Reloading books

[chav0_12]

I've always had good luck with Nosler data, their "most accurate" powders are usually a good place to start. Same with Sierra, they have accuracy loads and those are the powders I start with for a given cartridge. Berger and Sierra have some good information in them about more than just load data. Reading the section, some 15+ years ago, about external ballistics in the Sierra manual is what's driven me down this whole rabbit hole. The section in Berger about seating depth tests goes in depth (no pun intended) and is a very helpful process to put into practice. Hornady is another good book with updates and new data every year, it seems, I usually turn to Hornady to get an idea of new powder and cartridge combos. The Lyman book has been very valuable to me loading hard cast bullets for handguns.

I have a lot of different manuals and they seem to all benefit me in some ways that others don't.

 

[17CalFan]

Can't have too many! Always liked Lyman because they seem pretty impartial. I highly recommend reading the "How To" material that proceeds the data.

 

[marcos0901]

What bullets manufacturer do you use most. That's the manual to get also.

Hornady and Berger are my top two

 

[marcos0901]

I've always had good luck with Nosler data, their "most accurate" powders are usually a good place to start. Same with Sierra, they have accuracy loads and those are the powders I start with for a given cartridge. Berger and Sierra have some good information in them about more than just load data. Reading the section, some 15+ years ago, about external ballistics in the Sierra manual is what's driven me down this whole rabbit hole. The section in Berger about seating depth tests goes in depth (no pun intended) and is a very helpful process to put into practice. Hornady is another good book with updates and new data every year, it seems, I usually turn to Hornady to get an idea of new powder and cartridge combos. The Lyman book has been very valuable to me loading hard cast bullets for handguns.

I have a lot of different manuals and they seem to all benefit me in some ways that others don't.

I definitely want Hornady and Berger books. I never really shot sierras but I tried them in my 6.5 prc before I sold it. I am definitely going to try more sierras down the road. I love how Hornady kill that's the main reason I use them the most.

 

[marcos0901]

what brand do you shoot and how many different cartridges do you reload for? if only 1 or 2 then there's plenty of online data from many manufacturers (speer, nosler, barnes, lapua via vv powders which has many different bullet brands included and a few other i don't recall. you can email sierra and berger for specific data.

Originally it was just my 308, 6gt, and my buddies 300 prc. Now I added another 5 different calibers.

 

[K.E.C. Darkside]

Originally it was just my 308, 6gt, and my buddies 300 prc. Now I added another 5 different calibers.

Welcome to the Reloading Rabbit Hole.

 

[marcos0901]

Welcome to the Reloading Rabbit Hole.

That's no joke. I started just to make my custom Mauser 98 308 to shoot a little faster and tighter. Now I am loading my friends 270, 7ss, 6 arc, 22-250, and I think in the near future a 277 sig. we went on a idaho mulie hunt for the first time this last fall. Loading for 3 different rifles was a cluster for a minute haha. Trying to figure out what my 6.5 and my buddies 7 ss liked around my busiest time of the year led to a lot of late nights haha

 

[ByronP]

That's no joke. I started just to make my custom Mauser 98 308 to shoot a little faster and tighter. Now I am loading my friends 270, 7ss, 6 arc, 22-250, and I think in the near future a 277 sig. we went on a idaho mulie hunt for the first time this last fall. Loading for 3 different rifles was a cluster for a minute haha. Trying to figure out what my 6.5 and my buddies 7 ss liked around my busiest time of the year led to a lot of late nights haha

I am in same situation with a buddy of mine was in room last night until 10:30

 

[marcos0901]

I am in same situation with a buddy of mine was in room last night until 10:30

Haha. There was nights I wouldn't get off work til 11. I would come home shower and load til 1 am so he could shoot the next day. Just to find out that those loads didn't group good enough to hit a tree . I never had a chrono until this year finding good loads in finicky rifles was always a struggle

 

[chav0_12]

I definitely want Hornady and Berger books. I never really shot sierras but I tried them in my 6.5 prc before I sold it. I am definitely going to try more sierras down the road. I love how Hornady kill that's the main reason I use them the most.

I don't really use data the way it's suggested. I don't need to get load data for a particular bullet, I just need it to be in the same cartridge and similar weight. Then I use starting loads and find pressure from there. I've used plenty of Sierra starting loads for Nosler, Hornady, or Berger bullets. And all vice versus, I have very few if any Sierra bullets and I wouldn't say I shoot them. Data is data and it's easy enough to start with starting loads. I know I was using 197gr Sierra data for my 28 Nosler shooting 195gr Bergers with IMR8133.

 

[marcos0901]

I don't really use data the way it's suggested. I don't need to get load data for a particular bullet, I just need it to be in the same cartridge and similar weight. Then I use starting loads and find pressure from there. I've used plenty of Sierra starting loads for Nosler, Hornady, or Berger bullets. And all vice versus, I have very few if any Sierra bullets and I wouldn't say I shoot them. Data is data and it's easy enough to start with starting loads. I know I was using 197gr Sierra data for my 28 Nosler shooting 195gr Bergers with IMR8133.

That's usually what I do. No matter what bullet I shoot. I just start low and find pressure with each one.