Beginning to Reload - Which Reloading Guide

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jab00

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Nov 1, 2017
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#1
I need some help in determining which guidebook I should choose now that I’ve decided to take the leap into reloading.

My plan is to keep to .308 to start with and focus on loads for my 16” shorty that’s got a 1:10 twist Bartlein barrel. The gun has done well with both 178 grain Hornady Match and 175 grain SMK FGMM, so I’ve picked up some of both of those along with some Varget powder.

While I’m waiting on my press and other equipment to arrive, I figured it would be a good time to track down the guidebooks.

So, is it as simple as grabbing a copy of the latest Hornady and Sierra books and then calling it “good” or are there other books that I should consider?
 
#2
The hornady book is good. I read the berger manual for the articles... I often see "the ABCs of reloading" mentioned but i do not myself own a copy.

But if you really wanted to cheap out, you could just use load data off the internet. Most powder makers release some data on their websites, and should be more than sufficient for early 308 loadings. Hodgdon lists 13 loads with varget for 308, including one with the 175 SMK.


When you say guidebook, you do mean 'reloading manual,' correct? You don't mean a literal how to for reloading?
 
#3
TheOfficeT-Rex said:
The hornady book is good. I read the berger manual for the articles... I often see "the ABCs of reloading" mentioned but i do not myself own a copy.

But if you really wanted to cheap out, you could just use load data off the internet. Most powder makers release some data on their websites, and should be more than sufficient for early 308 loadings. Hodgdon lists 13 loads with varget for 308, including one with the 175 SMK.


When you say guidebook, you do mean 'reloading manual,' correct? You don't mean a literal how to for reloading?
Click to expand...


Yeah - I did mean "reloading manual" and not the "how-to" reload
 
#4
Grab a hornady manual and print off the hodgdon web data for 308 and varget. That should get you started just fine.

After you've tried a few different load developments, you may decide you want another manual, and the kind of bullets/powders you're shooting then will dictate what you get -- but that can all wait.
 
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#5
I dont really use any manual anymore. The powder manufactures have data for most everything that will give you a good starting and max, if you want to go hotter than what they tell you to thats all on you, its safe to stay in their guidelines until you figure it out.
 
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#7
The hornady manual is good, but I’ve found that the powder charges are slower than in the nosler book. I’ll compare the two but since you are new to reloading, just get one and start with it. It’s a deep rabbit hole. Best of luck
 
#9
All of the load manuals are pretty good if you just want something for a quick reference.
Just keep in mind that they all pretty much use different brass with different internal volumes and different bullets with varying amounts of bearing surface that will all change your pressures. Hornady is pushing thier products, Nosler thier products and so on.
If not using the same brand of brass and bullets a full work up is in order to determine were your limits are in your rifle.
The combo of the 308win and Varget there are some pretty universal recipes that seem to work well in many rifles and Varget is one of the best temp stable powders so a good choice for a new loader as it's much less likely to have an issue of overpressure from a big temperature swing.
 
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#10
I like Nosler too. And Berger has a lot of good information. But if you are partial to one bullet manufacture, get their manual.
 
#11
spife7980 said:
I dont really use any manual anymore. The powder manufactures have data for most everything that will give you a good starting and max, if you want to go hotter than what they tell you to thats all on you, its safe to stay in their guidelines until you figure it out.
Click to expand...

I just use online data anymore.

As spife said play it safe till you have an established procedure and some experience.

Be sure to read the sticky’s here.
Some great info there.
 
Last edited:
#14
The new Sierra #6 is a pretty good manual. Lots of new powders and cartridges. Only gripe I have is they DID NOT update the 223 / AR-15 Service rifle data for new powder & bullets. A Major fuckup on their part as far as I'm concerned.

They did update the 223 Bolt gun section with the newer powders and the heavier bullets.
 
#15
FLIGHT762 said:
The new Sierra #6 is a pretty good manual. Lots of new powders and cartridges. Only gripe I have is they DID NOT update the 223 / AR-15 Service rifle data for new powder & bullets. A Major fuckup on their part as far as I'm concerned.

They did update the 223 Bolt gun section with the newer powders and the heavier bullets.
Click to expand...

Hopefully they included more data for AR-COMP in different calibers.
 
#18
Look at "Top-Grade Ammo" by Glen D Zediker. He provides far more detail than you will get in a load data manual. You will still need online load data or maybe even a few manuals but the book will get you started right.
 
#19
Get as many as you can and put them on shelves in the shitter.

DD9A2D45-D84E-4577-A44E-BAC9BBDEECC5.jpeg


This will give you more time for research.
 
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#21
Thanks for all of the advice - I ended up grabbing a Sierra and Hornady book to start. I can definitely see that I’m going to be buying a bunch of others as well in the near future.
 
#22
If you are using Varget then use Hodgdon reloading data for your cartridge .
You could also use the powder manufacturers data ADI , which the same native powder is AR2208 .
Varget = AR2208 in ADI reloading data . Go here http://www.adi-powders.com.au/rifle/ it's better data than Hodgdon . Other Hodgdon powders made by ADI .

AS30N=Clays
AS50N = International

​

AP70N = Universal
AR2205 = H4227

​

AR2207 = H4198

​

AR2219 = H322

​
Bench Mark2 = Bench Mark​




AR2206H = H4895



AR2208 = Varget



AR2209 = H4350
AR2213SC = H4831



AR2217 = H1000



AR2225 = Retumbo



AR2218 = H50BMG
 
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