38/40 mold

[smokinbarrel]

Just picked up a new Win. Miroku `92 in 38/40. Any thoughts on mold choices? I think something with a crimp groove would be in order. The RCBS 40-180CB looks about right.

[Ben]

This mold has been around for a very long time for the 38/40 ,
Lyman list it at 175 grs. mine are closer to 180 grs. :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/38%2040%20Bullet%20mold/44420.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/38%2040%20Bullet%20mold/4446.jpg

Mine cast about .4025 "

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/38%2040%20Bullet%20mold/7.jpg

[smokinbarrel]

Thanks Ben,I have one of those old Lyman hand tools with the mold on the end, it makes a very similar looking casting. Do you crimp yours? and if so, were. Those old designs were made to sit firmly on a full case of BP, so didn`t need a crimp to stop reward movement.I`m thinking about a Mountain Mold, I had one made last year in brass for .357, quite happy with it...and not much more money than off the shelf molds, the online design is easy to do also.

[Ben]

Th irony of this is that I use that bullet in a 40 S&W . I've never loaded it in a 38/40.
I had that bullet HP'd . You may want to read this :

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=30029

[KirkD]

Just picked up a new Win. Miroku `92 in 38/40. Any thoughts on mold choices? I think something with a crimp groove would be in order. The RCBS 40-180CB looks about right.

I agree. That is what I use and as far as I am concerned, it is the cat's meow. However, I do have a liking for old or original bullet shapes as well, like Ben's. I can't tell you offhand what the diameter the bullets drop out at, but I size mine to .401, so the pre-sizing diameter must be a tad more. I shoot them out of an original Winchester Model 1873 with a bore that I'd rate at about 6 out of 10, but can still put 5 bullets into three inches at 100 yards, so the bullet seems to be doing its job. I also like the wider meplat for deer. I've also used them in an original Model 1892. The bullet feeds just in both models. Here's a photo ...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v497/3855Win/38-40-bullets.jpg

[Le Loup Solitaire]

Lyman lists their 401043 as the original bullet for the 38-40. It used to be #40043. I use it in my 73 Winchester and it shoots very well. I did however have to overcome a bit of a problem with OAL. The bullet was designed to be used with a case full of Blackpowder and as such the bullet could be crimped on the front of the front band. With smokeless loads the crimp has to be placed behind the front band and this makes the OAL too long to feed in the 73 action. I tried the Lee FC die with the case mouth on the front of the front band. It worked but the crimp was hard on the case mouths; 38-40 brass is pretty thin to start with. I solved the problem by trimming back the cases to allow for the thickness/length of the front band and then was able to crimp behind it. It has since worked very well for me. LLS

[August]

Crimp groove is essential. Rounds will eventually collapse in the magazine with any other approach.

I use the Big Lube Bullet. Dick has a new source for his mold blocks and they are much improved over the old, Lee-sourced molds. http://www.biglube.com/Default.aspx

I also had to try other approaches with my '73. Finally got a throating reamer from Manson's reamers and took the barrel off and lengthened the throat. Wish I would have done that years ago.

[KirkD]

I should add that the RCBS 180-401-CB bullet does have a crimping groove and feeds through my original Model 1873 without any problems ...... I've shot over 100 rounds thus far with never a single misfeed. Whether it will work in all '73s I do not know. I do not have any loaded rounds right now to measure O.A.L.

[sliphammer]

Tom at Accurate Molds has the H&G design for the 38WCF bullet.

[Harry O]

I quit using the Lyman/Ideal 40143 in CAS shooting after I had a couple slide back into the case and jam the gun. First, I turned down the neck expander to get more neck grip, but the thin neck is not strong enough. It needs a crimp. I have been buying a bullet with a crimp groove in the right place (Magma moulds I believe) and have not had a problem since.

I have bought two 38-40 moulds, but there are problems with both of them. I don't know how critical your gun is with OAL, but my 1873 Uberti/Winchester it is very critical. The gun requires a certain cartridge length and jams with 0.010" shorter or 0.050" longer. The crimp location is not in the right place for either the RCBS or the NEI bullet.

[missionary5155]

Greetings
I shoot 2 38-40´s and both barrels are fat throated.. With 3F BP and 40-1 lead I found I could have boolits sized .003 under throat size due to the BR bumping up the base of a 185 grainer. But if planning on shooting smokeless I suggest you find out that throat diameter and get a mold that will fill the throat for best accuracy. Maybe those new jap barrels have better dimensions than the old BP barrels did.
Mike in peru