Best book for a new reloader?
- Thread starter Wildbillz
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Just buy reloading manuals. They have good info and how-to's. I'd suggest Lyman's 49th Reloading Manual, Hornady's 9th manual, Sierra's, and Speer's manuals. Some will recommend ABC's of Reloading but don't waste your time and money. If you want the history of reloading with lots of old info from various writers it's ok for reading. By buying reloading manuals you will also get the latest reloading data for the latest bullets and powders when you get started with the hobby. This article agrees: http://www.ammoland.com/2015/05/best-reloading-books/#axzz3iu7L0McJ
spitballer
Member
I'll always be partial R. Lee's 'Modern Reloading'. With anectdotes, humor, and useful tables, I never tire of this book. An excellent starting manual IMO
Buckeye357
Member
Lyman manuals are excellent. I also use Speer,Sierra,Hornady. Also look at powder and bullet manufactures websites a lot of good info.
Hondo 60
Member
I'd recommend several manuals, not just one.
1. Lyman's 49th Reloading Handbook. - it has a very good "how-to" section - about 1/2 the book, the other half is loading data.
2. The ABCs of Reloading. No data, just how-to.
3. Lee's Modern Reloading has the widest array of data, but they just list bullet weight, not the bullet profile - or shape.
Yes it makes a difference if it's a Wadcutter or semi-wad cutter or RNFP, etc.
1. Lyman's 49th Reloading Handbook. - it has a very good "how-to" section - about 1/2 the book, the other half is loading data.
2. The ABCs of Reloading. No data, just how-to.
3. Lee's Modern Reloading has the widest array of data, but they just list bullet weight, not the bullet profile - or shape.
Yes it makes a difference if it's a Wadcutter or semi-wad cutter or RNFP, etc.
moxie
Member
Speer and Lyman are my favorites.
Note that Lee is derivative. They don't develop or test loads. They pick and choose from others. No way of knowing if their stuff is even current. Speer and Lyman do the spade work themselves, have the expert ballisticians and ranges and labs to actually work up and test their own loads.
Note that Lee is derivative. They don't develop or test loads. They pick and choose from others. No way of knowing if their stuff is even current. Speer and Lyman do the spade work themselves, have the expert ballisticians and ranges and labs to actually work up and test their own loads.
It's useful to go tp tje Press companies website and you can get lots of how to and videos. Like RCBS go here, click the links on top, there are also videos for the presses.
http://www.rcbs.com/Resources/Guide-to-Reloading/Reloading-Necessities.aspx
Here is a free basic guide:
http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/presses-and-kits/pdf/IntroToReloading.pdf
Here is OLD complete manual (big download!)
http://www.j-how.net/test/Lyman 48th Reloading Handbook [blackatk].pdf
I believe in more is better. Each manual has a little something to offer. Read the first chapters that is were the information is. The rest i just load data or recipes.
Lyman 49
Speer
Hornady
If you load lead then Lymans Cast Manual.
http://www.rcbs.com/Resources/Guide-to-Reloading/Reloading-Necessities.aspx
Here is a free basic guide:
http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/presses-and-kits/pdf/IntroToReloading.pdf
Here is OLD complete manual (big download!)
http://www.j-how.net/test/Lyman 48th Reloading Handbook [blackatk].pdf
I believe in more is better. Each manual has a little something to offer. Read the first chapters that is were the information is. The rest i just load data or recipes.
Lyman 49
Speer
Hornady
If you load lead then Lymans Cast Manual.
As mentioned, Lee's book lists other source data. But only what Lee likes.
Tool choices and setup technique Lee champions has typically not proved best for rifle accuracy. Their factory crimp and neck collet dies for rifle cartridges do not make the most accurate ammo Lee claims they do. Accuracy suffers with crimped in case mouths on bullet jackets.
Sierra's manual with its ballistic software is the best deal as I think. Starting loads listed for their bullets are good for other makes. Their software plots ballistic data for other makes, too. The arm and components used to develop data is listed
Too bad all manuals' authors don't follow SAAMI's glossary for terminology. Same thing's got different names across them all. "Headspace" is the most common one. Leads to confusion for people learning the reloading stuff. My personal pet peeve for all of them.
Tool choices and setup technique Lee champions has typically not proved best for rifle accuracy. Their factory crimp and neck collet dies for rifle cartridges do not make the most accurate ammo Lee claims they do. Accuracy suffers with crimped in case mouths on bullet jackets.
Sierra's manual with its ballistic software is the best deal as I think. Starting loads listed for their bullets are good for other makes. Their software plots ballistic data for other makes, too. The arm and components used to develop data is listed
Too bad all manuals' authors don't follow SAAMI's glossary for terminology. Same thing's got different names across them all. "Headspace" is the most common one. Leads to confusion for people learning the reloading stuff. My personal pet peeve for all of them.
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mongoose33
Member
Probably two books--the ABCs of reloading, and Lyman 49th. While most reloading manuals have a section on how to reload, the number of pictures and explanations in the "ABC's" book makes it a good choice.
I just spent the last two days introducing my brother to reloading--in his case, 9mm. I sent him home with my copy of the ABCs. He doesn't have a complete manual yet, but did buy a copy of one of the Loadbooks for 9mm. I sent him home with a recipe we loaded and tested, so he has a proven load to start with.
I just spent the last two days introducing my brother to reloading--in his case, 9mm. I sent him home with my copy of the ABCs. He doesn't have a complete manual yet, but did buy a copy of one of the Loadbooks for 9mm. I sent him home with a recipe we loaded and tested, so he has a proven load to start with.
Dudedog
Contributing Member
I would suggest Lyman 49 first.
However it does not list data for a lot of the newer powders but that is available on the powder companies web sites.
However it does not list data for a lot of the newer powders but that is available on the powder companies web sites.
I also would recommend Lyman, the thing I like about Lyman is that they list several different brands of components. If you buy the same brand bullets all the time it may not matter to you but if you mix it up it's good to have data without buying another manual. I don't purchase every manual out there, they are not cheap. I also have Quickload software which has been a handy tool over the years, you need to sanity check the loads but so far I've found it to be very useful and amazingly accurate on the estimated velocities
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