Information found in paper reloading manuals

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Rule3

Rule3

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An ongoing "discussion" in another thread prompted me to write this.
So as not to single out anyone there is a wealth of reloading information out there.

Seems a lot of new reloaders want to learn just by the internet forums.

I looked at my manuals and other than recipe load data here it is.
All of the basic reloading questions are addressed in these,

Hornady #8 page 1-90
Lee page 1-200
RCBS 1-179
Western powders (manual) 1-35
Lyman 49 1-117
Lyman cast 1-98


Plus there are books like the ABC's of reloading

For those that just want to look at the computer here is RCBS

https://www.rcbs.com/rcbs-how-to-reload/rcbs-step-by-step-reloading.html

If you really want to know what the heck you are doing in this hobby, it is worth doing some reading and study, other wise you are just dumping powder in a case, inserting a bullet and hope all goes well.
 
Last edited:
Rule3 said:
An ongoing "discussion" in another thread prompted me to write this.
So as not to single out anyone there is a wealth of reloading information out there.

Seems a lot of new reloaders want to learn just by the internet forums.

I looked at my manuals and other than recipe load data here it is.
All of the basic reloading questions are addressed in these,

Hornady #8 page 1-90
Lee page 1-200
RCBS 1-179
Western powders (manual) 1-35
Lyman 49 1-117
Lyman cast 1-98


Plus there are books like the ABC's of reloading

For those that just want to look at the computer her is RCBS

https://www.rcbs.com/rcbs-how-to-reload/rcbs-step-by-step-reloading.html

If you really want to know what the heck you are doing in this hobby, it is worth doing some reading and study, other wise you are just dumping powder in a case, inserting a bullet and hope all goes well.
Click to expand...
Yup, seconded and well stated.
Almost any question that can be asked in a forum, has been asked here. If a new reloader really can’t read a book, they can at least click the search icon and read the past questions asked and answered about their questions. At least the bare minimum effort is not too much to ask.
 
I very strongly agree with you. When I started reloading 5 years ago, I read and studied 5 different books and manuals before I even mounted my press.

I don't believe in shortcuts. That can be very dangerous to yourself and others.

Now is where I am going to step on some toes. I believe You Tube is very dangerous. I think there is some good videos and a lot of bad ones. Until someone has some basic knowledge of reloading, it is difficult to tell the difference.
 
On another forum I wrote this thread in 2012. An off shoot of a Forbes article that is also linked. So all it is saying is try to find out some information before posting "Learn Me" or Educate me" on this or that.:)

Re Posting this thread. Please do some of the work.
Please realize that this is not directed to any specific individual.

There seems to be a lot of posts looking for basic information or data which can easily be found in a manual or even a thread search or Google and the OP has not even attempted to look for it.
Use the search function, it really does work. Most topics have been discussed many times.

What's a good powder for xyz? What load will work in my Wingding 38 special? and similar posts.

There are many experienced re-loaders here and all offer their help and advice. Rarely does the original poster respond back or even offer a thank you.

All the manuals , powder companies and reloading company websites offer FREE information and how to instructions, they will mail you stuff.

So please try to do some background research, get some information, then if you have a problem, by all means ask. There are no dumb questions just ones that have not even been researched first.

Read the link in the post.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/work-in-progress/2011/03/28/no-you-cant-pick-my-brain-it-costs-too-much/?sh=78242214426e
 
There are good videos on YouTube for those who refuse to read. Rcbs has an entire series, and I know there are others by actual reloading companies. The time for knowledge exchange needs to be made either in book or video.
 
For the reasons already stated, I seldom respond to questions appearing in the reloading forum that are answered in nearly every published loading manual.
I often want to suggest to such questioners that they acquire and study a manual, but I usually elect to keep silent instead.
 
I still remember what it was like to be new to reloading. That's why I try to answer questions.

When I started, I read the lyman 48 and the cast handbook 1 or 2. It left some to be desired. Not that is bad info. It was years later that I read the Lee manual and it described a basic how to work up loads. The lyman skipped that part.
 
I started with the data/instruction sheet that came with my Lee Loader. Luckily there was a good library close so I spent time researching reloading there. I didn't know anyone that reloaded. I had been in enough typical "Old Style" gun shops to realize that, just like a fishing stuff store talk, old timers often stretch the truth about reloading (groups get smaller, velocities get higher and DRT shots grow by many yards). Not really lying, just making their story more entertaining. So I use published manuals 95% of the time with a few on line component manufacturer's web sites. Maybe I'm "Old School" or a "Caveman" but I rarely consider (make that never) any forum load data or of word of mouth data from anyone. And I include you tube with these, yes, there are some decent/safe ones out there, but nearly as many bad ones..
 
RMH said:
I very strongly agree with you. When I started reloading 5 years ago, I read and studied 5 different books and manuals before I even mounted my press.

I don't believe in shortcuts. That can be very dangerous to yourself and others.

Now is where I am going to step on some toes. I believe You Tube is very dangerous. I think there is some good videos and a lot of bad ones. Until someone has some basic knowledge of reloading, it is difficult to tell the difference.
Click to expand...
This is another place where Youtube removing the dislike button is dangerous as well.. Gives a false sense of it being a good video to inexperienced eyes.
 
RMH said:
I believe You Tube is very dangerous.
Click to expand...

That's true with the internet in general, if you search long enough you can get any answer that you want. A person has to know how to separate the wheat from the chaff.

I've been able to do some pretty complicated mechanical and gunsmithing projects by looking at YouTube videos. I'm not going to bash it too hard.

As for asking questions, this forum would be pretty dull if everybody researched things and found their own answers. Not much left to talk about other than politics, which is 99.9% lies anyway.
 
Laphroaig said:
That's true with the internet in general, if you search long enough you can get any answer that you want. A person has to know how to separate the wheat from the chaff.

I've been able to do some pretty complicated mechanical and gunsmithing projects by looking at YouTube videos. I'm not going to bash it too hard.

As for asking questions, this forum would be pretty dull if everybody researched things and found their own answers. Not much left to talk about other than politics, which is 99.9% lies anyway.
Click to expand...

No not at all what this is about. Folks should at least make an effort to know what the heck they are asking a question about,
We all had/have questions but at least try first. This is not about You Tube, it is more about learning about hand loading not just a recipe for reloading.

Lots of good videos of all kinds of subjects on the Tube, lots of bad ones as well
 
Not just in reloading but learning anything new. The expression TMI is often the case, Information overload!
When posting a question on the internet, there are so many replies , ideas whatever, Then threads drift so the OP is often dazed and confused!:)
 
A printed book in your possession can't be altered except by you without a great deal of effort and detection is fairly simple. A web page can be altered by anyone with the meager skills to edit text or redirect a page link and it is almost impossible to detect.

I'm waiting for someone to holler out, "NO ONE would alter loading data except to IMPROVE IT and HACKERS just don't care about reloading!" :cuss:

Yeah, okay. :scrutiny:
 
Blue68f100 said:
When I started hand loading all you had was books. The computer and internet was just a dream..... I had no mentor to ask, so it was books only, made several trips the the library looking for info.
Click to expand...
My mentor was my mother's brother. He had four boys, one about my age, and they all were taught the same way as I was: First, you learn to make a decent pot of coffee (one of my cuzins still cant' reload because he failed that step:eek::oops:). Next, you learn how to spot falling powder, leaky coffee cups, spills, and dropped primers - even when you're looking at something else on the opposite side of the room - and follow their path across a concrete pad; "situational awareness" is a must! Next, you learn how to segregate, isolate, prepare and stage your materials in the work area: only in the work area! Only pull enough powder for the task at hand, only as many primers as needed, ditto for brass and bullets, scales where they can be read easily, etc. Have all labels, tables and measures ready before getting started. Finally, watch the time! Don't start if you're running late or have something else to do. Relax, let your attention fixate on what you're doing but don't obsess, and most importantly, have fun. If it isn't fun, you're doing it wrong.

RTFM were words to live by. Failing to live by those words resulted in neat nicknames like Stubby or Ol' One-Eye.
 
I'm a self taught guy too, pre-internet. A Lyman 46th and some inherited equipment. The only people I knew that loaded were some guys on our high school rifle team. I remember shooting a .243 in one guys basement so we couldn't have been very smart (no one else was home so the only humans in danger were us)

My craft had come a long way since then, much due to things I picked up on THR. It's a great community and many posts which might start out elementary evolve into some great discussions. If something bothers me, I just move on to something else. I wouldn't change a thing, other than put some kind of a limit on the .223 vs. 5.56 debates or make it a sticky like the guns for bears one.
 
Bazoo said:
I still remember what it was like to be new to reloading. That's why I try to answer questions.
Click to expand...

Rule3 said:
Not just in reloading but learning anything new. The expression TMI is often the case, Information overload!
When posting a question on the internet, there are so many replies , ideas whatever, Then threads drift so the OP is often dazed and confused!
Click to expand...

There are really two facets to this...

One is a noob's general lack of knowledge and experience. By this I mean, one would look at cartridge reloading and think... there can't be that much to this, is there? We all know that first cartridge dropping off the shell holder or plate has a mountain of proper information behind it, but someone who doesn't know, wouldn't know... you know? Asking a simple question like 'what's a good load for the .400 SuperBlaster?' is a reasonable question, but is only the tip of the iceberg of questions and knowledge that lies beneath. It's simply innocence... they don't know any better.

On the other hand, I've been loading since 1987, and I've posted noob-type questions... not because I don't know, but because I want to hear other's experiences. I recently started reloading with TAC... simple enough, right? Had I not read someone's comment about how it behaves with Magnum primers, I would never have made up an alternate batch of ladders with standard primers... and found how much TAC really responds to a change in primer. So you can't always point to a seemingly simple question and tell someone they should have figured it out for themselves.

Now, there is also a caveat here... related to Rule3's comment. There is a thread going on right now, a noob asking about a specific powder. I'm looking at the answers and thinking... jeez, this guy is going to be so confused by the time his thread is done, he won't know which way to turn. Speaking of reading and comprehension... some of us here need to actually READ the OP and respond to the question. This poor guy is getting some reasonable answers, but it is mired in other's pet loads and a pile of recommendations that have very little bearing on the OP question.
 
When I started reloading there was no internet. My uncle sold me a rcbs jr. and a Lyman safety scale no books or instructions. I rode my bike to the only place that knew what reloading was, a local gun shop / gunsmith. I spent hours just hanging out an listening to him. he even showed me how to reload properly on his equipment. Ended up being my new job, sizing brass for him and cleaning guns customers brought in. Don't know what would have happened if he hadn't taught me to do things correctly. So I don't get upset when someone who has no clue askes for advise. Now when they do the exact opposite and yell because it doesn't work they will get an earful.
 
You fellows that had mentors were super luckey. I don't remember what year I started but had no computer let alone internet. The local library had little/no sources of information. All the wear/tear on my Lyman #47 was caused by me checking/information.
 
I learned without a mentor. I asked questions on a gun forum and a couple nice guys answered them instead of telling me "go read the manual". I had read the manual, and it doesn't give all answers. I still ask questions when I change my methods or try a new powder, because I see that I can learn from others experiences.
 
When I started I had a Lee anniversary kit and that was everything I had. Didn’t even know there were other sources available. This was back in 89 and I had no one to help figure it out. I read the book a few times, took notes of what I thought was most important and wrote down a process to follow. Dedication to that process and not pushing the envelope I’m sure saved me some problems. After a couple years I ran into some guys that also reloaded and learned so much more from them that I didn’t even realize I needed to know.

I always tell folks new to the hobby that you don’t know what you don’t know and there will be so many things you don’t know to ask because you don’t know you need to. The only way to know what to ask is to research the topic as much as possible and when you are not sure of something then you ask for clarification. I see some do that, but not nearly enough. This applies to most hobbies, not just reloading.
 
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