Books!

[Garry Scott Dale]

I am new to the reloading world and have purchased some general info books about reloading. I currently have the Hornady 10th edition for handloading. What other brand books ought I purchase?

 

[1948CJ2A]

In addition to the Hornady book, I also have Nosler, Speer, & Sierra. I think I might have a Hodgdons book too somewhere in paperback. All of them should have the basic information needed to get you started. Have you bought a starter kit or some of the components you'll need? Are you reloading pistol, rifle, or both?

 

[boom boom]

Lyman's 49th or 50th edition Reloading Manual, Lee's 2nd edition revised reloading manual, and you can download reloading information from Hodgdon's, Alliant, and Western Powders (accurate and ramshot powders). http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/default.aspx
http://www.accuratepowder.com/load-data/
http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/

 

[BigBore44]

The above mentioned books. Nosler, Sierra, Speer and Lyman. And on the powder manufactures website.

 

[mdi]

For brand new reloaders "The ABCs of Reloading" is most often recommended. It goes into depth on how to reload, components, and equipment used. Also there's a bit of info on cast lead bullets. I got my copy 30 years after I started reloading and while I don't follow the exact same procedure for some steps, a new reloader will benefit greatly with the info in this text (IMO if a new reloader used no other info source, they would be able to reload safe, accurate ammo with the ABCs)...

Basically as for manuals I'd suggest a Lyman 50th and a manual by the manufacturer of the bullets you choose to reload (Hornady bullets, use Hornady manual. Speer bullets, Speer manual, etc.). This along with the ABCs is a good start and you can never have too many books/manuals...

 

[Toprudder]

Lyman would be one I highly recommend. It is a very good independent source of load data, and the front section of the manual is very informative. I don't have the new Western manual yet (it is on the way) and I have heard that it is good.

If you know you will be using bullets from a certain manufacturer, it would be a good idea to have their manual. The powder manufacturers have their data online.

 

[Dudedog]

Welcome to THR,
lots of great people here.

If you have a question ask, we are here to help.


Quick note on Alliants site,
they only list MAX charges (nothing wrong with this) reduce the listed charges 10% to start.
Hodgdon and Accurate/Ramshot list start charges and MAX charges.

Another note,
always start low and work up as a charge that is listed as a MAX charge could be over what is the maximum for your gun/bullet/primer/temp.


https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ding-equipment-basics-read-this-first.238214/

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...rel-find-a-max-o-a-l-with-your-bullet.506678/

I like Lyman. 49 (no longer in print) and 50.

 

[Hondo 60]

Depends on which bullets you prefer. Sierra, Nosler, Hornady etc only provide data for their own bullets.

If you use their bullets, by all means get their book.
I tend to use a wide variety so those books don't help.

Lyman 50th, Lee 2nd edition, One Book, One Caliber are all books inn my collection.

The powder mfgs all have free data online.

Good Luck..
And plz stay safe.

 

[hdwhit]

Gary Scott Dale asked:
What other brand books ought I purchase?

Purchase as many loading manuals as you like.

The important thing is NOT how many manuals you have, but whether you're read ANY of them.

Before flipping back to the charge tables, take an evening to read - no, not read, study - pages 32 through 57 which will tell you "How to Reload". And when you're done, go through it a second time. Commit it to memory. You will be tested. The test comes when you start assembling these little pipe bombs we call cartridges and how well you have learned your lessons will determine whether your nickname is "Sharpshooter" or "One Eye Jack".

There's currently another post active here where someone is asking a question answered on page 39 of the Hornady Handbook - page 39 all the way back to at least the 8th edition. That strongly suggests the OP didn't read the "How to Reload" section. And that's where people get into trouble.

Study the "How to Reload" section. Reduce what you learn into a set of written reloading procedures. Turn that into a checklist. Check off each step AFTER you do it. That way if you get distracted or interrupted, you will know where you left off.

Don't be in a rush. Getting into a rush is where mistakes are made. You have the rest of your life to craft the perfect ammunition.

Good luck.

 

[thomas15]

Many posters on this and other forums crow about the ABC book. I have 3 editions of that work and many other books on handloading topics.

I would say get the ABC book if you can find a good deal on a used copy. Otherwise it is in my opinion over priced and overrated. The most I have coughed up for mine was $7.00 for the 9th edition. $20.00 is way too much. Patience and a copy will come to you at a reasonable price.

I did a comparison of the actual instructional material in the 9th edition ABC compared to the Hornady 9th edition. I was only concerned with what each book offered the new handloader. Roughly half (150 pages) of the ABC book covers topics that the new handloader of metallic cartridges would be interested in. The exact same material is covered in Hornady book in 50 pages.

If you really must have the ABC book get an older edition such as the 5th or 7th. Amazon usually has copies used for a few bux. There really isn't anything in the 9th edition that isn't covered in some of the earlier ones. The Gun Digest Book of Handgun Reloading Paperback – 1987 D. Grennell and W. Clapp is basically the same as one of the earlier ABC editions and is also available used on amazon.

 

[DLrocket89]

A word of caution about Nosler...something my friends and I have noticed over the last couple of years, their data seems really messed up at times. Their starting loads give me significant pressure signs, their water capacity on the cases I use is WAAAY off (off 6 grains in a case with 56 grains capacity), and apparently some of their BC's are "optimistic".

I love their products, don't get me wrong there, but cross reference with other books before you load.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

IMO and only my opinion... If you find yourself loading bullets from one company more than others you might want to purchase their manual.

The Lyman manual is the oldest running manual in print and they do it well. I think every handloader should own one or more. I have them all back to the 44th Edition and a few of their special manuals too. Unlike the company manuals they give the handloader a choice of bullets and powders from many sources. Additionally, they supply a wealth of information in the front of the book from authors with many decades of experience.

The online sources from powder companies and bullet manufacturers are also good cross references and are usually up to date. We are lucky today, there is so much information available along with massive choices of components.

 

[THe Dove]

I have numerous reloading manuals as well. I've been reloading metallic cartridges and casting boolits since 1993 (approximately 25 years). Manuals are well worth the money. I would suggest you get as many as you can. However, I will say this. I am a lot better at learning and retaining what I learn by hands on with a real person. I have two men that I consider mentors and have helped me throughout the 25 years I have been doing this craft. While the manuals are well worth the money, the mentors are priceless. I chose my mentors very carefully. That is just as important as studying your manuals. Just my two cents. Enjoy and stay safe. The Dove

 

[MDof2]

I mostly shoot Hornady and Sierra pills, so I have their respective books.
For general education, I also use, read, and recommend Lyman's 50th edition, and Lee's second edition.

 

[Dudedog]

I don't have the Hornady manual so curious what's covered on page 39.

 

[Toprudder]

One manual I enjoy reading sometimes is the Pet Loads book by Ken Waters. Although most of the data are dated, there is still a lot of interesting information about each caliber. It is a pricey book, but for me I think it has been money well spent.

 

[Locochief]

Don't waste any money on the "ABC'S of Reloading". It is poorly edited, filled with outdated hard to see graphics, and doesn't provide a lot of useful information for a new reloader. It really should be renamed "A History of Reloading".

Buy the major bullet and powder manufacturers books and don't bother looking at the load data until you have read and re-read them.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I found Lyman a lot more helpful than Hornady.

 

[Bfh_auto]

I like Speer book's method of explaining. I got it after I had been reloading for a while and read it several times and learned some very useful information.
I try to collect manuals to compare and data and powder choices.
Do your research before picking bullets and powder. This helps keep you from having partial bottles and boxes. I learned the hard way.