What is your favorite loading manual?

[Tycer]

What is your favorite new(er) loading manual?
Favorite older one?

Lyman cast bullet handbook.
Lyman 48
Speer 8
I use the manufacturers websites as a comparison but need to get a new one.

[FWiedner]

I'm a pretty new reloader and I have the following manuals on hand:

Hodgdon 2012
Hornady 8th
Lee 2nd
Lyman 49th
Speer 14

I compare manuals for Min and Max loads, and I continue to find information in each manual that none of the others has. I also have other older manuals that I sometimes look to for reference, e.g. Ackley, Speer 11, Load Books, etc., and I've occassionally subscribed to Ammoguide.com a couple of times. I've found StevesPages.com Page 8 to be helpful.

One might have obsolete calibers I'm interested in, one might have bullets I want to use, one might have the powder I'm looking for, one might have have pressure information, another might be kinda fancy and easier to read,

If I had to pick one for the most load information in one place I'd go to the Hodgdon's annual. For the most load information on a specific caliber I look at a Load Book. For 'safe' basic loads and pressure data go to Lee. Lyman is a nice format and well put together. Hornady and Speer are really all about their bullets. Lyman and Lee hawk their gear, Lee harder than Lyman. Some of the loads on Ammoguide are interesting and useful and others I wouldn't touch with a stick. Stevespages has help me get a start on what to me was hard to find information once or twice.

At this point in my reloading education, I don't really have a favorite.

They're all pretty darn interesting.

[yooper2]

My most used is the Lyman 48th edition.
My favorite is Pet Loads by Waters.
Just got the new Cast Bullet Handbook and that looks excellent as well.

Eric

[1894c]

Lyman 49... :)

[Griff]

Favorite (newer) one: Lyman 49th
Favorite (older) one: Lyman 43rd
All around most referenced: Hodgdon's On-Line Reloading Data

But, like others, Hodgdon, Nosler, Speer & Sierra manual in various vintages grace my loading book shelf. They're are joined 2 different Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook, 2 versions of the Shotshell manuals; and those are joined by a copy of the Black Powder Handbook!

[6pt-sika]

The newest from Nosler , Hornady and Barnes .

[Old Savage]

I use too many in cross comparison to have a favorite - depends on rifle and load. I try to find one that matches a rifle and note it, but some rifles are gone. Some are other folks rifles, not sure I recall now.

[Shasta]

#1 Lyman
#2 Ken Waters Pet Loads

SHASTA

[44-40 Willy]

Another vote for the Lyman, although I'm a bit behind with the 47th.

[Trailboss]

Ken Waters Pet Loads

[piller]

Speer 13 and the Hodgdon website.

[Mescalero]

Another Pet Loads guy.

[AJMD429]

For finding load data...

• 1. AmmoGuide.com- cheap 'membership' and the BEST search/sort 'what-if' functions I've seen.
  Loads are a mix of 'user' and 'factory' ones though, so it is my starting point but not bottom-line.
  
  2. LoadData.com - also inexpensive, and all the data is 'manufacturer' data, but the search functions aren't too hot. Good for confirmation of what I find 'users' suggesting elsewhere.

For reading about cartridges and techniques...

• 1. Lyman Reloading Manual #49 - current one has lots of good 'newer' cartridges, practical info on reloading
  
  2. Lee Reloading Guide #2 - lots of good stuff especially in their cast bullets and powder-density chapters

[L_Kilkenny]

I have 2 reloading manuals, a Lee 2nd and an older Nosler #3. The Nosler hardly gets touched but I do go to the Lee for loads AS LONG AS I'm not searching for Hodgdon/IMR loads or odd ball loads. Frankly, I use mostly Hodgdon powder so it's "Reloading Data Center" get used far more than the paper manuals and we haven't even touched on the non-published BlueDot and other powder loads that I like to try. In short, only about 5% of the time do I use a manual for loads and information, rest of the time I use the web.

(edited to add: 5% is probably a bit low. For rifle I use mostly Hodgdon/IMR but for handguns I a good bit of Alliant's BlueDot and Unique. I use the Lee 2nd more than I was giving it credit for. )

[damienph]

I have several (close to 20?) manuals. Some, I rarely use; the ones that I use most are Hodgdon's, Hornady, Nosler and Speer.
I have also tried several of the loads from Ken Water's Pet Loads. It is so much more than just a handloading manual, it is one of my favorite firearms books.
The PO Ackley set is well worth reading, as well.

[Sixgun]

If you read the newest edition of "Handloader", Terry Weiland (sic?) lists 10 books, including loading manuals, that every serious guncrank should have. He considers the Lyman #45 the most important. I have 9 of those books, including the 45th, which, by the way, is the most crumbled up, pages torn, notes all over it..............I agree, the 45th.------------------------------Sixgun

[Chuck 100 yd]

I have at least 15 loading manuals but the most used are...
Lyman Cast bullet manuals. The 49th. is my newest
Hodgdens Annual Manual and their online site.

[mikld]

Lyman 48th
Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 3rd, sometimes 4th.
Hornady's newest (only jacketed bullets I load)

As you can see 95% of my reloading is cast as I only use jacketed in my .223 and plated in my 9mm...

[BILLYDIXON]

My favorite manual was the Speer manual with the Stage Coach. Some of the loads were hotter than Elmer Keith's.
BD

[Chuck 100 yd]

"My favorite manual was the Speer manual with the Stage Coach"

I have that one stashed somewhere also.

Many of the powders have changed over the years and with different
makers. I try to stay with current data whenever possible.
Fun to compare with though.

[2ndovc]

I started with the Lyman #47

Like Sixgun says, notes, dirty pages and several loose pages. Had to put it in a binder.

Like some others I like to cross ref with Speer, Nosler and Hornady manuals.
Especially if it's a cartridge I've never loaded for.

I've noticed too that there a lot of differences between the two Lyman
manuals. There was a double round ball load for the .375 Win in my #47 that isn't in the #49.
Don't know why but that load is super fun to shoot.

jb

[Ysabel Kid]

Several of the Speer manuals, but anymore, I will often go to a powder company's website before starting a reloading session. You can find practically anything (information-wise) on the web!

[BILLYDIXON]

I forgot to mention the P.O. Ackley manual are interesting too. I'd be careful with the data but it is very interesting to read about all the wildcats.
BD

[damienph]

I forgot to mention the P.O. Ackley manual are interesting too. I'd be careful with the data but it is very interesting to read about all the wildcats.
BD

The PO Ackley books are very interesting. But you're right about verifying his load data. That is true of load data in any of the older manuals, including Ken Water's Pet Loads. I usually compare three or four manuals when loading for a new cartridge or weight of bullet.