I have gootten the press and I am working a bench. Now I am looking for a good reloading data manual. I have seen Lyman, Speer, Hornady and a bunch of others. Which is the best overall data manual?

I am also planning on picking up the ABC's of Reloading.

Ok, I have just found the Hodgdon Online Reloading Manual (http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Hodgdon%20Basic%20Manual.pdf). I guess this will be a good place to start.

Build the bench heavy. Weight is good. Mine is 8' by 2' and has six legs made ouf doubled-up 2x4s. There's a hair over 155 feet of 2x4 in it, and it weighs 200-300 pounds. The top is 3/4" plywood.
I built it 2 feet deep so I could slice a 4x8 sheet of plywood in half, and double it up to have a 1.5" thick top. I built it as a workbench, knowing it would someday be used to load ammo. It's probably the only bench I've ever seen that didn't need to be bolted to the wall.

What loading equipment did you decide on?

On topic: The sierra manual is okay. It has two shortcomings. Only lists loads for Sierra brand bullets, and it's basically a D-ring binder. They claim this is an advantage because you can just stick new pages in there. In reality, it's cheaper to publish, and you have to worry about pages getting torn out of the rings. :rolleyes:

I've heard good things about the Lyman manual.

EDIT: Sweet link to the hogdon manual. Thanks! Most of the powder and many of the major bullet makers have begun publishing data like that on their websites. You almost don't need a manual anymore if you can work google. Almost.

I like the Hornady manuals, but I regularly use the Sierra.
I occasionally refer to the Speer manual, but usually just as a check.

I like the Speer manual, pretty good instructions for beginning reloading and a wide caliber selection. I always cross check my load data with at least two or three sources before starting, no manual is perfect.

I built my loading bench 2'x4' with a shelf in the middle. I used 1/2 pressboard for the top and shelf, 4x4 legs, 2x4 frame. I did re-inforce the top were the press is mounted with a 2x8 after the 1/2 pressboard top started to show small stress cracks. I probably only spent $30 on materials. I need to build a shelf system for the back of the top bench to better organize all my stuff. It would also be nice to put laminate on the top to make cleanup easier.

I used an old office desk for bench.
The down side is that I now need a reinforcement plate where the press mounts to the desk top. It is starting to get loose and bend upward when resizing brass.

This pic was from when it was cleaned up. I figured I better take a picture.

Hodgen puts out a magazine that is not bullet biased that is my #1 source. I do keep a few other manuals however for cross reference.

DOC, merge this thread with the reloading one :flipoff2:

Depends on what yer up to as to which manual is "best". I have Speer, Sierra, Hornady, Hogdon and Lyman along with numerous data sheets in 3 ring binders all dating from 1964 to present. The older ones have info on cartridges I reload that dont necessarily show up in newer manuals and as some of the stuff I have are old "wildcats, the 3 ring binders have info on those.

D.

Depends on what yer up to as to which manual is "best". I have Speer, Sierra, Hornady, Hogdon and Lyman along with numerous data sheets in 3 ring binders all dating from 1964 to present. The older ones have info on cartridges I reload that dont necessarily show up in newer manuals and as some of the stuff I have are old "wildcats, the 3 ring binders have info on those.

D.

Great point. The speer book especialy is lacking in many many rounds with almost zero wildcat or newer rounds.

Depends on what yer up to as to which manual is "best". I have Speer, Sierra, Hornady, Hogdon and Lyman along with numerous data sheets in 3 ring binders all dating from 1964 to present. The older ones have info on cartridges I reload that dont necessarily show up in newer manuals and as some of the stuff I have are old "wildcats, the 3 ring binders have info on those.

D.

Yeah, never throw away old load books.

I really like the Sierra book.
Its a three ring binder, so you can take out the page you want, stick it into a zip lock bag so it stays clean and thumb tack to the wall near your reloading bench. Just one less thing to have out and in the way.
My old (1984) Hornady book is pretty battered.

Great point. The speer book especialy is lacking in many many rounds with almost zero wildcat or newer rounds.

Thats why I dont have a "best". Each vendor has a book on their product be it powder or slugs. The powder makers want to show off their versatility and performance so the publish their pet loads ditto the slug makers do the same.

On that note Im a tad surprised someone hadnt mentioned Waters "Pet Loads" book and its various addendums...not a bad book for the $.

D.

I read the Waters book and wasnt really impressed. I guess part of that is the age of the data. Powders do change a tad and I love reloading and creating my own pet loads....why would I want his? I did like some of the "filler" stuff they put in about wildcating back in the day.

It is good for a new realoader and will save you some frustraions and powder...but what is the fun in that.

When I get a new bullet I usualy load up 5 rounds of each combo and try them out over 2-3 proven powders. So 5 rounds powder #1 lightest charge #2 middle, #3 slightly below max. Same for the other powders. Withing those first 15 rounds of 5 shot groups and the "fouling" round you shot off first you will know if it likes that powder at what end of the spectrum to start playing with your loads. If I get as least "OK" performace out of them I give that combo another show with some more tweaking.