Load Books

[Rainmaker]

I just bought an older 700 Remington BDL in .17 Remington. None of my load books have any info for this cartridge so I'm wanting to buy a new one that does. One that I'm looking to buy is the Lyman 48TH edition because I know that it has data for the .17.. What's your opinion of this manual? Are there any other manuals that you would recommend?

Chuck

[Adam Helmer]

Rainmaker,

I see this is your #1 post and Welcome to the Forum! I have several older Lyman reloading manuals (but not the 48th) and think they are a good solid source of reloading data. I like Lyman because the usually also list cast bullet data.

In our local small town gunshop, I get to thumb through many relaoding manuals and then buy the ones that apply to my arms. Hope this helps.

Adam

[Rocky Raab]

First, a warm welcome to HuntChat.

The Lyman manual is very god, because it is independent: neither a bullet nor a powder maker.

But it should serve as your "fail-safe" manual, to double check the loads you find in the bullet maker and powder maker manuals.

I always recommend that reloaders check with the bullet-maker's manual first because the bullet has SO much influence on peak chamber pressure. Cross-check those loads with the powder company, and if you find much discrepancy, then fall back to your faithful Lyman manual. But if there's little difference between the bullet and powder data, go with the bullet maker's loads.

Again, welcome aboard!

[Ol` Joe]

The Lyman manual IMO is one of the better ones on the market today, especially for new comers to the hobby. I agree with Rocky on staying with the bullet makers data if possible but there is a lot of good data from the powder companies available if you look. Here are a couple..

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/RecipeList.aspx?gauge=&gtypeid=2&title=Centerfire Load

http://www.hodgdon.com/data/rifle/17rem.php

http://www.imrpowder.com/data/rifle/17rem.php

[RUMLUVER]

Rainmaker,

Welcome to HuntChat! I have found that the latest LEE relaoding manual has excellent data also it is one of my go to books. Like Rocky I use it for cross referencing data from bullet and powder manufactures.

[Rainmaker]

Thanks for the welcomes, replies, and suggestions!

Normally I would go out and look at a few manuals and buy one or two that met my needs. However a lot of the places around here have gone out of buisness and that kind of material is becoming hard to find.

Chuck

[Ol` Joe]

If you need a place to find the manuals you want try here.

http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe/browse?TabID=11&Categoryid=17764&categorystring=10614***15810***

Graf, Midway, Midsouth, all carry manuals and have one of them on sale quite often. They are also a good place to find all the stuff you want but can`t find around town. Just beware, you will start seeing all kinds of stuff you all of a sudden need .:)

[Catfish]

Rainmaker,
There are alot of places online that you can get loading data, but unless it is from a powder manufacture, a bullet manufacture or simialr reliable scorce alway check it with a raliable scorce befor you load it.
Where are you in Ohio? I live abt. 10 mi. from Sidney and load and shoot the .17 Rem., the .17-223 and the .17 AH, if your close I would be glad to help you work up a load. I also have a pretty good selection of .17 cal. bullets and powders of the right butn rate for the .17 Rem.

[Cal Sibley]

You might also check the Hornady website for load data for their 20 and 25gr. bullets. There aren't a lot of manufacturers making bullets for the .17 Remington cartridge. The site gives data for quite a few different powders. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

[Rainmaker]

Guys this little project is becoming a saga. I bought the rifle at one of the auctions. When it arrived it looked brand new. However the bore was fouled and that has been a project in itself. I kinda expected that though so no problem. Anyway I've been to all of the web pages for the major manufacturers and I have the info they have made available. I've also contacted Berger Bullet for their data since it is their bullets that I will be using.....What a class act! Very friendly and helpful! Far above anything that I expected. I've also sent in and received orders from Midway and have another order arriving sometime tomorrow... There was a mistake made in one of my orders and I'm very pleased with the way that theyhandled things. Anyway the load books are in the order that comes tomorrow.......

Catfish I'm a little south of you. Not too far, just down I-75. I live in the Middletown area....The powder that I'm planning to start with will be Varget. Mostly because I have some on hand. Based on the data from Berger Bullets I'll start with 20.5 grains.

Chuck

[temmi]

If you have a favorite Bullet manufacturer I would buy theirs. Then you can have a baseline for the Powder Manufactures online Load Data. You can’t have too many books.

[BILLY D.]

rainmaker

welcome aboard from a transplanted buckeye. i'm originally from dayton.

as you were warned above look over online loads very carefully. a great percentage are tried and true but you don't want to become a victim of hot loading.

you can't have too many manuals and by simply cross checking loads the bad ones will stick out like a sore thumb. even if you are a rookie you can see the differences. and always remember no two rifles are alike in their preferences.

as you have a 17 expect a lot of copper foulng very quickly. that caliber is known for fouling. barrel break in is very important with a 17 to properly smooth out the barrel.

i have found wipe-out to be an excellent cleaner for the 17. insert it after you get home and leave it overnite and swab the bore the next day. it flat out removes the fouling.

good luck with your new rifle and there is lots of help to be had about the 17 on line.