.38-55 bullet design

[Chris C]

I've got a C. Sharps Highwall 1885 with a .3762" (slugged) 30" Octagon barrel with a 1:14 twist. I'm wanting to design a bullet, primarily for paper killin' (target) at up to 200 yds. There are all sorts of good designs made by Accurate Molds, and Tom will modify any of them to my liking. There's also LBT to consider. However, I've not enough knowledge to design, or even know what I need to design into a bullet to meet a specific purpose. Much as I'd love to have it, after spending all my money on the new C. Sharps and a "minty" Lyman 20X STS, I've not enough to invest in Tom Myers' wonderful program. So I guess I'm relegated to buying "off the shelf" bullets. I'm presently shooting a .378" 255gr bullet from Xtreme with "so-so" results. I'm told I need something closer to 265/285 gr. Anyone taken this path who might have some suggestions?

[shooter93]

I shoot a 270 grain bullet in my 38-55 that Tom at Accurate molds made for my rifle. Tell him your barrel diameter....what rifle you're shooting....what you want to do with it. Send him what he wants....in my case it was an inverted bullet loaded in a dummy round.....and buy what he recommends. Works like a charm.

[Chris C]

Honestly didn't know that's how Tom worked. When I talked with him all he asked was the slugged diameter of my barrel and said he could take any of his molds and make them to that diameter. But I assumed it was up to me to choose the bullet shape for my purpose. Which of his bullet molds is closest to the one you have?

[shooter93]

I'll look for the number on the mold. When he makes a different mold he enters it in the catalog so it would be the same mold he made for me.

[Chris C]

Much appreciated. It would be interesting if it's the 38-270C. Been looking at that one, but prefer a flat base. I'll look forward to hearing from you.

[frnkeore]

Are you going to shoot your rifle with fixed or breech seated ammo?

Frank

[Chris C]

Ah, the one thing I didn't mention. Fixed ammo.

[Chris C]

Shooter93, I just corrected the mold number. (old fat fingers "occasionally" make errors):bigsmyl2:

[shooter93]

Chris....mine is the 378-270A. He can make it any diameter. I'm shooting a lever gun and I had my brass trimmed to my chambers length and seated a bullet backwards and sent it along. When seated it barely misses being engraved which is best for a lever gun I think. It shoots well. You may want your to engage the rifling since it's a single shot. Hope this helped.

[Chris C]

Thanks, it does. I don't care for gas checks, but prefer flat bases. I finally sent Tom a thorough e-mail today telling him what I have and what I'm wanting to do with it. Hope he gets back with me pretty soon............though I know he's busy.

Thanks again for your response.