'Am relatively new to handgun reloading and setting up a Dillon press for reloading .38's for competition and am after recommendations for a good comprehensive reloading manual. The Dillon press manual refers to the Lyman reloading manual but before I rush out and acquire one, I thought it prudent to ask other opinions.
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Reloading manual recommendations?
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Vortec MAX
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I like Hornady, Sierra, and Lyman. Probably in that order.
The Hornady has a few of the newer powders.
You might want to pick up one of the Hodgdon manuals that look like a magazine since they will have the newest powders in there. Most of that data in also online though.
The Nosler and Barnes were pretty worthless to me. The LEE Modern Reloading seemed to have a lot of the same data in the other manuals. Not much original info in there.
Mike
The Hornady has a few of the newer powders.
You might want to pick up one of the Hodgdon manuals that look like a magazine since they will have the newest powders in there. Most of that data in also online though.
The Nosler and Barnes were pretty worthless to me. The LEE Modern Reloading seemed to have a lot of the same data in the other manuals. Not much original info in there.
Mike
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I left out Speer. That one is not bad. I would probably rank it right with the Lyman. Maybe just after the Lyman.
Mike
Mike
Manual should be plural. Manuals
Do you load lead?
Then Lymans CAST bullet manual
Lymans 49
Hornady
Speer
With those 4 you will be covered, The best part is the beginning chapters of information, NOT the load data.
If you can buy a Dillion than a few manuals should be first!
Do you load lead?
Then Lymans CAST bullet manual
Lymans 49
Hornady
Speer
With those 4 you will be covered, The best part is the beginning chapters of information, NOT the load data.
If you can buy a Dillion than a few manuals should be first!
Calaveras Slim
US Veteran
Hornady, Speer and Lyman, in that order.
Then if your gonna load cast bullets, then the Lyman Cast bullet loading guide.
I'm sitting here with about 6 or 7 different books but I keep going back to these I listed
Then if your gonna load cast bullets, then the Lyman Cast bullet loading guide.
I'm sitting here with about 6 or 7 different books but I keep going back to these I listed
LittleCooner
Member
Just help me out here, ok? In the land of 2015, I can go to each powder manufacture's site and download his information so why do we keep recommending a book case of loading manuals? I fell into this "trap" years ago, but now, with so much information at my fingertips due to Al Gore inventing the internet, do I need a bookcase full of books that cost several dollars each or just spend the money for bullets, power and primers?
I have Hornady, Sierra, and Speer manuals. Invaluable resources. Quickload is nice to see 'what if', but I won't load with it. I'll stick to books.
And the Internet is is a resource too. I treat it as advice, not Gospel.
But the published book is law to me.
And the Internet is is a resource too. I treat it as advice, not Gospel.
But the published book is law to me.
Not necessarily true from what I can see. Both Winchester and IMR take you to the Hodgdon site for data and it doesn't always list the bullet you are looking for. The bullet sites, Hornady, Speer and Sierra don't list there load data for their bullets on line. You have to buy the manuals.
So yes you can get some data online but the more specific data for various bullets seems to be in the manuals.
As I mentioned, the whole first section of manuals gives a whole lot of information that is extremely useful to reloading.
So many questions asked on forums can be found there rather than posting a thread.
Reloading is not just load data recipes. Hodgdon has a decent web site as does Accurate. Alliant is next to useless.
Twoboxer
Member
Honestly, I think it's habit.
The books have two uses - reloading info and reloading data.
Hornady 9th was published 2012 and has a good front section. Hornady makes lots of bullets = lots of data
My go to manual.If you use Sierra bullets like I do, I'd get that one as well.
Maybe two is overkill for info, but that would give you two looks/reads at reloading info to add to press manufacturers and others who have videos on line. Plus at least one fairly comprehensive line of clad bullets, if not two.
From there . . . Lee has a great front section if you are using Lee equipment. Otherwise it's not as useful as anyone else's. There's no original reloading data in it - it's a compilation of everyone else's data published at some point in time
Lyman 49th was first published 7 years ago, despite the fact that the Lyman web site calls it "hot off the presses" lol. The front section is good - I've never used it for data.
ABCs of Reloading is a nice book of nostalgia though it was last "updated" in 2010. Reading it will bring you back to the 60s
OTOH, it covers some topics not covered in other books . . . if you have the patience to read that far.All the powder manufacturers have data on line. Some may not know that Hodgdon distributes IMR and Winchester in addition to Hodgdon stuff.
The bullet and powder manufacturer's have phone numbers and they take calls and answer questions.
So it's hard for me to recommend more than the Hornady book and perhaps either Sierra or Speer if you use their bullets - or perhaps Lyman lead if you are into boolits.
If you find you have a need for more info, you can always say "Hey, Twoboxer, you were full of ****!" and go buy another manual at that time. Otherwise, buy components
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Speer and Lyman
Speer and Lyman both have great 'how to' sections and some explanations for why things work the way they do and sometimes don't work the way you want them to.
Some manuals favor some powders more than others. if you get a few manuals you are pretty well covered. Besides, nowadays a lot of stuff is on the manufacturer's website.
Speer and Lyman both have great 'how to' sections and some explanations for why things work the way they do and sometimes don't work the way you want them to.
Some manuals favor some powders more than others. if you get a few manuals you are pretty well covered. Besides, nowadays a lot of stuff is on the manufacturer's website.
swamprabbit
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I do own Speer, Hodgedon & Lyman (purchased years ago) however today you can just log on to any of their websites and get the info you need. I suppose it's nice to have one to thumb through at your loading bench and if I was to only buy one it would more than likely be Speer or the Hodgedon. Once you settle in on a specific loading, you almost never go back to the manual unless you are looking for something new or using a new powder. I've culled my powders down to:
W231
Titegroup
Unique
H4895
W231
Titegroup
Unique
H4895
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scooter123
Member
The big three today are the Lee 2nd, Lyman 49th, and Speer 14th. All good manual and the first three I acquired. They also can have some "conflicts" from time to time, so one thing any reloader must learn to do is figure out what to do with conflicting data. Fortunately the use of sources on the internet can really help in providing a larger selection of data.
That said one manual that has provided me with some of the best data for producing Accurate shooting loads has been the Hornady manual, which is a bit on the expensive side and not available as a Net resource. Because Hornady is also an ammunition manufacturer that builds a lot of "boutique" and new calibers their manual also provides data that I find a bit more wide ranging and useful for something like the 300 Blackout. So, I would have to say that the Hornady manual is almost a Must Have and a real favorite of mine.
That said one manual that has provided me with some of the best data for producing Accurate shooting loads has been the Hornady manual, which is a bit on the expensive side and not available as a Net resource. Because Hornady is also an ammunition manufacturer that builds a lot of "boutique" and new calibers their manual also provides data that I find a bit more wide ranging and useful for something like the 300 Blackout. So, I would have to say that the Hornady manual is almost a Must Have and a real favorite of mine.
You need a manual or two
If you're new to reloading, or you're a veteran, you need a manual or two.
Not for the data, for the instruction. Read it, re-read it and read it again through the years. You can sit in a comfortable chair or at the reloading bench. You won't be at the mercy of a website being up. You won't be distracted by swirling, flashing advertisements and you can depend on the information.
Mine are Hornady and Speer. Take your pick of the major manuals.
The data you can usually get from the manufacturers website.
If you're new to reloading, or you're a veteran, you need a manual or two.
Not for the data, for the instruction. Read it, re-read it and read it again through the years. You can sit in a comfortable chair or at the reloading bench. You won't be at the mercy of a website being up. You won't be distracted by swirling, flashing advertisements and you can depend on the information.
Mine are Hornady and Speer. Take your pick of the major manuals.
The data you can usually get from the manufacturers website.
gregintenn
Member
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/The-Complete-Reloading-Manual-Special/dp/B005TJPKFW"]The Complete Reloading Manual for the .38 Special: Loadbooks USA: Amazon.com: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51mHLhN80TL.@@AMEPARAM@@51mHLhN80TL[/ame]
I have one of these for most calibers I load. This is in addition to several reloading manuals. These are a collection of data from a number of manuals, put together for one cartridge. They do NOT include all the basic reloading information found in a comprehensive reloading manual.
I have one of these for most calibers I load. This is in addition to several reloading manuals. These are a collection of data from a number of manuals, put together for one cartridge. They do NOT include all the basic reloading information found in a comprehensive reloading manual.
bananaman
Member
Handgunloads.com is a good site to get data. I have downloaded Alliant Manuals from their site. Lots of data there. Bob
In general, powder company data is fairly generic and covers bullets by weight segregated between cast and jacketed designs. The problem with that is that a bullets "stickiness" (a term a ballistician actually used in conversation with me) in the bore depends on diameter, bearing surface, jacket hardness and core hardness, and it varies a lot even between bullets that look the same.
Manuals from bullet manufacturers are generally better in the sense that they present data for specific bullets and specify all the other specific load and test firearm criteria, so you have a more specific reference point to start with if you are then subsequently, substituting components.
Lyman and RCBS as bullet manuals use a format similar to powder manufacturers, but they also use the same approach as bullet manufacturers which is nice as the variables in cast bullet loading are already quite large.
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Hornady in particular tends to showcase newer powders in it's newer editions, which makes the older editions valuable as well. For example, during the recent powder shortage, I dusted off my Hornady 2nd, 3rd and 6th editions to look for load data that could be used with available powders not covered in my 8th and 9th editions. You can usually find these older editions in excellent condition on e-bay for under $10.
Other older manuals are also available that can be very desirable. Th PO Ackley manuals for example cover most of the common cartridge of the day in one manual, and then cover a large number of wildcats in a second volume - and information and data for some of those rounds is otherwise very hard to find.
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Load Books USA publishes caliber specific manuals that are handy in that they combine data from Hornady, Sierra, Speer, Lyman , RCBS, and the various powder companies into a single, small, spiral bound manual that sells for $6-$9.
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LoadData.com is a subscription website that offers a huge amount of published load data from a wide variety of sources, including data published in past issues of Handloader magazine. Their data includes data from present and past editions of various reloading manuals. The difference in some cases it that data in the current edition Hornady manual for the "Hornady .357" 125 gr XTP" will be presented as "Hornady .357" 125 gr JHP" on the LoadData.com website.
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Personally, I have several editions of the Hornady Manual as well as Sierra rifle and pistol manuals, Lyman manuals, the RCBS cast bullet manual, PO Ackley manuals and a number of load book USA manuals in edition to an annual subscription to LoadData.com.
Manuals from bullet manufacturers are generally better in the sense that they present data for specific bullets and specify all the other specific load and test firearm criteria, so you have a more specific reference point to start with if you are then subsequently, substituting components.
Lyman and RCBS as bullet manuals use a format similar to powder manufacturers, but they also use the same approach as bullet manufacturers which is nice as the variables in cast bullet loading are already quite large.
-----
Hornady in particular tends to showcase newer powders in it's newer editions, which makes the older editions valuable as well. For example, during the recent powder shortage, I dusted off my Hornady 2nd, 3rd and 6th editions to look for load data that could be used with available powders not covered in my 8th and 9th editions. You can usually find these older editions in excellent condition on e-bay for under $10.
Other older manuals are also available that can be very desirable. Th PO Ackley manuals for example cover most of the common cartridge of the day in one manual, and then cover a large number of wildcats in a second volume - and information and data for some of those rounds is otherwise very hard to find.
-----
Load Books USA publishes caliber specific manuals that are handy in that they combine data from Hornady, Sierra, Speer, Lyman , RCBS, and the various powder companies into a single, small, spiral bound manual that sells for $6-$9.
-----
LoadData.com is a subscription website that offers a huge amount of published load data from a wide variety of sources, including data published in past issues of Handloader magazine. Their data includes data from present and past editions of various reloading manuals. The difference in some cases it that data in the current edition Hornady manual for the "Hornady .357" 125 gr XTP" will be presented as "Hornady .357" 125 gr JHP" on the LoadData.com website.
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Personally, I have several editions of the Hornady Manual as well as Sierra rifle and pistol manuals, Lyman manuals, the RCBS cast bullet manual, PO Ackley manuals and a number of load book USA manuals in edition to an annual subscription to LoadData.com.
Even if all you want is load data, a manual such as Hornday gives you a lot of powders (for the same bullet), several loads and velocity.
Go to Alliant site online and you get maybe one powder.
You can not have too much information. Were did all the folks that answer questions get the info before Al Gore??
Go to Alliant site online and you get maybe one powder.
You can not have too much information. Were did all the folks that answer questions get the info before Al Gore??
