Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles When to get new edition reloading manuals?

I have the latest Barnes and Norma manuals/books but am 2-3 or more editions behind for Nosler and Hornady.

Is it worth getting the latest editions?

My biggest issues are

1) due to European Union / UK chemical safety legislation, many of the US reloading powders are banned. Do the bullet manufacturer manuals show enough load data using Norma, Alliant / Reloader, Vihtavouri alternative powders?

2) additionally looking for data for .338-06, .30-06 Ackley Improved and 8x64S Brenneke. For the latter European data is available for German and French powders I have never heard of and cannot obtain in the UK.

I buy new manuals when cartridges I own are not in the older manuals. My last two manuals I’ve bought were Noslers. I’m considering Lyman and Hornady’s manuals. With Load data I have felt less of a need to get manuals updated like I used to.
There’s lots of good information on the WEB anymore.

There is so much data online that manuals are thing of the past. Norma powders aren’t represented much since they aren’t imported. That said I haven’t trusted or us d a Hornady manual since the 90’s. All other data except Sierra is available free, but do have a no longer available app on iPad free m Sierra that’s somewhat useful.

when you buy a Newly introduced Cartridge... or you want the latest useless watered down load data...

That issue also exists for some long established cartridges.

Neither Nosler #9 nor Horny #11 have 30-06 Imp data. They both have 338-06 data. The Nosler data seems to be just reprinted from a few editions back without updates, while the Horny book may have some newer data for the 338-06 with some Alliant & Vv powders. Nosler #8 does have 30-06 Imp data, but there's nothing new from the earlier editions. No US manual has data for 8x64S, that I'm aware of, since Phil Sharpe's 1948 supplement to his "Complete Guide".

The Hornady 11th Edition has data for Alliant and Vihtavouri powders but only some cartridges (like the 6.5 PRC) include the newer powders from those manufacturers. It has data for the .338-06 but not the .30-06 AI or the 8X64S Brenneke.

Since I don't care for newer calibers such as Creedmoors, PRCs and such I'm content with older manuals. Besides bullets I shoot such as Barnes, Speer and Nosler all have free load data on their sites.

What 358 and bow said…

I buy the new manuals ‘cause I’m a handloading loony and have 60+ manuals so I might as well keep my “complete” collections going….

Although all manuals are probably 90%+ past pressure data, often little tidbits of info can be found both in load data and the various info in the preceding sections of the manual. It has been useful occasionally.

Skimming through the most recent 11th edition of the Hornady it appears they made an effort to include at least one VV and Norma powder for most loads where applicable. All the VV loads I saw were the 100 series.

Also where I live the internet goes down often enough that I don’t rely on it. If there is a load or info that’s important I print it out and put it in my load/chrono data binders.

I tend to make do with the manuals I've got, or buy a used older one I don't have, when I run across them.

I tend to go online when I need load data, to see if they have something on them I don't.

I tend to load most of my ammo any more with info out of cast bullet manuals...

I'm old and old school on top of it...

NOT a bad place to be really.