I tend to use my very first manual. An older Speer book that came with my kit.

Question:
Which manual do you use the most or look at first when working up a new load or caliber?

Choices:
Speer
Hornady
Nosler
Barnes
Sierra
Lee
Pet Loads
Powder manufacturer's book
Other, please specify

 

You forgot Lyman in your list . I also use the Barnes manual as I use mostly TSX bullets however. The Lyman manual is the one that got me started in reloading and is very informative.

Ken....

It is rare (if ever) I only use a single manual, but since I could only choose 1, I voted for Nosler, which is normally consulted (at least for hunting cartridges).

Depending on the powder to be used, I also check websites/manuals from Hodgdon, Alliant and Vihtavuori.

Sierra and Hornady are other favourite manuals. I use the Barnes and Speer manuals a lot less frequently.

Finally, the Quickload program is sometimes consulted, but mostly for cartridges, for which I can't find entries in the resources mentioned above.

- mike

Lyman 48th. Covers many cartridges and even more bullets...

oops

Sorry Lyman fans.

I've got a half dozen manuals, the "go to's " being Sierra and Lyman.

i like the sierra but you also forgot hodgons which is excellent

All of mine.

Hodgdon on line manual is really good.

I make a habit of picking up a manufacturers booklet each year from each manufacturer. I go there and then cross check with an old lyman manual from 1980. I also have all but #4 on Barnes manuals to use if I'm shooting barnes products as the XLC and X bullets have different info than cup and cores.

www.Lapua.com as I load with vhitavori powders

hodgdon online has been very good in my rifles

Lee - Because of the sheer volume of loads offered

Hodgdon online for the powder choices.

Game Loads and Practical Ballistics for the American Hunter by Bob Hagel.

My best-performing loads are generally a grain or two less than Hagel's. In fact, if you compare Hagel's top loads against Ken Waters', my personal bests will likely be halfway between these two great reloaders.

quote:

Originally posted by 30378:
Hodgdon on line manual is really good.

Darn right and I also use their hard cover manual 26th edition.

I use all of the major bullet and powder manufactures manuals, starting with the one for the bullet I want to use 1st, usually Nosler. The powder companies books are handy and come in a close 2nd.

I use all of them - in order to gather up the info and decide where to start my new loads.
Ken

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
Lee - Because of the sheer volume of loads offered

.
X2, They publish almost everybody's data. roger

quote:

Originally posted by Ol` Joe:
I use all of the major bullet and powder manufactures manuals, starting with the one for the bullet I want to use 1st, usually Nosler. The powder companies books are handy and come in a close 2nd.

I use the same two, just in the reverse order.

Way I look at it is this: Nobody actually knows how any components will perform in YOUR specific rifle - which may have been made first thing Monday morning (Damned hangover!) or late Friday afgternoon (Gotta get to the lake and get the BBQ goin' !!).

But there is one company for double-danged sure which has to produce data which works for and is safe in both those Monday and Friday guns and all the ones in between. It is the guys who make the propellant.

I can do my own working up. And, I am confident the powder companies can tell me where to start working up from with the stuff THEY personally produce....

I use the Hornady manual the most, for pistol calibers. Thats the bullet I use naerly all the time. For rifle I use the Nosler manual for the hunting bullet of choice. I do compare to other manuals I have.

quote:

Originally posted by ghostrider272:
Lyman 48th. Covers many cartridges and even more bullets...

X-2

I started with the old Lyman manual and loved it because it showed factory duplication loads, accuracy loads and Maximum loads. You could pick your poison. Now I use the Nosler, Barnes, Swift books a lot because I use their bullets. I hunt with a lot of North Fork bullets and although they don't have a book, I can always interpolate with the manuals available in working up loads. I always want the book for the bullet I am shooting. In all honesty, I cannot wait to get the latest book out, just have to have it. Good shooting.

LYMAN

Like the Hornady for first reference, but also have a "one book/one caliber" as it lists all powder and ( common) bullet manufacturers for one cartridge. I check specific bullet manufacturers data when loading a specialty bullet like the GSC HV or Berger by email.

Von Gruff.

Any serious reloader needs the Quickload program sooner or later.

Hodgdon --

I have an old manual, No. 26 I think, circa 1995. Mostly because I use Hodgdon powder. But I check online for data. Hodgdon online is a good source.

Any manual only "gets you in the ballpark." Then you need to tweak.

There are lots of online resources for load data. I compare notes, data, different resources. And then I get on the bench with a chrono, targets, and a spotting scope.

I use Sierra a lot because it was my first, but also use Nosler and Speer as well as online from the powder/bullet makers as needed.

I use Sierra not just for the data, but also for specs and procedures, again because it was my first reloading manual. I have volume 1,2, and 3. I had bought #4 but it was so bulky that I gave it away. I have a pdf update on my computer from #4 for larger and newer 223 loads.

I upgraded my Nosler once as well and gave away the older version. It is hard to stay abreast of new powders.

I never try a load without going to the powder manufacturers manual. It's where I generally go first. The second reference I check is the bullet mfg's manual.

Since the early 70's I've bought and used.
1.Nosler vol. 1 and 5
2.Sierra vol. 1(?) pub1975. and Sierra Suite 5
3.Speer vol.13
4.Barnes, volumes 2,3,4
5.Hornaday vol II and newest
6. 4ea. One Book/ One Caliber
7. many dozens of articles from gun magazines, the net, etc. - most recent data from Walt Berger on the 6.5x47mm Lapua...

My objectives change, powder changes, etc. and it's fun keeping up....

I use loaddata.com because it has all of them!

405wcf

quote:

Originally posted by Duckear:
I tend to use my very first manual. An older Speer book that came with my kit.

Can anyone tell me why Nosler? I just do not understand. roger

Damn, I'd have to say whichever manual is in whichever bathroom at the time. I have a few older manuals and they all end up in the bathroom library at some point or another. Now I just leave them there.

I have no favorite...I'd love to say I did, but it's well, do I like blondes or brunettes today?

Dear Duckear:

I went even further, and compiled most of them into a reference manual of approximately 140 pages, using WordPerfect and a three ring binder. It took quite a while, but I was spending too much time leafing through each individual manual, comparing data.

Now its really fast.

Can't hand my manual out though, because of copyright infringement.

Sincerely,

Chris Bemis

Lyman

Load nosler bullets, nosler manual,
Barnes bullets, barnes manual
Sierra bullets, sierra manual
Hornady bullets, hornady manual
Speer bullets, speer manual,
lead, lyman
Berger, contact berger, start low and work up.
GWB

A couple of years ago I bought the QuickLoad program. It contains a vast amount of information and graphic representations. I have been very pleased with the stated data and results usually close to what the program predicted (FPS). Best thing is that the program can be updated. It isn't cheap, but few things that are worth the price are!

I'm not surprised but although cook book info is usefull, my aquired data to me is far more meaningful.
A number of times when I've supplied my entire data for a cartridge to some folks they say " I really should start keeping data like you". Doing like I do isn't important but doing it in some historical record that can be easily retrived and studied is prudent, especially if you're going to be in this game for any length of time. roger