Need another reloading manual - thoughts?

[JonB]

Hi all,

I want to pick up another reloading manual and was looking for thoughts on what others like. I am currently loading .223, 9mm, 10mm. But may add 7.62x54r and 8mm Mauser in the future (although I have a ton of milsurp ammo for both).

I use a variety of components (as everyone does) and am looking for a manual that is a good 'general' type of book. Lee #14 seems good, and possibly Speer's newest. I am betting Speer's manual will list only speer bullets, though and for the most part I use plated for pistol and bulk/cheap .223 for plinking.

Thoughts on a good all around book that isn't too manufacturer specific? If such thing exists....

 

[Mal H]

It's very hard to beat the Lyman Reloading Manuals. They have a large section of general reloading information and a wide variety of bullet and powder types in the rifle/handgun sections. The most current one is #48.

 

[Jim Watson]

They are all manufacturer specific. They use one brand of bullet per caliber and weight to develop loads. Bullet makers use their own, of course. The powder companies will use what they consider common... or convenient. Lee is just reprinting powder company data without bringing along the bullet that was used. Lyman uses different brands, but still only one per combination.
That is what the fine print about "starting loads" and "working up" is about.

 

[JonB]

I did notice in the Lee reload data that came with my dies that they leave out the bullet manufacturer info. They just make it generic like - 55gr FMJ for .223. I suspect that will work just fine as I don't mess with hot loads. I keep mine at the lower/middle areas. But I had a thought that different bullets may have different dimensions (ogive?) but have the same general characteristics and therefore lead to different load data.

I assume the Lee data is safe or they wouldn't produce a whole book of it ;-)

 

[Mal H]

I have to disagree with you, Jim when you say, "Lyman uses different brands, but still only one per combination."

First it's not clear what you mean by combination, but I assume you mean bullet weight - powder combinations. I've seen many calibers where they list loads for the same weight bullets of different manufacturers.

I turned to the first bookmark I came to in my Lyman manual - .44 Rem Mag. Lyman lists loads for both the Sierra 240 gr. JHC and the Speer 240 gr. JHP. Since the majority of the powder loads are different, I have to assume they actually tested those loads instead of just repeating them.

 

[AirplaneDoc]

I like the new speer 14 manual

 

[Jim Watson]

By dang, Mal, you are right. The Lyman book shows loads for two different 240 gr jacketed .44 magnums. It also lists .45 ACP 185 gr JSWC and JHP separately; and has individual tables for 180 gr Barnes X and Sierra MK .30-06. Except for some cast bullets out of Lyman moulds, that is all the duplication I could find in calibers that I load for.
It is not a general practice that will let you directly compare Hornady, Sierra, and Speer bullets in the same barrel and loaded out of the same can of powder.

 

[rcmodel]

If I could only get one, I'd get Lyman, due to the wealth of lead bullet data you don't find anywhere else.

The Lee data is just powder company info you can get free off the internet by looking.

With that said, I very much like the Speer manuals, and also Hornady, until the latest one when they took out the ballistic tables and made it one book instead of two.


rcmodel

 

[308win]

As rcmodel has noted the older 2 volume Hornady is good because of all of the external ballistics data. The powder company brochures are free and I use them as much as my Hornady and Speer manuals. The ABC's of reloading is a good how to reference as are the technical brochures from the reloading manufacturers.

 

[ReloaderFred]

Another vote for the Lyman 48th Edition, though I own all the popular manuals. You really can't have too many loading manuals. There are also the free pamphlets available from the powder manufacturers. Most of them are either at your gun shop, or you can get them sent to you from the website. In some cases, they are also downloadable.

Hope this helps.

Fred