TexasCHLforum.com

What should I look for in a reloading manual? Which one would you recommend? Lyman, Lee, Speer, Hornady, other?

I've read the ABC's of Reloading and I'm considering starting with the Lee Challenger kit. My main interest is handloading 9mm... maybe 30-06 down the road...

77346 wrote:What should I look for in a reloading manual? Which one would you recommend? Lyman, Lee, Speer, Hornady, other?

yes, yes, yes, yes and yes

can't have too many. Also the powder manufacturers have pretty good info online to cross reference load data.

Most of the "tool manufacturer" load manuals have a lot of specific information related to their equipment and company history, but generally all have useful information related to reloading in general.

I have been wondering the same thing, how was the ABCs? I was going to download it and read the e-book

I consider the Lyman and Hornady must haves. Whether it's other manuals or software, you should verify any load from four or five sources. Then take the lowest max shown as your max, meaning you never exceed what is shown as maximum from any source. You still work up loads incrementally.

When comparing data from different load manuals keep in mind that each manual will most likely use a different case and primer for the same powder and bullet combination so your load data will vary. Different cases will have different volumes which will affect the pressure curve which in turn will affect the velocity and other performance factors. I would suggest that you get any reloading manual that you can, I am a self admitted load manual junkie. My personal favorite is the previous edition of the Hornady manual followed by the 2012 hodgon manual.

Wes wrote:I have been wondering the same thing, how was the ABCs? I was going to download it and read the e-book

I found this book very, very informative, although I concentrated in the handgun sections, and skimped thru the rifle and didn't even got into the shotgun sections. If you don't know someone who can help you get started, I think the ABC's is a must read.

can't have too many. Also the powder manufacturers have pretty good info online to cross reference load data.

agreed.
I don't buy Barnes or Nosler because there bullet selections seem to be more limited. I prefer the Speer, Hornady and Lee manuals.

Alliant and Hodgdon both have data online that I use as well. Alliant is very good about answering questions via email.

Thanks for all the input regarding the manuals... I'm starting with Lyman (ordered from Amazon today).

I just bought the Hornady recently. It's a nice book, one of the better ones out there. But like the others say, can't have too many.

Lee is the least manufacturer biased, that is, the most inclusive.