lyman 42nd edition (c.1960)

[VingThorr]

the local library had a used book sale and i picked up a Lyman 42nd Edition Reloader's Handbook (c.1960) for 50 cents. fascinates me to see what cartridges are present as opposed to my newer 48th edition (c. 2002)--stuff like .32-40, 25-35, 35 Win, various Mannlicher, various "Jap" cartridges.

Anyway, question. In the data it lists "4895". Can anyone tell me which 4895 it's referring to? since these days there's IMR 4895 and Hodgdon 4895. I'm afraid I wasn't around in 1960.

thanks

 

[rcmodel]

IMR-4895.
H-4895 was sold in paper bags then, and there was not a lot of tested data published for it yet.

Beware using that old data as there was a lot of seat-of-the-pants pressure testing, or none at all, going on back then.

There has also been a tremendous change in bullet design and construction since 1960.

rc

 

[VingThorr]

thanks RC,

no I wasn't planning on using any of the data, I was just curious. I wonder if anyone ever compiled a list, edition by edition, of what cartridges dissapear and appear in the manuals. It would be interesting to see.

 

[Maj Dad]

The 42d Edition was my first, and I eventually got a second copy because the first was falling apart. I still keep it around because it has a wealth of info on cast bullet types, obsolete loads, etc. Plus, it's an old friend - spent a lot of nights reading & re-reading that book, practically memorized most of it, and it was what introduced me to reloading. Think I'll go have a beer with it...

 

[fecmech]

It was my first also and mine is pretty dog eared now. One load in particular stands out in memory for the .357 mag. They listed 10 grs of Herco as max with the 358429 "Keith" bullet and I shot 6 or 7 thousand of those through my Ruger blackhawk. Cases did not stick and averaged 1.5-2" at 25 yds for groups and 1300 fps. Max load now is 7 grs for 30+K ! I wonder what kind of pressure those were really running at?

 

[Jesse Heywood]

My first manual was Hornady #2. I still have it, but it looks rather anemic next to a current manual. Not a lot of data in it, but it's still fun too look at and recall the good old days when I loaded and prayed the load didn't Kaboom.