reloading manual

[pikergolf]

hey guys , am getting back into hunting after being out for alot of years,so new gun equipment etc. am wondering what would be the best reloading manual to buy, i'll be purchasing most of my stuff off the net so I can't really look them all over. Is there a diffiniitve "best" manual. thanks for your time
Denis from Canada

 

[britz]

I'm not sure if there is a "best" manual out there, I know some here have reccomended something called Precision loading (guessing on the name). I have had good luck with Speer and Nosler.

 

[Winchester 69]

The Lyman manual is regarded as very a good general-purpose manual. It has comprehensive how-to information and load data that is a compilation rather than being component-specific. The two previously mentioned manuals are very good for how-to, but are bullet specific. The powder companies have pamphlets (and web sites) providing recommended loadings for their powders. If you prefer a single manufacturer's bullets, that company's manual will prove useful. Multiple manuals are a good thing.
.

 

[earl1704]

Sierra manual would be my first choice for starting out. With each bullet weight and style they list an accuracy load and a hunting load. When I first started reloading I ended up buying 15+ cans of powder dozens of bullets and cases trying to find the "right load" for my guns. Lots of cash spent on trying things out that did not work well. If you are hunting Sierra's hunting loads will work well right off the bat. You can tweek the loads a bit to fit you rifle. Later if you feel adventurest and want higher BC ratings you can (and probably will) buy several different reloading manuals. Sierra also has a 1-800 line for reloading questions even if its not Sierra product related (no charge for the call or questions). I have tried it and the people are very helpful.
Hope this helps................

 

[britz]

lots of loading manuals show "accuracy" load or "hunting" loads. That doesn't mean that you will find similar results in YOUR rifle. It could be a good starting point and the odds may be in favor of that combination, but every rifle has it's own personality.

 

[RT2506]

I would recommend the Sierra manual also. I have found that the accuracy and hunting loads that they list are pretty close to or if not the most accurate loads for most of the rifles I have loaded for and that is a whole passel of them. As far as data for loads and powders you can go to the powder makers web-site and get loading data for your caliber. Hodgdon has a great site.

 

[Russ M]

winchester 69 i am going to have to disagree with you on the lyman manual i found itvery hard to read the how to section i fund it very badly organized i will have to agree with you on the more the better i bought and read three of them befor i began reloading. the best one i found on the explaining of the how too and general info about reloading was the "modern reloading second edition" by richard lee, i found that he layed every thing out very well and explained it all very thoroughly, it realy helped me to understand reloading a lot beter, i have not read the Sierra manual after seeing all of the recomendations for it i will have to pick one up my tip to pikergolf is to buy a couple of them the more you read on the subject the beter

 

[Winchester 69]

Winchester 69, I am going to have to disagree with you on the Lyman manual. I found it very hard to read the how-to section. I found it very badly organized.

If you are describing the 49th manual, I may have to rescind my recommendation. I know the 47th and 48th to have been information-rich. If the new one doesn't follow suit, then it may best be avoided. Thanks for the mentioning.
.

 

[pikergolf]

thanks for your input guys I appreciate it Denis

 

[J E Custom]

Denis

I also would recomend the sierra manual because they do not make powder
therefore are not as biased about powders used and it has a lot of ballistic
information .

The handest one I have found is the "Hodgdon's Annual Manual" that comes
out every year and has the latest cartriges.

It looks like a magazine and cost arround $7.oo .

J E CUSTOM

 

[bowhunthard88]

My main reloading manual is the Hornady 7th edition, it really is a good one (it also has linked material on-line. i.e. ballistics. etc.). If I were to choose ONE, it would probably be either the hornady 7th or the Sierra manual. I also use the speer 13th tho.

The best advice I can give tho is this. If you can afford it, buy at least two! There are some differences in powder charges/types etc. between two manuals most of the time, so you can cross reference and find out what works in your rifle.

Don't forget this one tho, it's free, and it's really helped me out a time or two.
lightbulbHodgdon/IMR
http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

Good luck and have fun.

Sample Hornady reloading section.
http://varmintxt.webs.com/h22-250rem.htm
_____________________
Red mist. It's an addiction!

 

[Russ M]

winchester 69 it is the 48th that i have and my bigest problem was that it was very hard to read it may have just been that that made me miss the stuff you are takling about i will try to read it agen