Best of reloading educational manuals?

clayking · September 14, 2006, 02:46 PM

I've loaded shotgun shells for many years, but have loaded handgun ammo for only about a year. I have the ABC's of Reloading, but would like to step up to something more "substantial". Not so much for the loads, but for the art of reloading. Suggestions?.........................ck

**Mike Irwin** · September 14, 2006, 02:52 PM

Dean Grennel's book is still the best one out there as far as I'm concerned.

VaFisher · September 14, 2006, 04:41 PM

Here is a good read and reference online.
http://stevespages.com/page8.htm

steveno · September 14, 2006, 04:50 PM

Lyman #48 as it covers a mixture of all brands of bullets and powders

**Bud Helms** · September 14, 2006, 05:06 PM

I don't have the very newest of these, but Lyman and Hornady use to be the best around for learning all about reloading and why each and every step was necessary AND what happened when you deviated from the steps recommended. Those two were the absolute best tutorial reloading books I ever read. Hornady did not include the lead bullet and black powder and Pyrodex found in Lyman, but it was probably better for modern powders and bullets. They both took it to a high enough level that I still consult them on occasion. Absolute gold.

Ares45 · September 14, 2006, 06:10 PM

Speer #13 is another good one.

TimRB · September 15, 2006, 08:47 AM

If you can get past his maddening writing style, Handloading for Competition by Glen Zediker has a lot of good info.

Tim

calvinike · September 15, 2006, 10:07 AM

I will second the Lyman recommendation.

Edward429451 · September 15, 2006, 10:36 AM

The older manuals have good info that the newer ones do not have. I use my Lyman 46th almost as much as the 47 & 48th.

The old NRA "Handloading" manual is a goodie if you can find one.

The data in the older manuals is usually defunct due to powder reformulations & such, but the articles & reference material is not. Plus if you ever happen to come across some older powder, you have the data for it. Just doublecheck the powder section to see if they was using Dupont, Hercules, etc..

temmi · September 15, 2006, 12:08 PM

The A-square manual, “Any Shot You Want” I found it to be very informative about most aspects of reloading .

**Mike Irwin** · September 15, 2006, 02:27 PM

"Handloading for Competition by Glen Zediker"

I know Glen. Good guy. He was writing articles for publication in American Rifleman when I was editing for the magazine.

TimRB · September 15, 2006, 03:26 PM

"He was writing articles for publication in American Rifleman when I was editing for the magazine."

Send him your resume. He seems to think that now that he owns the publishing company, he no longer needs an editor.

Tim

amamnn · September 15, 2006, 05:07 PM

The current Hornady manual has a lot of ballistics and technical detail info for their bullets and loads in it. Worth the money if you need the info and/or plan to shoot a lot of Hornady bullets.
As for Mr. Z, I think he tends to get confused when he ventures into areas beyond his competence, which explains some of his verbiage.

Thirties · September 18, 2006, 12:26 PM

Two good books:

Speer #13 Manual

and this one (link to amazon) . . .
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...e=UTF8&s=books

Get both books!

September 14, 2006, 02:52 PM	#2
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Dean Grennel's book is still the best one out there as far as I'm concerned. __________________ "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.

September 15, 2006, 02:27 PM	#11
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	"Handloading for Competition by Glen Zediker" I know Glen. Good guy. He was writing articles for publication in American Rifleman when I was editing for the magazine. __________________ "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.

September 14, 2006, 02:46 PM	#1
clayking Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 796	Best of reloading educational manuals? I've loaded shotgun shells for many years, but have loaded handgun ammo for only about a year. I have the ABC's of Reloading, but would like to step up to something more "substantial". Not so much for the loads, but for the art of reloading. Suggestions?.........................ck __________________ Never argue with an idiot, they will just drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

September 14, 2006, 04:41 PM	#3
VaFisher Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2006 Posts: 596	Here is a good read and reference online. http://stevespages.com/page8.htm

September 14, 2006, 04:50 PM	#4
steveno Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2004 Location: Minden , Nebraska Posts: 1,407	Lyman #48 as it covers a mixture of all brands of bullets and powders

September 14, 2006, 05:06 PM	#5
Bud Helms Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 1999 Location: Middle Georgia, USA Posts: 13,198	I don't have the very newest of these, but Lyman and Hornady use to be the best around for learning all about reloading and why each and every step was necessary AND what happened when you deviated from the steps recommended. Those two were the absolute best tutorial reloading books I ever read. Hornady did not include the lead bullet and black powder and Pyrodex found in Lyman, but it was probably better for modern powders and bullets. They both took it to a high enough level that I still consult them on occasion. Absolute gold.

September 14, 2006, 06:10 PM	#6
Ares45 Senior Member Join Date: May 2, 2005 Posts: 211	Speer #13 is another good one.

September 15, 2006, 08:47 AM	#7
TimRB Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2004 Posts: 1,049	If you can get past his maddening writing style, Handloading for Competition by Glen Zediker has a lot of good info. Tim

September 15, 2006, 10:07 AM	#8
calvinike Member Join Date: March 16, 2006 Posts: 71	I will second the Lyman recommendation.

September 15, 2006, 10:36 AM	#9
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	The older manuals have good info that the newer ones do not have. I use my Lyman 46th almost as much as the 47 & 48th. The old NRA "Handloading" manual is a goodie if you can find one. The data in the older manuals is usually defunct due to powder reformulations & such, but the articles & reference material is not. Plus if you ever happen to come across some older powder, you have the data for it. Just doublecheck the powder section to see if they was using Dupont, Hercules, etc..

September 15, 2006, 12:08 PM	#10
temmi Senior Member Join Date: June 13, 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 531	The A-square manual, “Any Shot You Want” I found it to be very informative about most aspects of reloading .

September 15, 2006, 03:26 PM	#12
TimRB Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2004 Posts: 1,049	"He was writing articles for publication in American Rifleman when I was editing for the magazine." Send him your resume. He seems to think that now that he owns the publishing company, he no longer needs an editor. Tim

September 15, 2006, 05:07 PM	#13
amamnn Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2006 Location: WA, the left armpit of the USA Posts: 1,323	The current Hornady manual has a lot of ballistics and technical detail info for their bullets and loads in it. Worth the money if you need the info and/or plan to shoot a lot of Hornady bullets. As for Mr. Z, I think he tends to get confused when he ventures into areas beyond his competence, which explains some of his verbiage. __________________ "If the enemy is in range, so are you." - Infantry Journal

September 18, 2006, 12:26 PM	#14
Thirties Senior Member Join Date: April 29, 2001 Location: Where the Red Sox meet the Black Bears Posts: 561	Two good books: Speer #13 Manual and this one (link to amazon) . . . http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...e=UTF8&s=books Get both books!