Glock Talk banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Ken Waters book "PET LOADS"

Jump to Latest
  • Notice image

    Glocktalk is a forum community dedicated to Glock enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about Glock pistols and rifles, optics, hunting, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, and more!

21 - 32 of 32 Posts
#21 ·
Jim Watson said:
Ackley? Geez, talk about heavy loads by guess and by God.

It is all interesting reading but not a first choice for actual load data.
Click to expand...
Agree. And I think I clearly indicated in my post where I get my load data from. Certainly not ANY reference that is more than a few years old, if that helps clarify it for you and others.
 
  • Like
Reactions: enblock
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#22 ·
Oh, I understand that, I haven't bought a manual in years, the printing press can't keep up with new products and new techniques; it is all on the www.

But what is one to do for his .23 Ackley? I would probably trust Quickload further than Ackley.
 
#23 ·
quick load or any other ballistic program will definitely start you low, then give you plenty of room to work up

Ackley's notes will start you off on the ragged edge of safety. A surprisingly large amount of his data was also not pressure tested, so it can be a little hairy
 
#24 ·
MarkCO said:
I have one...in fact I have too many (books and manuals on reloading). For entertainment and perspective, valuable. For actual load data, not so much. Most of my data I get from the manufacturer's free online sources. If you want to spend a little money, buy something like this...

www.amazon.com

Tactical Life Complete Book of Reloading 2021 Magazine: Generic: Amazon.com: Books

Tactical Life Complete Book of Reloading 2021 Magazine [Generic] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Tactical Life Complete Book of Reloading 2021 Magazine
www.amazon.com

Current data, expert tips and tricks, etc. Handloading is changing more rapidly now than at any time in the past. Info coming out from Applied Ballistics, the AMU and a lot of independents is invalidating what a lot of people "thought" they knew about making consistent ammo. The old school of thought on chasing the lands, OAL, throating, etc. is falling away with most of the top shooters/reloaders.

If you want a legit compilation of "The Houston Warehouse" read this: Secrets of the Houston Warehouse – Lessons In Extreme Rifle Accuracy

I'd suggest this over Waters: Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders (Volume 1): Ackley, Parker O: 9781626541016: Amazon.com: Books

Then you have to decide where you want to take your advice from.
Click to expand...
Ive always viewed personal notes form the greats like Keith and Casull and Ackley and so on as Moore reading material and less sources of data

yes some of the data is useable, but I'd much rather have them for the pleasure of reading them and understanding the men who wrote them, rather than trying to duplicate their loads

I have my dad's collection of magazines, from American Rifleman to Handloader Magazine to Soldier of fortune, most of which being from the 40s to 2010s. From the time I was a kid to now as an adult, I think I've read each one at least twice, if not more :LOL:
 
#25 · (Edited)
Neldon said:
In paper back, is it worth the $60 that Gun Digest is asking?

The Gun Digest store claims PET LOADS is the most comprehensive book in reloading so I am thinking it may be good reference material.

Looking for opinions and recommendations for the best all around book on reloading.

Pet Loads: Complete Volume – GunDigest Store
Click to expand...
I had a copy back in th 80's and I think it only cost about 15-20 bucks back then but i think it was the softcover version. what I found useful were the powders that he recommended for best accuracy in a particular cartridge. I got some really top notch accuracy out of a Ruger 77 that had been re-barreled from 6mm Rem to 350 Remington magnum. That gun had a bull barrel and It was bought new by my brother and he had done a trigger job on it. With the medium contour barrel the barrel ended up being free floated and I glass bedded the action.

Ken waters recommended IMR 4320 which is slower burning than 4064 but faster burning than 4350 and is just right for the case capacity of both the case volume relative to the bore diameter of 350 mag and the 35 Whelen. I liked the heavier bullets and that gun shot 1 3/4 inch 200 yard groups with the Speer Hot-core 250 grain bullet seated out to the maximum overall length that would fit in the Ruger 77 "Short" action which was longer than the Remington short action and was suitable for cartridges based on the 8mm, 7mm Mauser and 244/6mm Remington and 257 Roberts cartridges. The Speer hot core had no cannelure so it could be seated to any length, short or long.

Seating the Speer spitzer out further put the bullet closer to the lands for better accuracy but it also increased case capacity allowing for higher velocity. So I started with Ken Water's suggested load as a starting point and went on from there but his recommendation of 4320 as the best powder for the 350 mag was right on the money. At the time, I wrote to Jeff Cooper when he was writing for Guns and ammo and told him about my load development for the 350 and I knew he was a big fan of the cartridge had used it in Africa and liked it as well as the Winchester 338 mag on African game. It turned out that he came up with the same load as I did using 4320 and seating the bullet out further to get more velocity in a BRNO Mauser action but he used a Swift A-frame 250 grain bullet instead of Speer got core.

I saved my letter from Cooper for many years but eventually lost it.
 
Discussion starter · #26 ·
  • Like
Reactions: enblock
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#28 ·
About the only magazine I get that I really enjoy opening up is Handloader Magazine. With old issues saved, I’ve often searched & found an article on a new round I was getting ready to load. It isn’t that I’d try to duplicate all the details they mention, but there can be helpful tidbits mixed in.

If course I look through my manuals & online sources too. Ones I’ve looked at recently have been for the 444 Marlin, 41 Mag, & 22 Hornet.
 
#29 ·
I got one off eBay couple years back...$20-30 if I remember correctly.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#30 ·
An excellent source of information... however! There's always a "however" isn't there?

Keep in mind the age of the book and data it provides! The IMR 4350 Waters used is NOT the same as todays IMR 4350, not to mention all of the great new powders Waters never dreamed of! While the manufacturers try to keep the batches the same, they do tend to drift over the years. Great care must be taken when working up to the max loads! You must know pressure signs for your firearm and a chronograph can be a great help when you're seeking maximum performance with any cartridge. Use common sense and large amounts of caution and you'll be fine!
Cheers,
crkckr
 
#31 · (Edited)
MarkCO said:
I have one...in fact I have too many (books and manuals on reloading). For entertainment and perspective, valuable. For actual load data, not so much. Most of my data I get from the manufacturer's free online sources. If you want to spend a little money, buy something like this...

www.amazon.com

Tactical Life Complete Book of Reloading 2021 Magazine: Generic: Amazon.com: Books

Tactical Life Complete Book of Reloading 2021 Magazine [Generic] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Tactical Life Complete Book of Reloading 2021 Magazine
www.amazon.com

Current data, expert tips and tricks, etc. Handloading is changing more rapidly now than at any time in the past. Info coming out from Applied Ballistics, the AMU and a lot of independents is invalidating what a lot of people "thought" they knew about making consistent ammo It's written in detail in the book being mortal, so you can read a summary https://freebooksummary.com/category/being-mortal ]Being Mortal Summary | FreebookSummary [/url] on a resource with samples for students to quickly familiarize yourself with it.. The old school of thought on chasing the lands, OAL, throating, etc. is falling away with most of the top shooters/reloaders.

If you want a legit compilation of "The Houston Warehouse" read this: Secrets of the Houston Warehouse – Lessons In Extreme Rifle Accuracy

I'd suggest this over Waters: Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders (Volume 1): Ackley, Parker O: 9781626541016: Amazon.com: Books

Then you have to decide where you want to take your advice from.
Click to expand...
I read the reviews, they say it's pretty entertaining stuff, thanks.
 
#32 ·
Pet Loads has probably saved me enough money by allowing me to find excellent loads to start loading that it has funded a couple of guns. I have used is data i cartridges from 32 S&W Long to 375 H&H. Nobody puts out the WHY information like Ken Waters, i.e., why a certain bullet weight, why a specific burn rate, why a type of primer. He also delves into the design of the firearms the cartridge was intended for. I have used his data in cartridges from 32 S&W Long to 375 H&H with great success. I also use it as a check for other data that I find, to see if newer data is in the ballpark.

Having a refence like Pet Loads is helpful with the number of Baby Boomers getting out of reloading and the current price and availability of powder. I have had several friend that have bought out shooters stock of existing powders and it is amazing what people still have under the loading bench. Compare the cost of Pet Loads w/ supplements to the current cost of a box of jacketed bullets or a pound of powder. You do not have to get much out of Pet Loads for it to have a good ROI.
 
21 - 32 of 32 Posts
About this Discussion
31 Replies
18 Participants
Last post:
MGD
Glock Talk
posts
22M
members
203K
Since
1999
A forum community dedicated to Glock firearm owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, troubleshooting, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
General Glocking General Firearms Forum Sold/Expired Cop Talk GSSF