Reloading Equipment
- Thread starter robbyc90
- Start date
FortHunter
CGN Regular
- Location
- Nowhere relevant
What Reloading books you want will depend somewhat on what caliber and what gunpowder your using.
Example: I have a lymans Reloading book. I found the explanation of the reloading process for pistol and rifle cartridges to be good and I successfully loaded a lot of rounds. But the actual data for different cartridges and powders didn't always work for me. The edition I had didn't have any data for 6mm Creedmoor and was very lacking for vihtavouri powders which I use almost exclusively. So I use the vihtavouri app and cross reference the data with my lyman manual(if there even is data). I also have an Ed 1 lyman shotshell manual but almost all of the powders listed in it are no longer manufactured.
I think a new or relatively new lyman manual is a good start but I would make sure the manual you buy has the cartridges you want to reload for actually listed.
There's a lot of pdf versions of Reloading manuals on the internet you can use for cross referencing but I recommend at least one hard copy reloading manual.
Example: I have a lymans Reloading book. I found the explanation of the reloading process for pistol and rifle cartridges to be good and I successfully loaded a lot of rounds. But the actual data for different cartridges and powders didn't always work for me. The edition I had didn't have any data for 6mm Creedmoor and was very lacking for vihtavouri powders which I use almost exclusively. So I use the vihtavouri app and cross reference the data with my lyman manual(if there even is data). I also have an Ed 1 lyman shotshell manual but almost all of the powders listed in it are no longer manufactured.
I think a new or relatively new lyman manual is a good start but I would make sure the manual you buy has the cartridges you want to reload for actually listed.
There's a lot of pdf versions of Reloading manuals on the internet you can use for cross referencing but I recommend at least one hard copy reloading manual.
There is an absolute wealth of knowledge online available from manufacturers. As two examples Hodgdon and Nosler both have data available for free online.
https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-data-center
https://www.nosler.com/load-data/caliber-and-cartridge-data.html
Component and equipment manufacturers often have how-tos online as well, such as RCBS's step by step guide:
https://www.rcbs.com/rcbs-how-to-reload/rcbs-step-by-step-reloading.html
I have an older edition of the Speer manual. It's good, but honestly I don't use it much and I got it way after I started reloading. I learned from YouTube, forums, and other free online sources. I'm not sure if YouTube is still a good source though? I know they cracked down on gun content between when I got started and now, a cursory glance shows there is still lots of videos on reloading though.
https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-data-center
https://www.nosler.com/load-data/caliber-and-cartridge-data.html
Component and equipment manufacturers often have how-tos online as well, such as RCBS's step by step guide:
https://www.rcbs.com/rcbs-how-to-reload/rcbs-step-by-step-reloading.html
I have an older edition of the Speer manual. It's good, but honestly I don't use it much and I got it way after I started reloading. I learned from YouTube, forums, and other free online sources. I'm not sure if YouTube is still a good source though? I know they cracked down on gun content between when I got started and now, a cursory glance shows there is still lots of videos on reloading though.
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There is no "best reloading book" or manual. Buy one. Read it. Read it again. Have it at hand as you go through the steps of setting up your equipment and making the first rounds. Measure stuff. Measure those things again to make sure the measurement is correct. Make sure you understand what you are measuring and have the right tool to make that measurement. Test stuff and learn how everything works together.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
I would go with post #5 - is about no "one" book that I found that has everything. I tend to start with the manual by the bullet maker or the powder maker - after some time at it, you will discover published mistakes - look up Nosler on-line or Nosler #9 book - 7mm STW, H1000 powder and note how they list identical loadings for both their 160 grain and 175 grain bullets - their listed Start load for 175 grain is now higher then their Maximum load in multiple previous editions of their manuals - so I no longer trust any "one" source for loading data - I want to see similar from several sources.
I also tend to be "that guy" that actually reads and keeps the little pamphlets that come with many reloading tools - because you know how to set up RCBS dies does not necessarily mean that you know how to set up Lee Dead Length seating die - and so on - is many little surprises like that!!
Most reloading manuals - about the first 1/4 or 1/3 of it or so, cover "how to reload" - often with an associated brand's equipment. I have about 6 manuals within arm's reach now - and probably double or triple that many older ones. Also, books by John Barnsess covered the process well and have some neat ideas how to "make do" instead of buying more stuff. Is also about a 36" tall stack of Handloader magazine and Rifle magazine - many tips and tricks picked up in them (is also much advertising and other B.S. in them as well!!).
And, I made or saw about any mistake possible over 40 plus years of doing it - as I mentioned to a young fellow, recently - you have not "lived" until you get chintzy with resizing case lube, then rip the rim off a case with the case body stuck in the re-sizing die - several makers sell "kits" that you can buy to resolve that without wrecking the die, or you can use normal shop tools and do the same for yourself - need to do that once every so many decades, and you will seldom forget that lubing step!!!
Like most things - start with a mentor or a book - most any reputable loading manual will help you to start - then try to cross reference any data to some other source - then try it, and gain your own experience. At some point you may end up with multiple manuals, maybe some scars, maybe some tools or "good deals" that you have not actually used in 25 years, or you might be the guy that has used the same recipe for his 30-06 since 1985, and that is the only "hand loading" that he has ever done. Learn what is "annealing". Try not to confuse your store-bought production rifle with a high precision custom bench-rest rifle - if you can not show a difference on target, whatever was sold to you as latest and greatest might not be so useful to you - so plan to start by making rounds that go "bang" and generally get a hole on paper where you are aiming. Progress from that.
And it will not quit with the reloading - sometimes your disappointing results get tracked down to a tight spot in the barrel channel pressing against the barrel, or the action bedding has created an arch in your receiver when the action screws torqued up, or a scope mount screw that has stripped or partially stripped and is no longer holding the base or rings tight to the receiver, or the scope has died - and so on - is not always the ammo that is at fault. And, dread the inevitable day that you discover that the "nutz" behind the trigger has something to do with the group size!!!
I also tend to be "that guy" that actually reads and keeps the little pamphlets that come with many reloading tools - because you know how to set up RCBS dies does not necessarily mean that you know how to set up Lee Dead Length seating die - and so on - is many little surprises like that!!
Most reloading manuals - about the first 1/4 or 1/3 of it or so, cover "how to reload" - often with an associated brand's equipment. I have about 6 manuals within arm's reach now - and probably double or triple that many older ones. Also, books by John Barnsess covered the process well and have some neat ideas how to "make do" instead of buying more stuff. Is also about a 36" tall stack of Handloader magazine and Rifle magazine - many tips and tricks picked up in them (is also much advertising and other B.S. in them as well!!).
And, I made or saw about any mistake possible over 40 plus years of doing it - as I mentioned to a young fellow, recently - you have not "lived" until you get chintzy with resizing case lube, then rip the rim off a case with the case body stuck in the re-sizing die - several makers sell "kits" that you can buy to resolve that without wrecking the die, or you can use normal shop tools and do the same for yourself - need to do that once every so many decades, and you will seldom forget that lubing step!!!
Like most things - start with a mentor or a book - most any reputable loading manual will help you to start - then try to cross reference any data to some other source - then try it, and gain your own experience. At some point you may end up with multiple manuals, maybe some scars, maybe some tools or "good deals" that you have not actually used in 25 years, or you might be the guy that has used the same recipe for his 30-06 since 1985, and that is the only "hand loading" that he has ever done. Learn what is "annealing". Try not to confuse your store-bought production rifle with a high precision custom bench-rest rifle - if you can not show a difference on target, whatever was sold to you as latest and greatest might not be so useful to you - so plan to start by making rounds that go "bang" and generally get a hole on paper where you are aiming. Progress from that.
And it will not quit with the reloading - sometimes your disappointing results get tracked down to a tight spot in the barrel channel pressing against the barrel, or the action bedding has created an arch in your receiver when the action screws torqued up, or a scope mount screw that has stripped or partially stripped and is no longer holding the base or rings tight to the receiver, or the scope has died - and so on - is not always the ammo that is at fault. And, dread the inevitable day that you discover that the "nutz" behind the trigger has something to do with the group size!!!
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- Location
- SE corner Sk
Best bet is to buy multiple books. Nosler,Speer, Hornady, ect. Look on the equipment exchange for deals. Another place to look is icollector.
Amazon is a double edged blade. Yep, they generally have a decent selection of different stuff and the free shipping is hard to beat but if you compare prices, Amazon is generally higher priced, sometimes a lot higher priced.
This is a good point. I have a drawer full of instruction sheets that came w all my die sets, as well as the manuals and parts lists for presses etc. Some these things are good to have 20 years down the road when you break a part and need a replacement.
And, I made or saw about any mistake possible over 40 plus years of doing it - as I mentioned to a young fellow, recently - you have not "lived" until you get chintzy with resizing case lube, then rip the rim off a case with the case body stuck in the re-sizing die - several makers sell "kits" that you can buy to resolve that without wrecking the die, or you can use normal shop tools and do the same for yourself - need to do that once every so many decades, and you will seldom forget that lubing step!!![/QUOTE]
LOL, a case extraction kit for a sizing die is one of those things you really need, when you need it but will probably only ever use once cause its an easy mistake to avoid.
