38-55 Highwall

[KCSO]

Buckshot...

I seem to remember you are working with a Uberti Highwall. I have a Cimarron in 38-55 coming and was wondering what bullets and loads have worked best for you. How close was your barrel to spec? Did you have to lap prior to shooting cast? What bullet has yours liked best? Come on brag a little.

[Hering]

Oh!???
I would have liked to hear this info too!

Hering

[rbertalotto]

I have a Uberti 1885 in 38-55. Best load I've found for it is 9 grains of unique under any 250 grain bullet. One of the most accurate rifle I've ever owned.
You will need to slug the barrel as bullet diameter is very very important. My rifle likes a .379 bullet.

[Kraschenbirn]

'Best load' for my .38-55 Highwall (Uberti) is a 304 gr. boolit from a very old NEI mould over 19.8 gr. IMR4198 with a dacron filler. Load pretty much duplicates original BP ballistics and, if I'm having a good day, will produce MOA groups at 200M. My groove diameter, after a bit of judicious lapping, measures just under .378 and I load my boolits "as cast" (.380-.381) using a custom expander die made up for me by Buckshot...who also did the rework to remove the GC shank from my mould.

Bill

[d garfield]

I have a uberti 38-55 with the set triggers. You can work up to this load, I shoot 10.5 grns. red dot, gets me about 1400fps. no recoil and not real loud.
I use 249 grn. bullets, this is the best load I have found so far.

[Marvin S]

I just received a used cimmaron 1885 copy in 38-55 with nice Montana Vintage sights. So far groove is 380 dia and it chambers full length brass with a 382 dia boolit. Not fired it yet but it looks promising. Mine does not cock the hammer when is that the way they are supposed to be? It's had trigger work done and is probalby 1 to 1 1/2 pounds.

[Kraschenbirn]

...Mine does not cock the hammer when is that the way they are supposed to be?

Yup!! The Uberti Highwalls lower the hammer to half-cock as the breech-block is raised.

Bill

[John Boy]

Uberti 38-55 HiWall:
* Starline 2.125 brass
* CCI Br-2 primer
* 42gr KIK FFg
* 1/8" dry felt wad
* Ideal 375166, 325gr 1:16 bullet
Accurate to 500 meters and 50 rounds shot consecutively with no patch or blow tubing ... one water cotton ball & 3 dry = clean bore

[williamwaco]

I have the Winchester.

I get around 1.25 MOA on average with any bullet in the range of 215 to 260 grains.
I use unique either 9 or 10 grains.

[Hering]

Thanks for all the reply's guys, lots of good info to use.

Hering

[Gunlaker]

Some of the original Winchester 1885's were also configured to go to half cock upon closing the breech.

Chris.

[RonT]

I recently bought a Uberti High Wall in 38-55 and am curious about putting a .381/.382 boolit through a .380 hole. I slugged my rifle and found .380 dead on. Bought a Lee mold that is throwing .381/.382, 250 gr. boolits with my lead. Do have a Saeco 300 gr. mold on the way, btw.
Would like to load out of the mold if at all possible. My Cadet slugs .312 and my RCBS mold for same throws .312 with my lead. Haven't seen any ill effects there or anticipate any,....but 'extruding' down a couple thou. in the High Wall sort of makes me nervous*.
R
*25 yrs. watching Cold Drawn Steel tubes go through the benches.

[Marvin S]

Sounds like your LEE mold is perfect you want it a little large. Im using an Accurate mold that does 383 size to 382.

[williamwaco]

I recently bought a Uberti High Wall in 38-55 and am curious about putting a .381/.382 boolit through a .380 hole. I slugged my rifle and found .380 dead on. Bought a Lee mold that is throwing .381/.382, 250 gr. boolits with my lead. Do have a Saeco 300 gr. mold on the way, btw.
Would like to load out of the mold if at all possible. My Cadet slugs .312 and my RCBS mold for same throws .312 with my lead. Haven't seen any ill effects there or anticipate any,....but 'extruding' down a couple thou. in the High Wall sort of makes me nervous*.
R
*25 yrs. watching Cold Drawn Steel tubes go through the benches.

"Every One Knows" that a cast bullet should be .001 over groove diameter.
I have never been able to make that work. .002 is minimum and .003 is better.

I would try those .382s. I think you will like them.

[RonT]

Wonder if Geico will insure that? Haha. I hear ya', and have seen the same numerous times using the 'search' function, still makes me nervous. Probably not a bad thing.
R

[Marvin S]

Ron its no different than pushing a lead boolit into a sizer die it dont take much. The full metal patch bullet is a different thing.