RCBS Cast Bullet #1 manual question

[Lance Boyle]

I am tempted to track down a used (only option) RCbS #1 Cast Bullet Reloading manual chiefly for more .32 H&R and maybe some .38 special cast data.

I have about ten manuals on the shelf now and untold number of the free booklets and the Hodgdon Annuals. The Lyman cast bullet manual skips over the .32 H&R 98 Grain Keith style SWC. That kind of blows my mind but no manual has everything, I am assuming that RCBS has this bullet covered as they sold that mold in their line up.

Can someone with the RCBS Cast Bullet Manual check for me? If not too much trouble posting a picture of that page if allowed would be awesome too. If it has what I think is valuable I’ll gladly spend the money on a used book. I am guarded buying books. Just bought the hardcover new Lyman manual and have found almost no good changes from three or four revisions back.

thank you in advance

 

[Lance Boyle]

Ha! Googling around I bought a copy for $25 on Ebay.

I would still be interested to hear if I purchased wisely and if it covers the Keith .32 bullet.

 

[Warren Sear]

Yes, it does. Page 133 shows data for the 32-098-SWC, if that is what you are looking for.

I will post a picture if we are allowed to do so, but it sounds like you will not need it, since you have ordered the book.

 

[Lance Boyle]

Thanks Warren! I read the site policy on copyrighted material and they seemed pretty firm and clear that they believe in the standard Fair Use policy that short portions are ok. If there was another policy I missed then that’s on me.

If you do post it that’d be great but it isn’t necessary. It’d only feed my childish impatience!

Thank you for looking that up. I am pretty sure my Arsenal mold is a direct copy of the RCBS one.

I have often seen that manual recommended as a good one. Amazon always had them too high or they’d be tattered ones with busted spines if I saw one on Ebay. It looks like I got lucky assuming I get the thing!

 

[STORMINORMAN]

It is a revolver. If the bullet weight is the same and you can determine what the so-called "published data" bullet's projection into the case is, determining how deep (or shallow?) you need to load a different bullet, starting at a start load powder charge should get you going if the OAL will fit in the cylinder and IF you can find the powder...?

 

[Lance Boyle]

I have done that before,….interpolating data say from a same weight round nose bullet data and figuring out the internal volume.

 

[Warren Sear]

Here it is...

 

[Lance Boyle]

Thank you sir!

Look at all that data on one bullet. That’s fantastic! It looks like the bullet companies have nearly abandoned work on .32 H&R. Modern powders are real thin data wise in the chambering. I have Sport Pistol and BE86 that should work too. I have W231, AA5, 2400 on hand of those listed. I read that BE86 is rather close to Unique.


Interesting that their AA5 min is higher that what I saw on similar but not the same weighted cast lead bullets. I think most of my AA5 loads have been under the RCBS start charge. Accuracy wasn’t all that great either tha low.

 

[Lance Boyle]

It’s funny that this book came out just before I got in to reloading in my late teens and they haven’t done another version since.

That’s a pity.

 

[rockquarry]

A good book with much useful information, but no better than many others. I bought this book maybe not long after it was published, but I don't remember when that was. I've always preferred having lots of real paper handloading manuals, mostly older ones. With the forty or fifty I have, most bases are well covered.

 

[Warren Sear]

Yes, I have been puzzled as to why RCBS has only published the one book. They obviously put a lot of work into it. The book has a lot of good loading data and general cast bullet information. I bought my copy in February of 1988.

They call the bullet a SWC, but the picture looks more like a round nose flat point. No matter.

I load 32 S&W and 32 S&W Long for use in my S&W Model 31-1 (from the mid 70s) with 3" barrel, and 32-20 (32 WCF) in my Colt Police Positive Special (made in 1911). Lots of fun! Those are the only 32 caliber revolvers I currently own.

 

[danlbobb]

The Loadbooks USA One Book/One Caliber can come in pretty handy for not so popular calibers.
And they are usually less than $10.

 

[rockquarry]

The Loadbooks USA One Book/One Caliber can come in pretty handy for not so popular calibers.
And they are usually less than $10.

I've never looked at these; do they give data sources and all the important information like bullet description, manufacturer, etc.?

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Never owned a .32 H&R Magnum but Longshot works rather well in .32 S&W Long with 100 grain LSW bullets.

Shooter's Reference Load Data for .32 H&R Magnum

www.shootersreference.com

 

[danlbobb]

@rockquarry

Yes. The RCBS page is an exact duplicate of the pics from above.
The books cover data from bullet mfg., powder mfg., etc.

Here are a few links you might find handy.

https://www.handloadermagazine.com/32-h-r-magnum-pet-loads

SMITH SHOOTERS FORUM-Important John Taffin Load Data for the .32 H&R Magnum.

Hello I came across this crucial load data for the .32 H&R Magnum caliber. I figured a few would enjoy this information on the Mystery caliber.. H

www.tapatalk.com

 

[rockquarry]

A good book with much useful information, but no better than many others. I bought this book maybe not long after it was published, but I don't remember when that was. I've always preferred having lots of real paper handloading manuals, mostly older ones. With the forty or fifty I have, most bases are well covered.

@rockquarry

Yes. The RCBS page is an exact duplicate of the pics from above.
The books cover data from bullet mfg., powder mfg., etc.

Here are a few links you might find handy.

https://www.handloadermagazine.com/32-h-r-magnum-pet-loads

SMITH SHOOTERS FORUM-Important John Taffin Load Data for the .32 H&R Magnum.

Hello I came across this crucial load data for the .32 H&R Magnum caliber. I figured a few would enjoy this information on the Mystery caliber.. H

www.tapatalk.com

Thank you for the response as I was curious about this. However, I am awash in paper load data for the time being. At one point, I guess collecting load data became a sub-hobby for me.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Thank you sir!

Look at all that data on one bullet. That’s fantastic! It looks like the bullet companies have nearly abandoned work on .32 H&R.

I read that BE86 is rather close to Unique.

In the early 1980s Ruger made their Single-Six in 32 H&R Magnum. That ensures the survival of that caliber.

I like BE86 as it meters better than Unique or Bullseye.

 

[mtgianni]

Charter Arms still makes several models and Ruger made several more until the introduction of the 327 Federal. The caliber is far from dead but the researchers have not done much of anything with modern powders.

The RCBS 98 SWC is not a true Keith bullet but is the most accurate bullet I have cast with in the 32's.

 

[Lance Boyle]

I see on the RCBs illustration that the wad cutter shelf is much smaller than my Arsenal mold.

I am not sure how much my accuracy with it is suffering, my Hornady seat/crimp die working the outer diameter of the front band. Granted my mold casts fat and that front band is sized in the .314 H&I lube die.

 

[Lance Boyle]

I loaded up two more test batches based on the above data with W231. If the rain stops perhaps I can get them tested on paper.

I did say I had childish impatience at times.