Reloading Manual
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Titegroups
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If your're buying bullets from a company that puts out a manual then get a copy of their manual, the lee manual has a lot of generic load data in it. There are caliber specific manuals out there also. The best one is up to you.
FMJ or Lead??
For lead, Lymans CAST
FMJ, Speer and Hornady even if you do not use their exact bullet.
For lead, Lymans CAST
FMJ, Speer and Hornady even if you do not use their exact bullet.
1. The NRA guide to Reloading
2. A manual from the company that makes your powder
3. A manual from the bullet company you use, if avaiable, or Lyman cast for lead
4. More of each as you try different products; never throw one away
5. a notebook for recording all the loads you try.
That said, if you know the principles of reloading (a must!) you can get data from the Hodgdon website for loading both calibers with jacketed bullets.
2. A manual from the company that makes your powder
3. A manual from the bullet company you use, if avaiable, or Lyman cast for lead
4. More of each as you try different products; never throw one away
5. a notebook for recording all the loads you try.
That said, if you know the principles of reloading (a must!) you can get data from the Hodgdon website for loading both calibers with jacketed bullets.
I look at reloading manuals two ways.
I see manuals two ways. Some of them have great 'How-to' sections, another may give a lot of useful data for loads. IF you can stick with one or two brands of bullets, get their manuals because the data is worked up specifically with their components. Nowadays it is very hard to find specific bullets because many are sold out with no backorder so you have to adapt. This is done by testing a starting load, then adding powder a small amount at a time to each test batch until you get something that works for you. All of that being said, I like the Speer for its great how to section and an adequate amount of data. Make sure whatever book you buy uses the powders that you want to use. Some manuals also have special data for short barreled guns.
I see manuals two ways. Some of them have great 'How-to' sections, another may give a lot of useful data for loads. IF you can stick with one or two brands of bullets, get their manuals because the data is worked up specifically with their components. Nowadays it is very hard to find specific bullets because many are sold out with no backorder so you have to adapt. This is done by testing a starting load, then adding powder a small amount at a time to each test batch until you get something that works for you. All of that being said, I like the Speer for its great how to section and an adequate amount of data. Make sure whatever book you buy uses the powders that you want to use. Some manuals also have special data for short barreled guns.
tappedandtagged
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Lyman 49th is a great place to start along with the Lee data. Sierra has a great manual as well. Often times, you can find data from the powder manufacturers online.
Accurate has a downloadable PDF, they'll also mail you a copy if you call and specifically ask for it, free.
Hodgdon/Winchester/IMR data can be found at data.hodgdon.com
Alliant also has a reloading guide online, although their data uses only Speer stuff. My understanding is that they are owned by the same holding company.
Between the online data available and two good manuals, you should have enough information to load most everything.
Accurate has a downloadable PDF, they'll also mail you a copy if you call and specifically ask for it, free.
Hodgdon/Winchester/IMR data can be found at data.hodgdon.com
Alliant also has a reloading guide online, although their data uses only Speer stuff. My understanding is that they are owned by the same holding company.
Between the online data available and two good manuals, you should have enough information to load most everything.
Granddad
Member
They are all good. For the price, it is hard to beat Lyman 49 in paper. I tend to go to Speer most often as their loads/velocities seem a bit closer to "real" life.
Get any three used ones from different manufacturers in the last 20 years and read all the info without looking at any data. Get your data online from the manufacturers. Check it against the loadbooks and use the most conservative of the two.
aguablanco
Member
While I have several books, I also subscribe to AmmoGuide. It is an online service that has loads for virtually any caliber. It also has some programs for calculating velocity, trajectory and recoil. As ALWAYS, don't take anyone's word for any load. Start light and work up.
Rich
Rich
scooter123
Member
Personally I prefer the Lee reloading manual. It offers a variety of powder selections and those options are ordered with the highest velocity loads and the top and the lowest velocity at the bottom. The Lee manual is however short on the specifics for many of the bullets listed and that does matter, because some bullets can deviate slightly from what may be considered "standard". In addition Jacketed Bullet as a description leaves a lot of questions hanging. Is it a Hornaday or Nosler? Does the shape of the bullet require a slightly long seating to obtain the correct case volume or should it be set a bit "deep"? Bottomline, the Lee manual is not perfect. However, in looking around I have yet to see one single manual that I'd consider perfect and the Lee manual offers a wider range of options than many of it's competitors.
It's also unlikely that today you'll find a listing that is an exact match to the primer, powder, and bullet that you are actually using. Unfortunately, right now it's whatever you can find and doing a bit of interpolation and guesstimating. That is why everyone says to start light and work your load up slowly.
Good news is that the resources available on the internet do permit us to do a much wider search for loading data and I would advise everyone to take advantage of this. With a bit of effort you should be able to come up with a starting point that is both safe and relatively clean shooting.
It's also unlikely that today you'll find a listing that is an exact match to the primer, powder, and bullet that you are actually using. Unfortunately, right now it's whatever you can find and doing a bit of interpolation and guesstimating. That is why everyone says to start light and work your load up slowly.
Good news is that the resources available on the internet do permit us to do a much wider search for loading data and I would advise everyone to take advantage of this. With a bit of effort you should be able to come up with a starting point that is both safe and relatively clean shooting.
jayman9207
Member
Thanks for the AmmoGuide tip!
carpriver
US Veteran
I started with the ABC's of Reloading, Lee's reloading manual most recent edition, and I have downloaded the load data for several powder manufactures. When I am developing a new load or changing any component I will check serveral manuals before starting to load.
gregintenn
Member
Loadbooks USA makes manuals that are caliber specific, and include data from several different manufacturers. If you are just looking for load data, that would be an option. Like everything else I have an interest in, I've accumulated quite a collection of reloading manuals, and find they all bring something unique to the table.
tappedandtagged
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The ABC's of reloading is a MUST read for every reloader.
Twoboxer
Member
The ABCs of reloading is seriously dated, even in its most recent incarnation. It's still worth a read for its safety instruction, but if you are on a budget . . . you can read it for free at google books.
The Lee manual is largely an advertisement for Lee products, and at that doesn' say much about how to use them. The data is not original, it comes from everyone else.
Don't subscribe to or use any online source for loads until you've accumulated enough experience to separate dangerous loads from safe loads. Disregard accuracy claims since - even if they are real - they are specific to his firearm and irrelevant to yours.
Powder manufacturers post their data on line. That gives you a few good sources.
Buy a manual or two from the people who make the bullets you are using or are likely to use. For me that was Hornady and Sierra, and both have served me well.
Sometimes you can get the prior edition for a lot less than the current edition. If you are using bullet/cartidge combos that have been around for a long time, they will certainly suffice. Check pricing before buying . . . and watch the edition numbers so you don't pay too much for an old book.
The Lee manual is largely an advertisement for Lee products, and at that doesn' say much about how to use them. The data is not original, it comes from everyone else.
Don't subscribe to or use any online source for loads until you've accumulated enough experience to separate dangerous loads from safe loads. Disregard accuracy claims since - even if they are real - they are specific to his firearm and irrelevant to yours.
Powder manufacturers post their data on line. That gives you a few good sources.
Buy a manual or two from the people who make the bullets you are using or are likely to use. For me that was Hornady and Sierra, and both have served me well.
Sometimes you can get the prior edition for a lot less than the current edition. If you are using bullet/cartidge combos that have been around for a long time, they will certainly suffice. Check pricing before buying . . . and watch the edition numbers so you don't pay too much for an old book.
