Top 5...?

[patriot53]

Hi;
New to Reloading/Hand-loading...
...VERY "new", as in NO equipment yet except I jumped on 250 Starline Brass
.458 SOCOM cases...hard to get, hard to get ammo & pricey.
So am compiling "WEB_Wisdom" on this serious subject/endeavor .
I wanna be safe, competent & creative...

Got the skinny on most of the hardware "pros & cons" between types & brands
...not looking for that in this thread.

What I am looking for is ;
...CONSENSUS on the TOP 5 or so Reloading/Hand-loading Load DATA Books or Manuals,
AND...
...the Reasons "why" you feel they are very good and/or complete?

So not just cause you own one...tell me if you think in hindsight, you made a mistake with what you have...an KNOW, that there is something better, please...
Thanks!

 

[oldpapps]

An open ended question.

Is your intention to only load for the SOCOM? If so, there used to be a company called 'Loadbooks USA' that printed chamber specific loading data books. The information was re-prints from many sources. I haven't looked at an new books for a number of years and don't know if the company is still printing or covers the SOCOM.

After that option. Do you plan on all jacketed, all lead or a combination? If lead is included, will you be casting? For lead, Lyman is the loading information king. Followed very well with the RCBS Cast Bullet Manual. And don't discount those others out there.

I like hard copy references but the on-line data from the powder companies and bullet companies is quick and included the newest and best (?).

Not knowing where you stand in the on-going learning process, ABCs of Loading is good. See what your local Library has to offer. Determining book XX is great but YY doesn't cover what you are interested in with a library book is cheaper than popping the bucks for them.

Old used loading books from used book stores and yard sales have great value.

Load with great care.

 

[moxie]

I like Speer, Lyman, Sierra and Hornady for books. Alliant and winchester/Hodgdon for websites. Reason is they all do their own work, they don't copy. They have their own ballisticians and test facilities. And they have lots of helpful explanatory how-to info.

 

[patriot53]

An open ended question.

Is your intention to only load for the SOCOM? If so, there used to be a company called 'Loadbooks USA' that printed chamber specific loading data books. The information was re-prints from many sources. I haven't looked at an new books for a number of years and don't know if the company is still printing or covers the SOCOM.

After that option. Do you plan on all jacketed, all lead or a combination? If lead is included, will you be casting? For lead, Lyman is the loading information king. Followed very well with the RCBS Cast Bullet Manual. And don't discount those others out there.

I like hard copy references but the on-line data from the powder companies and bullet companies is quick and included the newest and best (?).

Not knowing where you stand in the on-going learning process, ABCs of Loading is good. See what your local Library has to offer. Determining book XX is great but YY doesn't cover what you are interested in with a library book is cheaper than popping the bucks for them.

Old used loading books from used book stores and yard sales have great value.

Load with great care.

No...just staring out with .458 SOCOM...have the brass, have a new
Wilson .458 SOCOM 14.7" and ammo hard to come by and $3. a pop.
I have this new Rifle want to shoot it , a lot...
...but unlike my bolt hunting guns, which yes, sight in, shoot often, become
comfortable & proficient...
...semi-auto AR's makes me tend to go thru and want to shoot a whole heck of a lot more ammo!
I may take that Ruger .416 Guide gun out and shoot a box of 20, than case it and go on to something else...yep, $60. for a box...but that's all maybe I'd shoot and then shoot other guns.
But the AR15 .458 SOCOM...not gonna be content with shooting a couple of mags full.
So, been wanting to reload for a while and been putting it off...
...now, I'm much more motivated.

NO, not gonna cast my own bullets.
Will shoot mostly jacketed, except for the gas check hard-cast for .45-70 GOVT.
.500 S&W Mag., .460 S&W mag.

I plan on loading the other "pricey" ammo I shoot. .416 Ruger, 375 H&H, .9.3x62,
.45-70 GOVT. .500 S&W Mag., .460 S&W mag.
...as well as experiment with different combinations of bullets & powders.

Also, load the other AR calibers, .223 , .300AAC B.O., 6.8SPC & .308
...and eventually, .30-06, .300 Win.Mag. , 7mm RemMag., .30-30,
.44 Mag., 10mm & .45LC.

BTW...if you have a Die-Set for .223, can you ONLY reload .223 brass or can you reload the 5.56 brass...( or need a specific 5.56 Die) .
Since i'm new to reloading...may not be too dumb a question as I do know there is a slight difference, but since I can shoot the .223 in ALL my 5.56 Rifles ...
...wondering if it's "similar for reloading...or???
Or are separate die sets required for each (.223 vs. 5.56 )?

Does the same ( interchangeable or NOT... as far as reloading or hand-loading...) go for the .308 and 7.62x51 , as my .308 Rifles can shoot the 7.62
( especially as the Ruger is stamped for both on the barrel.)

 

[119er]

With the calibers you shoot I can't believe it took you this long to reload!

On the manuals, the more the better. I have Lyman 49th ed, Hornady 8th, Sierra, Speer, Nosler, and Vihtavuori. I also use the Hodgdon website a lot too. I will look for loads that use exact or very similar bullets and compare charges/velocities and choose a good starting point.

.223/5.56 use the same dies although if you plan on buying once fired brass or shoot it from a semi-auto rifle I would suggest a small base die. They aren't always needed but I use one to avoid problems going into battery. Differences between .223 and 5.56 are largely chamber/throat dimensional differences. Hornady has loads specific for .223 and 5.56. Same for.308 and 7.62, listed as service rifle data. Using military brass, it is usually recommended to reduce the charge slightly due to potentially lesser case volume. In my experience, the difference is negligible if any at all. YMMV, do your proper work ups. A chronograph would be helpful but not necessary.

.308/7.65x51 is the same as above. Small base die for auto loaders is strongly recommended here. I have not compared .308 and 7.62 case capacities as I have always handloaded this cartridge.

It is a great thing to reload. Just get a few manuals and read the information on reloading and the process from the front of the books.

 

[Blue68f100]

For 458 SOCOM check out http://458socomforums.com/ You will find load data there.

 

[oldpapps]

"No...just staring out with .458 SOCOM...~~~ $3. a pop ~~~ want to shoot it , a lot... ~~~ .416 Ruger, 375 H&H, .9.3x62,
.45-70 GOVT. .500 S&W Mag., .460 S&W mag.
...as well as experiment ~~~ other AR calibers, .223 , .300AAC B.O., 6.8SPC & .308
...and eventually, .30-06, .300 Win.Mag. , 7mm RemMag., .30-30, .44 Mag., 10mm & .45LC.

BTW...if you have a Die-Set for .223, can you ONLY reload .223 brass or can you reload the 5.56 brass...( or need a specific 5.56 Die) .
Since i'm new to reloading...may not be too dumb a question as I do know there is a slight difference, but since I can shoot the .223 in ALL my 5.56 Rifles ...
...wondering if it's "similar for reloading...or???
Or are separate die sets required for each (.223 vs. 5.56 )?

Does the same ( interchangeable or NOT... as far as reloading or hand-loading...) go for the .308 and 7.62x51 , as my .308 Rifles can shoot the 7.62
( especially as the Ruger is stamped for both on the barrel.)"

Could I adopt you? Nice listing of what you shoot

The .223 Rem and the 5.56 NATO cases are functionally the same thing. Most military cases will have the primers pined in some how, that crimp ring. The true differences are in the loadings and how they are handled in the chamber and throating of the barrel. Just process your brass (take care of the crimp ring around the primers on military brass) and sort by head stamps. I have seen listings with the case volumes/weights of several commercial and military cases and didn't see a pattern with the 5.56 being one way or another.

The .308 Win and 7.62 NATO are the same as the .223/5.56, well almost. The .308 is a little hotter than the 7.62 and the 7.62 brass does run heavier and thicker. Still have those crimped in primers. Again, sort the brass.

So, the same set of dies for both .223 and 5.56. I haven't seen the need for Small Base .223 dies but others must. And the same dies for .308s and 7.62s.

One other thing, I may go over board on this but I trim every case, every reload and check the web for separation (roughness just a head of the web on the inside - I use a large metal paper clip). If you have ever had a head pull, you understand the frustration that can follow.

Brass, my brass anyway, is never retired by number of loadings. The brass gets lost, neck splits, body splits, stretches and or primer pockets get loose. With moderate loads, longevity is greater than many would want you to know.

If you need more, use a bigger gun. Don't just push the load a little more.. and a little more.

Load for each weapon. Safety is first followed by hitting the target. How hard or fast is way down the list.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

IMO the Lyman manuals are probably the best all around load manuals available. The current edition is #49. They also publish a Cast Bullet Handbook, currently #4 which has a lot of load data you must have if you want to load cast bullets.

After that I would suggest buying the manual for the bullets you are going to load most. I load a lot of Nosler and Hornady bullets so i own bot those manuals too. I also have some older Speer manuals and I supplement all of that with the bullet and powder manufacturers load data sites.

That's how I do it but that doesn't mean it's the only way...

 

[Potatohead]

IMO the Lyman manuals are probably the best all around load manuals available. The current edition is #49. They also publish a Cast Bullet Handbook, currently #4 which has a lot of load data you must have if you want to load cast bullets.

After that I would suggest buying the manual for the bullets you are going to load most.

What AACD said ^

 

[alientrainwreck]

Lyman 49th, sierra, hornady for hardcovers Lyman being a must and I would suggest subscribing to LoadData.com they cover everything old and new really good online.

 

[steve4102]

I'll agree that Sierra #5 is a pretty good source for loading procedures and techniques , but IMO it is Not a good source for Load data. Sierra is the only manual I know of that does not Pressure test their data, they do it the old fashioned way, "they Guess".

 

[rg1]

Depends on bullets and powder you choose. Get the Hornady manual if you shoot their bullets, same for Sierra or Speer. If you use Accurate Arms powders then buy their manual, same for Hodgdon powder or others. Some data is available on-line but the book at your reloading bench is highly recommended. Lyman 49th is a great manual. So I'd first recommend the bullet company and powder companies manuals. Some companies that developed certain calibers such as 458's or 300 Blackout, etc. have data at their web sites. Top 5 for me would be Lyman 49th, Hornady, Sierra, Accurate Arms, and Nosler then I also have the Speer manual. Another good manual is Modern Reloading 2nd Edition by Richard Lee but it doesn't have 458 Socom data.