What is the best reloading manual?

[cbass]

I'm getting ready to purchase my first reloading manual. I was wondering which one should be my first. Hornady? Speer? Lyman?

Which ONE would be the best for a new reloader?

Thanks in advance!

 

[jbntx]

I like Hornady.

 

[JohnM]

No such thing as any single one better than any other.
I have dozens.
The new Lyman #49 pretty much touches all the bases and not produced by a bullet or powder maker, has a wide variety of bullets and powders used in the load data.
Lyman manuals have long been highly regarded.

 

[Rclark]

The Hornady, Speer, Lee, and Lyman all have good reloading explanation sections. What bullets will you be using? What brand of reloading equipment? If mostly lead, then the Lyman is very good. If Hornady jacketed bullets then Hornady. Lee would be the last one I'd buy unless you are using Lee equipment.... As said above, there is no 'one' is the best. All are good references and should be on every reloader's shelf and used 'against' each other for load verification. I have several of different revisions.

 

[tomisu]

Lee front section on reloading is very detailed and informative, their data section lacks detail but is usable. Lyman is considered one of the best all around manuals, but cannot cover every possibility. Hornady and Speer have great detail for their bullets. I have as many as I can get my hands on and cross reference them all. In addition to those lised above I also have a Hodgdon (now can be accessed on-line), Sierra and Nosler.

I would recommend having the Lee and Lyman, plus any manual put out by the company that makes the bullet you are reloading. I personally will have no less than four and prefer at least six.

 

[44shootist]

Speer is my first chose, I also have the Lyman, I hear the Horandy one is good also but have never bought one of theirs because of the price.
Also if you don't want to buy a manual there is lots of free reloading data at Hodgdon powders web site, I use this site more than the manuals I think, they cover Hodgdon, IMR, and Winchester powders.

 

[mattsbox99]

I keep several on hand and reference multiple sources for load data. I prefer to use the bullet manufacturers data. If I'm using Sierra bullets, Sierra data, and so on.

 

[Donaldjr1969]

I use the Lyman 49 manual and the Hornady 7 manual that was given to me last year when he bought a #8 (thanks Jeff!). The Lyman manual gives the most diverse but many of their loads are listed from a universal receiver. I have no idea if they have a pressure vent to simulate the b/c gap or not. Also, many of the Lyman loads for 44Mag are shot from a short barrel on that universal receiver. So it may appear that their loads are a bit slower when they really may not be.

What I like about the Hornady manual is that they use an actual firearm to get their test results. Now we know that two guns of sequential serial numbers are not likely to give identical results by any means. But for 44Mag, their test gun was a 7½" Redhawk. That probably gives me a better approximation of the velocities from my 7½" Super Redhawk than a 4" to 5" universal receiver barrel.

I am waiting for Lyman to release their #50 manual.

 

[mattsbox99]

Sierra & Speer are the same way, real world firearms for testing. Nosler lists the barrel tested, and in practical lengths for the cartridge tested, but not a specific firearm.

 

[Dan in MI]

As you can tell, you should have an assortment and they all have their good and bad points. I personally thought the Hornady book had the best education section when I started, but that was close to 30 years ago and I have no idea how that section is written by anyone these days.

 

[contender]

I too fall in the camp of you NEED more than one. I'd start with Hornady, followed by Lyman, followed by several others.
CHEAP education is the manuels.

 

[H-marlin]

Of course you need more than one, eventually. But the question was which one to get first. Lyman is the answer to that. Good selection of load data, good explanation of reloading. After you get started you will add to your collection and get ones specific to what bullet/powder you are using.

 

[tookalisten]

I use Hornady and Lyman the most; but could not do with just one of either - buy both.

 

[tomisu]

Another plus for the Hornady is the seperate sections for loading Service Rifles - AR15, M14 and M1 Garand Service Rifles. Semi-auto gas operated rifles have different parameters than a bolt rifle to operate the gas system. Powder burn rate becomes the critical factor, having the proper burn rate to acheive the right chamber pressure and still have the port pressure be low enough not to damage the auto-loading system. This is also necessary for semi-auto gas operated sporting rifles.

 

[john guedry]

I have the Lyman and the Lee,rarely use the Lee.

 

[Gamer]

I have a Lee, Hornady, Speer and Lyman 49. IMO, the Lee offers more loads for various weight and types of bullets and powders and as mentioned it has a good reference section. However, the Hornday, Lyman and Speer have caliber specific information and history on the given rounds. I'd suggest having at least two. I bought the Lee and Hornady to begin with as I planned to use Hornday products to begin reloading.

 

[powder smoke]

I started with the Lyman seems to be the most comprehensive, lotta of info about powders and reloading procedure. I also have hornady, rcbs and many smaller manuals which are FREE form powder manufactures. Get lots good reading ps

 

[Bob R]

I probably look at my Hornady Manual first most of the time.
Second would be my Lyman Manuals, I have the Lyman 49 as well as the Lyman Pistol & Revolver Manual.
Next choice would be my Sierra Manual, that I have added a few sheets of my own to.
I have the newest Lee, but I do not reference it much at all.
I have the 3d and 5th Nosler Manuals that I do not use much either. Load date all seems to be on the very conservative side, and only covers bullets they sell.
I also have an old Accurate arms manual. Only covers Accurate powder.
I also have Ken Waters Pet Loads.

I also use the Quick Loads computer program to get an idea how things should work. You can change barrel lengths, and work with all sorts of bullet and powder combinations. I really like this resource. I do normally cross check what I come up with with a second source.

Then we have loading data available from web sites. I use them a great deal also.

Any data that looks on the warm side I like to cross check with a second source.
Then you have the other side of the coin, some loading data has been watered down way to much over the years The 38 Special comes to mind. Down loading the 38 Special is probably a result of all the OLD guns, and Airweights that could be damaged by a diet of warmer ammo.

OR no one has took the time to work up new loads in the last 25 years with current bullets and powders. The 264 Magnum comes to mind.

Lots of good information in this post. Looks like the majority would go with Hornady or Lyman for a First, then start adding more. I am in this same camp.

A thought: You have a computer or you would not be posting.
Make up a Data Sheet on your computer. Set it up as a fill in the blanks File Card for Powder, Charge Weight, Bullet Used, Primers, Seating Depth, Velocity, Test Gun Information, Notes: etc. Work out the card size to fit in a File Card Box. Print your cards on Card Stock, and you have a record of what you have loaded. Keep a record of success and failure.

Another option is to make up the Cards, and fill in the Blanks with a Pen and add them to your Card Box as you work up a new load.

Bob