Reloading Manuals ???

[Forrest68]

Ok, I'm fairly new to reloading. I am mainly going to load pistol calibers, for the mos part 9mm(mostly), 40 S&W, and some .45 ACP. I have a fair supple of both HP38 and Titegroup from hodgdon(could get some HS6 as well so far these have metered very well from my Lee press). I have the Lee loading data sheets for all 3, as well as the Lyman 49th edition book, and the Hodgdon data. What other manuals are out there worth investing in. I don't want to spend the money on a manual just to find out it has the same basic info as what I've already got. Price isn't so much the issue as just wanting to spend wisely.

[lamarw]

I would recommend the Lee manual simply because you have a Lee press. If it is a single stage press disregard my recommendation. If it is a turret press, then I think it would be handy but not a must.

[Forrest68]

Does the Lee manual have more Data than the sheets they aleady send along with the die sets?

[Ozzieman]

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/default.aspx
http://www.imrpowder.com/
http://www.vihtavuori-lapua.com/temp...11_2013eng.pdf
http://www.barnesbullets.com/information/load-data/
I have 7 different manuals, several over 30 years of age. A lot depends on the kind of loading you’re going to do. If you going to shoot rifle and long range you need a ballistic chart like Serra or RCBs manuals have.
If you doing simple pistol then most of what you need is on line listed above.
Two manuals I feel every bench should have are an RCBS and a Lyman cast.
There is no real reason to pick one over the other but it’s nice to compare when you don’t have the same bullet but the weight is the same and some manuals test with different guns/barrel lengths.
If you’re going to shoot lead which I do a lot, get yourself a Lyman cast bullet load manual. I have found it to be the most used manual on my bench.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/867...h-edition-book

[buck460XVR]

The Lee manual is just a compilation from other resources.....it is generally my last suggestion. If there is a particular brand of bullet that you favor, then their reloading manual is the way to go. Powder manufacturer websites along with your Lyman manual are a good start and will cover most of the bases, but as you progress you will know if and when you need more. Here's a link to another resource given just yesterday by another FL member.....

http://www.nosler.com/load-data/

[lamarw]

Yes, the Lee manual does contain more recipes than you receive with the instruction sheet with the Lee dies. The advanage the Lee manual along with the Lymans is it provides you with more options as to powder types. It can be handy when you are wanting alternatives to try new loads. During our recent shortage of powders and bullets, it has probably helped reloaders develop loads with what they had on hand or what they could find available.

[mikld]

oops

[jmr40]

I have a couple of hard copy manuals but use the online versions more often. Several good ones listed above. One more.

http://www.ramshot.com/

[mikld]

If you're going to load jacketed bullets, get a reloading manual from the bullet manufacturer. (Hornady bullets = Hornady manual, etc.). If you want to reload lead bullets get a copy of Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook. For general reloading info (and a great "how to" section) use Lyman's 49th Edition Reloading handbook. This will have you pretty much covered.

I have mixed feeling about Lee's Modern Reloading. I kinda like Lee's style in the "how to" section, but don't like the data section's layout and available data (yep, I've got all four mentioned here plus 4 others)...

You should have much more than just the data sheets supplied with your dies. There's a huge amount of info besides load data in most printed manuals.

[grisbald]

I have 6 reloading manuals. If I was to have just one manual, it would probably be a Lyman because they have different manufacturers bullets in them. The ones I mostly use are Hornady & Sierra, mainly because I find those bullets to be the cheapest that I find online.

[jersurf101]

i'm a fan of lyman 49 myself. I do try to have more than a few resources for any given load. Hornaday, Lee and Nosler to name a few.

[Forrest68]

Ok, well I have Lymans 49th and ordered Lee's, I am only loaden pistol ammo fro now 9MM mainly, some 40s&w and some 45 acp. Seems a bit fo a waste havetn to buy these huge manuals for only about 8 or 10 pages of actual data. Yes, the general info for loaden is good too, but how many books ya that tell ya how to load? Be nice if tas Manuasl specific to caliber at least for the most popular calibers. Thanks all

[MarkDozier]

but how many books ya that tell ya how to load? Be nice if tas Manuasl specific to caliber at least for the most popular calibers

Thats why LEE'S 2nd edition is my go to manual when I have a question about reloading. About 1/2 the book is on reloading.

[FrankenMauser]

The Lee manual is just a compilation from other resources.....it is generally my last suggestion.

Yep. There may be what looks like a lot of data in there, but it's all second-hand, out of date, and lacks the important notes that originally accompanied the data from the original publisher.

[osirus82]

I have the layman 49th edition and read it, I was going to get the abc's of reloading but found 2 different copies/ authors anyone have both? which is better? other suggestions other than a ballistic chart? I am reloading for a fnar .308 for hunting first and then for precision distance. I will be using a dillon 650xl progressive w/o shell loader for now. Thanks.

[Forrest68]

Just FYI, I went ahead and picked up a copy of the Lee manual, the actual load data is no different than what is sent with each specific caliber die set. Other than a little info(nothin you couldn't get from the net) pretty much a waste of money.

[FrankenMauser]

Just FYI, I went ahead and picked up a copy of the Lee manual, the actual load data is no different than what is sent with each specific caliber die set. Other than a little info(nothin you couldn't get from the net) pretty much a waste of money.

The more you compare different data sheets that come with their reloading dies to the data available in the manual, the more differences you'll find. Some of the data sheets have all of the data available in the manual. Some have most of the data available in the manual. And, some have only a small portion of the data in the manual. It just depends on the cartridge.

[Gster]

Never thought I would hear that a Lee manual is pretty much a waste of money. But I have heard of some net recipes being a waste of a good gun

[Forrest68]

If I didn't already have the Lymans Book and the load data sheets for 9mm, 40 S&W, as well as 45 ACP, the manual would be great info. Hence my saying it was wasted money for me.