Had a superb range session this morning with the Winchester (Uberti) 1866 Yellow-boy rifle in 38WCF (38-40). I had loaded up some period correct black powder cartridges using cast bullets from an Accurate Mold #40180E. Bullets were cast in a 20:1 binary alloy and then were sized to 0.401” and lubed with White’s BP-1 black powder lubricant. Powder charge was a compressed load of 2.2cc (35gr) Graf & Sons (Wano) FFFG black powder. Charge was compressed with a compression plug/die to 0.34” from the case mouth.
Firing was conducted offhand at 50 yards. Sights are open sights with a buck-horn rear sight and a post front sight. I centered up the target and let her rip. First shot from a cold clean bore was a bullseye. The next 3 shots cut a clover leaf about 1” away from the first shot. The fifth shot was a legitimate flyer probably due to a base void in the bullet.
The report and recoil was more than I was expecting from a 38WCF in a rather heavy rifle. I fired off 3 10-shot strings of rapid fire and swabbed the bore after each string with one wet patch, one dry patch. Powder fouling was extremely light and nothing like what I had expected. The 38WCF being a bottleneck cartridge really obturates and seals the bore efficiently, keeping the black powder fouling in the bore - not the action.
I am very pleased with the performance of this cartridge and this load in particular. I will plan to deer hunt with this load and this rifle this year since this rifle/load combination simply plants bullets right where you want them to be.
The Winchester 1866 lever action rifle. This is a faithful reproduction made by Uberti.
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38WCF black powder cartridges in a period box.
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38WCF cartridges with cast bullets. Bullets are from Accurate Mold 40-180E.
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The target.
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After the range. The washed brass cases and the BP tarnished receiver of the rifle.
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No significant fouling in the receiver after 40 black powder cartridges. Unlike a 45 Colt, the 38-40 is a bottle-necked cartridge and obturates well upon firing.
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The bore after 40 cartridges have been fired and two cotton patches run through it. No leading whatsoever is present due to proper bullet lube and proper bullet alloy.
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A great day!