Boolit suggestions for 38-72

[KirkD]

This morning I acquired an original Winchester Model 1895 with a tapered octagon barrel, chambered in 38-72. I already have a mould for my 38-55, but I would like to get a gas check mould that will give me a 275 grain bullet that I can size to .379. Any suggestions?

[Trailblazer]

Ken Waters did an article in Rifle magazine several years ago on the 38-72. His bullet diameter was very limited by the neck diameter in the chamber. Might be something worth checking before you get to far into it.

[KirkD]

I'd sure be interested in that article. I have Ken Waters' Pet Loads, the Complete Volume, but he does not mention the 38-72 in there. The neck diameter in the chamber is definitely a factor. I loaded up six rounds, using re-formed 444 Brass and a .379 cast bullet and could not chamber them until I thinned the neck thickness to .009 to .010. Then they chamber easily. I'm in the process of thinning the neck wall thickness of all 20 reformed brass that I have down to .009 - .010. I am using a LBT custom bullet that is basically a lead cylinder with a flat nose. I would prefer a bore riding, gas checked boolit for this rifle because of its faster velocity (1,435 fps). I did fire six rounds this morning and got no leading, but that was at 1,370 fps with a soft cast boolit. I'm going to load up more for tomorrow. If it performs well enough at 1,435 fps, I may not need a new mould.

[JFE]

You're a lucky man to find an unusual rifle like that.

You might want to consider forming cases from 405 Win instead of 444. Its seems like a better case to start with based on head diameter and length. I have Nonte's book on Cartridge Conversions and he suggests ballistics were 275gr at 1960 fps.

FWIW Lyman 375449 is a GC design and drops around 278gr when checked and lubed. Diameter is more like 0.377. A similar but now obsolete Lyman mould, no. 375296, drops a similar weight but at around 0.381 diameter. The nose on the obsolete mould is slightly longer. You probably need something with an even longer nose for use in that rifle. CBE make a nice mould 376300 which goes 300gr and is .377 diameter.

[Trailblazer]

I will see if I can find the article. I know where most of those old Rifles are.

[Bret4207]

Let me check, but I know where there is a Winchester 38-72 nutcracker tool with the mould. Whether it's salvageable or not I can't say. Might take a few days.

[KirkD]

Bret4207, I would sure be interested in that mould tool if it was salvagable.

JFE, I'll see if I can find one of those obsolete 375296 moulds.

I tried my soft cast boolits today, the ones I use in my 38-55. I shoot them at just over 1,300 fps in my 38-55 and they work good, but they sure leaded up my 38-72 bore when I boosted the speed to 1,470 fps. I'm not going to try that boolit anymore. Instead, I've got to hunt down a proper mould, preferably with a GC design.