RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
I try to use data from the period the powder was made. Old loading manuals are on EBay dirt cheap. New made powders are fine for use with makers internet data.
Sometimes the old loads are best.
- Thread starter RicinYakima
- Start date
smokeywolf
Well-Known Member
I will typically look at three different books plus internet. Since the most modern cartridges I shoot, originated in the 1930s, Lyman and Ken Waters' Pet Loads are nearly always numbers 1 and 2.
Missionary
Well-Known Member
Happily we bought the Ken water's Pet Loads some years back. Some of the best advice we have looked into.
Gary
SE Kansas
I found it on www.abebooks.com for $30 + shipping but it is a used book.
Ian
Notorious member
I bought both volumes of Pet Loads off a forum classified, it's in such good condition that I don't even like touching it, but it does get used with very clean hands. Literally a lifetime of expert load information in there, with detailed discussion to boot, the thing that's usually missing from the loading manuals.
Chris
Well-Known Member
I just found Ken's book, "pet loads" on Amazon....$60
Do you guys think the book is worth the $$$?
Yes, I do. Buy it cheaper if you can, but you must own his books. I just bought "Ken Waters' Notebook" in keeping with the idea of owning his writing.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Sorry, knowledge costs money. What you get for free is worth every penny it costs. Go to Wolfe Publishing and buy the latest complete collection of all of the articles, it is well worth the money. (Checked on how much a college education costs these days?)
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Two of my four walls in my reloading room.
oscarflytyer
Well-Known Member
I just found Ken's book, "pet loads" on Amazon....$60
Do you guys think the book is worth the $$$?
Worth every penny imo. make sure it is the complete 2 volume set in one.
oscarflytyer
Well-Known Member
Some may scoff, but I also subscribe to Loaddata.com. $30/year. It has all the published data. It is NOT a load manual! If you do not have at least ONE load manual, get that first. But if you have a number of manuals (some old, some new), Loaddata is a nice resource, especially if you load a lot of old calibers and cast bullets like I do on a regular basis.
Ian
Notorious member
$60 is chump change for being able to hold the experience of a lifetime of one of the greatest handloaders of all time in your hands. I didn't realize it was still available new, my copy is very old and IIRC I paid twice that for it from an individual plus shipping. Still a bargain.
Canuck Bob
Active Member
The Water's reference material is a must have for me. I'm considering Ackley material as well. I am setup to use the Water's method of pressure analysis with case expansion.
Powder wise my stock is newer manufacture after restock from the last supply tightness. All powder is the same lot or jugs. I like manuals that post pressure or CUP data. I agree with Ric's advice. I'm a reloading granny anyway. Cautious and interested in mid-range levels of performance is my style. Camp rifle duties are stout jacketed like Partitions or older Dominion/CIL KlingKor SP bullets.
Internet data is always suspect.
Powder wise my stock is newer manufacture after restock from the last supply tightness. All powder is the same lot or jugs. I like manuals that post pressure or CUP data. I agree with Ric's advice. I'm a reloading granny anyway. Cautious and interested in mid-range levels of performance is my style. Camp rifle duties are stout jacketed like Partitions or older Dominion/CIL KlingKor SP bullets.
Internet data is always suspect.
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freebullet
Guest
Sneaky enablers I tell ya! Guess I'll put that on my list.