Which Reloading Manual

[phil384]

I'm probably going to get either the Lee or the Lyman reloading manual.

Which is best or is 6 of 1, half dozen of the other?

I figured I'd go for one which isn't from a bullet/powder manufacturer.

Ta

[bullbarrel]

ABC of reloading.

Most excellent book.

And then get the loadall books for your calibre as it has loads from all the powder and bullet manufacturers.

[phil384]

Ta, I shall have a looksee.

[loop line]

I have a lee and Sierra. Lee has more load data. Open source internet is good as well. Some good videos on YouTube and other sites for load information/ development

[foxshooter]

Buy the manual for the bullet manufacturer you are using!

That said I've always found the Nosler manual to be good as it gives the most accurate powder and most accurate load found data which can be useful as a starting point

Mark

[harry mac]

Start with a manual that has a good, comprehensive "how to" section. Lyman, Sierra, Speer and Vhit all fit that bill, but the Vhit manual only has data for their powders.
Just about everything you will read in "how to" books like "ABC of Reloading" and the Lee "Modern Reloading" will be covered in these manuals, with the added advantage that you dont then "have to" buy an additional book if you start of with a manual as opposed to a how to book.
Manuals by bullet manufacturers are more flexible because they cover a range of powders by different manufacturers, and you'll find that starting loads for one 150grn bullet are interchangeable to another 150grn bullet. However, loads are not interchangeable between cup and core type bullets and the lead free, all copper types.
I'm glad to see at least one potential reloader asking about getting a manual, rather than jumping straight in and asking "who has a load for.....?"
Manuals are published sources and are 99.99999% guaranteed to be correct and safe. Some bloke on the interweb who calls bullets "heads" or refers to primers as "caps" wouldn't fill me with confidence.

[223AI]

Buy the manual for the bullet manufacturer you are using!

That said I've always found the Nosler manual to be good as it gives the most accurate powder and most accurate load found data which can be useful as a starting point

Mark

What happens if you want to use bullets from more than 1 manufacturer?

I bought the Lyman Manual and The ABC's of reloading and read them both thoroughly, I now use load data from the powder or bullet manufacturers that have data available on line, it is more up to date; for example the max load 140 gr bullet / N160 load data has been revised by Viht and Nosler and is 3 gr - 7.5% - LOWER than that given in my Lyman manual.

Alliant, Ramshot, Nosler, Hodgdon all give load data on line I'm sure there are others.

But don't be tempted to skip straight to website without a book, the books will explain all of the safety procedures and these really are important, especially if you like your face!