reloading manuals

[Herzo]

QuickLoad is probably the most comprehensive compendium for the serious reloader. I have found that the predicted velocities are very close as long as the parameters (case volume, barrel length, seating depth) are entered correctly.

 

[Clark]

I started reloading in 1999 with a Rockchuck reloading kit. That included "Speer 12".
I was deeply disappointed that the listed loads were made up with no consistency with respect to pressure.
I collected over 60 load books, most available powders, and many firearms for destructive testing.
By 2005 I was reloading for over 60 different cartridges, and never used a load book. I was using Quickload and my experiments. In retrospect, it seems that the Sierra loads were based on a reality similar to mine. I wrote a fictional piece, "How to write a mediocre load book" 17 years ago

"How to write a mediocre load book" second revision

 

[Timberyote]

I like the Sierra manual, also the Berger.

I have the Hornady, Nosler, Speer, Lyman manuals.

The Lee manual I have (1st Ed) is a waste of money, just a compilation of other manuals data.

 

[Webster]

I would suggest that you use the manual that manufacturers your bullets. Only they know the friction coefficient (bearing surface and jacket thickness) of your bullet

I don't care who makes the powder or bullets. No manual knows your barrel dimensions, chamber dimensions ambient temperature or freebore. Every guide is just a guide not absolute accurate numbers. If you don't know the signs of pressure and work up in load you shouldn't be reloading. I have 4 manuals that are at leeast 10 years old. The only gripe I have about the Sierra manual is that is a loose leaf binder. After several years of paging thru it the pages fall out. This post started in 2015!!!

 

[Timberyote]

The ring binder page holes are an easy fix.

Amazon.com : Hole Punch Reinforcements

Also from Staples etc.

 

[Mr. Zorg]

Here's a set of links to info someone named Marvin Stuart put on the web I don't know how long ago. No cost to browse through these and see if there's anything you like. It's not the latest but has a variety of info to look through both with respect to reloading in general and load data.

Reloading Manuals

index - powered by h5ai v0.30.0 (https://larsjung.de/h5ai/)

index - powered by h5ai v0.30.0 (https://larsjung.de/h5ai/)

marvinstuart.com

Cartridge Specific Data (directory says caliber specific)

index - powered by h5ai v0.30.0 (https://larsjung.de/h5ai/)

index - powered by h5ai v0.30.0 (https://larsjung.de/h5ai/)

marvinstuart.com

Directory says Vendor Supplied

index - powered by h5ai v0.30.0 (https://larsjung.de/h5ai/)

index - powered by h5ai v0.30.0 (https://larsjung.de/h5ai/)

marvinstuart.com

 

[Jtate]

I do not understand why bullet manufacturer do not list their load data on line for free, when all powder companies do.

 

[Whisky Tahoe Foxtrot]

Berger & Nosler provide case fill percentages.
Hodgdon & Western provide pressures.
Both pieces of info are important.

I tend to combine data from Powder mfg with data from Bullet mfgs to get a complete picture. Barrel length will be a variable that will cause your data to be different than what is published.

 

[schwob2]

ok - I was woundering how the bullet manufactuerers actuelly develop their loads. Take i.e. Hornady. They have a relaoding manual with appr. 250 calibers and appr. 8 bullet weights per caliber. That makes 2000 combinations and for every combination they offer app. 5 loads for appr. 10 powders .... makes overall appr. 100.000 loads ... do you think they have tested and measured all these loads?

How can this be accurate, if load data for a group of bullets (i.e. all 130 grain bullets) is the same no matter what kind of bullet type it is (GMX, SST, etc ....). The bullets differ quite in shopre, jacket thickness, bearing surface ... but still, they only offer load data for weight groups ... I am lost ...

 

[Whisky Tahoe Foxtrot]

ok - I was woundering how the bullet manufactuerers actuelly develop their loads. Take i.e. Hornady. They have a relaoding manual with appr. 250 calibers and appr. 8 bullet weights per caliber. That makes 2000 combinations and for every combination they offer app. 5 loads for appr. 10 powders .... makes overall appr. 100.000 loads ... do you think they have tested and measured all these loads?

How can this be accurate, if load data for a group of bullets (i.e. all 130 grain bullets) is the same no matter what kind of bullet type it is (GMX, SST, etc ....). The bullets differ quite in shopre, jacket thickness, bearing surface ... but still, they only offer load data for weight groups ... I am lost ...

This is a great question for any company that publishes a manual. In Hornady's case they simplify the data a little by combining the similar bullet weights and types then truncating the velocity. Every edition has new data but a lot of it is old and republished.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

Ideally the best manual to use is the one issued by the manufacturer of the brand of bullets you are loading. If you use the Hodgdon manual, you will see that bullet weights change from make to make. The bullet makers have a extreme desire to make sure you get the most accurate result and run test specifically tailored for each of their bullets.

 

[Webster]

It is because they are the same cartridge - so they have the same loading data.





Why should they - it is loading data, not Benchrest promotional plug.





I don't think the people that load those bizarre calibres (watsa "bizarre calibre"??) would agree with you.

Based on the drawings on WIKI they are the same cartridge. I read a few years ago that Remington would not give Norma permission to make the 6mmBR Rem cartridge since they owned the patent. The article said that Norma altered the dimensions enough that it was called a new cartridge and Norma got their own patent. The drawings don't show any changes. I don't know if the WIKI drawing is correct since I read the slight dimension changes Norma made??? Click on full image to se both drawings. Not really oncerned. I own a 6BR Norma. Will see if I can find something about the changes. In any case they should have the samee loading info based on any tiny differences. Without checking I don't think the manual I have states the 6mm BR Rem data can be used for the Norma. Not trying to start a pissing match just a curiousity.


co.

 

[dhagerty40]

Based on the drawings on WIKI they are the same cartridge. I read a few years ago that Remington would not give Norma permission to make the 6mmBR Rem cartridge since they owned the patent. The article said that Norma altered the dimensions enough that it was called a new cartridge and Norma got their own patent. The drawings don't show any changes. I don't know if the WIKI drawing is correct since I read the slight dimension changes Norma made??? Click on full image to se both drawings. Not really oncerned. I own a 6BR Norma. Will see if I can find something about the changes. In any case they should have the samee loading info based on any tiny differences. Without checking I don't think the manual I have states the 6mm BR Rem data can be used for the Norma. Not trying to start a pissing match just a curiousity.

The actual difference is stated on 6mmbr.com. Mainly the 6BR Norma has a .040" longer neck. Here is the exact wording:

What is the 6mm BR? The 6mm BR that is most commonly used today is also called 6mm Norma BR, "6BR Norma", or just plain "6BR". Norma started with the 6mm Remington Benchrest case and made the neck longer and increased the base dimension slightly.

other than that, they are the same.

 

[Mr. Zorg]

This is a great question for any company that publishes a manual. In Hornady's case they simplify the data a little by combining the similar bullet weights and types then truncating the velocity. Every edition has new data but a lot of it is old and republished.

Same is true for Speer's manuals WRT a lot of older data is simply republished and propogated forward. The biggest fundamental changes IMO came when Speer stopped using production firearms and went from CUP to SAAMI PSI. Although since Speer doesn't publish individual load pressure values with their load data, it's never clear which loads were tested by which pressure measurement system, unlike Hodgdon group powder load data.

 

[schwob2]

Same is true for Speer's manuals WRT a lot of older data is simply republished and propogated forward. The biggest fundamental changes IMO came when Speer stopped using production firearms and went from CUP to SAAMI PSI. Although since Speer doesn't publish individual load pressure values with their load data, it's never clear which loads were tested by which pressure measurement system, unlike Hodgdon group powder load data.

I am also not sure how accurate the Hodgon Reloading Manual is. You have to start selecting the cartridge and then the bullet weight. Then the manufacturer and powder . The provided load data is for a specific reference bullet. It can not be the same for any other bullet of the same weight?!

 

[Big Mc]

whats one of the best all around reloading manuals thanks bill

Joberman said it all Tommy Mc

 

[Rick Ratzlaff]

I know I'm going to get shot at on this one. Pun intended. I gave away all but one manual. I was so many discrepancies I would up under the bed saying the Greek alphabet. So I make my own. I take the Powder Burn Rate charts and 1 manual and do a ladder test starting sufficiently on the low end and work up to pressure signs. Usually at .3 to .5 grains depending on case volume. I keep strict records on Excel of the ladder test. So much depends on barrel length and more I find my own testing gun specific.

 

[Tommie]

Think the OP bought a manual yet?

 

[johnjohn]

I have Lyman 47 and Lee. I mostly use the Lyman. Lee doesn't list data for bullets cast from their own molds.