Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Nosler Reloading Guide # 9

Yesterday I received my Nosler # 9 Reloading Guide, may I share my observations of the guide. I am no gun writer but here are some of my takes and takeaways from the Guide.

John Nosler opens by saying that this Loading Guide "is the most in-depth and well thought out book I have seen Nosler produce"

That got my attention, I was really hoping to see all the new powders that we now have from the past 10 to 15 years in new loads for the cartridges listed.

We have never had better times for components! I was hoping Nosler would build on that.

My takes.

It was nice to see a Burn Rate Chart in the Guide, maybe that is a first.

The Cartridge index list 9 new cartridges, 5 of which are Noslers.

To read what the 'gun writers' have to say about each cartridge listed and given the amount of space they have to write a piece it's enjoyable to read. It's nice to keep up with some old faces from past Guides and then see some new faces in the industry.

I really liked the read about the 6.5 PRC from Jason Hornady, it was great to see a competitor and yet a friend of the Nosler family writing in their bible! What a hoot. Great new cartridge too.

Some of the writers were a right fit in the cartridges they wrote about, like JB and the 9.3x62. But Terry Wieland paired with the 250 Savage cartridge?

The Guide is a showcase of Noslers 8 proprietary cartridges, and I think that is the main reason for the Guide.
To show off their new cartridges.

Some Takeaways

I was highly anticipating that the Guide would show us some new loads with all the new components we now have.
It was sadly lacking in that area and pretty much a re-hash of past guides from decades ago. Nothing new to see.

In the 6.5 Creedmoor 123/125 grain bullets, Nosler list a now re-called powder IMR 4007 SSC as the "Most Accurate powder tested" A lot of good that will do us. lol

RL 26, RL 23, and RL 16 are hardly given mention along with Winchester 6.5 Staball powder and the newer IMR powders.
Just to name a few.

No mention of the 338 RCM.
No new loads for the 338-06 with new powders, one of many that did not. Just the same loads from decades ago.


Bottom line, just another re-hash of decades past loads with old powders. Copy and paste job at best.

The Guide left me wanting and asking why did I even bother buying it.

An old post of mine:



How much 4th edition 308 data has carried forward to the new one?

Well sh*t never won the lottery either but I have 1- 8 so I'll prolly get 9 also. We want up to date data guess you better read the fire. Mb

yes i have that Nosler #9 reloading manual and many more new and old reloading manuals, i still think the new Berger reloading manual is best for me.

Hell, I just got #8

I suppose since we can't find powder or primers we might as well sit back and read about reloading In the good old days 😁

SU,

Were any of Ramshots powders listed?

Thanks for saving me the bucks. I was hoping for some new powder data with older cartridges. Guess that aint gonna happen this issue.

I just have no interest in most of the newer rounds.

Still like the Nosler the best as its the best organised/presented (Speer the worst) plus it is the only one of the majors that lists the water capacity of the cases and those capacities are tailored to the bullet weight category. Not just 1 case capacity across all bullet weights. That's quite useful I think.

Even though you can get most of the info free from the internet now I still like to buy the reloading manuals! An enjoyable read in front of the fireplace!

regards
JohnT

Yes, in some cartridges they were, Big Game, Hunter, Magnum. But these powders have been around for a while.

Gun Gack 3 is your friend for that.

I usually buy it just for the write up for each cartridge, most of the data is usually just regurgitated from previous manuals and can be found online.

Sure wish I'd seen this yesterday before I bought one from SPS. But that gave me a chance to throw in some more bullets, though their stocks are dwindling. Had to get another bag of those dirt-cheap 9.3 250 ABs an .338 250 E-Tips, and 3 more of those funny looking stubby ogive .257 115 Partitions. My gut tells me they will be the absolute cat's @$$ if I ever score/build a fast twist .250 savage. In the meantime going to try 'em in the .257 Roberts.

Thanks again for the review, Rooskie Fighter Jet Guy.
Rex

If we take into consideration how many bullets Nosler produces (105 based on the #9 manual), and how many powders tested with a single bullet, and how many shots fired with a particular powder starting at low to high, and all that being evaluated after a series of 5 shots per load with a single bullet (average), to build a complete NEW manual from scratch would be far too costly and time consuming!

And they have less that 1/2 the number of bullets (varmint, small game, game, and big game, plus handgun bullets) than Hornady!

Son I think expectations need be more realistic!

When you get to be my age (some will make it, most won't) you are, or will be, more realistic in expectations. Firstly, I don't need (or want) all the new powders or cartridges on the market, most of which provides no improvement over what I have. Some of the latest powders do give better results overall. But the "new" cartridges are mostly a tune that's been played a few times already.

Bob
www.bigbores.ca

I'll probably bite and buy one just to see if there's data for the 70g accubond in a fast twist 22-250.

I find Nosler data to be like reading an Elmer Keith book, lame, over inflated and full of BS. They only use their brass and their bullets.

RJj

I don't see Hornady using many Nosler bullets in their data. Come to think of it, Sierra doesn't use Berger bullets either. What's the deal?

Odd, isn't it?

Come to think of it, though, why doesn't Hodgdon's data use Hodgdon bullets?

Hodgdon's makes bullets?!


...crap!.......I'm always late to the party...

Anyone know where I can find some Hodgdon brass in stock? Midway seems to be out, as do Grafs and Midsouth.

Asking for a friend.