Jager
Gold $$ Contributor
Like most of you here, I own a shelf-full of reloading manuals, going back many years. I've always considered them indispensable both because of the load data they contain and because they encapsulate a tremendous amount of ballistic testing.
A few years ago a few of the bullet companies decided to release not just their traditional, bound, printed version of their reloading manual... but also identical electronic versions for use on a smartphone or tablet. Hornady was one of these.
I bought the Hornady 10th Edition in this electronic format and was delighted to have it permanently on my iPad, ready at a moment's notice. When Hornady released their 11th Edition in 2021, I bought that version as well.
You usually expect that when you buy a book - even an electronic version - it's yours, at the very least, as long as you have the device you downloaded it to. Alas, Hornady would beg to differ...

I had to laugh at that "Buy Edition - The Complete 11th Edition" option for twenty bucks. I already did that, two years ago. What's the old saw? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. No, that "Restore" button doesn't do anything.
The older 10th Edition version no longer works either.
I don't have a problem with Hornady, or anyone else, monetizing their work by going to a subscription model, or having their book "expire" after some amount of time... as long as they are upfront about it. But I don't like scams. And I don't like dishonesty.
I expect Joyce Hornady is turning in his grave. And I doubt I'll be buying any more Hornady reloading manuals.
A few years ago a few of the bullet companies decided to release not just their traditional, bound, printed version of their reloading manual... but also identical electronic versions for use on a smartphone or tablet. Hornady was one of these.
I bought the Hornady 10th Edition in this electronic format and was delighted to have it permanently on my iPad, ready at a moment's notice. When Hornady released their 11th Edition in 2021, I bought that version as well.
You usually expect that when you buy a book - even an electronic version - it's yours, at the very least, as long as you have the device you downloaded it to. Alas, Hornady would beg to differ...

I had to laugh at that "Buy Edition - The Complete 11th Edition" option for twenty bucks. I already did that, two years ago. What's the old saw? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. No, that "Restore" button doesn't do anything.
The older 10th Edition version no longer works either.
I don't have a problem with Hornady, or anyone else, monetizing their work by going to a subscription model, or having their book "expire" after some amount of time... as long as they are upfront about it. But I don't like scams. And I don't like dishonesty.
I expect Joyce Hornady is turning in his grave. And I doubt I'll be buying any more Hornady reloading manuals.