reloading manuals

[kyote]

what is your favorite reloading manual?
what is not a good reloading manual?
and why?
I have a lot of manuals old and new.I seem to allways use the sierra manuals and the nosler manual run a close second.and find the others an interesting read.the old lyman manuals have some very hot data from some of the old timers like E.Keith.and his data should not be used.

[brasskeeper]

My favorite is LYman #47 and soon the newer #48
2nd place is Honady 3rd place is Sierra.

[Questor]

I like the Speer #13 manual because it is versatile and because the velocities I get with their loads closely match the velocities I  get with my guns.  I like the Hornady manual for the same reasons. I don't like the Nosler manual because their velocities are not realistic. I don't like the Lyman manuals because their velocity figures are total fiction.

[ihuntbucks]

My favorite is the Sierra and 2nd would be Hodgdon #27........Rick

[skb2706]

I use the newset Hornady the most...so it must be my default favorite. Actually I have assembled a huge amount of free information that is kept in a three ring binder that comes from every manufacturer but specific to my needs.

Least favorite.........far and a way is the Lee loading manual. It is a hodge podge of junk info. I bought it for $6 at a gun show....it wasn't worth one cent of it either.

[stimpylu32]

For the most part i have been using the on-line data from the powder and bullet companys , the Lyman 47 is handy to use for a quick peek , also the Lee because it has case drawings with the numbers not just a picture of the case .

stimpy

[The Sodbuster]

I like the latest Lyman and Nosler load manuals.  But my favorites are the USA Load All books.  I have one for each caliber I reload.  I don't have the Sierra and Hornday manuals, but I can get their data and data from other powder and bullet manufacturers in the Load All books.

[Hook686]

My favorite is LYman #48  ...
2nd place is Honady ... 3rd place is Sierra.

[Swamp Yankee]

Sodbusters got the right answer....The USA Loadbooks they have all the info from all the manufactures of bullets and powder for one cartridge around $7.00 there is no reason to buy six different manuals at half a weeks pay. Or buy just one manual and be locked into buying just their bullets.  I would how ever recomend buying ONE good manual. my 1st choice Hornady 2nd would be Sierra. The load books will give you options....Jim

[davem270win]

Lyman #48
Load Data.com
Speer

[cwlongshot]

I always recomend the LYMAN manuals as FIRST choice.  My reason, they dont make bullets or powder!! They take a mostly unbiased approach to bullets and powders. The step by step layout is excellent for the beginner or experienced relaoder. They also make a very good product.

Once you find a powder and bullet you really like, but thier manuels. That way you will benifit from the testing done by the manufacturer of those products.

 CW

[HL]

I've used all with the exception of Lyman and Hogden. Depends on what I am shooting as to what my favorite is at that time.

[BloomGrad]

When I reload I have two methods.

If I'm lacking in time or loading for just fun shooting at the range i'll grab either "Modern Reloading" by richard Lee or the Lyman 48.  I very much lean to the Lyman if I'm going to use lead bullets.

If I'm trying to work up an accurate load for a particular bullet then I'll use the manual from that bullet's maker, IE Sierra manual to Sierra bullet, Hornady to Hornady, Nosler to Nosler, Speer to Speer etc. etc.

If I were limited to one then the Lyman.  Lead bullet references along with jacketed references. As long as I kept the most recent edition copy on hand.

[kyote]

I noticed a lot of folks like the lyman manuals.the newer ones 46,47 and I see the 48th is now out.I have up to the 45th.and used to only use the old lymans some years back when I was doing a lot of casting.I thought they were great.I orderd the new lyman 48 edition yesterday..am looking forward to reading it.

[snuffer#1]

I have the Lee 2nd edition, Lyman's 48th edition, and the specific calibers loadbooks I got from midway!

[roper]

The old Lyman # 45 is a good one if you have a new rifle in one of the calibers they have listed, your not getting a watered down load.  I've been using Nolsers manuals ever since they came out and found their data good.  When I had my first 6x284 build back in the early 70's I used Hodgdon's #22 to find my loading data. Before the computer age you had to buy almost every reloading manual.  For some reason I don't find many loads in the Sierra's manual that I like but use them more as a referrence manual like Speer's and the new Lyman manual.  I still load using the IMR manuals that you can pick up free.  I've been load afew off Richard Lee 2nd Edition manual  so far they have been working out.  I enjoy reading them so cost isn't a factor.

[223Shooter]

I like the Lyman 48th. It covers most all of the bases.