Recommendations for a reloading manuel?

BMeyer

BMeyer

New member
My dad has an old Lyman reloading manuel. I want to buy an new manuel and would like to know some opinions on which ones you use and like.

Brian
 
most bullet manufactuers put out their own manuals. And the powder companies put out their manuals. I like the Hogden manual. Since I shoot a lot of Hornady bullets I have a Hornady manual. In time you will most likely end up wiyh several different manuals from the different companies.
 
I have found the loads in my Hornady Third Edition manual check out real close with a cronograph. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif There is also a welth of information about reloading in it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif The new one should be as good, or better.
Frank
 
The newest Lyman manual seems to have the least amount of "blue sky" in its data. I have almost every new edition manual printed from every source. you cant have too much info to cross reference when it comes time to load your own.
 
I just bought Richard Lee's Second Edition yesterday... After you overlook the promotional attitudes for Lee Products, which are not that bad, there is a lot of usable background loading information in it (I haven't read all of it yet).

My big disappointment was that it didn't give any information on the .204 Ruger cartridge.. But I already have a lot of that saved from other sources.
 
as many as you can find the more currant the better. I like Hornady manuals myself but I also have a couple Speers and several from bullet manufacturers. I have load books for several of the calibers I load all the time
 
The Hodgdon magazine manual is nice if you shoot their powders, comes in a magazine format and is only about $7.

For a newby I would recomend the Lyman for its description of how to reload.

The Lee book seems to me to be more realistic (not edited by lawyers) when it comes to where max load data really is.

I use the Hornady book, but find starting just under max loads is really about 2 grains or more from where I see pressure signs.

For a single caliber the load books that cover data from many different sources can be very cost effective. They cover nearly every powder and bullet maker.

I will admit that I sometimes right down a recipe ot two from a book at the store if I do not have that one yet. If I were to buy all the books I could not afford the components. I also use manufacturer websites when info is available.
 
I have used the same 3 for the 3 - 15 years or so now and they are:
Hodgdon # 26 - 1992
Speer #13 - 1999
Barnes #3 - 2004

Unless I get a new cal. rifle, I will only need these for the rest of my life.
 
If you are already experienced as a reloader and just need load data, the 'One Book, One Caliber' manuals have all of the bullet and powder manufacturers listed in one book. Very convenient but you need one for each caliber.
 
I've got Lee's Second, Hornady's 7th, and One Book One Cal for each cal I load. I'm noticing in the Hornady their max loads for most Hodgon powders for .223 are consistantly listed 1gr lower than nearly all the other data I have.
 


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