Replies

Hey guys, this thread peaked my curiosity, so I retrieved all the reloading stuff a bud gave me a few years ago and I got a few questions to ask...

1 shelf life of opened powders ??? Ive got 5 cans that have been used out of, but were capped tight, any concerns ??? also, a couple of em are in coffee cans and although the writing was legible, I cant be 100% sure if the brand is really correct...

2 bullets... are the .38/.357 the same diameter ??? .44/.45 ??? Ive got a decent supply of .38 & .357 brass, but would rather load the .357 and a few hundred .44 bullets but only .45 vehicles...

3 without a tool, how do I measure the 'best performance' of my loads ??? grouping at diff range ???

4 Anyone know the manufacturer of 'Bonanza' brand press ??? all the rest of the stuff is RCBS, I'm gonna check their site in detail in the next couple days... any info is appreciated, the rest o my questions will be answered hopefully in studying the mechanics of reloading from suppliers sources...

thanks guys...FReegards...

I'll too in my $0.02.
Shelf life of opened powders should be a long time. That is if it's in it's original container, and has either not much of an odor, or an ether odor, it's more than likely ok. Humidity and temperature flucuations are the enemies of gunpowder. I just loaded up some .38 S&W reloads last night with some 20 year old Bullseye, and it shot fine.
As for the powder in coffee cans...I'd toss it. Just throw it in your garden. It makes great fertilizer. It's not worth blowing up a good firearm, or losing a body part because you "thought" it was the right powder.
.38 Special & .357 Magnum both use .358 diameter bullets. .44 Special or .44 Magnum use either .429 or .430 diameter bullets. .45 ACP and .45 Colt use .452 diameter bullets.
Figuring out performance without a chronograph is pretty much a function of just shooting different loadings at different distances and comparing groupings and points of impact. Always remember of course, when working up loads, start at the minimum published charge levels then slowly increasing the load towards the maximum published charge. Remember too, that you will probably get your best results closer to the minimum levels than the maximum levels.
Sorry, but I don't have any information about Bonanza. I am a dedicated Lee and RCBS guy. I know they work, and the price is right.