Cast bullets for 38-40

[win40-82]

Looking for some good cast bullets for my Winchester model 92. Have had it for about 5 or 6 years and just now have decided it needs to shot a few times. If anybody has a favorite, let me know. Thanks in advance. Load info also would be appreciated.

[yooper2]

Accurate 40-180c is my go to. 8grs of Unique is safe in anything. Capacity loads of Reloader 7 tend to be extremely accurate. 2400 or 4227 if you want to hot rod things, 22gr of 4227 works well for me but case life is short.
If you want to shoot black I'd recommend sticking with 3f.

Eric

[yooper2]

If you want to try some I'll be casting more up next weekend.

Eric

[black river smith]

I bought the Accurate 40-175-H mold.

The Lyman 40143 molds I have for blackpowder, 38/40's in pistol and rifle, all produce a 182 grain bullet, with pure lead. So, when looking for a good smokeless replacement, I finally decide that I had to go to a custom mold. After emailing with Tom and doing all the calculations for height and proportional distances from base to crimp, to final OAL of casing and bullet, I chose this mold over the others. It did/does drop a 182 grain bullet with the correct OAL. The only variance is the Accurate mold has a slightly larger nose diameter compared to my original Winchester and the Lymans.

I only have used 8.0 grains of Unique in the smokeless rounds. When that is gone we will see.

[TedH]

I shoot the Accurate 40-180E. It is very similar to the C, but has a larger lube groove designed for black powder. Works fine with smokeless too. Unique works great, but I'm usually loading Olde Eynsford 2F.

[OldWin]

The 38-40 is my favorite of the short action cartridges. For me, it's way easier than 44. I have 7 38-40s, and can shoot the same load in every one. I have to do something different for every 44.
I use the old Lyman 401043. I know many have trouble with it pushing in with smokeless loads, but I never have. This bullet over 8 or 9 grains of Unique is a fantastic load for my guns. I Have a nice takedown 92 and an 1889 Marlin that will drill this load into tiny groups at 50 yards.

[Turdyturdy]

Oregon Trail Laser-Cast Silver Bullet, 180 grain round nose flat point, .401 diameter. 8 grains Unique.

[black river smith]

I use the old Lyman 401043. I know many have trouble with it pushing in with smokeless loads, but I never have.

OldWin,
I do not want to redirect from the OP but... Please tell us what you do, differently. When I did that with the Original 44WCF bullet nothing seemed to hold steady, even the Lee FCD. That is why I went directly to a crimped grooved design with the 38/40 smokeless, in an original 1892, that a bought 3 years ago. Did not even try the bullets from the Original Win or the Lyman molds.

[OldWin]

I use the old Lyman 401043. I know many have trouble with it pushing in with smokeless loads, but I never have.

OldWin,
I do not want to redirect from the OP but... Please tell us what you do, differently. When I did that with the Original 44WCF bullet nothing seemed to hold steady, even the Lee FCD. That is why I went directly to a crimped grooved design with the 38/40 smokeless, in an original 1892, that a bought 3 years ago. Did not even try the bullets from the Original Win or the Lyman molds.

I use a Lee Factory Crimp die, but I've also had success with an original Winchester tong tool.
I will say, however, that I don't load my magazine tubes to capacity. I usually only load 5 or 6 rounds.

[black river smith]

I use the old Lyman 401043. I know many have trouble with it pushing in with smokeless loads, but I never have.

OldWin,
I do not want to redirect from the OP but... Please tell us what you do, differently. When I did that with the Original 44WCF bullet nothing seemed to hold steady, even the Lee FCD. That is why I went directly to a crimped grooved design with the 38/40 smokeless, in an original 1892, that a bought 3 years ago. Did not even try the bullets from the Original Win or the Lyman molds.

I use a Lee Factory Crimp die, but I've also had success with an original Winchester tong tool.
I will say, however, that I don't load my magazine tubes to capacity. I usually only load 5 or 6 rounds.

Thanks for the response and ideas.

[OldWin]

I use the old Lyman 401043. I know many have trouble with it pushing in with smokeless loads, but I never have.

OldWin,
I do not want to redirect from the OP but... Please tell us what you do, differently. When I did that with the Original 44WCF bullet nothing seemed to hold steady, even the Lee FCD. That is why I went directly to a crimped grooved design with the 38/40 smokeless, in an original 1892, that a bought 3 years ago. Did not even try the bullets from the Original Win or the Lyman molds.

I use a Lee Factory Crimp die, but I've also had success with an original Winchester tong tool.
I will say, however, that I don't load my magazine tubes to capacity. I usually only load 5 or 6 rounds.

Thanks for the response and ideas.

No problem. Just for curiosity sake, I will load one of my carbines tubes full and leave it awhile. I'll let you know how it does.

[Eddie Southgate]

Nothing wrong with the original Winchester .38 WCF mold , got mine on ebay for less than $50 .

[earlmck]

The Lee 175 grain Tumble-Lube bullet has been a good plinker to 200 yards for my m92. But my favorite bullet is the Accurate 40-200 B which comes in at 205 grains or so with my wheelweight metal. This is a gas-check design and the correct gas check is the "41BSS" I get from Sage's Outdoors. I put 28 grains of RL-7 in the case and this is a modestly compressed load which keeps that bullet from ever thinking of sliding back in the case. This is the load I use for our Buffalo-shooters group game where we shoot to 600 yards. If I ordered this mould again I'd ask Tom to put a nice crimp groove in place of the top grease groove, but instead I just make sure all my loads are some version of compressed.

I know some of our 38/40 shooters never have their bullets slip their crimp but neither of my 40 cal bullets has a decent crimp groove and I had the occasional problem until I adopted the compressed load strategy. My short-range load for out to 200 yards I use 4 grains of Lil'Gun topped by 25 grains of a surplus machine gun powder (W760 in this case but there are several out there) for a pleasant 1400 fps load. I have 4 different brands of cases going and they all have a little different capacity. I adjust the surplus powder (treating it like a combustible filler) to give a nicely compressed load in whatever case brand I am loading, so it is "25 grains plus or minus a couple". That RL-7 load is in Remington cases which have the most capacity of my bunch.

[OldWin]

I use the old Lyman 401043. I know many have trouble with it pushing in with smokeless loads, but I never have.

OldWin,
I do not want to redirect from the OP but... Please tell us what you do, differently. When I did that with the Original 44WCF bullet nothing seemed to hold steady, even the Lee FCD. That is why I went directly to a crimped grooved design with the 38/40 smokeless, in an original 1892, that a bought 3 years ago. Did not even try the bullets from the Original Win or the Lyman molds.

I use a Lee Factory Crimp die, but I've also had success with an original Winchester tong tool.
I will say, however, that I don't load my magazine tubes to capacity. I usually only load 5 or 6 rounds.

Thanks for the response and ideas.

Ok, so I didn't forget. Just got busy.
So I took my old user, beater 92 carbine the other day and filled the magazine with my general purpose load. The Lyman 401043 cast from #2 alloy. Loaded over 8gr of Unique. I use this old carbine for woods loafing and as a user. It looks bad, but has a great bore and is mechanically very tight. I let it sit for a couple days. I didn't pound the butt on the floor of my gunroom or anything, just left it.
I unloaded it today and every round was still right at 1.590 just like I'd loaded them. I don't doubt many people have had an issue with this bullet and smokeless powder, but I just never have.

[black river smith]

OldWin,

Thanks for doing that. One more question please. From the photo I can't totally tell, Is that just a strong roll-crimp or a Lee FC?

Thanks again!

[OldWin]

No problem. These were Lee Factory I believe. The brass is old Remington. I've also had success with the old Winchester 1874 tong tool.
I've had pretty good luck overall with 38-40. For me, it has taken a lot less fussing with than 44-40.