Opinions on Cast Boolit manuals.

[vmathias]

Want to get some opinions as to which manual I should pick up for casting. Looking for the most informative manual I can get with info including powder charges and ballistics information on all common rounds.

[kenyerian]

http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Contents.htm Glen E. Fryxell's book is a great place to start. Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook also has some good info as well as loading data for most calibers. Good Luck

[Jim]

Absolutely! Both references that Kenyerian mentioned are excellent. Another good source for info is in the ARTICLES LIBRARY (http://www.castpics.net/subsite2/default.html)of our sister site, Castpics (http://www.castpics.net/default.html).

[Jeffrey]

I've been looking at the "Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 4th Edition". It's probably the best book I've seen covering cast boolits. Stay away from the LEE manual "Modern Reloading Second Edition". As far as pure reloading data is concerned I like the Castpics page http://www.castpics.net/project2/CastDatalist.php?start=21 .
Castpics data is pretty good, but I was going through the 30-06 data and found a contradiction in the data for the 173gr 31141 boolit credited to the Lyman 48 manual.
The main thing to remember is every firearm is an individual. What works well in one firearm may not do as well in another of the same model. NEVER start with a top end load. Learn the signs of too much pressure. Don't try to turn a 38 into a 357 or a 30-06 into a 300 Win mag by putting in 'just a little more powder'. At best you'll have poor accuracy and excessive wear on your firearm. At worse you'll have a pile of pieces where you once had a fine firearm.
Be careful and have fun. Jeffrey

[vmathias]

I've been looking at the "Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 4th Edition". It's probably the best book I've seen covering cast boolits. Stay away from the LEE manual "Modern Reloading Second Edition". As far as pure reloading data is concerned I like the Castpics page http://www.castpics.net/project2/CastDatalist.php?start=21 .
Castpics data is pretty good, but I was going through the 30-06 data and found a contradiction in the data for the 173gr 31141 boolit credited to the Lyman 48 manual.
The main thing to remember is every firearm is an individual. What works well in one firearm may not do as well in another of the same model. NEVER start with a top end load. Learn the signs of too much pressure. Don't try to turn a 38 into a 357 or a 30-06 into a 300 Win mag by putting in 'just a little more powder'. At best you'll have poor accuracy and excessive wear on your firearm. At worse you'll have a pile of pieces where you once had a fine firearm.
Be careful and have fun. Jeffrey

I have already learned (and will apply) that a good rule of thumb is to stick near the low end of the powder scale when it comes to reloading any round. I am a Pennsylvania/New York state hunter so shots are almost always limited to 200 yards or less so I dont need a hot load to accomplish my task. With my 243 I am looking at max speeds with 85g bullet of approx. 2850-2950fps. I have tested 3 different grain loads starting at minimum recommended powder charge in my Ruger American (phenomenal rifle for the money buy the way) and all have shot 1.5" or under at 100 yards. One group was a 3 shot clover with a tad hotter load. As far as casting I am using an RCBS 95g mold. When all said and done i am looking for max velocities of approx. 1800fps. I think they will fill the predator hunting bill nicely.

[kenyerian]

http://castpics.net/project2/CastDatalist.php?t=CastData&z_Cartridge=LIKE&x_Cartridge=243&v_Cartridge=AND&w_Cartridge=LIKE&y_Cartridge=&z_BulletWt=%3D&x_BulletWt=&z_Bullet=LIKE&x_Bullet=&v_Bullet=AND&w_Bullet=%3D&y_Bullet=&z_Powder=LIKE&x_Powder=&v_Powder=AND&w_Powder=%3D&y_Powder=&Submit=Search+%28*%29 Trythis link for some 243 loading data

[vmathias]

[QUOTE=kenyerian;2179402]http://castpics.net/project2/CastDatalist.php?t=CastData&z_Cartridge=LIKE&x_Cartridge=243&v_Cartridge=AND&w_Cartridge=LIKE&y_Cartridge=&z_BulletWt=%3D&x_BulletWt=&z_Bullet=LIKE&x_Bullet=&v_Bullet=AND&w_Bullet=%3D&y_Bullet=&z_Powder=LIKE&x_Powder=&v_Powder=AND&w_Powder=%3D&y_Powder=&Submit=Search+%28*%29 Trythis link for some 243 loading data[/QUOT

This is just what i was looking for. Thanks a lot.

[Ziptar]

No load info in it but, JACKETED PERFORMANCE WITH CAST BULLETS By Veral Smith (http://lbtmoulds.com/books.shtml) is $25.00 that is well spent.