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May 11, 2020
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My son and I are going to start reloading, I know it is not the best time. My intent is to only reload pistol and revolver ammo, namely 9mm luger, .40 caliber S&W and 357 magnum. I have read a couple of books on reloading and now would like some help with which actual reloading manual / manuals to buy with the actual recipes in them.
A lot of books are available looking on-line, some with good ratings and some with average ratings. It sounds like some books only deal with their own manufactured items looking at the questions and answers for that book. Some comments were like "that book only had 2 loads for 9mm" which was ridiculous. I sure some of those manuals are excellent and thats where I need help since I'm a newbie
Don't mind spending the money on manuals that have a lot of recipes on the calibers I want to reload but don't want to buy manuals that are 95% for rifle reloading if I don't have to.
FYI the reloads I will be doing is for target range use only so I do have some plated bullets. Carry ammo is factory HP not reloads.
I hope you guys can point me in the right direction and as usual I appreciate any and all help
Larry
February 16, 2016
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Mostly, it depends upon what propellant you use. Most come with some reloading information for calibers that produce the best ballistic results with it's specific burn rate and pressure rating.
February 21, 2011
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Check out the "All in one Loadbooks" from Midway, among others.
They're different in that each book ONLY deals with a single caliber, but concentrates the proprietary information for many manufacturers in one convenient place.
Matthew Quigley on handguns:
“I said I never had much use for one. Never said
I didn't know how to use it.”
March 19, 2016
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I agree with mister callan, I use these books for 44 mag, 357 mag, 45 acp, 40 sw, 10mm, 9mm. Not expensive, lots of info, some of my best loads came from these books.
October 2, 2021
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I like the Lee reloading manual. Good explanation of the process and good collection of tables. Next I go to the web site of specific powders that I like and download the additional, specific, recipes found there.
DWF Supporters
May 11, 2020
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I appreciate the info you guys have supplied so far. Actually, I placed a order with Midway on the 8th and it included one load book for the 9mm. Didn't know about it thought I would give it a look see, looks like I made a good choice
We also got the Lee reloading manual when we bought the Lee classic turret press kit.
Keep em coming guys I'm thankful for the help.
Larry
February 21, 2011
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Start a written notebook RIGHT NOW!
Seriously.
Document your recipes, you groups your successes & your failures.
Why? Because if you don't, when you realize later you should have, you'll have forgotten most of what should be noted!
I have both a computer spreadsheet & a hand written record, made at the range.
Matthew Quigley on handguns:
“I said I never had much use for one. Never said
I didn't know how to use it.”
March 19, 2016
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I write on my really good targets all my load data. Then I take a picture of the target. I have all the info saved on the cloud.
February 21, 2011
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You should also do the "really bad ones"!
Sometimes we learn more from our mistakes than our successes!
Lets face it no-one but you will ever see them anyway!
Matthew Quigley on handguns:
“I said I never had much use for one. Never said
I didn't know how to use it.”
March 19, 2016
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I do record the good bad and ugly. The bad and ugly have their own book. I look at it to confirm any new loads I am looking at. All logged by powder type, very quick.
February 21, 2011
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Sorry, that was intended to be for Laryv no reflection on you.
Matthew Quigley on handguns:
“I said I never had much use for one. Never said
I didn't know how to use it.”
DWF Supporters
May 11, 2020
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Thanks to everyone that replied.
Larryv
August 20, 2019
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The Lyman 50th edition is also a good one to read. I started reloading 38/357 about a year ago using the Lee Classic Turret also and it's worked fine for me. Buy some extra indexing square inserts that go inside the indexing clamp on the rod. I had to replace one already. They're only $10-12 for eight of them. Another source of loading data can be had from the powder mfg co and bullet makers. I use Hodgdon powder HP-38 and Titegroup. If you search Hodgdon reloading data you'll find it. Good luck and I hope you enjoy reloading as much as I have.
DWF Supporters
May 11, 2020
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November 5, 2010
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I know I'm a little late to this thread. One thing you should always keep in mind is that lot to lot variations on any powder can make a safe load over pressure with a new lot. When you get a new lot of powder, don't automatically keep your old recipe. Load a few 10% light from your old recipe and work up. There are both burn rate variations lot to lot and density variations. Both can affect pressure radically, the wrong combination of the two can hurt you. I burned that into my head 40 some years ago with a new lot of IMR 4227. I had a mostly mild stupid accurate target load for my 44 mags I had been using for several years. Loaded some up with my recipe, shot one round and was shocked at the recoil. The primer on that one round was flat as heck and flowed. Lucky I had no damage to me or my S&W. It's a good thing it was a mid range load by any reloading manual. If it had been closer to the high end manual loads I could have been in trouble.
Dans Club
February 24, 2013
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Thanks for that advice from your experience! I’m new to reloading and didn’t know to do this when starting a new batch of same brand/type gunpowder.
November 5, 2010
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Kurt, the way you spend money you should never buy any powder except Vihtavuori. It is in every case I have ever seen the absolute best, cleanest, and most consistent powder available in the U.S. Vihtavuori is of course a little more expensive than run of the mill powders. I'm switching to it in my 41 mags, my newest batch of IMR4227 just isn't working out. rnProblem is I only have maybe 2/3 of a pound of N110 left and can't find more anywhere, unless I'm willing to pay someone 3 times msrp, I not only won't do that but that business will never see another dime from me.
August 8, 2016
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KarlH said
Kurt, the way you spend money you should never buy any powder except Vihtavuori. It is in every case I have ever seen the absolute best, cleanest, and most consistent powder available in the U.S. Vihtavuori is of course a little more expensive than run of the mill powders. I'm switching to it in my 41 mags, my newest batch of IMR4227 just isn't working out. rnProblem is I only have maybe 2/3 of a pound of N110 left and can't find more anywhere, unless I'm willing to pay someone 3 times msrp, I not only won't do that but that business will never see another dime from me.
N110 was the cleanest burning powder I’ve ever used for 44 mag. But it wasn’t worth the premium to me so I stick with H110/W296. Though I’m low on H110 I may try AA9 for something different.
powdervalleyinc had 8 pound jugs of N110 this past week for $254. Looks like it finally sold out.
https://www.powdervalleyinc.com/product/vihtavuori-n110/?attribute_pa_options=vihtavuori-n110-8
Dans Club
February 24, 2013
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I bought a friend’s entire reloading setup including equipment, primers, powder, brass & bullets. I got his recipes for 9mm & 45 ACP. I’ve been buying his reloads for 20 yrs now. He used Hodgdon Titegroup powder for both rounds. So far I’ve just followed his recipe. No problems to date. I have a LOT to learn if I try creating my own new recipes! Kinda scares me actually so ima gonna go slow and buy some reloading books I’ve read about here on DWF.
March 25, 2022
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I've been reloading since 2001, (9, 40, 45, 223, 300blk, 308). I just bought 38/357 dies and last week I found out about lite loads of H-110 for 357. That low power load will not burn completely by the time the bullet passes the gap and will fizzle out. Set that powder aside and tried 4227 for 38, loaded some different loads but yet to test them.
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