Big Blue:
While I have found some inconsistanties too,they haven't been to far out of the norm for the published loads,considering that some of them are shot in a test chamber,and some of them are shot out of an actual rifle.,and that no 2 chambers are the same...only similar.
We as handloaders,have to exercise caution anytime we choose one manual over the other...if we err,we should do it on the lee side instead of starting out at the maximum charges anyway.Also we must ensure that we are using the most up to date data that is available.I have seen guys that post data for someone asking for their paticular favorite load only to find out that they were using a 5 year old reloading manual.
Most of the powder manufctures will have available their latest reloading data on-line and will give it out freely,while you have to pay for it from the bullet manufactures,most of the time,if you want a printed version. That's one of the nice things when using the powder manufactures data..they will give you different bullet weights and usually diferent bullet manufactures results with their data over a specific bullet from a specific company...
This is one of the reasons when talking with a beginning handloader, one of the first things I advise them to do,is to gather as much reloading data from both the Powder companies and the Bullet manufactures prior to starting...that way they can at least have the latest data available..and it gives them a much broader veiw of the cartridge/cartridges they are interested in.
It's all a learning process,even for vetrean reloaders..we learn something new everyday.We have to stay on top of new developements with our favorite powders and bullets and see if the companies have changed them or reformulated them to act differently.You can see that just by comparing the old with the new data that has been printed,in the last few years.One of the biggest changes you'll run into with the data is if they have switched from a test chamber,to that of an actual rifle,this is why we must constanly be checking for new data and comparing it to everone elses.When people stop checking for new data for one reason or another,that's when problems can happen.
I personally like to call both the bullet companies and the powder companies and talk with the tech's to see if anything is new.I've made good contacts this way and have been given new data over the phone prior to it's being published.It's always nice when they give you some good reloading data and you call them back and tell them how great it worked for you,and share your hunts with them...at least it always has for me.
As far as personal favorites to reloading manuals...I would say for me..the most accurate one would be the Hodgdons series of Annual Manuals for $8.00 at newsstands..next up with be Nosler's,Hornady's,Sierra's,Speer's,then Lyman's,another good one is Swift's manual...it's probably laid out the best ..but limited on choices for it.
The old saying really applies here more than other places...when in doubt...call them,that's the best advice I can offer.
Mac
