What is the best, and newest general, reloading manual? I want one that is not by a powder or bullet company. I also want the newest avaliable, hoplefully one that will have the new short mags.
thanks capt david

I think you`ll have a problem finding a manual not put out by a powder or bullet producer. Even Lee which is a tooling manufacture uses bullet and powder companies old data in the manual they put out. The only other choice that comes close is Lyman.
I`m not sure what is the best manual out today but, all the major component manufactures have new books out (I believe) and as far as I`m aware they all cover the new short mags to some extent. I`d look at the Lyman #48 as you don`t want a bullet or powder co. related book. My personal preferance would be Speer or Noslers simply because I use their data most often now in my own loads.

If you'r looking for "how to's,reloading procedures,and tools and equiptment" info the new Sierra manual has the best info I'v seen for someone starting out. And the data covers the WSMs.
Jeff

I've got Speer and Hornady from the late 70's and a pre 260 Remington Nosler manual. I was just looking for something new. thanks again, capt david

Get every manual you can lay your hands on and read them. Each will contain some tidbit of info that will be lost in the inevitable redundancy. Knowledge is power. Bob

Your question is impossible to answer without violating all of your criteria.

� One manual isn't enough.

� The best oneS are those published by the companies that make the components (especially the bullets) that you use. The other manuals often use data from other sources without examining or testing them. The component-manufacturers test the loads that they publish.

� Get 'em all, and keep 'em all up to date. Always get the latest editions, no matter how many older editions you have, and never get rid of your old ones (unless you send 'em to me for the Powley Center library and museum of modern handloading <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />).

� Check on-line for each company's latest data.

� Buy and study the other books on handloading, not just the manuals.

� Keep in mind that any manual's load data merely describe how they have performed in careful tests -- they don't prescribe the way you're to load your components, especially if you're loading different components or even the same components assembled to different dimensions. Also remember that your loads will almost certainly deliver minor to substantially different performance from what's reported (not predicted) in the manuals.

Hodgdon #27 or the current Hodgdon Annual manual seems very useful. Wide variety of bullets tested, thorough specifications and documented load pressures.

Most of the short mag data is free at www.shortmags.org

The Sierra manual has the 7mm WSM and Nosler 5 does not. However that's the order I would buy them. I have not seen any out in the WSSM's and I have not looked for the SAUM's.

CapDavid,
I think that there is little difference in the value of the various loading manuals.
What I consider important is which manual lists loads that compare favorably with the results that you actually get.
You can do this if you have a chronograph.
I spent most of an evening checking the loads of Sierra,Hornaday Speer,Lyman and Speer was the closest to listing loads that I,myself,shoot.
I bought the Speer #12,as a new update.
Frank