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Offline Incitatus

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Best Reloading Book?
« on: February 18, 2011, 10:32:34 AM »
I have looked thru a few and the Hornaday 8th edition looks pretty comprehensive.  Thoughts?

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Offline wncchester

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Re: Best Reloading Book?
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2011, 11:17:23 AM »
"Best"?  That's quite comprehesnive; best in what way? 

Best beginner instructions?  Most loading data?  Widest variety of loading data?  Most cartridges/bullets/powders?  Best accompaning stories and articles?
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Offline Old Syko

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Re: Best Reloading Book?
« Reply #2 on: February 18, 2011, 11:50:16 AM »
Quote from: wncchester on February 18, 2011, 11:17:23 AM
"Best"?  That's quite comprehesnive; best in what way? 

Best beginner instructions?  Most loading data?  Widest variety of loading data?  Most cartridges/bullets/powders?  Best accompaning stories and articles?
 

This just about covers it.  Even then there really is no best.  If there were a best you would only need one, and anyone who loads with only one just doesn't have a clue.  Buy them all and you will still be looking for information.   ;)
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Offline cwlongshot

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Re: Best Reloading Book?
« Reply #3 on: February 18, 2011, 12:00:19 PM »
I agree, best is relative...

For new re-loaders I always suggest the LYMAN manuel. This is because Lyman only makes hardware, not bullets or powder or primers. So they use allot of other manufacturers components. The explanations are well written with beginners in mind. They also print a lead bullet manuel, something not so common today.

THEN I recommend you buy the manual for the bullet makers you use most.

CW
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Offline cybin

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Re: Best Reloading Book?
« Reply #4 on: February 18, 2011, 05:09:35 PM »
Agreenwith cwlongshot

cybin
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Offline cybin

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Re: Best Reloading Book?
« Reply #5 on: February 18, 2011, 05:11:09 PM »
Agree with cwlongshot---saw what I posted a few minutes ago----been a long day

cybin
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Offline Grumulkin

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Re: Best Reloading Book?
« Reply #6 on: February 19, 2011, 04:22:27 AM »
I don't care much for the Lyman manual but then, I've been reloading for a long time.  It might be a good one for the beginer as might the Lee Manual (also not one of my favorites.

I like the Hornady manual a lot and the Nosler manual probably equally.  The older Barnes manual had some unique ballistic information which I like so I treasure it as well.  I guess I like to have several manuals to compare and my current holdings include Barnes, Nosler, Hornady, Speer and Lee including multiple editions of some.
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Offline shot1

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Re: Best Reloading Book?
« Reply #7 on: February 19, 2011, 07:09:34 AM »
I like the Sierra manual the best because it has suggested accuracy and hunting loads. I have been loading for over 30 years and I have found that these suggested loads work with about anybodies bullets as long as they are the same weight and they are accurate. It saves a lot of money when  you can narrow down the powder type and charge like the Sierra does.
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Offline manatee1947

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Re: Best Reloading Book?
« Reply #8 on: February 20, 2011, 04:55:34 PM »
I have several, but I would start with, and if only were to have 1, go with Lyman. It lists pressures, bullets from many manufacturers, a wide range of powders, suggested accuracy loads, and CAST BULLET information. None of the other books I have list many, if ANY cast bullet loads, or the supplemental information on ballistics, casting, case prep and treatment, and a whole host of relevant related subjects. If at all possible I would suggest 3, the Lyman, one from your chosen powder MFG, and one from the bullet brand MFG.
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Offline MGMorden

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Re: Best Reloading Book?
« Reply #9 on: February 21, 2011, 08:17:44 AM »
If you're not going TOO exotic just about any of them will work.  99% of my load data comes from the Speer Manual.  I also have Lee's manual as well just in case, but it very rarely gets pulled out.  If I ever finally move (been wanting to for a good while) and get an area setup with a little more room I intend to get a few more manuals from various manufacturer's, but for the time being anything from a reputable company is fine.
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Offline Land_Owner

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Re: Best Reloading Book?
« Reply #10 on: February 21, 2011, 02:50:21 PM »
Regardless of Publisher, price, or print date of bound material, I will ALWAYS (and twice on Sunday) take my OWN reloading notes in a bound notebook, within the range of known cartridges and rounds that I have personally made and shot, over all other references.
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Offline Peshtigo71

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Re: Best Reloading Book?
« Reply #11 on: February 21, 2011, 03:13:09 PM »
I've found Ken Waters'  Pet Loads  the Complete Volume to be very informative.
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Offline Peshtigo71

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Re: Best Reloading Book?
« Reply #12 on: February 21, 2011, 03:14:15 PM »
I've found Ken Waters'  Pet Loads  the Complete Volume to be very informative.   
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Offline Dand

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Re: Best Reloading Book?
« Reply #13 on: February 21, 2011, 07:40:11 PM »
+1 on Ken Waters - but he hasn't done some of the most recent new rounds or powders.  Still for a LOT of cartridges he provides a lot of good data as well as tips and techniques for the loads he does.  LOTS of good side info  - especially if you read the whole book - I've come close.  And most of the time his loads are fairly conservative - not scary.  I first stumbled onto Ken's work about 4 years after I first started loading.  It was his second coverage of the 30-06 and I was trying to get a good load.  On my first loads from his book using 54 or 55 gr IMR 4350 and the 180 gr Hornday Spire, I had the best showing I'd ever had - he saved me a lot of fooling around and wasted powder.  I corresponded with him a little re the 300 win mag and 348 too. I really respect his work.

Speer and Nosler are other favorite books for me, but I have over 15 books by nearly all the main publishers.  Just picked up the 2011 Hodgdon manual.

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Offline OLDHandgunner

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Re: Best Reloading Book?
« Reply #14 on: February 22, 2011, 01:55:58 AM »
Lyman has always been a very informative loading manual. Especially for a beginner.
Lyman # 49 is great.
Ken Waters Pet Loads and his updates are still top of the list for loading info and load testing with older calibers, powders & bullets.
The new Hornady # 8 has alot of great info on the newer FTX bullets & the new powders. Great read.
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Offline Old Fart

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Re: Best Reloading Book?
« Reply #15 on: February 22, 2011, 03:42:14 AM »
I like them all.  ;D
Dude answer I know.  :o
But I've been doing this long enough to know you can't have to many.
And like Landowner I'll use my own dope first.
My first was an old Sierra my neighbor gave me when I was a kid.
Still have it and still use it some.
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Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: Best Reloading Book?
« Reply #16 on: February 22, 2011, 03:43:28 AM »
The "BEST" book is the one that gives spefic load data for the bullet/round you want to shoot. Depending on your shooting there may be several best. Also new books suit new lots of powder , primers and bullets as all change over time . I think its BEST to keep up with your loads and like Landowner said keep your own records .
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Offline Reverend Recoil

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Re: Best Reloading Book?
« Reply #17 on: February 22, 2011, 10:06:43 AM »
I have found nothing better than Loaddata.com for vast amounts of cartridge load data.

http://www.loaddata.com/home/members.cfm?CFID=7875647&CFTOKEN=79911502
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Offline Birddog 1

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Re: Best Reloading Book?
« Reply #18 on: February 22, 2011, 01:46:27 PM »
There all good but I use 2 to 3 different books for my loading data check and cross check.

Birddog 1
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Offline .22-5-40

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Re: Best Reloading Book?
« Reply #19 on: February 22, 2011, 06:28:04 PM »
Hello, Incitatus.  Now this is dated material (1949, and earlier) and some of the powders and loads are obsolete...But, if you want to LEARN about all aspects of handloading...Try and find either an original or Wolfe Publishing re-print of Phill Sharps...Completer Guide To Handloading..everything from black powder, cast bullets, lube formulas, and smokeless powder manufacture.  I read from cover to cover many times while still in high school before I had ever thought of hand loading.
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Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: Best Reloading Book?
« Reply #20 on: February 23, 2011, 12:42:38 AM »
I dont care much for the lyman manual myself. Alot of whats in it is outdated. If its just that you want to learn the basics of loading about any manual covers that or anymore you can just go on line and get alot of helpfull websites. Id have to say that my favorite load manuals are the old hodgdons and the newer Hornady and speers.
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