Manual Advice

[gunflint]

If you had to chose from the following list, which reloading manual would you pick?

1. Speer # 13
2. Speer #14
3. Sierra 5th edition
5. Hogdon 2007

[Einthoven's Triangle]

First choice is not on there, Lyman's 48th.
Next choice is Sierra!
Next choice is not on there, Hornady's newest one!

[Konaseven]

First choice is not on there, Lyman's 48th.
Next choice is Sierra!
Next choice is not on there, Hornady's newest one!

+1 on Lyman's 48th. The first third of the manual (Articles on reloading) would be worth the price by itself.
Sorry, that doesn't help you pick from your list does it?!

[gunflint]

These are the options from my supplier.

[Einthoven's Triangle]

The Lyman 48 is great manual because it has loading data for a lot of lead bullets that you would not find else where. Your supplier? well find a copy from some place else. It belongs in a every reloaders library. I have to suggest for the noob, The ABC's of Reloading as great book to have at your side.

The problem with reloading manuals especially with rifle data is that some use brass that is not easy to find, ie Speer uses a lot of IMI brass. This not available or hard to find, so that makes the data not as easy to use. Sierra uses a lot of Federal brass in their data work ups. Hornady well they have some with their brass and some in other brands....
Having more then one manual is great way to cross reference data. I would snag all the free manuals you can get, too. Hodgdon has a nice web site for the powders from Win, IMR, and Hodgdon. Ramshot has newer data on their web site which can be downloaded in PDF form, and there is stuff on VV in PDF form, and AA is there too.

These are the options from my supplier.

[cobb]

From your list, the Speer.

If any, I prefer the Hornady.

[JFettig]

I just picked up the lyman 48th from cabellas. I do like all the different loads it shows. The 20y/o hornady manual I borrowed has loads for different speeds(measured from a diff gun than I shoot but it gives me an idea) which I like to see.



Jon

[ttousi]

Just picked up Speer # 13...................time will tell

[Pinnacle]

I just picked up the lyman 48th from cabellas. I do like all the different loads it shows. The 20y/o hornady manual I borrowed has loads for different speeds(measured from a diff gun than I shoot but it gives me an idea) which I like to see.



Jon

I have found that the listed speeds and reality are somewhat different.

I use the books provided by the powder manufacturers - then I cross reference that with other materials - come to a conensus - and reload. I gather data from multiple sources and sort of average it out.

[JFettig]

I just picked up the lyman 48th from cabellas. I do like all the different loads it shows. The 20y/o hornady manual I borrowed has loads for different speeds(measured from a diff gun than I shoot but it gives me an idea) which I like to see.



Jon

I have found that the listed speeds and reality are somewhat different.

I use the books provided by the powder manufacturers - then I cross reference that with other materials - come to a conensus - and reload. I gather data from multiple sources and sort of average it out.

I know what comes out are not quite the same, but it gives me an idea of what is going on there, it seems that I add 1gr for every 100fps(according to the manual) from 2700 to 3100 for my 55gr from the gun they tested it on. I bet the 1gr increase increases my speed by 100fps or close to it through my AR.


Jon

[EJSANDSTROM]

Modern Reloading is #1 in my house. I avoid any bullet/powder mfg books unless I am using their products. No speer bullets = no speer manual.

[cobb]

Another manual to consider is a Lee. A lot of information that is not steered towards one brand of bullet or powder, plus they are not very expensive.

[Seismic Sam]

Nosler #5 is my favorite, for the following reasons:

Very comprehensive, like the new Hornady and Sierra #5, BUT the max loads are hotter than either of the other two. My benchmark for this is the .338 Ultramag (although you can see it in most other calibers), and the Nosler #5 loads are faster and also seem to align with what you actually see when you're loading your own rounds, and what other people report as max loads. Hornady has been "lawyered up" since their 2nd Edition, and some of the Sierra data appears watered down too.

If you do get the Sierra #5, get it on the CD, and save a tree. Their Infinity Suite 5 is worth the price of the whole manual all by itself, and you can compare trajectories, velocities, and everything else with practically any bullet on the market.