What's your favorite load manual?

blades67 · June 29, 2002, 02:31 AM

I already have the Speer and Lyman #47 manuals, but I think a third reference is called for. What manuals do you guys refer to when you go to the bench?

All replies welcomed, unless it hurts my feelings.

dakotasin · June 29, 2002, 03:51 AM

speer #13 is my 'go to' manual, and if i feel like i need to cross-reference, i usually use hornady's manual.

Hal · June 29, 2002, 04:28 AM

The ones I mainly use are Lyman, Speer and Hornady,,,,sorry for the duplicats.
The last year or so, I've been using a lot of on line data from the powder mfg's as well as suggestions here.

**Mike Irwin** · June 29, 2002, 06:39 AM

Hornady, followed by Lyman, followed by Nosler.

Sierra (whoops, originally said Speer) doesn't even play in my house anymore. I stopped using their bullets some years ago when I discovered Nosler partitions.

Quantrill · June 29, 2002, 06:58 AM

Lyman #47 and Lyman Cast Bullet Manual. I have others but these are the first 2 that I turn to. Quantrill

Sisco · June 29, 2002, 07:46 AM

"Modern Reloading" by Lee

Chief Jones · June 29, 2002, 07:54 AM

I use the Sierra manuals as well as Hogdon's. Be sure to cross-reference between manuals....

Southla1 · June 29, 2002, 08:08 AM

I have the Sierra, Speer, Lyman, Hodgdon, Hornady, plus NRA books, and Cartridges of the World which also has load data in it plus years of notes. I guess if I had to use just one it would be Horandy ............... but its a close race.

I find I use it the most and the Hodgdon is right behind it.

For techinal questions I usually refer to Modern Handloading by Nonte.

WESHOOT2 · June 29, 2002, 08:51 AM

Check all.
Test.
Repeatedly.
Reconfirm.

(As a thin-ice-walker I've had to expand my search for sometimes even just start data. Highly recommend learning data collection with chronograph.)

I use: Lyman #2, Accurate #1, Speer #12 & 13, Hodgdon #26 & 27, Load-Maps from Midway, LoadBooks, multiple years worth of collected magazine data, manufacturers pamphlets and internet sites, etc.
Can't have too much.......

Jeeper · June 29, 2002, 09:00 AM

I have all of them but I use speer the most for new loads. Then I use the little paper ones that the powder companies publish.

Fatelvis · June 29, 2002, 09:46 AM

Speer and Hornady

BenW · June 29, 2002, 10:33 AM

I go to the Lyman first, but always check all my others as well, especially when I'm starting up a new load or taking a load up to max.

sricciardelli · June 29, 2002, 10:34 AM

I have on my shelf at least the last 3 issues of Hodgdon, Hornady, Lyman, Nosler, Sierra, and Speer manuals, plus Cartridges Of The World.

In addition I have the latest copies of the AA, ADI, Alliant, Ramshot and Winchester.

I can't honestly say I have a favorite!

To rely on one manual is almost as bad as not using one at all, and to try and make any sense out of 11 will drive you to drink! (The extreme variations in data are rediculous.)

When I am getting ready to work-up a new load, I select the components I want to use (such as I am doing right now with a new .22-250 and a new 6mm Remington I just purhcased), and then I open every manual...select the lowest of the "min" loads and the highest of the "max" loads...throw these two numbers in a spreadsheet I did, and it tells me what my increments are...

For example...on the .22-250 that I am working on right now I decided I wanted to switch to Varget powder (have always used H-380), and I wanted to change to Winchester WLR primers (have always used Remington 9-1/2).

The loading data for the bullet and powder I selected is as follows:

34.0 to 36.0 Hodgdon
30.7 to 35.7 Hornady
32.0 to 36.0 Speer

So I plug in 30.7 and 36.0, and I come up with 20 loads at 0.3 grain increments.

With the 6mm I wanted to change from IMR-4350 powder to H-4831-SC. Once again none of the manuals agreed.

44.0 to 49.5 Hodgdon
44.0 to 47.5 Lyman
43.2 to 48.7 Sierra
47.0 to 51.0 Speer

I plug in the two extreme numbers and now I am loading from 43.2 to 51.0 in 0.4 grain steps.

Although I can't say that any one manual is the "best", I do believe that it is a toss-up for the "worst"! That honor goes to both Nosler and Barnes...the Barnes manual is so far from real life that I don't even refer to it at all.

As for who has the most "accurate" data regarding velocity...it's a toss-up!

Here is what the manuals say about the .22-250 load I have been using for years:

Low . Hi . Low . High . My . Velocity
34.6 39.3 3400 3800 38.4 3723 Sierra
35.0 38.0 3458 3709 38.4 3742 Hodgdon
37.0 41.0 3421 3788 38.4 3549 Speer
32.0 36.0 3260 3580 38.4 3772 Nosler
38.4 38.4 3702 3702 38.4 3702 Actual Chrony

For my old 6mm loading:
Low . Hi . Low . High . My . Velocity
39.9 46.5 2800 3300 43.2 3050 Sierra
41.0 43.0 3017 3174 43.2 3190 Hodgdon
41.0 45.0 2960 3290 43.2 3142 Nosler
43.0 47.0 3116 3395 43.2 3130 Speer
40.0 46.5 2808 3300 43.2 3050 Lyman
43.2 43.2 3128 3128 43.2 3128 Actual Chrony

(I have many other examples of the cartridges I load at http://stevespages.com/table1.html if you are interested in the comparisons.)

sricciardelli · June 29, 2002, 10:52 AM

(Double post)

Nanaimo Barr · June 29, 2002, 07:23 PM

a number of powder companies also have there pams in PDF downloadable formats online.

cheygriz · June 29, 2002, 07:33 PM

Lyman, Speer, Hornady, Hodgdon.

C.R.Sam · June 29, 2002, 07:44 PM

Multitudinous manuals and pamphlets.
And like WS2 I second and third source all data.

Errors and typos possible from any source.

Sam

Jamie Young · June 29, 2002, 08:17 PM

Isn't there a book out there that has everything by now? I have the Lyman but it doesn't have a lot of the bullets and powders I use. I picked up the Lee, but its still missing a lot of stuff. My Lyman doesn't have anything listed for Win 231 for the 230gr 45acp. And it doesn't list anything over 63gr .223 bullets.

sricciardelli · June 29, 2002, 11:32 PM

Soda Pop...

There is what you want, it is called:

http://stevespages.com/page8c.htm

Jamie Young · June 30, 2002, 12:27 AM

Cool

**Bud Helms** · June 30, 2002, 06:51 AM

What Mike Irwin said exactly (same order) ... followed by Speer. And I always check 'em all. Cross-referencing is very educational.

Same opinion, re: Sierra vs Nosler Ballistic Tips.

Sorry to embarrass you, Mike.

KP95DAO · June 30, 2002, 07:17 AM

They don't list the powders I use. Of course one can calculate based on burn rates. But, since the powders I use are tailored to the round, there is not any need for a manuel.
I do reccommend Speer manuels to all those who are starting out in reloading.

Markk9 · June 30, 2002, 07:17 AM

You can never have to many load manuals, try and get all the current ones that are out. I collect load manuals and just love to look and see how much the data has been watered down. The current books that I use are Hornady, Hodgdon, and Nosler. One book I think every reloader should own is Ken Waters Pet Loads. Here is the list of books I use:

Accurate Arms #1 1994
Accurate Arms #2 2000
A-Square #1 1996
Barnes #1 1992
Barnes #2 1997
Barnes #3 2001
Hodgdon #19
Hodgdon #20
Hodgdon #23 1979
Hodgdon #26 1992
Hodgdon #27 200
Hornady #1 1967
Hornady #2 1973
Hornady #3 1989
Hornady #4 1991
Hornady #5 2000
Lyman #39 1953
Lyman #41 1957
Lyman #42 1960
Lyman #44 1967
Lyman #45 1970
Lyman #46 1982
Lyman #47 1992
Lyman Pistol & Revolver Handbook #2 1994
Metallic Cartridge Reloading #2 1983
Metallic Cartridge Reloading #3 1996
Nick Harvey Reloading Manual #1 1993
Nosler #1 1976
Nosler #2 1981
Nosler #3 1989
Nosler #4 1996
Nosler #5 2002
P.O. Ackley Handbook Vol I&II #1 1966
Sierra #1 1974
Sierra #3 1989
Sierra #4 1995
Speer #7 1966
Speer #8 1970
Speer #9 1974
Speer #10 1979
Speer #12 1994
Speer #13 1998
Vihtavuori #2 1995
Vihtavuori #3 2000

ACP230 · June 30, 2002, 08:31 AM

Hornady Handbook Third Edition is my favorite.

maxwayne · June 30, 2002, 09:48 AM

I use the Lyman, the manuals of the powder and bullet companies and my own. For over 25 years I have read a large number of gun mags and if there is a reloading article of interest I photocopy it and put it in a looseleaf binder.

June 29, 2002, 07:46 AM	#6
Sisco Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 1999 Location: KS Posts: 1,558	"Modern Reloading" by Lee __________________ "I don't mind it when stupid people say stupid things. Stupid people should be encouraged to say stupid things, that way we always know who the stupid people are." ~ Ted Nugent http://www.awbansunset.com/awcountdown_sm.gif

June 29, 2002, 10:52 AM	#14
sricciardelli Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2001 Location: Montana Posts: 489	(Double post) __________________ http://stevespages.com/page8.htm

June 29, 2002, 07:23 PM	#15
Nanaimo Barr Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Location: North Idaho Posts: 1,024	a number of powder companies also have there pams in PDF downloadable formats online. __________________ "Question that Regulation, you might be suprised to find out it's Illegal"

June 29, 2002, 07:33 PM	#16
cheygriz Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2002 Location: high up in the rockies Posts: 2,289	Lyman, Speer, Hornady, Hodgdon. __________________ If you think a mighty military force is expensive, wait 'til you see what a weak one costs.

June 29, 2002, 08:17 PM	#18
Jamie Young Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2000 Location: SE/PA Posts: 4,834	Isn't there a book out there that has everything by now? I have the Lyman but it doesn't have a lot of the bullets and powders I use. I picked up the Lee, but its still missing a lot of stuff. My Lyman doesn't have anything listed for Win 231 for the 230gr 45acp. And it doesn't list anything over 63gr .223 bullets. __________________ Find out about Gun Shows and Training activities. www.TheRallyPoint.org Get your gun club involved!!

June 29, 2002, 02:31 AM	#1
blades67 Senior Member Join Date: April 22, 1999 Location: Chandler, Arizona, USA Posts: 6,014	What's your favorite load manual? I already have the Speer and Lyman #47 manuals, but I think a third reference is called for. What manuals do you guys refer to when you go to the bench? All replies welcomed, unless it hurts my feelings. __________________ Guns cause crime like spoons cause Rosie O'Donnell to be fat! I hunt, therefore I am.

June 29, 2002, 03:51 AM	#2
dakotasin Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2002 Location: south dakota, U.S.A. Posts: 136	speer #13 is my 'go to' manual, and if i feel like i need to cross-reference, i usually use hornady's manual. __________________ Hunting is not a matter of life or death. It is much more important than that.

June 29, 2002, 04:28 AM	#3
Hal Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 1998 Location: Ohio USA Posts: 8,563	The ones I mainly use are Lyman, Speer and Hornady,,,,sorry for the duplicats. The last year or so, I've been using a lot of on line data from the powder mfg's as well as suggestions here.

June 29, 2002, 06:39 AM	#4
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	Hornady, followed by Lyman, followed by Nosler. Sierra (whoops, originally said Speer) doesn't even play in my house anymore. I stopped using their bullets some years ago when I discovered Nosler partitions. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower. Last edited by Mike Irwin; June 29, 2002 at 12:27 PM.

June 29, 2002, 06:58 AM	#5
Quantrill Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 1999 Location: Arizona, USA Posts: 725	Manuals Lyman #47 and Lyman Cast Bullet Manual. I have others but these are the first 2 that I turn to. Quantrill

June 29, 2002, 07:54 AM	#7
Chief Jones Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2002 Location: Wewahitchka, FL Posts: 218	I use the Sierra manuals as well as Hogdon's. Be sure to cross-reference between manuals....

June 29, 2002, 08:08 AM	#8
Southla1 Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 19, 2000 Location: Jeanerette, La. Near the Posts: 1,999	I have the Sierra, Speer, Lyman, Hodgdon, Hornady, plus NRA books, and Cartridges of the World which also has load data in it plus years of notes. I guess if I had to use just one it would be Horandy ............... but its a close race. I find I use it the most and the Hodgdon is right behind it. For techinal questions I usually refer to Modern Handloading by Nonte.

June 29, 2002, 08:51 AM	#9
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	TRUST NOTHING Check all. Test. Repeatedly. Reconfirm. (As a thin-ice-walker I've had to expand my search for sometimes even just start data. Highly recommend learning data collection with chronograph.) I use: Lyman #2, Accurate #1, Speer #12 & 13, Hodgdon #26 & 27, Load-Maps from Midway, LoadBooks, multiple years worth of collected magazine data, manufacturers pamphlets and internet sites, etc. Can't have too much....... __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

June 29, 2002, 09:00 AM	#10
Jeeper Senior Member Join Date: November 1, 2001 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 776	I have all of them but I use speer the most for new loads. Then I use the little paper ones that the powder companies publish. __________________ Gun control theory - A woman raped and strangled is morally superior to a woman with a smoking gun and a dead rapist at her feet.

June 29, 2002, 09:46 AM	#11
Fatelvis Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2001 Location: Lockport, IL Posts: 490	Speer and Hornady

June 29, 2002, 10:33 AM	#12
BenW Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2001 Location: CA Posts: 282	I go to the Lyman first, but always check all my others as well, especially when I'm starting up a new load or taking a load up to max.

June 29, 2002, 10:34 AM	#13
sricciardelli Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2001 Location: Montana Posts: 489	I have on my shelf at least the last 3 issues of Hodgdon, Hornady, Lyman, Nosler, Sierra, and Speer manuals, plus Cartridges Of The World. In addition I have the latest copies of the AA, ADI, Alliant, Ramshot and Winchester. I can't honestly say I have a favorite! To rely on one manual is almost as bad as not using one at all, and to try and make any sense out of 11 will drive you to drink! (The extreme variations in data are rediculous.) When I am getting ready to work-up a new load, I select the components I want to use (such as I am doing right now with a new .22-250 and a new 6mm Remington I just purhcased), and then I open every manual...select the lowest of the "min" loads and the highest of the "max" loads...throw these two numbers in a spreadsheet I did, and it tells me what my increments are... For example...on the .22-250 that I am working on right now I decided I wanted to switch to Varget powder (have always used H-380), and I wanted to change to Winchester WLR primers (have always used Remington 9-1/2). The loading data for the bullet and powder I selected is as follows: 34.0 to 36.0 Hodgdon 30.7 to 35.7 Hornady 32.0 to 36.0 Speer So I plug in 30.7 and 36.0, and I come up with 20 loads at 0.3 grain increments. With the 6mm I wanted to change from IMR-4350 powder to H-4831-SC. Once again none of the manuals agreed. 44.0 to 49.5 Hodgdon 44.0 to 47.5 Lyman 43.2 to 48.7 Sierra 47.0 to 51.0 Speer I plug in the two extreme numbers and now I am loading from 43.2 to 51.0 in 0.4 grain steps. Although I can't say that any one manual is the "best", I do believe that it is a toss-up for the "worst"! That honor goes to both Nosler and Barnes...the Barnes manual is so far from real life that I don't even refer to it at all. As for who has the most "accurate" data regarding velocity...it's a toss-up! Here is what the manuals say about the .22-250 load I have been using for years: Low . Hi . Low . High . My . Velocity 34.6 39.3 3400 3800 38.4 3723 Sierra 35.0 38.0 3458 3709 38.4 3742 Hodgdon 37.0 41.0 3421 3788 38.4 3549 Speer 32.0 36.0 3260 3580 38.4 3772 Nosler 38.4 38.4 3702 3702 38.4 3702 Actual Chrony For my old 6mm loading: Low . Hi . Low . High . My . Velocity 39.9 46.5 2800 3300 43.2 3050 Sierra 41.0 43.0 3017 3174 43.2 3190 Hodgdon 41.0 45.0 2960 3290 43.2 3142 Nosler 43.0 47.0 3116 3395 43.2 3130 Speer 40.0 46.5 2808 3300 43.2 3050 Lyman 43.2 43.2 3128 3128 43.2 3128 Actual Chrony (I have many other examples of the cartridges I load at http://stevespages.com/table1.html if you are interested in the comparisons.) __________________ http://stevespages.com/page8.htm Last edited by sricciardelli; June 29, 2002 at 11:00 AM.

June 29, 2002, 07:44 PM	#17
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	Multitudinous manuals and pamphlets. And like WS2 I second and third source all data. Errors and typos possible from any source. Sam

June 29, 2002, 11:32 PM	#19
sricciardelli Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2001 Location: Montana Posts: 489	Soda Pop... There is what you want, it is called: http://stevespages.com/page8c.htm __________________ http://stevespages.com/page8.htm

June 30, 2002, 12:27 AM	#20
Jamie Young Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2000 Location: SE/PA Posts: 4,834	Cool __________________ Find out about Gun Shows and Training activities. www.TheRallyPoint.org Get your gun club involved!!

June 30, 2002, 06:51 AM	#21
Bud Helms Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 1999 Location: Middle Georgia, USA Posts: 13,198	What Mike Irwin said exactly (same order) ... followed by Speer. And I always check 'em all. Cross-referencing is very educational. Same opinion, re: Sierra vs Nosler Ballistic Tips. Sorry to embarrass you, Mike.

June 30, 2002, 07:17 AM	#22
KP95DAO Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2000 Posts: 699	Slight problem with reloading manuels. They don't list the powders I use. Of course one can calculate based on burn rates. But, since the powders I use are tailored to the round, there is not any need for a manuel. I do reccommend Speer manuels to all those who are starting out in reloading.

June 30, 2002, 07:17 AM	#23
Markk9 Member Join Date: March 18, 2000 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 91	You can never have to many load manuals, try and get all the current ones that are out. I collect load manuals and just love to look and see how much the data has been watered down. The current books that I use are Hornady, Hodgdon, and Nosler. One book I think every reloader should own is Ken Waters Pet Loads. Here is the list of books I use: Accurate Arms #1 1994 Accurate Arms #2 2000 A-Square #1 1996 Barnes #1 1992 Barnes #2 1997 Barnes #3 2001 Hodgdon #19 Hodgdon #20 Hodgdon #23 1979 Hodgdon #26 1992 Hodgdon #27 200 Hornady #1 1967 Hornady #2 1973 Hornady #3 1989 Hornady #4 1991 Hornady #5 2000 Lyman #39 1953 Lyman #41 1957 Lyman #42 1960 Lyman #44 1967 Lyman #45 1970 Lyman #46 1982 Lyman #47 1992 Lyman Pistol & Revolver Handbook #2 1994 Metallic Cartridge Reloading #2 1983 Metallic Cartridge Reloading #3 1996 Nick Harvey Reloading Manual #1 1993 Nosler #1 1976 Nosler #2 1981 Nosler #3 1989 Nosler #4 1996 Nosler #5 2002 P.O. Ackley Handbook Vol I&II #1 1966 Sierra #1 1974 Sierra #3 1989 Sierra #4 1995 Speer #7 1966 Speer #8 1970 Speer #9 1974 Speer #10 1979 Speer #12 1994 Speer #13 1998 Vihtavuori #2 1995 Vihtavuori #3 2000

June 30, 2002, 08:31 AM	#24
ACP230 Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2000 Posts: 708	Hornady Handbook Third Edition is my favorite. __________________ "To disarm the people (is) the best & most effectual way to enslave them." George Mason.

June 30, 2002, 09:48 AM	#25
maxwayne Senior Member Join Date: March 10, 2001 Posts: 402	I use the Lyman, the manuals of the powder and bullet companies and my own. For over 25 years I have read a large number of gun mags and if there is a reloading article of interest I photocopy it and put it in a looseleaf binder.

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