I have Speer, Lyman and Lee, Plus all the web sites. I primarily use the Hodgdon Data Center.

I shoot a few Hornady bullets but I do not know if it's worth it to spend $20+ for their manual.If I need their exact data, I call them.

Is there anything in it that is not covered by what I have??

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Still Running Against the Wind

Hodgdon lists many of Hornady's bullets and so does the Lyman in their load recipes, at least in the calibers I load. Still..... I find the Hornady manual useful and always check it when loading their bullets.

No it's not worth it. Plenty of data is available online or in your Lyman manual.

If you haven't already done so, you might want to consider LoadData.com - Ammunition Reloading Data, Supply and Equipment. Over 100k Loads Currently Listed.
The subscription is about what you would pay for a manual but it also includes loads from all of the major powder and bullet manufacturers and Handloader.

I hope that helps,

Frank

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sona si latine loqueris .

Great place to get load data! I have a subscription for one reason and one reason only: I can get all of Brian Pearce's, all of Handloader Magazine's, all of Rifle's and Successful Hunter's data there.

Yes, it is a subscription and it has to be renewed yearly BUT, it is a great source of information for the handloader. All of the manual's data is there too, Lyman, Speer, Hodgdon and many many more.

In my opinion, this is the best one stop source for current data AND some stuff that is a bit older. Some of Pearce's loads are what I use in several calibers.

Truly, this is a great resource.

I wouldn't, I generly just look on the internet for data and I email the powder company for specific data on a bullet and caliber

I have over a dozen manuals on the reloading bench. They were great for a beginner to learn how to load. But to be honest I have not cracked one open in years. There is just too much data available on the Internet, and it is so easy to find.

If I was just learning how to reload then I would buy the manuals and read them cover to cover. But to buy one just for the data is unnecessary for me. It is just too easy to find data on the net. Just an opinion. Tom.

I purchased a Hornady manual about 6 years ago. In my opinion it is the worst of all my reloading manuals. The reason I don't like it is the the max loads are much less then everyone else's. I could overlook it if it were only a few cartridges but it's just about all of them. Haven't looked at their newer manual but I'd bet they are even lower in the newer manual.

I seem to have most manuals, & just bought the newest Speer off a guy. I don't see the Sierra manual in your list. I'd have to rate it over the Hornady, though I peek at both.

How significant is $20 to you? How many firearms do I need, for what?

Yes, but probably nothing that you will need.

Their seventh edition does have service rifle data for .223, .308 and the M1 Garand. This one also seems to have data for a lot of calibers I've never been able to find data for and for calibers that they had previously listed but stopped. I'm not telling you or anyone else to run out and buy one, but I'm glad I got mine.

But then I guess I differ from most people in that the internet is my very last resort for data. Most of which I don't trust or don't think they give enough information for. I might be overly cautious, but I've also never ruined a gun with my handloads either. When I load for a new caliber, I don't just look for data and go to it, I prefer to research it first.

Knowledge is power, you can never have too many loading manuals or too much data. When I'm working up a new load I cross reference data from all my books and the net.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

I agree but if the Hornady only has "their" bullets it's not much use to me. I shoot mostly handguns and the only handgun bullets I shoot occasionally are XTP's and one of their 223 Rem bullets.

No, $20 is no big deal in the overall cost of shooting but it will hold a new used gun on layaway

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Still Running Against the Wind

If Hornady lists a .357 magnum load a using 158 grain XTP, that starting data will transfer to any other 158 grain jacketed bullet. Long range trajectories and velocities may be off smidge due to different BCs but that's about it.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

Hornady has FTX load data available on it's website if that's all you're looking for.

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Pete.

In your case I wouldn't bother. I don't think there is anything in there that you don't already have. And I'll agree the data seems pretty conservative.

I had two very old Speer#8 and #9 and Hornady manuals so, I bit the bullet not long ago and got an update of each. Lots of new data in both that heretofore weren't present in the old ones due to the fact there's a vast amount of changes from 1974 and now. Some of the bullets in my older manuals aren't even available anymore-case in point, the .45 cal Speer 200 gr "Flying Ashtray". There's powder today that wasn't even thought of back then like Power Pistol and AA#2 or #5, for instance. Technology has changed quite a bit and I needed some bedside reading material so....

BTW-I wrote Speer about some of the variances in powder/bullet combos between their bullets and powder charge recommendations and others such as Hornady and the powder manufacturers. They basically told me when using Speer bullets, use Speer data.

I agree with Smith357. I have a lot of new and old manuals going all the way back to 1960 plus Phil Sharpe's 1930's era tome on reloading. The internet is great, but I really prefer a book that I can take wherever I want and add notes to. In addition, I like the fact that reloading manuals have pressure tested data that I can generally depend on to be accurate. I do not try to have a manual from the manufacturer of every brand of bullet I load.