Best Load Data Book?

[Crankylove]

I have Hornady, Sierra, and an OLD Hodgdon manual on my bench. I use the Hornady manual, and the Hodgdon online info the most.

[Ken - Oh]

Actually I like to have at least 3 books to compare data.

I have four manuals, plus the free booklets/online resources. I always check them all, but often end up totally confused! Like now I'm looking for max 185 gr 45 acp loads with AA#5. I get "max" loads ranging from 8.8 to 10.9 gr! Some of the max loads are lower than the minimum loads in other manuals.

I feel better when a couple of the manuals agree (majority vote) but in this case, there is no majority!

One thing that bothers me is that some of the manuals do not show the COL for their loads, so that really leaves questionable data.

I don't generally trust most of the online websites except for those of the powder manufactures. It's too easy to have unproven data on some of the websites, although I will use it to backup printed data.

Ken

[FrankenMauser]

I have four manuals, plus the free booklets/online resources. I always check them all, but often end up totally confused! Like now I'm looking for max 185 gr 45 acp loads with AA#5. I get "max" loads ranging from 8.8 to 10.9 gr! Some of the max loads are lower than the minimum loads in other manuals

Data that doesn't agree is usually based on different bullets. Therefore.... it's not the same data.
Find a manual with the actual bullet you intend to load; not just something in the same weight class.

[Ken - Oh]

Data that doesn't agree is usually based on different bullets. Therefore.... it's not the same data.
Find a manual with the actual bullet you intend to load; not just something in the same weight class.

That could be some of it, of course. Some don't specify the bullet beyond "JHP", and as I said others don't specify the COL which can make a big difference.

Of course, if they do specify the exact bullet, it's never the one you want or have on hand