The Complete Reloading Manuals: any good

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arthury

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Hi Folks,
I noticed that there's a bunch of reloading data guides called the The Complete Reloading Manual (published by Loadbooks USA) for almost every major caliber in the market.

Are these reliable? Any typos, misprints you have used and seen?
Are they just a rehash of data taken from most of the major manufacturer manuals? Worth it?

For your convenience, here are a couple of them:
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Relo...07694&sr=1-10&keywords=The+Complete+Reloading
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Relo...508024&sr=1-2&keywords=The+Complete+Reloading

--
Art
 
yes, they just compile data for that cartridge from several sources. however, i think they're pretty good for the price. they're much smaller/handier than a full blown manual when you're focusing on one specific cartridge. if you've got a few cartridges you're crazy about and you like experimenting with, you might find these books useful for them. if you're the type who works up a load, finds something that works, and sticks with it for a long time, you may not find them as useful.
 
They are also NOT manuals for teaching reloading so they are no substitute for that. If you are an experienced reloader they are fine to have on the bench, but keep in mind the data in them is the same data the powder manufacturers give you free. It's nice to have them all compiled in one compact book though.
 
It also depends on what calibers and bullets you are reloading. Personally I only use Win 231/HP-38 and not more than two different weight/type bullets in the calibers I reload.

My needs are few and very easily met with one powder charge per bullet for my typical low-mid range paper plinking rounds. I do have complete data overkill of course owning Loadbooks, the Lee manual and Lyman's 49th. - lol
 
If all you wish is data ie; recipes, they are fine. However they have little info regarding cast bullets.

I use them at times and like them.

They are also NOT manuals for teaching reloading so they are no substitute for that. If you are an experienced reloader they are fine to have on the bench,
Click to expand...

Agreed!
 
The ones I've seen are just compilations of info from other manuals lumped into one place. Recipes only, no other info. They may be a worthwhile addition to a regular reloading manual, but by themselves they lack too much important info.
 
info from other manuals
Click to expand...
+1
Info from other Old manuals in fact.

Any recently published reloading manual is copyrighted and they can't copy that.

So the newest powders and loads will not be found there.

rc
 
Prior to advance ment of wireless technology. I have used them in the past. They are a quick reference to manufacturer load recipies. However now if I need info as such I have my old laptop close by.
 
+1
Info from other Old manuals in fact.

Any recently published reloading manual is copyrighted and they can't copy that.

So the newest powders and loads will not be found there.

rc
__
Click to expand...


Do they not pay the copyright owners to allow them to publish the material? i thought they did, but i have not bought any loadbooks in probably 12 or more years.
 
1
Info from other Old manuals in fact.

Any recently published reloading manual is copyrighted and they can't copy that.

So the newest powders and loads will not be found there.

rc
Click to expand...

From the inside of one of theior books dated way back in 2000.

The publisher is deeply indebted to the following companies for their permission to reprint their proprietsry reloading information fount in this manual.

They then list 13 companies that the supplied info was compiled from.

On the back cover they also state that the information is not ment to replace a comprehensive manual but to provide a quick and easy reference source.

The above pretty much explains what these manuals are and what they are intended for. And no they do not necessary print old info, however the info may be old because the manual itself may be old, as many of my manufacturer manuals are.
 
I would still contend the data was old in 2000 when the data was so graciously allowed to be copied.

If it came from a currently published manual in 2000, the publishers would not have been so gracious about somebody copying it while they were still trying to sell it I betcha!

rc
 
Not a problem, start low and work up as one should with any powder or any manual for that matter.

Making a gigantic leap right into the max loads is a fine way to ask for trouble.

Also for that matter its only 12 years old, I have and use powder much older than that, I even have primers that date back to the 1940's that are as good today as the day they were manufactured.
 
The LOADBOOKS are photo-copies of the info for one cartridge from most of the various manuals. There is no info on reloading as such, and if you go to most gun shops or write the companies, you can get the free booklets that they get the info out of, which will include lots of good info on safety and handloading and info on other cartridges as well. You can do the same thing by logging onto the various bullet/powder company websites and printing off the info on cartridges you are interested in for your own use for a lot less money.
 
The fact that the Load Books are a compliation doesn't automatically devalue the info. The value of any 'rehash' data from other sources depends a whole lot on how many of those other sources are in your liberary.
 
I like them and find them very useful. I like to use them to help spot loads I WON'T try. If all the various companies are listing 42 - 44 grains of Whizbang100 powder with my bullet of choice and I find somebody recommending 57 grains I know I won't try that. If the source claimes a sweet spot at 41.7 grains I might try working something up in that vecinity.

Occasionally you can really confuse yourself as one company will have MAX load below another company's START load. I'll try to find another poweder/bullet combination to avoid that situation if I can.

Good Luck. Stay safe. Shoot straight.

Dan
 
I have found more useful load DATA out of Loadbooks for some not so common calibers than anywhere else except here. 41 mag for instance. The data in Loadbooks is a tested published load. It may have been tested several years ago but I'll wager it was since most of my powder was made. In Hornady, Speer, or Serria ( Those are the three manuals I have ) you will have 2 bullets each with 4 or 5 powders, in Loadbook you have all the major bullet and powdre manufactor's data plus Lyman's cast data all in one book for about $7
 
I'd be more willing to pay the price if they weren't just poor photo copies of the manuals. If you don't have the bullet manufacturer's manuals then they might be worth it. All the powder information can be found online for free. I was really surprised by how poor the quality of it was.


Brought to you by TapaTalk.
 
Aren't they pretty close to what jot down from several different sources?

Their major drawback (in my opinion) is that they lack the "How to Handload" information contained in the early chapters of most loading manuals.

Second drawback is that the photocopying of their pages is of uneven quality.

Third drawback is that the information MAY be dated.

Drawbacks 2 and 3 are not that important because 2) I can adjust my eyes and 3) the data does not change that much over time and I vett my loading data against many different sources anyway, don't you? 1) is irrelevant to me because I do have the other manuals.

Their chief advantage is that they open and lay flat on my loading bench and take up little space.

They could be improved if the data were transcribed to collect all loads for specific bullet/powder combinations together on the same page so I could compare what each publisher suggests for the components I have on hand. (Say I have .357 magnum and berry's plated 158 grain and HP-38 and Unique available.) I might like to see all the possible combinations in a column sorted by powder quickness and by publisher so I could choose which powder I want to use for my desired performance.

But then I would probably want them to re-sort the data present it another way (like by pressure, or expected velocity). I'm never satisfied.

Still, they are pretty close to what we do when we consult several different sources and jot our own summary notes on a sheet of paper, aren't they? So, they do a pretty good job.

Lost Sheep
 
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Just get the Nosler #6 manual, I have found mine to be far and away the most useful of all of mine, never even flattened a primer with one of their loads and performance is higher then what others list as their max. They also include useful information like what loads grouped the best for them, I have found that translates well to my rifles and at very worst gives you a solid base to build from. Nice articles written for each cartrage too summing up their strong suits.
 
I make my own loading guides with a photocopier and a file folder. I just look at what I want that I previously copied, pull out the page wanted and clip it to my wall mounted clipboard above the bench. My manuals stay clean, unripped, and in the corner where they can be found easily if needed.:D
 
I would still contend the data was old in 2000 when the data was so graciously allowed to be copied.

If it came from a currently published manual in 2000, the publishers would not have been so gracious about somebody copying it while they were still trying to sell it I betcha!
Click to expand...

Here's a copy paste from an ad for loadbooks. Note the up-to-date part.



Loadbooks USA Caliber/Gauge Specific Reloading Manuals

Complete reloading manuals with up-to-date information from all the leading bullet and powder manufacturers. Each book is tailored to a specific caliber or gauge. The wide selection covers virtually every popular caliber and gauge, giving information on proven and tested loads.
 
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