Free Republic

When I started handloading my ammunition, one of the immediate attractions was the diverse array of projectiles that were unavailable to those who were limited by factory ammunition. Not only could I control the velocity and accuracy of my hand loaded ammunition, but I could choose those bullets that gave the best terminal performance as well. That was a long time ago and the Barnes X bullet was relatively new on the market. I loved the concept: an all-copper hollowpoint bullet, which had neither jacket nor core to separate. The hollowpoint opened up into four petals, and the resulting expanded...

I was working on a .38 Special load and bumped into a problem.

Seeking advice and comment on the best reload spec for a Springfield XDS 3.3 compact 45.

The cure that was arranged by Montana Senators Baucus and Tester to fix the intended military destruction of once-fired cartridge brass last year appears to be suffering from a fatal end-run. Interested persons will remember that a year ago, helpful intervention by Montana's senators persuaded the Department of Defense to rescind a fresh DoD directive to military installation commanders requiring them to destroy once-fired brass, prior to selling it at auction into the civilian marketplace for ammunition reloading and other purposes. An end-run is being done around the rescinding order through quiet and sweetheart side deals with installation commanders that...

Shooters have always enjoyed trying out different rifles and cartridges through trading and borrowing, or simply being called on to sight-in new rifles for their friends. They have been aware of all the new offerings put forth by the manufacturers and eagerly await the various shooting magazines every month just to see what new rifle or cartridge might be announced. They have not been disappointed. But even though this meant reading and dreaming a out all those fine new offerings, the fact remained that most continued shooting the three or four cartridges they had been using for years. Since many...