.38 wcf mold recommendations

[corvette8n]

Was at a relatives house the other day and saw a Win 92 hanging on the wall, I asked if I could take it down and look at it, markings say 38wcf which I believe is
38-40, would like to load some cast plinking rounds for them.
Any recommdations on molds, I don't have anything but a couple of Lee molds in 30 and 45 cal.

[Denver]

[QUOTE=corvette8n;110645]Was at a relatives house the other day and saw a Win 92 hanging on the wall, I asked if I could take it down and look at it, markings say 38wcf which I believe is
38-40, would like to load some cast plinking rounds for them.
Any recommdations on molds, I don't have anything but a couple of Lee molds in 30 and 45 cal.[/QUOTE

There are least 2 molds available that are specifically for the 38-40. Both are plain base. They are the Lyman 401043 @175 grs. and the RCBS 40-180-CM @180grs. I've used the Lyman with 16 grs of 2400 to give the best accuracy in my 92 which is a modern re make by Miroku. This is less that the starting load given in an old Lyman manual I have, so should be safe in any older guns that are safe to shoot.

:castmine: :Fire:

[Harry O]

Unless you plan to load with black powder, I would NOT recommend the Lyman 401043. It does not have a crimping groove and it can be pushed down into the case if you use smokeless powder rather than a full case of BP as it was designed. That has happened to me. You cannot get enough neck tension with the thin neck of a 38-40 case to assure the bullet will stay in place in a full tubular magazine.

None of the 40cal RCBS or Saeco moulds I have seen have a crimping groove, either. I have an old (no longer produced) Lyman 401452 that is a "modern" wadcutter shape and also has a crimping groove. I use that one for smokeless powder. From what I have seen in pictures, the Lyman 40188 should also work. If you keep an eye on e-Bay or GunBroker, you will eventually be able to find one. Sorry I can't be of any more help.

[DOUBLEJK]

The RCBS180CM has a crimping groove and the Saeco #401 does also....if you can find one the out of production Lyman #401452 Boser for the .401 Powermag also has a crimp groove....

[Uncle Grinch]

I just got my November issue of RIFLE magazine in today and Mike Venturino has a feature article on the .38 WCF leverguns and reloading for it.

Check it out, it may answer some of your questions.

[targetshootr]

I'll try to post a pic of NEIs #200A 195gr 401 minus the bevel base which dropped the weight a bit. Haven't gotten to use it yet though.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b233/targetshootr/Im003128.jpg

[KCSO]

THis sounds silly but the best shooting load in my 38-40 is a Lee 175 gr tumble lube bullet. This is a s/w round and lubed with allox it shoots like a house a fire out to 100 yards. I gave $14.00 for the mould. My second best is an RCBS 180 RNFP that I gave $65.00 for. Now If I was just looking to make a few shells for a friend...

[405WIN]

KCSO
Please tell us more about your LEE tumble lube load. It sound interesting.

[KCSO]

I'm using a Lee bullet for the 40 S and W, this was the only .400 mould I had on hand when I picked up my 38-40. I was playing with Trailboss and I had the measure set for 4.5 grains of TB for a 38 load and I just dumped the same into a 38-40 case and tried it in my revolver. Darned if it didn't shoot into 1 1/2" at 25 yards. So I put the same into my rifle and at 50 yards I shot into 1 1/2" and the same load went into under 3" at 100 yards, albiet some low as this is a light load. I upped the load to 6.0 and got just over 1150 and the gun shot into 2 1/2" at 100 yards. This is with a bead and buckhorn sight on an old lever gun. Using the REAL 38-40 bullet the RCBS 180 gr rnfp I havent gotten under 3 yet. I am working on a B/P load with the 180 and I am keeping the Lee bullets loaded at 4.5 of TB for a plinking and small game load. The velocity is low enogh that there is no meat damage on a head shot rabbit and it makes the iron men go clang plenty cheap. The 38-40 was a favorite of Ned Roberts and if I remember right he thought it shot flatter and just as hard as the 44-40. I never hankered to own one till I got the revolver and it proved to be such a ggod shooter that when a rifle came up I took it.

[405WIN]

KCSO,
Well ,I just ordered a 6 cavity mold from Midway so I can try this out in my own 38-40's. I have been using the RCBS 180 grain Cowboy mold but I do not like the tiny crimp groove. How well does the TL bullet crimp ?. I have had a problem with the bullets pushing back into the case from the magazine spring pressure in my rifle. And yes, I have tried the LEE factory crimp die but it didn't help any. I have found that new, fresh Winchester cases work better than Starline at holding the bullets firmly.