I got the Lyman's 49th edition but I think I need another one or two manuals, there is not as much 9mm recipe info as I thought there would be. I was looking at the Speer manual #13 and #14, are any of these two manuals better than the other as far as over all information is concerned? You guys out there with manuals got any recommendations for me other than the Speer #13 and #14 editions?

Mahalo

I recently picked up the Lee second edition manual and am very happy with it,
Not having reloaded for very long I liked that aside from the recipes it had instruction and walkthroughs from the basics to the more complex mechanics/dynamics of reloading.
This being the only "New"/ recent production manual iv used i learned a lot reading the intro and instructions.

I recently picked up the Lee second edition manual and am very happy with it,
Not having reloaded for very long I liked that aside from the recipes it had instruction and walkthroughs from the basics to the more complex mechanics/dynamics of reloading.
This being the only "New"/ recent production manual iv used i learned a lot reading the intro and instructions.

Hey thanks t.o.g. I will check out the Lee second edition too

I got the Lyman's 49th edition but I think I need another one or two manuals, there is not as much 9mm recipe info as I thought there would be. I was looking at the Speer manual #13 and #14, are any of these two manuals better than the other as far as over all information is concerned? You guys out there with manuals got any recommendations for me other than the Speer #13 and #14 editions?

Mahalo

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If you have not done so already, you can download load data in pdf files from Hogdon, Alliant, and Accurate.
Note the Hogdon download covers Winchester and IMR too.
I also have a personal load database going back 27 years from which I can give you suggestions.

As soon as the range re-opens, I will post an article I am working on concerning alternative propellants for the 9mm.
It seems I have a lot of old shotgun powders sitting on my shelves that are perfectly suitable for pistol loads.

On your end, the interesting thing about shotgun powders is that if you can make friends with the sporting shotgun folks, you might be
able to kakaroach a pound from one of those guys. Avid shotgunners tend to buy LARGE cans of powder. So that might be
a workaround to your powder supply issues over on Kauai.

So what powder and bullets did you end up getting?

I have a couple of suggestions for you. If you are the type like myself that have a preference towards a particular brand of bullet then I would suggest buying their manual. I prefer Sierra bullets as generally they shoot well in most of my guns. I have gun that Hornady bullets shoot well through. So basically, I have the Sierra and Hornady Manuals. I also like the Lyman Manual just because I found it has good "General" recipes for starting points in reloading most calibers. So buying the manual(s) that correspond to the bullets you shoot is one suggestion and the most expensive.

My second suggestion is if you only reload one or two calibers and are trying out every brand of bullet available. And that is to buy the Loadbook from Loadbook USA at http://www.loadbooks.com. They are cheap little books that are bound by a spiral binding and are caliber specific. In other words each book only covers 9mm or .223, etc. They run around $7 each. And for the most part it looks like someone photocopied the pages right out of the loading manuals. Each loadbook gets info from many sources such as Accurate, Alliant, Hodgdon, Hornady, Nosler, RCBS, Sierra, Speer, Speer, etc. And the information is not the most up-to-date and some of it is available on the Internet. But it is nice to have it handy at your fingertips anytime on your reloading bench. I usually buy one for each caliber I shoot as well so I not only have the manual for the bullet type I shoot but also for the powder I am using.

Whichever makes the most sense for your situation. I hope this helps!

=================
If you have not done so already, you can download load data in pdf files from Hogdon, Alliant, and Accurate.
Note the Hogdon download covers Winchester and IMR too.
I also have a personal load database going back 27 years from which I can give you suggestions.

As soon as the range re-opens, I will post an article I am working on concerning alternative propellants for the 9mm.
It seems I have a lot of old shotgun powders sitting on my shelves that are perfectly suitable for pistol loads.

On your end, the interesting thing about shotgun powders is that if you can make friends with the sporting shotgun folks, you might be
able to kakaroach a pound from one of those guys. Avid shotgunners tend to buy LARGE cans of powder. So that might be
a workaround to your powder supply issues over on Kauai.

So what powder and bullets did you end up getting?

Hey there 'oldfart'. Shotgun powder for pistol loading? I have a lot to learn. No powder for me yet, still waiting on SEC to contact me when some comes in stock. Hoping for some W231. I could kick myself is the arse, when I was researching cost and such for reloading I called SEC and they had an 8lbs. W231. I was not sure what was what at the time so I passed thinking I would just call them later and pick it up. Yeah right

I picked up 4000 montana gold 124FMJ to shoot and scored some brass last year at the gun show. I am fully ready except for those pesky powder and primer things that are so important when reloading.  I looked into a freight forwarder and found Aloha Freight by recommendation here on 2A Hawaii. Thanks for that guys. Now I just have to be sure I get the right powder that will match recipes that I have in my manuals.

I looked so easy on youtube. Just kidding I have every intention of learning properly don't worry. Waiting on a friend to come over and give me a class some time soon also.

I have a couple of suggestions for you. If you are the type like myself that have a preference towards a particular brand of bullet then I would suggest buying their manual. I prefer Sierra bullets as generally they shoot well in most of my guns. I have gun that Hornady bullets shoot well through. So basically, I have the Sierra and Hornady Manuals. I also like the Lyman Manual just because I found it has good "General" recipes for starting points in reloading most calibers. So buying the manual(s) that correspond to the bullets you shoot is one suggestion and the most expensive.

My second suggestion is if you only reload one or two calibers and are trying out every brand of bullet available. And that is to buy the Loadbook from Loadbook USA at http://www.loadbooks.com. They are cheap little books that are bound by a spiral binding and are caliber specific. In other words each book only covers 9mm or .223, etc. They run around $7 each. And for the most part it looks like someone photocopied the pages right out of the loading manuals. Each loadbook gets info from many sources such as Accurate, Alliant, Hodgdon, Hornady, Nosler, RCBS, Sierra, Speer, Speer, etc. And the information is not the most up-to-date and some of it is available on the Internet. But it is nice to have it handy at your fingertips anytime on your reloading bench. I usually buy one for each caliber I shoot as well so I not only have the manual for the bullet type I shoot but also for the powder I am using.

Whichever makes the most sense for your situation. I hope this helps!

Yeah I found those loadbooks USA on Amazon when I was browsing I will pick a few up in calibers that I own. Thanks Insp.

The latest Hodgdon annual reloading guide was available at Barnes and Noble Ala Moana last week. Cover shows the new CFE pistol powder. The Hodgdon annual has a lot of reloading data for all kinds of calibers  but it's not comprehensive. For example, there's no listing for a 52 grain HPBT pill in 223 Remington. The articles may be of interest if they are about a caliber you reload for. It's interesting to build up a collection.  After a few years, they give you a sense of how the powder world is evolving. Young Guns has had the Hodgdon manual for sale in the past (usually on the counter near the cash register).
I have Loadbooks for a couple of calibers I load, plus manuals from Nosler and Lee. What was really helpful when I started was the ABC of Reloading. I think the ninth edition is the most recent. No load recipes, but plenty of good information.
If you're reloading .223 Rem, check out Rifle Cartridge Reloading by Christopher Ohland. It's very detailed and the guy is overly fond of 69 gn HPBT, but he has specific recommendations on equipment and spells out a very detailed process for making boolits. If you do everything by the book, it works.
 
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