|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 9,756 Likes: 6
Campfire Outfitter
|
OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 9,756 Likes: 6 |
I prefer these over e-books, but I have a foot in both worlds.
I like to keep current, especially with new cartridges, powders or bullets. I was looking around for the latest Sierra manual - version 6. They cost about $100 cdn. But when you consider that this is almost 1400 pages, there is a lot of value.
I bought the latest Speer last year, but I think it was about $70. It does save a lot of work preparing new to me loads.
Are you still using books or have you converted to e-books?
Safe Shooting! Steve Redgwell www.303british.comGet your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. - Mark Twain Member - Professional Outdoor Media Association of Canada
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,501
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,501 |
Prefer books over e-books. Magazines as well. It is nice to be able to take reading material anywhere I want to. Some of the magazines I subscribe to include a digital copy but I rarely open it up. One magazine I wrote for went from hardcopy to entirely online and within a year it was gone. Jeff
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,124
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,124 |
I picked up Nosler #2 manual . I found some interesting stuff in it. They listed the factory velocities and the velocities they got in their test barrel. With the online data, I print it and put it in that cartridge binder in the front section. The back section has loading notes and shooting notes.
You can hunt longer with wind at your back
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 9,756 Likes: 6
Campfire Outfitter
|
OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 9,756 Likes: 6 |
Prefer books over e-books. Magazines as well. It is nice to be able to take reading material anywhere I want to. Some of the magazines I subscribe to include a digital copy but I rarely open it up. One magazine I wrote for went from hardcopy to entirely online and within a year it was gone. Jeff Too true. Back when the CSSA started their magazine, I had a story published in it. I believe it was the last paper edition. I picked up Nosler #2 manual . I found some interesting stuff in it. They listed the factory velocities and the velocities they got in their test barrel. With the online data, I print it and put it in that cartridge binder in the front section. The back section has loading notes and shooting notes. The reason I like paper books is I can take them anywhere and not worry about keeping a battery charged or having an Internet connection. That was in the days when phone chargers and the Internet were harder to find. That led to the second reason which was I didn't like the small screen size.
Safe Shooting! Steve Redgwell www.303british.comGet your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. - Mark Twain Member - Professional Outdoor Media Association of Canada
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 3,070
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 3,070 |
I mostly use e-data, but I do still buy a hard copy manual once in a blue moon. I just got the newest Lyman paperback not that long ago.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 38,937 Likes: 11
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 38,937 Likes: 11 |
For reloading (or anything else): books, books, books!
Not a real member - just an ordinary guy who appreciates being able to hang around and say something once in awhile.
Happily Trapped In the Past (Thanks, Joe)
Not only a less than minimally educated person, but stupid and out of touch as well.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 298
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 298 |
... must have two dozen reloading manuals from powder & bullet companies past & present
Proud Life Member of the NRA & GOA
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 9,756 Likes: 6
Campfire Outfitter
|
OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 9,756 Likes: 6 |
I mostly use e-data, but I do still buy a hard copy manual once in a blue moon. I just got the newest Lyman paperback not that long ago. For reloading (or anything else): books, books, books! I buy a new manual every other year, unless there is nothing new. It’s hard to say what manuals are my favourites. I guess Speer and Sierra. Speer 15 changed their format and included more cartridge info. Sierra is still producing exceptional material. Lyman Cast stuff is great too.
Safe Shooting! Steve Redgwell www.303british.comGet your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. - Mark Twain Member - Professional Outdoor Media Association of Canada
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,202 Likes: 6
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,202 Likes: 6 |
I use books. In checking out the collection though, I found that my newest manual was printed in 1998. Since I'm still loading 4350 older than that, it is appropriate. GD
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,302 Likes: 37
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,302 Likes: 37 |
I started with a speer manual and tried speer bullets. The speer manual came with my Rockchucker supreme loading kit. There's a wealth of knowledge in that book I started out with. Read the how to section a time or 3, since I learned to handload on my own with that book as my guide. I later found out I don't like speer bullets. I still have the book, but don't use it. I prefer Nosler, Barnes, Sierra, Hornady and just about any other bullet over speer. I have paper manuals for every bullet I load for, but I really like the fact that Nosler and Barnes offer free load data online. That is great, while others want you to pay for it online. I have the newest Sierra load manual and really like it. I also have the older versions of that manual and it's served me well. With new powders that have came out over the last 10 years or so, it's important that you have an updated source, because you could be missing out if you don't look at new data. I've seen some guys stuck on old powder, but what are you going to do when you can't find that old powder? Varget for instance: CFE223, TAC, and IMR8208XBR may be easier to find at times and a newer load manual or source may be needed for the newer powders. Just my take on paper vs. online data.
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 12,633
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 12,633 |
I have many manuals Of ALL that I have I find myself relying on my Lyman manuals. Vintage to present day. WHY? Because Lyman has no stake in the testing of loads, because Lyman does NOT manufacture bullets OR powder.. I do NOT, nor EVER will go to a computer ebook.
NRA Endowment Life Member (and proud of it)
Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something. - Plato
Deuteronomy 22:5
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 3,070
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 3,070 |
I buy a new manual every other year, unless there is nothing new.
It’s hard to say what manuals are my favourites. I guess Speer and Sierra. Speer 15 changed their format and included more cartridge info. Sierra is still producing exceptional material. Lyman Cast stuff is great too. One of the few hard copies I do own is a Lyman Cast book. I have both a newer (2021/22... somewhere in there) and an older Lee, since they stuff loads from a lot of different sources into one place. Everything else is .pdf or online data for me. Western (well used to for them now that they're part of big H) and Alliant release full manuals in pdf free fairly often, so I have several revisions of both of those saved. I use Hodgdon, Speer, Nosler, and Barnes online stuff a lot. As much as they charge for manuals, I'm actually surprised Speer and Nosler put as much data up online as they do.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 9,756 Likes: 6
Campfire Outfitter
|
OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 9,756 Likes: 6 |
I think what we are seeing is an old way of doing business being pulled, kicking and screaming, into the modern age.
Safe Shooting! Steve Redgwell www.303british.comGet your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. - Mark Twain Member - Professional Outdoor Media Association of Canada
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 298
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 298 |
… a few Winchester and Hercules paper pamphlet reloading manuals around and a big paperback Lyman manual
Proud Life Member of the NRA & GOA
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 9,756 Likes: 6
Campfire Outfitter
|
OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 9,756 Likes: 6 |
I do NOT, nor EVER will go to a computer ebook. That's not a problem. We are lucky that we can use what we want. In the not too distant future, I can see companies abandoning paper as the world completely changes over to computers. We'll have to see how long that takes. And I don't expect that all the powder and bullet companies will change at the same time, so the process won't be quick.
Safe Shooting! Steve Redgwell www.303british.comGet your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. - Mark Twain Member - Professional Outdoor Media Association of Canada
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,363 Likes: 6
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,363 Likes: 6 |
I jumped in with both feet about 15 years ago. I now have a ratty old laptop right at the reloading bench. The only reason it's there is to access the Hodgdon data site.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 8,946 Likes: 5
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 8,946 Likes: 5 |
I picked up Nosler #2 manual . I found some interesting stuff in it. They listed the factory velocities and the velocities they got in their test barrel. With the online data, I print it and put it in that cartridge binder in the front section. The back section has loading notes and shooting notes. I have all the nosler manuals why? Unlike others they tell you what gave the best accuracy with the highest velocity . That starts me out saving money and time for the best performing loads..mb
" Cheapest velocity in the world comes from a long barrel and I sure do like them. MB "
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 298
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 298 |
… also have a big thick paperback (soft cover) manual called Ken Waters Pet Loads … lots of good loads in that book
Proud Life Member of the NRA & GOA
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,346 Likes: 2
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,346 Likes: 2 |
i have all of Ken Waters stuff because federal made the brass and my friend who was a manager at Federal Jonny Bell gave his stuff including some very old loading manuals i did just look at a Lyman reloading book a paper back from 1965 i like looking thru them . sure shows some great old cartridges that no manufacture makes anymore like 22 Hi-Power ,222 Rem. mags and so on and my favorite that will soon be on the list as a obsolete cartridge 257 Roberts . these old reloading manuals are sure fun to look thru ! Pete53
LIFE NRA , we vote Red up here, Norseman
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 298
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 298 |
... the old manuals are good for legacy powders ... if they were stored correctly they should be OK ... friend of mine found a coupla full and unopened containers of Win 785 ball powder when he was cleaning out his reloading den cupboards ... he borrowed the Ken Waters manual to find some loads for it
Proud Life Member of the NRA & GOA
|
|
|
|
331 members (257 mag, 1badf350, 160user, 260Remguy, 06hunter59, 257 roberts, 32 invisible),
2,070
guests, and
1,080
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,194,328
Posts18,526,547
Members74,031
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|