Lyman 51st Edition…worth it?

[TheTinMan]

<broken record on>
The bullet manufacturer data is #1 for me, followed by the powder distributor.
<broken record off>

I have an old Lyman manual that I got for lead bullets. Neither the bullets or the powder have changed for me in 20 years. However, LeveRevolution is a very useful new powder. There are lots of new bullet designs - I think developments in the past 10 years have been remarkable. I got a new Hornady manual and want a new Speer book.

 

[Distorto2]

I appreciate all the replies! Admittedly I’m still wondering whether there’s anything new or not for the cartridges I load for. No one has actually said yay or nay on that.

I’m primarily interested in .44 Special, .45 ACP, .45 Auto Rim, .455 Webley, .303 British, 30-06, and 8mm Mauser.

I’ve got Lyman’s 48th and compared it to 49th. Other than the addition of 45 Schofield, which was informative, everything else I load for was the same as the 48th edition. And it still listed all those cartridges in CUP, or showed no pressures at all. And I’ve read that the 50th is pretty much like the 49th…which is pretty much like the 48th. I’d like to think that in the last 20 years Lyman has updated SOMETHING, even if the cartridges are older designs. Maybe showing PSI now?? So does anyone actually know if there’s updated info for the above cartridges? Many thanks!

 

[zeke]

I doubt you will find any new data on 455 Webley in Lyman #51!

You will find loading data on Creedmoor Cartridges, Big Hornady target rounds, and AR compatible rounds.

Guys with old guns are not their target audience!!

I like Hodgen's annual magazine and have around 12 of them. I notice they have dropped several of the less popular old timers, so never throw old reloading data away!

My favorites are not limited to:

375 H&H 1912
22 Hornet 1922
303 British 1896?
38 Special 1898
45 Colt 1873
45-70 1873
44-40 1873
44 Russian 1874
44 S&W Special 1904 ?
44 Mag 1956
264 Win Mag 1958
300 Win Mag 1963
338 Lapua 1989
45 ACP 1903
45 Schoefield 1872
221 Fireball 1963
and many more!

Many published loads on older cartridges are only light or Cowboy loads!

Ivan

Have found the 2024 and 2025 Hodgen magazines particularly useful.

 

[Lance Boyle]

I just ordered the Lyman 51 in hardcover for $31. I have #47 or 48 now as well as the Cast Bullet Manual. Iwas finding it hard to get data on some of my more recent powders and having to interpolate data from heavier bullets or looking at same weight in different styles as starting point. I don’t mind that as long as it’s lead for lead and has similar interior volume remaining for powder. You shouldn’t sub data between full wadcutters, HBWC and your standard pointier bullets. The interior volume for the powder isn’t a factor to ignore.

 

[Lance Boyle]

Have found the 2024 and 2025 Hodgen magazines particularly useful.

They have saved me a few times on the newer powders. Especially for .38 and .357 data. I wish there was more .32 H&R data about. Maybe with the new pistols they’ll be a bit more printed.

 

[Dan W. Cady]

I doubt you will find any new data on 455 Webley in Lyman #51!

You will find loading data on Creedmoor Cartridges, Big Hornady target rounds, and AR compatible rounds.

Guys with old guns are not their target audience!!

I like Hodgen's annual magazine and have around 12 of them. I notice they have dropped several of the less popular old timers, so never throw old reloading data away!

My favorites are not limited to:

375 H&H 1912
22 Hornet 1922
303 British 1896?
38 Special 1898
45 Colt 1873
45-70 1873
44-40 1873
44 Russian 1874
44 S&W Special 1904 ?
44 Mag 1956
264 Win Mag 1958
300 Win Mag 1963
338 Lapua 1989
45 ACP 1903
45 Schoefield 1872
221 Fireball 1963
and many more!

Many published loads on older cartridges are only light or Cowboy loads!

Ivan

A couple of days ago I was looking for 38 Special light bullet loads to get an old Taurus to shoot to the sights. I found them in the latest Hodgen Annual. Dan