Need info for .38-55 with 400 gr. boolit

[upnorthwis]

A friend gave me some PB 400 grain boolits to try in my CPA 44-1/2 .38-55. Have spent the better part of an afternoon searching for data for a 400 grainer for this caliber and there is none. If someone knows what the maximum load is I would at least have a reference point of what not to go past. Some powders I have in stock are IMR 4227, SR4759, H4895, XMP5744, and Blue Dot. Would be used for gong matches out to 600 yds.

[Angus in Wyoming]

Well I don't know if I can help you or not. My 38-55 has an 18 twist barrel. I shoot a 330 gr Lyman bullet with 18 grains of 5744. I don't know what your twist rate is, but I hope it is faster than mine.

[upnorthwis]

I've got a 12" twist. Took a couple of shots over chrono with 18 gr. IMR 4227, went 1232 fps. Primers looked ok, but I don't want to rely on the looks of a primer to determine max load. The reason I've got the 12" twist is because years ago I won a free barrel in my choice of twist, caliber, material, and grade. Chose the 12" because in my .375 H&H Win M70 it shot my 330 Lyman into 1.25" all day long. Has not worked that well in CPA and strangely enough the 255 grain is the most accurate in that barrel. The CPA sat in the safe for years until I got these 400 grain boolits to try.

Will be shooting a gong match today. Going with the 18 gr. 4227

[upnorthwis]

Match update. Found out the mold is a Fred Leeth design. Entered gun in Modern Class. Was hitting gongs fairly well with a fishtailing wind. Got to the 500 yard targets and ran out of vertical adjustment on scope. Lost a lot of targets till I found out how far up the berm I had to put the crosshairs. This mold has some potential and I will keep working with it. Maybe even buy one for myself...

Well there's a first! Only one reply in over a week for a new boolit mold. Next thread I do will be: Newbie needs .38 Spl. load.