# Model Aviation vs Hodgdon Reloading Manual

The clearest difference is rating: Hodgdon Reloading Manual at 4.3 against Model Aviation's 1.8. Hodgdon Reloading Manual also leads on ratings volume (842 vs 25) and chart position (#137 vs unranked). Model Aviation's advantage is update cadence (every 4 months vs every 10 months) and iOS requirement (10.2 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Model Aviation sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $59.99 per year and Hodgdon Reloading Manual sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Hodgdon Reloading Manual holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hodgdon Reloading Manual has 842 ratings behind it against 25, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 14% of Model Aviation's written reviews are positive against 10% of Hodgdon Reloading Manual's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Model Aviation ships an update every 4 months, Hodgdon Reloading Manual every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Model Aviation | Hodgdon Reloading Manual |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.8 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/model-aviation/id542759927/reviews) | **[4.3 (842 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hodgdon-reloading-manual/id673528110/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 25 | **842** |
| Positive reviews | **14.3% of reviews** | 10.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 10 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#137** |
| Size | 17 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.2** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [The Academy of Model Aeronautics](https://appshunter.io/developer/542760010) | [KSE Sportsman Media, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/386234089) |

## What reviewers say

### Model Aviation

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/model-aviation/id542759927)

Access the latest aeromodeling news, features, and tutorials from a leading model aviation organization. This app offers exclusive tablet content like photos and videos, enhancing the digital magazine experience with rich media.

**Highlights:** Latest aeromodeling news, In-depth features and tutorials, Tablet-exclusive photos and videos, Bonus digital content, Reformatted for tablet experience

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual Offer | $59.99 | per year |
| Model Aviation February 2016 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Model Aviation September 2012 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Model Aviation Oct 2012 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Model Aviation November 2012 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Model Aviation December 2012 | $5.99 | one-time |
| January 2013 | $5.99 | one-time |
| February 2013 | $5.99 | one-time |
| March 2013 | $5.99 | one-time |
| April 2013 | $5.99 | one-time |


### Hodgdon Reloading Manual

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hodgdon-reloading-manual/id673528110)

**Currently charting:** #137 Top Free · Magazines & Newspapers, #198 Top Grossing · Magazines & Newspapers (US App Store)

Access over 5,000 handloads and 160 pages of reloading data for rifle and pistol cartridges. This manual features updated information, articles from outdoor writers, charts, graphs, and detailed powder descriptions.

**Highlights:** 5,000+ handloads, 160+ pages of data, Updated rifle and pistol data, Articles by outdoor writers, Charts and graphs, Powder descriptions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hodgdon Reloading Manual 2014 | $8.99 | one-time |
| Hodgdon Reloading Manual 2016 | $8.99 | one-time |
| Hodgdon_2017 | $8.99 | one-time |
| Hodgdon 2020 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Hodgdon 2021 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Hodgdon 2023 | $12.99 | one-time |
| Hodgdon 2024 | $12.99 | one-time |
| Hodgdon 2026 | $12.99 | one-time |
| Hodgdon 2025 | $12.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Great info
- 🔍 User friendly
- 📚 Terrific help

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚫 Not an app, just a PDF
- 🤯 Horrible interface
- 🤔 Not user friendly or intuitive
- 🤖 Technically works, but utterly terrible
- 🙅‍♂️ Impossible to navigate

**Reported bugs**

- Purchase issues and failed downloads
- Inability to restore purchases
- Crashes and login problems

**Requested features**

- Ability to bookmark pages
- Ability to search by caliber
- Improved navigation and usability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Model Aviation free?

Model Aviation is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Hodgdon Reloading Manual free?

Hodgdon Reloading Manual is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Model Aviation or Hodgdon Reloading Manual?

Hodgdon Reloading Manual is rated higher. Model Aviation averages 1.8 out of 5 from 25 ratings, while Hodgdon Reloading Manual averages 4.3 from 842 ratings.

### Do Model Aviation or Hodgdon Reloading Manual have ads?

Neither Model Aviation nor Hodgdon Reloading Manual shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Model Aviation or Hodgdon Reloading Manual?

Model Aviation ships an update every 4 months, and Hodgdon Reloading Manual every 10 months. Most recently, Model Aviation was updated on November 10, 2026 and Hodgdon Reloading Manual on November 11, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*