How many load books is too many?

You don’t never have enough.

When you run out of space for more..

Right now I have 25 and several internet sources and whenever my money is right I buy more. And that's not counting magazines that have load data in them. That I have. That would bring the total to well over 100.

The more the better. More data gives you more choices.

If the data is available on-line, then no need to take up shelf space. Unless you have older versions of today's powders, using old data with new components MIGHT cause an issue - might, not definite

PecosRiverM said:

When you run out of space for more..

Click to expand...

Naaa, when you run out of space out up another shelf of buy another bookcase.

When your library reaches 594 volumes or your wife yells at you to clean up your mess, whichever comes first...

I have 1 shelf in the powder locker dedicated to reloading manuals. It works for me

Between hard copies and downloaded copies, I have probably 50+.

That doesn't seem too much to me

When you have all current editions.
And all past editions of every loading Manual ever written.

Of course when a new edition comes out. Then you don't have enough.

George P said:

If the data is available on-line, then no need to take up shelf space. Unless you have older versions of today's powders, using old data with new components MIGHT cause an issue - might, not definite

Click to expand...

On-line data is great....till it's not available for some reason.

All the Hackers out there ????

I'll trust the printed version. Besides the Newest Cartridges I load for are the .40S&W and .308

The old loading manuals are great for those of us that shoot the "older obsolete" calibers and some of the early wild cat rounds.

I really like references and data sets.

But when they start to compete with component space, I draw the line.

Fortunately, my IPhone can store literally hundreds of books with out a shelf.
And a plethora of pictures of pages of pertinent powder placements.

Just shoot a good load? Take a photo of the tag or box!

I have loads of manuals but I put all the loads I actually use in a spreadsheet. I've centralized several books this way so I can compare min/max loads for same bullet across several manufacturers at once.

I must be the odd man out. I only have two or three and never use them. Nearly all my data comes from online sources.

Something I love about flipping through reloading books to find information, I find it much more appealing than the internet

Got to add a little more about load books. They have more value than just as a source of loads. An early Lyman and an early Speer load book were childhood companions. Had I known the King James Version anywhere near as well, I would have been a different sort of man.

One I dearly love is Snooky Williamson's Lever Action Legacy, and not so much for the loads--but for Snooky's personality. He had access to over three hundred Winchesters, and he liked to load them hot. I don't have nearly so many, and they're more valuable today. A bit lighter load than he would have used kills fine and keeps me fed.

I loved the way he wrote about calibers. Take the 38-70 of which only 830 were produced in the '86. He said he knew practically nothing about it because he'd only killed 15-16 deer with it. Me, I've killed at least that many with it, and I have to admit I don't run into someone every day who knows what it is.

And he could write. He established the standard for describing a cartridge. First, he told a story about killing something with it. My favorite was the 50-110. He has you going wondering what kind of trophy he has in his sights. The guide says, "There he is. Do you want him?"

Only then do we learn it's a rough weather day in the tent, and he's about to take out the mouse who is robbing the camp food.

He writes about the rifles and the men from an era who were not so much like what we see now.

mcb said:

I must be the odd man out. I only have two or three and never use them. Nearly all my data comes from online sources.

Click to expand...

You’re not the only one. I have two or three manuals and look at them rarely. There is more free load data online that I could ever use. If I wanted to bother with it I could download it all on one thumb drive or SD card.

When your wife starts throwing them out with 1982 phone directories...

When half of them are still in boxes in the basement/attic from when you last moved, in 2006, and move before that in 2005, and before that, when box was packed in 2000...

When they are classified as antique. I bought my first Speer manual in 1973! It was already “out of print”...

mcb said:

I must be the odd man out. I only have two or three and never use them. Nearly all my data comes from online sources.

Click to expand...

I have 4 and realized they don't use the powder and bullet combination that I want most of the time. When I email the powder suppliers, they say it's an oddball that is lost in the backlog.
My normal cartridges have loads that are set on stone.

No such thing as too many.
The important number is date printed.

Powder manufacturers can at times change the chemical composition.
While I have older manuals, I consult the latest to make sure the comp hasn't changed.
Also older manuals may have calibers that just ain't in the new ones.
That's when you Really need to proceed with caution.

I have about 35 books dating back to the late 50's and early 60's to present day. Been reloading for about 48 years.