Heavy bullets in 38-55?

Mainehunter · Post by **Mainehunter** » Fri May 02, 2008 12:52 pm

Just curious to see if anybody is shooting anything heavier than 300 + grain bullets out of their 38-55 lever guns or single shot rifles. If so, what weight and brand. For competition or hunting.

Thanks,
Mainehunter

handirifle · Post by **handirifle** » Fri May 02, 2008 1:53 pm

I doubt you'll find any that are, since a fairly fast twist would be necessary to stabilize them.

1886 · Post by **1886** » Fri May 02, 2008 2:05 pm

I have had good results with a 310gr F.N.G.C. design sized .381 from Mt. Baldy Bullets in my Marlin .38-55 CB. I did not check my notes, but if memory serves me I was using a compressed charge of 2495 ignited by CCI-300 primers. Velocity ran around 1500fps. Accuracy and uniformity were quite good. I am confident this load would penetrate well on large game given reasonable range considerations. In order to use this diameter bullet in the Marlin CB one will need Starline brass. Hope this helps. 1886.

Post by **Hobie** » Fri May 02, 2008 2:40 pm

The heaviest I've read of being used are the 300 grainers (nominally as they are cast and could actually be 315 gr. or so). I've never really seen an advantage. IIRC the Brits went to even lighter bullets in their .375s of this approximate case size. I like the 250-265 gr. bullets. They seem to give the best balance in this cartridge.

RSY · Post by **RSY** » Fri May 02, 2008 4:16 pm

If you actually could find any, you could probably use a .375 Win. barrel with them. I believe they have a significantly tighter twist than the standard .38-55.

scott

sureshot · Post by **sureshot** » Fri May 02, 2008 5:38 pm

I have a Browning Traditional Hunter 1885 in 38-55 with a 1-15" twist that shoots the Lyman 378674 335gr mini-postell style bullet quite well out to 500yds. using Swiss black powder.
Steve

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Fri May 02, 2008 6:33 pm

Not quite that heavy, but my standard 38-55 bullet is the NEI 275 gr semi-spitzer with a small flat point. Powered by 21 gr. of 5744, it clocks a bit over 1400 out of various 38-55 rifles. Shoots like a scoped bolt gun.----------------Sixgun

CowboyTutt · Post by **CowboyTutt** » Fri May 02, 2008 11:52 pm

I had to go back and review my SHOT SHOW article to be sure I got my facts straight. I think the loads recommended so far with the older twist rates are appropriate, but the latest trend with the 38-55 is thus:

"I was really impressed with the Davide Pedersoli and Co. booth. They had all sorts of reproduction weapons from Trap Door Springfields to Sharps, Lightnings and Hi-Walls. Our own Steve Young told me that the DP rifles are the only other rifles outside of Shiloh that are competitive "out of the box" for BP competitions. The rest require a rebarrel.

One of their new products, that they were particularly proud of, is their Hi-Walls. They make one in 38-55 with a match-grade barrel and a 1-in-12 twist that is designed to "lob" a 360 grain bullet. They were beautiful rifles."

Hope this helps.

-Tutt

John Boy · Post by **John Boy** » Sun May 04, 2008 9:46 pm

... That's the Lyman 378674 - 330gr - 40gr FFFg Sifted @ 100yd

... same recipe @ 200yds - holes marked with a D in the 10 ring is final group after sighters