reloading questions

[vegaswriter]

1st, a little about me.

i'm no longer the hunter I was growing up.

.22 for small game and shotgun for deer hunting is what I grew up with, but all that's changed now that I've lived in the big city for so long.

I'm writing a mystery that takes place in northern Minnesota, and a major clue has to do with the killer reloading their own shells...

i'm looking for someone who has the time for me to bounce some ideas off of. looking to see if my concept / idea is plausible and can withstand tough critics... (you guys)...lol

please message me, and thanks to anyone in advance!

[Shootest]

Reloaders are sportsmen and not murders. I for one would not support a work of fiction that implies otherwise, enough of that goes on in the media and government.

[vegaswriter]

a murderer is someone who kills another person.....you're taking this a little personally....

i did not say a serial killer...

if a man defends his family...and kills another to, in his mind, protect what is theirs, and it was premeditated, is it not murder?

and you're saying that this man can not be a reloader?

[TimSr]

In one of the Charles Bronson Death Wish movies he was handloading ammo, and I did not see the movie as anti-gun. Just the opposite.
I'd like to hear more about the context.

[Evan Thomas]

Vegaswriter, welcome to TFL.

If I understand your first post correctly, you're asking for someone to critique -- offline -- your use of technical information: is it correct, is it plausible, and so forth.

Opinions on whether vegaswriter should be writing this book -- whether it's "PC" enough for us, and such -- are off-topic for the thread. Take them to private messages, please, and try to be civil to a new member.

Vegaswriter, if you want to bring up any such questions in the open forum to get a range of opinions, feel free. Otherwise, I can lock the thread and you can see who responds via PM.

[vegaswriter]

Thank You Vanya...that is the exact reason for my post....

I appreciate your help. and thank-you for the warm welcome.

[Wyoredman]

Vegaswriter,

Interesting, to say the least! I could see a plot developed where investigators find a .277" diameter Sierra 140 gr boattail slug lodged into tree near a murder victim. Clue!

I could see the investigators determining that the slug is only available to hand loaders as a component, not available in factory ammunition! Clue!

I could also imagine a crime lab determining the chemical makeup of the propellant used with trace analysis of the slug! Clue!

Maybe a person of interest list can be shortened when the investigators find out that some of the suspects are avid hand loaders! I get where you are going with this.

Bring some of your concerns to the open forum, let us help you with your novel.

[myfriendis410]

Just read Stephen Hunter and you'll see lots of handloading references. I have no problem with a work of fiction trying to be correct. There's nothing more annoying than reading about the hero emptying his revolver then reaching for another magazine.....duh! That's when the book goes in the trash can.

[shastaboat]

Talk about fiction!!!

[Fire_Moose]

3 words, murcury tipped bullet.

[JKilbreth]

Please let us know the book title when it's finished! I'm already interested in reading it. And of course, this amateur reloader is happy to chip in any advice I can! Good luck on your endeavors, Vegaswriter.

[Unclenick]

It's an interesting idea in light of the mistakes I've seen published in the past. (I'm thinking right off of Patricia Cornwell referring to what could only be nickel-plated brass cases as being "stainless steel" in an early Kay Scarpetta book, and of a long range rifle shot described by the late Dick Francis with much detail except lacking any reading of or compensation for wind.) It causes suspension of willing disbelief when you know about these things and encounter such errors or omissions.

I'm sure you'll find we are mostly willing accomplices to tuning up your handloading and/or reloading descriptions. And you should feel free to PM us as well as awaiting PM's from others. There's a fair amount of expertise on the board, some of it specialized to the point that some members will be better to correspond with about loading for one kind of firearm over another. For example, if you want loading for a long range (800 yards to 1200 yards) shot, you might try Bart B. If you have any kind of military rifle involved, Hummer90, who was a test director at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in an earlier life, and who is an avid competitor and handloader would be a good one to PM. Both of those gentlemen have been on national and international rifle teams and have won national titles at one time or another. Member Slamfire has done a lot of load development for the M1 Garand and M14 platforms. I've had my own humble fingers in about everything but .50 BMG. There are others worthy of mention, except the list quickly beomces unwieldy. Professional gunsmiths, bullet casters and commercial reloaders are included.

Anyway, there are many to pick and choose from among technical and detail-oriented shooters here. Good luck with your project.

Nick

[JD0x0]

It'd be interesting if this handloader also cast his own "custom" bullets. The unique blends of metals can lead the forensics team back to the shooter.

[Eppie]

Welcome to TFL vegaswriter. You've come to the right place. Lots of good folks here, some a little paranoid, sometimes they grow out of it, sometimes not.

I'm an avid mystery reader. George, DeMille, Child, Follett, LeCarre, etc...
Would love to help. Send me an e-mail.

[BoogieMan]

a murderer is someone who kills another person.....you're taking this a little personally....

I respectfully disagree. Someone who takes a life to defend country or family is a hero, not a murderer.
I do hope your plans are not to cast shootests or reloaders negatively in any way.

[dahermit]

...reloading their own shells...

Unless you are referring to hand loading for a shotgun, I would refer to them as, "cartridges". They are "shot-shells", if hand loading for a shotgun. "Shells", "bullets", are common misnomers for "cartridges".

[snuffy]

Amazing! Bravo for doing the required research for a book. I too would love to read it, (when it's finished). Or to proof read a copy before publication. Don't skip that step. Good writers send preliminary copies of their books to friends to proof before they finalize the book.

Anybody want to read a great action thriller by a reloader/pilot/shooter. J D Kinman's Above reproach.

http://www.amazon.com/Above-Reproach...5384151&sr=8-1

He's recluse over on the cast boolit forum. He's currently writing another book, he spends about a year in research to be technically correct in the writing. He also puts out a rough copy for friends to read before the final copy is made.

Ask away! I'm sure somebody knows the answer!?¿

[F. Guffey]

Uncleneck, technical directors, on one episode of Bonanza clear scotch tape was used to hold paper work on walls inside the school. I collect junque, anything old, in the movie ‘ Shenandoah’ they were parking horses in the parking lot at the church without hitching post, most of the parishioners carried their own system for parking horses, something that resembles a big puck made of case iron, I know they had never heard of ice hockey so I doubt they referred to the to the puck as a horse parking puck, I am told there are not many of the pucks left, seems metal drives during WW11 took care of a lot of stuff that would fall into the category of junque collectables.

F. Guffey

[dahermit]

Guffey, I live in a rural area with 90% of my neighbors being Amish. Next time I talk to my closest neighbor (Amish), I will bring the subject up about the "pucks".

I have seen them used in films so I know what you are referring to. They would keep them on the floor of the buggy until needed.

Surprisingly, I have found that my closest Amish neighbor is quite the hunter and shoots often. I do not think that they (Amish), are supposed to have guns as toys, but he seems to find excuses to have several. I frequently hear him shoot a .17 rim fire at groundhogs, and usually takes two-three deer every year...many with large racks, though he is supposedly hunting strictly for the meat. A couple of years ago, I saw a big-antlered buck from my window, out in my orchard. I went over to his house about two days later to alert him to the fact a large antlered buck was around. When I told him about it, he said to me: "Was it this one?", as he held up the rack I had seen, "or this one?", he held up another big rack.