VII. Reloading Information

C. Manufacturer Information

11. Sierra

a. Sierra Handgun Reloading Manual

Detailed comparative review of:

		Sierra Handgun Reloading Manual, 3rd Edition
				(printed: 1989)

For its third edition of reloading manuals, Sierra offers two volumes: one
for handgun reloading and one for rifles.  Although the cost of the handgun
manual alone is more than most other "complete" manuals, I am impressed enough
by it to feel that it's a bargain.

The first section briefly describes the Sierra facility and the bullet
manufacturing process and is accompanied by numerous photographs.

The next section, Competitive Handgunning, covers metallic silhouette and
Action Pistol.  David Bradshaw provides a thorough introduction to silhouette
shooting.  It is up-to-date and he does a good job telling us what the game
is about and what the various calibers and guns are capable of doing.  As I
remarked in the Hodgdon manual review, I wish David had put a little more
emphasis on Production class guns.  Other than that, his introduction is
excellent.  Rob Leatham does an equally good job describing Action shooting.
He discusses the founding principles, "minor" and "major" loads, the calibers
and guns used, and handloading considerations.

Following this, Bob Milek and J.D. Jones provide some interesting and useful
reading on handgun hunting.  Bob Milek discusses the effectiveness and
appropriateness of various calibers, and effective distance considerations
the handgun hunter has to have.  J.D. Jones gives us some good insight into
shooting the really heavy stuff for big game.

Bob Milek has another section titled "Choosing the Correct Pistol Bullet."
This is entirely hunting related and does not discuss what might be good for
silhouette or benchrest shooting.

Sierra introduces two new topics: chronographs and ballistics programs for
personal computers.  Here, Rick Jamison writes about the principles and
features of several chronographs and how they can be used to help the
handgunner.  Sierra gives us a short description of its Exterior Ballistics
Program.  This program has three modes: mode 1 calculates point blank range
and is useful to hunters, mode 2 calculates bullet ballistics, and mode 3
answers questions about what happens when shooting conditions change (e.g.
if the wind changes).

The next section, Sierra Handgun Bullets, provides a wealth of information.
First, Sierra describes the uses and features of each type of bullet they
make, e.g. hornet, blitz, spitzer boat tail, jacketed hollow point, and so
on.  Altogether, the features and characteristics of 16 bullet types are
explained.  Here, the reader can get a really good feel for which bullet type
will be most appropriate.  If that weren't enough, Sierra then gives us the
characteristics and features of each Sierra handgun bullet in each caliber!!!
Along with this, is the recommended velocity range for accuracy and the optimum
effective range intended for that type of bullet.

In the Reloading section, topics discussed are: choosing equipment, cartridge
cases, reloading the case, case trimming, resizing, primers, powders, bullets,
and bullet seating.  There really isn't a step-by-step description, which I
think could make things clearer for the beginner.  Also, although there are
photographs in this section, it would have been useful to have photographs
illustrating case defects and pressure signs.  Sierra provides a bit more
information on primers than usual and also devotes some space to using a
progressive reloader.  There is also a powder burning rate chart, but no
description of powder usage and characteristics.

Now we come to the reloading data, which is one of the places where this
manual really shines.  The data is organized into a pistol and revolver
section followed by a single shot pistol section.  As with the Nosler manual,
I wish they would have made some color distinction between these two sections.
For each caliber, Sierra gives a description of its history, good points,
bad points, and reloading considerations.  There is also a diagram of case
dimensions, test specifications, test components (including trim length), and
bullets used.

For each caliber and bullet style or weight, we are given the cartridge
overall length, a wide variety of powders to choose from, and a series of
charge weights which you can base on either velocity or energy.  Additionally,
if the load is for a Thompson/Center Contender, you actually get two tables
per load: one for 10" and one for 14" barrels.  Finally, from out of the
table two loads are selected: one which has been determined to be the best
accuracy load and the other the best hunting load.  Although Nosler goes one
step further in choosing accuracy loads (by indicating the most accurate powder
and also the most accurate load with any given powder), the data provided here
by Sierra is excellent in its variety of powder and bullet choice.

Chapter X covers Exterior Ballistics.  This is an amazing chapter containing
almost 100 pages of very readable and well illustrated information.  Even if
you think you'd never be interested in this kind of stuff, I'd strongly suggest
taking a look.  The section begins with a historical summary and goes on to
discuss the ballistic coefficient.  Actual firing tests are described next
followed by graphs and a discussion about how the ballistic coefficient changes
near the speed of sound.  Other topics are the effects of uphill and downhill
shooting, with excellent illustrations, and the effects of wind.  The meaning
of Point Blank range is explained and illustrated well also.  This is followed
by almost 300 (!) pages of highly detailed ballistics tables and explanatory
information.

Lastly, the Reference section discusses barrel care and cleaning, cleaning
and accuracy, provides a shellholder chart, rate of twist tables, and
conversion factors.

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nice features:
	- outstanding description of the characteristics and features for
	  each type of bullet in each caliber
	- excellent load data information
	- loose-leaf format for later changes and additions, attractive
	  typography and layout
	- amazing chapter on exterior ballistics
	- highly informative ballistics tables
	- lists newer cartridges (e.g. 10mm Auto, 270 REN)

missing features that would be nice to have:
	- step-by-step description of the reloading process
	- photographs illustrating case defects and pressure signs
	- description of powders
        - a distinction between pistol/revolver and single-shot sections
	- an illustrated glossary

pages:  704 (in a 3-ring loose-leaf binder with indexed tabs)

typical cost: $23.00

overall impression:

	For experienced reloaders, I think this is one of the best manuals
	you can get.  Its strong points include the extensive information
	it provides on bullet selection, reloading data, and ballistics.
	The Nosler manual has more information on the basics of reloading,
	step-by-step methods, and useful techniques, but doesn't have the
	extensive reloading data.

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The Sierra Handgun manual (3rd edition) has reloading data for these calibers:

	pistol/revolver data:

		22 Remington jet
		25 Auto
		30 carbine
		32 Auto
		32 H&R Magnum
		380 Auto
		9mm Luger
		38 Super
		38 Special
		357 Magnum
		357 Remington Maximum
		375 SuperMag
		10mm Auto
		41 Action Express
		41 Magnum
		44 Special
		44 Magnum
		44 AutoMag
		445 SuperMag
		45 Auto rim
		45 Auto
		45 Colt (Colt SAA revolvers and replicas)
		45 Colt (Ruger, S&W, Dan Wesson, T/C)

	single shot

		22 Remington jet
		22 Hornet
		22 K-hornet
		221 Remington Fireball (XP-100)
		221 Remington Fireball (T/C Contender)
		222 Remington
		223 Remington
		6mm TCU
		6mm BR
		6.5 TCU
		270 REN
		7mm TCU
		7mm BR
		7mm Int. (IHMSA)
		7mm-08
		7-30 Waters
		30 Herrett
		30-30 Winchester
		308 Winchester
		32-20 Winchester
		32 H&R Magnum
		357 Magnum
		357 Remington Maximum
		357 Herrett
		35 Remington
		10mm Auto
		41 Magnum
		44 Magnum
		445 SuperMag
		45 Colt
		45 Winchester Magnum
		45-70 Government