Book Review: Handloading for Competition by Glen Zediker
Forum member Danny Reever and this Editor recently discussed how novice reloaders can struggle with the fine points of reloading, making errors in seating depth, bushing choice, or sizing their cases. We agreed that a good resource covering more than “Reloading Basics” is sorely needed. Danny reminded me that Glen Zediker’s excellent Handloading for Competition book has been available since 2002. Danny says this may still be the best guide in print for those getting started in precision reloading, though the book is not without flaws.
Danny observed: “I consider this still the best book out there on the subject. I’ve bought a lot of other books only to be sorely disappointed after spending $30-$40 of my hard-earned cash. This book is not one of those! I’ve read and re-read Zediker’s treatise at least four times and refer to it often for advice while reloading. My number one suggestion for those who buy the book is to sit down with a highlighter and read it cover to cover. It’s well-written with a bit of humor and it is not boring.”
Extremely comprehensive, Zediker’s book covers nearly all of the key factors involved in accurate reloading: case sorting, brass prep, load development, neck-sizing, full-length sizing, bushing selection/use, tool selection, priming, powder measurement, and bullet seating. The book also explains how to test and evaluate your ammo, and how to monitor and interpret pressure signs.
There are many “must-read” sections in Zediker’s book, according to Danny: “The section beginning on page 161 dealing with concentricity (and how to achieve it) is excellent. Likewise the Load Limits section discussing pressures offers very valuable advice and info. You should also read Zediker’s commentaries about load testing, powders (burn characterics etc.), and the effects of temperature.”
CLICK HERE to view book contents and sample pages.
Zediker has conveniently provided a detailed summary of his book on the web, complete with table of contents, sample pages (PDF format), and dozens of illustrations. Shown above is just one small section that covers ejectors.
Overall, we recommend Glen Zediker’s Handloading for Competition, though the book definitely could use some updating. Danny says: “Plunk down the $34.95 and buy this book, you won’t be sorry.” Zediker’s book is available from Amazon.com, Sinclair Int’l, and Zediker Publishing.
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Tags: Case Prep, Load testing, Reloading, Reloading Book, Tools, Zediker
While I agree that a “more than basics” book would be great, and also agree that Handloading for Competition covers quite the range of topics in good detail, I have to disagree (violently!) with the notion of it being well written. I believe that the useful information encompasses only about 1/3 of the book, with the remaining 2/3 being repetitive statements, bizarre colloquialisms, and long paragraphs describing things that a graph or picture would have done FAR more effectively. In the end, there isn’t any other choice that I’m aware of, so if one wants to know more in a hurry, this is the ticket. I, personally, would still spend $$ on a more condensed version of this information, since transcribing all of the useful bits out of Handloading for Competition would be a loooong endeavor that I’m not yet willing to undertake. For someone new, a less story-book information source would get my recommendation over this one hands down (providing that the “meaty” parts of both were similar). This book takes a lot that is pretty straight forward (a compilation of empirical data with hypotheses as to the source, or vice versa) and makes it intimidating due to excess verbiage, absence of organized summaries, and inappropriate media (text instead of graphics). If pressed, I could provide specific examples, but I more or less lack the motivation to do so. I’m mostly trying to tone-down a glowing review to something more moderate and beg any potential authors to write something else.
Be prepaired. Glen does not write like a reference book writer. He writes like he talks. If you were speaking with him, you would ask him what that word or phrase means, allot. He has his own unique vocabulary. You have been warned.
Great book. Worth every penny. I leaned how to reload from this book. I pulled it out last night to remind myself of something he wrote about years ago. The black and white graphic from the book is what I remembered. had to look up the text.
I agree this book has a lot of good information, but good luck finding it and distilling it into something concrete. Zediker’s book is a useful resource for an experienced reloader who is looking for esoterica and a subjective take on different techniques, but the biggest problem for a relative novice reloader is that Zediker rarely states anything conclusively – everything is equivocation and anecdote.
Precision Shooting magazine publishes a much better guide:
http://www.amazon.com/Precision-Shooting-Reloading-Guide-Brennan/dp/1931220123
Well you should all be ashamed…. I noticed that none of you geniuses have written a definative book on the fine and truly wonderful art of handloading. I had been reloading for years and after reading Glens book it was like having my eyes opened. Well done Glen and take no note of these opioninated who have nothing better to do than to hide behind their screens slinging remarks like the above.
I now have a much better insight and overall knowledge into firearms in general and have the ability to ask the right questions when ordering and or building a new rifle.
I have read your book several times and all the information is discussed in so much length that its hard to get it wrong.
Keep up the good work
Clint,
To whom are you speaking Clint? “You all” sounds like your including me in your scolding. I appreciate Glenn’s work. I have Glenn’s book, AND the precision shooting book mentioned above. Everything said here so far about both books is accurate. I don’t think anyone here wants to sell their copy of Glenn’s book. I know I don’t. Have you written a book I should read?
Glenn, are you here? Chime in.
Regards,
Buck
Buck,
Not directed at you… It seems that generally whenever theres an opportunity, we as humans tend to be negative and knock people.
Glenn’s book took me from nowhere, to, I believe a much more competent reloader and I am truly grateful for the info even if its written in his style. It made it all the better. And yes I wouldnt sell it for the world .. as a matter of fact I need a new copy as the current one is always on loan and its flogged..
Hi Clint – I wouldn’t criticize Zediker’s book without good reason. It’s a book worth owning, but I don’t agree that it is a good “first reference” for precision reloading for the reasons I stated.
Just by way of illustration: take a look at the caption in the sample image from the book. What exactly is Zediker telling the reader?
1. An ejector mark on a case head MIGHT be a sign of overpressure
2. The ejector pressing on the case head MIGHT conceivably degrade case head squareness
3. Cutting down the ejector spring MIGHT help reduce the possible degradation of the case head squareness
These are interesting parameters to consider, but where are the facts?
Dwight, I agree…. however the guy has tried to condense it and proclaims it wasnt to be a definative be all end all type of book.
On purchase and first reading I sent Glenn a message thanking him for his book. I did suggest at the time I would love to see a full spell it out simply intense guideline to handloading from whoa to go. I still think its a good idea and maybe in collaboration with somebody else it would sell like hotcakes and both educate and promote the obsession that I too have obtained. Unfortunately as I say to my lovely understanding wife that it remains to be one of those subjects that the more you know the less you realise you do..
By the way, I would welcome any suggestions to any other literature as I now have the long range bug. Any help would be appreciated.
Is Mr. Zediker still alive? He hasn’t updated his sight in a while. I hope he’s ok.
I agree the book is helpful but it is first of all an over the course AR15 platform 600 yard competition reloading manual written in a very unique style that can be hard to follow. I was able to glean some stuff from his book but I would say it is far from an all inclusive book. I much prefer some of the materials written by Precision Shooting Magazine. I have been into the 200 yard Prairie Dog Competitions and thus it wasn’t everything I needed.
I have the book and read it twice. Yes, he has his own twisted definitions that are difficult to comprehend, and I guess he is a unique person. There are some very good tips in the book. However it is obvious that he is an AR shooter, and not all of the material applies to pure bolt action BR competition. In fact, I detect a bit of sarcasm for BR disciplines. I really got weary of reading “David Tubb does this and David Tubb designed this, and David Tubb. . . .on and on”
Every home should have one!
I still have mine and refer back to it often. My pages are dog eared and highlighted with notes written to myself in the margins. I had to cover my front and back covers with clear tape from use. I’ve bought a couple of the books from Precision Shooting Magazine and they left me wanting, but to each his own.
Danny
One thing I liked about the book was it helped me understand the function of better tools.
The one I have has Glenn’s autograph, may be just me, I love it. The other one of his on AR15s, I have also. I could tell from the getgo that I could learn a lot from these books. Thank You Glenn
I have read and re-read my copy to the point that the pages are beginning to fall out. It is not the definitive text to all things reloading, but it will work until something better comes along. Glen’s writing style is unique, and that is what I find to be a welcome diversion from the alternative of a boring, technical dissertation.
I have quite a few of Glenn’s books and they do have a high fog factor–in my opinion. But, they are also books I would recommend and refer to often.
As to his health; I have not coresponded with him recently but he went through a very serious operation due to an illness about two years ago. Last time I checked he was on the mend but it was slow going. Give hime a call or send him a message. He will appreciate the concern and is generous with his knowledge.
Tom Alves
I love Glenn’s rhetoric, though it’s true you gotta dig for some information from ‘im.
Think about another book–Tubb’s ‘The Rifle Shooter’–magnificent in its organization and filled with information that seems like it’s a champion’s secrets disclosed. But it’s hard to stay awake when yer reading it. Not an exclamation point in the whole thing.
I have a copy of Glenn’s book and I may have to order another one, I have had this one for a couple of years, I pack it back and forth to work in my pickup, I have read it cover to cover several times and refer to it quite often, it is not a complete reloading manual, he states that, he has a odd way of explaining things at times but all in all it is a excellent book and I highly recommend it to the beginner or advanced reloader, as it has something for everyone, it is a big help in choosing the right tools. I tip my hat to Mr. Zediker,….thank you for a very needed book in the shooting world, nothing in this life is perfect but this book is a very good book IMHO.
Wayne.
I purchased this book a couple of weeks ago and could certainly suggest some modifications that would make it more “reader friendly”. Most notably, a good index and noting where in the book something is also discussed.
But while it was at times tedious to wade through the unique writing (and I’m sure, speaking) style of Mr. Zediker, I wouldn’t want to lose the innumerable insights, nuances, and appreciation that, in the end it’s really something we have to figure out on our own to a great degree.
This book is literally brimming with pearls of wisdom, and like the real pearls at the bottom of the ocean, it takes considerable effort to make them our own. But Wow! What a haul of pearls it is!
In my opinion as a beginner to this hobby, the boatload of pearls makes the work required in their retrieval irrelevant. Furthermore, where else are soooo many pearls concentrated and findable?
As said, in my opinion. (Now I’m starting to write like GZ …)