

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#580.6 Hardbound $25.00 The story Daniel Boone's rifle and his ITfventures

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The .30 Gibbs Roger Stowers

HE .30 GIBBS was the second T cartridge developed by Rocky Gibbs of Gibbs Rifle Products. His first cartridge, the .270 Gibbs, was made up from a .270 Winchester case. The .30 Gibbs, based on the .30-06 case, was the most popular of all the Gibbs designs. After 1954, all eight Gibbs cartridges were based on the ’06 case.

Gibbs stated in his Front Ignition Loading Technique manual, that he chose the .30-06 case first of all, “because of the ever plentiful supply of .30-06 brass. Secondly, a case with stan- dard head size delivers 40 percent less thrust to the locking lugs than a case with a large head such as a Weatherby or a .300 H&H case.”

While marketing the .30 Gibbs, Rocky advertised his conversion as the “most economical .30-caliber rifle in the world, with recoil and barrel life comparable to the .30-06.” The largest percentage of advertising was directed at the rifle enthusiasts who might be

considering rechambering their 03-A3 Springfields.

Gibbs also sold barreled actions built on numerous actions, mostly Mauser 98 types, using Douglas barrels ex- clusively. Gibbs recommended a 12- inch twist for the .30 Gibbs but in- stalled barrels with 10 or 14-inch twists at customers’ requests.

Cases for the .30 Gibbs are easily formed by firing 50 grains of IMR-4895 behind 180-grain bullets. The bullets should be seated out far enough to engage the rifling so resistance is felt when closing the bolt. Factory loads can also be used. If .30-06 factory loads are used, the bullets should be pulled and seated out to engage the rifling.

When I was preparing to work up loads for the .30 Gibbs, the Gibbs Wildcat Case Forming Tool was used to form about 100 cases hydraulically. When hydraulically forming cases, they should be about .010 inch too long. After forming, the 35-degree shoulders emerge slightly rounded but form a crush fit in the chamber when the bolt is closed. Upon firing, the shoulder fills

Case head separations can occur during fireforming or as the result of improper sizing. The wire tool (fashioned from a paper clip) will detect incipient separations as it slides down the inside of the case, near the head. Inset, expansion at the pressure ring determined maximum loads.

The .30 Cibbs (center) is formed from the ,3046 case (left) and is frequently compared to the .300 H&H Magnum (right).

out with sharp edges. (As long as the cartridge case was held snugly in the chamber, regular Gibbs starting loads were used for the initial firing.)

The loads listed as maximum in my rifle are not recommended for other rifles. Start a t least four grains below the loads listed and work up very slowly. Other loads for the .30 Gibbs were developed by Bob Hagel and ap- pear in Handloader No. 73.

Maximum loads were developed us- ing Winchester-Western cases from the same lot. Hornady 150-grain bullets and IMR-4320 powder along with CCI 250 primers made up the starting loads. Powder charges were increased one grain at a time. When excessive pressures were indicated, the charge was dropped one grain and five shots were fired. The pressure ring on each one of the five cartridges was measured and the readings averaged. That read- ing was then considered the maximum reading for all rounds fired. The test rifle’s 26-inch barrel has a 10-inch twist.

Excessive pressures usually show up as ejector marks on the case head,

Handloader 143 30

cratered and/or severely flattened primers. Sticky bolt lift is seldom a noticeable problem. The Gibbs case design has minimum body taper. The amount of bolt thrust any Gibbs car- tridge might produce is much lower than any tapered case of similar size. In any excessive pressure situation, a tapered case frequently delivers enough bolt thrust to make the bolt lift sticky or stiff, not so with a Gibbs.

In May 1956, Jack O’Connor re- ported on the results of test firing three Gibbs rifles at the Speer laboratory in Outdoor Life magazine. O’Connor wrote, “the primers were cratered, but there were no primer leaks and Gibbs claims case life is good. Astounding thing is that in no instance was it hard to extract a case. So help me, I could literally open the bolt with one finger.”

In the literature that was sold with his chambering jobs Gibbs wrote that, “pressure indications may be as sub- tle as a cratered primer,” and “the secret to safe handloads is good case life and snug primer pockets.” That ad- vice should be regarded as gospel and maximum handloads approached with caution.

When working with maximum hand- loads, the sizing die should be set so the case fits the rifle chamber with ab- solute minimum clearance. If the siz- ing die is set properly, the case head will not slam against the bolt face and register erroneous pressure indica- tions, nor will case head separations be a problem. In addition, be absolutely sure all sizing lubricant is removed from the cartridge cases. Any oil or residue on the case prevents the case from gripping the chamber wall. A slip- pery condition within the chamber will increase bolt thrust considerably. High bolt thrust can be very dangerous, par- ticularly when working with high pressure loads.

Best accuracy in my .30 Gibbs in all bullet weights is about two grains less than maximum. Groups of 1.25 inches

January-February 1990

a t 100 yards are attainable without a lot of load adjustment.

When P.O. Ackley designed the .30 Ackley Improved he felt the 30 caliber would be at its maximum performance if the cartridge case was designed to hold 65 grains of IMR-4350 to the base of the bullet. Gibbs advertised his case with a loading density of 67 grains of IMR-4350 to the base of the neck, slightly more t h a n the Ackley Improved.

The .30 Gibbs was touted by Rocky as “the world’s most powerful .30-06.” This statement may invite some con- troversy but without a doubt the .30 Gibbs is a good “thumper.” 0

.30 Gibbs bullet powder

150 IMR-4320 W-760 H-380 IMR-4064 H-414 H-4895 H-4350 IMR-3031 IMR-4350 EL-CQ) W-748

charge velocity (gains) Ups)

59 3,261 65 3,247 64 3,246 59 3,225 65 3,219 57 3,219 66 * 3,144 56 3.137 65 3,096 56 3,083 55 3,050

165 H-414 63 3,129 IMR-4350 65 3,115 W-760 63 3,106 H-4350 66 3,096 H-380 63 3,089 IMR-4320 57 3,082 IMR-7828 67’ 2,979

180 IMR-4831 IMR-4350 H-4350 W-760 H-414 H-380 IMR-4320 H-4831 I M R-7828

~~

66 3,070 64 3,054 65 3,036 62 2,971 62 2,958 62 2,952 55 2,913 66 2,896 66’ 2,842

200 H-4831 64 2,871 IMR-4350 61 2,871 W-760 60 2.855 IMR-4831 62 2,852 IMR-7828 64 2,840 H-4350 61.5 2.831 H-414 60 2,815

220 H-4831 63 2,688 IMR-7828 64 2,670 IMR-4831 60 2,667 H-4350 60 2,628 IMR-4350 59 2,618 H-870 69‘ 2,489

411 loads listed are maximum except where ioted by an asterisk. * Denotes case full. starting loads should be reduced at least 4 ]rains. Rifle had a 26-inch barrel with one- n-10-inch twist; all loads used CCI 250 )rimers, WW cases. Average weight 190.8 ]rains primed. Velocities measured on Oehler 33 chronograph at 15 feet, converted to nuzzle velocity.

9e alert - Publisher cannot accept responslblllty or errors in published load data.

The Gibbs case forming tool forms the .30 Gibbs from .30-06 brass with hydraulic pressure.

31