I was wondering which is the best of the reloading manuals from the big companies? Barnes, Nosler, Speer, Lee etc. Is one better than another for different applications? Like a Barnes manual good for big game loads and the Sierra for accurate loads?
Posts: 2286 | Location: Aussie in Italy | Registered: 20 March 2002
Find a manual offering loads with several brands of powders. That provides you with a base reference when loading. You get a perspective about the characteristics of the caliber you're loading and some insights into the characteristics of some different brands of powder.
There's a heap of stuff available online these days. If you've picked a specific bullet or powder, you can find data for that particular combination -- usually -- online for free.
I bought a data manual back in 1992. I don't think I'd buy one now given the online resources.
Bite the bullet and buy them all, sooner or later your'e going to need to look up a load that isn't in the book you have. But if you have them all thats not a problem. I like not having problems.
I've got a slightly different approach. I have several reloading manuals, Nosler, Speer, Sierra and Lyman, plus a few freebies. When I load I typically consult several of them for the cartridge I'm loading, and unless I know otherwise, generally start with something of an average of the manuals examined. All of these manuals I've listed are good. I would not feel unduly stressed if I had to pick just one of the litter.
I am far more skeptical of the freeby powder company loading manuals. But that's JMHO.
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Posts: 19677 | Location: New Mexico | Registered: 23 May 2002
EXPRESS, None of the manuals are perfect. Just about every reloader I know has several. GENGHIS seems to do the same thing I do. Look to see what loads are suggested by several. Another thing I suggest you look at, is the firearm in which the loads were developed. If a manual work up loads in a rifle with a 22" barrel, faster burn rate powders may indicate higher velocities. If you use this info to fire in a rifle with a 26" barrel, the suggeted loads may actually be dangerous and the manual loads may be closer to a fairy tale than anything else. The opposite is also true. if a manual writter used a 26" barrel and your using a 22" barrel, those fine velocities from the very slow burnrate powders will only be a dream. The manuals tell us a great deal. They also DON'T tell us a great deal. Good luck.
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