How Often Do You Update Your Books?

[XDJYo]

Hiya,

New guy round these parts. Just set up my Dillon 650 last week. Anxious to get going. Hope y'all be patient with me and forgive me if this has already been addressed.

How often do you update your reloading books? For example, I have the Lyman Reloading Handbook-47th Edition. When I was browsing Alliant's website, I noticed that the load data was a bit different that what I see in the Lyman book. Quick google search to see how 'outdated' my manual is and I see that the most recent one available on Amazon is the 49th edition.

So, do you go out and re-buy your reloading handbooks or do you peruse the manufacturers website for load data?

Thank you!

Happy shooting and be safe!

[2shotjoe]

When I see a new edition.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

[Bigtwin]

When I get around to it!

[Divernhunter]

I do both. Even the newest books will differ from the website info.

[XDJYo]

Ok. Thanks all. Sounds like a call is in order to Alliant. Wanted to get a good starting point to develop a load for 45 ACP-Bullseye. Seems like the data has changed quite a bit.


Sent by a Monkey in Outer Space

[liber]

How often do you update your reloading books? For example, I have the Lyman Reloading Handbook-47th Edition.

I have the same Lyman's 47th Edition, and I don't use it as I have the Speer #14 and Hornady 9th Edition, both of which have much more recent data.

Also worth comparing online data, like the Hodgdon Reloading Site as it has most all the powder I use.

The Lyman's 47th Edition doesn't have any modern powders in it, like Varget or 8208 XBR which I use.

All our mileage varies...

EDIT: both Speer and Hornady have Bullseye loads for 45ACP. One thing to NOTE, Hornady loads seem a tad light in comparison to Speers, rumor has it that could be due to legal issues as of recent. All loads should be started low and worked up.

[Carcassonne]

Hiya,


How often do you update your reloading books? For example, I have the Lyman Reloading Handbook-47th Edition. When I was browsing Alliant's website, I noticed that the load data was a bit different that what I see in the Lyman book. Quick google search to see how 'outdated' my manual is and I see that the most recent one available on Amazon is the 49th edition.

So, do you go out and re-buy your reloading handbooks or do you peruse the manufacturers website for load data?

Thank you!

Happy shooting and be safe!

Never.

Alliant and Lyman are not the same company. Each ran their own tests. Load data is only a guide. Powder companies test common bullets with their powder. Bullet company test common powders with their bullets. Temperature, altitude, crimp, test barrel, or anything else will effect chamber pressures.



.

[balmo]

I always get Alliant's free reloading booklet and Hogdon's annual magazine every year. Not a lot of loads on the Alliant booklet but if they have a new powder, a recipe is there. Hogdon's magazine is loaded tons of recipes in their magazine. I've been getting these 'updates' since 2012 when I started reloading.

[robert101]

Regarding handgun books look for One Book / One Caliber for your 45 acp. I have other Manuals such as Lee, Sierra, Speer, and Hornady but the OBOC paper back is very complete and costs about $6. I don't update much for 45 acp. It is a very forgiving round at some 21,000 psi. Many other cartridges are allowed to >61,000 psi in rifles.

[XDJYo]

Thank you all for the replies.

Appreciate the suggestions too. Trying to sort all of the different data out.

One of the reasons why I am starting with 45 is because it is a forgiving round.

Thx!!


Sent by a Monkey in Outer Space

[jameshenry]

If I start to reload a new cartridge I will check the powder manufacture's web site. Other wise I just use my favorite recipe. I have been using Hodgdon Universal for all my pistol loads. .380, 9mm, .357 sig, .44 sp/mag, .45 acp . All with my Dillon 650.

[wpage]

I use the same data...

[Bumslie]

I use data from ideal/Lyman 38th edition

[JMP]

I really don't think it is necessary to update books. Really, the only time I even look in a book is to get the cartridge dimensions. For loads, I generally use the manufacturer of the powder's loads as a rough guide for max/min. Then there are always cartridges that have no published data so the book does you no good either, you just have to start conservatively. Once you get your loads down, you tend to stop looking at the book loads as those are just a guideline. Rather than spend money getting new versions of reloading manuals, I think the money would be better spent on a program like QuickLOAD for more data.

[XDJYo]

I think what is confusing to me is that the load data varied quite a bit from what I have been reading.

For example, the Lyman 47th Edition for 230 grain, 45 ACP with Bullseye lists a min/max load of 3.8/5.3 grains.

The Alliant info I pulled off their website pdf manual on page 83 shows 230 grain TMJ with 5.7 grains. Quite a big difference to this greenhorn.

From my limited browsing of this forum and the 1911 forum, it seems like it varies from the low to mid/high 4's.

Anyways, no big deal. I will continue to consult and ask questions. Start low and work my way up.

Thanks again!

Happy shooting and be safe.