Finally shot my .38-55 today. Amended to add more loads

[Chuck 100 yd]

I bought a used but like new .38-55 from the local dealer a month or so back.
Marlin 336 Cowboy , I ordered in a Lee 250 gr PB mold and some Star-line brass (long). A set of RCBS Cowboy dies were the last thing on the list.

I already had some new Winchester brass but from all the tales on line I assumed I would need the Star-line due to the bore slugging at .380 .

I cast up a bunch of bullets using wheel weights,pan lubed them
with SPG . I made a .381 push through lube sizer die (the as cast dia. is .381 so the die just cleans up the lube and don`t change the bullets dia. at all.

One of those .381 bullets loaded in either the Winchester or Star-line brass slips into the chamber without effort.

I loaded 20 using 20.0gr. XMP 5744 and loaded 10 with 7gr. Trail Boss.

Today I fired them at 50yd from the bench the first 4 5744
loads went into just under 3/4" with the fifth making the group 1"


Next came the Trail Boss loads. they are so soft it is like shooting a .22mag. All five printed into 1 1/2" and about 4" above the 5744 loads.

This little rifle wants to shoot. I will be trying more loads in it soon. The XMP 5744 for sure .

Does anyone have a load for the .38-55 using 2400??
I have had good results using it in .30-30 cast loads.

I even found time to do a little on Salvo`s holster project.


Note: the holster is still a test pattern and we will be making changes I am sure.
Like the basket stamping leaves much to be desired. My first try don`t ya know??

New data.....
Chronographed a few loads today and found interesting results and some fair to middlin groups too boot.

All used the 250gr. Lee bullet sized to .381 and pan lubed with SPG.
20.0gr.5744 = 1339 fps SD= 12.6

14.0gr. 2400 = 1269fps SD= 40.8 (rather poor SD )good group

15.0 gr, 2400 = 1299 fps SD= 6.6 ( good SD and fine accuracy)

The 15.0 gr 2400 load is very pleasant to shoot and shows very little leading with the plain base bullet. 1 more grain over the 14gr.load made this load shine in the SD`s.
I would choose that load for target shooting but the 5744 load will get the nod if I decide to hunt with this rifle. The extra velocity is worth just a little larger groups when brush hunting. IMHO Shot @ 50yd. Williams peep sight.

[RIHMFIRE]

Nice looking group....and reloads...
I need to try XMP 5744..
I use 30-31

cant wait to see the finished holster too!

[Pitchy]

Handsome looking shells and nice group, the basket weave looks good to me.

[Old Savage]

Great work all the way around.

[jdad]

Start at 15gr of 2400 and work up to 18gr. 18.7gr is max according to my Lyman #34 book. I found no difference and had the best accuracy between 17 and 17.5gr. I was using Laser Cast bullets.

[kimwcook]

Looks like you've got a shooter, Chuck. The basketweave looks good. I haven't done much myself, but I know I need to pickup a second stamp and grind off one side of it for the ends around the border. Trying to tip the stamp so it doesn't mark to much near the border just doens't cut it. For me at least.

[pokey]

nice job, all the way around.
never figured you for anything less.

[Griff]

Great work all the way around.

+1

[spaceman spiff]

"and loaded 10 with 7gr. Trail Boss."

That's my TB recipe, Though with 245g projectiles. Scary accurate



spaceman

[Chuck 100 yd]

kimwcook , I had planed to do just that with the basket stamp. I may get a couple extras and modify them so they work better in the corners and edges.
They probably will rust though after grinding through the plating. Unless they are chrome/Nickle stainless witch I doubt. Sometimes Tandy has them on special or even a coupon for a free stamp of your choice.

[Jeff H]

I'm glad someone else commented on the good looks of those loads.
Might sound superficial to some, but I think it shows care and attention to detail - both of which are important.
Although I have known a few (very few) fellas who's loads looked awful and still shot well.

Nice looking leatherwork.
I would be interested in seeing that one as it progesses.
I have made quite a few sheaths and other things but not a holster yet and I need to make a few.

[1886]

Those are great rifles. No history with 2400 but 2495 is a great cast powder. It is a shooter. Best wishes, 1886.

[Old Savage]

Most accurate load for a 45-70 I have used was an older lot of 2400 and a 400 gr bullet.

[Rube Burrows]

Nice shooting rifle. I cant wait to get my 38-55 Winchester project finished.....even though it is still a ways out.

[Catshooter]

Very nice. Where's the pic of the rifle though?

Can't help you with 2400. I've only used AA 2230. Thirty grains under my cast Lyman 375449 (284 grains lubed & checked) gives me about 1750 fps. Very, very accurate. My sighting in group at 150 yards was an inch and a half.


Cat

[Chuck 100 yd]

Thanks for the compliments fellers! I do like to make pretty ammo.
If it were `JUST` a tool I would probably not take the time to make them nice but for my bobbies they NEED to shine!!
I will have to get a pic of the rifle but it is just a factory run gun, although an early one when they were done nice.

[KirkD]

Good shooting. I'm working on a 2400 load myself that gives just a touch over 1,300 fps, which was the original BP velocity. If I have time at lunch tomorrow, I'm going to run a 14 grain of 2400 under a 255 grain soft cast bullet over my chronograph to see how fast it is. If I do it, I'll report back here.

[Dewight]

Like the basket stamping leaves much to be desired.

I agree. I desire it much!

[Sixgun]

I never had much luck with 2400 in anything except magnum revolver cartridges. 5744 works so well, its all I use for 25 or so different rifle cartridges with cast bullets. Mike Venturino writes the same.-------Sixgun

[KirkD]

I find gas check bullets more forgiving, so if it has a gas check, I often use 5744. If it is a plain base cast bullet, it may benefit sometimes from a little higher pressure spike to make sure that bullet completely seals off the throat/bore, improving accuracy. Every gun/cast bullet combination is a little different, so only experimentation will show whether the load benefits from 2400 or not.

[C. Cash]

Very nice Chuck! Got a keeper there and good shooting.

[Chuck 100 yd]

KirkD , I will look forward to your results, Thanks!

Sixgun, Its hard to argue with success , 5744 has been a
go-to powder for me also. 2400 is also a sweet and very versatile powder. And I have 8 pounds of it.

C. Cash , Thanks!!

[KirkD]

Loaded up four rounds at lunch today and fired them off over my Chrony. The load was 14 grains of 2400 under a 255 grain cast plain base LBT bullet. Results:
1,296 fps
1,254 fps
1,257 fps
1,303 fps

That is just slightly under where I would like to be, so tomorrow at lunch I will load up 4 rounds using 14.5 grains of 2400 to see what it chronographs at. These bullets are sized to .379 and my bore slugs at .381. I also have sizing dies for .381. Once I have settled on a load, I will then load up about 10 rounds of each, and try them both out for accuracy and velocity at our range. That is a week down the road.

The pressure is high enough such that there is no soot around the neck of the case. That is good. Whether it is sufficient to bump up the soft cast bullet (pure wheel weights) or not, the accuracy test will tell.

[Chuck 100 yd]

Thanks Kirk!

[KirkD]

Well, I loaded up two more loads at lunch today, then headed out into the back yard to put them across my chronograph. As before, I am shooting a LBT custom 255 grain cast plain base bullet sized to .379 in a .381 groove diameter bore. (Note: I have found in the past that if I can mimic a black powder pressure spike, I can bump up a soft cast bullet to seal off that bore). I will also try a .381 bullet next week in my accuracy trials. Here are today's results:

14.5 grains of 2400:
Four shots, average velocity of 1,302 fps (1,283 fps, 1,303 fps, 1,295 fps, 1,328 fps)

15 grains of 2400:
Four shots, average velocity of 1,337 fps (1,327 fps, 1,346 fps, 1,323 fps, 1,353 fps)

According to my copy of an 1896 Winchester catalogue, the original black powder velocity at that time was 1,285 fps.
According to an early 1900's chart I have, velocity was 1,320 fps

I find that 2400 gives me reduced velocities as temperatures approach the freezing point or below, so I figure 15 grains of 2400 will be my load so far as velocity is concerned. Now to try the two bullet sizes for accuracy. From past experience with this old 38-55, I think it should be very accurate with a medium speed powder like 2400 with plain base bullets.

With gas check bullets, I would probably go with 5744 for traditional velocities.

[Chuck 100 yd]

bump