What is Your Favorite Reloading Reference Book?

[Grapeshot]

Crow Choker,

Thanks for the head's up on Schofield ammo .... that would be one of the rounds I would be reloading ,,, and that probably in 'smokeless' ... the other reloadins I wll be cutting my teeth on will be .45 auto rim (loaded to Schofield strengths) amd .45- 70 both with 457125 bullets and Postell bullets ...

When I started this shooting and reloading game my first reloading book was the one in my RCBS Rock Chucker's box.  I then Purchased Lyman's Reloading Handbook and Their Cast Bullet Handbook.  All of them were fasenating reading and full of a lot of good information.  Those were my first reloading manuals.  I updated to newer Lyman books over the years but still have the ones I purchased in 1974. 

Make sure that the Reloading Manual you get has the cartridges you want to reload in them.  It's a waste of money to buy a book that doesn't cover the cartridge you want to reload.

Have fun but be safe, please.

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Grapeshot,

I.) know you guys are worried about me ... so here is my plan;

1 I just got the ABCs of Loading by Grennel ... I plan to devour the book to get the general ideas...

2.) Then I plan to go down to the local score and look at the Lyman Book ... I will be firing Schofield, .45-70 and some .32 S*&W ...
I will check to make sure that the Lyman Book covers all the rounds ...

3.) Then I have already talked to the man who normally does all my reloading ... I plan to spend a couple of days at his house and a.) First watch him reload. b.) then reload some of my shells under his supervision

4.)It will be then and only then that I will start to reload myself, and if I can beg/borrow/steal another reloader, I would prefer to load supervised for the first few times ... taking notes prodigiously ...

Hope this takes the worries out; thanks for being cautious for me ... (suddenly I feel like Sally Fields at her first Oscar presentation, " Gee, you really do care! *S*)

[cpt dan blodgett]

It really is not rocket science but does require enough concentration that one does not double charge or forget to charge a case.  Both can be equally dangerous.  The double charge is generally instantaeously catestrophic.  The forget to charge results most generally with a bullet stuck in the barrel.  If the next round is touched off, things tend to get exciting.

A technique I use is to charge a loading block worth of shell (50) then visually inspect for consistent charge levels and to ensure all shells have powder prior to the start of bullet seating.

For most calibers double charges can only be done with fast powders.  Trailboss is a very bulky powder designed to make double charges not be able to fit in the case.

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Capt Dan,

I am still buying equipment; I haven't even decided on a powder yet .... but I will probably just use what has always been reloaded by my friend for me ...

It looks like I have a big decision to make in my future ... thanks for the heads up so that I have time to ponder on it  *S*

TTFN,

[Pappy Myles]

I must have about 20 of them.....The ones I've found most helpful.

I've found Lymans to be very informative and easy to read and reference too.  They have very good publications.
    Lyman 49th    ( I started with the 42nd)
     Lyman Pistol and revolver book  - has some good info loads for cowboy type loads
     Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook

[Gen Lew Wallace]

I just scored Dean Grennell's ABC's book off ebay.  Got it yesterday.  The first paragraph of the first chapter explained it all to me!

[Delmonico]

I just scored Dean Grennell's ABC's book off ebay.  Got it yesterday.  The first paragraph of the first chapter explained it all to me!

I own most of the editions to it, including the first.  Dean was one of a kind and his books should be manditory reading for anyone starting out, before the size their first case.   I'm sure that will PO one or two again, but I really don't care, peole with out a lot of knowledge doing things that could kill themselves or others doesn't seem real bright to me.

[Delmonico]

In fact scan it and post it if you would Lew, my copies are still in one of the boxes downstairs.

[Gen Lew Wallace]

Before you try it, reloading gives the impression of being complicated and expensive.  Once having been bitten by the bug, having sampled the pleasures of the game, many wonder why they wasted so many years in getting around to it.

That's the first paragraph of chapter 1.  I read that three times and was thinking the same thing.  Why has it taken me so long to do this?  He stresses lots of safety points and general information that is really easy to comprehend.  I'm glad I got the book.

[Delmonico]

Before you try it, reloading gives the impression of being complicated and expensive.  Once having been bitten by the bug, having sampled the pleasures of the game, many wonder why they wasted so many years in getting around to it.

That's the first paragraph of chapter 1.  I read that three times and was thinking the same thing.  Why has it taken me so long to do this?  He stresses lots of safety points and general information that is really easy to comprehend.  I'm glad I got the book.

It's a jewel, we lost a good man when he passed on.  Reloading is safe and simple as long as you are careful in what you do and know what you can do wrong.  Dean's first edition got me started back when there was a peanut farmer in the White House and I had no one to turn to.  Started with 28 gauge shot shells and the only person I knew who reloaded only loaded metallic's.  He gave me his extra one and told me if I followed established data I'd be fine.  I've had some very minor problems along the way, but they were easy to figure out. 

His stories of his mistakes are fun to read, like the time he bought a bullet mould for 38 Special and decided six rounds with out lube shouldn't hurt anything. 

[Stu Kettle]

I couldn't remember the title or author of my favorite, hadn't looked at it in a few years, so I went & dug it up. Basic Handloading by George C. Nonte Jr.  published by Outdoor Life Books in 1978.  It's really showin it's age. I read it several times before loading my first round & referred back to it countless times over the years.

[joec]

Wow! I have sure accumulated books and pamphlets over the last year when I first started to reload.

Hornady 9th Edition Handbook of Cartridge Reloading
2013 Complete Reloading Data Manual
1st Edition Laser-Cast Load Manual
1st Edition of Reloading Brass Shotshells

(these are older and some powders need to be updated but covers many lead cast bullets)
The Complete Reloading Manual for the .45-70 Government
The Complete Reloading Manual for the 45 Colt
The Complete Reloading Manual for the 9mm Luger
The Complete Reloading Manual for the 45 ACP

Lyman Reloading Handbook, 49th Edition (soft cover)
Lyman Black Powder Handbook, 2nd Edition
Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 4th Ed

Modern Reloading 2nd Ed by Richard Lee
ABC's of Reloading

I also get update books every year from Hodgdon, Alliant, Accurate Powder Companies.

[Crow Choker]

A must book for every reloader to buy, read, and follow whether you are a new or long time reloader is "Take It Slow, Pay Attention to What Your Doing, Research and Plan Your Loads, Don't Get In A Hurry, Don't Load When Your Dead Tired, Take Breaks, Don't Consume 'Hoch' When Your Loading, Don't Experiment Unless You Know and Follow the Rules, Think 'If I Do This-What Will the Outcome Be', Don't Smoke When Your Loading, If You Become Distracted-Stop, ETAL" by Common Sense!!!!  Good Book!!!
Like to see 'old' posts come back to life-Hey WaddWatson--How's your reloading doing since last April???

[Delmonico]

What I find is funny since we all all gathered here discussing good reloading books, is I've been chastised more than once for even suggesting that folks who want to learn to reload get a couple of good books and read them before reaching out and asking about what to do and load data to use via the net and this and other forum boards.   

In a lot of ways we are becoming an illiterate society despite being able to read and type.   

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

The best I have ever seen is the ABC's of Reloading, the early editions were written by the Late Great Dean Genell on of the most interesting writers in the reloading field.  Noticed the 9th Edition at a book store the other day, note sure who's doing it today.  I was given a 1st Edition copy in the late 1970's by a friend and that was my original training to reloading.  I read it cover to cover a couple times and between it and my local gun dealer who was an experanced reloader I did fine on my early ventures.  I understand Dick Lee has wrote a good one, I've never read it though, might have to get a copy.

Reloding data is easy to find in the inter-net era, just make sure it is from a reliable source such as a bullet or powder company.

All the companies also put out reloading manuals, they are still worth the money, there is a lot of info in most of them that is not just data. 

I'll be brutally honest here, I know I will step on some toes, so be it, but I still do not understand how or why someone new to reloading will go out and buy a bunch of equipment, even supplies to reload with and have never picked up a book or three on the subject and read it.

When you go to a forum board and ask questions how the heck do you know if the person answering them knows the differance between shit and shinola?  If you pick up a book like Dick Lee's or from one of the bullet or powder companies you know theyare written by experianced people in the reloading industry, not just someone with a coputor who started reloading in the last year or so.

Almost a year now!  Anything new to add   BTW this might be a good thread to sticky.