Which manual

[bballard]

This.

 

[Gryphon]

Clem the Sierra Manual 6th edition is very good on the IMR Powders, I had to order it to get good 6mm Creedmoor data, so some newer cartridges are in there. Its about $50 but worth it to have the info at your fingertips. While other folks offer great suggestions and I do take loads off the internet too, there is nothing like having a few hard copies of manuals. The latest Sierra manual (6th edition) also correlates well to the Sierra 4th edition (which is about 20 years older) for older cartridges and IMR powder.

 

[Cowboy_Crow]

I like to be able to compare things at my fingertips

I use the Lyman 51 now but these guys are not wrong. The internet is my go to for everything and it'll have the newest info that you may not find in any of the published hand loader books. Seems to me these new powders and cartridges are popping out every three to four years and the books can't keep up so the internet is just the ticket. Times are changing so stock up on ink cartridges and buy a good printer.

 

[lancetkenyon]

I like to be able to compare things at my fingertips

I used to buy all the manuals.
I don't anymore, except the Hodgdon manual.
I use the internet weekly for loads now.
Way more available information for free, you can still compare bullets, powders, etc.

 

[Chranah]

I only own the Hornady (#10) and Speer (#15) Manuals, but I find myself using Hodgdon's online manual the most. My FiL has the Lee Manual and I often have him cross reference for me.

 

[Cowboy_Crow]

To be honest if you only load for yourself and not all your buddies and neighbors then depending on how many different calibers you're loading for you could build a manual very quick from using the internet. I do understand if you load for several people why you would want all the books. Internet is king these days though. Unfortunately

 

[hesse]

I am a person that has a hell of a time comparing things on a screen so I print them off use the 3 hole punch and put them in a binder

 

[med358-boise]

I use this link a lot. The mfg's data requires no account

Shooter's Reference Cartridges

shootersreference.com

 

[DLJ6]

I put together a ring binder with pockets for each cartridge. Download data from various sources. Keep targets in the pockets

 

[pavementends]

I have loading manuals dating back to the 60's and used to look forward to whenever a new one came out. Loved the comments by writers of the time. By far one of the most useful additions to my reloading room was a computer. The powder companies on line manuals allow checking on powders you may not normally use or buy. Hodgdon's online manual is excellent, updated frequently and even contains sub sonic loads. Large monitors are cheap and work with a laptop or in my case a Raspberry PI, a small single chip computer. The large monitor is a delight for those of us in the third trimester of life.

 

[ducky]

I also like the internet, I like going to the powder manufacture for data. I also like using bullet manufactures data and Nosler and Barnes provide enough free that keeps me happy. I did pay for Hornady's app subscription on my phone, and I have an annual subscription to loaddata.com. I only keep the load data subscription because it lets me look at obsolete data and a lot of wild cat information.

For booksI have a copy of Ken Waters pet loads, and a couple of John Barness offerings. I like Lee and Lyman books I have the 2nd edition and #47 respectively. They have good load data when I play with cast boolits. I tried my hand at casting a few years ago, it just took up more time I could be shooting. That said the education was very valuable, and sometimes you find a deal on lead cast boolits. When you have old rifles in .30-30, .30-40, .303 Brit, and .45-70 and a few wheelguns I'm not adverse to slinging the cast lead.

 

[LRSNM]

They are only for one caliber but compile all the data right out of all the powder and bullet manufacturers' reloading manuals and from online. They have dedicated spaces to add your own notes.

 

[FEENIX]

I used to buy all the manuals.
I don't anymore, except the Hodgdon manual.
I use the internet weekly for loads now.
Way more available information for free, you can still compare bullets, powders, etc.

I, too, am leaning this way.

 

[osok-1k]

I still have a Speer and Lyman manual I bought in the '70's. Today I use the internet to compare various resources for a given cartridge, print what I want and put them in a cartridge / rifle specific folder. I use that as a general reference as I tweak everything from powder type, charge, primer, bullet and seating depth and case manufacturer. This allows quick reference when I load for specific cartridge for a specific rifle, I still have the tactile component of have something in my hand, don't have to rely on an internet connection and I'm not spending money on a large number of cartridges that I don't shoot and have no interest in. With that said, a good manual would be nice to compare future cartridge decisions i. e. I want to build a 7mm rifle and I'm vacillating between 280 AI and 7mm PRC with 160 class bullets. I have considered the 7mm SAW which sends this class of bullet at the velocity range I want (2900ish). I have a fast twist barrel, short and long action donors and good stocks for each. I would have to buy a magnum bolt so I'm leaning more toward the 280 or SAW. Sorry, I got off track.