My 38-55 has fodder again.

[Eagleye]

I managed to score a few boxes of Barnes original .377 diameter, 255 grain soft point flat nose bullets
for my 38-55 [1979 Reproduction, Legendary Frontiersman, 24"] I got busy and loaded up 50 rounds
of ammo for it, using a proven load in this rifle before I ran out of Jacketed bullets.

WW cases, R-P 9½ primer, 32.0 grains of H322, 255 grain Barnes. This load shoots very well in my
Winchester, and churns up just north of 1800 fps. I shot my biggest Whitetail to date with this load
3 years ago. Now I am ready to take it hunting again, lol. Dave.

 

[hunter64]

I have the same rifle and picked up a Crazy Horse version in the summer. I have never shot Jacket bullets in them and just stick to cast as both of them measure .379 when i slugged them. Someday I will pick up a box of jacketed just to give them a try. Thanks for the recipe , I haven't tried H322 yet. I have had really good luck with Varget and IMR3031 with custom made .381 cast 245 grain sized to .380.

The ex-in-laws lived up in Dawson Creek and loved hunting with the father in law each year, beautiful area with lots of Moose and Deer. Good luck to you. I love hunting, the smell of early morning dew and the anticipation of the day and just being out in the woods makes this old guys heart warm.

 

[John Y Cannuck]

I managed to score a few boxes of Barnes original .377 diameter, 255 grain soft point flat nose bullets
for my 38-55 [1979 Reproduction, Legendary Frontiersman, 24"] I got busy and loaded up 50 rounds
of ammo for it, using a proven load in this rifle before I ran out of Jacketed bullets.

WW cases, R-P 9½ primer, 32.0 grains of H322, 255 grain Barnes. This load shoots very well in my
Winchester, and churns up just north of 1800 fps. I shot my biggest Whitetail to date with this load
3 years ago. Now I am ready to take it hunting again, lol. Dave.

Glad to hear it Dave. The 38-55 is a cartridge I have yet to play with. As a lover of old cartridges I know they still perform like they used to years ago when the 38-55 was thought of not only for deer and black bear but as a moose thumper. Glad to hear it's still being enjoyed.

 

[WhelanLad]

happy days for the lever!
that sounds similiar to my loads i use in the 375bb with cast an jacket!

hope yer find something to shoot..pics please!

 

[jethunter]

You should try a nice big cast bullet in that 38-55. It's what they were made to shoot.

 

[Eagleye]

You should try a nice big cast bullet in that 38-55. It's what they were made to shoot.

JH; Actually, I do shoot a big cast GC bullet in this rifle, but have not killed anything with one yet.
The bullet is a Lyman design, and drops out of the mold at 285 grains. 1550 fps with a good charge
of RL 7 or Norma 200 behind it. Quite accurate as well. My bore slugs at .3775, so my cast are
at .379" Dave.

 

[jethunter]

JH; Actually, I do shoot a big cast GC bullet in this rifle, but have not killed anything with one yet.
The bullet is a Lyman design, and drops out of the mold at 285 grains. 1550 fps with a good charge
of RL 7 or Norma 200 behind it. Quite accurate as well. My bore slugs at .3775, so my cast are
at .379" Dave.

You likely find that cast bullet outperforms the Barnes on game.

 

[Eagleye]

You likely find that cast bullet outperforms the Barnes on game.

I'll have to give it a try. I do know that the Barnes penetrates like all get out. Through 2-5x5 timbers, and recovered from the third one.

I did some looking, and guess what? Found some .379" - 240 grain plain base cast, and some .379" - 265 grain GC bullets. Now I am going
to have to load some of those and try them out.......Is there a chance that I got some from you at one time or other? Dave.

 

[jethunter]

The 265gr GC could have come from me, not the 240gr though. Is it 260gr maybe?

The 265gr checked penetrate well too, beat the Barnes in spruce boards.

 

[mbogo3]

I use your 265gr GC in my re-bored Marlin.

 

[Eagleye]

happy days for the lever!
that sounds similiar to my loads i use in the 375bb with cast an jacket!

hope yer find something to shoot..pics please!

Here are a couple of pictures. Williams Foolproof at the rear, Firesight at the front. Even these tired old eyes can shoot
quite well with these sights, and the firesight shows up well in poor light. Dave.