Readers would have found ads for the then-new RCBS ChargeMaster Link or the latest iterations of the Hornady Lock-N-Load press. It was a time when digital scales were becoming standard for the average reloader, moving away from balance beams for volume reloading, though purists still clung to the beam scale for precision.
: Brian Pearce provides an in-depth guide on creating effective handgun loads, focusing on balancing velocity and pressure. Working Up a Load in the 21st Century
The article argued that using standard "hard cast" bullets (22 BHN) at low velocities actually increases leading. Instead, the author proposed a "soft-point" approach using 50/50 wheel weight and pure lead, air-cooled to about 12 BHN. The technical deep dive included: Readers would have found ads for the then-new
: Mike Venturino analyzed the 15 different options for the legendary Sharps rifle, helping shooters make sense of the historical variety.
Flipping through the pages of Handloader Ammunition Reloading Journal October 2011 Issue Number 274 offers a fascinating look at the tools of the trade circa 2011. The advertisements and new product releases within the issue serve as a time capsule. Working Up a Load in the 21st Century
R.H. VanDenburg, Jr. analyzes Ramshot's Zip , a versatile smokeless powder often used for handgun applications.
Written by Brian Pearce, the article on the .416 Rigby is a masterclass in handling dangerous game cartridges. At the time, factory ammunition for the .416 Rigby was expensive and somewhat limited in variety. Pearce’s article provided handloaders with the necessary data to safely construct heavy-hitting loads capable of taking down the largest game on Earth. Practical Tools and Reviews
Gil Sengel explores the "Short, Unhappy Life of the 9mm Federal," a fascinating look at a rimmed 9mm cartridge that failed to gain market traction. Practical Tools and Reviews