Best reloading manual ?

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Hello everyone,

I've spent the last several weeks piecing together my reloading equipment. I'm almost finished but yet to purchase a reloading manual. I've heard some people say to purchase multiple manuals to cross reference which I'm not apposed to doing just looking for the right reference manuals.

Thanks,
 
I like the nosler reloading book and the hornady web site for the rest
Sitedirector said:
Hello everyone,

I've spent the last several weeks piecing together my reloading equipment. I'm almost finished but yet to purchase a reloading manual. I've heard some people say to purchase multiple manuals to cross reference which I'm not apposed to doing just looking for the right reference manuals.

Thanks,
Click to expand...
 
I have Hornady, Lee, Barnes and Speer. I like to cross reference as you state (and read a lot :)). Some manuals don't list certain powders for some bullet weights, others do, stuff like that. I also get some mileage out of the Hodgdon and Alliant reference pages on their websites. Personally I find researching and deciding on a powder bullet combo to be half the fun of reloading.
 
Although I have a variety (depending whether loading cast or Jackets) I keep going back to the Speer because of the wealth of "related info" such as the "background and history" of each caliber (rifle and pistol); details of components and how each is made; step by step loading instructions and both short and long range ballistic tables. Also, since its a hardcover book it withstands the rigors of extended use and browsing better than loose leaf binder types.
For cast boolits - the Lyman book covers the whole casting process including info on boolits cross referenced to the Lyman moulds. Other info covers data on shell holders for calibers and the # for various sizing lubing dies. It also includes info for a (limited) selection of jacks.
 
Stores used to hand out paper backed reloading manuals for free, still have a slug of them around, and they actually cover some loads that i can't find in modern manuals or on the web, like shotgun slug recipes...

I've had a Hodgdon manual since i passed through the red sea with moses, but updated to Lyman manuals - cast and regular - a couple years ago

For a shotgun manual you can't go wrong with the one's Ballistic Products puts out...

look for older manuals at gun shows...interesting reading sometimes...for me the glory is in the differences between them...
 
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The answer is at least three of them. Four or five even better. lol

In all honesty these manuals usually reflect their own bullet line.
And may or may not reflect your own favorite powders.
So choose wisely.

In my own bookcase sits; Speer, Sierra, Hornday, Lyman and the ABC's of Reloading. Along with Pet Loads Volume I & II, and Ken Water's volume on Wildcats.
With my more recent interest in black powder firearms, a manual for reloading BP cartridge shotshells was purchased from Track of the Wolf. ;)
 
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I've got a couple,
Hornady 7th and Nosler 6, good manuals, all the info needed.
Berger 1st, same, good, charge weights are way low.
Sierra V, good info, hardback binder type, takes up too much space.
Lee, manual feels as cheap as their presses ;)
Speer 13, my favorite. Don't know why, just is. Best selections of recipes. Very user friendly and nice compact size.

Your manual should have been your first purchase. :)
 
Reloading manuals are like Lay's chips... You can't have just one. ;-})>
I have the Lyman, Hornady (3rd and 8th editions), Sierra and Lee....

Hodgdon's web site is also good, but I liked their old layout better. I've also used data from Barnes Bullets' web site.

Like others have mentioned, I cross-reference and compare data from more than one source when planning a load.
All of the manuals have their advantages and disadvantages. The Hornady and Sierra are specific to their own bullets, while the Lyman and Lee are non bullet maker specific.

Ultimately, your gun will tell you what it likes best.
 
I have a fairly substantial shelf in my book case filled with reloading manuals that go back a long time.
They are from practically every conceivable source, lol.

I try to update as new manuals come on board. [Some of the newer manuals show quite conservative loads, IMHO]

It is good to have plenty of reference material on hand.
The Internet is also a decent source of info, in many cases.

I believe it is a good idea to be as well-informed as possible with this hobby.
Experience will help as you spend more time in actual reloading/shooting.

Regards, Dave.
 
Good on ya 9x19 This says IT ALL! ANY manual is better than "hear say" and it should be the FIRST thing to purchse!!!

Your manual should have been your first purchase. :)[/QUOTE]
 
I like the Nosler manuals because the loads are actually pressure tested and they seem to take most loads right to max spec. At least in the cartridges I use it generally shows the highest potential velocity. On top of this they usually use min spec chambers in quality barrels this takes a lot of the goofy results from fat chambers and poor barrels out of the equation.
Some of the others don't even pressure test and just guess this leads to them erring on the side of caution and backing loads down a bit. Also if I see a load worked up in a standard factory rifle I take it with a grain of salt.
 
OP... All this is nice to read, but no whys really.

Get the Lee book.

It has far more loads than anyone else, it incorporates loads from many other companies, like the whole Hodgdon and Vihtavoiri online loading guides plus other online sources. It doesn't mess around with stories about calibers if you don't want that (entertaining but generally useless) and I'm betting has at least 10 times as many loads as the other books... Including loads for lead and plated bullets the others don't provide. The Lyman book also provides similar info, just way less. It also has very good instructions and tips. The other books are nice to add later, but generally not as useful unless you load just that brand. The Berger book is excellent if that's all you load, and far more useful for other info than the Nosler or Hornady books. Great tips for high accuracy loading.

You will find yourself looking in the Lee book for every load, as it's a better compilation, and has more powders and more bullet weights than the rest. Not just a few powders that work good for the brand that wrote the book.

Then buy more books..... Cause you should have more than 1. I think I have 6, and that's why I can confidently recommend the Lee as the catch all.

Load on Grasshopper!
 
First off, none of the are bad. All of them have reliable loads and much of it comes down to individual taste.

I started off with a Speer. A couple of years later I got another, different one. A few years after that, a third type. Every so often, I buy another. Data changes, recommended loads shift and, as noted, it allows cross-referencing.

Welcome to the dark side...
 
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I have a couple I use most often.
An old Hornady and a Lyman.
Don't really care for the cluttered Lee manual
and the Nosler seems it just brags 'bout izzself.

Go to the library and do some digging.
Find one you like and find easy to read and understand.
Then go buy it.
 
I have a half dozen or so. New Hornady and Sierra manuals are by my most referenced. The worst manual I have is the Berger manual. just my opinion tho, you wont go wrong with the Hornady book IMHO
 
I own 3 books and I like them all but for different reasons. I like the Lyman for the "how to reload" part. It's very well written and has a few interesting tips. But I find that the Lyman manual lacks in powder options for the loads they cover.

I like the Hornady book for the way the info is laid out but they only cover Hornady bullets....of course.

And last but not least, I like the Lee manual for it's great variety of bullet weights and powder options but I don't care for the way the info is laid out. It's kind of disorganized.

Hope this helps :)
 
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