Many ABCs of Reloading?

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DefiantDad

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Hi guys - are there many different AUTHORS (and thus books) with the same title as ABCs of Reloading? I know there are different EDITIONS but searching on Amazon and Google shows different authors/publishers with the SAME TITLE.
 
Yes, every edition or two was a complete rehash with a new principal author.
Some say that the Dean Grennell versions were the best. Certainly the most entertaining and humorous if like his other books.
 
Most to many reloading books are not 'authored' so much as published, and there could be a different lead editor, or the person listing is using a different one of many authors.
 
Why is the 9th edition poor? And what do you mean by liking "the looks of it" Kevin?

Not to be a pain, just curious. -Thanks :)
 
I downloaded the ABC's of Reloading from Amazon.com to the Kindle. I have always heard that it was a good reloading book but I have to say I was extremely disappointed. Most of the articles are from long ago, like 1960's. A lot of old info about lead bullets, casting, and for my uses out-dated. I know it's recommended but not very useful for the beginning reloaders who want to learn about "how to reload, and safely". I even thought it would have some loading data but NOT. Buy if you just want some reading about the history of reloading and guns but not to learn and not for data. I suggest buying a modern manual that you don't have and add it to your collection rather than this old collection of articles from the past. Just my opinion.
 
Loading Manuals

Speer, Sierra, Hornady ................ Any of them have very good information plus data.

Be Well,
Joe's
 
Why is the 9th edition poor?
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What RG1 said is correct. The 8th and earlier editions are superior and don't lose anything because of their age.

And what do you mean by liking "the looks of it" Kevin
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I said, "...if you like their looks". I meant if you like the information they are presenting to readers appeals to you. There are other books that do just as well.

Lyman #49 and the other reloading manuals are fine and do double duty.
 
I am sure that the ABC's is the most recommended reloading book in all the forums.
I have a mid 80's Grinell edition which I think is the worst waste of money I have ever spent on a reloading book. I recently downloaded the Kindle version of the current one, and while I thought it was an improvement, not by much.
For a logical presentation of the reloading process the Lyman manuals are hard to beat. The Lee handbook is very good also.
 
I agree. I bought the Lee manual when I started a couple of years ago. I also downloaded the Kindle version of The ABCs a couple of months ago. I found it pretty much a waste of time compared to the Lee book.
 
Hey Defiant,

I have long recommended the Lyman manual as the "First" reloading manual a new reloader should buy. It has a vast wealth of information about the mechanics of reloading, and it also has a great wealth of reloading data. This has been true of the Lyman manual as far back as the 1950s which is the oldest edition I have. "ABCs" is also a good manual, and I have a lot of editions of it, but Lyman is the Grand Daddy of all the existing manuals and still the best "First" manual to buy.

Lyman also makes a few other manuals that are what I consider "First" manuals in a particular application:

Shotshell Loading - The Lyman manual is solid with its combination of textbook loading mechanics as well as loading data.

Cast Bullet Reloading - I can say the same words for this manual as what I said for Shotshell Loading. This one is also the Grand Daddy of cast bullet reloading manuals.

There are other manuals that are also very good, and I own and use several of them including, Hornady, Speer, and Sierra. To me, however, Lyman is the best "First" manual to get.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile
 
I have the following in my collection:

Modern Reloading Second Addition, Lee
Speer Reloading Manual 14
Lyman Reloading Handbook, 49th Edition (soft cover)
Lyman Black Powder Handbook, 2nd Edition
The ABCs of Reloading 9th Addition which I read but got little out of it.

I also have a bunch of pamphlets put out by various powder makers through the years as well as other printed material from various other sources with loading recipes that also come in handy from time to time.
 
I've got several books, and I think the lee book, followed by Lyman are the best 2 I have.the lee is a little preachy though.
 
The Lee includes lead data and has a short section just on shooting lead, they hawk their stuff through out the book, have more than a few sections on product that ONLY they produce, but over all a really good book, lots of load data, also have speer and lyman, also great books, and realize that now days the major powder makers have published loads online.
 
So, what WOULD be a good alternative book that some of you guys recommend?
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Lyman's 49th Reloading Handbook.

To me this is by far the best reloading manual.
It has a wide variety of bullet types, weights & manufacturers.

The books from Speer, Hornady, Sierra etc, only include data for their own bullets.

I like to use inexpensive bullets like Berry's, or pulls from RMR.
So the bullet mfg's books do me no good.
 
'Complete Guide to Handloading' by Philip B. Sharpe
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I have both an original copy of the 1953 edition and the Wolff re-print and own several of the presses pictured in them.

A great book from a historical perspective, but it has nothing to do w/ modern reloading.
 
I have a copy of VihtaVuori Reloading Manual, 2nd edition, 1995, and really like the technical information in the first 5 chapters. Very good information on the physics and chemistry of internal and external ballistics, as well as the reloading process. It has been revised at least twice, but I am not sure if it is still in print. Amazon does list second hand copies. The description of the various calibers in the reloading data section is interesting, and, at times, humorous reading. Data are shown in both metric and imperial (English) units.

Rick
 
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