It’s great to be able to access online load data for your cartridges. You can quickly get load data for a particular powder and bullet weight. However, there are times when we prefer to consult old-fashioned printed/bound load manuals. The primary reason is that manuals produced by bullet- and tool-makers will, for a particular cartridge, include data for powders from multiple manufacturers. Having a single source can save you time and trouble. For example, if you want to find 6.5 Creedmoor loads using H4350 (Hodgdon), Reloder 16 (Alliant), and N150 (Vihtavuori) you would have to visit three different powder-maker websites, one after another. OR you can pick up a modern load manual and find everything in one place.
There are many excellent printed load manuals on the market. We have used the Berger Manual, Sierra Manual, Nosler Manual, Lyman Manual, and Hornady Manual. We like the Berger and Sierra manuals for match rifle cartridges, and the Nosler, Lyman, and Hornady manuals for hunting loads and pistol cartridges.
The Lyman Reloading Manuals have earn praise over the years:
“Every other reloading book I’ve used favors their own bullets over every other manufacturers. With Lyman you get an honest representation of a wide variety of different… manufacturers. [Lyman has] a ton of reloading data on just about any bullet style you can imagine. I’ve tried a wide range of their recipes and everyone I’ve tried has been spot on. The overall breadth of information this book covers is impressive.” Review by RangetoReal.com.
Nosler #9 Manual Features New Cartridges
If you are looking for fairly recent cartridge/bullet/powder information, in late 2020 Nosler released the Nosler Reloading Guide #9, the latest in a respected series of Nosler load manuals.
This 800-page guide covers 101 cartridge types. New in this edition you’ll find the popular 6mm Creedmoor, 6mm XC, 6.5 PRC, and 7.62×39, along with 20 Nosler, 22 Nosler, 24 Nosler, 27 Nosler and 33 Nosler. This manual is a good resource for PRS shooters and hunters. The Nosler #9 book draws from thousands of hours in the Nosler Ballistic Lab, along with the experience of many respected experts.
The book is available for $31.99 at Midsouth or $29.95 on Amazon. Keep in mind that much of the book’s latest load data is available for free on the Nosler.com online LOAD DATA Center. But to get ALL the data, PLUS all the technical articles, you’ll need to buy the book.
Along with the Nosler #9 Manual (above), here are four other recommended Reloading Manuals:
Here Are Four General Instructional Books That Cover Reloading Procedures:
POWDER BURN RATE TABLE
Here is the most recent powder burn rate chart from Hodgdon/IMR that we could find. Click links below to access printable PDF. Note, some readers have suggested a couple powder ranking issues in the table. However, this is the latest official version from the Hodgdon website, released in October 2022.
We’re pleased to confirm that Vihtavuori remains 100% committed to producing powders for handloaders around the globe. In fact, Vihtavuori is INCREASING production dramatically, with output nearly double what it was 3-4 years ago. That is a great news for all handloaders, hunters, and competitive shooters.
On June 28, 2022, Vihtavuori published this message on its Facebook Page:
We would like to address a rumor in the market. Some [misinformed] sources have suggested that we are planning to withdraw from the consumer reloading market. This rumor is false. We have no intentions whatsoever to quit selling reloading powders or turn our backs on the reloading community. On the contrary, this year we will be producing almost double the amount of reloading powder compared to 3-4 years back. That is a massive increase in capacity.
… The demand for powder has increased enormously on a global scale in the last two years. However, we know that in many areas where the powder demand has doubled, the actual consumption has not increased as much. This means that some shooters are buying powder more than they actually need, probably partly because they believe rumors like the one we’re addressing here. But no need to worry — we are not going anywhere! We are working very hard on meeting the demand on the market and will continue to do so in the future as well — hopefully, for the next 100 years to come!
Vihtavuori Reloading Data Update
Vihtavuori has been busy producing new reloading data. Earlier this summer Vihtavuori released a major update with new load data for .223 Remington and 7.62×39, plus many new loads for .308 Win with new bullets from Berger, Barnes, Nosler, Hornady and more. CLICK HERE for new Reloading Data.
All updated load data is now available on the Vihtavuori website and in the FREE Vihtavuori Reload App. NOTE: In the Vihtavuori Reload App, new reloading data is highlighted in orange.
Download the FREE Vihtavuori Reload App (and get updates) via Google Play Store or Apple App Store:
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Sierra Bullets has released very complete load data for the popular 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge. This medium-sized cartridge has become one of the most popular chamberings for tactical and PRS shooters. The 6.5 Creedmoor combines excellent accuracy, good mag-feeding, good barrel life, moderate recoil, and reasonable component cost. That’s why this cartridge has caught on quickly.
Developed in 2007 by Dennis DeMille and Dave Emary, the 6.5 Creedmoor is a shortened and improved 30 TC cartridge case that was inspired by the .308 Winchester design. This short action design was created to maximize case capacity and a wide range of loading lengths, while still fitting in standard short action magazines. With the correct twist barrel, the versatile 6.5 Creedmoor can take advantage of the wide range of bullet weights available in 6.5 mm (i.e. .264 caliber). Reloaders should keep in mind that the 6.5 Creedmoor works best with medium to medium-slow powders such as H4350, Varget, Win 760, and RE-17. The light recoil and adaptability of the efficient 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge has already proven itself in high power, precision rifle series and benchrest competitions. Couple that with respectable barrel life and its intrinsic accuracy potential and you have a recipe for success which should insure its legacy for decades to come.
Here are three tables from the Sierra Bullets Reloading Manual (5th Edition). IMPORTANT — This is just a sample!! Sierra has load data for many other 6.5mm bullet types, including FB, Spitzer, SBT, HPBT, and Tipped MK from 85 grains to 142 grains. To view ALL 6.5 Creedmoor DATA, CLICK HERE.
INDICATES MAXIMUM LOAD – USE CAUTION
LOADS LESS THAN MINIMUM CHARGES SHOWN ARE NOT RECOMMENDED.
INDICATES MAXIMUM LOAD – USE CAUTION
LOADS LESS THAN MINIMUM CHARGES SHOWN ARE NOT RECOMMENDED.
INDICATES MAXIMUM LOAD – USE CAUTION
LOADS LESS THAN MINIMUM CHARGES SHOWN ARE NOT RECOMMENDED.
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Vihtavuori offers free reloading data online, and through a free Mobile App. And now those resources are even better — Vihtavuori has completed a significant enhancement of its reloading information for hand-loaders. First, the Finnish powder company has added the new N565 powder to the data tables. But that’s just for starters.
A massive update has been completed with new bullets added for dozens of popular calibers: “We are happy to announce the addition of more than 130 lines of reloading data, with bullets by Barnes, Brenneke, Lapua, Berger, Sierra, Woodleigh, Hornady, Nosler and LOS”. The updated online information supplements the online Reloading Databases, which has dedicated sections for Rifle Cartridges, Pistol Cartridges, and Cowboy Action.
In this latest update, two new calibers have been added: .221 Remington Fireball and .300 AAC Blackout. (Lapua now makes .221 Fireball brass.) In addition, there is updated data for the popular .260 Remington cartridge. That’s good news as we know that many of our readers are looking for load data for the .260 Rem. Vihtavuori makes a variety of powders well-suited for both hunting and match loads in the .260 Rem.
The Vihtavuori Reloading Guide covers more than 20 different types of VV reloading powders. It was most recently updated in June, 2014. The online reloading info database at Vihtavuori.com has also been updated.
Data Tip from EdLongrange. We welcome reader submissions.
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Vihtavuori has updated the loading information for a number of popular rifle chamberings. You can find the updated reloading data online in the Vihtavuori Reloading database. The updated online information supplements the Vihtavuori Reloading Guide (10th Edition) print version (and its PDF version). The online Reloading Database has been revised with updated and enhanced loading data (including some new powder options) for the following cartridges:
.22-250 Remington
.260 Remington
6.5×55 Swedish
6.5×55 SKAN
6.5-284 Norma
7mm-08 Remington
7x57R
.30-06 Springfield
.300 WSM
.300 Win Mag
.300 RUM
.338 Lapua Magnum
9.3×62
NOTE: Vihtavuori promises that: “The updated PDF for the downloads section and the printed version of the guide will be available at the end of the year 2012″.
Story Tip by EdLongrange. We welcome reader submissions.
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Nosler #9 Manual Features New Cartridges
Developed in 2007 by Dennis DeMille and Dave Emary, the 6.5 Creedmoor is a shortened and improved 30 TC cartridge case that was inspired by the .308 Winchester design. This short action design was created to maximize case capacity and a wide range of loading lengths, while still fitting in standard short action magazines. With the correct twist barrel, the versatile 6.5 Creedmoor can take advantage of the wide range of bullet weights available in 6.5 mm (i.e. .264 caliber). Reloaders should keep in mind that the 6.5 Creedmoor works best with medium to medium-slow powders such as H4350, Varget, Win 760, and RE-17. The light recoil and adaptability of the efficient 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge has already proven itself in high power, precision rifle series and benchrest competitions. Couple that with respectable barrel life and its intrinsic accuracy potential and you have a recipe for success which should insure its legacy for decades to come.
Vihtavuori has updated the loading information for a number of popular rifle chamberings. You can find the updated reloading data online in the 
