Topic:
Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 4th Edition

Anyone who loads lead bullets regularly or even on occasion will want to purchase this manual. This is the first load manual I have seen that I'm completely happy with and as of right now, I see nothing I would change. It is money very well spent IMO.

This manual is not a rehash of the 3rd Edition manual which was published in 1980. It also contains additional data than you can get from the Lyman Reloading Handbook 49th Edition. (more on that later)

While it's true that some of the lead bullet data in the Reloading Handbook 49th Edition and the Cast Bullet Handbook 4th Edition is identical the real value is in the added data provided in the Cast Bullet Handbook. For the first time in Ideal/Lyman history Lyman has included load data for lead bullet cast from molds other than their own! Besides the load data for Lyman molds which is included in the Reloading Handbook 49th Edition the Cast Bullet Handbook 4th Edition includes data for RCBS, Lee and Seaco bullet molds. They even have data for a few Hornady lead bullets within it's pages. For example, for the .38 Special the Lyman Reloading Handbook 49th Edition has data for 7 lead bullets, the 4th Edition Cast Bullet handbook has load data for 10 .38 Special lead bullets because of the addition of bullets from other company's molds. Considering many commercial bullet casters use those molds we now have accurate load data for the exact bullet profile we are loading instead of using data from bullets that are "close" in shape and weight.

Now for powders listed in the new manual. Even though I feel Lyman manuals are probably the best all around manuals to own one of my problems with Lyman is limited powder selection in their data. In the past they have stuck mostly with purely mainstream powders and if they listed data for a caliber/bullet combination using IMR powders they wouldn't list data for the Hodgdon powders of the same number. While that is still somewhat true here it seems to be less than before. The big change however came with handgun calibers. There is a HUGE amount of data provided for all the new powders that have come out in the past 30 years including data for Ramshot powders and even Vihtavuori Reloading Powders which are becoming very popular. Even if you don't use those powders more data is always better than less. If you change your mind and want to give those powders a try the data is there.

The caliber selection has also increased considerably. There is data for big bore rifle calibers like the 40-65, 56-50 Spencer and the 43 Mauser. They didn’t forget the 32-40 or 38-55 either. Where the previous manual stopped at the .45 Colt in the handgun section this manual has load data for lead bullets in the 454 Casull, 460 S&W Magnum, 480 Ruger, 475 Linebaugh, the 500 S&W Magnum and the 50AE.

Oh, and I almost forgot, Mike Venturino wrote the first 15 Chapters of this manual! That is great along with the fact the color of the page highlights is Blue instead of that Lyman Orange we are so used to seeing. I think it's much easier on the eyes...

Sorry if I seemed to ramble on a bit, I'm not used to writing reviews but I gave it my best. I hope this helps you decide whether or not to buy this manual.

__________________
Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

You just convinced me. I just ordered mine. I had been using the Lee manual for lead bullets. It will be nice to have another option.

How does it fare with .41 mag data? I was really unimpressed with the Lyman #49 manual as it only one page dedicated to the .41 magnum and it only had about four or five bullets listed, which were all jacketed!

So before I run out and look for one, can anyone that has a copy tell me what bullets they are listing for the .41 magnums? I'm sure they won't have data for my old Lee moulds, but they could at least have some for my old Lyman moulds.

Arch,

Thanks for the review.
Seems like one to have. As for the data, do you still recommend it for those of us that do not cast their own and by whatever brand of pre made lead??

__________________
Still Running Against the Wind

The Lyman 4th edition Cast Bullet Handbook has the following listings for the 41 Mag.


Saeco (Redding) #412
Lee #410 195 SWC
RCBS #41 210 SWC
Seaco (Redding) #418

With 5 different powders listed for each bullets, However the powders are the same 5 powders for each bullet.

Unique
ACC#9
2400
IMR 4227
H110

__________________
Semper FI

Pick up one of these...dirt cheap and good info...$6.99 at Midway
http://media.midwayusa.com/productim...673/673667.jpg

I don't cast bullets and I think it's well worth a buy.

The point I was making about Lyman using bullets from other manufacturers molds is, sometimes in the past using their own molds alone didn't offer us a bullet profile that is current and being made by the commercial casters. They seem to have added the most popular bullet sizes and shapes that we are all now using in addition to their molds.

__________________
Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

I'll order one up. Thanks.

__________________
Still Running Against the Wind

Beans, thanks for the response. I'll probably buy one eventually, but I'm not in a big hurry.

Sully, thanks for the suggestion. I've seen those before and don't have any use for them. I load a lot of different calibers and have just about all the data sources they use for their manuals. Also, a lot of their sources don't give much in the way of lead bullets and I've been thinking about working on my own for the .41 magnum and .41 AE cartridges. I am awful lazy though.

Ive got ya...I do understand. Personally I hate paying 25-35 bucks for a book that tell me what do to with a 300 Weatherby or a 25 Akley....when all Im reloading is pistol cartridges!

Sully, usually when someone makes the complaint of buying manuals with rifle data when they only load for handguns, I direct them to the Lyman Pistol and Revolver manuals.

While the load books do carry data from a lot of sources, a lot of those sources are either a rehash of each other, or giving some data that, while the powders they list can be used for the cartridge in question, they may not be the best suited for the purpose, it's just what they sell.

Also, if you happen to only have one handgun, say a .44 magnum, it is actually two guns since it will also shoot .44 specials, which would be a second load book wouldn't it? But wait!, it will also shoot .44 Russians too, which would add on the cost of another load book, if they make it for that caliber. Then for those of us that like to load by pressure as well as velocity or like to experiment, there is a wealth of data in there that can be pondered over and used to extrapolate loads in unpublished areas. I'm not saying Lyman manuals are perfect, they have quite a few misgivings in fact, but they are still my favorite sources of data and information.

Can we try to stay on topic please...

__________________
Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

I ordered my Lymans book friday!

What powders they list for use in .30 caliber rifles?

I'm going to buy one as soon as I raise the 20 bucks!

There are A LOT of 30 caliber rifle cartridges, if you tell me which you are thinking of loading I'll give you the list of powders.

__________________
Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

I'm going to buy one, just have to do a bit of looking to see who has
them in stock at a good price. I like Lyman manuals. Their data seems
a bit more realistic as to what the handloader can expect to achieve
in his gun than the long test barrel results published by others. Most
of my loading is for handguns using cast bullets. The bullets that are
most often sold at gun shows or by mail order are cast in Magma
molds rather than Lyman. It would be nice to see data developed
with these widely available designs.

Forestwin gave me enough info to see that I need and want one of these badly. For .30-06 I use SR4759 and 4798 and I'm into light loads with bullets about 110-115 grains.

Magma seems to have little interest in developing load data and few manufacturers want to develop data for others products.

__________________
Front sight and squeeze

Good review, but I disagree. In my estimation the 3rd Edition has more info for casting, even though the 4th has more load data with non-Lyman bullets, and more up to date powders. Mr. Vinterino is a good writer, but the 4th has way too much about Black Powder Cartridge shooting, and needs more basic casting stuff. And the chapter on metallurgy/alloys is way beyond my 4 year college comprehension. I still think the 3rd is better for new casters but the 4th has more data for reloading. So, get them both, I did...