38/55 load recipe

[Royzo]

Getting an old 1893 Marlin in 38/55 ready for some shooting.
Keeping in mind it’s the B grade with the black powder 28” octagon barrel.
Would love to have a mild smokeless powder load but for safety sake, better stick with black powder loads.
Anybody have any recipes they will share??

 

[gre0066]

I have a Winchester 1894 built in 1916 that likes 255 grain cast with 20.0 grains of IMR4198at 1282 fps.

 

[just having some fun]

the Lyman # 44 has 38-55 data

 

[Snider shooter]

255gr cast with 24 grs IMR 4198. I use it in two rifles. Savage 99 made in 1911 and a Winchester 94 made in 1908.

 

[cooner]

255 gner cast, over 25grns IMR 3031,winchester primer,winchester case

 

[tokguy]

Getting an old 1893 Marlin in 38/55 ready for some shooting.
Keeping in mind it’s the B grade with the black powder 28” octagon barrel.
Would love to have a mild smokeless powder load but for safety sake, better stick with black powder loads.
Anybody have any recipes they will share??

I like Unique... it's a bit dirty, but the curve is close enough to BP for Union work.

 

[Londonshooter]

If anyone has Brophy's Marlin Firearms book I would be interested to see a scan or photo or quote about what he says about the B grade model 1893. My understanding is that it is a very strong action and of course the rifles sold before the "special smokeless" steel barrels were introduced had no statement about "for black powder only". OP, if you are looking to load 55 grains of BP as per the cartridge designation then I think you will need a drop tube in order for it to fit in the case.

 

[Snider shooter]

Original cases were boloon headed and had more internal volume. Modern cases have a solid web. 40 grs of 3 fg is about all you can get in the case.

 

[dan belisle]

255 gr Barnes originals over 26 gr of 4198. That's in a Savage 99 though. - dan

 

[Re3iever]

255g cast lead bullet, 50/50 honey-olive oil lube, card wad and 30g volume Goex ffG , Starline 38-55 Long Brass and Winchester LR primers.

Retreever

 

[oldrodder]

I shoot 2 38-55's. Both are Rolling blocks, one Danish and one Swede. One has a Green Mountain barrel and the other has a Uberti take-off barrel when I built my 40-70 SS. I shoot an Accurate Moulds 273 gr slug, powder coated, pushed by 20 grs of IMR4198. It's a "pussy" load but very accurate in both rifles.

100 Yds.

 

[cooey43]

Getting an old 1893 Marlin in 38/55 ready for some shooting.
Keeping in mind it’s the B grade with the black powder 28” octagon barrel.
Would love to have a mild smokeless powder load but for safety sake, better stick with black powder loads.
Anybody have any recipes they will share??

For over 30 years I shoot my old Wincher 1894's with a light target load of 7.0 gr. of Unique
and a 255 gr. cast bullet from wheel wt. lead , sized @ .379" WLR primmers. Always good !!!