Universal reloading manual

[TackDriver284]

Most of my reloading manuals are outdated, and instead of buying manuals from different companies, would there be a "universal" reloading manual?
I know different bullet brands have their own testings to powder charges and pressures due to the design of their own bullets, or is it more safer to buy a reloading manual book from each manufacturer?

 

[longrangehunter]

Hodgdon put their magazine every year and typically it has a lot of different bullets depending on the cartridge. It’s not specific to one companies bullets, but it will only contain their powders.

 

[bkordon]

Most of my reloading manuals are outdated, and instead of buying manuals from different companies, would there be a "universal" reloading manual?
I know different bullet brands have their own testings to powder charges and pressures due to the design of their own bullets, or is it more safer to buy a reloading manual book from each manufacturer?

I find myself using powder/ projectile websites more and more and the data is able to be printed. Not trying to take the cheap way out, as there is something fulfilling about picking up a book, but from a standpoint of access, this works for me. An example of this would be if you use Vihtavuori, the data is sparse but on their website they cover almost all calibers and certainly their powders.

 

[bdbrown66]

Who buys manuals anymore? Hodgdon has all their data (Hodgdon, IMR, Winchester, Accurate, Ramshot) online for free. With the Hornady app, you can buy the whole manual, or just the calibers you load for. Nosler has their data online for free, as does Speer. Sierra data is a little harder, but it can be found if you look around a bit. Those are the ones I use, but other bullet and powder manufacturers make their data available, as well.

As far as a "universal" source, I've been pretty happy with using the Reloading Assistant app on my phone. It's basically a compilation of this available data, with the ability to add/save your custom loads.

 

[GregoryB.]

I like having the book available. I have a Lyman manual that came with my loading kit. It’s generic and I have used it on several different manufacturers bullets.

 

[BobinNC]

Barnes Bullets Load Data On-Line: https://barnesbullets.com/load-data/
Nosler Bullets Load Data On-line: https://www.nosler.com/load-data/caliber-and-cartridge-data.html
Speer Bullets Load Data On-Line: https://www.speer.com/reloading/rifle-data.html
Hodgdon Powder Load Data On-Line: https://hodgdonreloading.com/rldc/
Vihtavuori Powder Load data On-Line: https://www.vihtavuori.com/reloadin...boy-action-shooting/#/imperials/1/30/-1/-1/-1
Shooters World Load Data On-line: https://shootersworldpowder.com/data-table/

With all this available to you for free, why buy a book??

 

[Guy Miner]

Barnes Bullets Load Data On-Line: https://barnesbullets.com/load-data/
Nosler Bullets Load Data On-line: https://www.nosler.com/load-data/caliber-and-cartridge-data.html
Speer Bullets Load Data On-Line: https://www.speer.com/reloading/rifle-data.html
Hodgdon Powder Load Data On-Line: https://hodgdonreloading.com/rldc/
Vihtavuori Powder Load data On-Line: https://www.vihtavuori.com/reloadin...boy-action-shooting/#/imperials/1/30/-1/-1/-1
Shooters World Load Data On-line: https://shootersworldpowder.com/data-table/

With all this available to you for free, why buy a book??

It's been great watching more and more load data appear online, for free.

I still have several print manuals. Also often buy the Hodgdon manual, almost every year, because there are some great articles in it.

Guy

 

[GregoryB.]

BobinNC, to answer your question on why buy the book.
Simple answer, I live in the sticks and don’t have internet in my shop where I load and phone service is spotty. I don’t need internet to open a book plus I make load notes in the book for future reference.

 

[TackDriver284]

I do still use the websites to get my data, I rarely open the reloading manuals unless I don't find the bullet weight / charge data.
I recall a few shooters and a gunsmith tell me " Rely on the books for your reloading data, not the internet"

 

[BobinNC]

BobinNC, to answer your question on why buy the book.
Simple answer, I live in the sticks and don’t have internet in my shop where I load and phone service is spotty. I don’t need internet to open a book plus I make load notes in the book for future reference

I do still use the websites to get my data, I rarely open the reloading manuals unless I don't find the bullet weight / charge data.
I recall a few shooters and a gunsmith tell me " Rely on the books for your reloading data, not the internet"

They were talking about taking load data advice from anonymous rubes on the internet, and not internet data from the guys that make the books.....

 

[BobinNC]

BobinNC, to answer your question on why buy the book.
Simple answer, I live in the sticks and don’t have internet in my shop where I load and phone service is spotty. I don’t need internet to open a book plus I make load notes in the book for future reference.

Well OK. But you must have a computer somewhere (cause you just answered me). And if you have a computer you must have a printer. Guess what you can print what load data you want from the sites I listed, and then take the papers to your workshop. And then you can write on the paper with pen or pencil and make load notes. In fact, with a three ring binder and hole punch, you can make your own load data book. See problem solved for free....

 

[JD338]

Barnes Bullets Load Data On-Line: https://barnesbullets.com/load-data/
Nosler Bullets Load Data On-line: https://www.nosler.com/load-data/caliber-and-cartridge-data.html
Speer Bullets Load Data On-Line: https://www.speer.com/reloading/rifle-data.html
Hodgdon Powder Load Data On-Line: https://hodgdonreloading.com/rldc/
Vihtavuori Powder Load data On-Line: https://www.vihtavuori.com/reloadin...boy-action-shooting/#/imperials/1/30/-1/-1/-1
Shooters World Load Data On-line: https://shootersworldpowder.com/data-table/

With all this available to you for free, why buy a book??

When the Internet goes down you will wish you had a couple of reloading manuals.

JD338

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

I like having and using both to cross reference.

Quite a few of my best loads have not came from a book, rather from my own testing/curiousity or working around someone else's pet load, of course after cross referencing.

The hodgon manual is pretty decent for a quick do all on most of the mainstream calibers.

I noticed there for a while, the books would always have the same data, just with new bullets and a different layout, with a new caliber or two thrown in for good measure.

 

[GregoryB.]

Well OK. But you must have a computer somewhere (cause you just answered me). And if you have a computer you must have a printer. Guess what you can print what load data you want from the sites I listed, and then take the papers to your workshop. And then you can write on the paper with pen or pencil and make load notes. In fact, with a three ring binder and hole punch, you can make your own load data book. See problem solved for free....

I don’t have a computer or printer. I use my phone to play on the internet and my phone gets zero reception in my shop. Maybe I can just text you what I need printed and you can mail it to me for free. Problem solved again. Thanks.

 

[BruceP]

Who buys manuals anymore? Hodgdon has all their data (Hodgdon, IMR, Winchester, Accurate, Ramshot) online for free. With the Hornady app, you can buy the whole manual, or just the calibers you load for. Nosler has their data online for free, as does Speer. Sierra data is a little harder, but it can be found if you look around a bit. Those are the ones I use, but other bullet and powder manufacturers make their data available, as well.

As far as a "universal" source, I've been pretty happy with using the Reloading Assistant app on my phone. It's basically a compilation of this available data, with the ability to add/save your custom loads.

With all this available to you for free, why buy a book??

I would be one who still buys a manual occasionally. Not as much as I use to but every few years. There is more in the manual that just load data and with some like the Nosler manuals there are brief stories about the cartridge in question. The Nosler #3 was one of my favorites for this reason and my original was lost/misplaced/loaned out years ago. a couple of years back I found a used copy on line and bought it. If I remember correctly I have 4 Nosler manuals, 2 Sierra, 2 Lee, 2 Accurate Arms and 1 Hodgdon along with various copies of the old annual load data pamphlets that the powder manufactures used to put out. I do also look at on line data and I have the QuickLoad program. In my opinion they all have their place.

 

[Todd NE WY]

I like having the manuals to refer to without going online. I like having the online available if a have few minutes downtime at work I can look for new loads. I will say having the manuals is really valuable if you are not shooting current mainstream calibers. I shoot a 6mmTCU handgun, there is current online data but not for all of the bullets available, it's nice to pull out an older edition Nosler or Hornady and have much more data available. This is especially true of Nosler, their online is not nearly as extensive as their manuals.
Todd

 

[hunter24605]

It's been great watching more and more load data appear online, for free.

I still have several print manuals. Also often buy the Hodgdon manual, almost every year, because there are some great articles in it.

Guy

That’s why I enjoy the Swift manual so much.

 

[sphingta]

The other main reason is if you load for obsolete calibers. Newer manuals/online sources drop old cartridges all the time. Not worth their time.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

The other main reason is if you load for obsolete calibers. Newer manuals/online sources drop old cartridges all the time. Not worth their time.

Yeah, Hodgdon has done this started back couple annuals ago with the 6.x55 and others. Just an example of print verses online. Still like having a book to read and look at.

 

[Divernhunter]

the Lyman manual is very good. But do not use it for Barnes or Swift bullets unless they are listed.