Reload data for .38-55?

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Wardo1974

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I am working on reloading for an 1894 Winchester in .38-55 made in the late 1910's, so it has a nickel steel barrel that can handle hotter loads than the older BP rifles.

I am finding reloading data really limited for this cartridge. Especially for any bullet other than 255 grains.

I have seen the Ken Waters pet loads, and gone over the Hodgon list online, and there doesn't seem like a lot there.

I'm currently using 24 grains of 4198 with a 245 grain Bullet Barn Bullet, which based on the Lyman manual is supposed to be 1500-1600 fps, and I wonder if I can do better. My understanding is, I won't see any signs of exceeding pressure limits with this cartridge, so I want to go farther, but without unknowingly hammering the gun, but thinking everything is fine because the brass isn't splitting on me.

I would appreciate if anybody had ANY other load data I could look at for this cartridge, especially with bullet sizes of 265 grains. But I'd love to see anything else, too, for any other bullet size.

I am looking in particular to maximize the power I can get without ruining the gun - but nothing too extreme. I don't want to hotrod this into something it isn't. But I want to do better than the old "9 grains of Unique with a 245 grain bullet" stuff too.

I was wondering about 1700 fps velocities in any of the standard bullet sizes - 245, 255, 265.
 
Here are some loads from my old Ideal Handbook #38:

255 gr Jacketed bullet with 35 grs 3031 for 1820 fps (Maximum Load).

255 gr. jacketed bullet with 18.7 grs of 2400 for 1505 fps.

280 gr cast bullet with 16 grs of 2400 1450 fps.

From a very old Lyman Handbook of Cast Bullets:

250 gr plain base cast bullet with 30 grs of 3031 for 1575 fps.

From the Hodgdon Basic Reloaders Manual 1997:

255 gr bullet with 38 grs BL(C)2 for 1666 fps
37 grs H335 for 1679 fps
35 grs H4895 for 1729 fps
33 grs H322 for 1640 fps
24 grs H4198 for 1415 fps

I've used the 24 grs H4198 load extensively and found it to be very accurate.
 
I'm not positive, but the last Lyman manual probably has some data.
I'll have a look. (if I remember:redface:)
 
I'm using Bullet Barn bullets pushed by either 10.0 grains of Unique or 24.8 grains of IMR 4895 out of my 1906 manufactured Winchester Model 1894 .38-55 Carbine. The Unique is a nice light target load for the wife.
 
I shoot a cast 285 grain cast, gas check bullet with 30.5 grains of H322.
This is pretty solid hitting medicine.
Shot a Whitetail buck at 85 yards, and it thumped him good!!
Regards, Eagleye.
T
 
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