reloading manual
- Thread starter Jmurman
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stans
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If you have to pick just one manual, I would say get Lyman's handloading manual. Once you read that one, cover to cover, go get some other manuals and read those as well. The more knowledge you gain before reloading that first shell, the better off you will be.
Big_R
Member
Good advice from Stans. Along with that, I would say a minimum, buy one manual from the manufacturer of the powder you will use and one from the manufacturer of the bullets you will use. Load data varies a lot, so a lot of it is how brave you are when it comes to load data. I use Accurate Arms powder exclusively, so that was a no brainer, but for bullets, I shoot a lot of brands, so I reference all the books I have. This is especially helpful if you are shooting bullets from a mfg that doesn't publish data.
Bottom line; you cannot have too much information.
Ryan
Bottom line; you cannot have too much information.
Ryan
agree w/ the above...
my favorite reloading manual is speer #13. it is easy to read and find the info i want, and what the book has listed as a max charge for whatever caliber, i have found is actually a max charge in my rifles. they don't seem to dilute the data like some of the other books i've seen...
my favorite reloading manual is speer #13. it is easy to read and find the info i want, and what the book has listed as a max charge for whatever caliber, i have found is actually a max charge in my rifles. they don't seem to dilute the data like some of the other books i've seen...
Steve in PA
Member
My order of preference is;
Hornady,
Speer,
Hodgdon
Hornady,
Speer,
Hodgdon
Steve Smith
Moderator Emeritus
Lyman has a seperate casting manual that is very good.
cheygriz
member
In the classes that I taught, I always recommended that everyone buy the Lyman manual first. There's certainly nothing wrong with the other manuals, but IMNSHO, Lyman is the one to have if you have only one.
After that, get either the Speer, Hodgdon or Hornady.
I like the Sierra manual, and the Accurate Arms manual as well, but I would strongly recommend that you get the Lyman, Speer, Hodgdon and Hornady manulas first.
After that, get either the Speer, Hodgdon or Hornady.
I like the Sierra manual, and the Accurate Arms manual as well, but I would strongly recommend that you get the Lyman, Speer, Hodgdon and Hornady manulas first.
bedlamite
Member
You can't have too many load manuals.
Lymann is great for cast bullets.
For jacketed, the first manual I pick up is Hornady. Their max charges and valocities have come very close to what I get at the range.
Lymann is great for cast bullets.
For jacketed, the first manual I pick up is Hornady. Their max charges and valocities have come very close to what I get at the range.
Quantrill
Member
Glad you got the Lyman's first. If casting is to be a really big part of your reloading, get the Lyman casting book second. But whatever you do, Don't stop at one. Quantrill
The nice thing about the Lyman's manual that most of the other manufacturer's don't include is pressure data. Check the powder manufacturer's websites as well, they have load data in pdf format. I always check the Lyman manual and the powder manufacturer's recommendation before each loading session.
The Lee Manual gives you a whole lot of good information about basic handloading.
If I could only have one manual, it would be the Hogdon manual. I say that even though I have been reloading for over 20 years, own dozens of manuals and have never owned my own Hodgdon manual :banghead: I always borrow someone elses, but I like it better than the ones I have but somehow have never ordered my own.
If I could only have one manual, it would be the Hogdon manual. I say that even though I have been reloading for over 20 years, own dozens of manuals and have never owned my own Hodgdon manual :banghead: I always borrow someone elses, but I like it better than the ones I have but somehow have never ordered my own.
Kruzr
Member
A good manual is a must to cover all you need to know but for just load recipes, for one caliber, Loadbooks makes a One Caliber booklet that compiles bullet and powder manufacturer's load data. You can find these at gun shows or at: www.loadbooks.com
stans
Member
By the way, most powder manufacturers have websites that contain load data.
Johnny Guest
Moderator In Memoriam
Excellent choice, Jmurman - - -
- -- But as others have said above, please don't stop with one manual. Misprints have been known to occur-- Second Source ALL starting loads. Don't be too concerned at MINOR differences between manuals--Different companies test loads in different length barrels, the primers are sometimes different, and so forth. But any major difference demands a LOT of caution.
I know, the books are not cheap, but you obviously have access to a computer, and the various powder manufacturers give at least SOME data at their web sites.
Also, any good size sporting goods store which sells loading components will have some free-for-the-asking manuals from the various powder manufacturers. The range of loads are usually limited, and, of course, they list only their own products. In addition to my hardbacks, I try to pick up AT LEAST the Hodgdon, IMR and Winchester pamphlets every year.
You mention '06 and .45 ACP as your main loading interests--Both great choices, and possibly the two most highly-refined cartridges ever built. There's a wealth of information on the 'net for both. Do a Search both here and on www.thefiringline.com and see what I mean.
Best of luck in your loading efforts, and please don't be a stranger on this forum
regards,
Johnny
- -- But as others have said above, please don't stop with one manual. Misprints have been known to occur-- Second Source ALL starting loads. Don't be too concerned at MINOR differences between manuals--Different companies test loads in different length barrels, the primers are sometimes different, and so forth. But any major difference demands a LOT of caution.
I know, the books are not cheap, but you obviously have access to a computer, and the various powder manufacturers give at least SOME data at their web sites.
Also, any good size sporting goods store which sells loading components will have some free-for-the-asking manuals from the various powder manufacturers. The range of loads are usually limited, and, of course, they list only their own products. In addition to my hardbacks, I try to pick up AT LEAST the Hodgdon, IMR and Winchester pamphlets every year.
You mention '06 and .45 ACP as your main loading interests--Both great choices, and possibly the two most highly-refined cartridges ever built. There's a wealth of information on the 'net for both. Do a Search both here and on www.thefiringline.com and see what I mean.
Best of luck in your loading efforts, and please don't be a stranger on this forum
regards,
Johnny
Freedom in theSkies
Member.
Speer #13- Especially the first few chapters...
I read mine over again every few months, just in case I forget something...
I must be getting old!
I read mine over again every few months, just in case I forget something...
I must be getting old!
coonan357
Member
one word: LYMAN the book that most people use when they get started , I would recommend the speer#13 manual for your second one . then Ken Waters Pet loads book its a wee bit on price but covers a whole bunch of firearms
Big_R
Member
One more very good source of information. If you want to look at his load data, you have to hit the "I agree" thing. If you hit the "I don't agree" thing, you will go to the rest of the information. Click on the target looking things. This guy has amassed quite a pile of info. Good luck.
xxx://stevespages.com/page8c.htm
Ryan
xxx://stevespages.com/page8c.htm
Ryan
dongun
Member
I've probably got a half dozen. My favorites are the Sierra and Nosler. Besides the reloading data, these contain a wealth of info on shooting in general. Good reading for anyone interested in shooting, reloader or not.
renaissance
Member
For "444" re: Hodgdon Manual
Exactly what Hodgdon Manual do you use (borrow?)
I ordered one once from Midwayabout a Year ago, but when I got it it seemed horribly out of date.
It did not even LIST .40 S& W ( Had it not been invented yet? )
It didn't even list some of the later developed HODGDON Powders.
The one I got was in a "Loose Leaf" format.
Did I have an
OLD" version or what??
(I sent it back)
renaissance
Exactly what Hodgdon Manual do you use (borrow?)
I ordered one once from Midwayabout a Year ago, but when I got it it seemed horribly out of date.
It did not even LIST .40 S& W ( Had it not been invented yet? )
It didn't even list some of the later developed HODGDON Powders.
The one I got was in a "Loose Leaf" format.
Did I have an
OLD" version or what??
(I sent it back)
renaissance
That sounds right, red cover, loose leaf format. I tried to find it on their
web site but of course I couldn't. I don't doubt you, but it seems odd that
Midway of all places would have an old, out of date manual. Check out the
Hodgdon web site. You can download their Basic Manual, and of course they
have all kinds of loading data on the site also. I have borrowed several of
those manuals; mainly though my local dealer has one sitting on the counter
and I have gone there to buy powder and then used the manual to look up a
load while I was there.
I never looked up anything too exotic, I know I used it for various loads using Varget powder, I know I used it for .30-06, .357 stuff like that, it never occured to me that maybe these new fangled cartridges like the .40 S&W wouldn't be in there.
web site but of course I couldn't. I don't doubt you, but it seems odd that
Midway of all places would have an old, out of date manual. Check out the
Hodgdon web site. You can download their Basic Manual, and of course they
have all kinds of loading data on the site also. I have borrowed several of
those manuals; mainly though my local dealer has one sitting on the counter
and I have gone there to buy powder and then used the manual to look up a
load while I was there.
I never looked up anything too exotic, I know I used it for various loads using Varget powder, I know I used it for .30-06, .357 stuff like that, it never occured to me that maybe these new fangled cartridges like the .40 S&W wouldn't be in there.
The book "Modern Reloading" by Richard Lee is a good book if you have never loaded before. He takes it from the how's to the why's and why not's, covers it all in an extremely simple and easy format. The book is a rather large commercial for Lee products, but the information provided is very solid. It is the book I loan out to people that are new and interested. The nearly conversational format make it easy to read too, so it will actually get read cover to cover.
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