38-55 cal. - Load, Primer, Help

[The Senator]

I owned a 1894 Winchester made in 1904. Its a 38-55 cal. with a 26" oct. barrel.
The bore dia is .380. I shoot a 280 gr. gas checked cast bullet with 21 grs. of 5744 powder. This load is very, very, accurate in this gun. The problem I am having is this load leaves lots of unburned powder in the barrel. I was thinking of going to a magnum primer or to increase the load. What say you??? Any help will be appreciated. Merry Christmas to all! God bless.
The Senator
AKA= Jerry Kazee
jerry.kazee@yahoo.com

[Mk42gunner]

Jerry,

I have never used 5744, so I don't know first hand if it normally burns dirty or not. The one manual I have that lists it in the .38-55 tops out at 22.5 grains with a 255 grain bullet. I think the best thing would be to contact Western Powder Tuesday morning and ask them.

It sounds like you have a fine rifle, I would not like to take a chance on screwing it up by guessing.

Robert

[Dschuttig]

Don't feel bad, I've had the same problem with 5744 in my trails end 38-55, but it's never caused any problems. It has done the same with other powders to.

[Kraschenbirn]

Unburned granules appear to be a given with 5744. I've used it .30-30, .38-55, 7.62x54R, and .45-70 with pretty much the same result. Just FYI, I even tried using a dacron filler and mag primers in the .38-55. Seemed to help some but not enough to justify the extra time/effort.

bill

[obssd1958]

Hey Jerry!
I was just out working up some loads for my .375 H&H a couple weeks ago. I know that it ain't the same as the 38-55, but might be able to relate -
I used from 32 to 34 grains of 5744 under a Saeco #375 that weighed 269gr. - lit by Winchester large rifle magnum primers - and I noticed that I consistently had unburned powder in the barrel.
Exactly the same results with 33 to 35 grains under an NEI 330 gr. slug - although the lighter boolit ended up being a little more accurate.

In short - I don't think a magnum primer will eliminate the unburned powder, but I don't think it's a problem either!

Take care!

Don

[Buckshot]

................I have a 1893 Marlin in 38-55,

http://www.fototime.com/47DD87E404FADAE/standard.jpg

and a Uberti Hi-Wall clone in the same flavor,

http://www.fototime.com/4A79DE95D6DA51F/standard.jpghttp://www.fototime.com/D2244CBB5698496/standard.jpg

Both rifles respond very well to the same load of 16.0 grs of 2400. Another that works well in both is 18.0grs of SR4759. Both loads using either the Lee 375-250F or the Saeco 225 or 255gr slugs. In the right photo, the smaller target on the left is the Marlin with 16.0grs 2400/225gr Saeco @ 50 yards. It'll shoot right at an inch all day.

http://www.fototime.com/2EEBEF6922E233B/standard.jpg

Lee 375-250's (.380+" as cast") seated to engrave in Uberti Hi-Wall. Seated to the crimp groove, it will engrave on the Marlin's shorter leade. There are several powders that have really proven their fine shooting ability to me in the 38-55, and those are 2400, 4227, 4759, and 4198. I use std LRP's and a dacron filler with all but 2400.

...................Buckshot

[NickSS]

I have used up many pounds of 5744 in several different rifles including the 38-55 and have never not had unburned powder. I called the maker and they said that was normal for this powder. I do know that it has no effect on accuracy.