Handloader The - Rifle Magazine

Handloader magazine, founded in 1966, is the only magazine in the world dedicated to the sport of reloading. This semi-technical journal covers reloading information on handguns, rifles and shotguns. Issues cover pressure data as well as how bullets perform under a wide variety of circumstances. Our readership reloads for over 24 different calibers. They shoot thousands of rounds to dial in their loads for the best accuracy. As a result, they spend a lot of money on the sport they love. Our subscribers reload and shoot more than readers of any other related magazines on the market. The popularity of Handloader is reflected by its unprecedented growth in the last few years.

Handloader The - Rifle Magazine

Hornady's new 7mm PRC (Precision Rifle Cartridge) is probably the best long-range 7mm cartridge ever introduced. As with all rifle cartridges, handloading tuned ammo for it helps achieve the best it has to offer. The 7mm PRC's DNA is 100 percent long range. As such, loading highly aerodynamic bullets is recommended. The cartridge doesn't offer any advantage with light 7mm bullets.

However, at first I didn't have any RL-26 on hand, so I started with H1000. To my delight, every load averaged less than three-quarters of an inch at 100 yards. Even with the relatively short 20-inch barrel on the Gunwerks Nexus test rifle, velocity was rather good.

Thanks to the 7mm PRC's head height, handloaders will find it easy to finesse seating depth for best accuracy. Load thin-jacketed cup-and-core bullets to kiss the rifling. Load thick-jacketed bonded-core and monometal bullets 0.050 inch off the rifling leade so as to avoid pressure spikes, and tune from there. Generally, best results with such will be found between 0.020 and 0.100 inch off the leade.

This hopper-fed, loose-ammo loader eliminates hand fatigue and reduces magazine loading time by more than 50 percent. Simply load your ammo in the 50-round capacity hopper and let MagPump do the rest. The pump-action lever self-sorts ammunition in either direction, and loads up to 30 rounds in less than 30 seconds. Each 9mm Luger unit includes a mounting base plate and six adaptable retainers to fit pistol models:GLOCK, SIG, Smith & Wesson, Springfield Armory, CZ and Ruger. Additional single- and double-stack magazine retainers for most pistol models listed below are available for individual purchase.

The image below was provided by the Podavach, showing the latest multi-caliber version in usage. The majority of the rifles in use by the Ukrainians are various Kalashnikov platforms, either 7.62x39mm or 5.45x39mm. However, there are some 5.56x45mm NATO AR15s locally produced, in addition to 5.45x39mm Tavors. Within this logistical nightmare, a magazine loader that accommodates all three calibers could be a tremendous help.

The magazine loader does work as advertised in that while using stock STANAG magazines and standard Kalashnikov magazines inserted into the feed lip holder, it was able to very quickly load an entire magazine with just a simple shove of the push piece after having gotten the channel loaded. With the STANAG magazines, a user would have to physically press against the magazine to get it to load. The Kalashnikov ones simply clicked into place.

It being multi-caliber this is a huge plus in the United States where oftentimes people can be going to the range with a multitude of calibers. This allows the efficient loading of at least two very popular cartridges, in addition to two others not very far off when it comes to the carbine/rifle market.

The price of the loader is around $75, or combined with the companies rifle rack system, is $95. It does appear high, but compared to some other bench loaders on the market, this is actually a little cheaper for the market value.

Aesthetics of the magazine loader are top notch, and it is a good feeling to have a product that was designed with an eye for this. However, the aesthetics really do need to come second in priority to actual design and operation.

Propellants are another story, with availability random. As a lazy handloader, my inclination is to go back to old recipes rather than experimenting. Historically, 4350 went with the .30-06 like peas and carrots. For my first African hunt (1977), I worked up a max load of IMR 4350 with a 180-grain Partition. 041b061a72