Do you update your manuals?

tyrajam · October 5, 2009, 11:27 AM

I guess I have a confession to make: My newest reloading edition was published in 1980. I love reading my old books and I have quite a collection of them, but it seems like by the time something is published it is already out of date. I check the manufacturers websites, especially the powder manufacturers, for updated data. Hodgdons and IMRs websites have better info that the latest printed editions, so I don't see any reason to buy newer hard copies. Do you?

QBall45 · October 5, 2009, 12:35 PM

I'm not sure how to answer your ?. While its recomeneded to have the printed books... With the internet & access to info... As long as your printing out the load sheeet for referance. I think a guy can get by without updateing.

But, after 29 years you might just want to get a fresh manual or two.

wncchester · October 5, 2009, 07:05 PM

If your old book includes the bullet weights and powders you like you would gain nothing by adding newer ones.

SL1 · October 5, 2009, 07:41 PM

I tend to buy a bullet-maker's manual when it is updated to include a new bullet type that want to shoot. Speer and Barnes are examples of really different bullet constructions since the 1980s.

If I bought guns that shoot new cartridges, I would buy a manual for those, too. (But, I don't shoot any of those.)

SL1

Jim243 · October 5, 2009, 07:57 PM

I do and I don't. The soft cover manuals I update each year but the hard cover ones it's every other year or when they go on sale. It's nice to get a 29.95 manual for $14.95 (is it out of date?) no because the loads are just about the same. And those new calibers I don't load for like 338 or 416 or 454 or 500.

So I guess the answer is yes and no.

Jim

darkgael · October 5, 2009, 09:26 PM

I like books. I like being able to walk over to the shelf, pick one up and look up what I need. I buy new manuals every time new editions are printed.
Pete

confirmed shooter · October 5, 2009, 09:44 PM

I like to have the book's around for referance and ease of use. also the sierra soft-ware, Infinity, and the re-loading manuels. Thay all have there place at the re-loading bench, and it wouldnt be right with-out them. And it is kind of fun to see how two authors can have such differant ideas on what is MAX LOAD and MIN LOAD.

10 Spot Terminator · October 5, 2009, 09:52 PM

Reloading manuals are definitely diverse and seem to me to be one of the hardest reloading tools to pick and choose from. You have the ones from the bullet manufacturers that are just that,,, their load with their bullets and often times a "pressure test barrel" was used to get their data. Some others are more diverse in that they incorporate only their powders but a more vast aray of bullets . Then you have ones such as Lyman that list their top choices for powder and bullet selections for given calibres and go so far as to give accuracy ratings ( getting better but their is more ) but update only every few years and touch on only a few of the newer powders and basicly reprint 95% of the old data in a pretty new book . Lee does pretty much the same thing . By the time they go to print and get to the store shelves they are already behind . It is the old show biz trick of always leave em wanting more ,,,,

Old Grump · October 5, 2009, 10:09 PM

Ran into a problem the other day when somebody asked me to look up a load and my book didn't have the bullet or the powder, 8 other books also failed to satisfy and then I realized my newest book was bought in 1990. Time to update. Hasn't been a problem so far because most of my guns are old and the loads work fine.

Randy 1911 · October 6, 2009, 02:40 AM

I have looked up loads in load books by the same maker several years apart in publication. The load data was identical. The makers only update their data every 10 years or so. At least that is what I have noticed.

plainsman456 · October 6, 2009, 01:01 PM

I buy them every 4 or 5 years or so.Like was said some don't change that much.One thing i never do is get rid of them they are a source of info that is at your beck and call whenever you need it.As for new powders sure they help you,but i wish they would load some of the old ones to tell us if they are the same or hotter.Good Luck

Christchild · October 7, 2009, 12:52 AM

If You're trying "new" bullets, get the manual that has data on the new bullet(s). As SL1 said, with the advancement in bullet technology, it's best to update Your manuals for data on the new bullets, and Powder Manufacturer's, for that matter, for updated data, and You can usually get Powder Manufacturer data for free.

Also, I believe that every so often (3-5-8-10 years, maybe?), You should update manuals for the simple fact of updated info. You never know what may change, and some new "Reading Material" is always nice.

butta9999 · October 7, 2009, 03:17 AM

I update every couple of years, for the reasons of new powders, calibers, and any additional information they might have.

October 5, 2009, 11:27 AM	#1
tyrajam Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2007 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 467	Do you update your manuals? I guess I have a confession to make: My newest reloading edition was published in 1980. I love reading my old books and I have quite a collection of them, but it seems like by the time something is published it is already out of date. I check the manufacturers websites, especially the powder manufacturers, for updated data. Hodgdons and IMRs websites have better info that the latest printed editions, so I don't see any reason to buy newer hard copies. Do you?

October 5, 2009, 09:26 PM	#6
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 5,473	Books I like books. I like being able to walk over to the shelf, pick one up and look up what I need. I buy new manuals every time new editions are printed. Pete __________________ “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.” Ernest Hemingway ... NRA Life Member

October 5, 2009, 09:52 PM	#8
10 Spot Terminator Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2008 Location: Central Oregon Posts: 348	Confusing aint it ??? Reloading manuals are definitely diverse and seem to me to be one of the hardest reloading tools to pick and choose from. You have the ones from the bullet manufacturers that are just that,,, their load with their bullets and often times a "pressure test barrel" was used to get their data. Some others are more diverse in that they incorporate only their powders but a more vast aray of bullets . Then you have ones such as Lyman that list their top choices for powder and bullet selections for given calibres and go so far as to give accuracy ratings ( getting better but their is more ) but update only every few years and touch on only a few of the newer powders and basicly reprint 95% of the old data in a pretty new book . Lee does pretty much the same thing . By the time they go to print and get to the store shelves they are already behind . It is the old show biz trick of always leave em wanting more ,,,,

October 5, 2009, 10:09 PM	#9
Old Grump Member in memoriam Join Date: April 9, 2009 Location: Blue River Wisconsin, in Posts: 3,144	Ran into a problem the other day when somebody asked me to look up a load and my book didn't have the bullet or the powder, 8 other books also failed to satisfy and then I realized my newest book was bought in 1990. Time to update. Hasn't been a problem so far because most of my guns are old and the loads work fine. __________________ Good intentions will always be pleaded for any assumption of power. The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern will, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters. --Daniel Webster--

October 6, 2009, 02:40 AM	#10
Randy 1911 Senior Member Join Date: May 7, 2009 Location: Western Arkansas Posts: 273	I have looked up loads in load books by the same maker several years apart in publication. The load data was identical. The makers only update their data every 10 years or so. At least that is what I have noticed. __________________ Been Reloading 27 Years NRA Member Member Old Fort Gun Club www.ofgc.org

October 5, 2009, 12:35 PM	#2
QBall45 Senior Member Join Date: April 5, 2008 Location: South Central Minnesota Posts: 584	I'm not sure how to answer your ?. While its recomeneded to have the printed books... With the internet & access to info... As long as your printing out the load sheeet for referance. I think a guy can get by without updateing. But, after 29 years you might just want to get a fresh manual or two.

October 5, 2009, 07:05 PM	#3
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	If your old book includes the bullet weights and powders you like you would gain nothing by adding newer ones.

October 5, 2009, 07:41 PM	#4
SL1 Senior Member Join Date: November 8, 2007 Posts: 2,001	I tend to buy a bullet-maker's manual when it is updated to include a new bullet type that want to shoot. Speer and Barnes are examples of really different bullet constructions since the 1980s. If I bought guns that shoot new cartridges, I would buy a manual for those, too. (But, I don't shoot any of those.) SL1

October 5, 2009, 07:57 PM	#5
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	I do and I don't. The soft cover manuals I update each year but the hard cover ones it's every other year or when they go on sale. It's nice to get a 29.95 manual for $14.95 (is it out of date?) no because the loads are just about the same. And those new calibers I don't load for like 338 or 416 or 454 or 500. So I guess the answer is yes and no. Jim

October 5, 2009, 09:44 PM	#7
confirmed shooter Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2009 Location: reno, Nv. Posts: 109	I like to have the book's around for referance and ease of use. also the sierra soft-ware, Infinity, and the re-loading manuels. Thay all have there place at the re-loading bench, and it wouldnt be right with-out them. And it is kind of fun to see how two authors can have such differant ideas on what is MAX LOAD and MIN LOAD.

October 6, 2009, 01:01 PM	#11
plainsman456 Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2008 Posts: 260	I buy them every 4 or 5 years or so.Like was said some don't change that much.One thing i never do is get rid of them they are a source of info that is at your beck and call whenever you need it.As for new powders sure they help you,but i wish they would load some of the old ones to tell us if they are the same or hotter.Good Luck

October 7, 2009, 12:52 AM	#12
Christchild Senior Member Join Date: June 19, 2009 Location: Loadbenchville, Bolt 02770 Posts: 544	If You're trying "new" bullets, get the manual that has data on the new bullet(s). As SL1 said, with the advancement in bullet technology, it's best to update Your manuals for data on the new bullets, and Powder Manufacturer's, for that matter, for updated data, and You can usually get Powder Manufacturer data for free. Also, I believe that every so often (3-5-8-10 years, maybe?), You should update manuals for the simple fact of updated info. You never know what may change, and some new "Reading Material" is always nice.

October 7, 2009, 03:17 AM	#13
butta9999 Senior Member Join Date: June 29, 2008 Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Posts: 692	I update every couple of years, for the reasons of new powders, calibers, and any additional information they might have. __________________ Knowledge is Power!

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