jtischauser
I'm addicted to kicking ass
I have aa few reloading manuals currently but I haven't really used them too much. What manuals must I have on my bench?
Reloading Books, what's the best
- Thread starter jtischauser
- Start date
nikatkimber
Well-Known Fanatic
I have the Lee, Sierra, and Hornady.
I also have the caliber specific "Loadbooks" that include load data from many bullet and powder companies.
I also have the caliber specific "Loadbooks" that include load data from many bullet and powder companies.
benjamin-benjamin
snickerpuss
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- Sep 16, 2010
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just about to start reloading, but why do you need a manual with forums like these and enos?? honest question???
Spiff
Semi-Pro
Typos and internet experts.
I've got a Sierra and a Hornady, and I like them both.
dennishoddy
Moderator
You have proven load data at hand for those quick little questions.
Dustin Cantrell
Well-Known Fanatic
I wouldn't trust just a forum for load data. There are some people (yep, they're on the internet) who think it's perfectly fine to fill a case with powder to the top and shove a bullet in there and fire it. When I'm researching a new load, I check the online load data from the powder manufacturer. I'll look up loads online. I might ask on a forum or two and read existing threads. I've found manuals to show a load in the middle between min and max to be the max or above max load in another manual. I had a Hodgdon load data book that showed different than their data online. Powders can change from lot to lot and over the years. Test barrels used might have been different. Lots of variables.
Rarely when I'm working up a load do I find data for the exact bullet I'm loading. I might not be wanting to use the OAL they suggest. Amount of crimp (if any) comes into play. Powder and primer lots will be different or you might be using a different primer than what they suggest. Tons of variables. What I'm trying to say is even if you get a manual you like, use several different resources for data and come to your own conclusion on where to start and then work up a load. Even if my best friend in the world had a load he'd been using successfully for 20 years in the exact gun I was loading for gave me his favorite load I still wouldn't just load it up and shoot them. You might have a load that works great in X gun and you buy an identical gun to X and shoot the same loads in it. Might have over pressure signs due to differences in the guns. Start low and work up, no matter what data you're using.
I'm still a reloading newbie, so I won't try to give advice other than do a lot of research and start low and work up. I loaded 1,800 rounds yesterday and I spent a lot more time researching and testing than it took me to load them.
Rarely when I'm working up a load do I find data for the exact bullet I'm loading. I might not be wanting to use the OAL they suggest. Amount of crimp (if any) comes into play. Powder and primer lots will be different or you might be using a different primer than what they suggest. Tons of variables. What I'm trying to say is even if you get a manual you like, use several different resources for data and come to your own conclusion on where to start and then work up a load. Even if my best friend in the world had a load he'd been using successfully for 20 years in the exact gun I was loading for gave me his favorite load I still wouldn't just load it up and shoot them. You might have a load that works great in X gun and you buy an identical gun to X and shoot the same loads in it. Might have over pressure signs due to differences in the guns. Start low and work up, no matter what data you're using.
I'm still a reloading newbie, so I won't try to give advice other than do a lot of research and start low and work up. I loaded 1,800 rounds yesterday and I spent a lot more time researching and testing than it took me to load them.
