ORIGINAL: Charley
Rather than buying a handloading manual, get a copy of Cartridges of the World. Probably the best basic reference to current, obsolete, European, and military cartridges you can find.
I second this nomination, and suggest you add a copy of Julian Hatcher's book called
HATCHER'S NOTEBOOK. That will provide you with a lot of good info as well as will
COTW!