[Diggers]

Hi all,

I'm just getting into reloading. I'm going to start reloading for my .44 special and Mag. Which manuals should I buy to start?

Thanks.

[ColtPythonElite]

The Speer is good for load recipes and techical data. The Lee is just an entertaining book to read.

[rfwobbly]

The best all-around manual is usually considered to be the Lyman #49 because it covers multiple bullets and multiple powders. The bullet maker's manuals are very good, but they only cover their bullets.

For instance, if next week you decided you also wanted to reload 9mm Makerov, well Speer doesn't make a Makerov bullet so there are zero loads for it in the Speer book.

[Diggers]

Thanks for the info.

rfwobbly, I was actually wondering just that. I was looking at the speer manual then looked at what speer had to offer in .44 bullets, seemed kind of limited to jacketed 200 amd 240 grain. I'd like to shoot lead hard cast too.

[Magoo]

That has got to be the best "new to reloading" post I've ever read! You've started well.

I'll only add that The ABC's of Reloading is quite popular and was the first one I bought.

[pmec]

I recommend buying the manual from the bullet maker that you are using. My first was the Lee book. It's a good read and it served me well. I next bought the Hornady manual because I was reloading using Hornady bullets. Next, I purchased the Sierra manual because they have an excellent section on external ballistics which I am interested in.

When I bought a 9mm pistol, I got "The Complete Reloading Manual for the 9mm Luger" which lists all the reloading info from major bullet makers and gunpowder manufacturers.

[stork]

+1 on the Lyman. No better manual for the beginner or the expert.

[rfwobbly]

rfwobbly, I was actually wondering just that. I was looking at the speer manual then looked at what speer had to offer in .44 bullets, seemed kind of limited to jacketed 200 and 240 grain. I'd like to shoot lead hard cast too.

And therein lies the rub. I don't shoot 44, but lets just say that 280gr was a popular bullet. If Speer didn't make that bullet, then there would be zero information about that load in the Speer book. Same for Hornady. Same for Sierra. Sames for Barnes. Same for Nosler.

That's what makes the Lyman so popular. Lyman doesn't make bullets, so they cover all the conceivable bullets for all the calibers.

[cfullgraf]

Data from the powder manufacturers cover a range of bullets from different manufacturers. But, there are still gaps. Also, generally, the powder manufacturers just list loading data but don't have technical information on reloading.

This is one of the reasons most reloaders have a number of books. As rfwobbly and others said, the Lyman #49 is a good source for starting, but don't stop there. Many of the powder manufacturers have data on the internet that is free.

[RustyFN]

And therein lies the rub. I don't shoot 44, but lets just say that 280gr was a popular bullet. If Speer didn't make that bullet, then there would be zero information about that load in the Speer book. Same for Hornady. Same for Sierra. Sames for Barnes. Same for Nosler.

That's what makes the Lyman so popular. Lyman doesn't make bullets, so they cover all the conceivable bullets for all the calibers.

RF good post. I have been reloading a few years and never realized that. Thanks for the info, I'll have to look into adding the Lyman manual to my collection.