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  #1  
Old 02-23-2014, 09:26 PM
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Default Favorite reloading manual?

Back when I reloaded I amassed a pretty good library of manuals. I used to sit and read them while watching TV. I remember that A-Square was pretty interesting. They had reloading data for a 105mm anti-tank round, just to illustrate that the basics were the same only the scale differed. And Sierra had a good two-volume ringed binder set.

Any favorites out there?
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Old 02-23-2014, 10:08 PM
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I've always liked the format of the Hornady manuals. I bought my first one in 1977 (2nd edition I believe) and the 8th edition a few years ago.
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Old 02-23-2014, 10:15 PM
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Originally Posted by 427mach1 View Post
I've always liked the format of the Hornady manuals. I bought my first one in 1977 (2nd edition I believe) and the 8th edition a few years ago.
I flipped through the current Hornady at Cabela's yesterday but wasn't taken with it. It does have loads for the 7mm TCU and 300 Whisper that I need.
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Old 02-23-2014, 10:54 PM
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I have a Lyman Cast, a WW and an Alliant. I also have copies of at least a hundred reloading articles from various gun magazines.
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Old 02-24-2014, 01:04 AM
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I have a Lymans and Speer. I like reading through the Speer, about guns I'll probably never own. But what I use, are the One Books.
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Old 02-24-2014, 02:49 AM
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I also like the Speer and the Lyman manuals.

The newer Lyman not only list the bullet but also gives you
the type barrel, BC, SD, Cast # and OAL for the bullet being used.
It also is just CUP so you can compare powders......I hate manuals that mix psi and cup in their data or use a 7.7" test barrel.

I have two Sierra that are ok but all are old manuals and do not include the newer powders of today.

I do have a small manual that list Accurate, Scott and Vhitavuori powders but I have yet to try them.
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Old 02-24-2014, 03:09 AM
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Another vote for Lyman and Speer. Their data more closely reflects
the results the handloader will see in his own guns.
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Old 02-24-2014, 06:36 AM
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Lyman, Hornady and Speer. I like to cross reference data to get an idea where to start and where to work up to. I seldom load to max, I usually stay somewhere middle of the road, when I find a good, accurate and comfortable load. I like collecting all the old manuals, fun to see where things started and where we have come to.
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Old 02-24-2014, 07:08 AM
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I have 30-40 manuals. This doesn't include the fliers that powder companies publish. The copyright dates start in 1969 and progress to last year. The manual I feel was the biggest waste of money is the First Edition (Last year) of the Berger Loading Manual. It is computer generated and not confirmed with pressure barrels or firearms. So it is a loose guideline manual at best. I have Lyman Manuals 45th, 46th, & 49th Editions. These are in a series that started in the 1800's by Ideal. In my opinion the measure of a manual is how repeatable are the results not in a laboratory but by the re-loaders themselves. In about 1980 the Ordnance Department of the Columbus, Ohio PD did a series of tests on the Lyman 46th edition and found that, not only on the professional reloading equipment they used, but on the equipment that armatures have available to them from Lyman, Hornady and RCBS. The velocities published were checked in multiple handguns, and found to be the most consistent (Matching published velocity and recommended accuracy) from several manuals (I think 7 current at the time). So on my bench all loads are compared to Lyman #45 and #46. In the 60's, 70's and early 80's the Columbus PD had one of the top pistol teams in the nation. All of the handgun training instructors were NRA Distinguished Marksman, and most competed in multiple disciplines of competition.
I shoot some black powder cartridges and find that for rifles the SPG reloading manual is best not only for load data but also for techniques to assemble accurate and proven longer range rounds.
For 1000 yard shooting, the recommend loads in the Sierra loading manual will be the place to start and tune to your rifle.
The ammo we make cannot exceed the quality of the components we use. Junk brass will not make great ammo. Nor junk bullets; I had a box of 168 grain BTHP Match 30 cal bullets by Hornady (about 1985) that varied in weight by 2.4 grains. However the 75 grain A-Max 22 cal bullets are in the top 2 I use in a 223 Savage at 1000. The loading manuals aren't going to make up for: poor weapons , poor components, or poor loading techniques. Ivan
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Old 02-24-2014, 07:44 AM
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Well Ivan you got me beat. I only have about 25 manuals, and some of the ones I go to the most are Lymans, Hornady and Speer. In the same thought as Ivan mention, the loading manuals are not going make up for: quality weapons, quality components, quality loading techniques, and poor shooting ability.
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Old 02-24-2014, 07:54 AM
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I have several manuals but usually go with the bullet manufactures load data. in case none is available i go with the old standby lyman.
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Old 02-24-2014, 10:37 AM
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Thanks for the info about the A-Square manual zzzipper, I've been looking for an affordable copy of that for a long time, now I'm salivating even more.
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Old 02-24-2014, 10:46 AM
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Ken Waters Pet Loads two volume set with supplements is my first read followed by comparison to the Lyman manual. I have all of the other major brand manuals but those are two I reach for first. The Pet Loads info. is missing some of the newer powders but is still a great source of information.
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Old 02-24-2014, 11:37 AM
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No favorite as they all have something to offer. If I had to pick it would be Hornady , or maybe Speer, no Lyman.
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Old 02-24-2014, 01:11 PM
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One thing I liked about the 45th Lyman is.............
that it gave 1-2 powders that would give you a load close to the factory fps and pressures.............and a accuracy load.

Some pistol loads only gave one fac. dup. load but it was at lease a starting point for you to work with.

The new online Nosler load data is pretty nice and has lots of measurements on bullets that I like. I think the total length as well as the dia. is important in getting a oal that works for you and might help with pressures.
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Old 02-24-2014, 01:32 PM
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I have all the major manuals, and use them all, but the Lyman is my go to manual. They have cast bullet data as well as jacketed data.
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Old 02-24-2014, 02:00 PM
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Default For me.....

For me, it's the Speer. I started with a Speer #9 and am up to #14. It has a great 'how to' section' as well as tables.

I also have a Lyman 49th and the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook


update: I should have pointed out that I've always used Speer bullet, except for now because I use only what I can find. For general use, the Lyman is good.

Last edited by rwsmith; 02-25-2014 at 02:37 AM.
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  #18  
Old 02-24-2014, 02:02 PM
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I've got Lyman, Speer, Hornady, and Sierra going back to the early 80's. My old Lyman Cast bullet handbook is falling apart Ive used it so much. I did just recently buy the Lyman (49th I think) and do like it . One thing I like about the Lyman manual is the I.D. of the "Potentially most accurate powder" with a particular bullet. I find them to be right on with this designation.
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Old 02-24-2014, 02:58 PM
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I like the Lyman the best.
It covers loads for cast in addition to jacketed.

I have Lyman, Hornady and Sierra manuals.

IMO The 3-ring binder on the Sierra is a PITA.
On paper, the 3-ring is a good idea, you can add sheets or swap out updated data... But in reality, it's a nuisance, every time you turn a page it catches on the rings. I do love Sierra products, but I won't buy any updated Sierra manuals if they are in a 3-ring format.
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Old 02-24-2014, 03:10 PM
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The two volume Sierra 3rd Edition was and still is my favorite, even though I now have two later editions of the Sierra manual and a dozen or more other manufacturers' manuals. The Sierra 3rd edition was what I cut my teeth on when I first started reloading and I still find reading the narratives enjoyable and informative.
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  #21  
Old 02-24-2014, 03:15 PM
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Have several up to date copies, and every manual Hornady ever printed. only missing a couple Speers. Guess it is just me, but can you ever have too much ref. material?? Reading some of the older stuff is a hoot-- stumbled on the first ever NRA manual some years back-- they even talk about reloading brass shotgun shells.
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Old 02-24-2014, 03:17 PM
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The Lee manual is most unbiased and has good info on lead casting. Hornaday, Sierra, Speer is good but more centered around their brand bullets.
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Old 02-24-2014, 03:33 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zzzippper View Post
I used to sit and read them while watching TV.
zipper, I figured I was the only strange person that does that.

I'm not sure how many reloading manuals I have. I have 2 or 3 editions of my favorites. Lyman, Hornady, & Speer, in that order.
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Old 02-24-2014, 03:40 PM
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A Hornady manual came with my first Hornady reloading kit sometime in the '70s and I used it and a Lyman for a long time. Then I added a bunch of the others, but I still start with the first two. Love the "Pet Loads" collection as well, and I have almost all the others.

Possibly the rarest (?!) I own is a photo-copy-produced manual from Oregon Trail/Laser Cast, that I picked up from their table at a gun show, back when they were first getting known nationally. It's a pretty good go-to manual for cast bullets, not only theirs, but others as well.
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Old 02-24-2014, 03:48 PM
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Default LIKE ME, OLD/OUTDATED, NOT ALL THE CURRENT INFO/CALIBERS

KEN WATERS pet loads vol 1&2. Current, Lymans & whichever mfgr's of the bullet I'm using, also any that uses my gun as their test gun.
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Old 02-24-2014, 04:18 PM
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I have a shelf full of them.
Always cross reference what I'm researching.
Most often used are Lyman (various ones) and Lee (because it also covers everyone's bullets and powder).
The old Pet Loads set still get looked at regularly, too.
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Old 02-24-2014, 04:27 PM
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Default DOES IT BUG YOU TOO?

That certain (big name bullet mfgr's) don't list many very viable powders cuz they don't want to advertise for THAT certain powders mfg'r.
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Old 02-24-2014, 06:54 PM
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Default favorite reloading manual...

Like many of your responders I have a pile of loading manuals on hand. I like them all with each having it's own strong points. If forced to choose just one I would go with the Lyman. I like having both jacketed and cast bullet data in one manual. The Lyman also seems to offer a wider spread of jacketed bullet weights in each caliber.
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Old 02-24-2014, 07:29 PM
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Hate to be a stick in the mud but the best manual is the web. Lawyers have to much influence on the load data in published books. While I do occasionally look at manuals I mostly look at web load data direct from the powder manufacturer or bullet maker (lawyers at play again) backed up with real world data shared on places like Brian Eno's and many others. With all that in play I can often skip dialing in a load for common stuff like 9, 223, 45. If the power and web ever go I always have a few books to fall back on.
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Old 02-24-2014, 08:42 PM
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I have five and I like Hornady the best.
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Old 02-24-2014, 08:58 PM
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It depends on what I am loading but probably the Sierra manual's are the best for me. I have a whole collection of them going back to the 1920's so it is hard to really pick one.
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Old 02-24-2014, 09:50 PM
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I have a dozen or so manuals but probably use the Hornady manual the most - probably due to the fact that most of the bullets I use are Hornady!
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Old 02-25-2014, 12:35 PM
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I'm not a reloading manual collector, so I really don't know how many reloading manuals I have, instead of counting them I'll guess 50, and that is including the ones I have in digital format in their entirety.

Of those, my favorites are probably "Complete Guide to Handloading" by Philip B. Sharpe, and "Handloading" by William C. Davis. Another one that is also interesting, in it's own way, is "Professional Loading of Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun Cartridges" by George L. Herter.

But I don't refer to my favorite reloading references as "reloading manuals", but rather as books about reloading. Of the few of those I have, my favorites are "Principles and Practice of Loading Ammunition" by Earl Naramore, "Modern Handloading" by George C. Nonte Jr. and the two volume set of "Handbook for Shooters & Reloaders" by P.O. Ackley.
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Old 02-25-2014, 04:01 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ivan the Butcher View Post
I have 30-40 manuals. This doesn't include the fliers that powder companies publish. The copyright dates start in 1969 and progress to last year. The manual I feel was the biggest waste of money is the First Edition (Last year) of the Berger Loading Manual. It is computer generated and not confirmed with pressure barrels or firearms. So it is a loose guideline manual at best. I have Lyman Manuals 45th, 46th, & 49th Editions. These are in a series that started in the 1800's by Ideal. In my opinion the measure of a manual is how repeatable are the results not in a laboratory but by the re-loaders themselves. In about 1980 the Ordnance Department of the Columbus, Ohio PD did a series of tests on the Lyman 46th edition and found that, not only on the professional reloading equipment they used, but on the equipment that armatures have available to them from Lyman, Hornady and RCBS. The velocities published were checked in multiple handguns, and found to be the most consistent (Matching published velocity and recommended accuracy) from several manuals (I think 7 current at the time). So on my bench all loads are compared to Lyman #45 and #46. In the 60's, 70's and early 80's the Columbus PD had one of the top pistol teams in the nation. All of the handgun training instructors were NRA Distinguished Marksman, and most competed in multiple disciplines of competition.
I shoot some black powder cartridges and find that for rifles the SPG reloading manual is best not only for load data but also for techniques to assemble accurate and proven longer range rounds.
For 1000 yard shooting, the recommend loads in the Sierra loading manual will be the place to start and tune to your rifle.
The ammo we make cannot exceed the quality of the components we use. Junk brass will not make great ammo. Nor junk bullets; I had a box of 168 grain BTHP Match 30 cal bullets by Hornady (about 1985) that varied in weight by 2.4 grains. However the 75 grain A-Max 22 cal bullets are in the top 2 I use in a 223 Savage at 1000. The loading manuals aren't going to make up for: poor weapons , poor components, or poor loading techniques. Ivan
Ivan. I just got done reading the Berger man. Cover to cover..I thought it had some interesting things that other manuals don't seem to think is important ,like the optimum twist rate for every bullet.And I thought they did a much better job of covering how your COAL is so important and the CBTO length.....about there G7. And G1. Iam not so sure Iam smart enough to figure it out. What do you think? I know a lot of people that reload that just use the factory over all length... And then wonder why my rifle shoots better than there's . I actually had one friend that couldn't get his 300 w.m under inch and a half. He ask me for help.I ask him how far off the lands do you have the bullet? He said " I ain't got a clue". He will be reading that Berger book or Iam done with him. Do you think a lot of there info is flawed or just there load data? MJ
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  #35  
Old 02-26-2014, 05:07 PM
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#1. There is the standard factory fps, oal ammo and then there is .......

#2. The "Custom" reload ammo that is made to "Fit" a certain weapon.

Some do well with factory ammo...........
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Old 02-26-2014, 07:36 PM
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I actually like the Sierra binder.
Not only do they have some of the only 445SM T/C data,
You can just move the pages you use most often to the front of
the binder and save opening it up all the way.
I have all the others too
I have bought just about every one I could for the last 35 years including some from before WW2.
The A-Square is certainly one of the most entertaining.
I have read it all the way though twice.

Can't have too many reloading manuals.

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  #37  
Old 02-28-2014, 10:53 PM
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I just got Sierra's 7th edition. They have put the two binders back into one, it is way too big.
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Old 03-01-2014, 07:39 PM
Peter M. Eick Peter M. Eick is offline
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7th Edition? I thought Sierra was on their 5th. Weird, I am not sure how I missed two of them.
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Old 03-01-2014, 08:11 PM
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Nemo288 Nemo288 is offline
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Yep. It's still #5. Now 11 years old!

Sierra-5th-Edition-Rifle-and-Handgun-Reloading-Manual

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Nemo
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Old 03-01-2014, 08:16 PM
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I like the Speer manuals, but you shouldn't limit yourself to just one. Three of four would be good. Lyman and Hornady are good additions to the Speer. Or vice versa.
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Old 03-05-2014, 03:18 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter M. Eick View Post
7th Edition? I thought Sierra was on their 5th. Weird, I am not sure how I missed two of them.
I'll have to double check, might have made a typo when typing on the tablet.
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Old 03-05-2014, 06:19 PM
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My go to is Hodgdon online followed by Hornady. I just read the reloading portion of the first edition of the Lee manual. It is very entertaining for a reloading manual. Richard Lee is quite amusing and very proud of his products. I don't think I'll trade my Dillon for a Lee progressive yet, but I admire his style.

Jeff
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Old 03-05-2014, 06:30 PM
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gwpercle gwpercle is offline
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Since I reload mostly cast my usual go to's are:
1) Lyman Cast #3 and #4
2) Hornady , I like Hornady jacketed rifle bullets
3) Speer manuals have a lot of data for cast, swaged and jacketed
bullets for handgun and rifle.
The Hornady book was my very first because it was the only one that had data for 1911 7.5 Schmidt-Ruben (Swiss)...we are talking late 60's here.

Gary
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  #44  
Old 03-05-2014, 10:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zzzippper View Post
I'll have to double check, might have made a typo when typing on the tablet.
You're right. Edition V, 7th printing.
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Old 03-06-2014, 07:45 PM
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I don't really have a 'favorite', but there is a standard process I go through when developing a load. I first will consult the bullet manufacturer's data (Hornady, Speer, Sierra, etc.), compare that with the powder manufacturer's data (Hodgden, IMR, Alliant, etc.), and then follow all of that up with the Lyman. That's the short list.

Jim

And, I still sit on the couch and read reloading manuals while the TV drones on. Glad to know that I'm in good company in that respect.

Last edited by TripleLock; 03-06-2014 at 07:47 PM.
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Old 03-06-2014, 08:01 PM
bxchef bxchef is offline
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I own only 2 Lyman 49th and the lyman cast bullets one. But many time i like handloads.com. Good site
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