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jtaylor1960
05-20-2007, 07:22 PM
I just bought a 336 Marlin 30/30 that was rebored to 38/55.Does anyone have any cast bullet loads they would like to share? I have an RCBS 250gr mold that should be a good bullet to start with. Thanks, Jeff Taylor.

MT Chambers
05-20-2007, 09:10 PM
You'll want to slug your bore to get a good bullet fit as 38/55 boresizes are all over the map, in my experience from .375 to .382", you'll have alot of grief if you fart around with too small a bullet.

twotrees
05-20-2007, 09:38 PM
If your going to shoot Grey powder (Smokeless). The Lee 248 gr bullt lubed with alox, sized 379. Plinker load 10 gr Unique with dacron over the powder. About like shooting a 223. For more serious stuff look at IMR 3031 . I have been working up a hunting load for the wife's Target Classic. At 1800 FPS it's about like a 35 Rem for recoil.

Got side tracked as the rifle was bought for Black Powder shoots and with 38-55 cases 40 gr of 3 F and a duplex (I'm going to catch heck here) over 4.3 gr of Unique. (I have a Lee.5 cc dipper, I use to load the Unique first in each case, use caution) Card over powder wad, compress with expander plug to length of boolit shank and load Lyman 335 gr Boolits (That Urny provided me) shot real good. Drop cases into water and a little Murphys oil soap. swab bore with same stuff. Dry patches, then a good gun oil patch. Clean with warm water at home.

I annealed some 30-30 brass and made a long tapered expander plug. I can make short (.1") cases and that is what I am loading smokless in. Be warned don't shoot Black without a Complete cleaning of All of the Alox out of the barrel, or you will get Tar!!!!

Good Shooting,

TwoTrees and RedFoxy

Buckshot
05-21-2007, 01:36 AM
.................I have settled on 16.0grs of 2400 as a general purpose load. Nicely accurate, and simple. I like the Saeco 225gr FNPB, but it also works as well with a 250 grain slug. Not a real wowser, but certainly within the original BP specs for the cartridge.

................Buckshot

Boomer Mikey
05-21-2007, 03:52 AM
You should find a good load somewhere between:

21 and 26 grains of H4895 (1200 - 1600 fps)

19 and 23 grains of H4198 (1400 -1800 fps)

using a 255 grain cast bullet 0.002" over groove size with a good roll crimp and WLR primers.

These loads won't exceed 26,500 CUP and should be safe in your 30-30 action but always err on the side of caution and work up from the lower side first.

Original factory loads used 255 grain lead bullets @ 1320 fps, 1590 fps, and 1700 fps. Modern steel rifles are stronger.

The 23 grain H4198 load is very accurate in all 3 of my 38-55's with no signs of pressure. I use this same load in my 30-30 to 375 Winchester conversion with excellent results (the rifle in my avitar.)

From Paco Kelley's notes on small charges in standard cartridge cases:

"For years until the 1970s the traditional leveraction in Canada was the 38-55. It was considered an excellent elk and moose round. 6.5 grains of Red Dot will with the 255- thru 270 grain cast slugs give 1000 fps for a fun load without recoil for almost 600 lbs of muzzle energy...like a heavy loaded 357 at the muzzle. 20 grains of 2400 goes 1600 fps...and 23 grains of 4759 will get close to 1800 fps."

Enjoy,

Boomer :Fire:

John Boy
05-21-2007, 06:22 PM
Saeco 571 (1:20)
43.5gr of your favorite black powder
Shoots to the 300yd pig banks with accuracy