Best book for beginners

[asleepatthereel]

I know its been posted before, but I am looking for the most up to date manual for beginners to start reloading. I need something that covers all the aspects, such as equipment, powder types, bullets, etc. Also information on the basics to get started. I am not going to be reloading thousands of rounds, at least thats the plan now, just what I shoot. Ive been collecting my brass for around a year, and probably have around 7 or 800 empties in .45 and .223. As of now, these are the only two calibers I am interested in reloading, with the possible exception of 30-06 in the future, and if the price of 7.62x39 brass and bullets isnt too expensive I may consider that too, but its probably hard to beat the price of the cheap Wolf stuff that my AKs love so much.

Any info will be appreciated. I have seen alot of books in the bookstores, but I dont know which one is the best for beginners. I havent found one of those 'Reloading for Dummies' books yet.

[jwp]

There isn't really a best one, just some that are a little better than others in some parts. None of them have either the writing quality or instructional value of most of the ... For Dummies series (I despise that title, but the quality of the series is quite high). The ABCs of Reloading, 7th Edition is probably about as close to those as anything else. The Lyman 48th Reloading Handbook is generally highly recommended by most people, though I personally don't much care for it.

I find Modern Reloading, Second Edition by Richard Lee to be about the most useful of the batch overall, but a lot of people seem to have problems with it. It does reward, and possibly requires, multiple careful readings as much of what he has to say isn't important to novices (or anyone else who doesn't cast their own bullets) and probably doesn't mean much to them. If you buy it from Lee Precision as their Anniversary Pack for about $5 more than the price of the book alone they also send you their little C-shape reloading press, which can be useful on occasion (in principal you could do all of your reloading on it, though I wouldn't really recommend doing so).

With regard to actual loading data, printed books will give you rough starting points. However, looking at the bullet and powder manufacturers' web sites will give you a lot more useful information. Web sites such as Ammo Guide, Reloader's Nest, Reload Bench, et al, also have much useful information.

Finally, if you can find (good luck) a library that has back issues of Handloader magazine, those would be worth going through, though there's never been a whole lot in it for the beginner. They have some sort of on-line service that might allow you to cherry-pick back issues/articles (I haven't investigated that very much).

[longtooth]

Agree totally w/ the above. ABCs of Reloading.
Wish that had been available 40yrs ago.
My Son is reading my copy of it now as he sets up.

[stroo]

Any of the books named would be a good first book. I started out with Lee's book and was able to reload using it.

[getnit1]

I own some books but I always use the internet. You can find anything you want here. And you don't have to dust it.

[asleepatthereel]

Thanks. Ill be picking up a copy of ABCs this weekend.