Books about specific caliber reloading--any value??

[cmansguns]

Not yet....going back today

Nobody home yesterday so will go back today after my Dr. appt and see. I'll probably offer reasonable lump sum cash for the whole lot. If she takes it...then great...if not that's ok too.

More later

 

[BSA1]

I am a reloader and have some of the one book/one caliber manuals. As I have a lot of reloading books including one that was printed in the 1930’s I don’t have any use for them. As commented the data is old and may not include new bullet designs.

The reloading book from the 1930’s is just for entertainment. It is interesting to read about now obsolete cartridges and powders. I might be interested in the Hatcher’s Notebook for reading in the throne room. In other words I would pass on them.

 

[AJ]

I am a reloader and have some of the one book/one caliber manuals. As I have a lot of reloading books including one that was printed in the 1930’s I don’t have any use for them. As commented the data is old and may not include new bullet designs.

The reloading book from the 1930’s is just for entertainment. It is interesting to read about now obsolete cartridges and powders. I might be interested in the Hatcher’s Notebook for reading in the throne room. In other words I would pass on them.

I have used Phillip Sharpe's "Complete Guide To Reloading" for data on several different calibers. Like the original reloading data for the .357 and data for the Colt ..38 ACP. This manual dates from the 1930's and to me has been useful.

 

[rockquarry]

I have used Phillip Sharpe's "Complete Guide To Reloading" for data on several different calibers. Like the original reloading data for the .357 and data for the Colt ..38 ACP. This manual dates from the 1930's and to me has been useful.

Yes, still useful data in Sharpe's book, but many would have no interest in it unless it's available online for free. Maybe it is ...

 

[BC38]

Funny how much opinions vary...
"They're worthless - just photocopies of old data..."
"I have manuals from the 1930's and 1940's that I still use..."
"I make my own by photocopying data from multiple manuals into a 3-ring binder..."
"Using one is a lot easier than looking up data in a bunch of individual manuals..."

As always, there's more than one way to skin a cat and to each his own!

 

[AJ]

Yes, still useful data in Sharpe's book, but many would have no interest in it unless it's available online for free. Maybe it is ...

I got my copy the hard way. My Father gave it to me almost 50 years ago. And it was old then..........

 

[venomballistics]

If you are going to delve deep into a particular cartridge, these are quite useful as they put a lot of different data in one place.
45-70 might be a good example of such a cartridge where 150 years worth of it getting used for everything established it's versatility.
A one trick pony, like a 380 benefits far less where you have very little weight range and a requirement to cycle the action without blowing up.

 

[Skeet 028]

I use Phil Sharps book for some loads. I doubt it is online. Another source of data I use is Ken Water's Pet loads books. Or the articles. No new powders...but I have a lot of older powders. And he did a bunch of calibers over the years

 

[cmansguns]

Did I get them? UPDATE

I'm the OP on this thread and while I thought the Jordan and Hatcher hardback books along with the spiral bound 8 reloading booklets would be neat if the right lump sum price could be reached.......alas.........No deal....had to hard pass.

The reload booklets were $15.00 EACH.....Hatcher book (3rd Edition, 2nd Printing April 1966) $25.00, Jordan book (12th Printing 1989) $50.00......FIRM...non negotiable.

ALL are on flea bay for less, even including extra for shipping.

My guess is that these will still be sitting there a few (several) months from now, or else I'll see them at the local Goodwill.

 

[AJ]

Try here: Hatchers Notebook by Julian Hatcher - AbeBooks

 

[Nemo288]

As with many things that have aged past copyright, Hatcher's Notebook is available at archive.org:
Hatchers Notebook : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Phil Sharpe's "Complete Guide To Handloading" is also available:
Complete Guide To Handloading Philip B. Sharpe [ 1937] { Text Replaced, Indexed} : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Archive.org is one of the best things the internet has to offer by far.
Worth supporting with a few $ IMHO.

 

[DWalt]

As with many things that have aged past copyright, Hatcher's Notebook is available at archive.org:
Hatchers Notebook : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

I seem to remember buying my copy of Hatcher at a Garage sale for maybe a dollar. It still had (and has) its dust jacket. Most of my old reloading manuals have come from the same source. The local Half-Price Bookstore chain frequently has reloading manuals (and other gun books) on their shelves. Over the years I have found some amazing gun book buys there. Occasionally they have “half of Half-Price” sales, which I never miss.

 

[venomballistics]

As with many things that have aged past copyright, Hatcher's Notebook is available at archive.org:
Hatchers Notebook : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Phil Sharpe's "Complete Guide To Handloading" is also available:
Complete Guide To Handloading Philip B. Sharpe [ 1937] { Text Replaced, Indexed} : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Archive.org is one of the best things the internet has to offer by far.
Worth supporting with a few $ IMHO.

duly noted.
I have Hatchers notebook in hard copy.
It was well worth every dime paid some 20 years ago.
it covers a lot of subject matter.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I use Phil Sharps book for some loads. I doubt it is online. Another source of data I use is Ken Water's Pet loads books. Or the articles. No new powders...but I have a lot of older powders. And he did a bunch of calibers over the years

It's hard to argue with those 2 choices unless you just have to use newer powders. I also have plenty of time tested powders and haven't looked into many new powders.

IMO Ken Waters Pet Loads is the bible of reloading.

 

[Skeet 028]

Ken Water's did some of the best testing of reloading components for so many calibers...without much in the line of modern pressure and velocity testing equipment that is available now...and he did it while finding what seemed to shoot better out of real guns...admittedly small samples of different firearms...but his data still stands the test of time. What could he have accomplished with the aid of today's pressure testing equipment powders and components. Looked at today...he spent more than hours working on the data he wrote of...he did it for decades

 

[Nemo288]

IMO Ken Waters Pet Loads is the bible of reloading.

Now that's a BIG book.
Wolfe makes good, albeit expensive, books.
Propellant Profiles and Firearms Pressure Factors are another 2 of theirs I like along with Handloader.

 

[Racer X]

I like the one caliber books for oddball calibers that were still popular enough to make a book for. 7.62x39 is one example that you have to be almost crazy to reload for in the minds of many that might be helped by having several sources. If it is a caliber I want I would pay $5, if not and a common caliber then $1 is fair.

accurate 7.62x39 loaded ammo isn't that common. With AR uppers becoming more and more common in 7.62x39, making accurate loads becomes more important. It's a great hog or dear round in 154 soft points.