Anyone use "Loadbooks USA?"

Huskerguy · May 27, 2011, 08:56 AM

I have looked at them from the outside for many years, never have looked inside of one. I see Midway has them on sale right now. I know the quality of the paper and such is photo quality which doesn't concern me if the information is truly something I can use.

I have heard that some of the information is outdated and with the plethora of information on the net these days, they may not be a good value. Can I get anything form them that is not readily available anywhere else?

Civil War Life · May 27, 2011, 09:50 AM

My son bought one for 45 acp. It is just OK. It doesn't replace a good loading manual like Speer.

overkill0084 · May 27, 2011, 09:52 AM

I've got several. I don't use them very often to tell the truth. Now and again I will pull one out as part of a sanity check of a specific load. I shoot mostly cast, so in many cases they are not really an inprovement over my Lyman manual. I would not be terribly shocked if the Lee manual had the exact same data in it as well. After all, it's pretty much just a compilation of existing data also.
In my situation, I could have probably done without them and been none the worse for it.

a7mmnut · May 27, 2011, 10:07 AM

They are a great addition for any reloader. I primarily sought out the T/C Contender book for specific data at a time when sources were quite scarce for 7-30 Waters handgun loads. When it comes right down to it, ALL manuals are outdated after a few years. They still contain good, safe working loads, and should not replace your complete manuals nor your reloading digest with your own specific loads. Ken Waters' "Pet Loads" is another great addition, as well as "Hunting for Handgunners" by Larry Kelly and J.D. Jones--IF you can still find them or have the need. You can't have too much info around.

-7-

BigJakeJ1s · May 27, 2011, 10:59 AM

Some of the ones I have seen and bought are quite dated. I would not buy one unless I could thumb through it beforehand to assess the relevance to powders and bullets available today, or at least that I use.

Andy

wogpotter · May 27, 2011, 11:54 AM

I use them for load data, for .303, 7.62, .38 Spl & .357 Mag, which is what they were designed for. I like the ability to look at several different sources data when checking or working up a load.
Its not current info, probably because of copyright rules, but is certainly workable.
I would not have them as my only source of info as conventional reloading manuals have more information on the reloading process.

jmortimer · May 27, 2011, 08:41 PM

Just copies of reloading data from powder and bullet/mold manufacturers assembled in a spiral bound book. I have a couple and like them.

TXGunNut · May 27, 2011, 09:58 PM

Only have a couple, not too impressed. Were more useful before I built up my library.

Brian Pfleuger · May 27, 2011, 10:05 PM

I think they're great if you don't have QuickLoad. I have 2, for 357sig and 7mm-08. There's no quicker way to cross reference single cartridge data, in print anyway.

uncyboo · May 27, 2011, 10:13 PM

Quote:

They are a great addition for any reloader.

Like the 7nut said, great supplement. When I use them I take the averages of the start and max loads to get an idea of where I should wind up. If one entry looks out of proportion to the rest I just throw it out.

Red Cent · May 28, 2011, 08:46 PM

http://handloads.org/loaddata/default.asp

Jim243 · May 28, 2011, 11:30 PM

They are just reprints of everyone else load data, nothing new or different. You can get better information off the internet from the powder mfg's websites.

Jim

wogpotter · May 29, 2011, 07:59 AM

Quote:

They are just reprints of everyone else load data, nothing new or different.

Not supposed to be either. They are just all the data minus the tutorials all in one convenient location. I think the point is to have all the info available at once & for less than the cost of one manual you have the data from many.

Brian Pfleuger · May 29, 2011, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim243

They are just reprints of everyone else load data, nothing new or different. You can get better information off the internet from the powder mfg's websites.

Jim

They are literally photocopied pages of many different manuals but a lot of the data is not easily available for a low price.

Hornady and Sierra for example. Their data is not online. If I want it I can either buy their manuals, at a cost of $56, or I can buy a load book for $4.99.

Granted, if your loading for 15 cartridges you'd be better off to buy the manuals. When it's 2 or 3 cartridges, the loadbooks are a much better deal.

PawPaw · May 29, 2011, 09:58 AM

My kids buy me Loadbooks when they're looking for a cheap Father's Day present. I like them because they are a quick, easy reference. Of course, all that information is available elsewhere, but when you're at the bench and have a quick question, it's easy to take the little book off the shelf.

They're a good supplement.

Rifleman1776 · May 29, 2011, 02:32 PM

They are a very handy supplement to the reloading manuals.
I have and use.

May 27, 2011, 08:56 AM	#1
Huskerguy Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 348	Anyone use "Loadbooks USA?" I have looked at them from the outside for many years, never have looked inside of one. I see Midway has them on sale right now. I know the quality of the paper and such is photo quality which doesn't concern me if the information is truly something I can use. I have heard that some of the information is outdated and with the plethora of information on the net these days, they may not be a good value. Can I get anything form them that is not readily available anywhere else? Last edited by Huskerguy; May 27, 2011 at 09:43 AM.

May 27, 2011, 09:52 AM	#3
overkill0084 Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 2010 Location: Northern, UT Posts: 1,162	I've got several. I don't use them very often to tell the truth. Now and again I will pull one out as part of a sanity check of a specific load. I shoot mostly cast, so in many cases they are not really an inprovement over my Lyman manual. I would not be terribly shocked if the Lee manual had the exact same data in it as well. After all, it's pretty much just a compilation of existing data also. In my situation, I could have probably done without them and been none the worse for it. __________________ Cheers, Greg “At the core of liberalism is the spoiled child – miserable, as all spoiled children are, unsatisfied, demanding, ill-disciplined, despotic and useless. Liberalism is a philosophy of sniveling brats.” — P.J. O’Rourke Last edited by overkill0084; May 27, 2011 at 10:17 AM.

May 27, 2011, 11:54 AM	#6
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	I use them for load data, for .303, 7.62, .38 Spl & .357 Mag, which is what they were designed for. I like the ability to look at several different sources data when checking or working up a load. Its not current info, probably because of copyright rules, but is certainly workable. I would not have them as my only source of info as conventional reloading manuals have more information on the reloading process. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

May 27, 2011, 09:58 PM	#8
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	Only have a couple, not too impressed. Were more useful before I built up my library. __________________ Life Member NRA, TSRA Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call Lonesome Dove My favorite recipes start out with a handful of used wheelweights.

May 28, 2011, 08:46 PM	#11
Red Cent Member Join Date: June 12, 2010 Posts: 36	http://handloads.org/loaddata/default.asp __________________ Life is too short to argue with stupid people and drink cheap booze SASS# 29170 McLeansville, NC by way of WV.

May 27, 2011, 09:50 AM	#2
Civil War Life Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 166	My son bought one for 45 acp. It is just OK. It doesn't replace a good loading manual like Speer.

May 27, 2011, 10:07 AM	#4
a7mmnut Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2009 Location: NC Foothills Posts: 1,150	They are a great addition for any reloader. I primarily sought out the T/C Contender book for specific data at a time when sources were quite scarce for 7-30 Waters handgun loads. When it comes right down to it, ALL manuals are outdated after a few years. They still contain good, safe working loads, and should not replace your complete manuals nor your reloading digest with your own specific loads. Ken Waters' "Pet Loads" is another great addition, as well as "Hunting for Handgunners" by Larry Kelly and J.D. Jones--IF you can still find them or have the need. You can't have too much info around. -7-

May 27, 2011, 10:59 AM	#5
BigJakeJ1s Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2005 Location: Arlington TX Posts: 663	Some of the ones I have seen and bought are quite dated. I would not buy one unless I could thumb through it beforehand to assess the relevance to powders and bullets available today, or at least that I use. Andy

May 27, 2011, 08:41 PM	#7
jmortimer Junior member Join Date: January 24, 2010 Location: South West Riverside County California Posts: 2,763	Just copies of reloading data from powder and bullet/mold manufacturers assembled in a spiral bound book. I have a couple and like them.

May 27, 2011, 10:05 PM	#9
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	I think they're great if you don't have QuickLoad. I have 2, for 357sig and 7mm-08. There's no quicker way to cross reference single cartridge data, in print anyway.

May 28, 2011, 11:30 PM	#12
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	They are just reprints of everyone else load data, nothing new or different. You can get better information off the internet from the powder mfg's websites. Jim __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum

May 29, 2011, 09:58 AM	#15
PawPaw Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2010 Location: Central Louisiana Posts: 3,137	My kids buy me Loadbooks when they're looking for a cheap Father's Day present. I like them because they are a quick, easy reference. Of course, all that information is available elsewhere, but when you're at the bench and have a quick question, it's easy to take the little book off the shelf. They're a good supplement. __________________ Dennis Dezendorf http://pawpawshouse.blogspot.com

May 29, 2011, 02:32 PM	#16
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,309	They are a very handy supplement to the reloading manuals. I have and use.