I am wanting to get into reloading, probably after I graduate. But I was thinking of getting a manual now, so I can read it and become familiar with the procedure/equipment/supplies/recipes etc before I even begin. I am looking for something with history/background, alot of information and preferably an easy read. Something with nice color photos would be good too, B&W is acceptable. This would just be to get me started, I will more than likely get a few other manuals when I start to reload. Right now I would definitely load for .243win .270win, maybe a few handgun rounds too .40S&W, .357sig, .45acp probably, .38spcl/.357mag, not so much 9mm though.
If y'all have any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate them. Thanks.
I'd recommend Lyman first. The current #48 covers all the cartridges you mention and many more. It is in B&W and the ballistics chapter is seriously dumbed down from the two previous editions. These are my only real criticisms. One major advantage Lyman's has is that it uses bullets and powders from a number of manufacturers, including Barnes, and their bullets need different data.
Speer and Hornady run a close 2nd, although the Hornady manual is expensive. I don't have the latest editions. The powder company manuals are free, although they don't have much on reloading technique. You'll find that data differs a bit between manuals, and a little experience will show you which one matches your gun. I should note that .357 Magnum data varies a lot, and getting a match may require lots of manuals.
Yea its been my experience, so far, that a good number of companies that manufacture reloading equipment like to state "refer to your speer manual...." a lot. Don't know if thats an arrangement or just a general statement because the Speer manual covers it all -- in any case, it seems to be a good manual.
If you're going to be loading cast bullets in those calibers, I'd recommend the latest Lyman Cast Handbook -- Lyman are the cast-bullet kings. There's a great historical forward, too. It's B&W.
A fantastic book, if you're interested in firearm ballistics, is "understanding firearm ballistics" (ISBN: 0964559846 ). It lets you get as mathematicaly complex, or as "general concept" simple as you want -- easy read.
Cartridges of the World is an awesome book too. Not a ton on reloading, but you can learn about virtually every cartridge that ever was -- and for a good deal of cartridges, they give some load data.
Lyman, Hornady, Speer and Nosler - in that order, rate placement on my reloading shelf. Got quite a few of the others, also. These will certainly give you all the necessary info on getting started.
There's several you might want to look at if your just starting out.
The Hndook for shooters and reloaders vols 1 and 2 available from Brownells item # 707-100-012 at $38.90 for both volumes.
This is written by PO Ackly and says articles by Ackly and others on time of flight, sectional density, kill power and more. Photos and loading data on over 330 wildcat and standard cartridges. Pretty good reading.
There are several others listed that are pretty good such as "Any shot you want", The A-square handloading & Rifle manual. Handloading for competition and Pet loads and several others. Midway, Midsouth and Cabales all have an excellent book selection and also offer several reloading instructional DVD's that are easy to view and give you a hands on feeling you can't get from a book.
You can get the Sierra manual and balistic program on disc and it is a fine program to find out where a bullet hits at any distance and allows you to play with your loads and optimize them. With the addition of a chonograph it makes a tool invaluable to the reloader.
Anyway these are on page 224 of Brownells catalog. you should get one of these catalogs just for the pleasure of looking at so much gun related stuff. They are $5.00 or free with any order over $5.00 if you ask for one. They are also much better than Brownells website which is kind of hard to get around in.
Glad to see someone looking at getting into reloading. It won't save you any money, but it will let you shoot a lot more for the same money. Look at starting out with one of Lee's Anniversery kits and a set of dies for your calibers. I got a set a few years ago when I was working away from home and couldn't get to my expensive equipment. Now most of my expensive equipment is gone. If you really want to know how good this stuff is as ranchdog.
These are my 11 and 12 year old grandbabies making 41 and 44 magnum bullets. We try to put a couple of hundred of our home cast thru them a month. Wouldn't want to be a rattlesnake around either one of these girls.
I have the big Brownell's catalog as well as MidwayUSA catalog. The brownell's might be 2004 but it still works, MidwayUSA is 2005. I wish the Tech library would stock reloading manuals, I wonder if I can get them thru interlibrary loan, that would be a hoot.
I just ordered a free Hogdon manual, can't go wrong with free, but I may be leaning towards the Lyman #48 since it is cheaper. The Handbook by Ackley looks pretty good too for what I am looking for I think, my Bday is coming up next month maybe I'll ask for it.
I bought a Nosler Manual when I started, I planned on loading mostly Nosler's. Hornady seems to have a good thing going, 2 volumes, 1 reloding data, the other is shooting info such as ballistic data, drift charts, etc. There are also several good free ballistics calculators, download one, they are good for comparing load data, so you can see what that extra 50 fps will do for you down range
the Whelen book is small but has very descriptive info on setting dies.
Sharpes book covers all aspects and has a lot of history. Harvey Donaldson claimed Sharpe came down and picked over his files for a few days and a lot of the sibgle shot information was his. The basics dont change despite the age of the book. Only the tools have become more plentiful and cheaper!
I agree with these folks and have a whole shelf of reloading manuals. These are from Hornady, Lyman, Speer and Sierra and includes different volumes. You will probably note that the manuals often have different starting and maximum loads. That is to be expected and considered since they are often using different components. All the best...
Gil
Flea markets and yard sales! Hit these on a regular basis and pick up as many manuals as you can find, especially the older ones. When I search for a new load, I consult every manual I can find and compare all the data before doing anything. First and foremost, this helps eliminate a possible danger from a typo error (very rare but they do exist) and also gives you a much better idea of where you stand.
Another thing is, you can sometimes find powder for free or super cheap at the above sales as well. I only take factory sealed containers so as to not get contaminated powder which is also un-safe. Recently I scored two cans of Alcan AL-5. Only book that had a load listed for this powder was an old Sierra book from the 60's. While some will balk at the idea of using old powder, as long as it does not show signs of contamination or degredation, there is no problems using it. Some of the same people who have scolded me for using old powder don't seem to have any problem shoving 7.62x54R and 8x57 ammo made during or before WWII into thier 1930's rifles and blowing several hundred rounds of this 60+ year old powder & bullets down range.
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