![]() His first published work was a humble letter written to American Rifleman in. The wide square bottom grease groove holds ample lubricant. Keith was a prolific gun writer throughout the early part of the 20th Century. The relatively large bearing surface helps the Keith-style SWC to be an inherently accurate bullet, and minimizes leading from gas blow-by. This was his long-running column, and although I am not the first writer to take it over since his passing, believe me when I tell you that it wasn't my idea. Because of the three wide equal width driving bands, the total bearing surface is half the length of the bullet. Over the years, G&A showcased a lot of great gunwriters, but from the early days of the magazine until his death in 1984, Elmer Keith was the brightest star. The wide forward driving band helps keep the bullet aligned as it jumps across the cylinder gap. ![]() The other distinguishing characteristics of a "Keith-style" SWC are a double radius ogive, beveled crimp groove, three equal width driving bands, wide square bottomed grease groove, and a plain base with sharp corners. At times Keith was described as cranky, obstinate and eccentic, but also outspoken,brilliant, generous and a good friend. Among the many handgun and rifle loads that he helped to develop the two most famous would have to the 44 magnum and 41 magnum. Originally Keith specified a meplat that was 65% of the bullet caliber, but later increased it to a 70% meplat. Elmer Keith was an Idaho rancher, firearms enthusiast, big game hunter and firearms writer. When used for hunting, the heavy bullets provide excellent penetration they are often used on dangerous game, for which more reliable penetration than is possible with expanding hollow point or soft point bullets is required. When shooting paper targets, they cut a relatively clean hole in the target, yet provide more case volume and a better ballistic coefficient than a flat front wadcutter. These bullets remain popular for both target shooting and hunting. These changes increased the volume of the bullet outside the case, thus allowing more room inside the case, needed for large loads of slower burning powders (see internal ballistics). These bullets were based on the semiwadcutter design, but using a wider than normal front surface, and convex sides. When he was 11, he was terribly burned in an arson fire, and by all rights. Required reading: Hell I was there Sixguns by Keith. Keith was also responsible for a number of bullet designs still popular today, and collectively called "Keith style" bullets. Elmer Keith was born in 1899, and spent much of his early life in Montana, which at that time was still the Wild West.
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