38-55

[JKR]

My high wall will be coming home from the gunsmith soon. It’s been refined with a 14 twist liner and chambered for 38-55. SN# puts the manufacturing date at 1886. It has a 28” #3 barrel. I have no experience with this cartridge. Plan to use it for target work out to 300 yards. Black powder loads only. Any suggestions for a bullet mold?
JKR

[Chill Wills]

With that twist, something in the 330 to 340 grain range would be a good place to start. Exact bullet choice depends on the liner and your likes. Is it a 0.372"- 0.380" liner with a 2.130 chamber length as they first were?
Is it a 0.368"- 0.376" liner? Maybe the newer 2.085" chamber?

What kind of target work to 300yds? Everyone wants the most accuracy. That may take a little testing to get to the point you know what you are doing - testing is the fun part.

[country gent]

Off the shelf Ive done good with the Lymann 335 gr custom is a Old West 360 gr NASA. I haven't got around to Paper Patch for it yet. I cast from 20-1 and spg lube. Pan Lube and shoot as cast. A buddy really like the 302 grn RCBS but his was 15 twist I believe.

[JKR]

With that twist, something in the 330 to 340 grain range would be a good place to start. Exact bullet choice depends on the liner and your likes. Is it a 0.372"- 0.380" liner with a 2.130 chamber length as they first were?
Is it a 0.368"- 0.376" liner? Maybe the newer 2.085" chamber?

What kind of target work to 300yds? Everyone wants the most accuracy. That may take a little testing to get to the point you know what you are doing - testing is the fun part.

Haven’t slugged it yet, of course, but supposed to be .368 bore, .375 groove. By target work I mean for punchin’ paper not critters.

[Chill Wills]

Haven’t slugged it yet, of course, but supposed to be .368 bore, .375 groove. By target work I mean for punchin’ paper not critters.

https://www.buffaloarms.com/376-330-...ld-jim376330m3
.376" 330 Grain "Money" Mini Grease Groove, First Band Reduced Diameter 1-Cavity Bullet Mould

It would be a good first bullet to start with.

Also the Lyman mold Country Gent offered could be good. It is Lyman's 38-55 Postell basically. The over the counter Lyman may be hard to find just now. The BAC mold, even though it says out of stock; You just order it and BAC makes it on demand. BAC does not often make and stock mold but rather make them as needed to fill the

[JKR]

Good information. Thank you both! As you say, the Lyman molds seem hard to find. I’ll look seriously at the BACO mould.
JKR

[Boz330]

I have a 15 twist C Sharps 75 and it loves the Lyman 335gr with 47gr of Swiss 2F. For hunting the Lee 250gr works minute of deer.

Bob