Just curious ... what is the new edition of "pet loads" worth?

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Still Learnin' as I go!

NRA Life Member

I don’t know what the new edition sells for. They are readily available.
What I am curious about is how heavy the new edition is. I have the two volume set with the supplements. The supplements make for a large binder.
My supplements binder is a bit large for comfort in the easy chair!

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slim

My volume of Pet Loads is referred to often... as much for reloading logic and cartridge lore as for specific load advice.

If you want to be a serious student of reloading this book is important. If you just want to load for your gun, you can probably do without it.

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Paul

Even when the loads in Pet Loads are getting obsolete because of changes in the available components, the book is still interesting to read because it deals with so many classic firearms and cartridges. And nobody else has much to say about some of them, say, the .25 Remington, or "cartridge adapters for deer rifles." And just suppose you inherit a cherry .222 Magnum?

I knew Ken a little and hunted with him once. He wasn't a professional writer, but like many people in rural upstate New York (and a lot of places I've lived), he made his living with a medley of jobs, including being a very serious reserve LEO. Reserve volunteers are kinda a joke in many more populated areas, but up in the North Woods, whatever state that may be, they are simply the guy or gal who is likely to save YOUR life.

Ken shot guns that were available to ordinary people; he was never prosperous enough or popular enough to just get any gun he wanted, either with his own funds or from a manufacturer as many gun writers do now. So what he was writing about was closer to the experience of most of us than many professional writers. And one of the previous posters was right; he wasn't a target shooter. But he was a great shooter, a serious experimenter with a serious eye to safety, and a great shot on game.

His writings are simply classic and classically simple. I re-read them--and miss him--often.

I agree, Pet Loads is easy to read. A great way to spend and afternoon or evening is reading about a cartridge, bullet powder or firearm you don’t have but think you might enjoy.
Ken Waters writing style is a tone that would fit into the conversation in the shooting shack.
What I would like to know is a bit more about his time as a Warrant Officer in the Army Mine Planting Service. This is where the Warrant Officer started.
Or about his time as a Second Mate in the Merchant Marine.
Kens working career appears varied and interesting.
I enjoyed his fiction book “Sea Officer” and wish he could have finished the other two in the proposed trilogy.

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slim

Hi guys, I was going through some books and I have and I have a copy ill sell if anyone wants it. It is the Ken Waters Pet Loads second edition, published in 1980. It is the maroon 3 ring binder in great condtion. Other than some dust on the exterior it looks like it has hardly ever been opened. Came from a box of books I got from my uncle.

Just thought I would offer. Anyone interested let me know or shoot me a pm.

Josh

A load he tested for an ancient article on the 257 Weatherby turned out to be the dope for my rifle, so don't discount the value of older information.

The .30-06 load information is still quite useful today, as are the powders used in alot of those published loads. My '50 vintage FN Mauser in .30-06 and it's 24" barrel is still in love with 57g of IMR4350 under a 165gr SBT from Ken's article. -N2L

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We sleep peaceably in our beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on our behalf. -George Orwell

I know this thread is a little old, I just wanted to add, this book is where I learned to pressure test my loads, and working up loads, this information is at least as important as the load data that is in it, which is numerus.
Terry

I have to agree with you. Every time I have no clue what round to shoot for the first time in a gun I have never shot before, I pull out Pet Loads. My father taught me how to use the book when I was 9-10 years old back in the 80's. I will show my daughter Pet Loads when I teach her to reload in a few years. No reloaders gun smith box should be with out it. I am shocked when I meet reloaders who do not own one or have never heard of such a valuable tool.