Best first reloading manual/handbook?

[pitor]

In my quest for reloading knowledge I'm looking to buy my first reloading handbook / manual.

The mischievious monkey suggested I start a thread to ask for input and advice from the fine members in here. Thank you in advance for all the help.

[AFJuvat]

The Lyman manual is the best all around manual IMO.

[Rick McC.]

Yes, the Lyman is a great resource!

[AFJuvat]

Give me a shout if you get up to Jax, I can give you a walk through on reloading and have you bang some out on my press.

[pitor]

Originally Posted by AFJuvat

Give me a shout if you get up to Jax, I can give you a walk through on reloading and have you bang some out on my press.

Excelente idea, I may be heading that way in the near future since my wife needs to have her checkup up at the proton therapy center.

[AFJuvat]

Originally Posted by pitor

Excelente idea, I may be heading that way in the near future since my wife needs to have her checkup up at the proton therapy center.

Kust let me know, I'll try to get my hands on some Kunstmann and maybe some Pisco.

[Horse'nround]

Originally Posted by AFJuvat

The Lyman manual is the best all around manual IMO.

DITTO,

Been using the Lyman book for decades. They have always appeared to be impartial to Mfg's slant and post a pretty broad spread of powders and projectiles. I've always found more than enough info to establish or extrapolate a good starting point and safe load limits.

[Gatorade]

Da , please hear my confession. I own no reloading manuals. I learned by reading instructions that came with each set of dies and a couple single caliber load phamplets. Later I found info online and load data from magazines. A few issues of Reloader but no manuals. No thick bound books. Once I emailed a powder manufacturer. Almost any load data I need has been found online. I load for over a dozen different calibers and only very early with .300 BLK and .41 SPC have I not found what I needed within a few online searches.

Every time I think about buying a manual I look at the thousands of loads I will never use. I could go through a whole manual and need maybe 15-20 pages of it and even then all the same info is online.

Call me a sinner but I just don't see the need for thick dusty manuals. Unless there is the loss of the internet and even then I have notes about all my load data. I think I'm good.

[sdmc530]

Wow you're a sinner for sure. I think purchasing a manual is a good buy or two but I don't agree with buying a newer version every few years. Data rarely changes and powder companies know this. But pump out a new versions they will make lots of money on old info. They might tweak numbers to create the illusion of updates but its a ploy I believe. Online is a great source if you use trusted places. But at least have one manual

[AFJuvat]

Originally Posted by sdmc530

Wow you're a sinner for sure. I think purchasing a manual is a good buy or two but I don't agree with buying a newer version every few years. Data rarely changes and powder companies know this. But pump out a new versions they will make lots of money on old info. They might tweak numbers to create the illusion of updates but its a ploy I believe. Online is a great source if you use trusted places. But at least have one manual

I agree.

I got the Lyman 49 when I first started reloading again, mainly for the diversity of load data, plus it has one of the best "how to reload" sections.

I picked up the Hornady 9th edition because it had some load data that the Lyman didn't have.

Since I generally stick to Hodgdon/IMR/Winchester powders, I get the annual Hodgdon magazine for $6.00.