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