Is the Hornady reloading book worth it?

[JEBruns]

A buddy gave me some old Hornady bullets. He's phasing out of metallic case reloading. So I'm looking around for loads for them, and realize that Hornady does not give that data away, they charge for it. Never ran into that before in the reloading world, but it is what it is.

So I start looking at buying their reloading handbook or getting the app. I look at their tease pages and see that they lump a lot of stuff together. Like 5-6 bullets of different types (all the same weight/caliber) all having the same loading data. I called their customer support, and they confirmed that's the way they do it. I'm used to each bullet having it's own recipes. Pretty generic stuff there. Seems like I could pull any recipe for any Hornady bullet from sites like Hodgdon and use it for all Hornady bullets of that same caliber and weight.

What am I missing? I have several reloading books, and am not opposed to owning more. But this one may not be worth the price.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

My Speer and Horndy books i use the least. I did not buy Hornadys newest. I like my Lyman 3rd and 4th cast and their 50th and 51st.

 

[AJC1]

Depending on the bullet the free western powders download covers most. The hogden site also covers loads for popular bullets like the xtp and match bullets

 

[Y-T71]

Never owned a Hornady manual but have looked through a friend's and just didn't feel the need to own one myself preferring Lyman's offerings.

Having said that, I don't think it's possible to have too many data resources.

 

[dgod]

I personally am a fan of Lyman, Hornady, Lee, as I use each and every one of them. I have the last 3 Hornady’s, the Current Lee, the last 8 (Missing 2)of the Lyman books. I am not a Speer fan. I have 2 and rarely use them.

Use what you like, Like what you use, everyone has different likes and dislikes…

 

[James Fonteneaux]

The Western Powders download is the most complete, but make sure your printer and ink/toner are up to the task. I started with a Hornady book because I didn't know any better. Now I have their book, a Speer book, and a couple of Lyman books as well as specific data printed from the powder manufacturer's website. I will usually compare a proposed load across all 3 books to get an idea of what I'm getting into. Lyman is much more complete with lead/cast bullets. I've noticed differences in COL and lots of differences in powder charges. I've personally found Hornady's info somewhat conservative most times, I'll leave it at that. I also believe that multiple sources of information is a good thing.

 

[WrongHanded]

I look at all my reloading manuals when beginning work on a new load. I also look at data online. The more information, the better.

 

[Kaldor]

I generally use the powder manufacturer's data but I will never not look at other sources.

 

[twarr1]

I have probably 25 manuals. I load several cartridges both handgun and rifle. I’ve NEVER found a load in the Hornady manual that I could use. In my experience, it’s useless. I use Western Powders the most, Lyman second. But like others, I’ll compare across several sources.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

A buddy gave me some old Hornady bullets. He's phasing out of metallic case reloading. So I'm looking around for loads for them, and realize that Hornady does not give that data away, they charge for it. Never ran into that before in the reloading world, but it is what it is.

So I start looking at buying their reloading handbook or getting the app. I look at their tease pages and see that they lump a lot of stuff together. Like 5-6 bullets of different types (all the same weight/caliber) all having the same loading data. I called their customer support, and they confirmed that's the way they do it. I'm used to each bullet having it's own recipes. Pretty generic stuff there. Seems like I could pull any recipe for any Hornady bullet from sites like Hodgdon and use it for all Hornady bullets of that same caliber and weight.

What am I missing? I have several reloading books, and am not opposed to owning more. But this one may not be worth the price.

It’s okay if you want rifle data for Hornady rifle bullets. But it’s really just for their bullets and the handgun data is pretty generic. You do get their recommendations for seating depth and a fairly good description of their bullet technology. If you need it.

 

[JEBruns]

Thanks guys. I think I can get the Lyman manual locally. I'll check tomorrow.

 

[Varminterror]

XTP data tends to be unique to Hornady bullets. Their rifle bullet data would be worth having. One distinct advantage of Hornady’s data book is that they pressure test all of their loads (despite not offering it on the page), so there’s greater confidence to be had than from, say, the Lee manual which doesn’t have any independent load development, nor pressure testing done behind the paper.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Lyman is the best, Lee is cryptic

 

[Charlie98]

XTP data tends to be unique to Hornady bullets. Their rifle bullet data would be worth having. One distinct advantage of Hornady’s data book is that they pressure test all of their loads (despite not offering it on the page), so there’s greater confidence to be had than from, say, the Lee manual which doesn’t have any independent load development, nor pressure testing done behind the paper.

+1

The debate rages about Hornady's published data... I've seen it called 'watered down' or 'lawyered up,' but I find it to be pretty solid data, and I really like the format of the Hornady book, as compared to, as Mark says... the cryptic Lee data. Hornady's book also includes Service Rifle data, which may or may not be of use to you. When I'm researching data, I reach for the Speer first, and then the Hornady. I prefer Hodgdon's online data over their published data, although I still use their book to compare load data from my Speer and Hornady books... as Wronghanded says... the more information the better.

Hornady's data for the XTP is valuable, mostly because it is usually the bullet I'm loading outside of cast or FMJ style bullets, and... for what it's worth... Speer's data for their GoldDot bullets is very specific, too, and particularly with their Short Barrel versions.

Everyone's demand for reloading data is different. Many of you are recommending the Lyman book, I sold mine because there was very little data in there I could use... for MY purposes. This was before I started loading cast for rifle in earnest... so I sort of wish I had it back, but in reality, the small lot of data I need I already have.

 

[sfl_gunner]

I have several manual including Hornady, Lyman, Lee, and Speer. I also use the Hornady, Sierra, VV apps. My take is you can't never have too much info.

 

[ms6852]

When I first began to learn about reloading, I found it confusing at first because of the disparities in load data from one manual to another on the same weight bullets. So to ease the confusion I decided that depending on the bullet manufacture and types of bullets I purchased I would use the data they strictly provided. So for Barnes bullets I had a Barnes reloading manual, for Sierra bullets I had a Sierra reloading manual and so on. So I do have a Hornady manual as well as other manuals.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I have several manual including Hornady, Lyman, Lee, and Speer. I also use the Hornady, Sierra, VV apps. My take is you can't never have too much info.

get a bunch of reloading books to compare each other! books are EMP proof also!

 

[Bcwitt]

The Hornaday manuels i have include some excellent ballistics tables. Much better then some others.

 

[Bazoo]

I’ve got the hornady 2nd but haven’t gotten anything newer. I rarely load jacketed. But I do desire the new one for the other parts. Just cause. One can never have too many manuals.

 

[JJFitch]

I have used Hornady manuals for years as well as their presses and dies. The introduction to reloading section in front of the book is priceless especially in the decades before the internet. As a Garand shooter their section on reloading for the Garand is also valuable. It's always a good practice to have several manuals for reference. I have a couple of NRA reloading manuals going back to the 60's just in case!

Smiles,

 

[Skgreen]

"Worth it?" is a tough parameter to define and even if one could, it wouldn't be applicable to everyone.

Me?
My Lyman collects dust as I don't shoot lead.
My Nosler is doing the same as I typically don't use Nosler projectiles.
My Hornady 9 has been well-referenced as I use some Hornady projectiles.
Recently purchased a Hornady 11 for loads using some of the new powders/projectiles that aren't in 9.
Recently purchased a Sierra 6 as I use some Sierra projectiles / did not have a Sierra manual previously.

YMMV

 

[Rule3]

Seems all you want is a "cook" book or a recipe book. In that case no manual is worth it to you. The internet and forums have lots of load data.
All reloading manuals have good information in them.

 

[Skgreen]

Seems all you want is a "cook" book or a recipe book

If directed towards me, then yes, absolutely!
IIRC, the 'Welcome to Reloading' section is included in every Manual, whether you ask for it or not. (Never have really read that stuff, so not sure what's in my H 9,11 or S 6.)
Why?
I spent a lot of time online researching a lot of different things relative to reloading before I ordered my first press. Far more than what's contained in most Manuals. As a result, when I finally did obtain a Manual, (Lyman, came with the Press) the stuff up front wasn't all that informative.

(My apologies to those who had to start before Al Gore invented the Internet! Y'all had it rough! )

 

[Targa]

If you are loading Hornady bullets it is a good resource.

 

[Rule3]

If directed towards me, then yes, absolutely!
IIRC, the 'Welcome to Reloading' section is included in every Manual, whether you ask for it or not. (Never have really read that stuff, so not sure what's in my H 9,11 or S 6.)
Why?
I spent a lot of time online researching a lot of different things relative to reloading before I ordered my first press. Far more than what's contained in most Manuals. As a result, when I finally did obtain a Manual, (Lyman, came with the Press) the stuff up front wasn't all that informative.

(My apologies to those who had to start before Al Gore invented the Internet! Y'all had it rough! )

No, the OP
He seemed he already had made up his mind that he didn't want the Hornady as he would actually have to pay for it.