: John Barsness discusses how bullet seating depth and velocity are the primary keys to modern load development.
As of today, Issue Number 274 is out of print. However, physical copies appear frequently on eBay, Amazon Marketplace, and at gun show "book stalls" for between $8 and $20. Wolfe Publishing Company (the parent company) also sells digital PDF archives of back issues, though availability varies by volume.
The October 2011 issue continues the magazine’s tradition of expert authorship and rigorous data verification. Key articles and columns in this edition cover a wide spectrum of shooting disciplines. 1. The .44 and .38 WCFs: Rifles vs. Cartridges
The October 2011 edition was published during the editorial tenure of Dave Scovill, a figure widely respected in the reloading community. Alongside Scovill, contributors like Brian Pearce provided a steady stream of well-researched load data and practical advice. Together, these writers and editors have been described as being "worth the subscription price" to the magazine, bringing decades of combined experience to every page.
: Mike Venturino discusses his experiences and setup in his personal reloading space.
Instead of obsessing over minor imperfections in the primer pocket, Barsness argued that the reloader’s energy should be focused elsewhere. He placed heavy emphasis on . He suggested that if the brass varies in thickness around the circumference of the neck, it directly affects bullet release and concentricity. His solution was ruthless: check all brass and discard cases with uneven necks, relegating them only to “plinking” loads. [23†L29-L34]
Mike Venturino explored the complexities of the 15 different Sharps cartridge options, providing a definitive guide for black powder cartridge rifle (BPCR) shooters.
In his signature column From the Hip , ballistics expert tackles magnum handgun recipes using Alliant Power Pro 300-MP. At the time of publication, this spherical powder was making waves for generating velocities in heavy-caliber revolvers (such as the .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, and .500 S&W) that traditional choices like Alliant 2400 or Hodgdon H110 struggled to match without exceeding safe SAAMI pressure margins.
How Green is My Primer? A look at the environmental, chemical, and physical evolution of lead-free and non-toxic primer formulas.
: Rocky Raab reviews the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook, 4th Edition . Historical & Specialized Loading
The primary columns and analytical features in this edition include:
Handloader Issue No. 274 (October 2011) features Brian Pearce’s high-performance handgun loads and Mike Venturino’s exploration of Sharps cartridges. Additional content includes analyses on bullet seating depth, the 9mm Federal, and Ramshot’s Zip propellant, along with reviews of the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook. Purchase this issue from Wolfe Publishing . Handloader 274 October 2011 - Wolfe Publishing
Key loads included:
Historical firearms expert Mike Venturino took on the daunting task of decoding the dense family of black powder and early smokeless Sharps cartridges.
The issue features a review of the compact Kimber Solo, offering insights into the firearm's mechanical design, ergonomics, and functional reliability. It examines the engineering challenges associated with high-performance subcompact firearms.
: Gil Sengel reviews the "short, unhappy life" of this specific cartridge in the Cartridge Board column.
