Loads for 330 gr bullet in 38-55

[Doble Troble]

I've got an overpriced Hoch mold that makes really good bullets. I've been shooting them in a 38-55 that I made on an old beat-up Win 94 with a 26" Adams and Bennet barrel blank thats a hair over 0.375" with 1:12 twist.

I've been sizing them to 0.377, which is about how they drop anyway, and loading 18.0 gr 5744, about the same volume of COW, and a 50:50 beeswax:Crisco saturated felt wad. These are accurate loads, but they're also dirty with a lot of left over powder grains. I've got to clean the barrel every ten shots or so or accuracy goes bye-bye.

Does anyone have a good load for a heavy bullet in the 38-55?

I've got 2400, 4198, AA2230, 5744, 4895, 4350.

Suggestions appreciated!!

[Buckshot]

..............I'd switch to the 4198, and with all being equal start it at the same 18 gr charge you're currently using with the 5744. I'd go up 1.0gr at a time loading 5 rounds of each load. I doubt this is anyhting new, but that big heavy slug is intruding quite a bit into the case. That and it's weight will cause pressures to be higher then with other 4198 loads one might see listed for lighter slugs, especially with the case filled with COW.

My experience with 5744 has been similar. Maybe not as bad but with common loads there still seems to be some unburned powder grains strewn about. In fact that's how I got my first sample of MP5744 (before it was XMR). Years ago a disgruntled sillywet shooter shoved it at me and said, "Here you take it, I'll finished" :-).

You might also try deleting the COW and going to a cardwad under the boolit's base as the loads increase.

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

[Doble Troble]

Thanks, Buckshot.

I loaded some up with 4198 and just a pinch of polyester under the bullet and seated them out to touch the lands which is 2.916" OAL (single shot only).

I went 1 gr of 4198 at a time and it shot into 2" at 22 and opened back up to about 5" at 23 and the recoil started getting snappy there (but no real pressure signs - no leading and the primers were still puffy) so I'll load up another bunch half a grain around 22 and I bet I'll have myself a good load.

Of course more fussing will have to be done, and if this wasn't the case it wouldn't be so much fun.

I don't understand the concept of "saving components".