what is your favorite loading manual and why.

[rmatchell]

[yancey]

I have several and use them all but Lyman is my favorite .

[RED333]

I am gona post this, for Casters by Casters
http://sourceforge.net/projects/relo...r%20-%20Final/
and you can add you own load date.

[fouronesix]

Lyman 48th is used the most- the 49th was almost a waste of money. I even occasionally use some of the very old Lyman-Ideal manuals. I look at as many different sources as possible when first starting a load work-up. You name it, I pretty much have it on manuals. Grab them from used book sources every chance I get. Trusted sources like MLV's books are also very handy. Quite often also use Barnes and Hodgdon data off the net.

I'm very leery of anonymous internet "bubba" sources and I will not use Ackley data.

[salpal48]

I have always been a Lyman man. Since they do not make Bullets They seem to have no axe to grind. Besides Those my main go to books are Parker O Ackley. He gave me an personal autograph set when I was younger (1969)

[country gent]

I like the one caliber books then lyman, sierra, Hornady, Hodgdons, and the powder manufacturers pamplets. My note books get used the most as they have the actual loads that I settled on for a given rifle. The One Calibers are nice as the have data from all sources in one book.

[goste]

Before I actually started to reload, I was given a Speer #9 and a #10, by an elderly gent, who lived up the road a ways.

I read them both cover to cover....I Got a # 11 with my first RCBS kit, and now have #8-#14...Have a few others but always liked the Speer..My Fav. is probably the #11

[leftiye]

Speer #8

[Fyodor]

The best book I found on reloading is a German one: "Handbuch für den Wiederlader" (Handbook for the reloader) by K.D. Meyer. Unfortunately the latest edition is from sometime in the 80s, but some of the tools and companies described are still there, and all of the methods and precautions are still valid. The writing is nice to read, and presents the information in an entertaining way. It's the only handloaders book I read cover to cover, because it's just not so dry and boring as most others are.

[Artful]

not for the Data but for the knowledge
For data I do favor

But I also like to keep an eye on all the other books I have.
Lyman, RCBS, Nosler, Ackley's, etc.

[Wayne Smith]

I'm very leery of anonymous internet "bubba" sources and I will not use Ackley data.

Until you find a wildcat that only he has data for! Then you use it very carefully, backing off to the lowest load and that cautiously.

[John Guedry]

I like Lyman.

[Mike in TX]

I prefer the 47th Lyman and the older Hodgdon and Speer #6. They have the calibers that I shoot. I do have another 6 newer additional ones that I check against. I did like the freebies that the powder companies used to put out but I guess that is done away with. I do use the powder companies internet info.

[lmcollins]

My first manual was a Speer No 5. I still look at it, and have a good size collection of manuals. I still like the Speer the best.


Speer is the only manuel that gives you ALL of the data. It list the pressure factor (as in cup, and or psi) so that you know what your working with. If your loading a 257 Bob in a Model 700 you know if the info is conservative. This info is available from SAAMI, but that is just another step, and was nearly impossible until late years and web sites.

[Lloyd Smale]

I use them all but hornady seems to be the most current with new rounds listed.

[btroj]

I like the one that has the info I need. Some of the old ones don't have the newer powders, the new ones often forget the old powders.

I tend towards a couple late 80s era Lyman manuals but others get plenty of use also.

In reality I am as likely to go directly to the powder companies web site for starting info as anything.

[robg]

ive got lyman.speer etc but i like the lee book best.

[starmac]

I guess I like manuals period, cuz I have enough of them. I probably look at the various lymans more than anything else, but for pure entertainment, it is hard to beat the lee. lol

[rmatchell]

I guess I like manuals period, cuz I have enough of them. I probably look at the various lymans more than anything else, but for pure entertainment, it is hard to beat the lee. lol

Im need to see a lee manual I missed the. entertainment in the few minutes that I had one. I had a first edition lee for about an hour but it was "magnetized"

[pretzelxx]

My favorite is the Lyman hand loading 2002. I have it on PDF so when I'm at the store I can remember the types of powder i wanted (I can add notes and highlight things). I haven't gotten around to buying the hard copy yet, but soon enough I will, and hand wrote my typed notes into that as well.

I just find having all my PDFs on my phone can be a game changer.