Books to Start With?

[strange246]

Ok I've had a Dillon 550B for several years now, brand new in the box with dies for .44mag, I've loaded with a 550B previously, but my uncle did all the setup etc, I pretty much just placed a shell in the plate, added a bullet and pulled the handle...Now I'm (finally) ready to setup mine and start loading, but I would like a book to go by if possible, as its been a number of years since I used his, suggestions for reference material?

I know someone will say get a single stage to start with, but I have the 550B already and I'm going to use it...

Thanks

 

[7boomer2]

First off The A.B.C.'s of Reloading start here then but 2 more good manuals everyone will tell you Lyman 49th, personally not a huge fan on the data sections, Speer and Hornaday are pretty good mainly because I use their components. I even have a Lee one that has alot of data from many sources. Basically get as many as you can and read.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

1. Lyman #49
2. The ABCs of Reloading, edition 1-8. Do not buy #9 as it is dreck.

 

[MaterDei]

Yep. ABCs of Reloading.

 

[1911 guy]

ABC's of reloading
Newest (post 3 says #49) Lyman manual
Lee Modern Reloading.

The ABC's is like the Bible. It has a little of everything in it and will answer questions you didn't think to ask.

Lyman is just a good manual. It's like the .30-30 of manuals. Doesn't excell at anything, but performs adequate at nearly everything.

Lee is a good read. A ton of information in it. Some of it is a little beyond the average reloader, but the vast majority will be useful.

 

[DeadFlies]

I read the Lee book first, then the Hornady book. Both of them were excellent. I thought The ABCs of reloading to be less useful than the other two, not only because it doesn't contain any load data, but also because it's just organized in a bizarre way. I found it to be not very useful, especially after reading the Lee book, which is excellent.

Modern Reloading FTW.

Oh, also, the Hornady book has lots of color pics and photos and a little text of interesting facts and trivia about each caliber. Good bathroom stuff.

 

[wgaynor]

I'd also find a friend that could show you. I'm sure that you can find someone close enough to you either on here or through your local gunshop. People learn in 3 ways, reading, hearing, and seeing/doing. I'd cover all my basis. Be careful with youtube. There are idiots out there...

 

[DeadFlies]

I'd also like to recommend that you check your library. It's free and you might be surprised at all the reloading manuals they have. Even my two-bit rural library has a number of them.

 

[45lcshooter]

If you have a buddy that reloads that would be the best. I know some people need to do it to learn, they cant learn by reading.

Thats the way i leared, and learned alot more than a book could say.

But books would be ABC'S Reloading, or Lee Modern Reloading.

 

[strange246]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, the library here is rinky dink but I can search there online, I'll give it a go...wgaynor, ideally I'd have my uncle walk me through, but he's across the country, I'm in my LGS often enough to ask around there, thanks.

Ryan

 

[strange246]

I still need a tumbler/vibrating cleaner, scale and a few other odds and ends, who has the best prices? Harbor Freight has some decently priced tumblers, but not sure about their quality...

Ryan

 

[DeadFlies]

Try Ebay. Sometimes you can score used stuff at good prices.

 

[hueyville]

I have two Dillion presses and caliber conversion kits in many calibers so fairly adept with these machines. I come up to North Convey NH for two weeks every February for ice climbing. If you are close would not mind helping you get it running.