Reloading and Firearms Library

Kilroy08 · April 1, 2012, 01:05 AM

So far I've got the latest Lyman's and Speer books in my library along with various hand outs from powder manufacturers. I'm planning on adding Ken Waters' Pet Loads to the book case when funds permit.

What other books would be considered must haves?

I would like a copy of Sharpe's Complete Guide to Hand Loading for the sake of having at least on voluminous tome on the shelf. Treatises from Elmer Kieth and Jim Cooper are also on my wish list as well.

steveno · April 1, 2012, 01:53 AM

"Hatcher's Notebook" & P.O. Ackley's reloading manuals (2 volumes)

Jim243 · April 1, 2012, 08:44 AM

Depends on the bullets you will be using, I like to get one from the manufacturer of my bulets, since I shoot Hornady the most I have their's as well as Speer's also the powder manufacturers have their's as well. Hogdgon's puts out a paperback that is about 9.95 each year and has a lot of good loads using IMR, hogdgon and Winchester powders. Accurate has a nice PDF that you can download and print out that references their powders. If you cast your own bullets, Lyman's 49th book is pretty much the standard to use.

Jim

oneoldsap · April 1, 2012, 08:51 AM

It's good to have manuals from the bullet manufacturers , whose bullets you are going to be shooting ! I have manuals from Barnes , Hornady , Sierra , Nosler and Speer plus Lyman # 46 & 48 . Freebies are available from the Powder Cos. too . It's always prudent to cross reference any data before loading , to ensure you aren't building a Bomb !

Peter M. Eick · April 1, 2012, 09:46 AM

I have a full bookshelf 8 ft tall on reloading and manuals. It would be hard to get it down to a few but I would add

PO ackley's 2 books on reloading
Naramore' principals and practices...
Keiths books on revolver reloading
All of Speers, Seirra's and Ideal's (lymans) reloading manuals
Handoloader/rifle on DVD
Hatchers collection of books.

jag2 · April 1, 2012, 10:26 PM

If you want a lot of loading info get Lee's Modern Reloading. They don't sell bullets so there is no slant, they just compile loading info from others. I have the Lyman book and it seems heavy towards lead, I've seen the Hornady book and most of that is for their bullets. Lee's gives you the most loading info for the money but may not have a lot of "custom" loads if that is what you are looking for.

sc928porsche · April 3, 2012, 12:17 PM

I use the bullet and powder mfgs. books. I do have my own library of load development. They are in "school report" folders with all the tested loads for that particular cartridge that I have loaded. I have my own development sheet that I run copies off and keep in a 3 ring binder that I take to the range with me. That days data is then transferred to the corresponding folder. Ive been using this system for 40 years.

April 1, 2012, 01:05 AM	#1
Kilroy08 Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2005 Posts: 168	Reloading and Firearms Library So far I've got the latest Lyman's and Speer books in my library along with various hand outs from powder manufacturers. I'm planning on adding Ken Waters' Pet Loads to the book case when funds permit. What other books would be considered must haves? I would like a copy of Sharpe's Complete Guide to Hand Loading for the sake of having at least on voluminous tome on the shelf. Treatises from Elmer Kieth and Jim Cooper are also on my wish list as well.

April 1, 2012, 08:44 AM	#3
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	Depends on the bullets you will be using, I like to get one from the manufacturer of my bulets, since I shoot Hornady the most I have their's as well as Speer's also the powder manufacturers have their's as well. Hogdgon's puts out a paperback that is about 9.95 each year and has a lot of good loads using IMR, hogdgon and Winchester powders. Accurate has a nice PDF that you can download and print out that references their powders. If you cast your own bullets, Lyman's 49th book is pretty much the standard to use. Jim __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum

April 1, 2012, 09:46 AM	#5
Peter M. Eick Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 1999 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 2,991	I have a full bookshelf 8 ft tall on reloading and manuals. It would be hard to get it down to a few but I would add PO ackley's 2 books on reloading Naramore' principals and practices... Keiths books on revolver reloading All of Speers, Seirra's and Ideal's (lymans) reloading manuals Handoloader/rifle on DVD Hatchers collection of books. __________________ 10mm and 357sig, the best things to come along since the 38 super!

April 3, 2012, 12:17 PM	#7
sc928porsche Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2008 Location: now living in alabama Posts: 2,433	I use the bullet and powder mfgs. books. I do have my own library of load development. They are in "school report" folders with all the tested loads for that particular cartridge that I have loaded. I have my own development sheet that I run copies off and keep in a 3 ring binder that I take to the range with me. That days data is then transferred to the corresponding folder. Ive been using this system for 40 years. __________________ No such thing as a stupid question. What is stupid is not asking it.

April 1, 2012, 01:53 AM	#2
steveno Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2004 Location: Minden , Nebraska Posts: 1,407	"Hatcher's Notebook" & P.O. Ackley's reloading manuals (2 volumes)

April 1, 2012, 08:51 AM	#4
oneoldsap Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2009 Location: I live in the foot of the Green Mountains of Vermont Posts: 1,602	It's good to have manuals from the bullet manufacturers , whose bullets you are going to be shooting ! I have manuals from Barnes , Hornady , Sierra , Nosler and Speer plus Lyman # 46 & 48 . Freebies are available from the Powder Cos. too . It's always prudent to cross reference any data before loading , to ensure you aren't building a Bomb !

April 1, 2012, 10:26 PM	#6
jag2 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2009 Location: dallas Posts: 773	If you want a lot of loading info get Lee's Modern Reloading. They don't sell bullets so there is no slant, they just compile loading info from others. I have the Lyman book and it seems heavy towards lead, I've seen the Hornady book and most of that is for their bullets. Lee's gives you the most loading info for the money but may not have a lot of "custom" loads if that is what you are looking for.