Best Reloading Book

[Jonathan Doe]

I primarily use Sierra manual. I cross reference it with the manuals from the powder manufacturers.

[choprzrul]

I like picking up old manuals that I find in gun shops. I also like the Lee and Lyman manuals.

.

[GUNNTZ]

Lee and Lyman manuals with hodgdon as a supplement. Both manuals cover "most" everything on the market. Never throw out any old data books, some loads disappear from year to year.

[noylj]

Lee (lots of safe loads compiled from other manuals)
Lyman
Speer
Hornady
Sierra

[flak88mm]

Is there a difference between buying a hardcover vs softcover for the lyman 49th edition? I'm assuming there's no difference, same content, but just different in price because the weight of the book?

[flak88mm]

I don't know why you say that. The Hornady reloading manual has a specific section on the M1 Garand, including loads for 150 grain boat tail bullets.

Tim

Yeah that's my bad, I didn't know how to read it at first

[Whiterabbit]

....help you on the why's etc about reloading.

Noone else really specifically mentioned this outright. IMO this is what makes for the best reloading manual. The process, the whys. If I could buy every reloading manual that ever existed, compile all the "how to" sections, provide NO LOAD DATA, and publish it, I'd have IMO the best reloading manual.

The internet is full of recipes. powder manufacturer recipes, bullet manufacturer recipes, and redneck recipes. And more! I don't care about recipes. Teach me how to recognize what a minimum safe load is. Teach me how to recognize what a maximum safe load is. I can make my own load data, starting with the work of others.

The "how to" section is IMO key to a good reloading manual. So I suggest starting by flipping through a few. If the section in front of the load data section is big, that's the one I'd start with.

[Hornet_RN]

buy the Lyman manual because they use different brands of bullets (not just one company) and various kinds of powders.

[racinginthestreets]

"With bullet and powder companies putting information on the internet, I have never used a reloading book as the sole source of load information...You can get the same information with a little time surfing the web with the thought that you are only looking for a starting load to work up from and never starting at the max." rsrocket1

This is good advice. I started loading without a load data manual (I recently bought a couple used) as all the data I needed was available online directly from the powder mfg. Online you'll find some great load data sites. Back in the day (before the internet was so prevalent, I could understand the need for purchasing multiple manuals. However, what I've found is that most load data manuals are incomplete and you'll need several just to get some of the info available that you can get for free online. For a total beginner pick up The ABC's of Reloading. This walks one through the loading process (explaining each procedure, what the dies do, the significance of powder/primer/cases and has good pics. As a beginner you should focus on avoiding the inherent dangers of reloading (i.e. double charges, squib loads, over pressure cartridges, too much or too little head space). Once you understand what to avoid, and why, you'll have a better idea on putting together your setup and how to safely load the ammo you intend to shoot. Good luck and enjoy.

[Pete1979]

I have Lyman, Hornady and Sierra. The Sierra is my favorite and is pretty conservative but one thing to remember is that their data goes with their bullets as does hornady's and speer's. They take into consideration jacket strength and proper expansion in hunting applications when they publish their test results as load data.

My M1 likes 48 grains of IMR4895 or H4895 with 150s in Commercial brass and 47 grains in Lake City brass. For some strange reason, My particular rifle won't cycle properly with less than 46 grains. Be sure to uniform the primer pockets of whatever brass you decide to use and try to find some CCI #34 primers (Hard Cup for Semi Auto Military Applications).
I would start at 45 grains of H4895 and work up in .5 increments

[Ukiahgunnut]

I like my Speer Manual best of the three I have; Sierra, ABC's and Speer. More information on the loads.

UGN

[Javi]

Noone else really specifically mentioned this outright. IMO this is what makes for the best reloading manual. The process, the whys.
I don't care about recipes. Teach me how to recognize what a minimum safe load is. Teach me how to recognize what a maximum safe load is. I can make my own load data, starting with the work of others.

The "how to" section is IMO key to a good reloading manual. So I suggest starting by flipping through a few. If the section in front of the load data section is big, that's the one I'd start with.

For a total beginner pick up The ABC's of Reloading. This walks one through the loading process (explaining each procedure, what the dies do, the significance of powder/primer/cases and has good pics. As a beginner you should focus on avoiding the inherent dangers of reloading (i.e. double charges, squib loads, over pressure cartridges, too much or too little head space). Once you understand what to avoid, and why, you'll have a better idea on putting together your setup and how to safely load the ammo you intend to shoot. Good luck and enjoy.

Sorry to bump this thread but this is exactly what I was looking for. I've had the Lyman and the "ABC's of reloading" in my Amazon wish-list for a few months now. I was wondering which of the two is the more complete? My focus is learning the procedure and avoiding the dangers more than what combination of components to use n' such. Can anyone chime in? Buy both?

[Whiterabbit]

I've never read either. I DO have Lee 2nd edition and that book rocks. First 50% of the book is text on process. last 50% is the recipes and it's difficult to read compared to other manuals. Not that that matters to me.

[Jack1939]

if you search "reloading torrent" on google you will find lots of stuff...

[ivanimal]

I like the Lymans for beginners and the Lee book for the completeness of cartridges. I collect manuals so I have most of them.