Given the introduction of quite a few new powders and some new calibers has Lee Precision given any indication of when (if ever) they plan to publish a 3rd edition of Modern Reloading?

I'm mindful that most if not all the load data found in their book is culled from other manufacturers.

With everything available online, not sure why a printed version is so important now.

Quite a different story when I got into reloading,there was no internet so my Speer manual was my only source of data

This... I learned to not trust my Lee manual. Seems a bit hot for some loads. Also, just because you CAN use a powder in a particular application, it doesnt mean you should bother. They have a ton of useless load data that allows them to say they have more data than anyone.

44 Magnum load with bullseye powder for example.., Good way to get a whole lot of nothing from a powder better suited for other calibers..

Agreed... and I haven't found all the data online that I need..

I don't know if we will ever see a Third Edition... all the current data is so bullet specific.

Darn near every Bullet manufacturer has their own reloading manual, specifically geared towards their product.

Lee's data is good for a lot of generic bullets,. 40 180gr JHP,. 308 165gr SP... etc , and that is one of its great qualities.

But a lot of the art of reloading, is being replaced but the bullet manufacturer specific data... us ol' timers frequently see questions about this exact topic.

The last one I saw was about a 55gr bulk bullet with IMR 3031... the guy was flippant when no one would answer his poorly worded questions..... originally I had written a lengthy post answering each question as best I could, trying to help ..... but then realized I was trying to put 25+ years of reloading experience into 40 sentences, for someone that was unwilling to spend time learning... he wanted YOU to do it for him.
None of us mind helping, frankly most are eager to help...

Anyway I digress....

The Lee manual is full of great meaningful info and data.... but the vast majority of new reloaders want it all now. The computer age is changing how people learn.... and any full encompassing reloading manual , like the Lee has been to me,  would have a heck of a time keeping up with the internet.

Don't get me wrong.... I would pre-order a copy right now if Lee suggested they were printing one.

Lymans current AR manual, is a good example how tough it is to make a fully encompassing manual... I think it has all sorts of excellent info, but I have heard quite a few comments about "I wish they had included "this" specific bullet, case, primer, powder load.

Also... the flavor of the month powder syndrome.... the constant introduction of new powders ( a good thing ) .... makes it hard for printed, all encompassing data to keep up. For the internet it is perfect. For books... it blows. There was a time .... when you could count all the available powders on you fingers and toes.... now you would be hard pressed to name them all.

I would pre-order one as well. I really liked the Lee manual for it's sheer volume of load data. It was the first book I bought after reading the ABC's of reloading. Even though I pull data from the internet as well I am a big fan of printed material regardless of the subject.

I bet everyone here that prefers books still wears a watch as well vs, using their cell phone. There's some cool tech stuff but some old school will never go away.

I'm gonna get flamed for this, but I don't even own a reloading manual. I learned to reload from a friend and all the info I ever wanted on recipes etc. I've found online. Granted, I only reload handgun ammo, which is pretty easy by reloading standards, but I've never found the need for a manual.

I have to agree with this. Some of the load data is just simply terrible especially cast bullet data in .357mag for one example. The starting load is at mid level at least for most good data sources and would very likely cause very poor results due to lead fouling. Considering the fact that many believe that starting loads should not be reduced, I see this as a disservice to the person who has purchased this book.

Then while researching data for one of my mil-surp calibers I read a disclaimer of sorts that says this data was calculated and not actually tested. Really?

As far as other than load data goes the Lee book can be helpful at times.

Personally I don't care if they ever print a new one.

As a new reloader, I find the books are still quite useful. For newer powders, I check either the internet, or hodgdon puts out their yearly manual, with newer powders. I find that their website redesign they did a few months has very little information compared to the old one. Most of the calibers I load, they only have information for hollow points on there, and maybe fmj if I'm lucky. I cross reference my hodgdon annual, hornady 9th, Lyman 49th, western powder's annual, and lee 2nd looking for data, as well as online.

The only loading manual I have is the one that came with my Rockchuck kit that I got in 95, have not opened it in years.

I make up most of my loads with QL.

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Considering
it's usually years in between volumes, and the latest Lee is not that
old it will probably be a while before you see a 3rd edition.
       




I read somewhere that the Lyman 50th should be out within the next year or two. The 49th edition is over 8 years old now, and I'm starting to cringe when people jump right up and recommend this manual when a new reloader is asking for a manual. Granted it is a good manual, but I think a lot of newbies are going to be disappointed when they buy it and they find out that none of the newer powders are in it.
 

Lee is not proprietary loading data.  Is a compilation of powder data from the powder companies.

So who cares!

Sierra is long over due.  But they are good about helping people directly with questions.

 Well, it's important (at least to me) to know where this data comes from.

In the case of LEE their data is NOT their own.  They do not test loads, they do not publish load data.  they "COPY" load data.

All LEE data is nothing more than a copy of the powder manufacturer's/distributors data, put into a Book form and sold as something special.

If you wan the lasted LEE Manual, just go the the powder guys site and have a look see.  When and if LEE copies a new manual, it will most likely be old outdated powder manufacturer/distributor's data.

Ya want a NEW LEE manual, print out what you need for Hodgdon, Ramshot, Alliant, VV and Accurate and put it into your own binder. FREE!

As for Sierra, they are a joke.

Sierra is the only manual I know of that does not pressure test their data.  They test their loads in regular firearms and then look for "High" pressure the old fashioned way, They guess.

No Sierra data for me.

Don't think I'm old, but definitely old school in reloading. I want a book I can turn to

when at Mom and Pop powder shop with no network service, something to open

on plane trip to West Coast to shut up that anti-gun liberal socialist who always

sits next to me, and add my name to list of those who will pre-order a new Lee manual.

Lee's load data is copied directly from the powder manufacturer's data.  No more, no less.
If it's hot, it's because that is the data from the manufacturer.

I usually use my Speer or Lyman manuals, but to is nice to have all of the powder manufac. data in one place.