The first load was a bevel base cast bullet over 18 grains of SR4759 for 1,235 fps. Five shots at 100 yards gave me a 3 & 7/8" group. I was pretty happy with that, given that it was my first and only group with that load and the first time shooting that rifle. With practice, I'm sure I can reduce that group size. I've found that a bit stiffer load of SR4759 gives me even better accuracy in my own 38-55 with that particular bullet, so I'd like to try a stiffer recipe of SR4759 in this carbine sometime in the near future. Here's a photo of the target ....
The second load was 30 grains of IMR3031 under some old Dominion 38-55 JSP bullets I had pulled out of some old Dominion factory High Velocity cartridges. The bullets were only .376" diameter, so I was not expecting too much. This load chrono'd at 1,468 fps. When I headed down range to check out the three-shot group, I was pleasantly surprised ..... a 1 & 1/8" three-shot group at 100 yards!! It doesn't get much better than that. Here's a photo of the target (keep in mind, boys, that this is a 103 - year old SRC) ....
Needless to say, I bought the old Winchester for my brother-in-law. It is an honest old gun that no one has messed with. It has enough wear on it to prove that it earned its keep a hundred years ago, probably hanging on a rack at the back door of a farmhouse somewhere in rural Canada, ready at a moment's notice. Here's a photo of the fine old carbine ....
