PRODUCT TEST As many readers are aware, the price of shotgun cartridges is rocketing skywards for a variety of reasons, and handloading is becoming a more attractive proposition for South African shotgunners. This, however, creates a new set of problems: how to find regular supplies of components.
During earlier days, powder was never really a problem, and for many years, one could get most things done with the local S121, MS200, MP200 and S221. Since the disappearance of these from the local lineup, however, our problems have compounded. There have been supplies of Vectan 9½ and Hodgdon Clays reaching our shores, but in small batches that sell out very quickly. Some of the imported handgun powders may be used as substitutes, but these will require a little experimentation. Recently, some…