AJC1
Member
Maybe one of the few manuals I don't own is a Lee reloading manual. Do they provide any specific support in their manual for their molds.
Does the Lee reloading manual support their cast bullets?
- Thread starter AJC1
- Start date
- Status
Obturation
Member
If you have lee dies , they come with load data and sometimes some of their bullets are included. No lee manual here either though.
Bazoo
Member
No. No it does not.
The Lyman cast bullet 4th has a small selection of lee bullets featured however.
The Lyman cast bullet 4th has a small selection of lee bullets featured however.
.38 Special
Member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2006
- Messages
- 7,368
In my opinion, The Lee manual is about as good as any. If you're starting out, the Lee book (or just about any of the others) will be fine.
On the other hand, I didn't get the Lee book until well into my handloading career, and didn't get anything new out of it other than information specific to Lee products.
For the home caster, I think the latest Lyman "Cast Bullet Handbook" is the best of the mainstream offerings.
On the other hand, I didn't get the Lee book until well into my handloading career, and didn't get anything new out of it other than information specific to Lee products.
For the home caster, I think the latest Lyman "Cast Bullet Handbook" is the best of the mainstream offerings.
OP
OP
AJC1
Member
Part of the reason I ask is Lee has different versions of the same bullet. I was hoping to see test loads in a TL bullet vs a standard lube groove. I like data and a life in the military has me in a seeing is believing mindset.
Last edited:
Obturation
Member
Which cartridge are you working on?
OP
OP
AJC1
Member
I am missing a Sierra and burger manual other than the Lee. I don't shoot berger so the Sierra is probably the next one to get unless the 51st Lyman is earth shattering.
OP
OP
AJC1
Member
The question is related to the 230 cone, I had the TL and now the standard lube Grove, and I just broke in the 200 swc round nose in TL. I have abandoned efforts on the 200 hg68.
Hooda Thunkit
Member
I have the Lee Modern Reloading manual, revised 2016.
The bullet listings are generic; for instance, under 223 Remington it has 34 listings for bullets. Mostly it lists "55 grain jacketed" or "55 grain frangible" or "40 grain lead" or "69 grain jacketed". Listings like that.
The only bullet-specific listing are for the Barnes X solid bullets.
The Lee manual is really a guide, more so than other manuals that have a specific recipe - "X primer in Y case using Z bullet at this specific length."
Although, Lee does list OAL.
The bullet listings are generic; for instance, under 223 Remington it has 34 listings for bullets. Mostly it lists "55 grain jacketed" or "55 grain frangible" or "40 grain lead" or "69 grain jacketed". Listings like that.
The only bullet-specific listing are for the Barnes X solid bullets.
The Lee manual is really a guide, more so than other manuals that have a specific recipe - "X primer in Y case using Z bullet at this specific length."
Although, Lee does list OAL.
Varminterror
Member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2016
- Messages
- 14,935
Lee’s manual is effectively an expanded “Loadbooks USA - One Book One Cartridge” books, which are simply compilation of other vendor’s data. No independent testing for velocity or pressure was done by Lee. It’s largely not a good reference for load data, including their own bullets.
OP
OP
AJC1
Member
Well if they ever put together a Lee cast manual representing their molds, I'd probably buy it.
Charlie98
Member
I have an older Lee manual, I don't like how the data is laid out and they have odd combinations. It's usually the last manual I reach for... if I even bother. I think there is better data available online. That may have changed with their newer revision, but I'm not going to bother.
Hooda Thunkit
Member
I would too. For now I make do with Lyman #1, #2, #3, and #4 - along with data gathered from other sources.
Ironic; Lee sells more bullet moulds than anyone else, by a large margin. Yet finding Lee-specific data is largely a lesson in futility. I've often wondered about that.
Not that it's ever really hindered me in my loading; I just find something close and go to it.
And, I like the Lee manual. If one bothers to read it (filtering out the Richard Lee chest-beating) there is a great deal of info in there that is found nowhere else. I use it frequently.
As for the data; Lee lists data from all the big labs. They say so in the book - all data used by permission from Sierra, Barnes, Lyman, etc etc.
Just because it's a compilation doesn't mean it's bad data.
Bazoo
Member
I read the lee manual online, for the info. The info is great for teaching how to reload. But the data sucks. It is confusing they way they present it.
The Lee Manual is often the last I look at. The data is often sketchy and some bullet/powder combinations are not included or only one powder company is listed. If you have the components listed, the data will be OK...
Bazoo
Member
If lee ever does a better manual, especially with data for their bullets, you better believe I’ll be a buyer.
- Status
