Which Reloading Manual

[45shooter]

I want to get a new reloading manual with my Christmas gift card from B&N.

I currently have a dozen of them going back about 30 years from different publishers but the latest one is about 8 years old. I'm not interested in the procedure or anything like that... I want as much bullet/powder combination as possible for handgun calibers as there are a lot of components that came out in past few years I would like to know about.

I think I had heard Speer recently came out with a new manual thats very comprehensive but are there any others?

Thanks.

 

[Enginetech88]

From what I have seen posted recently here..... You are going to be told to do a search. Then you will get the answer.... Lyman #49. I agree with going with the lyman #49. Josh

 

[rfwobbly]

IMHO the Lyman manual always rates #1 for the simple reason that they do not make bullets or powder. Therefore, they give a broader cross section of bullet/powder combinations than anyone else.

Another good choice is the Sierra manual.

 

[rcmodel]

If you shoot nothing but Speer bullets, it is very good.

If you shoot nothing but Hornady, thiers is good.
Same with Sierra.
Each is specific to only the bullets they make themselves.

Get the Lyman #49 and be done with it.

rc

 

[45shooter]

Thanks guys.
l already have the Lyman #46.
I guess I'll get the #49.

 

[pmeisel]

I lost my collection of manuals in a move. I replaced the whole lot with two -- Lyman 49 and the Lee manual.

If I could only have one of the two I think I would keep the Lee, but it's a close call. Before I got the Lee manual I thought the Lyman was the end-all.

 

[rcmodel]

The Lee book is nothing more then a collection of the free data available from all the powder manufactures on the internet.

It also has no info on seating depth for any load, and often doesn't identify what make & model bullet they are giving load data for!

It is also getting a little dated with all the new calibers and powders introduced since it's last edition came out 6 years ago.

rc

 

[Dean Williams]

The Lee book is just handy if you want to have all the powder manufacturer's data in one place. You won't need to be shuffling through a bunch of different pamphlets for an overview of offerings and load data. It's also pretty cheap when on sale. About $14.

I think the Lyman is the most comprehensive, and is my most used reference.

 

[kimbernut]

I'd be lost without

at least four: Speer, Hornady,Sierra,and Hornady. Nosler and Lyman are normally just bonuses but occasionally cover a load the others just don't cover. Lee is a good overview of them all as pointed out above but when none of the manuals have the exact components I'm using the Lee manual always comes through with its vast array of powders and bullet types rather than bullet brand names.

 

[tlen]

If you want to shoot Speer bullets and use Alliant powder check Alliant's web site for online data. Alliant and Speer are both ATK companies.....

 

[ls0n3]

abc's of reloading was a decent read, then the lyman's #49 was the real deal.

 

[qajaq59]

Yup.... Lyman #49

 

[74shovel]

Max case length 223

I have a lot of 5.56 military ammo that I’m loading for my AR 15. This is a mixed lot of head stamps once fired. I picked this brass up off the range in the late 80s. The case lengths range from 1.758 to 1.768. My old Lyman load manual shows the max case length for a Rem 223 at 1.760. So I’ve been trimming them and after doing about 500 I’ve been thinking is it really necessary. What do ya’ll think? Do I really need to trim them? My AR is a bushmaster.

Also what is the max case length for the 5.56?

Thanks