Best reloading manual for cast bullets?

[OneBagNomad]

I'm looking to pick up a reloading manual with a good selection of cast bullet loads, especially Ruger-only .45 colt loads. I currently use the Hornady handbook but the cast bullet loads are pretty limited in bullet styles and weights. I'm thinking the Lyman reloading handbook is probably a good choice but I don't have any place to get a hands-on look at it before buying. Is this a good choice is there a better alternative? I know there are plenty of load sources online but I like having a source for known safe loads at least to compare to.

[wiljen]

Lymans Cast bullet Handbook is easily the best printed manual for cast loads.

[462]

Lyman's Reloading Handbook has both cast and jacketed loads.

Though not as in-depth as either of the Lyman handbooks and long out of print, the RCBS manual can still be found.

[frnkeore]

RCBS has a very good cast bullet manual.

Frank

[Larry Gibson]

Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook. I prefer the 3rd edition over the 4th Edition for the informational section up front but the 4th Edition has a lot more and updated data.

Larry Gibson

[OneBagNomad]

Thanks guys/gals. I was looking at the normal Lyman handbook and didn't realize there was a separate cast bullet handbook.

[largom]

Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook. I prefer the 3rd edition over the 4th Edition for the informational section up front but the 4th Edition has a lot more and updated data.

Larry Gibson


+1
Get all of the editions if you can find them. There is a lot of good info in old loading manuals that is passed over in later printings.

Larry Miller

[94Doug]

...and pick up a few older lyman regular manuals like #45. Lots of good loads in there too. Sometimes you'll find an obsolete cartridge that you need to load in them.

Doug

[725]

+1 on Lyman and the quest for older manuals. Good to cross check load data.

[Bret4207]

Ditto, get the Lyman cast books. Also get Ken Waters "Pet Loads". Ken almost always included cast loads in his articles.

[largom]

Ditto, get the Lyman cast books. Also get Ken Waters "Pet Loads". Ken almost always included cast loads in his articles.


+1 on "Ken Waters Pet Loads" These manuals give many loads not tested by "company" manuals.

Larry

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I'm looking to pick up a reloading manual with a good selection of cast bullet loads, especially Ruger-only .45 colt loads. I currently use the Hornady handbook but the cast bullet loads are pretty limited in bullet styles and weights. I'm thinking the Lyman reloading handbook is probably a good choice but I don't have any place to get a hands-on look at it before buying. Is this a good choice is there a better alternative? I know there are plenty of load sources online but I like having a source for known safe loads at least to compare to.

Get as many books as you can reasonably afford and store.

yes Lyman's castbullet handbook is the best.
beside all the powder and bullet manufacturer reloading manuals,
Lee's book is great also.

BUT, my favorite reloading manual is "Nick Harvey's Practical Reloading."
He doesn't specialize in cast, but he documents some cast loads, what I
like about it is that this is all one man's testing data. It's great "real world"
data to compare to the Lab testing that the bullet manufacturers offer.
Jon

[Rocky Raab]

My long-misplaced review of the Lyman #4 is set for print in the next Handloader. It's an excellent book, but it does NOT contain a Ruger-only section at all. Only the regular Lyman manual (#49 is current) contains Ruger-only data.

[rmcc]

Most Lymans have a good selection of cast loads. I use #45,46,47,48,49 and they have covered just about everything I needed ( though I only do pistol and 38/55)

Rich

[Ilwil]

Lyman's new version is very good; they were generous to include loads for Lee, Saeco and RCBS noulds as well as their own. I think the Lee manual deserves a strong mention. Their load recommendations are not maker specific at all, allowing one to use virtually any mould with some confidence. I do think the powder recommendations tend too heavily towards the Accurate brand, though.

[frnkeore]

+1 to the Lee manual. Lots of good info in there including interpolation of velocity and pressure data.

Frank

[adrians]

this one

[giz189]

All of the above are good ones. My wife gave me a bunch of old reloading manuals once. The Lyman 41st Edition is an interesting one. It has cast and jacketed loads, but what is most interesting is in the very back it has a fold out section with the Ideal cast boolit designs, Lyman scope models and a bunch of Lyman receiver peep sights and what particular rifle they fit on. Interesting reading.

[Rocky Raab]

The Lee manual does indeed have some interesting things, and is worth having. ALL their load data, however, is copied from other sources. They don't even have a test lab.