Good reloading manuals?

Lord Grey Boots · October 17, 1999, 02:01 PM

What a good thorough reloading manual? One that includes such details as crimping, and loaded OAL? Most that I have seen seem to gloss over or ignore those details.

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preacher · October 17, 1999, 04:09 PM

My favorite has always been the Speer manual which gathers their data from factory rifles and not pressure barrels. They also list OAL and offer loads from a good variety of powders and bullets. Nosler also makes a good reloading book. I use the Speer mostly for their handgun loads and the Nosler for their rifle loads. IF this is your first loading experience read the book thoroughly, be safe and have fun.

Art Eatman · October 17, 1999, 05:12 PM

I seem to go to my Sierra books more than the others. The external ballistics tables are very useful. I have Hornady & Speer books, as well as an old Lyman lead-bullet book and a slew of modern pamphlet-type data.

About OAL: In my rifle reloads, I first seat the bullet and see if it "grabs" on the lands. If not, I check to see if it fits in the magazine. Whatever length which fits the magazine, and almost touches the lands is "just right" for me. I don't think I've ever measured the OAL of a rifle cartridge.

FWIW, Art

JA · October 17, 1999, 08:39 PM

Modern Reloading by Richard Lee is the best manual I own. It has through exsplanations of all aspects of the reloading process. It has data for more cartridges than any other other manual. Each cartridge's data has a drawing of the cartridge giving all dementions. The .223 cartridge for example has 16 differnt measurements of the loaded round. Case,bullet,OAL,and headspace+12 other measurements.
Try www.midwayusa.com $21.99 delivered

TheOtherMikey · October 17, 1999, 11:04 PM

I also like the Speer manual for the reasons outlined above. The Sierra is also a good manual however, it is slanted a little more to competative target shooters.

To me, the main thing is to have a load manual not published by a powder company so that you get a cross section of powders.

Hope this helps, Mikey

BigG · October 18, 1999, 10:18 AM

I like the Lyman manual because it covers all bullet weights and powders. If you get a bullet makers manual, they strictly talk about the bullets they make. Not to say I don't look at them, though. Also, the pamphlets published by Accurate, Hogdon, Winchester, etc. are also useful to me.

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There is the science of Ballistics and the Art of Bullistics
Yankee Doodle

EQUALIZER · October 18, 1999, 09:33 PM

All,

Since we are on the subject, does anyone know if the new MIDWAY load maps have any benefit over the big Lee manuel? I'm wanting to know in terms of reloading home cast lead, not production jacketed bullets.

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"But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip; and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." -Jesus Christ (Luke 22:36, see John 3:15-18)

Long Path · October 19, 1999, 10:40 PM

I'm like Art-- I never worry much about the "official" COAL, but I do measure it and write it in my book to keep track of what I did last time. Can't see how I used to reload without verneer calipers... even the cheapest set gives you so much more data and repeatability.

I tend to have a manual from every company that I buy bullets from. You can come up with some very interesting realizations by bouncing back and forth. I like the way the Speer manual reads, but I use the Sierra Manual the most. Sierra also publishes their hotline in their manual, (and on their website) and I find it very endearing that they have a reloading tech support line set up for me, 12 hours a day.

Hornady's 2-volume set of drop tables in one book and reloading data in the other is excellent.

I have a real weakness for more data-- don't ever limit me to just one source! So, naturally, I feel that my reloading library is just not complete with fewer than 3 (or is it 5, now?

) current manuals on the shelf.

------------------
Will you, too, be one who stands in the gap?

Matt

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October 17, 1999, 02:01 PM	#1
Lord Grey Boots Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 1999 Location: Snohomish, WA Posts: 510	What a good thorough reloading manual? One that includes such details as crimping, and loaded OAL? Most that I have seen seem to gloss over or ignore those details. ------------------

October 17, 1999, 04:09 PM	#2
preacher Member Join Date: October 15, 1999 Location: Toccoa, Georgia, USA Posts: 36	My favorite has always been the Speer manual which gathers their data from factory rifles and not pressure barrels. They also list OAL and offer loads from a good variety of powders and bullets. Nosler also makes a good reloading book. I use the Speer mostly for their handgun loads and the Nosler for their rifle loads. IF this is your first loading experience read the book thoroughly, be safe and have fun.

October 17, 1999, 05:12 PM	#3
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	I seem to go to my Sierra books more than the others. The external ballistics tables are very useful. I have Hornady & Speer books, as well as an old Lyman lead-bullet book and a slew of modern pamphlet-type data. About OAL: In my rifle reloads, I first seat the bullet and see if it "grabs" on the lands. If not, I check to see if it fits in the magazine. Whatever length which fits the magazine, and almost touches the lands is "just right" for me. I don't think I've ever measured the OAL of a rifle cartridge. FWIW, Art

October 17, 1999, 08:39 PM	#4
JA Member Join Date: October 13, 1998 Location: JACKSONVILLE,AR,USA Posts: 68	Modern Reloading by Richard Lee is the best manual I own. It has through exsplanations of all aspects of the reloading process. It has data for more cartridges than any other other manual. Each cartridge's data has a drawing of the cartridge giving all dementions. The .223 cartridge for example has 16 differnt measurements of the loaded round. Case,bullet,OAL,and headspace+12 other measurements. Try www.midwayusa.com $21.99 delivered

October 17, 1999, 11:04 PM	#5
TheOtherMikey Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 1999 Location: Surprise, Arizona, USA Posts: 171	I also like the Speer manual for the reasons outlined above. The Sierra is also a good manual however, it is slanted a little more to competative target shooters. To me, the main thing is to have a load manual not published by a powder company so that you get a cross section of powders. Hope this helps, Mikey

October 18, 1999, 10:18 AM	#6
BigG Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 1999 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 4,334	I like the Lyman manual because it covers all bullet weights and powders. If you get a bullet makers manual, they strictly talk about the bullets they make. Not to say I don't look at them, though. Also, the pamphlets published by Accurate, Hogdon, Winchester, etc. are also useful to me. ------------------ There is the science of *Ballistics* and the Art of *Bullistics* Yankee Doodle

October 18, 1999, 09:33 PM	#7
EQUALIZER Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 1999 Posts: 657	All, Since we are on the subject, does anyone know if the new MIDWAY load maps have any benefit over the big Lee manuel? I'm wanting to know in terms of reloading home cast lead, not production jacketed bullets. ------------------ "But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip; and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." -Jesus Christ (Luke 22:36, see John 3:15-18)

October 19, 1999, 10:40 PM	#8
Long Path Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 1999 Location: N. Texas Posts: 5,899	I'm like Art-- I never worry much about the "official" COAL, but I do measure it and write it in my book to keep track of what I did last time. Can't see how I used to reload without verneer calipers... even the cheapest set gives you so much more data and repeatability. I tend to have a manual from every company that I buy bullets from. You can come up with some very interesting realizations by bouncing back and forth. I like the way the Speer manual reads, but I use the Sierra Manual the most. Sierra also publishes their hotline in their manual, (and on their website) and I find it very endearing that they have a reloading tech support line set up for me, 12 hours a day. Hornady's 2-volume set of drop tables in one book and reloading data in the other is excellent. I have a real weakness for more data-- don't ever limit me to just one source! So, naturally, I feel that my reloading library is just not complete with fewer than 3 (or is it 5, now? ) current manuals on the shelf. ------------------ Will you, too, be one who stands in the gap? Matt