I have the Hornady manual now. It seems that it doesn't always have the bullet/powder combination I'm looking for, so I'm looking for a companion to it.

Any suggestions on the nextest bestest?

Speer, Lyman.

Also look at the web site for the specific powder - Alliant, Winchester/Hodgdon, etc.

I use mostly Hodgdon powders and their load data is free.
Hodgdon Reloading | Home

The Speer manual is good as are the ones from the various powder makers. There are also a few web sites around but I tend to take them with a grain of salt as I have no idea of the expertise of the poster.

I have Speer, Lyman, Lee and it seams like its never enough. The manufacturers websites are often helpful.

You really want more than two. With all the different powders and bullets it is sometimes hard for me to find the right combo in the ten manuals I keep around.
Speer is good, along with Lyman. Shoot cast then the Lyman cast bullet manual is a must. And don't overlook the older editions, they contain lots of good information.
Gary

Same question, part ll.

How can you tell if the manual is using the newer test data?

Hard to say, Lee and Lyman doesnt seem to be updated that much., I dont know if there is a correct asnwer for this.

Also, it seems that all the newer data is more conservative than in years past

Don't keep drinking the "internet" Kool-Aid.

One manual is plenty and they will all answer your question. Loading data is not an exact science and just because one source gives data with the exact components you want to use and another only comes close, doesn't mean the first one is better. Besides, the data from one manual never "compares" to, or "backs up", another anyway, unless it's a reprint of the same data.

My best answer to your question is to use the free data from the manufacturers. Although, you might have to find older copies on-line if the manufacturer is a subsidiary of a large conglomeration that only gives data for the powder(s) they are trying to push the hardest. Or just give them a call.

Go to Midwayusa & buy their Loadbooks for each individual caliber. It will have the greatest cross section of data available. On line data is fine, but very limited & in some cases, like Alliant, almost useless. At some point you are going to have to extrapolate data, you'll never have the exact components available to you. Having more data points makes this easier.

__________________
NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

There is no one ultimate source for load data. Printed manuals contain only a few powders and there are hundreds of sources for bullets. If you own two or three manuals for cross reference and also look at various powder manufacturers web sites you can get some good starting ideas.

Specialized loads, new powders, new bullet weights and design will always run ahead of published data. There is nothing wrong with web based data if it can cross referenced for verification.


Is there a specific question or area we may be of assistance on?

__________________
The American dream is alive

So, I'm not the only one that feels that way about Alliant's load data?

I wouldn't say useless. I recently had to rely on them for BE-86 data. They give the max load. I reduce by 10%, load, chrony, repeat......until I get a load I like.
I find they have Unique undercharged IMHO. I run some pretty stout loads showing no pressure signs whatsoever which is off their charts.

Well, one bullet with a max load, yes, "almost useless". It's why, even though powder manuf have online data, you still need diff manuals for add'l data sources. When manuf are putting out new powders, until the guys printing manuals catch up, then the manuf will be the only likely vetted source.

__________________
NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

Generic data; Lyman's 49th. Lead bullet data; Lyman's 3rd or 4th Cast Bullet Handbook. For Hornady bullets; Hornady manual. For Speer bullets; Speer's manual. Lee's reloading manual is OK for it's "How To" content, but the last place I look for data. I also have books from RCBS and various manuals/texts on cast bullet loading.

FWIW; 99% of my data comes from published reloading texts/manuals. I pay little (read; no) attention to any forum expert, range rat, gun counter clerk, gun shop guru, or "pet load" website. On occasion I'll look at a powder manufacturer's web site, but most of my loads is from a hard copy, published manual. This has worked for me for over 25 years, and I haven't run out of component combinations yet...

Another vote for Loadbooks from MidwayUSA. I got one for 357 and another for 38 and its usually my "go to" reference.

If you only use hornady bullets then their manual is a good start. You can cross reference with any other manual. You basically have 2 options with manuals: Bullet manufacturers and powder manufacturers. Most of the powder manufacturers have their data online now. The Hodgdon companies are also published in magazine form each year and are pretty good for cross reference. They of course have only Hodgdon, Winchester and IMR data. If these are your preferred powders then one of these would work for you.

Kevin

I have several, and my recommendation for your second is the Speer. I find it very useful. I don't like the caliber-specific load books because I have several manuals that cover all calibers.

FWIW; there's a lot more to a reloading manual than just load data. I enjoy scanning my manuals when I got nuttin' else to do and re-reading up on methods, powders, casting, troubleshooting, etc. Hornady has an excellent "How To" section that explains not only how, but what happens inside a cartridge when fired. Lyman manuals have much to offer in the way of "How To" and related info. and I chose my first manuals on info provided along with complete load data ("recipes" can be found almost anywhere)...

The downside of bullet company manuals is they are for their bullets. Powder companies tend to use a variety of bullet brands. It may take an assortment of sources to complie the inform for any "special" load.

The more manuals and reloading sources (bullet/powder manufactures websites), the better. Differing manuals use differing cases, bullets, and primers.

One way to tell how often a manual's loads gets updated, is to have a historical succession of the same makers manuals. You may be surprised how seldom some cartridges get updated, and how many loads are still from an era before actual pressure testing. Some only usually update for new cartridges.

A lot of the older manufacturer's pamphlets had real live actual tested pressures listed.

A Speer manual makes a good compliment to Hornady manual, as it seems to load closer to the "edge" for more cartridges.

SIERRA, Lyman, Speer, and Hodgdon Reloading | Home

__________________
NRA Life
USPSA/IPSC

I find the oldest books I can with the hottest loads, like Speer #8.


JUST KIDDING!!!!!

__________________
"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I had seen those 'one calibre' loading manuals at a Cabellas when I was down south.

The idea was sound, but they looked like a cheapo photocopy someone had cobbled together, and I just didn't trust it as a source. I may revisit that.

This all comes about as I have a limited supply of powder types, and a friend gave me some Hornady 110g jhp bullets that I would like to load up for 357.

The only powder I have is 110 and 296 (which I understand is the same stuff, different package), and naturally the manual I have does not list that particular combination.

Well I just went down to my library, and I did not find that load combination in Lyman's 45, 46, 47, or 49th edition. It is also not in my Speer #14, nor was it listed in Hornady's 7th & 8th. I did find the combination for 110gr JHP with either H110, or W296 in Hornady's 3rd edition, Speer's #10, and an older Sierra binder.

Hornady's 3rd: 357 Mag. 110gr JHP #3570 COAL: 1.590
W296: (they used .5 or .6 gr increments for 50fps increase)
Start Load: 20.8grs (1450fps)
Load: 24.1grs (1750fps)

Speer #10: 357 Mag. 110gr. JHP
W296:
Start Load: 21.0grs (1554fps)
Max Load: 23.0grs (1682fps)

H110:
Start Load: 21.0grs (1557fps)
Max Load: 23.0grs (1705fps)

Sierra Binder: 357 Mag. 110gr. JHP
H110:
Start Load: 17.5grs. (1300fps)
Max Load: 20.4grs. (1550fps)


Hodgdon's website lists the same data for both powders using a 110gr. bullet.
H110:
Start: 22.0 grs.
Max: 23.0 grs.
W296:
Start: 22.0 grs.
Max: 23.0 grs.

First off, I have no experience with bullets this light and H110 in a 357
but I had read this awhile ago

check into flame cutting
just a heads up!

The Gun FAQs
see post #7 -

__________________
I'd like to agree with you BUT

What kind of gun are you going to use ?

110gr + W-296/H-110 is really hard on K-frame revolvers.

110-125gr magnum loads are known to crack the forcing cone.

__________________
NRA Life
USPSA/IPSC

You cant have enough manuals. Get the Lyman next.

And, join loaddata.com. Well worth the money. They have a lot of the manual data and data from the magazines.

Going to feed it through the Patrolman.

Don't have a huge number of rounds, was more a reloading exercise into .357.

I am partial to the Lyman books, especially the Cast Bullet Handbook.

However, like others have said, you have be willing to experiment and extrapolate to find the solution to the load combination you are looking for. The books/manuals just give you data to start with.

__________________
Vietnam Veteran, 68-69

You can tell the older manuals in that they list their pressures by.......

CUP or LUP which were the best system back in the 70's ..........

Then they came out with methods and equipment that was more accurate and used electricity that reduced error even more. This new system was............... PSI.

One way I can tell if the data is old or new..............
Safe loading.

I find that in the 'how to' sections, one book may explain something better than another. And yes, anybody can get by with one book, but I experiment a lot and change components besides shooting cast lead (Lyman Cast Handbook), swaged lead, jacketed and now coated bullets. I reload different pistol and rifle calibers and some books show some powders and others show others. I also load min to max and everything in between. Much reduced loads for rifles is a world unto itself. We didn't have the internet for at least the first 25 years I was reloading. Anyway, I like to have several manuals and don't feel like 'drinking the Kool Aid' describes what I'm doing.

__________________
"He was kinda funny lookin'"