How To Read A Reloading Manual

Some basics on what is found in a reloading manual.

[@richardkut3976]

Thank a lot.

[@thetexasrat]

Does Berger have Pistol data? Specifically the 45 Colt?

[@myshootingadventures3980]

Berger doesn't make pistol bullets. It's been a while since I looked, but I don't believe they make anything larger than .338 in diameter.

[@thetexasrat]

@@myshootingadventures3980 Bummer being I already ordered one of their manuals. Hopefully there will be some kind of good stuff in the manual to help me learn about reloading. Other than that It will make my library look more complete if nothing else.
Would you know if Norma, Barnes, Sierra, or Nosler have pistol data? I have not order either the Barnes or Norma manuals yet, although I did order the Nosler and Sierra ones already.
I also have gotten Richard Lee's 2nd 2020, Lyman 51st, Hornady 11th, Speer #15, Hodgdon 2023, Western Powder's 1st, The ABC's of Reloading 10th Edition, Ken Waters' Notebook by Ken Waters, and Pet Loads - Complete Volume - by Ken Waters. I also got Cartridges of the World 17th just for the history stuff in it.
I haven't made my first round yet, but I have bought the weigh scales, trickler, caliper, bullet puller hammer, loading block, case lube, funnel, brass, bullets, primers, berry's bullet boxes, and chronograph thus far. Now I am getting the books to help me learn the knowledge end before buying powders. So any advise on books to get is appreciated.
Yes I know I still need to get a press and dies, and after acquiring the books, that is next on the list to get (while I am studying up on what powders to get).

[@myshootingadventures3980]

@@thetexasrat There is a lot of good information about long range shooting and reloading tips related to that. Honestly of you are only loading for a 45 colt, I would skip the barnes and norma books. I haven't looked at a Lyman book before or Lee's for that matter. Nosler, Sierra, Speer, and hornady have good pistol data. Look at Hodgdon Reloading online; its free and they are my quick go to for loading data. I just looked and they list 20+ powders for 45 colt. Nosler puts all of their data online now, but a book is never a bad idea.
Unless you are doing some serious pistol competition, don't worry too much about pistol powder. There are still different burn rates and such for pistol powders; meaning I would hate for you to buy magnum pistol powder and try and put it in a 25 auto. If you are at the store some powder companies will put a few random recipes on the front of the bottles. Hodgdon will do that. Don't be surprised when several pistol powders are also shotgun powders. Pistol and shotgun powders have a very similar burn rate. Rifle powders are where a lot of homework comes into play.
A press and dies...Depending on what you are reloading makes a big difference. Loading pistol ammo on a single stage press is painfully slow. Ask me how I know. However, I will never load rifle rounds on a progressive. Not that you can't, but I'm too OCD to load precision rounds on a progressive. And if you are just starting out; a progressive has a lot of things going on every time you pull the lever. So it's easy to miss something. As far as brands go, I think I use something from about every different company. Not a big fan of Lee presses, but I love the Lee auto prime hand primer. Buy a digital scale, I eventually traced back a lot of velocity discrepancy to a beam style scale. However, digital scales seem to have a "personality" so it will take a little time to figure out when they start to lie to you.
I love this stuff so any help I can offer I'm happy to. Just remember these are just my experiences with things, by all means, learn from others too. Reloading is just like shooting, everyone has there own take and does it a little different.

[@myshootingadventures3980]

@@thetexasrat I forgot to say, Barnes does post a lot of their load data on their website.

[@myshootingadventures3980]

@@thetexasrat What I meant by "don't worry too much about pistol powders." was that unless you are trying to shoot really small groups just stick somewhere in the middle of the published data. For example, for my practice pistol ammo I shoot mostly Hodgdon HS-6 for all of my 9mm and 40sw. I just load them somewhere in the middle to middle upper of the published data and I have no issues. It burns clean and it's something I can buy. That's all I was trying to get at.