ABC's of Reloading

Harry Callahan · May 4, 2008, 11:30 AM

Just got this book from Amazon yesterday. Some good stuff. I'm only through pg 23 and know 4-5 times as much about reloading than when I started! Can't wait to get back to it.

**Shane Tuttle** · May 4, 2008, 01:51 PM

I really like the book. I think Lyman's Reloading book, 48th ed. is great also. Some claim that the ABC's is a bunch of anectodal tales and little about the art of reloading. I find it to keep things interesting and informative.

saudst · May 4, 2008, 02:17 PM

Harry,

This is the book I started on years ago when I could not make sense of the first loading manual I got. I think it's a great place for the novice to start along with asking as many questions as posible to fellows who have been reloading for a long time. Mine is the paper back version yellowed and tattered, especialy on the cartrages I load for.

Tim.

BerettaFox · May 4, 2008, 02:57 PM

the abc's of reloading is now far overpriced. i got lyman's 48th ed. it's great. plus why would one pay triple or quadruple the price of an eleven year old book when a new edition of the abc's of reloading is coming out in june/july.

**44 AMP** · May 4, 2008, 04:38 PM

Many times the people with the knick-knacks (antiques they call them) will have old books as well. Hardbound and softbound. You can often find copies of old Gun Digest, Shooter's Bible, and books like the ABCs of Reloading for just a couple of dollars each, sometimes even less. Nothing wrong with spending the money for a new copy, but none of the basic steps (and few of the tricks) have changed much in the past 20+ years, so the info is mostly still valid.

Latest editions of loading manuals are needed when dealing with the new powdes and bullets and Lyman has been selling reloading tools and manuals for over a century now.

Sigma 40 Blaster · May 4, 2008, 07:14 PM

Very good book. I also like the Lee Modern Reloading book since it caters to newb reloaders and has a TON of load data. The Lyman book is also full of good load data for jacketed and lead bullets. Those three books make up my reloading library.

Kato_Guy · May 8, 2008, 02:41 AM

your local library will have the ABC's of reloading!! alls is costs you is time and a library card!!

gandog56 · May 8, 2008, 01:53 PM

Quote:

the abc's of reloading is now far overpriced. i got lyman's 48th ed. it's great. plus why would one pay triple or quadruple the price of an eleven year old book when a new edition of the abc's of reloading is coming out in june/july.

I found a good price for a used one on Amazon.com.

Threefeathers · May 11, 2008, 11:00 PM

I like it and I think it's worth the price.

Wildalaska · May 11, 2008, 11:43 PM

Anybody like Nonte on Handloading?

WildoneofmyfavsAlaska TM

stephpd · May 12, 2008, 12:00 AM

The one he just got from Amazon may be the latest edition. I know that the one I got a couple of weeks ago is definitely the new one. Had it on backorder and they just started shipping it.

8th edition, edited by Bill Chevalier. 2008 Krause Publications

Much better book then the one by Richard Lee. Still uses Lee products but not the hard sell as if everything else is inferior.

wncchester · May 12, 2008, 07:41 AM

"Much better book then the one by Richard Lee. Still uses Lee products but not the hard sell as if everything else is inferior."

If you don't like the Lee book because it only suggests using Lee's stuff you also won't like the Speer manual for its touting of RCBS. Or the Hornady manual. Or Lyman's.

I think it's expected for those who market a line of the products to promote those products, be they tools, powders or bullets. I'll still use my own judgement in choosing what to buy but I also gain a lot of good info from reading their point of view. YMMV.

davlandrum · May 12, 2008, 11:45 AM

Got mine from Amazon last week and read it cover-to-cover. I now know more about casting lead than I will probably ever use (at least until the kids are gone and I am really retired), but well written and a good spread of different types of info.

nstoolman1 · May 12, 2008, 09:47 PM

If it's the same book, I have one I picked up over 26 years ago. It's been read so many times the glue in the binder is breaking down. I have had to take a hole punch and separate the rest of the pages and put it in a binder. It is a very informative book. It is also a good book to read just before going to sleep.

stephpd · May 13, 2008, 12:47 AM

"If you don't like the Lee book because it only suggests using Lee's stuff you also won't like the Speer manual for its touting of RCBS. Or the Hornady manual. Or Lyman's."

I was just noting that the newer book does talk about other equipment besides LEE. Not as hard sell as the companies owner. I think Richard Lee does make some nice equipment for a good price. But there are better, and more expensive tools out there and it's noted in the latest book. I have an older book as well.

New to reloading, hence the ABC books. It's hard NOT to notice that most manuals tend to use their products.

That's why I spend time on these boards to get opinions from folks that have experience with several products from many vendors.

AF_Reloader · May 14, 2008, 11:02 AM

Looks like plenty of people got their start in reloading off that book. I still read it in the car, or during down time, just to stay sharp on the basics, and to correct potential bad habits.

Pretty good book from a guy who blew his hands off at 16. I'll never get rid of it.

BerettaFox · May 15, 2008, 09:20 PM

Totally blew his hands off? Like he had to narrate the whole thing to somebody to write?

May 4, 2008, 11:30 AM	#1
Harry Callahan Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2006 Location: Chicago suburbs Posts: 832	ABC's of Reloading Just got this book from Amazon yesterday. Some good stuff. I'm only through pg 23 and know 4-5 times as much about reloading than when I started! Can't wait to get back to it.

May 4, 2008, 01:51 PM	#2
Shane Tuttle Staff Join Date: November 28, 2005 Location: Montana Posts: 9,455	I really like the book. I think Lyman's Reloading book, 48th ed. is great also. Some claim that the ABC's is a bunch of anectodal tales and little about the art of reloading. I find it to keep things interesting and informative. __________________ If it were up to me, the word "got" would be deleted from the English language. Posting and YOU: http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting

May 4, 2008, 02:17 PM	#3
saudst Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2008 Location: Central Wisconsin Posts: 184	ABC's Harry, This is the book I started on years ago when I could not make sense of the first loading manual I got. I think it's a great place for the novice to start along with asking as many questions as posible to fellows who have been reloading for a long time. Mine is the paper back version yellowed and tattered, especialy on the cartrages I load for. Tim.

May 4, 2008, 04:38 PM	#5
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 30,464	Always look at the book sellers when at a gun show Many times the people with the knick-knacks (antiques they call them) will have old books as well. Hardbound and softbound. You can often find copies of old Gun Digest, Shooter's Bible, and books like the ABCs of Reloading for just a couple of dollars each, sometimes even less. Nothing wrong with spending the money for a new copy, but none of the basic steps (and few of the tricks) have changed much in the past 20+ years, so the info is mostly still valid. Latest editions of loading manuals are needed when dealing with the new powdes and bullets and Lyman has been selling reloading tools and manuals for over a century now. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

May 12, 2008, 12:00 AM	#11
stephpd Member Join Date: April 3, 2007 Location: Claymont,DE Posts: 60	ABC's The one he just got from Amazon may be the latest edition. I know that the one I got a couple of weeks ago is definitely the new one. Had it on backorder and they just started shipping it. 8th edition, edited by Bill Chevalier. 2008 Krause Publications Much better book then the one by Richard Lee. Still uses Lee products but not the hard sell as if everything else is inferior.

May 4, 2008, 02:57 PM	#4
BerettaFox Senior Member Join Date: April 27, 2008 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 144	the abc's of reloading is now far overpriced. i got lyman's 48th ed. it's great. plus why would one pay triple or quadruple the price of an eleven year old book when a new edition of the abc's of reloading is coming out in june/july.

May 4, 2008, 07:14 PM	#6
Sigma 40 Blaster Senior Member Join Date: July 2, 2007 Location: East Texas Posts: 997	Very good book. I also like the Lee Modern Reloading book since it caters to newb reloaders and has a TON of load data. The Lyman book is also full of good load data for jacketed and lead bullets. Those three books make up my reloading library.

May 8, 2008, 02:41 AM	#7
Kato_Guy Senior Member Join Date: March 26, 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 212	your local library will have the ABC's of reloading!! alls is costs you is time and a library card!!

May 11, 2008, 11:00 PM	#9
Threefeathers Junior member Join Date: June 7, 2004 Location: AZ Posts: 392	I like it and I think it's worth the price.

May 11, 2008, 11:43 PM	#10
Wildalaska Junior member Join Date: November 25, 2002 Location: In my own little weird world in Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 14,171	Anybody like Nonte on Handloading? WildoneofmyfavsAlaska TM

May 12, 2008, 07:41 AM	#12
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	"Much better book then the one by Richard Lee. Still uses Lee products but not the hard sell as if everything else is inferior." If you don't like the Lee book because it only suggests using Lee's stuff you also won't like the Speer manual for its touting of RCBS. Or the Hornady manual. Or Lyman's. I think it's expected for those who market a line of the products to promote those products, be they tools, powders or bullets. I'll still use my own judgement in choosing what to buy but I also gain a lot of good info from reading their point of view. YMMV.

May 12, 2008, 11:45 AM	#13
davlandrum Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2006 Location: Lane County Oregon Posts: 2,547	Got mine from Amazon last week and read it cover-to-cover. I now know more about casting lead than I will probably ever use (at least until the kids are gone and I am really retired), but well written and a good spread of different types of info.

May 12, 2008, 09:47 PM	#14
nstoolman1 Member Join Date: September 30, 2007 Location: BOISE, ID Posts: 82	ABC's of Reloading If it's the same book, I have one I picked up over 26 years ago. It's been read so many times the glue in the binder is breaking down. I have had to take a hole punch and separate the rest of the pages and put it in a binder. It is a very informative book. It is also a good book to read just before going to sleep.

May 13, 2008, 12:47 AM	#15
stephpd Member Join Date: April 3, 2007 Location: Claymont,DE Posts: 60	ABC's "If you don't like the Lee book because it only suggests using Lee's stuff you also won't like the Speer manual for its touting of RCBS. Or the Hornady manual. Or Lyman's." I was just noting that the newer book does talk about other equipment besides LEE. Not as hard sell as the companies owner. I think Richard Lee does make some nice equipment for a good price. But there are better, and more expensive tools out there and it's noted in the latest book. I have an older book as well. New to reloading, hence the ABC books. It's hard NOT to notice that most manuals tend to use their products. That's why I spend time on these boards to get opinions from folks that have experience with several products from many vendors.

May 14, 2008, 11:02 AM	#16
AF_Reloader Member Join Date: February 18, 2008 Location: Beale AFB, CA Posts: 73	Looks like plenty of people got their start in reloading off that book. I still read it in the car, or during down time, just to stay sharp on the basics, and to correct potential bad habits. Pretty good book from a guy who blew his hands off at 16. I'll never get rid of it.

May 15, 2008, 09:20 PM	#17
BerettaFox Senior Member Join Date: April 27, 2008 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 144	Totally blew his hands off? Like he had to narrate the whole thing to somebody to write?