Lyman is now shipping their new #51 manual for those that might be interested. I just ordered one.

Maybe I’ve changed? Have to say I’m disappointed with #50.

As I’ve had and thoroughly enjoyed earlier editions, 46th first to mind. My lack of interest for #50 was a genuine surprise for me.

I hope #51 turns out to be a good read and resource.

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GOA
USA Shooting Supporter

How much more are the loads reduced………lol…..?

Loads sometimes get reduced when it is found out that the old copper crusher pressure test was inaccurate and the load was actually a bit over SAAMI safe specifications.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

I bought #50 because it was anniversary and my other was #46 ...
... 1982 ! and some things had changed ...
But if you do buy #50 and / or #51 ...
Keep your old ones , still a lot of good data in there and Lyman dropped data for discontinued moulds !

Since Lyman no longer makes 41 magnum moulds ... No Data is shown for any Lyman cast bullets in the 41 magnum section ...
just two jacketed bullets !

I was sorta disappointed in this ... Lyman is slipping in my view.
#46 manual has two jacketed and two Lyman cast bullets .
I'm keeping #46 just for the cast bullet data it contains .

Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

I have 39, 41, 45, 46, 47, 50, the 4 cast manuals and I will wait a while for 51.

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Front sight and squeeze

My 1st was #45, wore that one out - pages falling out of the binding - found a like new replacement on fleabay. I've got all four of the cast bullet manuals as well as 4 others, so I'll probably hold off on #51 - at least for awhile.
I didn't realize that Lyman no longer made molds for the .41 mag. IMO that's a mistake! I'll just have to take extra good care of the four different .41 mag molds that I've been able to find!

WYT-P
Skyhunter

Here's Lyman #44 if anyone is interested. 1967 I think.

http://www.nzha.co.nz/wp-content/upl...08/Lyman44.pdf

As always be careful with these links. I have good AV software and never had a problem using it. YMMV.

Also remember that these loads were using powder manufactured a long time ago and may have changed in composition.

I'm just posting this up so the old timers can take a trip down memory lane, not as a loading reference.

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That's just somebody talkin.

Great- My #38 doesn't have any loads for the newer powders!

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Good shooting.

Lyman #45 was the Gold Standard for more than 10 years, 1968 to 1980, I think. Now there are "new" manuals every 2 - 3 years. I bought #48 (1st printing 12/02, 3rd printing 4/07), and was gifted #49. "Most accurate loads" are not identified.

If you load 9 MM, 38 spl / 357 mag, 40 S&W, 44 mag, 45 ACP, 223 Rem, 308 Win, 30-06, and 45-70 Gov; who needs new "Gee Whiz" cartridge data in book form? Hodgdon has that data available online. I'll save my money for the new & improved primers coming out 'soon'.

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S&WHF 366

Some of their loads are new loads using the newer powders but so much of their load data is the exact same load data as was in their older manuals.

As just one example, 357 Mag load data (158gr JHP & 2400 powder) from Lyman #45 (1978) compared to Lyman #50 (2016) are exactly the same numbers. They hadn't updated it in 38 years, as if the bullets & powder haven't been revised, & so much of it was tested on the copper crushers for their pressure readings too.

Generally I find Lyman's reloading manuals are very conservative & feel other manufacturers' manuals, not to mention on-line manufacturers, provide better data for modern components while Lyman covers cast bullet loads the best.

I keep as many different manuals & resources available as I can for "new to me" loads but unless they've done a thorough update for #51 I see no need to buy it.

.

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Waiting for the break of day

It would be nice to see brand new loads in a new manual that were ALL......... PSI pressures.

Showing that the loads have been retested, with the powders used, and
that it is new data, not 70 years old, stuff, re-copied.

Agreed, but lots of time and money for companies to do that. Many who reload choose not to pay for loading data these days, thinking they can get everything off the Internet. Not true and they really limit themselves to what's available. As a result, loading manuals probably don't sell nearly as well as they used to.

I agree with others that #50 was a disappointment. i have them for most years including the Cast Bullet Handbooks and if I had to pick one it would be #46.

51 is supposed to have a section on progressive reloading. I'll try to find one in a store and look at that section before I make my final decision.