Best reloading manuals for me?

TruthTellers · April 16, 2017, 03:02 AM

Hey, I'm looking at getting some manuals for reloading. Currently I'm looking at loading for:

-.32 S&W Long
-.32 H&R Mag
-.327 Magnum
- .45 Colt

In the future I'm probably going to load:

-10mm Auto
-.308 Winchester

Bullets I'm going to be using will be Hornady XTP's for the pistol cartridges, probably Lasercast, Matt's bullets (.32 round nose and .45 wadcutters).

Also, powder's I'm likely to use will be basic stuff like Bullseye and Unique. Maybe Power Pistol for the .327 and Hurco if I have trouble getting the first two.

What do you fellas recommend?

745SW · April 16, 2017, 05:26 AM

I largely use and like the Speer manuals in hardcover book form in versions (editions) older and later. They give explanations/reasons when possible and non when appropriate. Pressure values are not given because that value is not a guide for making/estimating a load outside the given powder range.

Over time some loads have been eliminated from later versions of the manual. This applies to very fast powders like Bullseye and the less common 700-X. I prefer the latter 700-X because it's much cleaner although the manuals lack this info.

I also have a Sierra manual but the binder format does not holdup well over a period of years. Pages tend to rip out and get lost.

std7mag · April 16, 2017, 09:44 AM

The only paper bound manual that I have that covers those is the Hornady manual.
I downloaded, Norma, Speer, Vitavhuori, Lyman.

Finding data for the 327 Fed is kinda hard to find.

Jim Watson · April 16, 2017, 10:05 AM

I would get the manual published by the maker of your loading equipment.
That way the instructions and illustrations will agree with your bench.

Maybe the manual published by the maker of your preferred bullets, if you tend to freak out because you have a 255 grain .45 and can only find data for a 250. Lyman is good for cast bullets, they make moulds.

Powder data is cheap to free from Alliant, Hodgdon, and Western (Ramshot and Accurate.)

Reloadron · April 16, 2017, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Bullets I'm going to be using will be Hornady XTP's for the pistol cartridges,

Hornady and Speer both put out nice loading manuals. Also for a wide range of cast bullets or plated the Lyman 50th comes to mind and many of the Lyman 49th are still out there at reduced prices with the 50th out. Then there is always the Internet but a few good hard print and cover reloading manuals are hard to beat, not just for load data but the wealth of information most contain.

Ron

Kevin Rohrer · April 16, 2017, 11:00 AM

Another question that has been asked a MILLION times and answered.

Answer: Lyman #50 + whatever manual for the bullets you will load with.

ShootistPRS · April 16, 2017, 11:05 AM

One manual from your bullet maker and one manual from your powder manufacturer. Add to those any other manual you like. I have more manuals than I can use most of the time but every time they bring out a new powder or a new bullet I need a new manual that lists the data.

Oh, I hate it when they discontinue a bullet or powder that I use!

**Unclenick** · April 16, 2017, 12:20 PM

Hodgdon's online data cover .327 Federal pretty well, including 700X data.

TruthTellers · April 16, 2017, 12:41 PM

I see a lot of people say that the Lyman manual is very good. Quite a few say the 49th edition is more bang for the buck compared to the 50th. Between the two, which edition is better for me?

condor bravo · April 16, 2017, 03:02 PM

Get the Lyman 50th. If nothing else it offers loading data for quite a few more 6.5 mm calibers. And you may just win a 6.5 Creedmore (if you don't have one already). It seems that about everyone is giving away a Creedmore.

RC20 · April 16, 2017, 03:04 PM

I would say neither. I know I am an outlier.

First and foremost get a Hornady of Sierra or both. Particular Sierra is easy to add your own pages into.

While they have a lot of good other data, they have both have as wide a variety of bullets anyone makes and they have SAFE data for those (some bullet grain sizes have a number of shapes and weights that vary up and down 5 grains).

What that means is you can find a close bullet type and have safe loads for that type even if a different mfg. I don't advocate going to the max at all, but good starting and I am not reluctant to start mid loads.

They also by far list more varieties of powder. That's big. Don't have to internet as much or cut and paste into your own book.

I eventually picked up a Layman's on sale to see what the fuss was. Well they have cast, hmmm. It didn't even tell you the difference between CUP and CIP though it lists pressure in both.

My wife picked up an older Lymans and it has a lot of good stuff in it, far more than current.

I think this is the thing getting passed on from generation to generation and more cast bullets done back in the day.

So, fine a gun place (Cabella etc) that has a book open to read and look them over. See which seems to resonate.

Eventually you are going to pick up some others, ABCs of reloading is one of the better ones.

Lymans, its ok, I don't mind having it, glad I got it on sale, won't buy another one.

condor bravo · April 16, 2017, 06:10 PM

OK RC be that way.

Are you an outlier because of living in Alaska rather the lower 48.

ShootistPRS · April 16, 2017, 07:23 PM

With so many of the bullet makers going to monolithic bullets and away from cup and core you almost have to have a manual that covers the bullet you are using. 30 years ago you could just about use any bullet in the same weight and stay in safe pressure ranges. Barnes came out with their solid copper and then their bronze bullets and manufacturers started using thicker jackets for controlled expansion and now a lot of manufacturers are going to monolithic bullets in handgun as well as rifle bullets. You really need to have a manual for the specific bullet you are going to use. Even the Very Low Drag bullets have to be seated differently because they have such a long nose. You have to check the distance to your lands to make sure you can use them in your gun.

I can remember when you only needed to know if you were loading lead or jacketed bullets, well those days are gone and have been for a while. Keep up with the latest information and stay safe.

joed · April 16, 2017, 08:06 PM

If you're going to shoot Hornady bullets get a Hornady Manual. Makes sense to get a manual for what you shoot. Later if you start using Sierra get that one next. That's how I did it.

TruthTellers · April 16, 2017, 08:28 PM

Yeah, I'll probably get a Hornady manual in the future, but for now all I plan on loading is lead bullets in .45 Colt and .32 S&W/H&R Mag. What would be a good manual to start with those? The Lyman? Lee? ABC's?

redford1 · April 16, 2017, 08:37 PM

If you know the mold # for the bullet you are going to use try the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook

Sent from my SM-T800 using Tapatalk

Reloadron · April 16, 2017, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Yeah, I'll probably get a Hornady manual in the future, but for now all I plan on loading is lead bullets in .45 Colt and .32 S&W/H&R Mag. What would be a good manual to start with those? The Lyman? Lee? ABC's?

With that in mind I would look toward the Lyman 50th or see if you can still find a Lyman 49th at a good reduced cost since the 50th is out. There is not a heck of a lot in the 50th that the 49th doesn't have.

Ron

603Country · April 16, 2017, 09:35 PM

Somebody else already said it, but get the Lyman 49 or 50 and get a manual for the bullet brand you shoot. Mostly I shoot Nosler, so I have their books.

TruthTellers · April 16, 2017, 11:54 PM

I can get the softcover of the Lyman 50th edition for $18.

I'm not seeing anything for the 49th edition for less than that. So all these claims of the 49th edition for a low price isn't ringing true for me.

disseminator · April 17, 2017, 12:30 AM

The 49th editions for low prices are probably selling out. I got one for a buddy for Christmas for $5.00

As far as manuals go, based on the bullets you want to use, I will add another vote for the Hornady 10 which I have and is very good. I also have the #9 and it's fine too if you can find it cheap.

The Lyman's #49 or #50 and the Cast Bullet Book is a great add on for cast (and Plated) load data.

Hornady #10
Lyman's #49 or #50
Lyman's Cast Bullet Book

TruthTellers · April 17, 2017, 01:55 AM

I ordered the Lyman 50th from Sam Walton's mart. Gonna hold off on the Hornady manual for now.

condor bravo · April 17, 2017, 02:32 AM

Good choice of the 50th over the 49th. The 50th does include 10 to 12 additional rifle calibers over the 49th with some 60 additional pages. Should you get heavily into cast bullets for rifle calibers, get the Lyman cast bullet manual as well. The standard manuals like the 50th does show quite a bit of cast rifle bullet data as well (along of course with handgun cast bullet data).

NoSecondBest · April 17, 2017, 09:54 AM

Over fifty years of reloading and I have all the manuals.....past and present. Of all of them, the Lyman is by far the most useful. It wins hands down. I've shot hundreds of thousands of rounds over the time I've been reloading (shot major competition for years) and I've used the Lyman for 90% of my needs.

unlimitedtactical · April 17, 2017, 03:37 PM

I currently use the Lyman reloading manual and like it. I also will go and print off additional information and stick it in the manual for the loads I am working on.

SIGSHR · April 17, 2017, 03:47 PM

I found the Lyman manuals better for lead bullets-naturally they emphasized their bullet molds.

April 16, 2017, 11:00 AM	#6
Kevin Rohrer Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2010 Location: Medina, Ohio Posts: 1,050	Another question that has been asked a MILLION times and answered. Answer: Lyman #50 + whatever manual for the bullets you will load with. __________________ Member: Orange Gunsite Family, NRA--Life, ARTCA, and American Legion. Caveat Emptor: Cavery Grips/AmericanGripz/Prestige Grips/Stealth Grips from Clayton, NC. He is a scammer

April 16, 2017, 12:20 PM	#8
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,721	Hodgdon's online data cover .327 Federal pretty well, including 700X data. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

April 16, 2017, 08:06 PM	#14
joed Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2014 Posts: 442	If you're going to shoot Hornady bullets get a Hornady Manual. Makes sense to get a manual for what you shoot. Later if you start using Sierra get that one next. That's how I did it. __________________ The 6 gun was once as common as the cellphone is today, and just as annoying when it went off in the theater.

April 16, 2017, 03:02 AM	#1
TruthTellers Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2016 Posts: 3,954	Best reloading manuals for me? Hey, I'm looking at getting some manuals for reloading. Currently I'm looking at loading for: -.32 S&W Long -.32 H&R Mag -.327 Magnum - .45 Colt In the future I'm probably going to load: -10mm Auto -.308 Winchester Bullets I'm going to be using will be Hornady XTP's for the pistol cartridges, probably Lasercast, Matt's bullets (.32 round nose and .45 wadcutters). Also, powder's I'm likely to use will be basic stuff like Bullseye and Unique. Maybe Power Pistol for the .327 and Hurco if I have trouble getting the first two. What do you fellas recommend? Last edited by TruthTellers; April 16, 2017 at 03:08 AM.

April 16, 2017, 05:26 AM	#2
745SW Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2011 Location: California Posts: 776	I largely use and like the Speer manuals in hardcover book form in versions (editions) older and later. They give explanations/reasons when possible and non when appropriate. Pressure values are not given because that value is not a guide for making/estimating a load outside the given powder range. Over time some loads have been eliminated from later versions of the manual. This applies to very fast powders like Bullseye and the less common 700-X. I prefer the latter 700-X because it's much cleaner although the manuals lack this info. I also have a Sierra manual but the binder format does not holdup well over a period of years. Pages tend to rip out and get lost.

April 16, 2017, 09:44 AM	#3
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,611	The only paper bound manual that I have that covers those is the Hornady manual. I downloaded, Norma, Speer, Vitavhuori, Lyman. Finding data for the 327 Fed is kinda hard to find.

April 16, 2017, 10:05 AM	#4
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 19,155	I would get the manual published by the maker of your loading equipment. That way the instructions and illustrations will agree with your bench. Maybe the manual published by the maker of your preferred bullets, if you tend to freak out because you have a 255 grain .45 and can only find data for a 250. Lyman is good for cast bullets, they make moulds. Powder data is cheap to free from Alliant, Hodgdon, and Western (Ramshot and Accurate.)

April 16, 2017, 11:05 AM	#7
ShootistPRS Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2017 Posts: 1,583	One manual from your bullet maker and one manual from your powder manufacturer. Add to those any other manual you like. I have more manuals than I can use most of the time but every time they bring out a new powder or a new bullet I need a new manual that lists the data. Oh, I hate it when they discontinue a bullet or powder that I use!

April 16, 2017, 12:41 PM	#9
TruthTellers Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2016 Posts: 3,954	I see a lot of people say that the Lyman manual is very good. Quite a few say the 49th edition is more bang for the buck compared to the 50th. Between the two, which edition is better for me?

April 16, 2017, 03:02 PM	#10
condor bravo Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2014 Location: Nevada/Ariz/CA Posts: 1,753	Get the Lyman 50th. If nothing else it offers loading data for quite a few more 6.5 mm calibers. And you may just win a 6.5 Creedmore (if you don't have one already). It seems that about everyone is giving away a Creedmore.

April 16, 2017, 03:04 PM	#11
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,330	I would say neither. I know I am an outlier. First and foremost get a Hornady of Sierra or both. Particular Sierra is easy to add your own pages into. While they have a lot of good other data, they have both have as wide a variety of bullets anyone makes and they have SAFE data for those (some bullet grain sizes have a number of shapes and weights that vary up and down 5 grains). What that means is you can find a close bullet type and have safe loads for that type even if a different mfg. I don't advocate going to the max at all, but good starting and I am not reluctant to start mid loads. They also by far list more varieties of powder. That's big. Don't have to internet as much or cut and paste into your own book. I eventually picked up a Layman's on sale to see what the fuss was. Well they have cast, hmmm. It didn't even tell you the difference between CUP and CIP though it lists pressure in both. My wife picked up an older Lymans and it has a lot of good stuff in it, far more than current. I think this is the thing getting passed on from generation to generation and more cast bullets done back in the day. So, fine a gun place (Cabella etc) that has a book open to read and look them over. See which seems to resonate. Eventually you are going to pick up some others, ABCs of reloading is one of the better ones. Lymans, its ok, I don't mind having it, glad I got it on sale, won't buy another one.

April 16, 2017, 06:10 PM	#12
condor bravo Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2014 Location: Nevada/Ariz/CA Posts: 1,753	OK RC be that way. Are you an outlier because of living in Alaska rather the lower 48.

April 16, 2017, 07:23 PM	#13
ShootistPRS Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2017 Posts: 1,583	With so many of the bullet makers going to monolithic bullets and away from cup and core you almost have to have a manual that covers the bullet you are using. 30 years ago you could just about use any bullet in the same weight and stay in safe pressure ranges. Barnes came out with their solid copper and then their bronze bullets and manufacturers started using thicker jackets for controlled expansion and now a lot of manufacturers are going to monolithic bullets in handgun as well as rifle bullets. You really need to have a manual for the specific bullet you are going to use. Even the Very Low Drag bullets have to be seated differently because they have such a long nose. You have to check the distance to your lands to make sure you can use them in your gun. I can remember when you only needed to know if you were loading lead or jacketed bullets, well those days are gone and have been for a while. Keep up with the latest information and stay safe.

April 16, 2017, 08:28 PM	#15
TruthTellers Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2016 Posts: 3,954	Yeah, I'll probably get a Hornady manual in the future, but for now all I plan on loading is lead bullets in .45 Colt and .32 S&W/H&R Mag. What would be a good manual to start with those? The Lyman? Lee? ABC's?

April 16, 2017, 08:37 PM	#16
redford1 Junior Member Join Date: April 2, 2017 Posts: 12	If you know the mold # for the bullet you are going to use try the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook Sent from my SM-T800 using Tapatalk

April 16, 2017, 09:35 PM	#18
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 4,039	Somebody else already said it, but get the Lyman 49 or 50 and get a manual for the bullet brand you shoot. Mostly I shoot Nosler, so I have their books.

April 16, 2017, 11:54 PM	#19
TruthTellers Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2016 Posts: 3,954	I can get the softcover of the Lyman 50th edition for $18. I'm not seeing anything for the 49th edition for less than that. So all these claims of the 49th edition for a low price isn't ringing true for me.

April 17, 2017, 12:30 AM	#20
disseminator Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2016 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,012	The 49th editions for low prices are probably selling out. I got one for a buddy for Christmas for $5.00 As far as manuals go, based on the bullets you want to use, I will add another vote for the Hornady 10 which I have and is very good. I also have the #9 and it's fine too if you can find it cheap. The Lyman's #49 or #50 and the Cast Bullet Book is a great add on for cast (and Plated) load data. Hornady #10 Lyman's #49 or #50 Lyman's Cast Bullet Book

April 17, 2017, 01:55 AM	#21
TruthTellers Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2016 Posts: 3,954	I ordered the Lyman 50th from Sam Walton's mart. Gonna hold off on the Hornady manual for now.

April 17, 2017, 02:32 AM	#22
condor bravo Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2014 Location: Nevada/Ariz/CA Posts: 1,753	Good choice of the 50th over the 49th. The 50th does include 10 to 12 additional rifle calibers over the 49th with some 60 additional pages. Should you get heavily into cast bullets for rifle calibers, get the Lyman cast bullet manual as well. The standard manuals like the 50th does show quite a bit of cast rifle bullet data as well (along of course with handgun cast bullet data).

April 17, 2017, 09:54 AM	#23
NoSecondBest Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2009 Location: Western New York Posts: 2,736	Over fifty years of reloading and I have all the manuals.....past and present. Of all of them, the Lyman is by far the most useful. It wins hands down. I've shot hundreds of thousands of rounds over the time I've been reloading (shot major competition for years) and I've used the Lyman for 90% of my needs.

April 17, 2017, 03:37 PM	#24
unlimitedtactical Junior Member Join Date: April 17, 2017 Location: Lehi, UT Posts: 1	I currently use the Lyman reloading manual and like it. I also will go and print off additional information and stick it in the manual for the loads I am working on.

April 17, 2017, 03:47 PM	#25
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,712	I found the Lyman manuals better for lead bullets-naturally they emphasized their bullet molds.