How often should you get a new manual ?

[alsaqr]

I use online data. It is free and updated often.

So do i.

Except for a freebe Winchester loading pamphlet, my newest reloading manual is Hornady Volume II dated 1973.

 

[Varminterror]

The perceived lack of need for loading manuals is quite evident in the questions often asked on reloading forums. Many of the questions are correctly answered in loading manuals, unlike the variety of answers often provided on the www.

I have at least one version of manual from most companies, but I cannot find the answer to this particular question in any of them:



But I can quickly and nearly immediately find the answer by asking online, in the right places. Because the answer is common knowledge among certain shooter/handloaders, despite not being found in the most basic processes described in reloading manuals to make the most basic, generic (albeit daftly safe) ammunition.

This answer is better found among these shooters because:

you go to advanced sources for greater depth.

 

[CQB45ACP]

I have at least one version of manual from most companies, but I cannot find the answer to this particular question in any of them:

View attachment 1141156

But I can quickly and nearly immediately find the answer by asking online, in the right places. Because the answer is common knowledge among certain shooter/handloaders, despite not being found in the most basic processes described in reloading manuals to make the most basic, generic (albeit daftly safe) ammunition.

This answer is better found among these shooters because:

True enough, the specific answer to a single or many specialized question(s) is most likely not in a general manual, but answers to many many commonly asked questions are and that of course is the key reason for a manual.

Why one would want an updated version of the same answers is beyond me.

 

[.45Coltguy]

Hmm. My manuals are; Speer #11 and #13, Hornady #5 and #8, Lyman #46 and #50 and a Alliant 2018 booklet. I use powder and bullet manufacturers site often if needed.
We all have our ways of obtaining data.

 

[AJC1]

True enough, the specific answer to a single or many specialized question(s) is most likely not in a general manual, but answers to many many commonly asked questions are and that of course is the key reason for a manual.

Why one would want an updated version of the same answers is beyond me.

One may Gardner new good information in a different manual. The text in my Lyman and speer is very different. I've read every one I can get my hands on but getting Lyman 49, 50, and 51 is a complete waste imo. The front matter in the western manual is useless if you have any idea what your doing. I'm unaware of any other quality published casting manual outside of Lyman. If your not using rcbs molds their casting manual is of very little value.

 

[.45Coltguy]

I don't cast my own bullets, I buy from Missouri and T & B bullets. Between my manuals and published data online, I get very reliable data for my coated cast loadings which includes .38 spl, .357 mag, .45 acp and .45 Colt. 30-30 and 30-06 use jacketed info, so, those are easy.

 

[Hikingman]

In the past, some referred to THE source as being several very popular books. Which book would you recommend is no longer on surveys, BTW. Many of us know, the latest edition may be unnecessary, and throwing money away. What does it have that the one from four years ago did not have besides a much higher price?

Two on the short list are still Lyman and Sierra. If you want to look at 30 pages or several hundred worth of narrative and data on a smart phone, have fun with that.

 

[BBarn]

I have at least one version of manual from most companies, but I cannot find the answer to this particular question in any of them:

View attachment 1141156

Hornady uses essentially the same approach in creating their loading data tables. Older versions of their manual went into a bit of detail about how they do it, but the more detailed explanation has been dropped from their recent manuals. I suspect the same approach is used by others who publish tabular data similar to Hornady's (such as Sierra).

Below is a graph from Hornady's 3rd edition manual. The equation isn't provided, but entering the tabular data into a spreadsheet should permit the generation of such an equation.

 

[Varminterror]

@BBarn - what you’ve copied isn’t the answer, because you’ve presumed the wrong question. I don’t have any use for the equation.

The fact the equation existed was the problem - a first order solution is NOT what we want.

Hint: Neck tension was the answer.

Another hint, since it appears it wasn’t obvious: that post was a trap.

 

[BBarn]

The lack of units was a clue to the trap.

 

[barnfrog]

Another hint, since it appears it wasn’t obvious: that post was a trap.

NOW you tell me! My eyes are bugging out from trying to find a question mark somewhere in that graph.

 

[Varminterror]

The lack of units was a clue to the trap.

Nope…

It’s pretty obvious that units are implied - velocity in fps vs. charge weight in grains. No mystery there.

But the shape of that line presents a significant problem in the ammo.

 

[BBarn]

No units and no identification of the three different data sets. I mistakenly thought you were sincere.

 

[Varminterror]

@BBarn - You’re trying to make a math problem out of a broken arm.

That’s what isn’t in reloading manuals. But anyone loading long range ammo immediately would point to insufficient neck tension by seeing that chart.

 

[CQB45ACP]

This is like watching folks play Scrabble in a foreign language. Care to splain it to me? And how frequently you get into this level of detail?

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

This is like watching folks play Scrabble in a foreign language. Care to splain it to me? And how frequently you get into this level of detail?

Better question: what happened to the OP?
Even better question: does anyone remember the topic?

 

[CQB45ACP]

Better question: what happened to the OP?
Even better question: does anyone remember the topic?

He must’ve learned, a reloading manual is for general information and helping to learn what questions you might want to ask, but it’s not intended to answer all those questions.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

He must’ve learned, a reloading manual is for general information and helping to learn what questions you might want to ask, but it’s not intended to answer all those questions.

Sounds like projection.
The obvious lesson is, if you go to a forum asking for sourdough starter suggestions, you’ll get a thousand beef jerky recipes in response.
Online data - same thing. How many times have posts asked about a very specific powder or bullet only to end up with 4 pages of “expert advice” on a different caliber? Happens all the time.

 

[Soonerpesek]

The obvious lesson is, if you go to a forum asking for sourdough starter suggestions, you’ll get a thousand beef jerky recipes in response.

........and 1 person to tell you that you don't really like sourdough anyway................!!...............

( and I'm not speaking of you, Geo.........)

 

[CQB45ACP]

Sounds like projection.
The obvious lesson is, if you go to a forum asking for sourdough starter suggestions, you’ll get a thousand beef jerky recipes in response.
Online data - same thing. How many times have posts asked about a very specific powder or bullet only to end up with 4 pages of “expert advice” on a different caliber? Happens all the time.

Depends on whether one uses a Lee…

 

[ballman6711]

Depends on whether one uses a Lee…

Grabbing my popcorn now!

chris

 

[lightman]

I usually buy a new Lyman and a new Sierra book when they come out. Call me "old school" if you want. I know enough about computers to google stuff but I trust printed data from ballistic labs more than I do online data from ???. Plus I just like books! A shooting buddy uses the data that comes on the label of some brands of powder.

If I start loading for a new to me cartridge I'll look at several different sources. A few books, online sources, ect. For example my 6.5-284 load came from the Accurateshooter web site.

 

[Bartojc]

Its nice to have a book sitting in front of me to cross reference between two or more. It's not needed though with all the information on the internet. I find myself typically looking it up on the powder mfg site anyhow even if I have a cross reference in a manual. I do not see me "buying" another manual. I'll pick one up for free or $.50 at a garage sale or something.

-Jeff

 

[AJC1]

I usually buy a new Lyman and a new Sierra book when they come out. Call me "old school" if you want. I know enough about computers to google stuff but I trust printed data from ballistic labs more than I do online data from ???. Plus I just like books! A shooting buddy uses the data that comes on the label of some brands of powder.

If I start loading for a new to me cartridge I'll look at several different sources. A few books, online sources, ect. For example my 6.5-284 load came from the Accurateshooter web site.

I love that page, and all the information it provides. For the cost of zero dollars I'd recommend it over a new manual.

 

[mdi]

I see reference to downloading a pdf of a particular web site load data. Then printing, and keeping the data in a binder. What's the difference between that and a reloading manual? Besides a decent reloading manual has waaaay more info than load data...

I'm seeing some really off the wall, weird and nonsensical posts in this thread so I'm outta here. If a reloader believes 50% of the misinformation here, he's on his own.