Which is the best of the New Re-loading Manuals?

[JohnnyFlake]

I have a number of re-loading books and manuals, but all of them are at least 5/6 years old and a few even older.

Which of the more recently released manuals, do you consider the Best?

If you were to buy only one, which would it be?

 

[Jim71063]

I'm sure you've already done this, but I started by downloading (and then getting the hard copy) of the Alliant and Hodgdon load data books. Plus the Lyman (49th Edition), but that may be as old as you have.

 

[rg1]

Nosler's new 8th manual is nice if you shoot Nosler bullets. I highly recommend Hodgdon's 2016 Annual Manual for about $7.00. Lyman 49th is old, Hornady 9th is getting old, Sierra 5th is dated. Speer's manual is only about their bullets and powder and doesn't in my opinion work well when trying to switch bullets from a different manufacturer. Only if you are wanting to test some of the newest powders or a new caliber do you need the latest manuals as yours are only 5-6 years old. Even then the latest powders mostly have data from the manufacturer on-line. Buy the Hodgdon 2016 Annual Manual and wait for Sierra, Hornady, Speer, Lyman, to finally produce a new manual worth buying. I do like to keep my manuals updated and buying a new rifle like a 300 Blackout makes me buy a manual just for the latest info on loading it. Makes me mad when a new manual like Hornady for instance that doesn't retest popular powders and bullets but keeps printing the same old data from 20 years ago in every new edition. Tested 20 years ago in a 26" bolt rifle for instance and the most popular rifle now is an AR-15 but they won't retest??

 

[spanky1968]

I recently bought 2 used manuals. One was the sierra binder and the other was a speer #14. Both were used but in excellent condition. Got them for $25 each.

Based on these two, It would be difficult to pick because they are both equal. So, wither one of these would be great.

That being said, there are all sorts of download information out there. Older copies of reloading manuals or powder data are usually free or very cheap. I used a speer #9 I got from my dad until it was about to fall apart. https://www.hodgdon.com/ has basic data for all their powders. I use SEVERAL sources for load data and cross check them all when working up a load.

If cost is an issue, check Amazon for ebooks or used hard copies.. There are even dedicated e-books sold by caliber that are exhaustively thorough.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=reloading+manuals

 

[ATLDave]

Online data from manufacturers is pretty good for specific loads. What it's not good for is comparative performance across brands. And what it's really not good for is explaining internal ballistics - the theory and basic physics involved in metallic cartridge firing. A lot of questions that get asked online by new-ish reloaders are questions that answer themselves if you understand internal ballistics at even a basic level, and would not likely be asked (or asked only in a confirmatory check-my-thinking manner) by someone who had read the NON-load data information of a good manual.

Speer and Hornady are very good on this stuff. Lyman is very good on comparative performance across brands, and is far and away the best on data for lead bullets. I keep all 3 on my bench and refer to them any time I'm working up a new load or contemplating a new powder (or cartridge). I've got a couple of others, but those are the ones I look at the most. Nosler has a smaller range of cartridges and less total information, but it's good on comparative data and is perhaps the most aesthetically pleasing of them; I could live without it pretty easily, but it's nice as an extra one.

 

[mdi]

I prefer a printed/published manual when comparing loads powders, etc. If I had to choose just one (thank goodness I don't have to) I would get the Lyman 49th...

 

[JohnnyFlake]

I appreciate the info you guys are providing, however, it appears that there is really not much new out there, that's of any value.

I do have the Lyman #49 and a couple of others. I don't recall which ones, as I pretty much use the Lyman #49 exclusively. I have also pulled down/copied some info from online sources, which I have found helpful.

 

[Rule3]

Hornady "9 is probably the "newest" as an overall manual (not just load data) all the manuals have a little bit of different info.

Lyman CAST is a good one to have if you shoot lead bullets.

 

[Hondo 60]

Which is the best of the New Re-loading Manuals?

It depends on which bullets you're using.

If you use Hornady bullets, the Hornady manual is best.
If you use Sierra bullets, well then the Sierra manual is best.

If you use Joe Schmo's bullets, or some small operator's bullets, then a manual from Lyman or Lee would probably be best.
or info from the powder's own website would help.

 

[Kaldor]

It depends on which bullets you're using.

If you use Hornady bullets, the Hornady manual is best.
If you use Sierra bullets, well then the Sierra manual is best.

If you use Joe Schmo's bullets, or some small operator's bullets, then a manual from Lyman or Lee would probably be best.
or info from the powder's own website would help.

Im about right there with Hondo.

I shoot alot of Hornady bullets, so I have the 9th ed. I shoot alot of HiTek coated lead pistol, so the Lyman 49th is best for that. I always cross reference load data against the powder manufacturers data. And I look at forums like here, AR15.com, 300 BO forums, Brian Enos, etc, to verify what Im loading has maybe been done before.

If I shot alot of Sierra's, Speers, or Noslers, Id have their books. And if I cant find specific load data, Ill find something close, and work my way up. Common sense goes a hell of a long ways.

 

[Paladin7]

The best and most comprehensive manual I have is the Speer #14, which is the latest.

I also have the Hornady Manual 9th Edition, which is the latest, and it is very good, with a few more cartridges but not nearly as comprehensive as the Speer Manual.

The Lyman Manuals, Hodgdon and other powder and bullet manufacturers manuals are good to have as well.

The Lee Manual is basically a re-print of load data from the powder manufacturers, etc.

Bottom Line, the best I've found is the Speer Manual and if I could only have one, that is the one I would have.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you aren't loading newer cartridges or the newest powders there is no reason to buy new manuals. The older data is usually not retested so no changes are made.

Best? Best at what? If you shoot one company's bullets most it's probably a good idea to buy their manual. I usually go to the Lyman 49th Edition manual and the Hornady 9th Edition manual most. If you shoot cast bullets I feel the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 4th Edition manual is a must. It's not just a reprint of the data in the full Lyman 49th Edition manual and it has data for bullets from molds other than those from Lyman. Those 3 are the ones I use most along with company online sites.

 

[Slamfire]

Still have my 41st Lyman manual, mainly for the laughs.



I like Lyman manuals primarily because they don't limit themselves to one brand of bullets. The Nosler, Speer, and Sierra manuals limit themselves to their bullets. Of course, the Lyman manual limits itself to their cast bullet molds. The problem with all loading data is that within a decade, about half the powders listed are no longer on the market. New powders have been arriving on the market place faster than snowflakes in a blizzard. Expect the current snow drift to blow away within five years as there are literally more powders than anyone can make sense of. Too bad they are not on the shelves as I would like to try a few before they become history.

 

[OilyPablo]

One or two, just won't due, I actually own most now. And seriously I got rid of my old texts and stuff that I had for years. Wasn't a paper guy anymore. NOW I love and apparently collect reloading manuals!

 

[AverajeJo]

Get lee and that is all you will ever need

 

[OilyPablo]

Lee is probably the funniest to read, campy I guess, his writing style is so 1950-1970 salesguy. And admittedly has quite a few loads and powders! Lyman and Hornady must be the most conservative. I like the Speer book. I wish Sierra and Nosler had more loads. If I really like a caliber I will even own the Load Book. But really - if you are retired or have spare time you could easily compile your own by extracting from all known sources.

Sometimes my favorite is Lyman Pistol SECOND (2nd) Edition:

http://www.amazon.com/Pistol-Revolver-Reloading-Handbook-Edition/dp/B0013FLVOU

It has 9x25 data!

 

[greyling22]

the lee book is pretty biased about his stuff, and fairly preachy about how great his presses are, but once you get past that, there is some excellent information in the book, and I like the way his load data is laid out better than anyone elses. I don't think his manual is up-to-date, but my new 9 millimeter dies I ordered came with load data for powders that were not in his old manuals. Maybe they are preparing for another edtion?

 

[Bartojc]

If you want to have a couple books for lots of bullets and powders the Lee and the Lyman book work best for me. There are so many resources from powder MFG online now. I typically look up in Lyman, then Lee, then check powder website and I'm good to go.

-Jeff