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rockrat
01-28-2007, 01:41 PM
Wondering if any of you have shot the 38-55 with black powder and what bullet you use? Also, is it better to have the bullet fit the throat and bore or do you want it to be a few thousanths under and allow the black powder to "bump" the bullet to bore size? Been looking at the heavy Lyman bullet and wondering if it would work. My bore size is .3802" Thanks

McLintock
01-28-2007, 05:19 PM
I've shot the 38-55 quite a bit with black powder, both lever guns and single shots. You definitely need a bullet that's at least barrel size or over to make it perform well. The Lyman 335 probably wouldn't be the best choice for a .3802" barrel as it generally casts at .379". It's hard to find a 38-55 mould that casts that big (both in diameter and weight) without going to a custom job. Magma makes a lever gun mould that casts at .381" but it's only a 250 gr'er or so. I had Mountain Moulds make me one that cast at .381, for a old Winchester with a .381 barrel, but it was only 250 grs. I've gotten .381" 270 gr gas check bullets from Hunter Supply, but they're hard cast and not the best choice for black either. I'm currently casting the same bullet from a Lyman mould, but sizing it to .377" for a .376" barrel on a Winchester '94 and using black powder, and it shoots great.
McLintock

boommer
01-28-2007, 08:04 PM
first you need to cast your chamber slug your bore . what type of rifle? I shoot
black in 38-55 with great results .IT'S a H@R target model but it took some tinkering
38-55's are all over the place on spec's at your .3802 bore what's your chamber?
i've got a .381 bore .379 in 30/1 will bump up for you works for me. I use lee.379
bevel base mold works great throws a 255 GR SLUG !

John Boy
01-28-2007, 09:49 PM
Rockrat, clarification please. Is your bore 3802 or is it your grooves? Also, is the rifle a Single Shot or a Lever?

The 38-55 is normally 373 bore and 379 grooves.

Anyway, if your rifle is a SS, then you might want to try the Lyman 378674. This bullet won't work in a lever ... too long. It drops with a 380 base using a beagled mold and 331 - 335gr's depending on the alloy.

With 65gr Cartridge - BR2 primer - 0.030 LDPE wad and no crimp, the recipe will produce 3 - 5" groups @ 200 and in the 8 - 10" range @ 300yds.

With the same recipe substituting Wano, the groups tighten up about an inch. I save my Swiss for the 45-70 reloads

As for which way to reload the OAL to be a jumper or engraved in the leade ... it all depends on what your rifle likes best. So you have to try the reloads both ways

boommer
01-29-2007, 12:18 AM
rock rat had to run diner over ma and dad so i couldn't finish my post.
this is my load for H@R TARGET MODEL 38-55

JAMISON 38-55 CASES
WINCHESTER LARGE PRIMERS
50 GRS SWISS 1.5 WITH 30 INCH DROP TUBE
LITE COMPRESSION
.O30 VEGGIE CARD
LEE .379 250 GR MOLD 30/1 ALLOY MIX SPG LUBE

I can get this load to group 1-1.5 inches open sights on a good day when my eyes
are working!!! I tried alot of different combo's. but in this rifle it smoke them all!!!
spend the money on the swiss black its a couple bucks more !

rockrat
01-29-2007, 11:17 AM
It is a .3802" bore and a .381" throat in the NEF, with a neck that allows about .001" bullet release. I have looked at the NEI bullets and have also thought about doing a group buy for a bullet similar to the Lee boolit but it about 280 grains or so. Wish NEF had a bit better quality control and could produce a barrel with a bit tighter bore. Guess they want to get a few extra barrels out of their carbide rifling button, so order it oversize to get more life out of it. Might save them $1 a barrel or so , but makes it hard to get it to shoot!!
Thanks for the info.

MT Chambers
01-30-2007, 12:34 AM
NEI makes a nice mould that is a copy of the Hudson bullet of yore, comes out at .381" and is the only cast bullet that wouldn't keyhole in my Uberti 38/55 w/45 grs. of Swiss 3fg. Got rid of that rifle as it was to hard to feed, my Douglas barrelled Roller shoots almost any cast bullet(soft) well with the same load.

NickSS
01-30-2007, 07:23 AM
I use three boolits in my 38-55 rifles a Lyman 248 gr PB flat point in my lever guns and single shots. The other two are a 330 gr LBT spitzer and an NEI 300 gr round nose bore rider that looks a lot like the government 500 gr 45-70 bullet. My favorit is the NEI boolit loaded with 42 gr of GOEX FFG with on 030 vegetable fiber wad and a CCI Large rifle primer. I put the powder in with a 24 inch drop tube. This load will print three inch groups at 200 yards.