Reloading Manuals

The lyman 49th is the most versatile I have. But then again there are so many inconsistancies between the different manuals that is hard to honestly say of the four I have which is the best.
As a newbie to reloading, the biggest path I was led astray on was initially following their stated OAL.

good luck.
 
My favorite is Sierra, but I also recommend Norma (just for it's info on component manufacturing, reloading and exterior ballistics sections - it's skinny on load data) and Hodgdon to round it out. I also use an old Sierra book to see the changes from yesterday to today.
 
I use alot of Nosler bullets so I bought the Nosler manual. I also use Hornady bullets so I bought their manual. I have the Lee manual as well and I just bought the Lyman cast bullet manual. I have an old set of Hornady manuals as well and then there's the internet!!
I also requested a reloading manual from each powder company that I deal with.
 
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IMHO... the only one you need is.... All of them......

Seriously! I currently have 8 on my shelf, and I still find myself going to the 'net' when looking to into a new powder or bullet, "reaserch and development" so to say....

Every G-show I go to lately has a manual that I don't have.... I tend to buy them as I see them.....

IMHO you can never have too many referance manuals.

Now if you are looking for your first manual, I'd have to say the Lymans manual is the most comprehensive, but if you are planning on loadidng a certain manufactures powder or Bullet, I'd have to suggest theat one first.

Cheers!
 
notsorichguy said:
IMHO... the only one you need is.... All of them......
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X2. Can't have too many - and READ them. Different neat stuff to be learned in each one, e.g. Hornady's description of headspace is probably one of the best out there - absolutely essential to understand if you're a loader. All have their biases, which is what makes the A-Square manual such a neat book - limited data, lots of BIG calibers but real entertaining stuff. Probably use Nosler and Barnes the most, as they make the bullets I prefer.
 
pick up a loadbooks manual for your specific cartridge... has data from all bullet and powder manufacturers in one small book. Run around 10.00 or so.
 
The Nosler books have most accurate loads with certain powders, and most accurate powders load. I rely on this book but you can never have too many reloading manuals.
 
I also have more then 1 manual : Hodgdon, Lee , VV, but the one like the best and use the most is Lyman, a lot of different powders, bullets and also a section for cast ..which I use a lot, so if I had to choose just one..it would be Lyman:)
Bob
 
Forgot about : one calber-one book, I have them in 308, 45-70 and 9mm (which I don't need anymore...no 9mm) They are handy to have ,they cover most bullets and powders also, in a compact book.
Bob
 
Loading Manuals

I have probably 50 to 60 manuals, I might even have more than that! Going all the way back to one of the first Ideal's from about 1898, In my case I never know when I'm gonna stumble acrossa Merwin and Hulbert or some such, thats going to need info to get her up smokin' agin, it's a love affair that never ends, and never ceases to amaze me.regards Bully
 
BULLY HAYES said:
I have probably 50 to 60 manuals, I might even have more than that! Going all the way back to one of the first Ideal's from about 1898, In my case I never know when I'm gonna stumble acrossa Merwin and Hulbert or some such, thats going to need info to get her up smokin' agin, it's a love affair that never ends, and never ceases to amaze me.regards Bully
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Old manuals make for excellent reading, and conversation pieces, but...

I wouldn't use data from ancient manuals. I have some Lyman books that I'm not sure how old they are, but they have data for the .303 Savage and other cartridges from before they were declared obsolete the first time around. Info that was current in 1941 doesn't appy to modern components even if they have designation. And if you stumble across a Merwin, Hulbert & Co revolver before I do,:p feed it nothing but black powder. They won't blow up right away with smokeless, but you will loosen them to the point where they will come apart. The one I was lucky enough to get had seen some, but not enough to do damage. I shoot her with nothing but black.

Oh, and my 3 Lyman manuals (47, 48 & 49) have much more worn spines than my Hornaday, Speer, and Nosler books.
 
the Lyman 49th is the most versatile I've seen; has loads for cast bullets and things like 7.62 X 54R as well as the standard's.
I also have old and new Hornady, Nosler, Sierra, and speer.

The 3 I use are the Lyman and the 2 Hornady's.
The hornady's also have the best "how to" info and pics of the manuals I have.
 
Don't flame me if this is a stupid question but.....

I use Hornady bullets almost exclusivly. Does this mean that the Hornady reloading guide should be my best bet? I currently only use an old Sierra Manual 4th edition on top of the reload data provided with my Lee dies and online Hodgson/IMR data. Should I buy something other than the Hornady manual?
 
Other manuals may have data for powders that Hornady doesn't list. It sounds like you have it covered with the Lee data, Hodgdon site, Sierra manual.
 
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