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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,976
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,976 |
Ken Waters was the best. I began reading his GUN DIGEST material before HANDLOADER started in '66. Thirty years ago I received a one-and-one-half page, single-spaced, typewritten reply from him in response to a question. I was impressed that he would take the time, effort, and interest to do such.
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 17,820
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 17,820 |
Back in the early days Ken would answer handloader's letters, I have several in my files. Pet Loads was a great work, a treasure trove of reloading data, Ken will be missed.
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,073
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,073 |
I've loaned my copies of Pet Loads to a lot of new reloaders. A lot of the powders are now obsolete. But the basics remain the same. Hasbeen
hasbeen (Better a has been than a never was!)
NRA Patron member Try to live your life where the preacher doesn't have to lie at your funeral
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 19,822
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 19,822 |
R.I.P. Mr. Waters.
The timing of his wife's passing coincides with him stopping responding to letters. I had wondered if he had passed away back then. While I'm glad to know he didn't, I'm sad to hear that he has now passed.
Ed
"Not in an open forum, where truth has less value than opinions, where all opinions are equally welcome regardless of their origins, rationale, inanity, or truth, where opinions are neither of equal value nor decisive." Ken Howell
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 162
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 162 |
RIP Mr. Waters. I enjoyed his writings/articles very much.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 53,303
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 53,303 |
He sure would take the time to respond to one's letters and queries. That being back in the days where a month's turn around was considered normal, and a trip to the PO in a town 40 miles away was a twice a month occurrence.
We are diminished.
GTC
Member, Clan of the Border Rats -- “Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it.”- Mark Twain
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 31,266 Likes: 4
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 31,266 Likes: 4 |
As mentioned above, Ken's writings were a model for many, many fledgling reloading writers, including yours truly. One cannot overestimate the positive effect Mr Waters had on the shooting world.
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 84
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 84 |
Sorry to hear of his passing. I have spent many hours reading pet loads and always enjoyed Mr. Waters writings. I need to purchase the supplement updates.
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 22,274
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 22,274 |
Sorry to read of his passing. I too have Pet Loads here. As a young person, his writings on vintage rifles and cartridges had a significant influence on me, and inspired my interest in them. I once wrote him regarding loads for the .32-40, and he replied with a very thoughtful typed reply.
His method of judging pressure my case expansion is somewhat outdated today, but it was a step forward in its time.
Outside of shooting, it is obvious he was a talented man who proudly served his country and community. RIP sir, we are diminished in your passing.
"...the designer of the .270 Ingwe cartridge!..."
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Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 833
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 833 |
Sorry to hear of Ken's passing almost 100 years wow RIP brother.
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5,844
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5,844 |
RIP Ken. He was a giant in the field. His "Pet Loads" is still the first manual I reach for and his articles (I have Handloader from #1 to present) are the first ones I check when I start working with a new round.
Chronographs, bore scopes and pattern boards have broke a lot of hearts.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,970
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,970 |
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,437
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,437 |
μολὼν λαβέ
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 151,726 Likes: 14
Campfire Savant
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Campfire Savant
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 151,726 Likes: 14 |
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 12,361 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 12,361 Likes: 1 |
R.I.P. Mr. Waters. You are missed. Paul B.
Our forefathers did not politely protest the British.They did not vote them out of office, nor did they impeach the king,march on the capitol or ask permission for their rights. ----------------They just shot them. MOLON LABE
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,584
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,584 |
I've got a well worn copy of both volumes of Pet Loads, spent many hours reading and re-reading them.
Sounds like he had a long and productive life. That's a pretty good epitaph. RIP, and thanks.
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,841
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,841 |
I have gleamed much reloading info. from Mr. Waters over the decades. I saved many a "Pet Loads" column and they live in my reloading room with all of the other books & printouts of loading data. He will be greatly missed.
RIP Ken Waters!
"I'm from the government, and I'm here to help"
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,511
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,511 |
I found Ken in the mid 80's upon buying my first deer rifle, a Win 94 chambered in 7x30 Waters. My only copy of Pet Loads feel apart from use a few years ago. In the mid 90's, when he was still on the "Handloader" staff, I wrote him a couple of letters and still have the responses. Wish there were more in the world like him. RIP Ken.
"The only two things in life that make it worth livin' Is guitars that tune good and firm feelin' women"
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 223
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 223 |
Back in the day of letter writing, we talked at length about a project I had started. He seemed kind and patient with a young man who wanted to learn. I wanted a 416 express having read about it in Pet Loads. Think I'll take her out and shoot while remembering Mr Ken.
Take a kid hunting!!! Old member name - Reloader - joined 2001
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 14,274
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 14,274 |
Its all right to be white!! Stupidity left unattended will run rampant Don't argue with stupid people, They will drag you down to their level and then win by experience
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