Is the Hornady reloading book worth it?
- Thread starter JEBruns
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Jeremy2171
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No..the idea that Hornady says that their data is "max"....that is the real issue. Many new loaders will see that...see it's Hornady and "trust" them...without understanding that the Hornady data is anemic. Then you have old guys like us having to teach something to the young guys that shouldn't be there.
Just like that stupid inrange video with commercial ammo BS. Have to fight that crap for decades and still have imbeciles that will believe it hook line and sinker.
Charlie98
Member
I see your point. One of the problems with new and newer reloaders is they sometimes don't fully research their load... comparing data, etc. I don't agree with 'anemic.' If it were so, in my mind, it wouldn't cycle the Garand's action. I understand you and I may disagree on that.
I must have been busy that day. Honestly, I rarely watch YT videos and such because about 90% of it is pap. Again, just me opinion.
GeoDudeFlorida
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lol. Yup, couldn’t agree more. Paper don’t care if it’s a barrel-busting hi-speed load or training wheels. Folks who are more about kaboom than bang kinda remind me of them city boys in their “Cali-Lean” pickup trucks that have never seen a honest day’s work. They’re so dang soopertuff they can’t even stand being in their own company.
And that’s why we got a ignore button on this forum.
Jeremy2171
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I'm saying "anemic" in regards to actual milsurp loads etc. You want to shoot light loads or 100yd target loads I fully get that. However IMHO when you label it "garand" data...you should at least duplicate the actual "garand" ammo. If you understand what I'm saying.
It's their video that "proves" M2 ball is "weak" compared to commercial ammo. The fact is they just didn't have a clue what they were talking about and merely attempting to "prove" the old gunshow myth and they did that without actually setting up a serious test to see if the myth was true... In essence they "proved" a myth was true by not actually testing anything and just posting the result they wanted.
Mark_Mark
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i resent that! I like shooting .460 mag at paper targets so I can feel the power!lol. Yup, couldn’t agree more. Paper don’t care if it’s a barrel-busting hi-speed load or training wheels. Folks who are more about kaboom than bang kinda remind me of them city boys in their “Cali-Lean” pickup trucks that have never seen a honest day’s work. They’re so dang soopertuff they can’t even stand being in their own company.
And that’s why we got a ignore button on this forum.
and if I had a $70,000 pickup truck, it’s definitely not going near a work yard or and form of mud!
Charlie98
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I do now, and it makes sense.
ParallelCode
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They send you the physical book or a PDF?
barnfrog
Member
Many of the older manuals are available free online. Hornady third and fourth editions can be found here http://marvinstuart.com/firearm/Manuals/Reloading/Reloading Manuals/. Fourth edition has data for the 160 gr RN you showed in many calibers, although I don't think I saw 6.5 creed in there when I skimmed it.
I received a physical book last year. It did take about 3-4 months after downloading the app.
That is true.
I've also found my most accurate load is their "conservative" max or under it. There are a few exceptions.
I dislike not having pressure data. Because I try to take it into account when I'm choosing powder.
Engineer1911
member
I have popcorn and adult beverages for this hot June day. I will go back to post #1 and see if there is exciting new information about reloading, powder, and bullets. Maybe I'll even find out where to buy small pistol primers.
markr6754
Member
My initial entry into this passion was via the Hornady LnL Classic press kit, which came with their loading manual 9th Ed. I knew it would be a while before I had any confidence that I wouldn't blow my face off loading ammunition in my home. Thus, I read the Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading cover to cover...well, I pretty much stopped at the caliber specific load data. I found it to be amazingly educational. Unlike many, I had no prior loading experience, no mentor on hand, I didn't even realize, at the time, that tens of thousands of hours of How To (and how not to) videos were available on this place name YouTube.
The things that I learned stay with me to this day...so, for me, the Hornady book is an incredibly powerful and useful resource. As they say, you always remember your first!
Of course, these pages have turned me on to The ABCs of Reloading, Sierra, Lee, and Nosler manuals. All of the major bullet manufacturer's websites, many of which contain recipes for their projectiles and the best powders for target accuracy or hunting. I've also downloaded 25-30 older, out of print loading manuals. It's really nice to have an ASUS Webstorage account (like Dropbox) that allows me to dump all of my electronic load data into one site which then copies down to every PC I own, including my home fileserver, so I always have data nearby...even if the WiFi goes down.
The things that I learned stay with me to this day...so, for me, the Hornady book is an incredibly powerful and useful resource. As they say, you always remember your first!
Of course, these pages have turned me on to The ABCs of Reloading, Sierra, Lee, and Nosler manuals. All of the major bullet manufacturer's websites, many of which contain recipes for their projectiles and the best powders for target accuracy or hunting. I've also downloaded 25-30 older, out of print loading manuals. It's really nice to have an ASUS Webstorage account (like Dropbox) that allows me to dump all of my electronic load data into one site which then copies down to every PC I own, including my home fileserver, so I always have data nearby...even if the WiFi goes down.
I've had one experience with Hornady that convinced me their data is worth it. I loaded up a few 168 grain Amax bullets in 308 and went to test them. The load data overlaps with data for a 168 grain SMK at the bottom end of the Lyman data and the top end of the Amax data. I had pressure signs less than half way through the load range. Now I realize the Amax and SMK aren't the same bullet. However, it is now my policy to consult Hornady data for Hornady projectiles. I feel like their rifle bullets at least are different enough that even at the same projectile weight, pressure can be higher than expected. The load I used was the same charge as what I use in a 175 grain SMK load without any problems. I purchased the individual calibers on the phone app. I've got like $6 in them so far. I wouldn't buy the manual for the load data. I might for the manual part, but have 3 others already.
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JEBruns
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Yeah, I may do that out of curiosity. I don't need the manual part of it. I've been reloading for 35+ years, shotgun and metallic. I read my fair share of manuals when I first started, and they were helpful. I just want the load data now.
GeoDudeFlorida
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It's funny how everyone in the same hobby is so different. I started handloading in 1977 - for the mathematically challenged, that's 45 years ago - and would have started sooner but my uncle who taught me felt like I needed to be at least 12 before I was allowed in the reloading room and at least 13 before I was allowed to operate the press unsupervised. I did not start out studying manuals. That came later. I started out observing and doing the monkey-see-monkey-do thing. After I got good at doing what I was told, I was "allowed" to read the Lyman's No.45 and learn that there was more than one way to get things done and I'd have to learn to THINK for myself. I still read old manuals and new ones, periodicals like Handloader and the Hodgdon's annual publication, and some REALLY old, like the Ideal manuals. To me, there's a lot to learn I don't know and it goes way beyond learning a new "recipe." I don't buy a recipe book because I don't know how to cook a hamburger or to learn the latest-greatest way to put mustard on a bun... I buy a new cookbook to learn the techniques. Once I get the techniques down pat, I can apply them to new recipes of my own creation.
But that's me and everyone's different so, it's all good.
It's funny how everyone in the same hobby is so different. I started handloading in 1977 - for the mathematically challenged, that's 45 years ago - and would have started sooner but my uncle who taught me felt like I needed to be at least 12 before I was allowed in the reloading room and at least 13 before I was allowed to operate the press unsupervised. I did not start out studying manuals. That came later. I started out observing and doing the monkey-see-monkey-do thing. After I got good at doing what I was told, I was "allowed" to read the Lyman's No.45 and learn that there was more than one way to get things done and I'd have to learn to THINK for myself. I still read old manuals and new ones, periodicals like Handloader and the Hodgdon's annual publication, and some REALLY old, like the Ideal manuals. To me, there's a lot to learn I don't know and it goes way beyond learning a new "recipe." I don't buy a recipe book because I don't know how to cook a hamburger or to learn the latest-greatest way to put mustard on a bun... I buy a new cookbook to learn the techniques. Once I get the techniques down pat, I can apply them to new recipes of my own creation.
But that's me and everyone's different so, it's all good.
That sounds familiar. I want to learn paper patching. No real reason, I just would like to know how. First I have to start casting my own bullets, or at least sizing them. Baby steps and don't stop.
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JEBruns
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I had an uncle that reloaded. I found it beyond interesting. But we lived several states away, so no OJT there. I got into reloading because I wanted custom loads for pheasant hunting, and to save money for all the trap shooting I was doing. So it was manuals first in my case. And I go back to them when learning to load something different that what I'm used to.It's funny how everyone in the same hobby is so different. I started handloading in 1977 - for the mathematically challenged, that's 45 years ago - and would have started sooner but my uncle who taught me felt like I needed to be at least 12 before I was allowed in the reloading room and at least 13 before I was allowed to operate the press unsupervised. I did not start out studying manuals. That came later. I started out observing and doing the monkey-see-monkey-do thing. After I got good at doing what I was told, I was "allowed" to read the Lyman's No.45 and learn that there was more than one way to get things done and I'd have to learn to THINK for myself. I still read old manuals and new ones, periodicals like Handloader and the Hodgdon's annual publication, and some REALLY old, like the Ideal manuals. To me, there's a lot to learn I don't know and it goes way beyond learning a new "recipe." I don't buy a recipe book because I don't know how to cook a hamburger or to learn the latest-greatest way to put mustard on a bun... I buy a new cookbook to learn the techniques. Once I get the techniques down pat, I can apply them to new recipes of my own creation.
But that's me and everyone's different so, it's all good.
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JEBruns
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There is a rich amount of reloading information on YT, and the internet in general. This forum is a great resource also.
GeoDudeFlorida
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My mother's brother (uncle) lived in Ocoee and we lived in Indian River City so I only got to see him three or four times a year but I spent a summer break with him and his five boys and that's when the handloading bug bit. I think it bit him harder'n me, to be honest. His youngest boy was close to my age and never got the hang of making a decent pot of coffee.
Attention span of a fruit fly. We all learn different which is what makes this such an interesting group. Hope no one took offense at my comparing reloading to cooking.
Engineer1911
member
I just made ONE really big mistake about reloading manuals. I tore the 30-06, 38 Spl, 357 Mag, and 44 mag loading data out of my Lyman 45th edition Reloading Manual and threw the rest in the trash about 1980. I bought that manual new in 1974 when I first started reloading. Young people really do stupid things.
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gwpercle
Member
Over the last 50 years a Hornady Manual has always been one of my main sources of data .
Hornady , Speer , Lyman manuals with both jacketed and cast and the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbooks ... I shoot a lot of cast bullets) When using Hornady bullets ...which I prefer , I try to use Hornady data .
Are they worth the money ... to me they are ... I like they way they are organized .
Lots of general reloading info in the first chapters ... buy one and read it ...you will learn some things you didn't know .
Gary
Hornady , Speer , Lyman manuals with both jacketed and cast and the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbooks ... I shoot a lot of cast bullets) When using Hornady bullets ...which I prefer , I try to use Hornady data .
Are they worth the money ... to me they are ... I like they way they are organized .
Lots of general reloading info in the first chapters ... buy one and read it ...you will learn some things you didn't know .
Gary
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