Recipes for reloading 38-55 with cast bullets

XMR 5744, 21 Gr, don't quote me on that, I 'm just trying to remember , never checked my notes. The bullet was from the lee mould, 250 gr sized to .378. Caught a buck deer in the brain with it 3 years back from 100 meters, dumped it like a metal plate.
Frank
 
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I use 21grs of Win 680 but when that is gone it is gone. 17 gr of 2400 is good with a 250 cast. There is also good info. in Ken Walters Pet Loads. Good loads with common powders.
 
If you are using them for cowboy action then you want a velocity of under 1500 fps I use 10 grns of unique with a felt wad to keep the powder at the end of the case against the primer.
My other load is IMR 4895 at 28 grns with a gas check, however it is not necessary.
The bullets I use are sized .379, both loads are good for cowboy shooting.
cooner
 
cooner said:
I use 10 grns of unique with a felt wad to keep the powder at the end of the case against the primer.
cooner
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desertfox.....under NO circumstances do you want an air space between your felt wad and bullet base....the wad will act as the bullet and the bullet will act as a bore obstruction....sooner or later BOOM!...this is a very dangerous practice....
 
The .38-55 is on my 'to get' calibre list. My buddy has one and he tells me a couple of his favorite loads are out of the old Lyman cast bullet book. He said he uses Lyman bullet #375296, 265gr GC with either 16grs of 2400 or 10grs of Unique.
 
cooner said:
If you are using them for cowboy action then you want a velocity of under 1500 fps I use 10 grns of unique with a felt wad to keep the powder at the end of the case against the primer.
My other load is IMR 4895 at 28 grns with a gas check, however it is not necessary.
The bullets I use are sized .379, both loads are good for cowboy shooting.
cooner
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What you are doing is VERY dangerous, never leave an air space between wads or fillers and the bullet. See Hatchers' Notebook re; bore obstructions.
OPC X6
 
Johnn Peterson said:
The .38-55 is on my 'to get' calibre list. My buddy has one and he tells me a couple of his favorite loads are out of the old Lyman cast bullet book. He said he uses Lyman bullet #375296, 265gr GC with either 16grs of 2400 or 10grs of Unique.
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Try SR4759 if you can find some. It was developed as a smokeless substitute for black, bulks up much better in large cases like .38-55, 45-70, etc. Been my favourite for 40 years.
OPC X6
 
SR 4759 - awesome stuff in 38-55

Unique works OK for 1000 - 1100 f/s but is inconsistant without a filler or wad and like the other posts said, wads can be dangerous.
 
HOWDY Fillers can be dangerous and are best left out .
BUT if you feel you must I have taken a cotton ball ,pulled it apart , then placed a small amount to fill the entire space from powder to bullet in 45/70 cases . I have never used anything in a 38/55 case evan over a small load of UNIQUE. Just shot a one hole group at 50 yards today .good enough for me .
 
9.5grs of unique with 250gr lead bullet. very good load!. This is a 5 shot group at 100yds out of a Marlin Cowboy, flyer is my fault!
38-55target.jpg
 
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OPC X6 said:
Try SR4759 if you can find some. It was developed as a smokeless substitute for black, bulks up much better in large cases like .38-55, 45-70, etc. Been my favourite for 40 years.
OPC X6
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Again, 'hands on' experience with this calibre I don't have, I was just going by what my buddy mentioned & the sucess he's had. I will & am planning on getting one. For a 'shooter' & something to hunt with, any brand recommendations?
 
38-55 loading recipes

Hi Everybody

First ,i would like to thanks all CGN members for their help .I am glad to see such camaraderie between fellow shooters.Recently i bought a Browning Traditional hunter in 38-55 ,what a rifle!Thats why i was looking for hints to start reloading the 38-55.

Thanks to every CGN members for your precious infos !


Jean DESERTFOX
 
I have a 1913 Winchester M94 Rifle in .38-55 that loves 10.0 grains of Unique pushing a Bullet Barn 255 grain RNFP bullet at 1,280 fps. Highly recommended. My rifle is zeroed at 100 meters and has a 32 inch drop at 200meters. The caliber is great for hunting at 100-150 meters.
 
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