Which shotshell manual is better, Lyman or RCBS?

[clone]

I am Looking to get into reloading 12ga and am looking for the best manual. I have a Lee, Lyman and ABC's of reloading manual (has a "few" 12ga loads) for rifle and pistol. Of those I prefer the Lyman.

I bought a pre-80's Mec 600 Jr (cheap), cleaned it up and ordered a few parts to get it back into working order. I was going to order components as I would for rifle or pistol loading but realized I had to go by a recipe, so I need a Manual first.

So what manual do you prefer? It does not have to be of those two per say, those are just the ones I have "heard" where best.

 

[RhinoDefense]

Lyman for sure.

 

[HOWARD J]

I have both RCBS & Lyman manuals.
I really don't use them much b/cause
I still like my old manual RELOADING FOR SHOTGUNNERS by Robert Anderson.
I still have some Win 452AA powder I use to match Winchester factory AA loads.
Also use a lot of Red Dot for shotgun target loads.
Here is a couple of red Dot loads:

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[loadedround]

+1 on the Lyman also.

 

[rbernie]

Lyman, for sure. It covers the PROCESS of reloading very well, and I've used it as a reference for a while.

Also keep in mind that most powder manufacturers will have load data online. The Hornady shotshell load data is particularly complete, and very useful.

 

[MMCSRET]

Probably there is no "best". All manuals have good information and test/load data/procedures; all of which were/are developed/researched on different machinery and under differing conditions. You can gain valuable and important knowledge and information from all manuals.
My advise: accumulate all the knowledge and information you can. If one was "the best", all others would have ceased publication at that point and been recalled and destroyed.

 

[dredd]

I started out with the (FREE) Hodgdon Basic Reloaders Manual:

http://www.hodgdon.com/store/product.php?productid=16134&cat=0&page=1

I have no complaints at all.

The guy that got me into loading shot shells is a "Dealer". I picked up an old Pre-80's MEC 600 Jr from him, along with everything else needed.

I was loading shells that evening. As long as your MEC hasn't been run over by a truck, it should last another 100 years.

That little press will turn out some very nice shells for you.

 

[clone]

The Mec 600 Jr I bought has all of the dies but they where rusty and where caked with a grease like substance or residue of some sort. The inside of the dies cleaned up well so they should work fine.

The only parts that where needed was the "Cam Crimp Punch" and the lock nut that goes on the bottom of it. The nut was missing and the die was in a bind, so when I tried to remove it for cleaning the crimp punch broke at the top when using a screw driver on it.

Another thing I noticed I do not have, after I had already made my order, is a 8 point spindex starter crimp. Do I really need the 8 point?

One more question. How do I remove the wad die assembly for cleaning?

 

[dredd]

I haven't had to remove the wad die assembly, so I can't give an honest answer to that.

If you haven't already done it / found it..... MEC has all of the manuals and diagrams one line that you can down load & print.

If I were you, I go ahead and get the 8 Point parts.