The Guns & Ammo Network

Burn It Up: Handloaders in the ’70’s

by Joseph von Benedikt • June 2, 2011 • 5 comments

Note the size of the canisters of Winchester Western gunpowder in the lower right corner of this 1978 ad! Handloaders in that era were serious about their hobby.

Also note the absence of coat-tail cartridges. The ones listed here are cornerstone calibers—those that led the way for the myriad numbers developed in the last two decades.

Click the photo to enlarge.

 

Note: Winchester Smokeless Propellants is now owned by Hodgdon. www.hodgdon.com

In Ammo • Tagged ,
  • Clifford Reed

    Is this 540 the same as the older 540MS?

  • Gary Kohler

    748 was then and is still the best in my 308 rifles. However, I liked the older packaging better.

  • Mick

    While I rarely buy larger than a 3 lb. can, my father-in-law has a few 8 lb. cans around—stored safely in a separate building, I might add.

  • Howard of Virginia

    This is very interesting and has a lot of good information for what powder to use (generally) for the type of cartridge being reloaded. Absolutely, thanks for sharing.

  • Terry

    I buy 8 lb containers and store them very carefully. I'm still shooting tiny groups with some IMR 4198 I bought in summer 1967.