If you find load data for a certain bullet but it lists case type,trim to length, bullet type and weight, powder type and charge,large rifle primer, but omitts primer manufacturer and type and COAL, do you A:scrap that data and try find complete data
B:Load it useing primers you have on hand and use coal from other known data from bullet manufacturer your useing
c:Pick a bullet you can find complete data for useing a different load

This is a scenario i ran into trying to use up some bullets i have on hand. It was in the Hodgdon powder section in loadbooks USA from 1994.

The difference in the rifles that the load is fired in makes much more difference than the brand/type of primer. Attempting to duplicate the performance of a load listed in any manual simply by duplicating the components used is a fool's errand.

In general, any conventional cup-and-core bullet of the same weight may be substituted (using a load less than "maximum") for similar bullets. And the difference in one brand of commercial brass and another while minimal, is not necessarily predictable. The variation of one lot of the same powder from another lot can cause as much as a 3% variation in velocity and perhaps double that variation in pressure.

Bottom line: Data found in loading manuals is only a guideline that must be adjusted for the individual rifle and components you will be using. It is not Gospel. Read the section in your manual(s) on "working up loads" and abide by it.

If the loading data specifies "large rifle" primer, it can be assumed to mean any ones large rifle primer.

This only applies to rifle loads and does not apply to shotshells.....primers for shot shells should match the recipe exactly unless you know for a fact that substitutions can be made,.

Thanks guys, That was kind of what i was trying to get at but i didn't word it very well, it was more of a poll. There is alot of load data that is more for the advanced reloader than a novice. I've been reloading for a while but am far from knowing it all but if you were new you would have no idea where to start. If they are going to omitt part of the data, Why even print it?

Most reloaders substitute one or more of the components in the various receipes. This is another reason to start low and work up.