Best reloading manual??

if you are going to load for one specific caliber, try loadbooks. They compile data from all the manuals for that specific cartridge into one book. If you are going to reload several, or uncommon calibers, the nosler book is good, I also use the hornady book as well. I use nosler bullets, so I prefer their manual.
 
Sticker said:
Howdy

If you are new to reloading and want a manual to learn how to reload as well as load data, then you want the Lyman manual. I would say that it's the best "guide" you can get.
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:agree:

After that one, since Hornady are most available bullets, the Honday two volume set gives good recipes with their bullets & all the balistics in volume two.
 
Hodgdon has lots of data on their website for Hodgdon, IMR, and Winchester powders. Accurate Arms also has fairly comprehensive data for their powders.

Lyman probably has the single most comprehensive print manual.
 
I really like the Speer 19th ed. Also would mention Lyman 49, and Lee Modern Reloading 2nd. I did not find Hornady or Nosler as helpful for my reloading.
 
I've got the Hornady, Speer and the ABCs of Reloading. All are great. I also use the Hodgdon website for load data.

Hornady are the bullets most available to me, so I tend to lean towards that one. What bullets do you intend to start with? Start with that manual.
 
I got the Lyman 49th edition, its good because it doesn't advertise just particular brands of their own like hornandy and nosler perhaps, at least for me it includes other namebrands and powders etc to make it more diverse and complete. Tons of info on different loads n recipes of all brands and massive amounts of additional and interesting information. I got it for 29.99 great investment.
 
My choice would be Nosler. They list the most accurate powder with a particular bullet and that information can be used with any similar weight bullet for a good starting point. I also have Hornady, Richard LEE's book, and an older Nosler #2.
 
justsomeguy said:
Lee's book is good for intro although if it's not Lee it's crap according to him. I've heard "ABC's of Reloading" is a good training manual.
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Yeah, I found the same thing with the latest Speer manual pushing RCBS stuff - since they're both owned by the same company.

I found both the Lyman 49th and Lee's Modern Reloading 2nd to be the most helpful (especially since I also use a Lee Loader). I found Lyman's to be a bit light on the number of powders listed for my cartridge. Since I used this site and other internet sources for finding info before I bought the manuals, the 'extra' background/loading tips stuff was not that enlightening.

The online Hodgdon's site gave me some good load data too.
 
Lyman is the best "first" manual by far, IMO. Next best is hard to say, but the RCBS free online load data centre is a great resource.

Most manuals specify what load combo was the most accurate.
 
Best ones are the ones that list as many powders and bullets as possible, imho. I use Speer #13 and Lyman Pistol and Revolver for handguns data, I do not load rifle ammo.
 
Speer is really good, lots of info, most accurate tested, ect, but I buy mostly RCBS. I also buy every manual that comes out, priceless when your cooking up new loads. I can't have enough info with even 16 manuals.
 
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