38-55 advice please

[THBailey]

Well it has been a year in the making, but my roller is finally together. This forum was most helpful in the design phase of my project, and thanks again for that help. ( http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...ter-38-55-mold ) The gun is just about range ready. 'Course I need to load some ammo up first. I was hoping you kindly Gents might once again point me in a good direction to get started.

The gun is an old Swedish roller that I picked up from Simpson Ltd. We put a liner from TJ in it and I had Dave Manson make a reamer for it from this drawing I marked up for him:



As you can see from the drawing I have a .375 bore and I an am using the Lyman 378674 335gr sized to .376 and (just because I have the die) .375. My cases are the long 2.125 Starline. I would greatly appreciate any advice you might share on powder selection and quantity, over powder wadding (if any), and if you think I am likely to need more lube in my 31 inch barrel than the four grooves on the bullet will hold. Thanks so much.

[country gent]

My load for 38-55 and the 335 lyman lubed with SPG is 2F Olde Ensforde powder 45 grns. a .060 Napa rubber fiber gasket material wad and 2 typing paper wads compressed to depth needed. hand seat bullet and size around to set tension.

[GOPHER SLAYER]

I have two 38-55s and I use 18 grains of 47-59 behind whatever bullet I am using. I do not use an over powder wad unless I am loading black powder. I only use the 2.125 cases with black powder.

[enfield]

I made 2 38-55's out of Swedish rollers, I "may" try some 4759 loads but so far I'm only using 2F. these guns are almost 150 years old. I picked up some 375 Winchester take off barrels to use as donors for mine. the chamber measured the same as the short 38-55 brass.

[THBailey]

I made 2 38-55's out of Swedish rollers, I "may" try some 4759 loads but so far I'm only using 2F. these guns are almost 150 years old. I picked up some 375 Winchester take off barrels to use as donors for mine. the chamber measured the same as the short 38-55 brass.

Ya, when the first sign of excess pressure on these old rolling blocks is the block lodging in your forehead I would approach smokeless powder with extreme caution, even if you are working with one of the later 8x58RD conversions. Have you had any success working up your blackpowder loads?

[THBailey]

My load for 38-55 and the 335 lyman lubed with SPG is 2F Olde Ensforde powder 45 grns. a .060 Napa rubber fiber gasket material wad and 2 typing paper wads compressed to depth needed. hand seat bullet and size around to set tension.

Country Gent- Thanks for the reply. Is this the stuff you are using?:

http://www.jegs.com/i/Fel+Pro/375/31...FZCcfgodUkYPTw

[Boz330]

My Badger Barreled 38-55 (15 twist) likes that boolit with 47gr of 2F Swiss & .060 veggie wad with .006 over primer wad. I've tried OE and it seems to shoot about the same but never got serious about grouping it. For hunting I just swap the Lyman boolit for a 250gr Lee.
Here is a 40-65 that I built on a Swedish 8MM roller frame, a beautiful deer rifle, never tried it for anything else.

Bob

[country gent]

That looks like the same material only what I use is 1/16" thick or .060. Ive considered trying 3/32 ( .093 thk) if I can find a roll. Theres a lot of wads in one of those rolls LOL. I made a base from 2X8s one cut 28" long and 4 pieces 8" long. Glue and pin the 8" pieces on each side and end of the 28" length so you have an I shape. Tri with a cutoff saw so its smooth and even. You want the end grains all up. I set the material on this and a wad punch and hammer and punch them out.This height is good for sitting and can be trimmed lightly many times to clean up when worn.

[enfield]

I use 40 Gr of 2F Goex and a .030 card disc. Bees wax, Neats Foot oil & lard for a lube, and blow tube between shots. I could probably up the charge with some more compression but this load seems to work fine. They are only 20"Winchester barrels so not really a long range target set up, but I will try them off the bench soon and see how well they group.

[THBailey]

Nice looking gun Bob. Did you do the stock work? Just curious, why do you swap out bullets for the whitetail hunt? I would guess the 335 Lyman would smack them pretty effectively as well.

[THBailey]

Well thanks again Country Gent. Gonna have to give that a try.

[THBailey]

Thanks for the info Enfield. What boolit are you throwing?

[Boz330]

Nice looking gun Bob. Did you do the stock work? Just curious, why do you swap out bullets for the whitetail hunt? I would guess the 335 Lyman would smack them pretty effectively as well.

I did but I sure wouldn't want to do it for a living, I'd starve to death.
The Lee 250gr has a wide meplat and one that I recovered was nicely mushroomed and the weight was almost 100%. The Postel copy is somewhat pointed and I was afraid it would punch right through with minimal damage. I've tracked deer before and it isn't one of my favorite things to do, I like them DRT. I don't doubt that the 335 would eventually get the job done, but to me the Lee looks like it would be more effective

Bob

[enfield]

I use the Lee 250 Gr. that drops about .380 and a NOE 379-279 ( .380 ) and I have an RCBS gas check mould . I think so far the Lee has shot the best, although I have not done any amount of serious bench shooting. here is a pic to prove they exist.









also , we have had quite a bit of snow up here, so between shovelling I have time to do some "smith" ( ha ) work.

[THBailey]

Well thanks for the boolit info. I'm thinkin' with a good lookin' gaggle of guns like that your posting name might should be Roller rather than Enfield. Looks like your pup is helping with the snow removal chores!