38-55 Loads and Dies

Killer Kanuck

Killer Kanuck

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For any of you that reload 38-55, what brand of dies are you using?
And what's you pet load. It's going to be for an 1893 Marlin manufacured in 1893, so hot loads are probably not so good. :D
250gr a good place to start? Heavier? Lighter? Gas checks? Black powder loads?
Any help would be appreciated.
 
I use Lyman Dies and the Lyman 250 bullet with Super Moly lube. If you have or can get a copy of Ken Waters Pet Loads there is a good section on 38-55s. I use 680, 2400 and H4198. I also tryed 777.
 
RCBS Cowboy dies and 10.0 grains of Unique pushing a Bullet barn 255 grain lead Flat point bullet. MV equals the current factory load by Winchester in my 1913 Winchester M94 Rifle.
 
My old Win 1894 was made before they perfected their nickel-steel barrels, so it's black powder loads. I use 245 gr cast over 40 gr of goex with SPG cookie in between. Very light smokeless is, same bullet lubed with SPG over 16 gr of Accurate Arms XMP5744. (A black powder guy, who wins in his class, told me that the XMP5744 replicates black powder's pressure curve enough for him to practice with) I'm getting 3in. three shot groups at 100yds. My bore slugs at .381, so it was suggested to me to cast myself some bullets with pure lead( which will expand, to engage the rifling better). As soon as I use up my Bullet Barn bullets (.379), and the weather warms up, I'm going to give it a try.KD
http://www.thebulletbarn.com/
http://www.ssbpcrc.co.uk/Resources/Introduction to BPCR Loading.pdf
http://www.bpcr.net/
 
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KK.... what do you what to do with this rifle??? Hunt,Plink,Target Shooting, Cowby Action ????.....depending on it's use would dictate what type of load you would want to use.....mic..:)
 
nrut said:
KK.... what do you what to do with this rifle??? Hunt,Plink,Target Shooting, Cowby Action ????.....depending on it's use would dictate what type of load you would want to use.....mic..:)
Click to expand...

More than likely just plinking, but possibly cowboy action sometime in the future.
I think I'm going to have to do what dixda's doing, and shoot strictly black powder though. It's a Marlin 1893 manufactured in 1893, and I'm pretty sure they used "soft steel" for the first couple years. Anybody loading with Hodgdon 777?
 
18 grains of IMR 4198 with a cornmeal filler, and a .379 cast slug from the bullet barn. Very good groups out of my 1893 (made in 1898). I use it in the turkey shoots at steel rams. A very satisfying day when you can beat out the newer modern rifles with an old one.

Marc S.
 
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