New reloading manual

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willymc

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I’m making out my Christmas list. I was thinking about another reloading manual. At this time I only load for handgun: .380, 9mm, .38, and .357. Don’t think I’ll ever get into reloading for rifle. I’ve got the Speer #10 and the Lee, Modern Reloading 2nd edition. Any suggestions on a manual to fill the gap, giving me more bullet and powder choices?
 
The ABC's of reloading is a good book. And, I consider Lyman my bible. Do you shoot any cast boolits? If so, than the Lyman Cast Bullet book is also GREAT!
 
If you don't yet have Lyman #49, your library is not yet complete.

It covers a lot of jacketed bullet brands, and is the one & only manual giving cast lead bullet data in every caliber.

Get-one!

The ABC's of Reloading is not a reloading manual
It is instructions on how to reload for the beginning reloader.

rc
 
Definitely Lyman #49, get the new Speer #14, the Hodgdon manual. A $30 subscription to LoadData.com is an invaluable reference.
 
I took the advice of the guys on here and got the Lyman #49 and it is everything they made it out to be. I like the Speer, but it's the second one I go to now.
 
As an example of how useful it is?

It is laying right next to my computer 24-7 so I can answer all those hard questions on THR!! :D

rc
 
Lyman 49th would be my choice. The Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 4th Edition is on my list, but it was supposed to release earlier this year and hasn't. I don't know what the holdup is.

Another possibility would be Handloader Magazine. www.riflemagazine.com
 
Since you aren't interested in rifles at this point, get a copy of Lyman's Pistol and Revolver handbook.

IMHO, Lyman's #49 is the poorest manual they have ever printed.
 
ranger335v, you are absolutely right on the Lyman #49 being a poor manual, I have found several mistakes in the manual on OAL of cases, plus other dimensions. It does not have the info in it that the old Lyman manuals have.
 
It also depends on what bullets you want to use- if you intend to use Nosler or Speer etc try their manual. I've got a couple hard manuals but honestly the first one I turn to is the Hodgdon data center on the Internet. Having a paper book is great if The Intertubes becomes unavailable.
 
differences between 48th & 49th

ranger335v and floydster -

Can you tell us about the 49th ed's photographs, are they the same ones that were used in the 48th? Or did they improve the photos...the old ones are quite dark so some of the details are missing.

What about the 49th's articles, are they useful?

Overall, I really like the 48th and have read it repeatedly over the past 3 years. As my experience level increases, I keep learning from it.
 
Is all the info that's in Lyman's Pistol and Revolver handbook (third edition) also in Lyman's #49?
Click to expand...
In a word - yes.

But I still cannot more strongly recommend Lyman's 49th. I never thought I'd be reloading for a rifle. And then I spotted a AR15-A1 for less than $700. I love that dang thing! It's as accurate as the one I carried back in the 70s. (and I was an expert marksman - I guess they gave "expert" out to just anyone) :D
 
I just wouldn't do without a Lyman manual on my reloading bench BUT, I do have one problem with the Lyman manuals in general. Even in Lyman 49 they list mostly IMR powders but not their Hodgdon counterparts. I use H4895, H4350 and so on but Lyman lists mostly IMR powders. While they are really close they are not the same so the data is not interchangeable. I end up using the data on the Hodgdon load data site instead.
 
I have Speer 5-8 & 13, Lyman 44, 47-49, Phil Sharpe's book on reloading with the data, both Lee's a bunch of powder manufacturer's printed material, Sierra's old manual, and I am trying to think of any others off the top of my head.

I will be honest though, I seldom use any but the Speer #8 anymore. I read all of the newer ones but they produce such wimpy loads, I don't bother with them much anymore.

As far as data goes, I have a subscription to Handloader Magazine and LoadData.com. I also have Reloader's Reference software and I need nothing else. Most of my loadings though are for handgun or handgun chambered carbines. I do load for 223 and 30/06 but those loads are time tested and I need nothing else for them.

FWIW
 
rcmodel said:
As an example of how useful it is?

It is laying right next to my computer 24-7 so I can answer all those hard questions on THR!! :D

rc
Click to expand...

Yep, IMO the best source of load data for different bullets and powder. Too many people today are trying to reload without a manual. They depend on web sites and forums, and maybe the "gun shop guru". I would suggest Lyman's, ABCs (for refrence and troubleshooting), one or two from powder manufacturers (whichever powder you use), and one or two from bullet manufacturers (whichever bullet you use). This is a good start on a reloader's library. Can't have too many books...
 
"Is all the info that's in Lyman's Pistol and Revolver handbook (third edition) also in Lyman's #49? "

Not IMHO. The handgun section is much better than the rifle section but even then it varies significantly by cartridge. Over all, it has diminished data for fewer powder choices. And much of what they do list are for newer but largely uncommon powders, at least in my area. In fact, a portion of my disgust with #49 is the great reduction of loads from previous versions! Data on new powders are fine but it escapes me why Lyman would simply drop much of the load infomation they used to list.

The rest of my disappointment lies in the minimizing (and dumming down?) of the normally excellant artices found in Lyman's manuals. I have all of Lyman's manuals going back to #42 (except #47). I believe they peaked with #46; anyone having a chance to pick one of those up should do so just to get the articles on barrel harmonics and pressure charting. That said, #49 still has very good illustrations and instuctions for noobs but hopefully we all get passed that. ??

Bottom line, had I actually seen #49 before I bought it (by mail) I would not have it.

I wouldn't swap my Lyman Pistol and Revolver book for any newer one. The info on casting, loading and shooting lead bullets alone is sufficent to make it worth having.
 
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