Your top 5 reloading references for beginners?

[mmartin]

hey there,

I'm coordinating the effort to get some reloading clinics started around the state... mostly these are to help people get started on reloading, find out what they need, get a bit of hands on experience. we've got over 270 people interested state-wide...

As part of that, I'd like to provide folks with a list of good references, most useful training DVDs, Books, etc.

SO... you experienced reloaders... help me out?

For someone just starting in reloading, or with novice level experience, what do you think are the 5 best references?

Books:

DVDs:

On-line Reference Sites:

Other Materials:

Thanks for your help in educating us all,
Megan

[team1320]

in for this i might have to start doing this...

[ETD1010]

Pretty much any reloading book has a lot of great info in the basics and fundamentals of reloading; along with the recipes in the back.

[mmartin]

in for this i might have to start doing this...

you can take the link below for your area and get on the poll... that way we'll be sure to include you as these get planned...

Reloading Clinics Forming: Northern California Area (http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=232459)
Reloading Clinics Forming: Sacramento Area (http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=232460)
Reloading Clinics Forming: San Francisco Bay Area (http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=232461)
Reloading Clinics Forming: North Central Valley Area (http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=232462)
Reloading Clinics Forming: South Central Valley Area (http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=232463)
Reloading Clinics Forming: Central Coast Area (http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=232464)
Reloading Clinics Forming: South Coast Area (http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=232465)
Reloading Clinics Forming: Kern/Inyo Area (http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=232466)
Reloading Clinics Forming: Los Angeles Area (http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=232467)
Reloading Clinics Forming: Orange County/Inland Empire Area (http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=232468)
Reloading Clinics Forming: San Diego/Imperial Area (http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=232469)
Reloading Clinics Forming: Other Areas (http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=232471)

[mmartin]

Pretty much any reloading book has a lot of great info in the basics and fundamentals of reloading; along with the recipes in the back.

nothing special you found particularly easy to use? easy to work with for beginners?

megan

[nn3453]

nothing special you found particularly easy to use? easy to work with for beginners?

megan

An experienced reloader is more valuable than any book. Sierra's loading manual has very good data and their hunting and accuracy loads are spot on. If you are serious about the hobby, you need to drop coin once instead of buying and selling and upgrading your equipment over and over.That is the number one mistake I made along the way. You get what you pay for. Dillon is king. Lee is crap. Seems to work for many people so take it for what it is worth. But then again I didn't know I would stick with it when I first started.

Nothing beats experience. A lot of experience. Beginners will make mistakes. That is the only way to learn but it is alright as long as they are not life threatening and only result in wasted components.

Gun forums help, especially for equipment reviews.

[topgun7]

I rely on the Sierra Reloading Manual. It seems to me that it is most reliable source for my reloading from the past experience. I have been looking at the VihtaVouri manuals lately.

[impactco]

ABC's of Reloading.

http://www.amazon.com/Abcs-Reloading-Definitive-Novice-Expert/dp/0896896099/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256097093&sr=8-1

Should be read by anyone before they even think of reloading their first round.


This site is very useful for anyone reloading:

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=9

[gunboat]

The older lyman manuals are my favorites -- like #45 -- Covers rifle pistol, shotgun and casting -- my ha-penny

[krzgoat]

Books - Lyman and Sierra Manuals
DVDs - haven't checked out any
Online Reference sites - Calguns.net - Ammo and Reloading Forum, loaddata.com, handloads.org, powder manufacturer sites, other gun make and model specific forums

Experience and knowledge also go a long way. Make the mistakes early, learn from them quickly, talk to other experienced reloaders, read a lot, expect component loss during beginning. Take lots of organized notes.

Make mistakes at home and leave them at home where they belong.

[ar15barrels]

Lyman, Hornady, Speer, Sierra and the hardback Hodgdon are my recommendations for the first 5 manuals to buy.

[five.five-six]

trial and error???

[ar15barrels]

trial and error???

http://z.hubpages.com/u/605774_f520.jpg

[Spyduh]

Buy real paper books in addition to using these online sources. It's a must to buy paper books as online data will not give you the same stuff the book provides.

http://reloadersrfrnce.sourceforge.net/

http://handloads.org/

http://loaddata.com/

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp
(Hodgdon, IMR, Winchester)

http://www.accuratepowder.com/reloading.htm

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/index.aspx

http://www.norma.cc/sortimentladd.asp?doc=Sort&Lang=2

http://www.ramshot.com/powders/

http://www.rexpowder.com/

http://www.vihtavuori-lapua.com/charts.php

http://www.lapua.com/index.php?id=1180

http://www.nosler.com/index.php?p=15

http://www.barnesbullets.com/information/load-data/

http://www.sierrabullets.com/index.cfm?section=reloading

http://www.speer-bullets.com/reloading/supplemental_reloading_data.aspx

http://www.hornady.com/shop/?page=shop/browse&category_id=430292431fba0690c8ce452562adce7b

[Sky_DiveR]

Don't forget, The Reloading Bench (www.reloadbench.com) The guys on there are sharp as a tack and more than willing to provide info/advice on just about all aspects of reloading. Ever want to know the composition of gunpowder or how to make priming compound? They do!

[M47_Dragon]

ABC's of Reloading.

http://www.amazon.com/Abcs-Reloading-Definitive-Novice-Expert/dp/0896896099/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256097093&sr=8-1

Should be read by anyone before they even think of reloading their first round.



+1 -- a great book indeed. No load data, but that is information that you need AFTER reading this book.

[Milsurp Collector]

I don't have this but someone on another forum recommended it. $9.95

http://www.nrastore.com/nra/images/detail/01779detail.jpg

http://www.nrastore.com/nra/Product.aspx?productid=PB%2001779

[Mikeb]

I liked to Lyman Manual. I gave mine away and miss it and haven't been able to find another copy locally. The manufacturers put out brand specific info which while useful is always a bit limited. I almost always find different info in each manual. That's why it is good to have a few to cross reference.
take care
Mike

[xrMike]

This:

You get what you pay for. Dillon is king. Lee is crap. Seems to work for many people so take it for what it is worth.

Plus this:

Gun forums help, especially for equipment reviews.

= :rolleyes:

[5hundo]

The older lyman manuals are my favorites -- like #45 -- Covers rifle pistol, shotgun and casting -- my ha-penny

Up to 48th is even good, so I'm told. I own 49th and honestly, I'd rather have 48th or before. It's not much help...

Also, the Lee "Modern Reloading" manual is good. Lots of loads in there...

[7x57]

Since so many Calgunners like military-design semi-autos, I would add that the Sierra manual is the only one I have that has a section on reloading specifically for those rifles and the Hornady manual is the only one with reloading data specifically for those rifles. If you are reloading for military autoloaders, I'd suggest those two as your first two books simply for that reason.

I'd also suggest that nobody ever owned too many reloading manuals. I generally will cross-check loads in every manual that covers what I want, and if I see significant discrepancies I start to get more careful and thoughtful. I seem to recall a case where one manual's maximum loads for something in .45ACP was pretty close to another's minimum loads. When that happens it's time to start thinking harder.

7x57

[five.five-six]

http://z.hubpages.com/u/605774_f520.jpg

perhaps i should rethink that one

how about this helpfull video?

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[Brasspolisher]

Buy real paper books in addition to using these online sources. It's a must to buy paper books as online data will not give you the same stuff the book provides.

Spyduh makes a very good point. Also, websites come and go (especially in the current economy), but a good load lasts forever (or at least until they reformulate the powder or something). If you find one you like online, it's worth printing it out and sticking it in a three-ring binder on the bookshelf in your reloading room. (You HAVE a big, sturdy bookshelf in your reloading room, right? :D)

It may be a little :TFH:, but anyway -- if you ever need to need to make something important and there's no electricity, all those online resources and PDFs saved on your hard drive are gonna be worth about as much as the defrosted breaded shrimp from Costco in your freezer.

Also, please consider this more of a bump than a hijack. Working on something from Redding that's on-topic for the OP, but still interested in your good ideas!

[Gryff]

What manuals do we need to start if we are only loading for action pistol shooting (specifically 9mm and .45acp only)?

[ar15barrels]

What manuals do we need to start if we are only loading for action pistol shooting (specifically 9mm and .45acp only)?

There is a lyman pistol and revolver manual.
Otherwise, get a regular lyman manual and then either loadmaps from midway or the other caliber specific books that just combines all the data from a whole bunch of manuals for one specific cartridge.

[Fyathyrio]

There's a similar thread here with reviews also. (http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=258405)

[NaughtyMonkey]

ABC's of Reloading.

http://www.amazon.com/Abcs-Reloading-Definitive-Novice-Expert/dp/0896896099/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256097093&sr=8-1

Should be read by anyone before they even think of reloading their first round.


This site is very useful for anyone reloading:

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=9


+1 on the ABC's of reloading, had so much information it, would have taken me hours just to find all the info on the internet!

[smokingloon]

Ammosmith has many great videos

http://www.youtube.com/user/ammosmith?blend=1&ob=4