LoadNode: News and Views on Handloading

Barnes Bullets Introduces VOR-TX Ammunition

admin — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 05:55:22 +0000

Barnes Bullets is selling loaded ammo with its TSX and TTSX bullets under the VOR-TX name, starting August 1. The ammunition will be available through regular retail channels. The Barnes online store is not allowing pre-orders of the ammo as of this date.

http://www.barnesbullets.com/products/barnes-vor-tx-ammunition/

2010 Graf & Sons Master Catalog Out; Company Skipped 2009

admin — Tue, 25 May 2010 06:55:04 +0000

I just got my Graf & Sons 312-page catalog in the mail. The catalog notes that, “Since November 2008 the phone has been ringing off the hook.” With shortages of ammunition, powder, and primers, they skipped printing a 2009 catalog. The November 2008 reference is the only clue to the event that has so altered the supply and demand for firearm-related merchandise: The election of Barack Obama. They aren’t telling you that fears of a shut-down of the Second Amendment were apparently overblown. Business is good, so why tell anyone not to worry?

With the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence giving Obama an ‘F’ on gun control issues, it seems that everyone is surprised, although some aren’t acting like it.

And while gun control is more about GUN control and not so much about ammo control, the eagerness to buy guns before anticipated restrictions spilled over into ammo-related merchandise. Barack has been busy with other things, such as wars, health care, economic collapse, and now environmental catastrophe. So he could always do an about-face, justifying the cases of bullets, shells, primers, and barrels of powder, that some people seem to be amassing under their work benches.

Any way, Graf & Sons has a redesigned Web site, and the search, browse, and sort experience is pretty smooth. All large rifle primers out of stock; a few small rifle primers in stock. Only a few small pistol primers available; plenty of shotshell primers in stock. Plenty of powders both in and out of stock. Mind you, I don’t care to pay a $25 haz fee when I can get these items locally, but your situation might differ. Bullet supply is also mixed, and although there’s no haz fee. Fortunately, ground shipping is reasonable.

Redding Reloading Equipment Bundles Items for Savings

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:27:27 +0000

Redding’s “Versa Pak for 2010″ includes a powder measure, case trimmer, neck lube, sizing wax, and a handloading DVD. The price on the Redding Web site is $549.

Of course, a case trimmer is not the first (or second or third) item I think of when I want to start reloading, so beginners might start with the powder measure and, um, how about a reloading press? Buy the case trimmer after your shells start stretching beyond spec.

ammoland.com

Outfitter Pumps Lead-Free Bullets

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 04:43:36 +0000

BJ Hill, an outfitter in Jackson Hole, says 95% of his hunters use copper bullets, and he recommends that others switch to lead-free bullets, as well. He indicates that it is a simple step with few consequences. The real issues of disagreement between hunters and environmentalists are wolves, grizzly bears and feed grounds. In 2009, 24% of nearby hunters used copper bullets, and the blood lead levels in ravens dropped 28% compared to what would have been expected, given the number of bison and elk killed.

jhnewsandguide.com

My take: I’ve hunted with lead, and I’ve hunted with copper, and I’m very impressed by copper bullets. I agree with Hill that this is a royal case of “Why Not.” Certainly if you hunt with premium bullets in the first place, you won’t suffer a price penalty. And even if you typically hunt with Core-Lokt bullets, you can use lead for target practice, and buy a box of Triple-Shocks that would likely last many seasons. And you won’t be scraping lead out of your meat. Don’t give anti-hunters one more thing to complain about: Give them one less!

Penetration Test: North Fork Solids vs Woodleigh Solids

admin — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 05:33:34 +0000

In a test of Woodleigh 500 Grain solid at an average impact velocity of 2065 and North Fork 500 Grain solid at an average impact velocity of 2075, Michael Burke says that North Fork Solids have superior penetration. Article includes details of his test media and testing procedure. Note that this is of more relevance for cape buffalo hunters than whitetail hunters.

africahunting.com

Barnes Bullets Web Site Back Online; New Content

admin — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 22:16:58 +0000

Barnes Bullets New Home Page

The Barnes Bullets Web site is back, with a new design. I’d mentioned in my post about Freedom Group acquiring Barnes that the Web site was down with a weak excuse. Well, the site is back in a reasonable amount of time, although as near as I can see, it doesn’t mention the acquisition at all.

Updates to Barnes’ Web presence include new coefficients for the tipped TSX bullet and a new Facebook page.

Deals on Shooting Supplies at Midway USA

admin — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:43:13 +0000

Midway’s online flyer is showing some good deals, valid through January 31.

In particular, look at:

Gun cases, page 3
Priming tools, page 9
Tactical earmuffs, page 12
Call and decoys, page 23
Professional screwdriver set, page 31

Note: This is posted for your information only; I do not receive any commission or consideration for any sales that may result.

http://www.midwayusa.com/

Shot Show Opens in Las Vegas

admin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:37:42 +0000

Exhibitors such as Hornady, Barnes Bullets, Hodgdon, IMR, Winchester, Nosler, Berger Bullets, Sierra Bullets, Speer, and Swift will be pumping the flesh and hawking their wares at the Shot Show from January 19-22, 2010, at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas. Also appearing: Equipment vendors such as Dillon Precision Products, Lyman, RCBS, and Redding Reloading. See the complete list of vendors.

Hornady’s Superformance Wins Two 2010 NRA Golden Bullseye Awards

admin — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 06:35:44 +0000

Hornady Manufacturing is smiling all the way to the 2010 NRA Annual Meetings in Charlotte, North Carolina this May, where its Superformance® will receive honors as 2010 Ammunition Product of the Year by both American Hunter and American Rifleman. Hornady notes that the criteria for winning include: products must be recent introductions and available to consumers; feature innovative design and function; meet or exceed field reliability expectations; and demonstrate style befitting the firearm industry as well as good purchase value. There was no note as to how Superformance met those criteria, although the May issues of American Hunter and American Rifleman will showcase the ammo. See Hornady’s article on the award.

Hornady notes that by using specialized powders at normal charge weights, it can increase bullet speed by 100 to 200 fps without increasing felt recoil, fouling, muzzle blast, or temperature sensitivity. Hornady also notes that accuracy is not reduced.

Let’s look at what the customer gets for this. Suppose you’re on a range, shooting with ammo that is just as accurate as your competition, but a little faster. Do you get a prize for that? Probably not. Now suppose you shoot a deer or elk. What does that extra speed get you? Hornady’s home page shows a nifty animation of a Superformance round revving like a race car. Gee, I wonder if they’re alluding to anything. Great comparison, any way: Since my car has more than enough speed to move me from Point A to Point B, I don’t need a faster one. If I buy a faster car, I may just be putting ego over performance.

A faster bullet could be more damaging to your meat: particularly with deer, a slower bullet often performs better, with less wastage. After downing my first deer with a 7mm Rem Mag, I switched down to a .270.

An article on American Hunter’s Web site notes that the increased speed of Superformance will push your 30.06 into Light Magnum range. That could be an advantage if you’re gunning for trophy elk, bull moose, or some other large or dangerous game. It could also be a benefit if you’re expecting (and have practiced) long-range shots.

With faster speeds, you might reduce bullet weight a bit, which is safe to do with weight retention bullets. Of course, a lighter bullet usually won’t help you keep a grip on your pennies; the cost is usually the same.

Contrast Superformance with Hornady’s LEVERevolution®, which improved speed, trajectory, energy, and, most importantly for those pea-shooting lever actions, accuracy. Personally, I’d rate LEVERevolution as the greater advance in ammunition.

The upshot: Don’t buy just because it’s “new and improved.” Determine your needs, and purchase accordingly. You might buy Superformace, but for smaller game, you might want to stick with a slower round.

Barnes Bullets is Acquired by Freedom Group

admin — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 05:51:10 +0000

My favorite bullet manufacturer, Barnes Bullets, maker of the Triple-Shock, has been acquired by Freedom Group, Inc. The press release says that Freedom is acquiring “certain assets.” Barnes will reportedly continue day-to-day operations under the direction of founder Randy Brooks. I’m nonetheless a bit nervous, especially since the Barnes Web site has basically been taken off-line, except for the store. A message on the site says the Web site is in a “transition phase.” Any good Web developer knows that you can still operate the old Web site while developing the new Web site, so this means that there is either poor planning, or that the change is related to the acquisition.

Barnes recently moved into a newer, bigger, better facility, so one wonders if this was a sudden decision based on either personal or financial reasons.

Freedom Group bills itself as “the world’s leading innovator, designer, manufacturer, and marketer of firearms, ammunition, and related products for the hunting, shooting sports, law enforcement, and military markets,” with a portfolio including Remington, Bushmaster, DPMS/Panther Arms, Marlin, H&R, NEF, LC Smith, Parker, EOTAC and INTC. Their Web site is www.freedom-group.com.