Best reloading manual

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Iansstud

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I'm just getting started in reloading and had a few questions.

I will be reloading a few differant type of bullets, and cal's but mostly will be reloading 308 with smk 168's
Should I get sierra manual? Or will I need each type of bullets book? Is one better than the others?
 
Of course the more manuals that you have, the better it is to cross reference data to make an informed decision on loads.

IMO, the Lyman #49 manual is the best to start with. It has a wealth of data and basic information that is invaluable.


NCsmitty
 
Lyman #49 is a good one to start with. Not sure if it has that specific bullet or not though. It will have one that is close.
 
I like Lyman #49 especially if you are going to load lead bullets too. Lyman is one of the few to include a good selection of lead bullet load data.
 
I like the Lyman for its instruction and multiple bullets used in their data. I prefer to go with the manual for the bullet you plan on useing if at all possible. Lyman fortunatly used the Sierra 168gr SPBT to develope their data. It`s as close to the match king as you can get without actually useing a MK.
 
would these have pistol reloads like a 45acp 230 FMJ or a 9x19 115 FMJ loads as well?

Thanks I will look in to a Lyman manual #49
 
Lyman is decent but doesn't have very many loads. The Lee book has a lot more loads and is half the price.

My recommendation is not to get one manual, get several. Start with the ABC's of Reloading, then get the Lyman, Lee, Hodgdon manuals. You should have the manual from the powder manufacturer and the bullet manufacturer you use or think of using. You can never have too many reloading manuals.
 
I like the Speer manuals because I use quite a few of their bullets (gold dots and swaged lead mostly). Also, since their sister company RCBS sells cast bullet moulds, the Speer manual includes good cast bullet data for most of the lead bullet cartridges I reload (.44 Russian/Special/Magnum, and .45 Colt).

Another Speer strength is that they test a variety of powders, and not just the traditional ones (for example, who would have guessed that both AA #2 and AA #7 would work so well in the .380 Auto behind a 90gr GDHP?).

Their reloading procedures sections are also very good. They're what I used when I began reloading many moons ago. I had no tutor or mentor, so I was dependent on the Speer manual to keep me safe. They never let me down.

Now if they just published cast lead bullet data for the 9mm Luger and .380 Auto, that would be perfect...
 
I like the Lee manual as well, has a ton of loads covering many different bullet types including cast bullets and plated bullets including the 9mm and .380.....
 
Lyman is decent but doesn't have very many loads. The Lee book has a lot more loads and is half the price.
Click to expand...

The Lee bok is a compilation of old data from the various powder manufactures. They let Lee use it when they up date their own data.
You can get the new up dated data for free simply by going to the various powder company web sites, or if your cartridge (unlikely) or bullet style/wgt isn`t listed e-mail or call and they will usually be able to offer data or help.
Keep in mind powder company data is only valid with the bullet they used, as is bullet company data. The data can be used with similar style and wgt bullets, but the max load may or may not always be ttue.
 
I have 3: Lee book, Nosler, and Lyman #49 (hardback).

They are all great in their own respect.

My first book. Nosler is quality just like all their products, I love reading the history on each caliber. This one was a hand me down from my brother that picked it up back in the 80's. I have used this book the most.

2nd. Lee is great for chapters discussing reloading and casting as well as min/max load data. But much of it is a compilation of data available online.

3rd. Lyman is the latest addition. Lots of typos, but nice readups on the different cartridges. I thought R10x should have gotten more coverage than the .17 calibers. Lots of cast bullet loads. Lyman doesn't make components, so I thought their data would be the most unbiased. They have a lot of old data as carryover from previous editions and I didn't see much Norma or VV powders which are pretty popular in bench rest shooting.

To start, I'd recommend the Sierra. It's next on my list.

I think it is important to have 2-3 references just to compare. I use these in conjunction with freebie manufacturer stuff and suggestions of fellow reloaders.
 
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The ABC's of reloading is what most seasoned reloaders recommend first. My PO is if you can only afford one get Lee's Modern Reloading 2nd Edition first. Philip B. Sharpe's Complete Guide to Handloading may be the best reloading book ever written if you can find one somewhere. The 3rd edition was published in 1949.
 
My goto manual is Hornady. I usually check against a Lyman 48th and the powder manufacturers' data. Have the Lee manual, but seldom reference it. The few times I did, I either didn't find what I wanted, or it was easier to just use the powder manufacturer's data directly. I often cross reference other loads as a gut check, or to hit a bullet weight not included in the data.
 
I kinda like the Hogdon's 2009 annual manual. It is a quick reference check on stuff that is almost on the tip of your tongue, you know what I mean.

But I gotta have my Lyman 48th or 49th, plus the Shotshell, Pistol, and cast bullets manual, Hornady, Sierra, Speer, Nosler and Barnes. Might as well throw in the Lee too. I have some older older ones that are taking up space and collecting dust but I can't seem to bring myself to get rid of them. I worked up some good stuff with them and they have the notes, case shaving's and smutt all over the pages to prove it. Call me a pack rat...

LGB
 
I have the Hornady, Lee, and Lyman books. They all seem to have different types of information. Lee seems to have a better range of powders and more data regarding bullet weights. For building a load the Hornady manual is handy because it lists powder charges for velocity ranges, where most manuals list only starting and max charges. Lyman seems to going into detail about primers as well which is nice if you're trying different primers.

However I think the book I go to most is Pet Loads by Ken Waters. This book is pretty pricey, but worth every cent. It not only goes into everything listed above, it also lists how accurate the load is. I've picked up a lot of useful information from this one.

-MW
 
I started with the ABC's of Reloading. Then i borrowed an ancient Lyman's 4# something manual from my local library. After reading that I bought the newest Lyman book, then the hornady, speer, and hodgons magazine. I got the most/best information out of the ABC's. Everything else seemed to be just a slimmed down version of the ABC's...you should start with it.
 
Reloading data from powder manufacturers is free. Manuals from the bullet makers are not, but they are usually your best bet. Every bullet maker uses a different alloy in their gilding metal, and different bullet brands have different bearing surface lengths in the same weight bullet. These differences mean different coefficients of friction. That means different pressures, different powder charges and different velocities.

You can't have too many reloading manuals. I have almost all of them, including "Pet Loads" by Ken Waters, but I picked them up one at a time. It is expensive to buy them all at once. If your budget only allows for you to get one at a time, start with the one from the maker of the bullets you are going to use the most of. Read everything you can get your hands on regarding handloading.

Keep in mind that bullets are only one piece of the puzzle. All components of the load have a bearing on maximum loads for your particular firearm, which is why we start low and work up our handloads.
 
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