VOLUME MEASURE DENSITY.

Here's some info I wanted to kick out there that wasn't in my book.

VMD is "Volume Measure Density".  When working up a load, you must know your case capacity at the bottom of the neck of your cartridge.  Fill a primed case with water to the bottom of the neck. Then dump the water into the charge pan and weigh the water.  This will give you the grains of water.

Photo from castbullet.com.  Go here to see how they figure the water weight.

Next, you have to convert grains into grams.  15.4 grains = 1 gram.  Thus, you divide the water weight in grains by 15.4 to convert to grams.  Next, you have to divide the bottom of the neck case capacity by your powder's VMD value. 

The best VMD chart I've found is Lee Precision, Inc's VMD chart which you can view HERE.  You can visit the Lee Precision, Inc. website HERE. For an example, I'll use the .308.  It turns out there are 52 grains of water to the neck in the .308.  So you would divide 52 grains by 15.4 which equals 3.37.

Then you take 3.37 divided by your powder's VMD, which is .0655.  .0655 is Winchester 748 powder's VMD.  3.37 divided by .0655 equals 51 grains of powder.  This is 99%, and way too hot, and is over the 94-97% maximum.  The pressure that will occur will be way too high.

Therefore, I drop down to 49 grains of 748 and come up with a value percent that is within the tolerance range. 

To find the percent figure, we take the powder charge times the powder's VMD (49 x .0655 = 3.20).  The powder charge times VMD = 3.20.  We take that value and divide it by our max value, which was 3.37.  It looks like this: 3.20 divided by 3.37 = .9495, which is very close to 95%.  This percent figure falls perfectly into our 94-97% margin, which gives us a maximum velocity with a pressure curve under maximum pressure.

Thought you'd like this little tidbit of information.

Mac McLeod

SOME PHOTOS FROM MY BOOK.

Here are some of my favorite photos from my book.

I grew up and learned most of my hunting and shooting skills on the Sixes River in Southern Oregon. This is one of the "houses" I lived in from 1958 to 1967. (Pg. xx of my book).

My cousin, Jerry Lively, is mentioned alot in my book! His knowledge and expertise in prairie dog dusting and bench rest shooting astounds me! (Pg. xix of my book).

Mountains of SW Washington where I've hunted for years.  Note the thick stands of timber and Jack Fir, and areas where deer will come out to eat along the edges of the timber. (Photo by Eric Fossm)  (Pg. 6 of my book).

My cousin, Jerry's, 6mm/.284 Winchester with Pac-Nor 30" barrel. (Pg. 13 of my book).

My mom and dad with a Black Bear that my dad shot by Sixes River in 1948.  He used his 32 Winchester Special for a quick and easy shot. (Pg. 30 of my book).

(Pg. 38 of my book).

One of the many reloading manuals I've used throughout the years. (Pg. 83 of my book).

One of the many charts I use in my book. This is in my chapter entitled "Making a Case for the Right Powder". (Pg. 174 of my book).

My old Weaver K4 post reticle - great for brush! (Pg. 236 of my book).

A good kneeling position. Notice how my elbow rests on the inside of my knee. This photos is in my chapter entitled "Making a Case for Shooting Skill", where I picture proper and improper shooting positions.  (Pg. 261 of my book).

My dad killed uncountable game animals. I can't count how many deer I've seen dad kill, on the run, in their beds, uphill, downhill, and across draws.  He was a surgeon with his rifle. (Pg. 276 of my book).

From my chapter entitled "Making a Case for the Truth". (Pg. 322 of my book).

My old hard to find .22 Semi-Auto Remington Model 66 Nylon.  This photo was in my chapter entitled "Making a Case for my Top Picks".  (Pg. 330 of my book).

Well, there you have it - just a smattering of my photos and illustrations in my book (there are over 100 photos and illustrations).

Here's a chapter title page:
 

Here's a page from my book so you can see how it is set up:

That's it for now!

Mac McLeod

BOOK DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to the memory of my father, Arlie McLeod, who in my early years, helped and guided me in learning to hunt and shoot.  The skills he taught me were invaluable.  The memories will never wane.

My dad in 1950, tapping trees for pitch (southern Oregon).

I also dedicate this book to my stepson, Eric James Fossum, who passed away in 2009.  Eric loved the mountains where he lived, especially Silver Star, so we've named our publishing company after the mountain, Silver Star, in honor of him.  Eric loved guns and rifles as much as I do, and we spend many happy hours discussing and sharing our love of them.

Eric in 2008, at age 24. He loved the outdoors.

Mac McLeod

IMPORTANT POWDER INFORMATION

Important Things to Know About Powders and Your Caliber and Cartridge Case

You must know that the slower the burn rate powder, the higher the powder load, for a given muzzle velocity in a given barrel length of a given bore diameter, with larger case capacities. Moreover, it is important to remember that the quicker (faster) the burn rate powder, the higher the velocity for a given powder load, and a given bore diameter.

This diagram is from page 183 of my book.

Therefore, you know that the larger the bore, the quicker the powder must be for a given muzzle velocity, and a given powder weight.  This is where using V.M.D. (volume measure density) charts come in handy to a reloader.

Go to: Precision Reloading for more information.

Coming soon:  Using V.M.D.                           

~Mac~

I'LL BE AT THE LA PINE RHUBARB FESTIVAL.

Hi there,
Just a note today to let you know I'll be at the La Pine Rhubarb Festival in La Pine, Oregon this Saturday, June 8, 2013 with my books in hand.  This is an annual event put on by L & S Gardens in La Pine, Oregon.  We're about 25 miles south of Bend, Oregon.

 

Rhubarb is a big thing here in La Pine and the one day event has everything from rhubarb desserts (150 pies) to dutch oven cooking (including rhubarb of course!) to rhubarb beer, salsa and wine.  There are vendor booths and 3 different bands playing on stage all day long. And of course, there is lots of food, gardening supplies and plants for sale.  

L&S Gardens has the feel of the old west as you walk through the old buildings and take a gander at the neat rusty old farm implements that the owner has collected over the years.  Some of the buildings are authentic. 

From their flyer:   "Take a stroll back to the 50's – come sing along with the Klassic Ayre Band from Sunriver, Oregon (they have become a must see at this event) plus western and blue grass bands. Hay rides, car show and over 45 vendors selling everything from homemade fudge, jerky seasonings, salsa and many wood crafted items."

I'll be at one of the vendor booths with my books and some other miscellaneous sporting goods.

Go HERE to find out more about the Rhubarb Festival.

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

R.W. "Mac" McLeod

CHECK OUT SOME PARAGRAPHS FROM MY BOOK.

HERE ARE A FEW PARAGRAPHS FROM MY BOOK:

EXCERPT 1:  
     There are many skills you can learn to help you become very good at hunting with a rifle.  You have to practice these skills, which I’ll discuss in detail in this chapter.  You have to practice shooting your rifle until everything becomes a reaction………. you don’t think, you just Do It.  Practice until ice flows in your veins and never lose your focus. You'll have to learn to snap shoot if you hunt the Jack Fir of the Pacific Northwest.

EXCERPT 2:
     First, you must consider your bullet’s B.C. and S.D.  As I’ve mentioned before in this book, the bullet’s B.C. is its form factor in relationship to its length and drag. . . .  The bullet’s S.D. is its weight (in grains) in relationship to its diameter (caliber), divided by itself, which determines the mass of the bullet's S.D.  Thus, the formula for S.D (for a 175 gr bullet) is: 175÷7000÷.284 (caliber)÷.284 = .309958341, which is rounded up to .310.    Second, you must consider the wind.  Wind can and will blow all bullets off course, more and more as the range gets longer and longer.  Third, uphill and downhill shots will be affected depending on the angle in degrees.

      A bullet’s B.C. is the most important factor in what determines your rifle’s effective range.  An example is that a round nose bullet (it has low B.C.) will not hold its velocity or have the effective range that a bullet of the same caliber and weight with a high B.C., will have.  This is because . . . . .

EXCERPT 3:
     In the nano second that it takes for the primer to explode, pressure starts to build within the chamber.  When the powder in the case explodes, pressure takes a dramatic jump.  The case then expands within the chamber walls.  The violent explosion of powder rips the bullet from the case and shoots it down the barrel.  This is interior ballistics.  The firing pin has struck the primer, and the primer has exploded, sending fire through the flash hole, igniting the powder in the case.  The case powder explodes.  Pressure in the chamber as the powder explodes is so dramatic that it slams the case back against the bolt face, taking up the head space, and expanding in the case to fill the chamber, which stretches the case neck forward.

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WELCOME!

WELCOME!! 

Thank you for visiting. 

HERE IS MY NEW BOOK - AVAILABLE NOW!  It has been a great success!

MAKING A CASE FOR THE RIGHT RIFLE
Who Can Own Just One?

FRONT COVER - Price is $24.95

This book needed writing! For you to have the knowledge about rifles, accuracy, barrel twist, bullets and powders, you need to know everything in this book.  Digest it and understand it and you will then truly comprehend it takes to have an accurate rifle.

WRITTEN BY A LIFETIME HUNTER AND SHOOTER

This is a book like you've never seen before! It's filled with my 50 years worth of wisdom, experience, knowledge, practical information and technical data, all put together in one source.  It is a jewel among the hundreds of books "out there" that only cover specific areas of hunting and shooting.  I feel that my book covers it all in ONE PLACE.

BACK COVER

TAKE A GANDER..........

Check out my "Look Inside" page to read some portions of my book. 

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"Don't trade or give away an excellent rifle if it is not working for you!  You may only be using the wrong bullet with the twist that you have in your rifle."    "When trying to achieve ultra velocity, it becomes critical to use a bonded core bullet.  If you do not use a bonded core bullet, you risk a regular bullet fragmenting on the hide, not unlike a varmint bullet."

Excerpts from~ Making a Case for the Right Rifle

________________________________________________________________

You can order my book from my blog or if you want to order by mail, please send check or money order in the amount of $30.55 to:

Silver Star Mountain Press

c/o R.W. McLeod

55721 Swan Rd.

Bend, OR  97707

(Price includes shipping of $5.60 and sent priority mail) 

HAPPY HUNTING AND SHOOTING!

R.W. "Mac" McLeod

CONTACT ME.

CONTACT ME:
You can reach me at 360-518-9159 if you have an questions about my book or information in my book. The price of the book is $24.95; shipping is $5.60 for a total of $30.55.

 EMAIL ME:
You can EMAIL me at: mcleod.rightrifle@gmail.com.  I'm happy to answer any questions you have.

R.W. "Mac" Mcleod