I do frequently grab the 4th when I go to reference data. But like you I still find the 3rd to be a VERY useful loading manual. But, I also break out the 44th every now and then to get ballparks for heavy bullets no longer offered. Having more than one manual is required!
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GOA and FPC have done more in the last decade than your NRA has done in it's entire existence... Support the ones that actually do something for you.
Until very recently, I urged buyers, "if you only get one, get the Lyman 3rd Edition CBH" but now I hold my nose and recommend the 4th edition.
And that is simply because so many of the powders are discontinued. Load 44 Special? OVER half of the powders listed for that cartridge are no longer available. I can't remember the last time I saw a can of 630 or AL-8 for sale. The OP asked for titegroup powder info, but there are oodles of powders not listed there. Varget, Power Pistol, Clays, Zip, AA #2, 5,7 or 9. None of the VV powders were around back then. Make sure you've got Bullseye, 2400 or Unique if you are looking for pistol load info in the older manuals.
And while I am in the whine mode, I'll join the chorus of complainers about the Hodgdon web-site changes. Dang it, I KNOW what powders I have. It is a nuisance to have to either search through a dozen listings to see the 2 or 3 that I want, or else hunt for them, one at a time. But their printed manual is just as worse. To make room for the Western and AA powder listings, they dumped a bunch of calibers all together. You have to go to their website for such oddball cartridges as the 250 or 300 Savages, the 44 Spl, the 32 acp, the 32 S&W long, the various short magnums. Aw phooey. I'm old, I don't like change.
Except underwear. I enjoy a clean pair of shorts in the morning.
_________________________________________________It's not that I can't spell: it is that I can't type.
Powder and other component availability is a concern.
If it were Not for Places like this, and Other Interweb sources...I would Not know about BE-86...certainly Not from the Newest Published #4...
I still use the older Lyman books the Most..Pushing #4 aside....
JDGabbard's Feedback Thread
Jdgabbard's very own boolit boxes pattern!
GOA and FPC have done more in the last decade than your NRA has done in it's entire existence... Support the ones that actually do something for you.
Thank y'all for all the replies. I'm very happy I bought the 4th edition. The 3rd and 4th combined hold lots of great information.
I am having very good luck with BE-86..Should have bought More...But, Powder Valley has it on sale just now..
I have been using BE-86, Grain for Grain, with Unique Loads, In Everything so Far. Yes it seems slower, which we Knew, But, Start at the usual Unique Charge, and Work from there with yer Chronograph... I like this Stuff Alot... But sorry I do Not load 125's in 38/357. Certainly Not Jacketed. And when I do Load jacketed, 140's, in 38 or 357, I use Blue Dot (38), and H110 (357).
Good Luck
On further observation, the "new 4th Edition" is now 14 years old. quite a few powders have come and gone over the last 14 years.
_________________________________________________It's not that I can't spell: it is that I can't type.
Not only have some powders become obsolete, new cartridges and powders have become available since the 4th edition went to print. Where's the data for 6.5 Creedmore, 350 Legend, and 450 Bushmaster, (plus others)? I think it's time for Lyman to start thinking about making the 5th edition CBH.
I had the same thoughts. Lyman should start working on the 5th edition.
405grain you're in my neck of the woods.
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Proud Member of The Basket of Deplorables
" Let's Go Brandon !"
They way of IT pros: One step forward, two steps back. They're almost as bad as weather forecasters in Michigan. On any given day, any time of the year: It could rain, it could be sunny, it could snow (in JUNE!), it could be partly cloudy. I wish that I could be wrong 50 percent of the time and keep my job!
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |