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Thread: The Home Guide to Cartridge Conversions

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy Cheeto303's Avatar
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    The Home Guide to Cartridge Conversions

    My wife forced me to go shopping with her at Goodwill today. I really hate shopping as it seems to me I do a lot of watching her shop, but I got lucky today. I decided to check the used books and found a rare treasure. It is Maj George C. Nontes "The Home Guide to Cartridge Conversions". I couldn't believe it and it only cost me a whopping $3.00. I'm stoked. Wanted this book for years. Now if I could find some Earl Naramore's "Principles and Practice of Loading Ammunition". I guess I shouldn't be so resistant to going with her.
    "Adults are the children and the children are the adults" Jules my wife.

    All you need for happiness is a good gun, a good horse, and a good wife. — Daniel Boone

    Democracy is defended in 3 stages: Ballot Box, Jury Box, Cartridge Box. — Ambrose Bierce

    A system of licensing and registration is the perfect device to deny gun ownership to the bourgeoisie. — Vladimir Ilyich Lenin

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    Boolit Buddy
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    Great find!

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    Boolit Master

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    Absolutely great find. I probably paid 10 times that for my copy although it was in new condition. The Naramore book is very interesting too. I still go back to recent load manuals for the latest information. If you are into old reloading tools, Naramore is a good source of information.
    John
    W.TN

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    Boolit Master



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    Sometimes things just work out right and it sure did for you. Congratulations on your treasure find. james

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    Boolit Master

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    i've been looking at goodwill for anything shooting related in the book section and have never found a thing, I was beginning to wonder if they threw them away instead of putting them out.
    if you are ever being chased by a taxidermist, don't play dead

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    Boolit Master dbosman's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cheeto303 View Post
    M
    Now if I could find some Earl Naramore's "Principles and Practice of Loading Ammunition". I guess I shouldn't be so resistant to going with her.
    The library at the University of Pennsylvania has a copy. You could try your local library and ask about their inter or intra library loan consortium. They may be able to get it to you to read. I found it interesting.

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy Cheeto303's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by rancher1913 View Post
    i've been looking at goodwill for anything shooting related in the book section and have never found a thing, I was beginning to wonder if they threw them away instead of putting them out.
    About 5 years ago I found Bruce Canfields "U.S. Infantry Weapons of World War II". Another good find at Goodwill.Keep your eyes peeled.
    "Adults are the children and the children are the adults" Jules my wife.

    All you need for happiness is a good gun, a good horse, and a good wife. — Daniel Boone

    Democracy is defended in 3 stages: Ballot Box, Jury Box, Cartridge Box. — Ambrose Bierce

    A system of licensing and registration is the perfect device to deny gun ownership to the bourgeoisie. — Vladimir Ilyich Lenin

    Black Rifles Matter

    NRA Life Member, SAF Member, GOA Member, TFA Member

  8. #8
    Boolit Master

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    Congratulation! I got my copy as a gift.
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  9. #9
    Boolit Master
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    I got my copy of Nonte's book in the early sixties from a neighbor who got it in an effort to make ammunition for an old gun he bought. Don't remember what I gave for it. I bought a signed copy of "Six Guns" by Keith in a junk store in Idaho for $5.00 about fifteen years ago. I hit the local thrift stores fairly frequently as you never know what you will find like the complete Lyman tong tool set for 30-30 that I bought for $3.00.
    BIG OR SMALL I LIKE THEM ALL, 577 TO 22 HORNET.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
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    Wow! Good for you! I have Donnely's book on conversions and keep watching for Nonte's. No luck so far. Another I'd like to have is Dixon's book on European sporting cartridges. It seems to scarce as well.
    "In general, the art of government is to take as much money as possible from one class of citizens and give it to another class of citizens" Voltaire'

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  11. #11
    Boolit Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by sharps4590 View Post
    Wow! Good for you! I have Donnely's book on conversions and keep watching for Nonte's. No luck so far. Another I'd like to have is Dixon's book on European sporting cartridges. It seems to scarce as well.
    If your pockets are deep enough, ABE Books has both volume 1 & 2.

    https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Sea...rtridges&isbn=
    Last edited by alamogunr; 03-10-2020 at 04:35 PM. Reason: Add Link
    John
    W.TN

  12. #12
    Boolit Master
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    Wow....at least you found them!! I've only seen one for sale one time. Volume 2 is the only one I'd want. Pockets are deep enough...the question is, is the mind willing to spend almost 4 bills on a book....no matter how much I'd like to have it.
    "In general, the art of government is to take as much money as possible from one class of citizens and give it to another class of citizens" Voltaire'

    The common virtue of capitalism is the sharing of equal opportunity. The common vice of socialism is the equal sharing of misery

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  13. #13
    Boolit Master



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    I own both books mentioned. Nonte's book is excellent as far as it goes, but there is another on my shelf that is more up to date.......I'll have to put the title here later as it's out of reach at the moment.

    I inherited Narramore's book after the death of a dear friend and loading mentor. It's a 1950's copy and has more solid information than any reloading book I've ever seen. It's NOT an ad for any manufacturer.......instead, it concentrates on the construction and reloading of ANY cartridge. There's a complete description of the powders available at that time and, most interesting to me, a method to identify and develop loads from an UNKNOWN POWDER. I've never seen this information in any other book. Narramore outlines a specific series of evaluations that will allow the reloader to safely work with any unidentified powder, including Bullseye for cryin' out loud!

    I've seen Narramore's book on Ebay for around thirty bucks. I'd recommend it highly........a heavy read, but worth it.

  14. #14
    Boolit Master
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    Please do put up the title, '06. I'd be very interested.
    "In general, the art of government is to take as much money as possible from one class of citizens and give it to another class of citizens" Voltaire'

    The common virtue of capitalism is the sharing of equal opportunity. The common vice of socialism is the equal sharing of misery

    NRA Benefactor 2008

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    Boolit Master



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    Sorry I took so long to reply............mama had some honey-do's.......

    Book Title: The Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions..........1056 pages
    Author: John J. Donnelly
    Publisher: Stoeger Publishing Company

    It's a large, thick (almost 2") heavy book.
    The only thing I find fault with are the cartridge drawings for each caliber. They're all the same whether rimmed or rimless! Each applicable dimension is labeled as "A, B, C," etc. with the actual dimensions listed alongside. Not a great inconvenience by any means, just not what I expected to see.

  16. #16
    Boolit Master
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    I expect we all understand "honey-do's"....lol!! I have Donnelly's and it's been a God send a few times. I thought you meant there was another by Narramore, no? I've not heard of that one.
    "In general, the art of government is to take as much money as possible from one class of citizens and give it to another class of citizens" Voltaire'

    The common virtue of capitalism is the sharing of equal opportunity. The common vice of socialism is the equal sharing of misery

    NRA Benefactor 2008

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    Boolit Buddy Cheeto303's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 3006guns View Post
    Sorry I took so long to reply............mama had some honey-do's.......

    Book Title: The Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions..........1056 pages
    Author: John J. Donnelly
    Publisher: Stoeger Publishing Company

    It's a large, thick (almost 2") heavy book.
    The only thing I find fault with are the cartridge drawings for each caliber. They're all the same whether rimmed or rimless! Each applicable dimension is labeled as "A, B, C," etc. with the actual dimensions listed alongside. Not a great inconvenience by any means, just not what I expected to see.
    I also have Donnelly's book and it is very good. I just finished reading Nonte's book. It is very readable and has it's humorous moments. I miss the old writers. The new breed of writers seem very dry at best. Nonte meant it when he titled it "The Home Guide to Cartridge Conversions". His methods are quite simple and straight forward.As far as Narramore is concerned I just like the old books. I find them very interesting especially the simplicity of their methods. Earl Naramore's "Principles and Practice of Loading Ammunition" is just another rare book I'm after but can't afford a $100.00 or more for it. I know that I could probably find it at a library but I have a love of books in particular firearms related books. If I borrowed it from the library I'd then have the added problem of returning it.
    "Adults are the children and the children are the adults" Jules my wife.

    All you need for happiness is a good gun, a good horse, and a good wife. — Daniel Boone

    Democracy is defended in 3 stages: Ballot Box, Jury Box, Cartridge Box. — Ambrose Bierce

    A system of licensing and registration is the perfect device to deny gun ownership to the bourgeoisie. — Vladimir Ilyich Lenin

    Black Rifles Matter

    NRA Life Member, SAF Member, GOA Member, TFA Member

  18. #18
    Boolit Master



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    Quote Originally Posted by Cheeto303 View Post
    If I borrowed it from the library I'd then have the added problem of returning it.
    (In a husky, whispered voice)................."They'll never knowwww.............."

    I have George Nonte's book, "Pistolsmithing" also. Some VERY interesting information in that one. Like the cartridge conversion book, many home shop adaptive methods.

    Our little local library had a copy of Bill Jordan's "No Second Place Winner" about gunfighting. The inside fly leaf had a hand written inscription "To my friends at the Modoc Library, Bill Jordan". The book was sold at a book sale before I could get my hands on it.
    Last edited by 3006guns; 03-11-2020 at 10:53 PM.

  19. #19
    Boolit Buddy Cheeto303's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 3006guns View Post
    (In a husky, whispered voice)................."They'll never knowwww.............."

    I have George Nonte's book, "Pistolsmithing" also. Some VERY interesting information in that one. Like the cartridge conversion book, many home shop adaptive methods.

    Our little local library had a copy of Bill Jordan's "No Second Place Winner" about gunfighting. The inside fly leaf had a hand written inscription "To my friends at the Modoc Library, Bill Jordan". The book was sold at a book sale before I could get my hands on it.
    I have a copy of Bill Jordan's "No Second Place Winner". It is a great read and the Border patrol stories at the beginning are hilarious. Like I said , the old writers could weave a story. Now a days if they wrote like this they'd be persecuted. It's to bad you didn't get that autographed copy. You have my sympathy's.
    "Adults are the children and the children are the adults" Jules my wife.

    All you need for happiness is a good gun, a good horse, and a good wife. — Daniel Boone

    Democracy is defended in 3 stages: Ballot Box, Jury Box, Cartridge Box. — Ambrose Bierce

    A system of licensing and registration is the perfect device to deny gun ownership to the bourgeoisie. — Vladimir Ilyich Lenin

    Black Rifles Matter

    NRA Life Member, SAF Member, GOA Member, TFA Member

  20. #20
    Boolit Master

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    I have Donnelly's book, The Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions. I also have Ken Howell's book Designing and Forming Custom Cartridges. Of the two, I prefer Howell's book.

    I had forgotten the criticism of Donnelly's book about the drawings. I also can't remember much about the drawings in Howell's book but I do remember they are pictorially correct. I can't be specific about why I prefer Howell's book, I just do. Not a very satisfying reason, is it?
    John
    W.TN

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