Pet Loads book by Ken Waters

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howard2

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Finally got around to buying a new copy of the "Pet Loads" book by Ken Waters. Its been on my bucket list for a while and I'm happy I finally got a copy. It a big book at over 1100 pages but like many of you I spend a lot of time reading up about load before I sit down at the loading bench. Some of the material is dated but most of the articles have insight in to hand loading that I just don't see in the newer load books. I know the newer powders like Varget, H1000 other newer powders that I use today aren't in most of the articles but 4895, 3031 and 4320 are old standbys that can still work. Of course one should find modern load data for the newer powder to compare the load info to make sure things aren't out of wack. I find for many of the powders data hasn't changed much, I was given some 1980's Unique a couple years ago and it appears very similar to the modern stuff, except for the price tag on the can !!
 
I also refer to 'Pet Loads' regularly.
It's entertaining as well as informative.
Let's face it...reloading makes for pretty dry reading; Water's made it entertaining as well.
 
Have had one for decades and been updating it regularly. I bought a new one two years ago just in the event I or they may have missed something in the updates. Lots of historical info in the book as well.
 
It's one of my favorite gun and loading books to read. I even consult it before buying a new rifle cartridge type. He has lots of info on cartridges that have helped me walk away from more than a few guns as they would not have served my purpose very well...
 
The thing i like best about Ken Water's Pet Loads is that he provides the information for the loads he tested .... and the accompanying accuracy he achieved. So many publications provide load information and velocities without the groups they produced.

Great reloading resource!
 
Still have mine as well. A 2nd edition, April 1980. Consult it on a fairly regular basis. I see on the bottem of the first page, that "supplemental articles are available twice yearly". Anyone know if a recent edition has been made available in the last little while?
 
Recently acquired a few more 'goodies' from days past. Both the 1st edition and 2nd edition of the Lyman Handbook of Cast Bullets, along with the Lyman Centennial Journal, 1878-1978. Already have and use the 3rd edition Cast Bullet Handbook.
Then, to round things out even better, I also acquired volume 1 and II of P.O. Ackleys Handbook For Shooters & Reloaders.
 
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BigUglyMan said:
My pet load for the 45-70 is a "Pet Load" of Ken's. Killed my first mulie with it.
Click to expand...

Hopefully soon I'll be thumbing through a number of sources of 45-70 info, including Ken's, especially for cast loads. I parted with my Marlin 1895GS to young son in the B.C. central interior but now I'm 'considering' a Pedersoli Sharps, with lots of 'trimmings'.
 
Here's another book I spent a lot of time reading as well. Well worth the purchase.

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Johnn Peterson said:
Recently acquired a few more 'goodies' from days past. Both the 1st edition and 2nd edition of the Lyman Handbook of Cast Bullets, along with the Lyman Centennial Journal, 1878-1978. Already have and use the 3rd edition Cast Bullet Handbook.
Then, to round things out even better, I also acquired volume 1 and II of P.O. Ackleys Handbook For Shooters & Reloaders.
Click to expand...

Johnn, the reloader magazine you gave me years ago has the best loading information on the 45-70 of any publication you can find!
Regarding Parker Ackley's books, I have had them for a long time and for many years they were my principal source of loading information. The good part of the reloading section in those books is Ackley gives an accurate reading of the velocity attained, something that is "doctored up" in most modern loading manuals.
Years ago we had a rhyme for loading a 30-30 which went, with 170 grain bullet, 33 grains of 3031 powder. Easily remembered and I used it often.
A while back I wondered where I had found the original loading, of 33 grains of 3031. I have an old IMR reloading mini book and it shows 32 grains, but the little manual is stamped, "New Edition." So that explained the drop in powder.
Then, the other day I was looking at the Ackley books and there was my original load--33 grains of 3031 for a 30-30 with 170 grain bullet! And the velocity they give is just a hair under the 2200 fps the 30-30 was designed for.
It is interesting to look at Hodgdon's on line for the 30-30, where they give a maximum load of 29.2 grains of 3031!
 
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