Loading Manuals Then and Now

[200yearstoolate]

My renewed interest in a big bore lever gun has me burning up the interwebs looking at components, ballistics, etc

One thing that I have noticed is how many dead links there are for things like gunsmiths and cast bullets that were going concerns back in the day

Anyway, back on topic: All my reloading manuals are 25+ years old and are still packed away following our last move 2 1/2 years ago

If big bore cast bullet pistol and rifle reloading is the topic, what current manuals would you guys recommend?

Lyman was always my go to for cast bullets but that particular manual is probably 30+ years old, even if I could find it in the unpacked boxes

[Walt]

I would certainly recommend a new Lyman loading manual which has both cast bullet and jacketed bullet data for rifles and pistols.

[AJMD429]

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I have the Lyman, the Lee, and an old Sierra manual - the Lyman and Lee manuals have a lot of just general reloading information in them, which I find helpful, although experienced reloaders may not need that kind of reference, but I do get most of my reloading data off of two websites:

AmmoGuide.com - it has very sophisticated features that allow you to so things like compare ballistics and cartridge dimensions, see what loads are available with a given powder for any number of cartridges, and so on. There is commercial load data from manufacturers listed along with (but identifiable from) individual load data people submit. Many cartridges that are obsolete or wildcat are listed too, and each cartridge has some history of development stuff too.
$19/year or something like that. Well worth it.

LoadData.com - less of the 'tools' than AmmoGuide, but also tons of data, and links to ballistic calculators or charts (I forget which - I don't use LoadData that much).

[samsi]

I use the latest (6th?) Lyman Cast Bullet manual a lot and with Hodgdon powders being the main ones available these days, their online load data is awful handy. I just noticed recently that there's a link on the Hodgdon site where you can request specific data but haven't tried it out for myself. Seems like a neat deal, sort of the modern version of writing to the Hercules Experimental Station back in the day.

[200yearstoolate]

I use the latest (6th?) Lyman Cast Bullet manual a lot and with Hodgdon powders being the main ones available these days, their online load data is awful handy. I just noticed recently that there's a link on the Hodgdon site where you can request specific data but haven't tried it out for myself. Seems like a neat deal, sort of the modern version of writing to the Hercules Experimental Station back in the day.

I just went on the Hodgdon site and boy am I out of touch

Do they own all the brands listed on there now?

Hodgdon, Accurate, IMR, Winchester, etc?

[earlmck]

I just went on the Hodgdon site and boy am I out of touch

Do they own all the brands listed on there now?

Hodgdon, Accurate, IMR, Winchester, etc?

Yes they do. Removed a lot of competition from the powder mfg. industry the last few years...

[marlinman93]

Personally I'd recommend you dig out your 25 year old manuals and use them instead of buying new. The data is still relevant and likely as good as anything new. I've often found myself digging through ancient reloading manuals to find good quality loads, especially for cast bullet loads. The old manuals just have more data for what I shoot.

[oldebear1950]

only problem with the old manuals is a lot of the powders listed are no longer available.

[marlinman93]

only problem with the old manuals is a lot of the powders listed are no longer available.

True, but a lot of powders listed in newer manuals have also gone away. So an older manual likely still shows powders that are, even if not all of them. Heck I have loading manuals from before WWII I still use that show several powders still available.

[Griff]

I have both the 3rd and 4th (latest) Cast Bullet Handbooks from Lyman. Biggest difference is that the 4th lists cartridges the 3rd doesn't. Including, much to my delight, 45 Colt rifle loads. But, disappointingly, I have to keep my 45th Lyman Reloading Handbook around for loads for the .32-40. IMO, both old & new manuals are useful. Engage your Google-Fu, and you can find .pdf versions of Lyman's 3rd Cast Handbook online.