Stoeger's classic handloading guide has been revised with a new, easy-to-reference format and additional cartridge data. This manual offers the handloader all the physical data, how-to designs, tools and drawings needed to convert modern, easily obtainable materials into more than 900 rifle and pistol cartridge cases ranging from obsolete patterns to modern cutting-edge "wildcats."
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
| |||||||||||||||
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
Detailed information on the techniques, tools and materials needed for successful cartridge conversion and handloading, make this new updated book from Stoeger an essential tool for any handloader. -- Don Lewis, The Leader Times, September 10, 2004
Handloader's manual of cartridge conversions: one of those "must have" books for the reloader I don't think it is possible for a serious shooter or reloader to have too many books. My office is crowded with them. Closest at hand are those I use most often. One of those is The Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions. Don't let the title fool you. While it is surely true that the book tells you how to make this cartridge case out of that one there is also a drawing and complete set of dimensions, sometimes historical information and at least one handload recipe. The 3rd edition, updated by Bryce Towsley, is now available from Stoeger Publications. It is a hardbound tome of more than 600 pages that presents a lot of information in a convenient format. The new edition shows two cartridges per page. The cartridge drawings are not actual size, but show all the dimensions keyed to a table right next to it. You quickly learn that "A" is always case length, "B" is head diameter and so on. All of these are nominal dimensions and we have to remember that there are always some tolerance spreads in brass. So if you measure a case and come up with a number a few thousandths different, it doesn't automatically indicate that anything is wrong. One piece of data that is not normally seen in conventional loading manuals is case capacity. Here it is presented both in cubic centimeters and the more familiar grains of water. This bit of information is especially handy if you are working with a new cartridge for which there is little or no published data. It's easy enough to put a piece of brass on the scale and use a medicine dropper to fill the case. Then it is a simple matter to find a known case of similar shape and size for comparison. You can then look at data for the known cartridge to select a powder to start with. As always conservatism is the rule but usually you can deduce a starting load. As you go through the book you'll probably marvel, as I did, at the number of wildcat cartridges in there. Something as small as changing the shoulder angle a degree or two creates a new cartridge. The goal of almost every wildcat is to increase the capacity of the case and our choices are limited there. The quickest method is to blow out the shoulder angle to 35-40 degrees and reduce the taper of the case body as well. That was the secret to almost all of the legendary "Ackley Improved" cartridges many of which are still popular today. -- Charles E. Petty, Guns Magazine, February 2005
Reloads work fine, and many deer hunters use them. Hand-loading is a great hobby, and it's always more of a thrill to shoot an animal with your own cartridge concoction. -- L.A. Van Veghel, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, January 2005
With more than 1,000 cartridges described in detail along with dimensions and clear, accurate illustrations, this is a reloader's go-to book. -- BC Outdoors Hunting & Shooting, 2004 --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Handloader's manual of cartridge conversions: one of those "must have" books for the reloader I don't think it is possible for a serious shooter or reloader to have too many books. My office is crowded with them. Closest at hand are those I use most often. One of those is The Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions. Don't let the title fool you. While it is surely true that the book tells you how to make this cartridge case out of that one there is also a drawing and complete set of dimensions, sometimes historical information and at least one handload recipe. The 3rd edition, updated by Bryce Towsley, is now available from Stoeger Publications. It is a hardbound tome of more than 600 pages that presents a lot of information in a convenient format. The new edition shows two cartridges per page. The cartridge drawings are not actual size, but show all the dimensions keyed to a table right next to it. You quickly learn that "A" is always case length, "B" is head diameter and so on. All of these are nominal dimensions and we have to remember that there are always some tolerance spreads in brass. So if you measure a case and come up with a number a few thousandths different, it doesn't automatically indicate that anything is wrong. One piece of data that is not normally seen in conventional loading manuals is case capacity. Here it is presented both in cubic centimeters and the more familiar grains of water. This bit of information is especially handy if you are working with a new cartridge for which there is little or no published data. It's easy enough to put a piece of brass on the scale and use a medicine dropper to fill the case. Then it is a simple matter to find a known case of similar shape and size for comparison. You can then look at data for the known cartridge to select a powder to start with. As always conservatism is the rule but usually you can deduce a starting load. As you go through the book you'll probably marvel, as I did, at the number of wildcat cartridges in there. Something as small as changing the shoulder angle a degree or two creates a new cartridge. The goal of almost every wildcat is to increase the capacity of the case and our choices are limited there. The quickest method is to blow out the shoulder angle to 35-40 degrees and reduce the taper of the case body as well. That was the secret to almost all of the legendary "Ackley Improved" cartridges many of which are still popular today. -- Charles E. Petty, Guns Magazine, February 2005
Reloads work fine, and many deer hunters use them. Hand-loading is a great hobby, and it's always more of a thrill to shoot an animal with your own cartridge concoction. -- L.A. Van Veghel, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, January 2005
With more than 1,000 cartridges described in detail along with dimensions and clear, accurate illustrations, this is a reloader's go-to book. -- BC Outdoors Hunting & Shooting, 2004 --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
About the Author
Bryce M. Towsley is the author of several books on hunting and shooting and an accomplished outdoor photographer. He is a hunting consultant and booking agent for a variety of North American game species. Towsley is field editor for NRA's American Rifleman, modern rifle and handgun editor for Buckmasters, and a regular contributor to Guns & Gear and North American Hunter. Towsley makes his home in North Clarendon, Vermont.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions,
By Frank W. Washam (San Antonio, TX) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions (Paperback)
This is an excellent reference work as far as it goes. If Mr. Donnelly had gone one step further and used SAAMI drawings in actual size it would have been a gold mine for the experimenter. There are, of course, the usual few errors such as the rim thickness of the .405 Winchester. All said and done it is a book worth having.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Useful, but dated and has errors,
By RTan (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions (Paperback)
Illustrations in the book could be improved if in addition to the dimensional drawing, a 1:1 drawing were available as well, to present the proper scale to all the cartridges.Overall, the book is useful as a compendium of the myriad of metallic cartridges that were available at one point in time or another. However, the book is dated and is in serious need of updating in order to keep current. Moreover, there are some glaring errors in the book, which makes it mandatory that the reader have other sources of information as well. One item was the 454 Casull Magnum, which has dimensions identical to the 45Colt, while this might have been true back in 1987, it is not true today. An update to the book would certainly be most welcome and needed.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
grading on a curve,
By
This review is from: The Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions (Hardcover)
If you're even thinking about the purchase of this book, chances are that you need it. You're beyond what the run of the mill loading manual is providing.
It's not Hemingway, It even may leave some info to be desired. But if you're ready to do some work, no matter if it takes fire, hammer, and hacksaw. This is a good place to start. There are not a lot of choices out there on this type of info. If you find one, use it for back up. After looking through various conversion ideas that I thought held no interest for me, I found that The good writing is between the lines. This book has indirectly helped me to think critically, see from another perspective, to make things that "are" from things that "are not" Be Safe.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
