What is the best reloading manual?

[CRNA]

Like the title says, what is your favorite reloading manual?

[maxima2]

Lyman with Sierra in close second.

[ctrout]

Loadbooks

[Rick_W]

They are all just different enough to say I like them all.

With that said, I find myself using the Sierra & Hodgdon manuals the most.

[358Hammer]

1. Sierra 2. Lyman 3.Nosler 4. Hodgdon

[82boy]

The Sierra book is great, but it has one downflaw, it (Much like most loading manuals.) only shows loads for Sierra bullets. The Hodgdon books are OK but they only shows Hodgdon brand of powders, (IMR, Hodgdon, Winchester) and the free versions show max load and you have to reduce by 10%. It is for this reason I like the Lyman book, the reason why is because they don't sell powder or bullets, they have a less bias load maps. With that all said get a few different manuals, the main thing is make sure that they are current. Powders have changed throughout the years, and what may have worked in that 1962 Sierra manual may not work anymore. You can find old loading manual at garage sales, and eBay, but I would stay away from them.

[bigedp51]

Powders have changed throughout the years, and what may have worked in that 1962 Sierra manual may not work anymore. You can find old loading manual at garage sales, and eBay, but I would stay away from them.

Dear Mr. 82boy

You should be shot with a dull bullet, be drawn and quartered, forced to walk the plank and have your library card revoked.

I still have a can of IMR-4831 that has a $3.95 price tag on it and I would hate to think that the new can of IMR-4831 is "changed or different".

The 1968 dated Lyman manual below is my most heavily used manual and I use it to cross check all my "new" manuals. All the pressures listed in this Lyman manual are in CUP or copper units pressure and help keep me grounded in "Old World" FACTS.

[img width=380 height=450]http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/bigedp51/Lyman.jpg[/img]

How many times have you seen on the Internet someone claiming that there is 10,000 psi difference between the .308 and 7.62 NATO?

[img width=427 height=450]http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/bigedp51/308-762-b-1.jpg[/img]

Below 42.5 grains of IMR-4895 at 51,200 cup

[img width=515 height=450]http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/bigedp51/168match.jpg[/img]

Below from TM 43-0001-27 42.0 grains of IMR-4895 at 50,000 CUP (cup is still measured in pounds per square inch)

[img width=600 height=419]http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/bigedp51/762match.jpg[/img]

Lets see half a grain of powder is going to give you 10,000 cup......... right and I have a bridge for sale in NYC.

As you can see below its perfectly safe to put 32 psi in your tires "BUT" if you put 220 kPa in your tires they will blow up and kill everyone in a 300 yard radius.

[img width=600 height=420]http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/bigedp51/IMGP3024-1.jpg[/img]

If it wasn't for the "old" manuals the "old" farts wouldn't be able to keep you young whipper-snappers in line with the "new" psi transducer pressure figures.

[bigedp51]

Garage sale my A$$

Revised edition 1971

[img width=292 height=450]http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/bigedp51/pacific.jpg[/img]

My Guard unit before we were called up for the "Big War" ::)

[img width=588 height=450]http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/bigedp51/LancerOff.jpg[/img]

[EricCartmann]

I like the Hornady Manual, it is well written, has useful info, but not too much info. As for actual load data info though it starts way too low and it's listed max is more like a minimum :D

It does give you a good starting point though.

[Captain Finlander]

+1 on Hornady. I own several editions of Nosler, Barnes, Speer and Hornady as they are my favorites.

[guhunter]

I find myself using the Nosler manual typically. I like the layout better than my Sierra and Hornady books

[DGD6MM]

I like the manual's, but find myself going to Quickload alot.