Two Newb Questions

Get a copy of Lyman #49
Because it is not published by a bullet or powder company. Among other things you will get loading information on many different bullet & powders combinations.
The LEE reloading book is another one that provides info not found elsewhere.

IMR4064 and 4895 are recomented powders for M1 Garand reloading as well as 150-168 grain bullets to prevent damage to the guns gas opperating system.

I personally feel that with all the free data online that having specific reloading manuals is less important than it once was. Most people who buy multiple reloading manuals usually want load data for specific bullets instead of just generic by weight. In 12 years of reloading I've always been fine with load data by weight.

For those three cartridges IMR 4895, 4064 and reloder 15 come to mind. With those three you are going to have to choose how much you want to shoot heavy projectiles in 270 because then you are getting too slow of a powder for 223. It can be done, but it might be a compromise.

Lyman is my choice of independant data. I also have and use NOsler, Hornady, Accurate Powder, and Hodgdon's. Normally, I use 3 references before dropping any powder.

TenDriver said:

Does anyone use the Nosler Reloading Guide? A copy was given to me but I wonder if I'm not better off buying a different manual.

Other question. I will be reloading for .223, .270, and .30-06 Garand load. Is there a good all around powder we can use for all three?

Thanks!

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Generally, loading manuals from the bullet manufacturers only have their bullet products in them.

Data from the powder manufacturers only have their powder products in them.

The bullet manufacture manuals usually have some extra information that is interesting to read and learn from.

The Lyman #49, while concentrating on Lyman bullet moulds does have a mix of different jacketed bullets. It also has some good "how to" information.

Most of the powder companies have online data, which can be handy at times.

I like to have the manuals from the manufacturers whose products I use and I get the updates when they come out but it id definitely not a requirement.

As mentioned, the Lyman #49 would be a good place to start and as time goes by, you find you would like to have more.

BL(C)-2

try www.loaddata.com for $29.99 a year you have access to over 200K loads for all guns, bullets and powder. More and more loads are added daily.

Out of curiosity I walked downstairs and counted 37 reloading manuals. I suggest you by three most suggested then add one per year. When you get to where your looking for autograph P.O. Ackley and Phil Sharp books your getting close.

Can't have enough manuals.

I am currently reloading with Hornady bullets, I bought their manual. I also get the annual Hodgdon magazine, and I have said Nosler manual to compare.

The Hodgdon site has recipes online as well. I've printed them up before.

TenDriver said:

Does anyone use the Nosler Reloading Guide? A copy was given to me but I wonder if I'm not better off buying a different manual.

Other question. I will be reloading for .223, .270, and .30-06 Garand load. Is there a good all around powder we can use for all three?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

I use the Nosler reloading manual quite a bit but the Hornady manual has Garand specific loads. In my opinion it is NOT necessary to get a manual with bullet specific loads. You are going to have to work up a load with your gun, brass, primers, powder lot, etc. so your loads is probably going to be a bit different anyway.

As for a one powder fit all scenario goes, yes you can do it with a number of powders but to get the optimal load for each rifle and for the bullet weight you intend to shoot, you'll probably need 3 different powders.

For the 223 with 77 gr. bullets, I go with RL-15.

For the 270 Winchester with 130 gr. bullets, I use IMR 8208 XBR.

For the Garand it's VV N-150 or IMR 4064 with 150 gr. bullets.

^^^ Yep. The all around works passably propellant will not yield the BEST propellant for each caliber/bullet weight. Add to that that you do need to work up for each batch of propellant and a can or two with the same lot number of each makes more sense unless you are trying to buy a keg at a time. As with anything buying in bulk is where the savings are as well as the time/components spent that are not needed until you have work up a new batch.

Add to that that if you do want to use a different propellant because your choice worked poorly in your firearm there might be a pile of money spent for nothing. After you reload for a few years, load development will be " lets see what I have on the shelf that I can try" and you do not have to buy something special most times. Others are happy with one propellant for whatever they shoot and don't care about best anything. YMMV

I don't use bullet manufactures books they are a waste of money, used them years back but today you can go to powder manufactures sites and if you have any ? CALL them and they give you a safe answer right away.The Lyman or Lee are good manuals for loading procedures and some load recipes.

If you are cheap there is enough information on the web to never need a manual. If you are like me, you enjoy reading them like a good novel then buy one of everything then start looking for out of print manuals for "lost" tricks of the trade. My favorite is the 1937 second edition of Phil Sharpe's "Complete Guide to Handloading". That book is full of the black magic/voodo that makes all the bullets fly through the same hole. Your mileage may vary.

Nosler data has always been the best for me for accurate loads. Several years ago I worked up loads for 3 of my rifles and then looked at Nosler's data. In each case their data was almost identical to mine for the most accurate powder and weights to use with spitzer bullets.
Now I go to the Nosler manual first. It saves a lot of time.