I just noticed that the RCBS press kits are sporting Nosler manuals instead of the usual Speer manual. I'm a huge fan of Nosler and haven't used a hunting load with anything else for years, but for the typically beginner that these kits target wouldn't Speer bullets be more affordable and available? As far as I can tell Nosler wasn't bought up by ATK so I find this switch rather odd. Does anyone have any insights?
I haven't heard anything in any of the rags or online sources but I'd suspect that Speer bullets will be disappearing soon and/or a Nosler deal is in the works.
Ever since ATK bought em up, there have been some really silly decisions made in the manufacturing/marketing area at Speer. Some bullet lines discontinued and brought back a while later. Some common ones discontinued altogether, etc...
And quite honestly, the quality of Speer bullets in the last 10 years or so has really dropped of. I've seen a lot of larger weight and diameter deviations than what used to be acceptable. some of my favorite loads that used Speer just don't work as good as in the past. I can't say for sure that the bullets are the piece to blame but it sure seems like it.
I think I've only got 3 boxes of Speer bullets left on the shelf in the reloading room. Aren't worth buying anymore for my rifles.
Now...if they discontinued the pistol Gold Dots (components or loaded ammo) then I'm really gonna be ticked off.
Gosh, let's whip everyone up in a panic; so what that RCBS has decided to package a different book with their gear; decisions like this- which manual to pack- often amount to nothing more than a political or cost based decision; nothing more and nothing less. Heck, it might be that they save nothing more than a dollar, or even a few cents, by switching manuals; most of the time its purely a cost savings effort on their part; reality is that most newbies buying a kit are looking for a book to start out with & end up with several rather quickly anyways- if they stay around.
From the sounds of those that posted previously in this thread, it sounds like that you can only use nosler bullets with nosler manuals, and speer bullets with speer manuals... hmmm...
You do realize that Speer and RCBS are both owned by ATK? It's a bit like saying "so what" over Ford announcing that all parts and service for their vehicles will now be handled by Chevy dealerships.
Really? My rock chucker has to be near that vintage and came with a speer manual, though I do have sierra manuals. Was it a rock chucker, supreme, or a partner, or other style press? And press only or a kit?
It was a Rock Chucker Supreme through Cabelas. I think you are correct, I think it did come with the Speer. But I think I bought the Sierra manual at the same time so I'd have one.
Paper books are about 90% obsolete. I'm on the road a lot and I order almost all of my supplies from the Internet. So, I most often use manufacturers web pages as a source of data when I'm looking at loads and buying supplies.
Before I set down at the bench I will check load data that I have been using against the Speer book and I never proceed on the bench without at least two sources to see if a particular load is within spec....
Instead of a paper book, press kit makers should consider a CD instead. This would save costs I assume.
Yeah, some information is only available in the book so it does have value but a CD would be better.
Meanwhile I'm the kind of guy that will take a 300 page PDF design specification document and print it out, punch it, put it in a 3-ring binder, and fill it with hand written notes, yellow stickies, and other bookmarks. Then while reading it I've got fingers shoved into 3 different places so that I can quickly flip between them. I would hate to see manufacturers switch to electronic only without a print option.
Me too. I use the internet for tons of research, but stuff I really want to dig in to I print and keep in binders with notes. I keep all my old reference books and supplement with stuff off the net.
I'd like to be able to do reloading in case of emergency with no power, or for instance, like I do at the range with my hand press... palaer is good, especially after the big emp...
I love good old fashion BOOKS,I don't mind reading articles,etc on line,but books -no.I have one of them Kindle things but it's not the same.I do like going to a site and picking up recipes from powder sellers,but a book in my hand is worth it.
It is interesting that RCBS would take that route. Maybe there's something going on in the background we aren't privy too yet?
Although I'll use the internet for research as well and print out the information I want to keep, I'm a firm believer in paper manuals and have a fairly good number of them on hand. I use and or have used many different manufactures bullets (and powders) over the decades and have collected manuals for all of them and more. In my loading library are currently all of the manuals printed for; Speer; Hornady; Sierra; Nosler; Barnes; along with Norma #2, three of four from VihtaVouori, a number from Hodgdon and Lyman (some real old, some much newer), Lee's 2nd, some of the older Du Pont manuals, years of Handloader Magazines and loads of misc. items. There is a boatload of good reading in the older stuff; it's like taking a walk through the history/progression of handloading. Very interesting stuff, at least to me. There have been times when I've picked up old boxes of no longer made bullets at gun shows (most to collect and some to shoot) and have found the scoop on them right there on my shelves. I find that quite satisfying too.
What am I thinking? How could I forget to mention two of my favorite handloading subject books? Well, OK they aren't keep in the same room, but they are the loading classics of "Ken Waters' Pet Loads" and "Ken Waters' Notebook". If you don't have them, you don't know what you're missing.
if you shoot speed projectiles, they are very helpful
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