Reloading manual

[Coon]

Is there one particular manual that's preferred by most reloaders?

 

[Tnhawk]

I used several as I began reloading.

 

[plinkr]

Everyone has their favorite, bit I think most of us use more than one. Lyman is very popular, but personally I like Lee for starting out as it explains the basics very clearly.

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[RankAmateur]

Probably good to have more than one. There are quirks/characteristics of each (some more conservative than others for example), and having more than one can help work that out. Suggest that you DO have the manual for the bullets you are shooting at a minimum. As time went on, I've picked up manuals from several bullet and powder manufacturers that have served various combinations of components.

If you HAVE to have only one, you might consider something like the Lyman manual as it will contain information on several power and bullet manufacturers. The Sierra manual only lists Sierra bullets (Hornady bullets for Hornady manual, Berger bullets for Berger manual). The Hodgdon manual only includes their powders, etc.

 

[Coon]

Thanks, everyone. I haven't done any reloading for a while and so I have a couple of older manuals and a new Hornady manual that came with my progressive press. I just wanted to update, and can't buy a bunch at once, so I was curious which I should get next. I really liked my old Sierra manual, but that one is the only one that got ruined by water damage.

 

[Eastexasrick]

In order. Speer 10 to 15, Lyman 47 to 50, any Lee. Hornady 11.

 

[Coon]

In order. Speer 10 to 15, Lyman 47 to 50, any Lee. Hornady 11.

Thanks. I realize that everyone has their own opinion, but I'm hoping to get a few opinions and go from there. I guess I could have done a poll.

 

[TheSinfulSaint]

I hear Loadbooks have consolidated data from various manuals so that is a good starting point. I don't have any so this is all second hand information.

Our Manuals

Quick and easy reloading manuals for different calibers.

www.loadbooks.com

 

[@TX_1]

Thanks. I realize that everyone has their own opinion, but I'm hoping to get a few opinions and go from there. I guess I could have done a poll.

If you are just starting in reloading, do research on line for the calibers you expect to reload for. Powder for that caliber might be a starting point. Or combination of bullets and powder, lots of forums discuss those combinations. The more calibers and bullets sizes, the options multiply the components. Right now there are more components available than there have been in quite a while. Brass is another issue. Some calibers of brass are almost impossible to find.

 

[Lonesome Dove]

Every bullet is different get the books for the bullets you’ll use.

Side note, all bullets can be used with any book but loads should be worked up from mid level charges use caution as pressures vary.

 

[alternative]

If I had a choice of one only it would be Lyman. Lyman 48 is easily found as a download on the internet. A little old but you can evaluate and buy the latest version if you like it.

 

[Coon]

I have the Lyman 47.

 

[benenglish]

If I had a choice of one only it would be Lyman. Lyman 48 is easily found as a download on the internet. A little old but you can evaluate and buy the latest version if you like it.

Old Lyman manuals are gold. They'll have obsolete powders that us senior citizens have been hanging on to for 40 years.

 

[Mike_from_Texas]

People still use manuals?

Quickload and GRT software is 10x more versatile.


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[Lead Belly]

Here are a few PDF's I came across.

A Collection of Reloading Data - Old and Current

Gentlemen, I have a collection of reloading bookmarks encompassing a wide variety of handgun load data, both new and old. Everybody here has a similar database, I'm sure. We see a fair number of posts, asking for load data, so I thought I'd post my collection of links to all the databas...

www.24hourcampfire.com

 

[benenglish]

Quickload and GRT software is 10x more versatile.

Quickload doesn't run on Linux and GRT is a potential trip to dependency hell. To wit -

$ sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install lib32stdc++6
$ sudo apt-get install libgtk2.0-0:i386
$ sudo apt-get install gtk2-engines-pixbuf:i386
$ sudo apt-get install gtk2-engines-murrine:i386
$ sudo apt-get install gnome-themes-extra:i386
$ sudo apt-get install libcurl4-openssl-dev:i386

Of course, that won't stop me from trying it.

Thanks for the pointers.

 

[Lead Belly]

Quickload doesn't run on Linux and GRT is a potential trip to dependency hell. To wit -

Reinstall Windows and try again

 

[Eastexasrick]

If I had a choice of one only it would be Lyman. Lyman 48 is easily found as a download on the internet. A little old but you can evaluate and buy the latest version if you like it.

If only one, this would be my answer also.

 

[deemus]

I’d start with Lee and Lyman. If you find a bullet you like, get the makers manual. I love SST bullets and bought a Hornady manual.

 

[srab]

My most recent manual purchase was the Lee 2nd Ed. (2021 revision)

Inexpensive, and it has a remarkably inclusive list of powders, for each bullet weight, for each cartridge included. Many more than any other manual I've run across.