Steeped in tradition or latest & greatest???

[magnumwheelman]

curious about a couple things...

I'm kind of a traditional reloader... I have mostly single stage presses, ( several of them though )... I'll likely buy a progressive one of these days, for a couple cartridges that I shoot the most volume... most of my reloading manuals are old enough, that they don't have the newest powders in them... ( I inherited all my FIl's manuals after he died, so I have many manuals that date back to the 60's, most of mine were purchased starting in the 80's... though I just bought the newest Lyman manual ) I like traditional cartridges ( though I have many custom wildcats ) I tend not to shoot the latest & greatest new factory cartridges... seems most are remakes of something from the 60's but admit I have pulled loading data off some of the internet loading pages for unusual or wildcat cartridges... so I'm not a total stick in the mud

for you guys that are a latest & greatest kinda guy... do you buy the newest manual from every manufacturer every time they come out??? and how do you learn about all the new cartridges & loads for them??? ( traditional magazines, or at the speed of the internet )

how are you keeping up with the newest powders... seem like we've had a ton of new powders lately ( even ones that reduce copper fouling )... do you have a bunch of part jars of powder that is not your favorite, but you're saving for something it'll work better in??? or do you buy the big jug, & hope that it works for several cartridges

FIL had an old refridgerator that he used as his powder storage cabinet, he had about 20 different powders... as I got into reloading, I bought mostly small bottles & went through a time, where I was trying 5-6 different powders in each cartridge, in search of the magic load... so I've ended up with more than 20 new ones... I should actually get a new inventory list... just to see what all I have... if some of you remember my bullet cabinet I had made... I'm thinking about similar for my powders, in an attempt to get them all in one place ( still have FIL's old powder fridge, & I tend not to use those powders, as they aren't as handy )

how about getting rid of some of those older or unused powders??? if you see a half or part bottle of a powder you use at a gun show, would you consider buying it??? or are you a new sealed jar only kinda guy???

[Fowler]

Old partial cans of powder are good for lawn fertilizer and cool containers but that's it. I looked at an old bottle of Red Dot once at a gun shop and I opened the lid and shook a hit into my hand. Imagine my surprise that it was some sort of stick rifle powder and not flat flakes that had red flakes in it!

It's not worth risking my guns, fingers, and/or life to save a few dollars.

Ymmv

[mart]

While I have been accused of living life in the past lane, I do use the internet and new manuals some for load data. I still load on single stages or a Lyman turret press. My only progressive is my Ponsness Warren 800B for 12 gauge.

I do try to standardize on powders but am not squeamish about trying new ones. My handgun powders are for the most part Bullseye, Unique, 2400 and H110. I did recently buy a pound of Lil Gun to try. Now that I have a 357 Maximum coming I expect I'll be using a fair amount of 4227. For rifles I tend to stick to old classics like H4895, IMR4198, 4320, 3031, 4350 and H4831. In shotguns it's pretty much 700X, Longshot, and Universal.

During the last powder/primer/ammo scare I bought what was available and ended up with fair amounts of Blue dot, AA4350, AA2495 and a few others I don't normally use.

I still refer back to my older manuals frequently, like Ken Waters, "Pet Load", my old Hornady, Sierra, Speer and Hodgdon books. I do use Quickloads frequently but balance it against manuals new and old.

For projectiles it's strictly cast for my handgun. For big game I lean heavily on Nosler Partitions if available for my rifles, though Nosler doesn't make them in .411 or .423 for the 400 Whelen or the 10.75x57. Woodleigh generally gets the nod if Nosler doesn't make a Partition.

So yes I do have a lot of partial cans of powder waiting to find an application. I try to keep up on the most recent developments in powders but really haven't tried many of them. I will buy the occasional open container of powder but I have to be pretty confident in the seller and if the container is remarked it's a no go.

[bulasteve]

I'd not touch used, opened powder from a show or shop. It would have to come from a well kown old friend. There is a just opened one lb container of that CFE here. There is also a couple of lbs of FFFG. So..

[cmh]

As a rule.... I will not buy/or use previously opened powder except from a very good friend of mine who is absolutely meticulous in how he does and keeps things. He has taught me alot and still does....

[contender]

I have been reloading since the 70's, and I buy several new manuals as they become available. I call it cheap insurance & info. I keep many old manuals so I can look up stuff no longer available or just in case I need old info for an older caliber etc. I do tend to stick with the manuals from the companies that I use their products.

As for buying older powders or jugs that are already opened,,, unless I knew the person VERY well, and knew his reloading practices,,, I'd pass on them. If I have older powders & such,,, I tend to try & use them up if I get into testing something new. That way,,, the powders do not accumulate too badly.

[mhblaw]

I too have been reloading since the 70's. Currently reloading for rifle: 22 K-Hornet, 220 Swift, 6 x 45 and 30-30. Handguns: 25-20, 30 Carbine, 32 WCF, 32 Mag, 327 Mag, 38 Special, 357 Mag, 357 Maxi, 38 WCF, 41 Special, 41 Mag, 44 WCF, 44 Special, 44 Mag and 45 Colt. Lots of different powders to fill those and use some old manuals and enjoy articles in Handloader on various loads. Half the fun of shooting is reloading the empties. Still on a single stage press, Bonanza Co-Ax. And this afternoon is "range therapy" with two Bowen 45 Colt conversions, one on an OMBH 44 Mag Flat top and the other on an OMBH 357. Fun!

[Paden]

Nov 1, 2016 7:12:29 GMT -5 magnumwheelman said:

Steeped in tradition or latest & greatest???

Very selectively applying the best of the latest & greatest technology to an art form steeped in tradition.

Not sentimental about powders, nor a collector of same.