Important Message about this board!

[Marshal Halloway]

Welcome to the Reloading board here on CAScity.com!

As individual procedures and practices are beyond our control, CAScity.com disclaims any and all liability for any damages which may result from failure to follow prudent handloading practices, or from using any data posted here by individual members, which does not comply with published industry standards.

Below is a post by our member Birdshot I want you to read:

How about some thoughts from a ballistician who has a lab at his disposal?

1) There is no hard and fast way for anyone to predict exactly how a specific load will act in YOUR firearm.  We do our load development in a standardized barrel with standardized MINIMUM chamber, throat and bore.  We know that YOUR chamber. bore and throat are not going to give the same results.

2) Data supplied from a lab is nothing more than a report of what happened with one component set in one barrel in one set of conditions on one specific day.  If we repeat the exact same test and change ANY variable, we will get a different answer.

3) A LARGE percentage of SASS/CAS shooters are new to the world of shooting and to reloading.  A new reloader should always learn to load on a single stage press and should always follow the published loads.

4) Experienced loaders and shooters ( those who have worked with variations in components and conditions) MAY be able to get away with developing their own data.  Developing data in a center fire rifle cartridge is pretty easy.  Dealing with the very fast burning powders used in shotgun shells and handgun rounds can have devastating results.

5) The first reeliable sign of high pressure in a revolver load is when the firearm fails .  Bad news for the shooter and all of those around him.  Anyone who will tell you they can "read" primers and case expansion in pistol cartridges to tell the pressure is a danger and should be avoided.  It cannot be done reliably.

6) AS noted above, the tendency of SASS/CAS shooters to load ultralight loads is stupid.  The average shooter will not benefit from this.  More energy spent training would be a far better investment for most shooters than trying to find the absolute lightest load.

7) A load that you have worked down to today may be great but it may well be a hazard when the ambient temperature drops.  Primers are not as potent in the cold, the elasticity and plasticity of the case and primer change with the temperature.  All handgun/shotgun powders will change ignition and burn characteristics as the temperature changes: some much more than others.

Cool You, the loader, are legally responsible for damage or injuries caused by your ammunition.  Never give or sell your ammo to another shooter unless you are a licensed ammunition manufacturer with the BATF.  Not only are you liable for injury but if you sell ammo without the license, you may serve time in the big house.

9)  Loading your own ammo should be a safe and rewarding experience.  Why go out of your way to make it difficult or dangerous.  Use the loads supplied by a laboratory and have confidence that you have the best custom ammo around.

10)  As far as not allowing loads to be posted on web sites goes, it will become more common.  Most web sites are offered by good people with good intentions.  Look at the owners of this site.  BUT, they have other lives and are not prepared to review every load posted to make certain that no decimal is misplaced or that a crank has not knowingly placed a dangerous load on the site.

11) REMEMBER - IN THE REAL WORLD, THERE ARE VERY FEW EXPERTS ON LOAD DATA.  THERE ARE CERTAINLY MORE EXPERIENCED PEOPLE AND LESS EXPERIENCED PEOPLE BUT FEW EXPERTS.  ON THE INTERNET, WHERE PEOPLE CAN HIDE IN ANONIMITY, THERE ARE LOTS AND LOTS OF FOLKS WHO WILL GIVE THEIR OPINION AS FACT.

OK, OFF MY SOAPBOX,

BIRDSHOT