Jacks Favorite Ballistics, Ammo and Reloading Resources

[ModernSurvival]

I will add the stuff I use most today and will edit the original post over time.  That said these are the online resources and some recommend offline resources I use to develop knowledge and load data.  I use these both for reloading and many of them for making decisions about factory ammo or weapons purchases.  


Calculators and Software

Recoil Calculator at HuntAmerica - Great resource especially when selecting a rifle for a new shooter.  Allows you to use either hand load projections or factory specs to calculate felt recoil for any rifle or pistol cartridge.  You will get the most valuable data by first calculating something you are familiar with and then comparing the results of the new combination. -  http://www.huntamerica.com/recoil_calculator/

Ballistics Calculator at Handloads.com - Generate all the relevant data about trajectory, energy, etc for any load that you know the muzzle velocity and component data for. - http://www.handloads.com/calc/

Federal Ammunition Ballistics Software - This is a download application you install on your PC.  It is specific to Federal factory ammunition but you can select loads that are equivalent in component specs and get fast and detailed projections of performance. - http://www.federalpremium.com/resources/ballistics_application.aspx

Hornady's Ballistics Calculator - Great tool that I use often while on their site.  - http://www.hornady.com/ballistics-resource/ballistics-calculator


Ammunition Components Data And Specs - Powders, Bullets, etc.

Nosler Bullets -  I am a huge fan of Nosler, specifically the world famous partition bullets. - http://www.nosler.com/

Hornady Bullets - I really like the SSTs for deer sized game, their performance is exceptional and their accuracy superb.  I also really like the 265 grain flat points in 44 magnum for a carbine hunting load.  All in all I consider Hornady to be the best value in bullets today as far as cost to performance. - http://www.hornady.com/bullets

Barnes Bullets - If I were going after dangerous game or on the hunt of a lifetime and wanted the absolute best of the best I would likely be carrying Barnes bullets.  If you ever hunt really dangerous African Game Barnes Banded Solids are the ticket. - http://www.barnesbullets.com/

Speer Bullets - To be honest I use Hornady, Nosler and Barnes for 90% of all my jacketed bullet needs but Speer has a few things that only they offer.  Such as their 350 grain flat point in .458 which is a sledge hammer loaded in the 45-70.  http://www.speer-bullets.com/


Where I Buy Most of my Components and Reloading Equipment and Many Gun Parts and Smith Equipment

Note - There are a LOT of great suppliers out there but these two have good pricing, good service and a huge selection.  I don't buy everything from them and I TRY to buy from small companies when I can but no matter what you need you will find it and great service from these two.  Additionally - Yes I am trying to get one or both to do something special for the MSB, I even got a direct response and referral to the marketing department at MIdway by Larry Potterfield himself.

Midway USA - They have EVERYTHING from reloading components to parts, etc.  Exceptional customer service as well. - http://www.midwayusa.com/  

Midsouth Shooters Supply - I love their catalog and they have everything you need for reloading and more.  Pricing and service are on par with Midway so I generally order from each of them and spread my business out to two very good US Companies.  - http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/


Powders and Reloading Data

Hodgdon Powder - Hodgdon is one of my favorite powder makers.  They have great consistency and measure our very well.  You can also get full load data from their website for all their powders. H4227 is of course a key ingredient to my "special" quiet 44 load for the Marlin 1895.  - http://www.hodgdon.com/  

IMR Powders - Most of the time if I am not using a Hodgdon Powder I am using an IMR powder.  Again great stuff and all the load data is free on their website.  - http://www.imrpowder.com/

No disrespect to other powders these are just the two I use most.

Reloading Manuals

Modern Reloading by Richard Lee - http://tinyurl.com/modern-reloading

The Speer Manual - http://tinyurl.com/speer-manual

The Hornady Manual - http://tinyurl.com/hornady-manual

[quietmike]

Reloaders reference. This is a HUGE file but it contains a giant database for reloading that includes most all commercial and surplus powders and bullet makes. It also has printable targets and owners manuals from nearly every manufacturer.



http://sourceforge.net/projects/reloadersrfrnce/

[Greywolf27]

I have an app for my Iphone called Ballistic TFE. 
It costs $10.00, but will log into the national weather service to give you local weather, elevation, pressure, wind, etc (Tin Foil Hat brigade has not approved the GPS locator function).  It has load data for just about EVERY rifle cartridge and some pistol cartridges.  Will give you a breakdown of windage and bullet drop for your load at specific ranges, as well as velocity lose and ft/lbs lose at all of the ranges.

[RipTombstone]

Dont forget this tip either. If you have an FFL, either 01 or 03, (regular FFL or Curio and Relic), Midway USA will set you up with dealer pricing, which does help save you some bucks.
Brownells also does this for you, for your firearms parts and accessories.
RipT

[rickomatic]

Great resources. I've also had great success with Natchez Shooters Supply. Them and Midway are my go to places.

[RacinRob]

I shoot a lot of pistol.  So I use a lot of FMJ.  For cheap range bullets I go to Roze Dist.  http://www.rozedist.com/ I have also used Percision Delta http://www.precisiondeltasales.com/ Roze bullets are just better and you get them a little faster.  For brass I like http://store.tjconevera.com/oncefiredbrass.html