38-55 Win: Load data for 285 gr GC bullet

[nitro-express]

I just purchased a Commemorative '94 in 38-55, and it came with handloaded ammunition.

The bullet is a lead cast flat point with a gas check, 285 grains. The seller did not have a mold so I think they are a commercial bullet. The seller was the owner, and he was getting out of shooting and only had a few guns left to sell. The rifle came with dies as well.

The load is a 285 gr FPGC bullet @ 2.5 LOAL with 20 gr of H4198, in W-W brass. Primer is a silver color, I assume a F210.

The seller did say he had shot this load, and added it was only moderately accurate, saucer sized groups at 50 yds.

I haven't been able to find any 38-55 data for bullets heavier than 255 grains, and I would like to see this load listed before I shoot it. I trust the seller, I've talked to him before, but due diligence is always good. First of all there's safety, and then I sure don't want to ruin brass needlessly.

I also got 90 bullets, but I 'd like to load them with a slower burner like Varget, H4895 or IMR 3031.

In the long term I'd like to get a mold for, or buy a bullet of 255 gr to duplicate the factory round. Is the LEE mold of a decent design. I'd cast with WW, or a blended softer alloy. A quick check of the bore puts it at 0.372, with a groove of app 0.378, so jacketed 375 is probably out of the question.

I'm new to 38-55, it or a 32-40 was a bucket list rifle. The Saskatchewan Diamond Jubilee is a companion for my Bat Masterson (both pewter plated receivers).

If anyone has any experience with 38-55 and 285 gr cast bullets, I'd appreciate your advice.

[NVScouter]

The Lyman book has 270-315g load data for the 38-55, that 285 is about as big as will fit in a lever I think though. My 38-55 loves my 320s. Trailboss is a HOOT in 38-55 but 3031 and R7 are performing well for normal loads.

[scottfire1957]

Pssst. Site search "38-55 285." You might get lucky. There's pages of info there.

[TXGunNut]

I'm piddling with a couple of 38-55's now, one a 1901 vintage 94 and the other is a relatively recent Legendary Frontiersman commemorative. Most commercial boolits are probably designed for the .375 bore guns. Mould I'm using is the recently introduced Lyman 380681, it's about 250 grains w/ lube. I think you're on the right track powder-wise with 3031 but a personal favorite is KIK FFg. BP was a bit hard on my pewter finished receiver but she's a shooter since her career as a collectible didn't pan out. ;-)

[mannyCA]

If you want a great soft shoulder, hard hitting load, 5 -7.5 grains of trail boss is great for all day shooting at POA at 100 yards. Does a number on pig sized game also.

https://youtu.be/Mk7YYFOz7-A

have fun!

[Le Loup Solitaire]

I have always loaded 38-55 with 3031 using a 255-260 grain bullet. Charges have varied between 25 and 30 grains and have been sufficient for my shooting needs out to 100 yards, be it plinking, target or hunting. It does well in my high wall and rifle, but the recoil get get a little annoying in my 94 carbine after a while, so I backed down to 25 grains of that powder. I tried Black and that was interesting, but messy to be sure. Bullet diameter of .380 seems to work better and I have a couple of original Winchester molds that drop them at that size as cast. LLs

[nitro-express]

Thanks, Nitro

[argie1891]

In my Marlin cowboy I have shot groups of under an inch with Lyman 375296 and 8 gr. of unique.. I took one white tail with same bullet and 25 gr. of RL7. I have a desire to have a high wall in 38-55 and am putting money away for the purchase. my shooting buddy and I both shot it in a postal match and he shot the 1 inch group and mine was 1.25. last time I will let someone shoot my gun in the same match.

[Nrut]

nitro-express,
IIRC the Winchester Commemorative 38-55's have the same throat/groove/bore dia. as the .375 Winchester, which is smaller than the original 38-55's..
So the first thing I would do is make a throat impact slug to see what you are dealing with, or at the very least slug the bore..

Here is a good search for this site that you may what to save to your favorites..
https://cse.google.com/cse/home?cx=001951264366462437169:ggn3vg-bjum

>>> 38-55 Winchester Commemorative for this search..
https://cse.google.com/cse/home?cx=001951264366462437169:ggn3vg-bjum

The bullet in your photo appears to be a Lyman 375449..
While Lyman lists the weight at 265grs it is not unusual to end up with bullets that weigh heavier than listed..

If I was to buy a mold for that rifle of yours I would talk to Tom a Accurate Molds as he has designed a mold for his own personal .375 Win..
If your bore/groove/throat is the same as the .375 Win like I think if might be then his mold would probably be the best fitting mold that you could get for your rifle..

The powders that I use in my 38-55's are 9-10grs of Unique or Hodgdon Universal for plinking loads and IMR 3031 for heavier hunting loads..

[Catshooter]

I run a 26 inch Winchester 94 in 38-55 for lever action silhouette.

That boolit looks a dead ringer for the Lyman 375449, mine weigh 285 grains.

I use AA 2230 for my full loads. Thirty grains in my rifle pushes that boolit to over 1,750 fps with excellent accuracy. I can recommend the AA powder, if you can find it. Good luck with that.

I've also started working with loads using HS-6 under the new Lyman 381650. Ten grains gives just over 1,000 feet and thirteen does almost 1,500. Very accurate also.

A lot of my brass started life as 30-30s that I blew out.

Good luck with yours!


Cat

[nitro-express]

I don't "peel back the layers of the onion" until I actually own a caliber, and my first 38-55 is typical. I remember when the 375 Win was introduced and have read the odd article on it and the 38-55. Now that I actually own one, the peeling begins.

First on the agenda was a quick study of 38-55 data in my various manuals, some old ones and some new ones. I noticed a discrepancy on case length and sleuthed this down. It looks like after the introduction of the 375 Win there was a revision to the SAAMI spec. for the 38-55. Max cartridge length was shortened from ? (2.1285") to 2.080", which coincidentally will just fit in a 375 Win min chamber. 38-55 min chamber length is 2.1182", which is a bit shorter than the old 2.1285" cartridge length. Unfortunately I do not have old SAAMI specs to reference, so my conclusions are theoretical, or put another way, I've made some assumptions. I have no way of knowing what dimensions were revised, or by how much.

I ran into a similar conundrum with the 35 Remington, but I got a copy of the 1937 SAAMI spec from LE Wilson for reference.

The Sask DJ Commemorative came out in 1980, the SAAMI spec for 38-55 was (Undated, Issued 04-21-1980 and last revised 07-30-1984), so to what exact spec it was made is a good question. According to my initial measurements the bore/groove is not the same as the 375 (.366"/.376" min) but it is closer to the 38-55 (.373"/.379" min).

I'll keep poking at this project, but I don't expect to get spectacular accuracy out of my cast (0.377") bullets, as they are undersized.

Update: The morning looked nice so I grabbed some ammo and "Saskabush" and went to shoot some targets. First 3 went into 2" @ 50, and when you factor in my eyes and the rather coarse sights, was pretty decent in my books. It took a few shells to get the sights aligned, drifting sights is a bit removed from precision adjustment IMO.

Bottom line, after sight in it was time for fun, 100 yd gong and the 250 as well. It takes a bit of Kentucky to get near the 250, but with a bit of practice, she'll be fine.

The 20 gr H4198 is a normal pressure load, judging from the primers, and lack of smoked cases.

I've found a couple of Canadian sources for 38-55 cast, I may order some for testing before ordering a mold.

TTFN

[shooter93]

I shoot 270 grain bullets in my Marlin....had Tom make a mold for my gun. 3031 works well and 4895 edged it out a bit. I run them around 1500 fps or a little more.

[MarkP]

I am using 18 gr of 4198 with the Lee 379-250 in my CCH & Tex Seq rifles. Very mild load 1,400 ish.
I have a gong set up at 165 yds and the 38-55's are one of my favorite off hand plinkers.