38-55 load recipes

No need for light loads in that gun ,I have my Grandpa's 1894 1911 26" rd barrel. With a 273gr cast GC Jet bullet I load 29-32gr of IMR 3031 in Starline brass and a standard LR Fed primer.If you didn't know there are two brass lengths ,I use the long.Before buying cast bullets find out what your groove diameter is and go 2 thousands of an inch over. I prefer RCBS Cowboy dies for cast as they don't swage the bullet during seating.Clean all the copper out of the barrel first with wipe out or the cast may pattern like a shotgun.Win 1894's are large grooved usually .380+ Should be a few other 38-55 guys here to chip in with some advice.
 
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Win 1911 38-55. I have settled on 24 grs IMR 4198 with 255 gr cast. Mine likes a bullet of 0.380.
mine came with an early Lyman pep site. I put a front globe site on it a 1920’s Ducandorf which looks correct for when the rifle was made. I also use black powder a lot in it. Any LR benchrest primer, 40 grs of 3 f and a card wad 1/8 inch compression of the powder I found worked best.
 
What sort of shape is the bore in? I've an old carbine 94 with a serious sewer-pipe bore...rifling is sort of a suggestion. Factory fodder- fugedabout it... keyhole city.
I run a fast powder to bump up PL oversize LEE 255 grain and keep them in contact with the bore. Unique IIRC. Grainage might be in my legend book
 
The bore is what I would say fair for a 120 year old firearm but ya it has pitting and what not but the rifleing is still pretty strong. I'm only going to be shooting cast 255 gr bullets. My concern is shooting smokeless in it because I dont know if it has the nickle steel barrel. I think it might just be a black iron barrel. It's not until 1910 that the nickel steel barrels became standard in Winchester 1894 3855 rifles. Before 1910 is was a custom order thing kinda like the octagon barrels
 
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death-junky said:
The bore is what I would say fair for a 120 year old firearm but ya it has pitting and what not but the rifleing is still pretty strong. I'm only going to be shooting cast 255 gr bullets. My concern is shooting smokeless in it because I dont know if it has the nickle steel barrel. I think it might just be a black iron barrel. It's not until 1910 that the nickel steel barrels became standard in Winchester 1894 3855 rifles. Before 1910 is was a custom order thing kinda like the hexagon barrels
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Look into Unique. IIRC it has a similar curve to BP. I use it in antiques with success. The slower high velocity powders work better with tight bore and nickel steel.
 
I've had several 38-55's. Presently shooting a Uberti Hiwall in 38-55. The rifle came to me with a scope mounted and I left it on the rifle for the time being. Also have a Remington Rolling Block with a Green Mountain 32" heavy octagon bbl that is presently being re-stocked.
The rifle:

jquFPLQl.jpg


I use a 273 Gr bullet cast from an Accurate Mould that they advertise as a paper patch mould. (38-273M) I powder coat them and size them .378" Load them over 20 Grs of IMR 4198 and here is the result. The left group was shot first, then, left 8 clicks then shot the right group. Distance is 100 yds.

UzvKLRHl.jpg


YMMV.

PS: The load information printed on the target is for my Savage 12 in .223, not the Uberti!!!
 
tokguy said:
Look into Unique. IIRC it has a similar curve to BP. I use it in antiques with success. The slower high velocity powders work better with tight bore and nickel steel.
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I found a pound of Unique from the local store what would you suggest for a starting load? What I can find is 10 gr will give you ~1300fps with a 26" bbr.
 
tokguy said:
Look into Unique. IIRC it has a similar curve to BP. I use it in antiques with success. The slower high velocity powders work better with tight bore and nickel steel.
Click to expand...

My 45-70 likes 15 gr of Unique. Doubt it would be much different for your 38-55, should be easy to look up. Mouse fart load, but doesn't sound.like.you want to hotrod it anyways.
 
Most UNIQUE loads for 38-55 max out at 10 grains and 250 grain bullet. It is often looked at as the magic load for this cal.
Check out U-tube and other sources for confirmation.
 
loading my 375 win down at 38-55 pressure/velocity- i use 20gr of AR2207 with a 245gr Hard cast Coated commercial projectile. oop, boolits

downgraded from 28-30 odd Grains.....


Edit- that is H4198
 
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