Hodgdon once again starts the year off with their annual “update” of reloading data for Hodgdon, IMR and Winchester powders.  This $8, 178 page magazine includes 5000+ loads for most popular pistol and rifle loads.  It includes completely new load data for the .17 Rem Fireball, .308 Marlin Express and .375 Ruger.  They’ve also included updated loads for 20 of the standard cartridges from previous editions. 

The 2008 edition includes articles written by well known authors on wildcats, dangerous game and varmints.  There are also articles on hunting loads and cowboy powder uses.  Some of the best info included with the manual are powder usage tables, burn rate charts and descriptions of all the different smokeless powders available from Hodgdon, IMR and Winchester.

Of interest to mil-surp shooters are reloading data on many of our common calibers, including .308, 30-06, 8mm, 7.62x39, 6.5 Swede, 30-40 Krag, 7.62x54R, 7mm Mauser, .303 British and 7.5 Swiss just to name a few.  Over 120 rifle and over 80 pistol cartridges are included.  If you hunt with your mil surp this would be a good addition to your library.  Now, don’t get the misunderstanding that this manual takes the place of your standard hard cover reloading manuals available from various companies; this is not a how to guide and does not offer any step by step reloading techniques, it is pure load data.

Hodgdon also would like to point out that they have a Reloading Data Center on their website (www.hodgdon.com) where they have load data for rifle, pistol and shotshell.  This data is updated immediately after they have done their testing so that reloaders do not have to wait for a printed update.  I have found this website to be an excellent source for load data.  The site allows you to search of a particular caliber, select by bullet weight or powder type and then get a table that is printable or even have the report emailed directly to you. 

The manual will be available at your local sports and gun shops and book stores in early 2008.

On the Surplusrifle.com scale: (1 to 5, 5=great) Organization & Layout 5 Readability 5 Illustrations/diagrams/photos 5 Value 5 Appropriate level For the experienced reloader, excellent update for load data.