Reloading manuals?

[tony]

Do they expire? The load data that is?

Found some old load data, I copied pages out of old manuals friends had. I though I read maybe here or heard on a podcast that older loads "expire" or get update so to say?

 

[Pickettpuncher]

I wouldn’t say they expire but they do get updated from time to time. New data is pretty easily found these days. The front half of the book is the biggest need to keep one on hand.

 

[A382DWDZQ]

You can check for errata sometimes. The newer data will be more relevant and will be created using more precise technology. Bullets change a bit and powders can change sometimes.

 

[Koda_]

I wouldn't use old data with new components.

I bought one book when I first started but never use it. Load data is available online for free from either the bullet mfg or the powder mfg.

 

[RagnCajn]

The data doesn't expire but as previously mentioned, new components and powders get added over time. Never had any issues using new components with old data as long as I considered the type of component change I was using, i.e. a copper jacketed lead bullet from one manufacturer of the same weight is going to be pretty close to others of the same weight. Not necessarily the case if you're using a monolithic bullet. Try to match component types and use starting loads and work up.

Hodgdon has a site with up to data load data. Its very useful and free.

 

[Weldor]

I have the old books, 60's 70's and 80's. the data in them is very different then the modern books. Most of the old loads listed are way hotter than today's published loads. Even Hodgdon does not match anything in the older books. ?????????

 

[FLS]

The older books were less conservative. I think it was more understood that you are loading at your own risk.

 

[RockAndSage]

Get the newest books you possibly can, but never get rid of an old reloading manual. Cartridges come and go, powders listed change, bullets change, etc, and the old books can come in handy more often than you'd expect, even just as a reference point.

 

[TaperPin]

No manual is perfect - some are conservative, some are on the hot side. Different lots of powder can be significantly different.

Today’s reloader often seems to get the impression published loads are an exact science and working up shouldn’t be necessary. If someone is working up and stopping at pressure signs it shouldn’t matter what the published max is, but we are in the day of the lawyer and being idiot proof is more important than anything.

 

[Weldor]

I figure they all Lawyered up for that reason. Reload at your own risk, not theirs. It is a education looking up old loads in Hodgdon manual then doing it on their website. The loads vary from year to year others don't change much. I am sure bullet quality has gone up also.