Best reloading manual?

[finishman2000]

I wa wondering what the best manual for us casters. I have an old Lyman and it's great if you are using old powders and most new manuals kind of ignore cast boolits.
Is there one or two with a wide weight range and new powder choices?
Thanks Cas

[qajaq59]

The Best? There isn't one really. But at least now a lot of the powder companies will send you their manuals for free so you can get a lot of info to choose from. I have 6 different manuals around here. Some were free and others cost something. The Lyman I use a lot, and others occasionally.

[Bret4207]

I probably have 30 manuals. plus the pamphlets and books going back to the 'teens and earlier. The Lyman Cast manual is still the best for starters. For "fresher" info check the websites of the powder companies.

AFAIC the BEST reloading BOOK is Ken Waters "Pet Loads", the best MANUAL would probably be the Hornady manuals or the Lyman manuals.

For the best up to date cast loading info there is no manual or book. It's this website.

[finishman2000]

yea but sooo many new powders and not enough lead boolit info. it doesn't matter the boolit style but the weight is what i look at. i think casting is making a comeback and hope the powder makers see that.

[GabbyM]

Lyman 49th is pretty good. New last year.
Was disappointed when I discovered they dropped cast listings in 6mm and 270. They made molds for them just a year or two ago but already deserted the calibers. Other than that they have a large bullet selection in jacketed and cast bullets. All Lyman molds on the cast of course.

[badgeredd]

I don't believe there is a "best" manual from one source. Lee's manual does have quite a bit of lead boolit data which I find helpful. I also have several manuals current and old. Lyman's cast manual has quite a few pointers in it too for a newbie. AND I absolutely have to brag on Wiljen's Software!!!!

With the software, I've been able to consolidate my pet loads and there are gobs of data in there...and he has graciously provided it for FREE!

Here's the direct link:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/reloadersrfrnce/

I have given away a few Reloading books to guys that were just getting started in reloading (which at times I regret [smilie=b:) because of the explanations on the mechanics of the process. Personally I don't find any manual a perfect book because all are limited (realistically) in what they can provide in powder and bullet/boolit data.

Edd

[jdgabbard]

I find that I use the Lyman manual more than anything. But mostly because it has gobs of cast data. But like mentioned I don't think there is such a thing as a "best manual". I think there is a better manual for a load maybe, but whatever the case is there isn't a manual in my collection that I'd just give away. I'm always looking for more data for cross referencing...

[jimkim]

I like the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook. http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=796528

[fredj338]

For lead bullets shooters, the ne Lyman is the only real choice. I also like the SPeer, the Lee is ok, but the scattered way the load data is presented bugs me, plus the generic bullet choices & OAL mean almost nothing.

[1Shirt]

:coffeecomNo best overall for all types of reloading. For cast however, Lyman is king of the hill. It is also wise to pick up and maintain the freebees put out by the powder and blt mfgs. The price is right, and they are always good for comparison review.
1Shirt!

[finishman2000]

my Lyman is the 45th edition. does anyone have that one as well as the newest? is there more powder listed.
thanks in advance, Cas

[405]

No one manual has it all. I'm pretty sure none have the best magnum powder for and correct bullet hardness and alloy for shooting cast SFPSWC #228457893 bullets out of the .227 super bee cheetah elephant slammer round either! :shock:

Your Lyman 45th edition is a good one but both the 48th and 49th editions have a much better current set of data for many of the newer components. You may find the 48th used versions quite a bit cheaper. The current 49th edition is available from regular sources like local gun stores, Midway, Grafs. etc. So either the 48th or 49th Lyman along with the current Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook are about as good as any for both the general user and the cast bullet specialist.

[mpmarty]

I find the LEE second edition quite valuable. I've got about twenty different manuals from the early PO Ackley, Speer "overloading" manuals Lyman first edition shotgun manual, NRA handloading hardcover manual circa 1968, to current Hornady, Nosler, Speer, Lyman and others. While the LEE is a compilation of data from elsewhere it also has some very excellent pressure tested information from Hodgdon powder, tests done specifically for the LEE manual.

[Dale53]

I have recent manuals from most of the "biggies". Lyman is the most used. I REALLY like Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook 3rd Edition. I also use their 47th and 49th Edition Reloading Handbook. I am a bit peeved that they have dropped some classic bullet moulds from their catalog and have accordingly dropped the data from their newer manuals. So, I would SERIOUSLY suggest to pick up a copy of the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 3rd Edition while there are still some around.

The Hornady and Speer manuals offer data with their swaged lead bullets but it has to be toned down because of the bullets soft alloy and doesn't represent the upper end of cast bullet possibilities. The data is still very useful for target loads with cast bullets, however.

Hodgdon offers pressures with ALL loads but the velocity is obtained in a closed pressure barrel and is not representative of what YOU will obtain in YOUR revolver.

Lyman offers pressures and many times the velocities are with a 4" vented barrel so has some relationship to what YOU will obtain.

And on and on...

Dale53

[mooman76]

Lyman and then comes Lee. That's where lead bullets are concerned. The other manuals don't have much in the way of cast.

[Marlin Hunter]

I find the LEE second edition quite valuable. I've got about twenty different manuals from the early PO Ackley, Speer "overloading" manuals Lyman first edition shotgun manual, NRA handloading hardcover manual circa 1968, to current Hornady, Nosler, Speer, Lyman and others. While the LEE is a compilation of data from elsewhere it also has some very excellent pressure tested information from Hodgdon powder, tests done specifically for the LEE manual.


For the Money, the Lee is a good book to have. It also maybe good for a first book. There are a few things in the manual that I do not think are right. One part of the book says NEVER to go under a specific load, but then it gives a Lee dipper number that throws a smaller than minimum load. I think it was in the 38 special 158 gr lead boolit section.