Recommend best beginner manual

[snert]

All my manuals are single bullet company oriented. Looking for a recommendation of a manual that covers reloading basics in a readable manner, and also covers multiple bullet makes.

TIA

Snert

 

[CJ6]

Hogdon I guess, But I think Sierras manual does a REAL good job of explaining the basics even though it's limited to their bullets.

 

[Steve morgan]

All my manuals are single bullet company oriented. Looking for a recommendation of a manual that covers reloading basics in a readable manner, and also covers multiple bullet makes.

TIA

Snert

Lyman

 

[Cryhavoc]

A lot of valuable info is online these days, either from the manufacturers or forums such as this one. I would recommend more that one single manual as they tend to vary as far as load data and specs believe it or not......so don't go by what single manual may recommend....that's just my opinion.....

 

[searcher]

Some of the manuals (I won't mention names) still have people backing off their dies "about 1/2 of a turn", for example, in order to set the sizing die up for "correct" headspace. I personally think no bottle neck rifle cartridge should be set up without a headspace measuring device - such as the Hornady Lock N load or other. Some manuals explain the importance of certain reloading methods as to accuracy - and some don't. I'd get one that focuses on making accurate ammo if that is why you endeavor to reload. I think the Berger is a good example of one of the manuals that walks through - with good explanation of what matters. There are others - but that is the first to mind.

 

[Dan V.]

Lee. Modern Reloading

 

[Rsadams]

Seriously you need 2-3 reloading manuals.... Just pick up a few and start reading... Then a few decent you tube videos and it should help alot....

 

[cem]

There isn't one. The Lee mentioned above is likely the best of a bad lot but the book is somewhat dated and the data is very dated. I like to suggest starting with Phil Sharpe and Earl Naramore for how to and buying data books as appropriate. Loaddata with a combination of articles and data will do most of it but take more work to dig out and absorb the how to side.

 

[6bra1k]

tell us what your goals are. cause all the rest is just hot air.
read the front of the books where they talk about reloading,,,this is good general stuff. when we know your goals we can better direct you...it typically is not in a book..tho some parts of the sport have some good books.

 

[marchx]

One manual is not enough. I started with 5 of them and they did not answer all my questions. So, I bought Zediker's book which presents more sophisticated approach to reloading. However, books are not enough. It's good to watch some youtube videos on how top shooters set up their reloading process.

 

[DHall_37]

One manual certainly isn’t enough. I like the Lyman manuals. 51st edition is pretty sweet.

 

[Sandstorm]

Metallic cartridge Handloading is a good one as is
Handloading for Competition.

 

[Gary in MD]

I have manuals from Hodgdon and most of the bullet makers. I always like having the Lyman manual also. They test with different powders and different bullet makes. They don’t have a “dog in the fight” so they seem unbiased to me with the data.
Gary

 

[bobaloo22]

I read "The ABCs of Reloading" when I started earlier this year and learned a lot.

 

[joshb]

Are you going to start teaching?
Gotten so far off into neck turning tight neck customs you can’t remember the basics?
Thinking you need Prevagen?

 

[mmcu]

Check out Internet Archives Digital Library at https://archive.org

Here's a link to the Lyman 48th Edition Reloading Handbook found on their website. It will open as a PDF file that you can download if you like what you see. They may have other editions available; I didn't check.

https://ia800909.us.archive.org/11/items/LymanReloadingHandbook48thEdition2002Ocr/Lyman%20Reloading%20Handbook%20-%2048th%20Edition%20-%202002%20-%20ocr.pdf

 

[STOMP442]

I always felt the Sierra manual did the best job at providing general reloading procedures and how to. When I first started I bought that one, the Lyman one, and a Nosler one. The Sierra one was by far the superior product I felt. The Berger manual is a nice one as well.

 

[kenhwind]

I read "The ABCs of Reloading" when I started earlier this year and learned a lot.

The edition I have was edited by Dean Grennell.

For general overall reloading I feel that the Lyman manual is pretty good, but I also have Speer, Hornady, Barnes, and Sierra which are mostly proprietary in nature. I've read through them all. My Speer manual is a bit dated but there's some good information in it.

 

[hogpatrol]

Agree on multiple manuals but the Lyman is a good starter.

 

[K22]

Lyman Reloading Handbook.

However, if you can hook up with an experienced precision shooter / reloading, this will save you a lot of angst and money since most of us have already made a ton of mistakes and mis-purchases thus you can save yourself from the same.