I guess I am just a naughty boy! Maybe the type you shouldn't even associate with.
In 45 years of reloading I have never owned a genuine reloaders manual!
I started out exclusively with Norma components and their mini book called the Norma Gunbugs Guide. There was sufficient information in it to safely load ammunition with Norma powders.
When I started branching out into different powders, I discovered that Ellwood Epps 1964 catalogue had reloading charts in it, with IMR and Hodgdon powders. That was all I needed. Those old loading charts never specified a charge for different brands of the same weight bullet. For example a 30-06 with 180 grain bullet would be given as starting and full power loads. It didn't matter who made the bullet, or what shape it was, as long as it was 180 grains, it required X grains of Y powder for a load.
I adopted that system and load all bullets of a given weight and calibre, to the same charge. In all my years of reloading I have never distinguished the slightest difference in pressure, while using various brands, or shapes, of the same weight bullet.
As years went on I would get the powder companies loading charts.
However, the best loading information is how it works in my rifle(s). I would take my loading outfit out to the range and develope a load for the rifle I had with me. I would use the same three rifle cases for every load, as I built up the loads. That way, I would have the ultimate check of an overload, by seeing that the primer pockets didn't enlarge. An enlarged primer pocket is a sure sign of a very heavy overload. In every case of testing for loads, I never did swell a primer pocket with the three cases used for testing. I would watch for other signs of pressure, maybe even going so far as having a mild stick of the bolt handle on opening. In that case, I would drop the load back a grain, or maybe even more, to get a normal full power load.
Rifles are often different. A load that 30-06 rifle A digests with no sign of heavy pressure, will stick the bolt on 30-06 B.
Most important is to make precise notes of all the testing. That is my reloading manual!
I once looked at a modern reloading manual on a store shelf. I looked up the 30-06 and discovered the maximum load they gave of IMR 4350 and a 180 grain bullet, was 4 grains less, than my well tested load. Amazingly, their load still gave the same velocity, 2700 fps!
I did not invent this type of reloading testing. It is exactly what Jack O'Connor said he did. He, and other writers like Elmer Keith, Townsend Whelan and many more, also stated that a properly bedded, well tuned rifle would be accurate with these full power loads, and that is exactly what I have found, also.
