Reloading manuals for cast boolits

[Evoken]

Gentlemen,
I have several reloading manuals, most of the major ones actually. Is there a manual that has more cast loads in it? I have the lyman cast volume 4, however it does not have many lee molds in it. Right now I only have lee molds because they are cheap and seem relatively easy to use. Does the new 2020 lee manual cover the molds they make? It is one of the few modern manuals I dont have.

I actually think my favorite manual is Sierra vol 5. I just bought the new vol 6 for the updated powders and dont think I like it as much.

Here's what I have as far as modern manuals:
Lyman vol4 casting
Lyman vol 5 (?) Reloading
Sierra vol 5 and 6
Hornady X
Nosler 10 (?)

I have a few older ones that are interesting to look at, but i don't necessarily trust the data in them. Not to mention there are some powders listed that you cant even get anymore.
I also use all of the powder companies web pages, they have some great info. I think I like the Hodgdon's page the best. Some of the bullet manufacturers have some nice info also.

[dragon813gt]

Use jacketed data, start low and work up. The manuals themselves aren’t your gun so the results will be different right from the start. Differences in bullet dimensions and profiles are going to effect the end result. Which is why you start low and work up.

The Lyman cast bullet manuals have the most data.

[Three44s]

RCBS published a cast bullet manual several years ago. You can watch for a used copy on the net.

A member here could copy a page pertaining to a particular cartridge and PM you it as well.

Three44s

[bedbugbilly]

There are 4 editions of the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook. I have all 4 editions but my most used is the 3rd edition. I don't have a link to it but maybe someone who has it will come along and post it.

You won't necessarily find your exact boolit in every loading manual. Go by the boolit weight and cartridge overall length. Easy enough to make a dummy round with your boot and seat it to the crimp groove - double check and compare the COAL. Example:
say I'm going to load 38 special. If I have a boolit design that drops from X brand bullet mold at 128 grains, I'll take a look at the loading data for something a bit user it if the manual does[t show the specific boolit / boolit weight - say the data for a Ideal/Lyman 358-242. Like any load developement, I'll use that data and work the load up from the minimum charge until I get a load that shoots well - never exceeding the maximum load.

I have a number of Lee molds - have been casting for 55 years so have quite an accumulation of others as well. I have a copy of the Lee reloading manual and even the Lee manual does not show all of their mold boolits.

I will sometimes take a look in the 1st and 2nd edition of the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbooks, but even after getting the 4th edition - which includes a few cartridges that were not in the 3rd edition - I still use the 3rd edition more than any other manual - for both pistol and rifle cartridges.

If you decide you want a hardcopy of the 3rd edition or the others - keep track on fleabay.

[gmsharps]

Take a look at the lasc website It has a lot of cast info

Gmsharps

[Winger Ed.]

I'm real big on loading books myself.
I'll lay some out on the table and study them like a General does a sand map when I'm getting into a new project.

They're a great place to start, you have the good ones too, and they'll keep ya from getting in trouble.
With cast, I've had to learn a lot from other's shared experiences also.

[Handloader109]

I've got a pdf of the Lyman 3rd edition. but its 375MB in size. I can mail drop if you have an apple... pm me if you want it.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

[Hick]

There are 4 editions of the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook. I have all 4 editions but my most used is the 3rd edition. I don't have a link to it but maybe someone who has it will come along and post it.

You won't necessarily find your exact boolit in every loading manual. Go by the boolit weight and cartridge overall length. Easy enough to make a dummy round with your boot and seat it to the crimp groove - double check and compare the COAL. Example:
say I'm going to load 38 special. If I have a boolit design that drops from X brand bullet mold at 128 grains, I'll take a look at the loading data for something a bit user it if the manual does[t show the specific boolit / boolit weight - say the data for a Ideal/Lyman 358-242. Like any load developement, I'll use that data and work the load up from the minimum charge until I get a load that shoots well - never exceeding the maximum load.

I have a number of Lee molds - have been casting for 55 years so have quite an accumulation of others as well. I have a copy of the Lee reloading manual and even the Lee manual does not show all of their mold boolits.

I will sometimes take a look in the 1st and 2nd edition of the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbooks, but even after getting the 4th edition - which includes a few cartridges that were not in the 3rd edition - I still use the 3rd edition more than any other manual - for both pistol and rifle cartridges.

If you decide you want a hardcopy of the 3rd edition or the others - keep track on fleabay.

You can find a copy of the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook Edition 3 (and much more) here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B5OXFZ9peAawfi1zNHA1TUx3QjhFRVA3RGc2cTVCUUZFanpjT 1RJSlJRQW1FR001OGcwTEk

[Bazoo]

I am unhappy with the lack of data using Lee bullets. It's no bid deal when working with a low pressure easy to load cartridge like 38 special. Just about any bullet of similar weight can be substituted for starting loads. But jump to 357 magnum, and the story changes. It's much more advantageous to have a bullet with data available. So, the only thing you can do is research similar bullet weights, and measure their volume in the case.

For the Lee 358-140-SWC, which I have, sure making 38s was easy, but 357s was more challenging. I found out that the RCBS 38-150-SWC has the same amount of bullet in the case. Being the RCBS is a heavier bullet, you can use that data to work a load up for the Lee.

If a company was to publish a manual with all Lee bullet data for popular cartridges, it'd sell like hot cakes.

[dragon813gt]

If a company was to publish a manual with all Lee bullet data for popular cartridges, it'd sell like hot cakes.
Not enough profit to recoup the cost of testing. The reason bullet and powder manufacturers put out data is so you buy their products. I would buy said Lee manual, even though I don’t any Lee molds, because I like collecting load manuals. But if Lee isn’t putting it out no one is going to.

[Bazoo]

When Lyman decided to include data for a handful of various other manufacturers moulds in their 4th edition Cast Bullet Handbook, I was quite surprised. Because like you say, it's really not in their financial interest to advertise others products. It's one of the main reasons I purchased the manual. That, and I wanted to read the articles and have it at my disposal.

[Evoken]

Thanks for all the replies fellas. Like many others I just work up a load if I cant find the data on a particular projectile.
Like some have said however, once you get up there in speed and power it's nice having the info for that particular item.
I also just really like having the different books. I lay them all out for a particular load I want to develop and compare what powders worked for them, seating depth, etc.
Casting is opening a new realm for me and i want all the info I can find. I know I can ask the question about a particular load/projectile here, but I like a hard copy.

[sharps4590]

It warms the cockles of my heart to read your last statement, "but I like hard copy". Too many believe everything they need to know is on some web site somewhere.

[mdi]

Take a look at the lasc website It has a lot of cast info

Gmsharps

Yep^. http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Contents.htm

I too prefer the Lyman #3 Cast Bullet Handbook over the 4th. Seems to be a bit more "new caster friendly", but if you are into Black Powder Cartridge Rifles, the 4th may suit you better...

[Bent Ramrod]

Have you looked for a copy of Modern Reloading, by Richard Lee? He doesn’t specify his moulds exactly, but there is a plethora of data in there, covering powder charges and all boolit weights, cast and jacketed, from lightest to heaviest. I’m sure that his own mould designs would not be neglected in these load charts.

In any case, the ultimate “hard copy” of load data for your particular gun and boolit will be the loading notes you make yourself, going through the suggested incremental powder charges from min to max, shown in the manuals, that you test for your boolit in your gun.

[Evoken]

It warms the cockles of my heart to read your last statement, "but I like hard copy". Too many believe everything they need to know is on some web site somewhere.

Hahaha, this made me laugh. You certainly can't trust everthing you read on the net, that is for sure. Some of the loads guys put out there on the "tacticool" sites amaze me that more of them don't blow themselves up.

I think I will order the modern reloading book I'm sure it's got some useful info in it as well.

[farmbif]

long ago when I started reloading it seemed that most reloading data pamphlets and books grouped all bullets of the same weight for each caliber using the same data. if that makes any sense. start low and work up. I like to stay clear of powders that can have erratic pressures.

[dragon813gt]

I’m sure that his own mould designs would not be neglected in these load charts.

Unless someone else tested them they were neglected. Lee does not perform any testing. The reprint data from other manufacturers.

[alamogunr]

You can find a copy of the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook Edition 3 (and much more) here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B5OXFZ9peAawfi1zNHA1TUx3QjhFRVA3RGc2cTVCUUZFanpjT 1RJSlJRQW1FR001OGcwTEk

I went to that site and found the Lyman #3 Cast Bullet Manual but when I went thru the download procedure I couldn't find the manual. Where does it put the result?

Just wanted it for convenience. My #3 is in the shop and sometimes I want to refer to something while at the computer.

[Hick]

I went to that site and found the Lyman #3 Cast Bullet Manual but when I went thru the download procedure I couldn't find the manual. Where does it put the result?

Just wanted it for convenience. My #3 is in the shop and sometimes I want to refer to something while at the computer.

Well-- in most computers it puts it in a folder called downloads-- but I don't know if that is universal.

[Bazoo]

http://marvinstuart.com/firearm/Manuals/Bullet%20Casting/Lyman%20Cast%20Bullet%20Handbook%20-%203rd%20Edition%20-%201980%20-%20Reduce.pdf

http://marvinstuart.com/firearm/Manuals/Reloading/Reloading%20Manuals/Modern%20Reloading%202nd%20Edition%20by%20Richard% 20Lee%20-%20ocr.pdf

Lee manual is okay for reference but it doesn't cover his bullets at all.

One thing I do, is research online, particularly here, and record anything of interest on a sheet of paper. I include the name of the person who suggested the data and forum. For example, Larry Gibson tests a lot of loads and offers the results here.

I prefer a hard copy for everything. I may come on the forum and talk reloading but I'm old school.

[alamogunr]

The only thing it put in my downloads folder was the executable file to repeat the download. I don't need 2 of those floating around somewhere in this darn computer. Thanks anyway. I've got the hard copy.

[Walks]

I started buying old Reloading manuals when I was back in H. S. in the late 1960's.
Have most from Post WW2. Back in the true glory days of the Gun Show.

Great reference material. The Old-Timers knew a lot more the we do today.

Old stuff is always worth knowing.
Cause you'll never know when it will come in handy.

[dragon813gt]

The only thing it put in my downloads folder was the executable file to repeat the download. I don't need 2 of those floating around somewhere in this darn computer. Thanks anyway. I've got the hard copy.

You control where it goes on your computer. It’s kind of hard for others to help since we don’t know what folder you selected.

[winelover]

One of the reasons that I use a lot of Accurate powders, is that they put out a printed reloading manual that actually has cast bullet data, in addition to jacketed.

Winelover

[pastera]

I don't have the experience a lot of guys here do but...

With no exact data for my molds I look for any load data for a similar profile bullet (with similar full diameter area). Then I use that COAL to find the seating depth called out in the load. I then calculate the COAL where my bullet would have the same seating depth and start at minimum charge.

I try to use old manuals only for reference as newer manuals have much better quality data - new data may be much more conservative but I don't have to worry about formulation changes making a load unsafe. I can always go up a tenth of a grain next time but it's hard to put the parts of your hand back together and drop a few tenths.

[jimkim]

Gmdr.com has Oregon Trail cast data. I personally prefer Lyman's 2nd edition cast bullet manual. I don't worry about brands. The data seems to work with any cast bullet of equal or less weight. For non-magnum handguns I use regular jacketed data. For the magnums I use cast data from my Speer manuals, powder manufacturer websites, or the data from my Lyman 49.

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[Evoken]

Seems like it is not a huge deal as long as I work up my loads. That is what I assumed based on jackets rounds with no data. I just like to have the info if available.

[trapper9260]

I started off use the Lyman 3 ed to casting and it have alot of info on it that the others do not. I got the reprinted of 1 and 2 and got the 4th when it came out , I too rather have the hard copy on hand. I have some of the other manuals not many. As for the Lee molds I go by what is close to what is on the Lyman and start low and work it up for what the gun says. You read the fine print on the start of the data of the cartridge it says what the rounds was tested in. Mainly not what you will be usen. Just wanted to let some know it is a guide and start low.