Charles Graff
Moderator Emeritus
I received my copy of 4th Edition Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook. I really didn't feel a need for it, but folks quote it, so it is time I got onboard. Now to find out what pearls of ballistic wisdom it contains.
Took me 10+ year, but......
- Thread starter Charles Graff
- Start date
Winelover
North Central Arkansas
Hard to believe it's been out ten years. I have both the third and fourth edition. The newest edition covers a few of the newer bullet moulds and some of the newer powders that are on todays market. Third edition covers too many discontinued powders. It's a pretty good reference, all things considered.
I don't own hardly any Lyman moulds. I just match up with similarly designed bullets and weights. Cast bullet manuals are notoriously lacking in terms of higher velocity loads that are capable of 100% reliable functioning in modern auto loaders. I was winging it when I was working with my AR-10.
I don't own hardly any Lyman moulds. I just match up with similarly designed bullets and weights. Cast bullet manuals are notoriously lacking in terms of higher velocity loads that are capable of 100% reliable functioning in modern auto loaders. I was winging it when I was working with my AR-10.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Well, Mike "Duke" Venturino wrote all the book except for three articles. You will have to look hard to find pearls. Data section is good!
Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
I don't know about anyone else, but seems like when I pick up a new manual or maybe one of the Hogdon annual manuals I look through it expecting, as Charles says, "pearls" and then I end up going back to the old standards and Ken Waters "Pet Loads". I still keep buying the new ones though. Hope springs eternal?
Charles Graff
Moderator Emeritus
When you have run around the same track a few thousand time, you get to know it very well. I gave up handbook dependency many years ago. I still check with them from time to time, to make certain my brain has not blown a gasket. They say, you are the last to know.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
It does for me. Sometimes there are real gems, like the 50th Lyman manual with the most complete loads for SR powders. Even though they were discontinued by the publication date, they will be the last pressure test data ever for them. And they started using a wider variety of bullets.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
While I try to write down all my load data, sometimes I can't remember were I put it. Field Book? card file? 3-ring binder? And I just loaded some of those 10 years ago, should remember right?
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
I have the last two editions. Id like to have all of them. Useful esp for me as I have and pickup many old discontinued molds.
Ant one have any they would part with?
CW
Ant one have any they would part with?
CW
462
California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
Used to have the 1st and 2nd editions, but of all its powders I had only four of them.
If you're not aware of this, you might find it of interest:
Castpics and Reloaders Reference Online - NRA Reprints
Castpics.net and Reloaders' Reference are combining forces to create the best single reloading and casting reference site on the net.
Ian
Notorious member
I have the first three (they are not for sale) and knew the editing of the fourth would be sparse considering the author. If I only wish to consult the opinion of one man on a subject, I'll just save the money and ask myself what I think.
Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
I always check the manual to make certain I haven't substituted my personal beliefs for facts. So far, that exercise has confirmed my memory is solid but I think it's a good safety check.
Missionary
Well-Known Member
Pet Loads is where I start and mostly finish. Hard to beat real shooting from a reloader who had nothing to gain writing facts.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Water's maximum loads, for rifles, really are maximum loads! I stop before I get there.
oscarflytyer
Well-Known Member
Water's Pet Loads double edition was the best gun/reloading $ I ever spent! AND, I also have his Water's Notebook collection. And. like Missionary, where I start, and a lot of times, stop. I have at least two loads that were the first, and only load I use for two diff calibers.
And also agree - if he says it is max, you better believe it!
And also agree - if he says it is max, you better believe it!
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
True that. I'm inside that Pet Loads tome with some frequency.
I signed up a few months back with the online Load Data. At $35/year it seems worth it, and has a very wide selection of both classic and modern powder weight data from a variety of published sources, with are listed.
Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
I think Ken Waters "Pet Loads" is the single best load book out there. No, his cast work wasn't that heavy, but his process and observations are very good for establishing baselines, max loadings, clues on whats going on, etc. For cast, I tend to go with Lyman 3, Waters, some of Paco Kellys stuff and some loads off Castpics, etc. I also tend to use old standby powders like Red Dot, 2400, the older IMRs, etc, and I'm not normally looking for Warp 9 speeds. Hitting the target consistently is more important to me that another 150 fps out of a 308. I;m sure others go in an entirely different direction, but that works for me.
