Comments on Reloading Books

I have accumulated several reloading books over the years.

One of the things I find interesting on the Lee Reloading manual (I have Lee Reloading equipment and like it)
is that on some loads the starting charge weight and the max charge weight are the same.

As a general rule i'd like to see a fairly wide range for a given powder and bullet...i've also noticed that the Hornady manual seems to have "hotter" loads listed than so other books. I don't have a Speer manual so I can't comment on it...Have a old 46th edition Lyman that I still occassionally refer to as well as the ABC's of reloading.

BTW...I picked up a copy of Ken Waters Pet Loads the complete Volume at Vanns in Brandon last night $59 ouch.....

what a great book ....

Just wondering what the rest of you all use...I find the web sites helpful as well.

Sure wish you could pick up "pamphlets" from the manufacturers where u buy components...I miss the "old days"

I use the 48 and 49 edition of the Lyman book, and the second edition Lee book. Plus, I got a few of the caliber specific Loadbooks, from Loadbooks USA. Midway carries them.

So no one cares to comment on why a book will have the same start and max load and others may have a broader range.

My theory on this is that the Lee book tends to give you a "mid-range" load in this case...or maybe its a "best load"

Just something i've noticed and would like an explanation for...I do not consider myself to be expert by any means.

I have three
Speer - Never used the bullets but it is the best book as far as info about the gun/caliber and what to expect. As well as helpful info about reloading ingeneral.

Nosler - Pretty good. Tells which powder is the best/most accurate as well as what charge was the most accurate. Ok info about the caliber but some anecdotal stories about some deer shot by some one somewhere and it how perfect the bullet performed.

Barnes - Love the bullets, manual is pretty poor. Zero info on what to expect just some stories at the begining of each section talking about how great Barnes bullets are.

msredneck wrote:So no one cares to comment on why a book will have the same start and max load and others may have a broader range.

My theory on this is that the Lee book tends to give you a "mid-range" load in this case...or maybe its a "best load"......

Maybe they were short of space to print more loads....

Actually, this was the first time I heard of this. One book I have lists only 2 loads- "starting" and "max".

To be sure, their one listed load is not near a max. pressure load, as certainly some user's scales will read low, and he will wind up over-loading.

Well if you have a "start" and a "max" listed it kinda "implies" you can use what is in-between....

My observation was about the times when you see "start" and "max" listed the same....If my memory is correct....(I don't have the book at wrk)...

If you have the current Lee book go to the 45 acp loads...200 Gr LSWC and Green Dot and you will see what I mean.

msredneck wrote:
So no one cares to comment on why a book will have the same start and max load and others may have a broader range.

I don't expect we'll know why unless someone calls Lee and asks them to explain it.

go here for all the info your brain can hold on reloading.
http://www.reloadersnest.com/

Thanks for the recommendation....looks like a good site

You can also go to each powder manufactures web site and get loading data ... I sometimes find that useful when I start working up a new load.

[quote="msredneck"]I have accumulated several reloading books over the years.

One of the things I find interesting on the Lee Reloading manual (I have Lee Reloading equipment and like it)
is that on some loads the starting charge weight and the max charge weight are the same.

Msredneck, I also have Lee Loading equipment and like what I have from them. Since I got back into reloading from many years ago, I have purchased the classic cast turret press and recently the classic cast single stage press (that is a strong press). I purchased it for my rifle ammo, although the turret did a good job. I will use it mostly for hand gun ammo.
I noticed the same thing about the Lee manual. I believe that Lee simply copied data from other sources and perhaps did not want to post max loads without his own testing-liability issues. I know he lists 44 mag data and 296 as 24 grains, pretty much the standard load.
I also have Hornady, Lyman, and the annual hodg.loading magazine. I agree that the Reloaders nest is a good web site.

Lyman's 48th is my favorite. I also use the Hornady 7th edition and the Nosler 6th edition.