newest reloading book

[graysonbornhunter]

I'm new to reloading and going to order some books. I'm going to order the 2008 edition of the ABCs of Reloading becuase it looks like it is the newest but what other books should I buy? I would like to best ones out there for rifle reloading.

 

[dawico]

The Lyman books (especially the #49) are really good also. They contain a ton of load data and general reloading information. As a third book, go for the bullet manufacturers book that you plan to shoot the most. The Hornady book has more information geared toward their own bullets, the Speer toward theirs, and so forth. You can also go the the powder manufacturers website to get load data for their powders.

 

[brandon_mcg]

i just started also. i have lyman's 49th and the 8th edition of hornady.
both have their strengths and weaknesses.

for example my lyman doesnt have any data for 230 gr RN lead .45 acp whereas the hornady does.

 

[cfullgraf]

i just started also. i have lyman's 49th and the 8th edition of hornady.
both have their strengths and weaknesses.

for example my lyman doesnt have any data for 230 gr RN lead .45 acp whereas the hornady does.

Brandon, exactly why you have several books. Besides differences in load data, there are usually some nuggets of information in one book that is not mentioned in the others.

There is no need to buy them all, but nice if you can. I have Hornady, Speer, Sierra, Lyman #49 and many of the pamphlets published by the powder manufacturers. I generally get the updated book when they come out. I keep the old books for reference.

 

[rcmodel]

for example my Lyman doesnt have any data for 230 gr RN lead .45 acp whereas the Hornady does.

Yes, it does.
Look on page 382, Lyman mold #452374, 225 gr. LRN (#2 alloy)

That is the "as cast" weight before the grease groove is filled with lube.
After you size & lube it, it will be awfully close to 230 grains depending on your alloy mix.
And +/- 5 grains is not a deal breaker with cast bullet load data.
Very seldom if ever do they cast the exact weight shown in the manual.
That is true of every cast bullet shown in any manual.

Plus if you:
Change to a softer alloy then Lyman #2 and it will weigh 235 or more.
Change to a harder alloy then Lyman #2 and it will weigh 225 or less.

SO, it is indeed 230 grain LRN data.

I would like to best ones out there for rifle reloading.

Pick a brand of bullet you intend to use most and get the manual published by that bullet manufacture.
Hornady, Speer, Sierra, Barnes, etc. all offer brand specific reloading manuals for their bullets.

Of them all, the Lyman #49 is the only one covering a broad selection of bullet brands and weights in one book.
All other manuals are bullet brand specific.

Also, the Lee manual covers a lot of loads, but it is all just reprints of load data from the bullet & powder manufactures labs. Lee has no testing facility of thier own.

rc

 

[brandon_mcg]

good to know. makes me feel better about the lyman manual.

 

[ranger335v]

All manuals are good. Like anything else, "best" is the one that serves you better than others. Lyman, Hornady, Lee are all very good for noobs because of the clear illustrations, diagrams and written directions.

 

[rfwobbly]

I'm going to order the 2008 edition of The ABCs of Reloading because it looks like it is the newest but what other books should I buy?

There is no load data in this book. Therefore you might consider looking in your local library for this book. That way, once you read it for free, then you can return it. If you need refreshing, then all the reloading manuals have good information on the practice and process.

IMHO the books you want to concentrate on buying are the data manuals. Like RC said, if you're going to concentrate on a particular brand of bullet, definitely get that manufacturer's manual.