I have four reloading manuals, well three and a half since my Hodgdon is a summery that came with my Lee kit years back, I won't rank that one since it is not the complete manual, but good data though.
First Place Nosler #6.
Pros: Lots of powders listed for everything I load, full power load data, not writen by a team of pressure sensitive lawyers, it lists modern load data for 6.5x55 which none of the others do. Awesome recommended loads that have given me sub-MOA results in all five of my rifles even the super picky Browning, really good notes from the guys that tested the loads. List highly compressed loads of slow burning powders as long as they are safe pressure, never seen anyone else do this.
Cons: Only lists Nosler bullets so no cast data or bullet classes they don't make such as any 17 caliber, 38-55 or 458 Win Mag. Showing it's age a little, no data for new hot rounds such as the 6.8 SPC, 6.5 Creedmore, 30 Rem AR or the newest powders. (They do now make a Nosler #7 that I don't have yet, sold out of them locally)
Second Lyman #49
Pros: Also lists recommended powder/charges for maximizing accuracy, lists cast bullets even for rifle cartridges, lists bullets from all the top companies including Nosler, Hornady and Serria.
Cons: Much like Nosler #6 this book is showing a little age by not having some of the newer cartridges/powders.
Third Place Hornady #9
Pros: Being a new manual this one has all the new gagets on the market, things like CFE/Superformance powders and cartridges like the Creedmore and even a nice selection of popular wildcats. They list 50 BMG
Don't own one but I can dream right?
Cons: Painfully low pressure data for some cartridges, for example their max load data for a 150gr w/Varget in a 308 is only a hair above Nosler's starting minimum load, I just so happen to own the exact same rifle they tested their 308 in with the same bullets and I call BS. No top accuracy charge/powder is listed, a major letdown. VERY limited data on even some popular cartridges, for example their data on the 270 WSM was simply laughable, I would not even have made an entry with that. They ommited some of thier own bullets from testing in some cartridges, for example there is no 208gr A-Max listed for the 30-06 or 300 WSM, but they list it for 308?!? I consider that a half ass incomplete manual and I wrote them a letter telling them as much.
Need to get the Serria and Speer but the Serria is sold out everywhere I have been and I won't get a Speer manual until they finish their testing on the Deep Curl bullets which is their new mainstay replacing the Hot Core.
