What load manual should beginner reloader get

You have asked a good question, and as you have seen, you will get a variety of answers. Here is my opinion.

First, and most important, do NOT rely on posts and ideas for safe load data from others on the internet!!!!! Some responses may be good, but there are PLENTY of goobers and idiots too. You must develop enough of your OWN knowledge to be able to spot the idiots and safely evaluate the other responses you see.

It is absolutely fine to use reliable on-line sources for load data, and "reliable" means ONLY published data from powder, bullet or equipment manufacturers. It does NOT mean web sites where the data comes from any old goober who wants to post it.

But just because you can find good on-line load data, that does NOT mean you do not need a good manual! You will never NEVER learn the things you need just from internet forums and following published load data. You need to read ALL of the text in at least one quality reloading manual to get started.

Many have recommended the Lyman reloading manual - I agree that that one is a good book. Buy it and read all of the text. Personally, I feel that Modern Reloading by Richard Lee is a better manual - same advice: buy it and read all of the text. I would recommend for you to have both of those books, and read them both, but either one will do for a good start.

While it doesn't list IMR 4064 data in it for .243 Win, I would recommend searching and downloading the old no longer available IMR Reloaders Guide. Search for IMR Reloaders Guide PDF. The old guides when IMR wasn't part of Hodgdon were very good sources of load data to compare to other manuals. I recommend buying the bullet manufacturers manual and the powder company manual and to compare data from all sources. The old IMR Reloaders Guide had data for shotshell, rifle, and pistol.

This question has been asked hundreds of times, and the answer is always the same: Lyman #50and the manuals for whatever powder and bullets you are using.

I have used powder manufacturer's on line load data, but I prefer printed, published manuals. Old school? Nope, just find it easier to have load data in front of me from a few sources to compare. Yep, I could print out data from different sources, but I have found it easier and quicker to just turn to a specific caliber and bullet in few manuals and set them on my bench and compare. Then I'll choose one and write it on a sticky note and stick it on my powder measure...

Whatever kit you buy will probably come with at least one. I like the small ones you get from sportsman's warehouse or Cabela's that are cartridge specific too. They compile data from a few manuals.

-Safety is no accident, unless you accidentally leave the safety on when you intend to shoot.

Save up your money and buy several. You will be surprised at the differences,
and if you read them you will learn a lot. Even if you are pretty savvy already.

Zeke

Hello,
Yes you can get just about any load Data online but there is just something about looking through a hard copy . It's like the Kindle vs Hardback debate.
1. Go to the Alliant website and sign up for the free load data manual. Free
2. Go to you LGS or Barnes and Noble and grab the Hodgdon's load Date Magazine. $8
3.Go to the western powders website and get their Load Data Magazine. $3
4. Look for closeout sales on your favorite Bullet Load Data books and collect as you go.

at the minimum do the first 3 and you are only out $11.

Welcome Tim

Let me also add a link for your reading pleasure.

http://www.6mmbr.com/index.html

Good info, including caliber specific articles, with links to Sierra's load data. Read the section on .243

One thing not mentioned as a plus for published manuals; there is much more in reloading manuals than load data. All manuals I own have an informative "How To" section with lots of info on brass, bullets, primers, and powder. Even if you are a seasoned reloader, it is good to have a "refresher" on hand...

Wish I'd had the Lyman #49 when I was starting out. Have not seen their 50th edition.

Like others, I also have manuals from my favorite bullet manufacturers, Hornady and Sierra.

Re: How to and when to manual. A good, reasonably comprehensive one is the Lyman. One or two other 'How To" manuals will be a great help. Most load manuals, whether Berger, Sierra and the like are not as comprehensive on "How To" as the Lyman. ALL give load data which is the bulk of the manuals. You don't need to read the homesy, folksy stories in some about how Ed shot a buffalo on a hunting trip.

The only load data in any manual that has any relevance to you is for the calibers and bullets you will be shooting.

Most powder manufacturers have load data available on line for their powders. You will see a variation between printed data and on line data for minimum and maximum loads. Certainly stay far away from the maximums recommended by any media until you really know what you are doing. You do not want a bolt coming back into and through your cheek or an eye. Don't fire anyone else's reloads. You are trusting that person with your health or life. Don't pick up range brass. You have no idea how many times it was fired and what has been done to the brass, from over annealing to radical resizing to improper turning and a lot more. Buy new, unfired brass. Buy a spiral or composition notebook and keep accurate, copious notes on what you have, what your are doing and what are the results, good, bad and middling. You might also want to keep track in a section of that book on the cost of purchases for your new avocation. Listen judiciously to advice offered by others, either on the net or in person. I have learned that some will say "XXX is the greatest neck turner ever created" for the sole reason that is what they have and they don't want to be alone in their prized possession. You need to read, read, read and observe and THEN make a decision on a purchase. It may be very time consuming but will save you money and a ton of aggravation in the long run. Just one short anecdotal story- What to use to prime a round. Many presses have a flip up priming tool. Try it. You may find it unsatisfactory. All manufacturers have a hand priming tool. Some have bench priming tools. Some have die like ram priming tools. You know yourself. I wanted consistent, repeatable seating depths and opted for a ram mounted die like priming tool, but each to his own.
UNDERSTAND BEFORE YOU DO. DOUBLE AND TRIPLE CHECK YOUR WORK WHILE YOU ARE DOING IT and fully expect to be replacing some equipment as you get further into things.

ENJOY !

I found the Lyman and Lee manuals to be the most helpful for me early on. I also have Sierra, Speer and Hornady manuals. I use Lee and Hornady the most, nowadays, for load information. I also use on-line data from powder manufacturers. But for learning the loading process, I don't think you can go wrong with Lyman or Lee.

Years ago at the gun shop I happened to pick up a brochure from Lee. It was user friendly and made reloading look easy. Being a wary individual, I naturally ordered their reloading manual and gave it a good study before even attempting my first reload. That reloading manual, "Modern Reloading", is still my one and only. I never seem to tire of this book and it's charts, insights and anecdotes. For a first book? You could hardly do better than Lee's IMO. Best of luck to you.

I recently picked up the Berger manual as I'm loading a good bit of their bullets in .308 lately. Once you get past the life stories of the Berger family there's a wealth of good info on reloading

When I decided to start reloading after my father I wanted to load pistol rounds. The Lee and Lyman manuals really gave me not only the info I needed but the confidence as well.

For actual loads I tend to prefer Alliant and Winchester powders and use the Speer manual for them. Bullseye and Win 231 along with Power Pistol are the powders I tend to use the most.

The .38 spl HBWC, .45 ACP 200 SWC target loads are my primary bulk of my loads.

If you google "lyman 48 pdf" the first hit will be the full downloadable manual.

There will be a lot more information in a reloading manual than you can find online. By the nature of on line data sites it has to be brief and can't cover everything.
I do get info on line but most is found in a manual or two.

Try to use the data from the bullet maker . Bullets differ , not all of the same weight can use the same data.
Cast bullets , Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook is the best right now, Lee's manual isn't bad.
I always look at three or four different sources (manuals and/or data site) to get an idea of where to start and where not to go with powders and charges.
Powders and the amount placed in a case is where you have to be careful , not following the guidelines can be catastrophic .
load safe....Gary

I sell a lot of reloading kits here locally to people getting started and if they are buying a Lee kit the manual I include is a Lee manual (unless they specify they want the Lyman). Why? In the Lee manual where they discuss setting up the equipment, they are referring to Lee equipment.

The manual that sells the best is the Lyman and for me it is the first go to book when I'm looking up a new load. The 50th edition is nice in that it fills in a number of the gaps that existed in the 49th. But as others have said you'll find yourself buying more and more as time goes on. In addition to both the Lyman and the Lee I also use the Sierra, Hornady, Nosler, Speer, and Barnes manuals. Having multiple sources to cross-reference against is always a good thing.