Best Metallic Cartridge Manual

I am a big fan of Lyman... but I prolly have 12-15 manuals and 3 or 4 are Lymans.

Good Luck
Dan

Well, it seems I need to add Lyman to my small library.

I like metalic cartridge reloading, not a data book but great for understanding a lot of handloader information and the evolution of our hobby. He does discuss his pet developmental designs as well. With so much free data and the sites previously listed for full manual downloads, I feel like if you were to buy something, it would be first information and insights not readily available for free. JMO

kcofohio said:

The One Load books are a good source for specific cartridges. A little dated, but usually can find something that makes it down range in a safe manner.

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I have one for every caliber I load. Also have Hornady, Lee, Nosler and Lyman books. I use the Hornady the most since almost all my loads are their bullets.

Just received the Hornady 10 that I asked for as a present. Now that I am loading for a 223 and using Hornady bullets I find information for them not found in on-line manuals. As a matter of fact the 62 gr. Hornady bullet I am using is not listed in the new manual.

I also have a Lyman Pistol and Revolver Handbook, Speer #10 and Handloading for Handgunners. Have also downloaded and printed the Western Powders manual.

kmw1954 said:

Just received the Hornady 10 that I asked for as a present. Now that I am loading for a 223 and using Hornady bullets I find information for them not found in on-line manuals. As a matter of fact the 62 gr. Hornady bullet I am using is not listed in the new manual.

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You're right. Is it a new bullet?

kmw1954 said:

Just received the Hornady 10 that I asked for as a present. Now that I am loading for a 223 and using Hornady bullets I find information for them not found in on-line manuals. As a matter of fact the 62 gr. Hornady bullet I am using is not listed in the new manual.

I also have a Lyman Pistol and Revolver Handbook, Speer #10 and Handloading for Handgunners. Have also downloaded and printed the Western Powders manual.

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You can find the data here;
https://www.hornady.com/support/load-data/

Thank you!

For new reloaders, I highly recommend a good manual like Hornady or Lyman, Speer, etc, and I also recommend sticking with the book data - same bullets, powder, primer, COAL - until they get a couple of thousand rounds of experience.

And read this forum from legal to reloading, and anything from major reloading sites like Accurate Reloading, Cast Boolits for lead, 6mmBR for rifles, Varmint Al's for a ton of stuff, and specific google searches like using case gauges, crimping, or reviews of reloading products. Knowledge and experience make us safe as well as effective.

kcofohio said:

You can find the data here;
https://www.hornady.com/support/load-data/

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That is correct though I never stated I could not find it, just that it is not listed in the most recent book.

Irishlad I am not certain if it is a new bullet but I have purchased them twice now from MidSouth Shooters.

Thanks, I've only used the 55 gr. VMAX and FMJ.

cfullgraf said:

Manuals published by the powder companies use a range of bullets from different companies but have data only for their powders.

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That's not necessarily true. The reason I said I think my Hodgdon manuals (including my collection of Hodgdon "Annual Manuals") are my best "all-around" manuals is because they list different loads using different brands of powder and different brands of bullets. Of course they list more loads using Hodgdon powders, but just take the 7mm-08 loads listed in the Hodgdon manual sitting in front of me as an example - it lists 7mm-08 loads using Alliant, IMR and Winchester powders as well as Hodgdon powders.

Lyman's 50th, Lee Modern Reloading, Hodgdon Online are my top three.

And Alliant Online for my magnum loads with 2400. I also have older versions of Hornady, Speer, Sierra and a few others. I like books.

I like to have data for my intended load from at least two manuals. Three is better. Cross-checking / sanity checking is a good thing.

I also have some really older resources like Ken Waters Pet Loads, a compilation of Elmer Kieth's loads, and suchlike. I approach these with caution, but much can be learned from them.

.308 Norma said:

That's not necessarily true. The reason I said I think my Hodgdon manuals (including my collection of Hodgdon "Annual Manuals") are my best "all-around" manuals is because they list different loads using different brands of powder and different brands of bullets.

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Hodgdon has sales rights for Hodgden, IMR, and Winchester. I understand they have picked up the sales rights for Western Powders. I’d consider those to be “Hodgdon” powders.

I cannot say I’ve ever seen Alliant data in the Hodgdon annual manual but I have not purchased one in a couple years so Hodgden may have expanded their data or obtained the sales rights for Alliant as well.

cfullgraf said:

Hodgden may have expanded their data

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They have, and it's not a recent thing. This picture is from a 1998 Hodgdon (No. 27) Data Manual:

For rifle reloading accuracy, I've found that Nosler's most accurate load listing is right on in most cases. For high velocity go with Speer.

The more info you have, the better. Loading manuals can vary quite a bit.

I currently have: Lyman #50, Speer #15, Western, Sierra #6, and the current Hodgdon annual manual among other older ones. As I have replaced my manuals with newer versions, I have given away most of my older ones to various deserving souls who are getting started reloading. They have a lot of good info other than just loading data. I thought I had a complete set of Hodgdon annual manuals since they started publishing them, but I find that I am missing 2005. I don't know if I lost it or failed to buy it at the time.

I use an updated copy of the Lee manual due to their use of more powder/bullet combinations than anyone else. I use the Marvin Stuart site as my back up.

Bill

Short answer, all of them... one at a time and I separate them into two categories. Bullet maker and powder maker books / pamphlets.

The bullet manuals are not all about the load data, and IMO they are the worst source of load data. But... if you're interested in loading conservative loads with a wide variety of powder makers and comparisons between them, they're useful. OTOH, detailed in them there are ballistic tables, theory and history galore on the art of handloading and reloading and all offer different issues. Any reloader who doesn't own any really has no idea what they're missing.

As far as load data goes, IMO the bulk of the bullet makers books are wayyy conservative while the powder maker manuals and pamphlets offer the most realistic data. Also I find the older data is more factual / realistic... call it what you will. I KNOW some have said the "NEW" formulations of older powders changed and to be current the "NEW" data is safe... Call ANY powder maker and ask if this is REALLY true... they in fact go through great pains to assure lot to lot and year to year consistency in burn rates. As far as newer data manuals / pamphlets go, IMO, they provide useful info on new powder types / formulations.

Anyone who relies solely on "recipes" has no regard for mommy's baby's face

Most bullet maker's data is just as valid as that provided by the powder makers. Hornady, Speer, and Nosler all claim their data is from pressure tested loads, just like that from the powder makers. Just because a source does not publish the measured pressure does not mean their max loads didn't produce max pressure in their tests.

The data varies quite a bit because the components, test equipment, and test environment vary. On top of this, the velocity data published from some of the sources (Hornady and Speer) is from actual firearms instead of the test barrels used to develop the data and measure the pressure. Other bullet makers and powder makers publish velocity measurements from the test barrels used. Since test barrels are more tightly controlled and are machined to minimum chamber specs, they typically develop higher pressures and velocities than the average firearm.

Ru4real said:

I don’t use manuals.

I use recipes posted on Internet forums, like THR.

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Let’s see what the internet says about 9mm 124gn +p ....

internet overlord guy: “I load it hot because I like it hot, so 8.9gn of AutoComp and compress it because it’s cool”

scotty said:

The more info you have, the better. Loading manuals can vary quite a bit.

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I was going to say "several".

I prefer Lyman and Hornady for complete manuals. Have a few others, and a few of the freebee powder pamphlets. I use them all to varying degrees. And I like to see what others here like for loads, and compare them to the manuals. It's nice to have an understanding of a recipe before loading it up and testing it out.

It’s not up to date, but the first I ever went through and is still my favorite is “The complete guide to handloading” by Philip Sharpe.
Gotta read that one.

for real time data, Lee, Lyman, Speer, etc are all useful. I don’t know if there’s a best one IMO. If I’m working up a load, I’ll look through them all to decide a point to start at.

Lyman is great for beginners. But one should buy several and keep up with new releases as old loads, bullet profiles, etc fall off and new cartridges get represented.

Call me paranoid, but these days I prefer hardcopies of loading resources. Not to say I don't use electronic resources but...