reloading manual
- Thread starter terry274
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
The Hodgdon 2015 paper manual would be useful.
https://www.hodgdon.com/store/
Other then that, if you shoot a lot of a specific brand of bullets (Sierra, Hornady, Barnes, etc.) it would be worthwhile to have that companies manual.
rc
https://www.hodgdon.com/store/
Other then that, if you shoot a lot of a specific brand of bullets (Sierra, Hornady, Barnes, etc.) it would be worthwhile to have that companies manual.
rc
FallAirFever
Member
Lee
I find the Lee manual very handy as well. It is a little more generic than others, but it is a good reference. I always check it before I start a new load.
It has a good how to at the beginning for the new loaders as well.
I find the Lee manual very handy as well. It is a little more generic than others, but it is a good reference. I always check it before I start a new load.
It has a good how to at the beginning for the new loaders as well.
Sunray
Member
The Lee manual uses data from the powder makers. Lee tests nothing themselves.
With the Lyman book, you really have everything you need. The Lyman has more loads using more powders and bullet weights than any bullet or powder maker's book.
With the Lyman book, you really have everything you need. The Lyman has more loads using more powders and bullet weights than any bullet or powder maker's book.
Mad Chemist
Member
^^^^Very much agree.
Especially if you load or ever intend to load or cast lead bullets Lyman is an excellent resource.
If I could only have 1 manual that would be the one I would pick.
I have a little secret, I only own 2 manuals Lyman and Speer
I have read quite a few and own other books on the topic, but those are the only data manuals I ownn. I cross reference all my loads between the powder manufacturers online data and those two manuals.
Especially if you load or ever intend to load or cast lead bullets Lyman is an excellent resource.
If I could only have 1 manual that would be the one I would pick.
I have a little secret, I only own 2 manuals Lyman and Speer
I have read quite a few and own other books on the topic, but those are the only data manuals I ownn. I cross reference all my loads between the powder manufacturers online data and those two manuals.
frankmako
Member
look for the older ones. go back into the 70's and 80's, if you can. they have good info in them. the more you have the better the data you have.
mongoose33
Member
I like the Sierra manual because it's a 3-ring binder and lays flat.
I have the Hornady 9th, the Lyman 49th, the VihtaVouri--as someone noted above, you can never have too many. And yes on the Hodgdon manual too.
Cheesy as they are, the "Loadbook" spiral-bound "manuals"--like this--I've taken a liking to. They're just copies of the actual pages from the reloading manuals, but for only one caliber.
The reason I like them is that a bunch of loads for different bullet manufacturers are in there. No single manual has all the loads for all the powders, this lets you have more options. I've got one for every caliber for which I reload.
I have the Hornady 9th, the Lyman 49th, the VihtaVouri--as someone noted above, you can never have too many. And yes on the Hodgdon manual too.
Cheesy as they are, the "Loadbook" spiral-bound "manuals"--like this--I've taken a liking to. They're just copies of the actual pages from the reloading manuals, but for only one caliber.
The reason I like them is that a bunch of loads for different bullet manufacturers are in there. No single manual has all the loads for all the powders, this lets you have more options. I've got one for every caliber for which I reload.
VThillman
Member
Why is using the data from the powder makers tests not a good thing?
These, along with other manuals cover many varieties.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
Sunray's point I believe was that Lee does not do their own independent testing. That is not to say using the data from the powder makers tests not a good thing. I believe that was Sunray's point. Using data from the powder manufacturers is a good thing.
Ron
Don McDowell
Member
Instead of buying more paper manuals, you might want to consider a subscription to loaddata.com. It contains all of the reloading data published thru Handloader and Rifle Magazines, plus it contains most of the bullet and powder companies data.
mongoose33
Member
Since you're still relatively new to this, getting another good manual (or a couple of Loadbooks) makes sense.
When you get to where you feel your learning curve is leveling off, set aside some money to get a copy of Ken Waters' "Pet Loads." It's a compendium of articles he wrote and published about....just about everything.
New powders, older powders, this, that, and everything else.
This tome--and "Tome" is the correct term--has over 1000 pages of "pet loads," what worked, what didn't, how well, you name it.
It's not cheap--$42.25 on Amazon--but it's well-worth the money, IMO. Might be a great present for someone to leave for you.
When you get to where you feel your learning curve is leveling off, set aside some money to get a copy of Ken Waters' "Pet Loads." It's a compendium of articles he wrote and published about....just about everything.
New powders, older powders, this, that, and everything else.
This tome--and "Tome" is the correct term--has over 1000 pages of "pet loads," what worked, what didn't, how well, you name it.
It's not cheap--$42.25 on Amazon--but it's well-worth the money, IMO. Might be a great present for someone to leave for you.
This is a good one I like.............Best/picker
https://fsreloading.com/lee-precisi...chant_center&gclid=CKbI2eDPsMMCFZE1aQodlzAAyw
https://fsreloading.com/lee-precisi...chant_center&gclid=CKbI2eDPsMMCFZE1aQodlzAAyw
gamestalker
member
As far as instructional manuals are concerned, you can't get much better than Speer and Lyman, IMO.
But as far as reliable published data, Hodgdon has a bunch of Winchester, IMR, and of course Hodgdon powder's data available at the touch of a finger online. Alliant also offers online data. I also buy the Lyman data books for what ever range of cartridges I load for.
I also have a stack of "One caliber, One book" data books. Those books have data from Hornady, Sierra, Nosler, Speer, Barnes and a few other's depending on the cartridge. They also include powder manufacturer's data as well. I know they aren't always the most current, but they offer me an additional source to compare with.
GS
But as far as reliable published data, Hodgdon has a bunch of Winchester, IMR, and of course Hodgdon powder's data available at the touch of a finger online. Alliant also offers online data. I also buy the Lyman data books for what ever range of cartridges I load for.
I also have a stack of "One caliber, One book" data books. Those books have data from Hornady, Sierra, Nosler, Speer, Barnes and a few other's depending on the cartridge. They also include powder manufacturer's data as well. I know they aren't always the most current, but they offer me an additional source to compare with.
GS
savanahsdad
Member
what are you loading ? Lyman is great for cast and pistol stuff but about the worst for bottle neck rifle stuff , Are you loading and odd ball stuff ? , Hornady has some pistol bullets that are .001 larger that others and you should always use there data, I learned the hard way about 17 years ago that Nosler has there ogive farther out than sierra and need to be seated deeper , I switched out 130gr sierra with a 130gr Noslers using data from my first Lee book under the max load and blew the primer out ! not knowing that I only had .002 jump ,
so what do you plain to load ?
so what do you plain to load ?
Potatohead
Member
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- Mar 9, 2013
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- 5,375
I usually find something useful in all of them...but if you reloading for handguns, there's a really really good one called, you guessed it, "Reloading for Hanguns" (handgunners?) by Patrick Sweeney I believe. Its really good, not as much for the data, but he devotes a section of chapters to each popular pistol caliber and explains them in detail. Pretty cool. Some data too.
Trailduster79
Member
I have used several of my father's older reloading manuals, but I am currently using the Lyman 49th edition almost exclusively.
I have used some Hodgdon data for CFE223 as it is not used in the Lyman manual.
I have used some Hodgdon data for CFE223 as it is not used in the Lyman manual.
With those two manuals you are in great shape. I wouldn't worry about getting another just yet. Spend your money elsewhere. Down the road you might want another one with data specific to something you want to do.
I have three basic manuals. Speer, Lyman, Hodgdon. The Hodgdon one is never brought out any more. I also have a couple of casting specific "manuals". Oh yea, and an RCBS cast bullet manual.
I have three basic manuals. Speer, Lyman, Hodgdon. The Hodgdon one is never brought out any more. I also have a couple of casting specific "manuals". Oh yea, and an RCBS cast bullet manual.
Toprudder
Member
The Lee manual, as already mentioned, is a compilation of the powder manufacturer's data. The thing I don't like about it is the data are incomplete. It doesn't include all the information that is available on the powder manufacturer's website, such as barrel length, primer used, etc.
The Speer and Lyman manuals are good. I also have the Hornady and consult it often.
The Speer and Lyman manuals are good. I also have the Hornady and consult it often.
Crockett12
Member
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2015
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- 6
Buy all of them!
Seriously though -- the guy who said you can't have too many was right. However, some of the older manuals you'll find at gun show have much heavier loads listed because the burning rate of a powder may change over time. For instance H-4831 -- it's thought that when it was first released as a surplus powder, it had a slightly slower burning rate than what it has today. Therefore when it was first released and loads developed for it, a maximum load may have been 62 grains for a 130 gr bullet in that 270 Win. Now a maximum load may 59 grains because it's a little faster burning today. You may not find that with all powders but beware of older manuals and if that's what you're using, take the maximum loads with a grain of salt.
Crockett12
Seriously though -- the guy who said you can't have too many was right. However, some of the older manuals you'll find at gun show have much heavier loads listed because the burning rate of a powder may change over time. For instance H-4831 -- it's thought that when it was first released as a surplus powder, it had a slightly slower burning rate than what it has today. Therefore when it was first released and loads developed for it, a maximum load may have been 62 grains for a 130 gr bullet in that 270 Win. Now a maximum load may 59 grains because it's a little faster burning today. You may not find that with all powders but beware of older manuals and if that's what you're using, take the maximum loads with a grain of salt.
Crockett12
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