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Thread: .38-55 alloy question

  1. #1
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Princeton, NJ
    Posts
    3

    .38-55 alloy question

    I am using the Lee mold .379-250, which I have lapped out to cast a 0.3805" bullet. The bore of my H & R Target rifle slugs out to 0.3805". I am hoping to find an alloy that will bump up upon firing to work in this rifle. The alloy which I intend to try is 96% lead, 1.1% Tin, and 2.9% Antimony. Does everyone think this alloy will do what I need? I have been shooting it with 17.2 grains of IMR 4227. BTW, I do not own a sizer.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master

    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    WNY
    Posts
    1,521
    I use a similar alloy, 94-3-3, with the Lee mould in my .375 Winchester running at 1297 fps. Accuracy is good and there is no leading. I wanted to duplicate the original 38-55 load at 1300 fps so I settled on 10.0 grains of Unique. Your load is probably in the 15-1600 fps range which is as fast as a plain base bullet could be expected to run without leading. I think it will bump up but would prefer less antimony if it were mine. The original loadings utilized a 20:1 alloy IIRC, so 5 percent tin and no antimony.
    "We take a thousand moments for granted thinking there will be a thousand more to come. Each day, each breath, each beat of your heart is a gift. Live with love & joy, tomorrow is not promised to anyone......"

    unknown

  3. #3
    Boolit Master Oklahoma Rebel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    outside of Sand Springs, N.E. OK
    Posts
    2,353
    I would think it would bump up, unless you are heat treating.
    An armed man in a citizen.
    An unarmed man is a subject.
    A disarmed man is a slave.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master

    Kraschenbirn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    East Central IL
    Posts
    3,448
    I cast 300 gr. CBs from 3 parts straight Pb to 1 part COWW + 2% Sn for smokeless loads launched at around 1275 fps from my Cimarron Highwall. Boolits drop .380-.381 and are loaded 'as cast' after pan lubing with Emmert's. No leading and sub-2 moa accuracy using Shaver Soule sights.

    Bill
    Last edited by Kraschenbirn; 11-18-2017 at 11:21 AM.
    "I'm not often right but I've never been wrong."

    Jimmy Buffett
    "Scarlet Begonias"

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master

    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Northwest Ohio
    Posts
    14,464
    I use 20-1 in my 38-55 and air cooled. The bullets are 335 grn lyman and a 350 grn old west Nasa I load these over black powder for around 1250 fps. I shoot these out to 500 yards in shilouette matches. they are also pan lubed with either SPG or emmerts improved lubes. I use a homemade cake cutter to remove them from the pan. I get no leading with these loads good accuracy

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check