Favorite reloading manual?

[zzzippper]

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?

 

[427mach1]

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.

 

[zzzippper]

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.

 

[max]

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.

 

[Berserker]

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.

 

[Nevada Ed]

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.

 

[alwslate]

Another vote for Lyman and Speer. Their data more closely reflects
the results the handloader will see in his own guns.

 

[MyDads38]

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.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

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

 

[novalty]

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.

 

[11e40]

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.

 

[Jellybean]

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.

 

[plattincreek]

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.

 

[Rule3]

No favorite as they all have something to offer. If I had to pick it would be Hornady , or maybe Speer, no Lyman.

 

[Nevada Ed]

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.

 

[GBertolet]

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.

 

[rwsmith]

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.

 

[H Richard]

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.

 

[1coyote]

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.

 

[kwselke]

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.