June 2007 No. 247 Rifle Magazine Presents - HANDLOADER $4.99US $5.99CAN Printed in USA $4.99 U.S./$5.99 Canada

June 2007 No. 247 Rifle Magazine Presents - HANDLOADER $4.99US $5.99CAN 06 0 74808 01240 4 Printed in USA $4.99 U.S./$5.99 Canada

AMMUNITION RELOADING JOURNAL June-July 2007 Volume 42, Number 3 ISSN 0017-7393 Issue No. 247 6 10 12 16.38 WCF Loads for Deer Reloader s Press - Dave Scovill The 6.8 SPC Snap Shots - Charles E. Petty The Kimber.22 LR Conversion Kit From the Hip - Brian Pearce.25-06 Remington Cartridge Board - Gil Sengel Page 24... 28 The All-American Deer Cartridge From the.25-35 WCF to the.257 Weatherby John Barsness 38 All-Purpose.45-70 Loads Versatility is the name of the game. Mike Venturino 48 Handloading the.22-250 Remington Performance Loads from A to Z Brian Pearce 20 Vihtavuori 3N37 Propellant Profiles - R.H. VanDenburg, Jr. 24 Cimarron s Model 1876 Mike s Shootin Shack - Mike Venturino Page 58... 58.460 Rowland A Hot Rod.45 Bob Campbell Page 28... 4 Handloader 247

On the cover... The New Ultra Light Arms is chambered for the.257 Roberts and features a Cabela s 3-9x Alaskan Guide scope. The Model 94 Winchester is chambered for the.25-35 WCF. Page 58 Page 38 Page 28 Page 68... 68 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser Sensible Cartridge Selection John Haviland 78 90 95 98 New Vaquero.45 Colt Bullets & Brass - What s New in the Marketplace Inside Product News - Clair Rees Website Showcase Special Advertising Section - Never Clean Rifle Barrels! Hunting Handloads - John Barsness Page 90... Issue No. 247 June-July 2007 AMMUNITION RELOADING JOURNAL Publisher Mark Harris Associate Publisher Don Polacek Editor in Chief Dave Scovill Managing Editor Roberta Montgomery Art Director Gerald Hudson Production Director Becky Pinkley Contributing Editors Associate Editor Al Miller John Barsness Ron Spomer Brian Pearce Stan Trzoniec Clair Rees Mike Venturino Gil Sengel Ken Waters Advertising Don Polacek: don@riflemag.com Stefanie Ramsey: stefanie@riflemag.com Tom Bowman: bowmant@mauryboyd.com Advertising Information: 1-800-899-7810 Circulation Circulation Manager Michele Morgan circ@riflemagazine.com Subscription Information: 1-800-899-7810 www.riflemagazine.com Publisher of Handloader is not responsible for mishaps of any nature that might occur from use of published loading data or from recommendations by any member of The Staff. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. All authors are contracted under work for hire. Publisher retains all copyrights upon payment for all manuscripts. Although all possible care is exercised, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for lost or mutilated manuscripts. Handloader (ISSN 0017-7393) is published bi-monthly by Polacek Publishing Corporation, dba Wolfe Publishing Company (Don Polacek, President), 2625 Stearman Rd., Ste. A, Prescott, Arizona 86301. (Also publisher of Rifle magazine.) Telephone (928) 445-7810. Periodical Postage paid at Prescott, Arizona, and additional mailing offices. Subscription prices: U.S. possessions single issue, $4.99; 6 issues, $22.97; 12 issues, $39.00. Foreign and Canada single issue, $5.99; 6 issues $29.00; 12 issues, $51.00. Please allow 8-10 weeks for first issue. Advertising rates furnished on request. All rights reserved. Change of address: Please give six weeks notice. Send both the old and new address, plus mailing label if possible, to Circulation Dept., Handloader Magazine, 2625 Stearman Rd., Ste. A, Prescott, Arizona 86301. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Handloader, 2625 Stearman Rd., Ste. A, Prescott, Arizona 86301. Wolfe Publishing Company 2625 Stearman Rd. Suite A Prescott, AZ 86301 Tel: (928) 445-7810 Fax: (928) 778-5124 Polacek Publishing Corporation June-July 2007 Background Photo: 2007 Michael H. Francis 5

John Haviland Twelve-year-old Joe Mannix started his first hunting season last fall by firing one shot at a calf elk from a distance of 75 yards. The elk staggered 20 yards and fell. A couple of weeks later, Joe fired another bullet and killed a buck pronghorn standing 150 yards across a sagebrush flat. Two days later he shot a whitetail buck with five points on each antler. The deer also required just one shot. Did young Joe s success occur from shooting a magnum cartridge capable of firing a bullet from one mountain peak to the next and with enough energy when it arrived to punch through Superman s cape? Nope. Joe s rifle was a bolt-action Mauser Chileno Modelo 1895 that had been rebarreled to 6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser. The 140-grain bullet he fired at the elk had a mild velocity of 2,500 fps at the muzzle. The 130-grain bullets he shot at the antelope and deer flew somewhat faster, about 2,700 fps. His accomplishments were the result of a rifle that allowed meaningful practice, and some common sense on his part. He started preparing for hunting season during the summer by shooting from field positions at ground squirrels from 75 to 200 and some yards. The 6.5x55 cartridges he shot were loaded with Sierra 85-grain bullets with a velocity of 3,055 fps. The gentle recoil of those loads allowed him to concentrate on learning proper trigger pull and sight alignment. Along the way, he discovered a set of shooting sticks helped immensely to steady his aim. By the end of the summer, any gopher within 6.5x55 175 yards of Joe and his 6.5 was likely on the menu as raven fare. In previous years Joe followed along enough while his father hunted to know killing game with long shots usually required luck and a few Hail Marys. He had seen that the sure bet was to stalk into certain range and fire a carefully aimed bullet. 6.5X55 STATUS Hunters like Joe have used the 6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser since it was introduced in 1894 as the military cartridge for Sweden and Norway. The Swedish military 68 www.handloadermagazine.com Handloader 247

Swedish M auser Sensible Cartridge Selection rifles included the Mauser Models 38, 94 and 96 and the Norwegian rifles, the Krag-Jørgensen Models 1894 and 1912. The 6.5 Swedish remains very popular in Scandinavia. The Finnish Vihtavuori Reloading Manual, 3rd Edition, lists 6.5x55 loading data for 20 different bullets weighing from 77 to 160 grains. The Swedish Norma Reloading Manual Edition No. 1 provides loading information for 14 bullets. The Norma manual states... the 6.5x55 is still the standard Scandinavian round for competitive shooting and is, perhaps, the most popular hunting cartridge in Norway, Sweden and Finland. The 6.5 made its way to America during the 1950s when surplus Swedish rifles were imported. Those years were the era of sporterizing military rifles, and thousands of these Mauser rifles were worked over and ended up in hunters hands. Some of these surplus rifles are still available today but are of questionable quality. Custom riflemaker Charlie Sisk recently made a 6.5x55 on a Model 1896, only This was Haviland s setup at the range for testing 6.5x55 loads. June-July 2007 69 www.handloadermagazine.com

6.5x55 to discover the receiver metal was so soft the bolt lugs set back into the receiver the first time he fired the rifle. A few new 6.5 rifles are imported today, including the CZ 550 and Tikka T3. Strange, but the Tikka T3 Varmint and Super Varmint rifles are chambered in 6.5x55, while various versions of the T3 Hunter rifle are only chambered in.260 Remington. American firearm manufacturers occasionally chambered the cartridge. Remington chambered the 6.5 in its limited run Model 700 Classic in 1994. Winchester made a Model 70 Classic Featherweight for a few years. Ruger is the only American manufacturer I found that currently chambers the 6.5, and that is in the standard length bolt-action Model 77R MKII. 1 2 3 4 If you handload for a 6.5x55 (4), there is little need to own a (1).243 Winchester, (2).25-06 Remington or a (3).270 Winchester. Every once in awhile you ll see an American hunter carrying a 6.5x55 rifle but rarely a new 6.5 rifle. The problem with the 6.5 in America is its cartridge length of 3.150 inches requires a bolt action the same length as the Left, how deeply to seat bullets for a 6.5x55 rifle depends on the angle and length of its chamber throat. The cartridge on the left fits a chamber with lots of freebore. The cartridge on the right fits the shorter throat of the Sisk Rifles 6.5. Below, the 6.5x55 cases are slightly larger in diameter at the head and rim than.30-06 cases..30-06, 3.340 inches. So hunters in the market for a new rifle conclude they would just as soon buy that rifle in a.270,.280 or.30-06 that is somewhat more powerful and with commonly available ammunition. Then again, maybe it s a case of Americans disliking 6.5-caliber cartridges. The.260 Remington provides great performance and comes in some handy shortaction rifles, like the Kimber Model 84M Montana. But regard is slim for the.260, and the cartridge may even be slipping away. We won t even touch on the failure of the 6.5 Remington and the.264 Winchester Magnum. That opinion is unfortunate, because the 6.5x55 offers good velocity and accuracy with a wide range of bullet weights. After 12 years of loading and shooting my own 6.5 and lately a custom rifle from Sisk Rifles, I ve concluded if you handload for a 6.5x55 there is little need to own a.243 Winchester,.25-06 Remington or a 70 www.handloadermagazine.com Handloader 247

These bullets were tested in the Sisk Rifles 6.5. They include (left to right): Sierra 85-grain hollowpoint, Nosler 100-grain Partition, Nosler 120-grain Ballistic Tip, Barnes 120-grain Triple-Shock, Sierra 120-grain softpoint, Speer 120-grain softpoint, Nosler 125-grain Partition, Hornady 129-grain SST, Swift 130-grain Scirocco, Nosler 140-grain Partition, Berger 140-grain VLD, Swift 140-grain A-Frame, Hornady 140-grain SST, Hornady 140-grain A-MAX and Norma 156-grain Oryx..270 Winchester. However, I ll deny saying that because what fun is owning one rifle when you can enjoy four? Handloading Considerations In handloading the 6.5 over the Some 6.5 bullets are long and may require a twist of one in 8 inches or faster to stabilize. years, three slight concerns have arisen: case dimensions, bullet seating depth and pressures. All of them were easily solved. Dimensions of 6.5 cases are all over the map. Cartridge drawings in various reloading manuals show the rim and head of 6.5 cases are the same diameter. June-July 2007 www.handloadermagazine.com 71

The Sisk Rifles 6.5 shot Nosler 125-grain Partitions well at 100 yards. These groups were shot with Berger bullets at 100 yards from the 6.5x55. However, these stated measurements varied from.476 to.4803 inch. Unfired Remington, Speer (discontinued) and Winchester 6.5 cases I measured all had a rim and head diameter of.473 inch. Finnish Lapua brass had a diameter of.475 inch on the rim and.4765 inch on the head. It s been said this narrower width of American manufactured 6.5 brass is because the cases are made from.30-06 brass, which are slightly smaller than 6.5 brass at the rim and head. However, unfired Federal and Winchester der. One batch was so short the Ruger Model 77 extractor on the Sisk rifle failed to grasp and pull them from the chamber. Some new cases were just short enough so the firing pin in the Sisk rifle failed to make a deep enough hit on primers and about every fifth cartridge failed to fire. The solution to that is to either return the cases or create a false shoulder on the cases. To make false shoulders, run a.270 expander ball through the case mouths, then size the cases in a 6.5 sizing die just enough so the The 6.5 made its way to America during the 1950s..30-06 cases I measured had a rim diameter of.467 inch and a head diameter of.464. So that s not the truth of the matter. Ignoring the slight difference in these numbers solved the problem. I ve shot Remington, Speer and Winchester brass in my 6.5 rifle and the Sisk rifle and never had any of the cases bulge at the head. Neither have I heard of anyone else having 6.5 cases swell at the head. Several lots of brass have been short from the head to the shoulaction closes with a bit of resistance. That keeps cases tightly against the bolt face so the firing pin gets a good hit on the primers and prevents the cases from stretching at the web on firing. The first time someone looks at a 6.5 cartridge, they comment on the long bullet length. The heavier bullets are long, and they stick out of the case nearly an inch. That extended cartridge length is needed to set bullets close to the full diameter of the rifling in chambers with a lot of freebore or throat angles of 2.5 to 3.0 degrees. My 6.5x55 has a throat with a lot of freebore, and bullets must be seated way out of the case to come close to the rifling. For instance, Nosler 120-grain Ballistic Tips sit.03 inch from contacting the rifling in my rifle with a cartridge length of 3.15 inches. But I seat the Ballistic Tips, and some other bullets, for a loaded cartridge length of 3.00 inches. That places the base of the bullet at the bottom of the neck, so the full length of the neck supports the bullet to help seat it 6.5x55 72 www.handloadermagazine.com A Sisk rifle was used to test loads listed in the tables. Handloader 247

RCBS dies were used to load 6.5x55 cartridges. These powders all worked well in the 6.5x55. straightly and keep it straight. That length cartridge also feeds more surely from the rifle s magazine to the chamber than longer cartridges. The difference in accuracy is indistinguishable between the two seating depths. Dimensions of 6.5 cases are all over the map. Charlie Sisk said he cut the angle the standard.75 degree to the leade at the front of the chamber to the rifling lands. But I didn t include any freebore, like the older military rifles have, Sisk said. That way a bullet doesn t have all that room to cant. Without that extra room, the Sisk rifle required a cartridge with a length of 2.87 inches to position Ballistic Tip bullets.03 inch from contacting the rifling. Even with deeply seated bullets, enough room remains in 6.5 cases to hold plenty of powder. Only a couple of the powder charges listed in the load chart were compressed by the seated bullets, and then only slightly. NEWFOUNDLAND, CANADA Moose, Woodland Caribou & Black Bear Hunts Book now for 2007 & 2008 Tel/Fax: (709) 681-2191 dean.wheeler@nf.sympatico.ca www.biggamecanada.com P.O. Box 159, York Harbour, NL, Canada A0L 1L0 How much powder to load in 6.5 cartridges depends on the rifle. Many reloading manuals point out 6.5x55 loads should be kept at 45,000 psi in deference to old military rifles. However, don t assume listed maximum loads are kept on the mild side. In the If it doesn t unfold... it s not a Chrony! Vihtavuori Reloading Manual, 3rd Edition, listed maximum loads reach 55,100 psi. The first loads shot in the Sisk 6.5 with a few Vihtavuori and other brands of powders had to be reduced one or two grains because they caused hard bolt lift or a bright SHOOTING CHRONY The Greatest Bang for Your Buck! For Precise Ammo Velocity Measurement For Rifles, Handguns, Archery, Shotguns, Airguns & Paintballs Choose from 10 Models MSPR: $89.95 to $205.95 We Accept Trade-ins Have a look at our Shooting Chrony Ballistics Program on our Web Page: www.shootingchrony.com SHOOTING CHRONY, INC. 1-800-385-3161 3840 E. Robinson Rd. PMB #298 Amherst, NY 14228 e-mail: chrony@shootingchrony.com June-July 2007 www.handloadermagazine.com 73

6.5x55 smear on the rim face definite signs of excessive pressure. However, the primers in the cases these loads were fired in appeared unchanged with no flattening or cratering of the firing pin indent. That shows the folly of reading primers as a sign of too much pressure. Many reloading manuals point out 6.5x55 loads should be kept at 45,000 psi. So for 6.5s built on one of the weaker actions, it s probably best to stay on the safe side and start with minimum loads listed in reloading manuals and cut three grains from the powder weights listed in the accompanying load table. As the load table shows, the 6.5 worked well with a variety of powders. With the lighter bullets, up to, say, the Nosler 100-grain Partition, relatively faster-burning powders like H-4985 up to VV-N160 provide the highest velocities. But the heavier 6.5- caliber bullets are about as long as a sharpened new No. 2 pencil and require the sustained push of slower-burning powders. IN CONCLUSION Young Joe Mannix is the 10th young hunter to use my 6.5x55 as his first big game rifle. Together those beginning hunters have used the rifle to kill nine deer, four antelope and three elk. Only one deer required a second bullet. That excellent success can be attributed to the 6.5 s light recoil that enabled the hunters to practice shooting and then go hunting and place a bullet in the proper spot. That is what sensible big game cartridge selection is all about. 74 6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser overall bullet powder charge velocity length group (grains) (grains) (fps) (inches) (inches) 85 Sierra hollowpoint H-4895 44.0 3,346 2.82 1.47 IMR-4320 44.5 3,204.85 VV-N150 45.5 3,313.90 Varget 44.0 3,283 1.15 100 Nosler Partition AAC-4350 45.0 2,751 2.86 1.11 H-1000 50.0 2,765 1.06 VV-N160 50.0 3,204.98 VV-N550 45.5 3,027 1.06 120 Barnes Triple-Shock AAC-2700 44.0 2,799 2.90 1.89 H-4350 46.0 2,971 1.30 VV-N150 40.0 2,807 1.86 W-760 44.0 2,787 1.62 120 Nosler Ballistic Tip Hunter 44.5 2,673 2.87 1.21 H-4350 47.0 2,946 1.14 RL-19 48.0 2,812.72 Varget 41.0 2,882.66 120 Sierra softpoint AAC-4350 45.0 2,703 2.88 1.35 VV-N160 48.0 2,984.95 VV-N550 43.0 2,707 1.12 RL-19 49.5 2,929.81 120 Speer softpoint H-4350 46.0 2,852 2.90.72 IMR-4831 49.0 3,011.65 VV-N160 48.0 2,964.45 RL-22 50.0 2,869.75 125 Nosler Partition H-4831 47.0 2,788 2.91.96 H-4350 45.5 2,889 1.04 VV-N550 42.0 2,725.64 VV-N560 50.0 2,918.63 129 Hornady SST AAC-4064 41.0 2,780 2.93 1.11 AAC-4350 45.5 2,616.83 VV-N560 49.0 2,864 1.20 RL-22 45.0 2,573 1.21 130 Swift Scirocco IMR-4350 41.0 2,566 2.99 2.19 H-1000 48.5 2,711 H-4831 47.5 2,820 2.77 IMR-4831 46.5 2,869 2.62 VV-N560 47.0 2,731 1.94 140 Berger VLD VV-N550 39.5 2,576 3.07 1.34 VV-N560 46.5 2,685.80 RL-22 47.0 2,765 1.46 W-760 43.0 2,696 1.31 140 Hornady SST Magnum 50.0 2,562 2.98.99 VV-N160 41.0 2,512 1.37 VV-N550 40.0 2,513 1.32 VV-N560 47.0 2,668 1.24 140 Hornady A-MAX H-4831 44.0 2,548 2.99 1.06 IMR-4350 41.5 2,552 1.11 IMR-4064 40.0 2,706 1.09 RL-22 48.0 2,791 1.48 140 Nosler Partition H-1000 51.0 2,745 2.93 1.55 IMR-4831 44.5 2,645 1.60 Magnum 49.5 2,600 1.64 RL-22 45.0 2,564 1.16 140 Swift A-Frame H-1000 47.5 2,570 2.86 1.05 IMR-4350 41.0 2,490.83 IMR-4831 42.5 2,570 1.30 RL-22 46.0 2,656.88 156 Norma Oryx AAC-4350 45.0 2,623 2.83 1.10 VV-N160 44.5 2,656 2.06 VV-N560 46.0 2,629 1.56 RL-22 47.0 2,649 1.57 Notes: The 6.5x55 used to shoot the load data was made by Sisk Rifles based on a Ruger Model 77. The 22-inch barrel was made by Lilja and all metal parts are covered with a black matte coat of Fit 4 Duty CeraKote. Everything is held in a High Tech synthetic stock. All loads were fired with Winchester cases and Winchester Large Rifle primers. Groups are three shots. These loads are intended for rifles of new manufacture. Reduce powder weights three grains to start for older rifles. Be Alert Publisher cannot accept responsibility for errors in published load data.

Enter the See the OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM in this issue. Kimber Classic Giveaway! ENTER TODAY! Contest Ends December 31, 2007 SUBSCRIBE or RENEW to your favorite magazines and enter the KIMBER CLASSIC GIVEAWAY for your chance to WIN! Enter Now and Win a Kimber Model 8400 Classic in.300 WSM with a Leupold Scope! Considered by many as the finest production rifle ever manufactured this Model 8400 Classic features a select-grade claro walnut stock, hand finished and checkered with a Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad. A match-grade trigger and chamber are mated to a 24-inch, free-floating barrel. The action is both pillar and glass bedded for outstanding accuracy and comes complete with scope mounts. A Leupold VX -III 3.5-10x40mm riflescope featuring the Index Matched Lens System and 1 4-MOA adjustments complete with matching rings tops off this elegant firearm. The entire giveaway package is a $1800 00 VALUE! - OFFICIAL RULES - You must be 18 years or older to enter the drawing. One entry per subscription per magazine for a total of three entries per person using the official entry form. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY: To enter without purchase, print in block letters, the words KIMBER CLASSIC GIVEAWAY across the top of a 4x6 card along with your name, age, address and phone number and enclose in an envelope. You may submit up to three entries (each card must be mailed in a separate envelope). Failure to follow these directions will void your entry. Please send entries to Wolfe Publishing Co., Dept KCG, 2625 Stearman Rd, Suite A, Prescott, AZ 86301. Wolfe Publishing Co. is not responsible for misdirected, damaged or undelivered mail. All entries must be received by December 31, 2007. The drawing will take place on January 15, 2008. Winners will be notified within 15 days of the drawing. All decisions are final. No substitutions for prizes other than those necessary due to availability. Applicable taxes and charges not included in the giveaway are the responsibility of the winner. Odds of winning are dependent upon total entries received. Void where prohibited by law and regulations. Employees and families of Wolfe Publishing Co. and Kimber Mfg., Inc. are not eligible to enter. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. Winner s name will be published in the magazines following the drawing. For more information see the OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM attached to this issue or contact Wolfe Publishing Company - 2625 Stearman Road - Prescott AZ 86301 - Suite A Tel: 928-445-7810 Fax: 928-778-5124 Toll Free: 800-899-7810 Online: www.riflemagazine.com

INSIDE PRODUCT NEWS Clair Rees Many gun case linings particularly wool or synthetic pile absorb and retain moisture. After a hunt, it s a bad idea to bring your cased gun indoors and store it away. Even cleaning and oiling the gun beforehand won t offer long-term protection to firearms stored in cases having hygroscopic linings. Birchwood Casey s new line of CopperTect gun cases offers built-in rust protection. The soft gun cases incorporate Intercept Technology, a process patented by Lucent Technologies combining reactive copper sheeting with plastic. Called Corrosion Intercept, this material neutralizes corrosive gases. The copper lining in each case is said to prevent rust and block mildew for 20 years. Intercept is claimed to be free of volatile chemicals and environmentally safe. The lining changes color from copper to gray when the protective material is exhausted. The CopperTect rifle case I ve been using has a tough, nonabsorbent 600 denier polyester exterior, along with 10mm of 90 www.handloadermagazine.com weighing up to inside. COPPERTECT GUN CASES closed-cell foam padding between the outside of the case and the slick, copper/plastic lining. While I didn t test this claim, Birchwood Casey says the case will float with a gun 12 pounds Berger Bullets has just produced a new promotional video illustrating the effectiveness of the company s VLD (Very Low Drag) bullets in the field. The 30- minute DVD shows VLD bullets being used to take a wide variety of game including whitetail deer, elk, antelope, kudu and other animals. Many bullet companies claim to make the best hunting bullet, and hunting magazines are full of pictures of pretty, expanded bullets claiming great penetration and amazing weight retention, the company says. Never before has a bullet company been willing to produce a video to document how its bullets really work in true hunting situations. The video explores the use and Berger Bullets DVD While this case offers an excellent means of long-term storage, you need to wipe the gun down first to remove moisture and rust-promoting fingerprints. While the case offers good protection afield, it s thin enough with a rifle inside to easily fit inside my gun safe. For simple storage (not field use), Birchwood Casey also offers CopperTect protection sleeves for rifles, shotguns and handguns. The suggested retail price is $38 for rifle and shotgun cases and $26 for the handgun case. The rifle and shotgun sleeves sell for $19, while the handgun sleeve goes for $13. For more information, contact: Birchwood Casey, Dept. HL, 7900 Fuller Road, Eden Prairie MN 55344-2195; call toll-free: 1-800- 328-6156; or you can visit online at: www.birchwoodcasey.com. application of the Berger Bullets VLD bullet for hunting and dispels many of the myths about Handloader 247

HUNTING HANDLOADS John Barsness Most of us clean rifle bores far too frequently, primarily because we ve been told, over and over, that we had to do it, by our father, the military or a gun writer. We clean after every range session, or every 20 rounds, or whatever. Over the decades I ve kept track of the number of rounds through every centerfire rifle I ve shot, including cleaning intervals. At first I cleaned every 20 rounds, the common wisdom in my early rifle-loony days, derived from benchrest shooters who clean after every (guess what?) 20- round relay. Now, maybe if a match is riding on a few thousandths of an inch, a clean barrel might make a difference. But over the years, I ve owned exactly three rifles that started shooting weird after 20 rounds. Two were replaced by top-grade match barrels, and the third rifle (a new factory job) was quickly sold. The other few hundred rifles have held their accuracy for anything from 100 to 500 rounds without cleaning. My favorite example is a Remington 700.223 Remington with a heavy chromemoly barrel and laminated stock. This rifle has twice been fired uncleaned for around 500 rounds. Accuracy was the same. For all I know it might shoot accurately forever, the reason I m not cleaning it any more. These days I never clean barrels unless the barrel asks for help, because cleaning generally just means having to foul them again to get back top accuracy. And no, I do not go through any complicated break-in procedure. My records and experiments indicate that break-in is a waste of time, just like over-cleaning. NEVER CLEAN RIFLE BARRELS! Accuracy deterioration comes from powder fouling and copper fouling, one reason many varmint shooters clean their barrels every 50 rounds: They re still using antique Ball powders that coat the bore like a smokestack. I have mentioned before how cleanly Ramshot rifle powders burn Will these fine products become obsolete? and Ramshot TAC is the primary powder used in that.223. Ramshot powders were developed for military full-auto rifles, so also contain a compound that reduces metal fouling. The first time I cleaned that Remington.223 barrel, after over 450 shots, four patches of Hoppe s No. 9 cleaned out the powder fouling, and another two patches with copper solvent removed the (very light) jacket fouling. Some of my other varmint bores aren t quite so slick, or the cartridge doesn t take to any Ramshot powder. My Ruger No. 1.22 Hornet, for instance, shoots best with Hodgdon Lil Gun, as do most Hornets. Lil Gun burns pretty cleanly but still leaves enough residue that after 200 rounds accuracy goes downhill. So now a Bore Snake gets run through the bore every 100 rounds or so to knock out the powder fouling and the Hornet just keeps on shooting very accu- rately. Copper fouling has almost been eliminated. The ideal, however, would be some sort of slickening that prevented copper fouling at all. This was the notion behind molybdenum disulphide ( moly ), all the rage a few years ago. Some shooters still strongly believe in moly, and I am not about to argue their points. But wouldn t it make more sense to apply a coating inside the bore, instead on every one of the bullets you shoot? Lately I have been experimenting with Ultra Bore Coating (Doug Burche, Ultra Coatings, (Continued on page 97) 98 www.handloadermagazine.com Handloader 247

Hunting Handloads (Continued from page 98) Inc., 425 S. Kansas Ave., Ste. B, Olathe KS 66061). This is a ceramic compound applied to the bore via a liquid glue. After the glue dries, the heat and pressure of a few shots force the ceramic into any scratches or tooling marks. Doug claimed it would just about eliminate copper-fouling, something I had to see. The first barrel tried was a new, stainless.223 barrel with a onein-9-inch twist from E.R. Shaw Inc., fitted to a Remington 788 action. First I shot the barrel with some Remington factory loads. After 50 rounds the rifle was grouping five shots into an average of just under.6 inch at 100 yards, but the borescope revealed noticeable copper fouling. I cleaned it down to bare metal with 50 BMG (Montana X-treme Gun Care s heavy-duty copper solvent), requiring three repetitions of the directions to remove the last traces of copper. The bore was then degreased with rubbing alcohol, and Ultra Bore Coating was applied with an undersized cleaning patch and allowed to cure overnight. The next day I fired another 50 rounds of the same ammunition. The first few five-shot groups were so good that I fired the last 20 into one group: 1.01 inches, with 17 in.75 inch. The borescope couldn t find any copper fouling, so I ran a patch soaked in 50 BMG down the bore, waited 10 minutes, then ran a clean patch down. It came out white. Since then I ve shot the same rifle a couple of more times, and there s still no copper fouling. Now, a full prairie dog season will tell me more, but so far I have Ultra Coated all the bores of my varmint rifles up to.25 caliber, and it has eliminated or vastly reduced copper fouling in every one. Ultra Bore Coating does not affect velocity, pressures or accuracy. As Doug Burche says, If the barrel was a dog before coating, it will still be a dog but a lot easier to clean! Evidently getting Ultra Bore Coating to work right in bores larger than.30 is a little trickier, and I am still experimenting, with help from Doug; but for smaller bores that get shot a lot, it seems like the answer to a prayer. John contributed two chapters to the six-author book Rifle Bullets for the Hunter: A Definite Study. Copies are available by check for $38.50 (postage paid) from Deep Creek Press, PO Box 579, Townsend MT 59644; or you can use a credit card by logging onto www.riflesand recipes.com. LINOTYPEP Pure Tin, Pure Lead, WW alloy, Lyman #2, 16/1-20/1-30/1, other alloys available. Manfacturer of hard cast pistol bullets. Cowboy Action Shooting bullets. ACTION BULLETS & ALLOY,INC P.O. Box 189 - Quinter, KS 67752 Tel: 785-754-3609 E-Mail: bullets@ruraltel.net Action Bullets, Inc...97 Alliant Techsystems, Inc...100 ALM, Inc....11 American Gunsmithing Institute...8 AuctionArms.com...64 Bald Eagle Precision Machine Co...93 Ballistic Specialties...85 Bandera Gunleather...80 Barnes Bullets...15 Belt Mtn. Enterprises, Inc....86 Berry s Mfg...2 Big Shooter, The...92 Birchwood Casey...21 Black Hills Shooters Supply, Inc...79 Brown, E. Arthur, Company...16 Brownells, Inc...95 Bruno Shooters Supply...75 Bullet Metals / Bill Ferguson...18, 95 Clearwater Custom Bullets...63 Colorado Shooter s Supply...56 Conetrol Scope Mounts...19, 79 Corbin Mfg. & Supply...8 Corrosion Technologies Corp....80 Custom Brass and Bullets...23 Dave Manson Precision Reamers...86 Dayton Traister Trigger Co...21 Dillon Precision Products, Inc....36 Douglas Barrels, Inc....62 Ensley s Shooting Supplies...13 Faith Associates...21 Forster Products...56 Gemmell s Machine Works...23 Gentry Custom...79 GOEX, Inc....47 Gradient Lens Corporation...9, 11, 13 Green, Arthur (metals for casting)...96 Gunstop Reloading Supplies, Inc...34 High Plains Reboring & Rerifling...83 Hornady Manufacturing Co...37 Huntington Die Specialties...14, 93 IMR Powder Company...25 James Calhoon, Mfg...23 Johnson Design Specialties...18 Kimber of America...3 Leadheads Bullets...82 Lee Precision, Inc....91 Leeth Machine & Tool...11 Lock, Stock & Barrel Shooting Supply, Inc...81 Lyman Products Corporation...35 Marathon Seat Covers...20 Match Prep...94 Meacham Tool & Hardware, Inc....23 Midsouth Shooters Supply Co....26, 27 MidwayUSA...82 MLV Enterprises...91 Modern Gun School...14 Montana Bullet Works...21 Montana Precision Swaging...76 Mount Baldy Bullets...83 Moyers Gun Repair...92 MPI Stocks...85 MTM Molded Products Company...18 Multi-Scale Charge, Ltd....76 Natchez Shooters Supplies...67 Neco-Accuracy Products...84 North Fork Technologies, Inc...78 Northwest Custom Projectile...9 Nosler Bullets...43 Oregon Trail Bullet Company...57 Parsons Scope Service...79 Puff-Lon...76 Quality Cartridge...19 Quinetics Corporation...82 Rapine Bullet Mould Co....80 RB Outfitters...62 RCBS c/o Federal Cartridge Company...64 RCE...8, 76 Redding Reloading Equipment...19, 95 Remington Arms Company, Inc...61 RiflesandRecipes.com...89 Rooster Laboratories...83 Savage Arms, Inc...71 Sharpshooter, Inc....62 Sheep River Hunting Camps...92 Shepherd Enterprises, Inc....45 Shooting Chrony, Inc...73 Shotgun Sports...81 Sierra Bullets...23 Sinclair International, Inc...17, 95 Sonoran Desert Institute...88 Sou Wester Outfitting...73 SPG Lubricants...79, 96 SSK Industries...89 Starline...63, 95 Stukey s Sturdy Shooting Benches...14 Swift Bullet Company...7 Target Shooting, Inc....13 Timney Mfg., Inc...88 Tru-Square Metal Products...84 UniqueTek, Inc...93 Vais Arms, Inc....44 W. Square Enterprises...21 Western Powders...33 Williams Firearms Co...56 Wineland Walnut...18 Wolfe Publishing Co....77, 81, 87, 95, 96, 99 AD INDEX June-July 2007 www.handloadermagazine.com 97