38-55 Winchester loads?

[Aussie Chris]

Gday everyone. I have finally found a little time to start thinking about reloading some rounds for my new legendary frontiersmen comemmorative, in 38-55.

I have done a search on here but couldn't find much reloading info.

I got my local gundealer to order me in some of the starline brass and most of it measures close to 2.0800''. I hope this is the right brass for it because I remember reading somewhere that there are two lengths of this brass?

What projectile sizes do you guys load up in your 38-55 ammo? Do you use the undersize .375 projectiles?

Any help in this would br greatly appreciated

Chris

[20cows]

I use a 275 gr GC cast bullet sized .377 in one gun and the Hornady 220 gr SP in another (.375).

You may want to slug your barrel to find what size to try.

[Old No7]

Well for sure -- don't do what I did -- see the link below for details! Some of the replies to that post tell us what WILL work.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=9770

"Bill in Oregon" sent me a sample pack of his jacketed bullets to test too, but I have not had a chance to try them yet.

Hope that link helps!

Old No7

[maroontoad]

Mate,

If you want accuracy, then you've got your work cut out for you but with patience the result is worth it.
Firstly, the bore groove should be around .379" or .380 which will not like .375" bullets. If you don't cast your own, then you need to find a stash of old Winchester jacketed bullets as they had a swell in them (I think .377) to help with the bigger bores and were soft enough to upset the other couple of thou.
If you can cast then there are moulds from Ranchdog and other specialists whill will fit the bore.
Slug your bore and mic it to satisfy yourself. Buy RCBS Cowboy dies which can handle the bigger bullets. If the bigger bullets in your long cases are too fat to chamber, have your Gunsmith open up your neck and throat to suit, or use short cases made from blown out .30-30 cases or new Winchester .38-55 cases.
There is a ton of info here if you search for it.

Good luck

Snow.

[morgan in nm]

Back when ebay was worth their salt for finding bullets, I bought 2000 rds of meister hard cast 249grn .379 for mine and it loves them.

[O.S.O.K.]

Barnes makes an original in .377" - 255 grain. Here are some loads for that bullet from a 24" barrel:


Hodgdon H-4198
28.0 grains
1788 fps


Hodgdon H-322
33.0 grains
1830 fps

If you don't have the Lee reloading manual - I'd suggest a purchase - it'll give you the loads you need along with a whole lot more.

[Hobie]

I have a .38-55 and like it.

[Rimfire McNutjob]

Huntingtons is carrying a 250gr jacketed bullet specifically for the 38-55 and it purports to be 0.379". They're not cheap at just under a buck each but at least they're the proper size. Here's the link. I don't have a 38-55 but I happened to notice this in the most recent Huntington's catalog because the 38-55 is mentioned frequently here on the board and I believe I've fired one of Duff L Bagg's rifles in 38-55 though it's hard to remember because he brings so many different guns to the range.

[1886]

The groove dia. of your Win. will probably be .375" but slug it to be sure. Starline offers the correct length brass at 2.125". You may find that RL-7 is a good place to start for velocity and consistency. I have had good luck with BR-2 primers with RL-7. Slower powders like H-4895 could be used to tone the velocity down a bit. You may find that Varget will provide great accuracy with a little less velocity. Your rifle assuming good mechanical condition will safely handle up to 40,000 cup. Regards, 1886.

[44LVR]

In my Marlin Cowboy I use a 278gr cast sized to .379 and 31.5grs of 3031. I don't know the velocity but it even an elk can't stop it

44

[Rimfire McNutjob]

I didn't pick up on it originally but 1886 obviously did. If yours is a modern Winchester in 38-55, it's probably going 0.375" and not 0.379" like the older guns and the Marlins. Has anyone verified this?

[1886]

I didn't pick up on it originally but 1886 obviously did. If yours is a modern Winchester in 38-55, it's probably going 0.375" and not 0.379" like the older guns and the Marlins. Has anyone verified this?

Yes. I have had one or two along the way. They both slugged at .375". The Leg. Front. is my favorite Win. Commemorative. I just wish they made it without that out of place stock medallion. A half octagon, half round barrel would have been a nice touch. They are pretty rifles just the same. You are lucky to have it. 1886.

[Aussie Chris]

Thanks for the help guys. Yeah I will have to slug the barrel to see how big or small she actually is. Do I have the right length brass? I went by the dimensions for 38-55 brass in my lyman reloading manual. It has case length at: .3770''. is this length you guys are sticking to with your comemmoratives?

[1886]

Your Win. will chamber the 2.125" brass. If you have access to it then you should use it. Starline makes fresh, high quality brass in that length. You will still have to keep your over all loaded cartridge length to about 2.550" to insure proper feeding from your levergun. 1886.

[Bluehawk]

That Model should be 375 ONe of hte great all time loads is 33 Grains of 3031 and the Barnes 255 SP Orignal bullet ONE of my 3855s uses that that other uses nothing but lead bullets 250 to 260 grains with 23 Grains of AA 5744 is a great load for cast G ood luck

[bj94]

I slugged one and it went 0.379". With plain base Hunters Supply bullets sized to 0.379 and IMR4198 at around 1500 fps it was reasonably accurate.

[Glenn]

Aussie Chris,
I have a Marlin in .38-55 and Mic McPherson put me onto an excellent load of 12.5 grs. of Blue Dot with a standard 255 gr. cast bullet. It's a light load you can shoot all day.
Glenn

[spaceman spiff]

My .38-55 Legacy slugged out to .379
Using Winchester brass measuring 2.080 the largest projectile I was able to chamber was .379. After scoring
some Starline brass I was able to chamber bullets measuring .380 This combo worked quite well for me.
My pet load is a 260g gas checked Cast Performance bullet under 30g IMR 3031.

Strangely, the deer in my area don't seem to like my experiment..

Regards,

Troy

[Yodar]

Hi Chris,

I don't know how useful this will be to you. You may not be able to get the cast lead bullets we can get here in the US.

My .38/55 is a restored Winchester Model 94 with a 26 inch barrel that has a 0.375 inch groove diameter. I use the shorter Winchester cases and Winchester Large Rifle Primers. I shoot all my groups at 50 yards. The rifle has a Marble tang sight.

1.) 19 grains of IMR-4198 with a 260 grain SAECO #373 cast lead, gas-checked 0.376 inches in diameter bullet. Overall length = 2.49 inches. Average muzzle velocity = 1367 fps, Average five shot groups measured 1 1/2 inches; the best was 13/16 inches.

2.) Same as above except 27 grains of IMR-3031. Muzzle velocity= 1402 fps; group size= 1 1/4 inches.

3.) Same as above except 23.3 grains of Reloader 7. Muzzle velocity= 1495; group size= 1 1/4 inches. 100 yard group was 2 3/4 inches. This is the best load in my rifle.

A source of SAECO #373 cast lead bullets is Mt. Baldy Bullet Co., P.O. Box 835, Cody, WY 82414. Weebsite: www.mtbaldybullets.com

Good luck and don't forget to slug the bore first and don't try to "hotrod" the .38/55.

[Old Ironsights]

I don't have a .38-55 exactly, but I DO have the Euro equivilent, the 9.3x72R.

I just loaded up a 190gr bullet over 17gr 2400 for right at 1500fps +/- 20fps.

[Aussie Chris]

Wow! All great advice! I have been away and just saw the rest of the replies now. Thanks everyone. I made a typo in my prevous post, I have the starline brass that measure about 2.0800''. Some of you guys use this length brass or the longer type. Could I burn the throat out if I use this shorter length brass? i also reload but I dont cast my own bullets, the barnes bullet sounds like the right choice though.

Chris

[20cows]

I don't think loads that are appropriate for a .38-55 are going to burn out the chamber throat.

[1886]

You should see better results with the appropriate length brass. 1886.

[longarm4146]

Iffin you're interested in some cheap, comfortable plinkin loads I use a 245 gr valiant cast bullet with 19 grs of 5744....chronos at about 1300 in my vintage 1898 winchester takedown, and about 1250 or so in my 1920 vitage SRC.....Last week several of us got together with the chrono and in one 5 shot group out of the rifle with that load i had an extreme spread of 9 fps and ave deviation of 4.....1299-1308 and exc accuracy......

[1886]

11grs of trail Boss is way too much for the .38-55. 6- 7grs is more like it. 11grs will not fit in the case. I have shot 7grs loaded in the 2.125" case under a 250gr soft cast for 950fps in a Marlin model 1881. 7grs should be considered max. 1886.

[longarm4146]

I just loaded another 50 WW cases with 11 grs TB yesterday, and it is not a compressed load.....couple of thousannths below base of bullet......very mild load with very little recoil....just barely 1100 fps......

[1886]

You are quite correct sir, one can easily load 11grs will inside the case. I stand corrected but I know 7grs is the recommended max. charge with a 250gr cast projectile. 11grs exceeds the manufactures published max. charge with a 250gr cast projectile by 4grs. This is greater than 50%. Regards, 1886

[longarm4146]

I edited my post on the side of safety, although i think that that load data came from manufacturer. We called and they gave us some info well beyond what was published....but I've read enough of your stuff to know that you are very knowledgable, and I;m gonna double check.....I can tell you that the loads are much milder than 19 grs of 5744 (venturinos pet load) and there was no sign of pressure issues, and even the report was much less than the 5744 loads. Thanx for your concern, and I don't mind being saved from myself if i'm wrong.

[1886]

I was kind of shootin' from the hip when I foolishly and categorically stated that 11grs would not fit in the case. I suppose my assumption was perfectly reasonable given the design parameters of Trail Boss, load density etc, and given the manufactures recommended max. loads. I was perfectly wrong however. I appreciate your approach sir. You are a gentleman. Best Wishes, 1886.

[longarm4146]

We all like playing with these old caliber rifles, so any time we can obtain new info it should help. If I can find out anything else from makers I'll let you know. I do remember that for the 45-70 and 45-90 we were told that we could safely go higher than the published data.