I just bought Speer's #13 manual, thinking that it would prove to be a good addition to my current manuals. I already have #12, which is 10 years old I think. ALL THE DATA IS THE SAME! The only differnces I found was the 260 data, 350 gr. 416 Rem Mag load, A few new powders, and cowboy action crap. All the cartridge write-ups are copied word for word. Aside from some new pics of their chubby workers and their little deer, everything is the same.

What a rip off!

Thanks for the review. I'll just keep my old #12!

I do like the Speer manual for their velocities, which are obtained from factory barrels of commonly used lengths. They also seem to list more powder options, and include charges for reduced loads, other pluses.

I've noted also that the Speer max charges are often higher than other manuals.

Dan

The Speer load books are using more Ouja board than science:

"Speer 3" 1959 44mag 240 gr JSPooooooo23.0 gr 2400 1564 fps
"Speer 6" 1964 44mag 240 gr JSPooooooo23.0 gr 2400 1564 fps
"Speer 7" 1966 44mag 240 gr JSPooooooo23.0 gr 2400 1564 fps
"Speer 8" 1970 44mag 240 gr JSPooooooo24.0 gr 2400 1574 fps
"Speer 9" 1974 44mag 240 gr JSPoooooo19.5 gr 2400 1344 fps
"Speer 10" 1979 44mag 240 gr JSP&MSP 22.2 gr 2400 1392 fps.
"Speer 11" 1987 44mag 240 gr JSP&MSP 22.2 gr 2400 1452 fps
"Speer 12" 1994 44mag 240 gr JSP&MSP 17.7 gr 2400 1271 fps
"Speer 13" 1998 44mag 240 gr JSP&MSP 21.0 gr 2400 1434 fps

There are several theories as to why the roller coaster ride of load ranges:

1) They got newer test equipment that was more sensitive.
2) Vernon Speer died in 1978. He said most modern rifles could take more than the brass.
3) Dave Andrews, who wrote the manuals, retired July 1, 1987.
4) Omark bought Speer in 1975 and Blount bought Omark n 1985.

It is probably all of the above, but I think that by the time Speer sold the CCI ammo biz that Vernon started in a chicken coop, they had pressure test equipment. The Blount lawyers coming and Dave Andrews leaving correspond time wise to the Wimpification.