Kraschenbirn
04-12-2007, 10:59 PM
First off, I want to thank all the folks who replied when I first asked for pointers on loading the .38-55.
Finally got back to the range today. Weather was miserable (34 degrees, 20 mph wind gusting to 30, with intermittant snow flurries) but, what the heck, I was nearby on business, anyway.
This trip, loads were assembled using the methods suggested by this forum...neck size only, compression die, .030 fiber wad, bullet seated to touch the rifling, just enough crimp to remove the "bell" from the case mouth, etc. and difference was night and day. Shooting off the bench at 50 yards, I nearly clover-leafed the first three rounds then pulled the next two about 1 1/2" to the right (30 mph cross-wind?) opening the group to a touch over 2 3/4". Ran a damp patch (followed by a dry one) through the bore, made a slight sight adjustment and fired five more which printed a fairly even cluster a little over 2" in dia. Repeated the damp/dry patch and fired another group...first three shots went under 3/4" center to center, fourth opened the group to 1 3/8" and the fifth was a called flyer about 2" below group center. Considering the wind, the factory buckhorn sights, and the fact that I was losing feeling in my fingers by the time I touched off those last two shots, it looks like I may be getting the piece sorted out. Didn't try any 100-yd groups...2" rain yesterday and I didn't have my mud boots...but tagged the 8" gong out there four out of five from sitting position.
I put a refurbished (original) 1884 "C" sight on my (H&R) Trapdoor carbine last week, so I test fired it, too, while I was there. Lyman 457124 plain-base RN (398 gr in 25-1 alloy), Emmert's lube, over 55 gr Goex FFg (.060 fiber wad), in Starline nickle cases. Best 5-shot group just a hair over 1 1/4"and worst a bit under 2"...still at 50 yards.
Thanks, again, guys.
Bill
Finally got back to the range today. Weather was miserable (34 degrees, 20 mph wind gusting to 30, with intermittant snow flurries) but, what the heck, I was nearby on business, anyway.
This trip, loads were assembled using the methods suggested by this forum...neck size only, compression die, .030 fiber wad, bullet seated to touch the rifling, just enough crimp to remove the "bell" from the case mouth, etc. and difference was night and day. Shooting off the bench at 50 yards, I nearly clover-leafed the first three rounds then pulled the next two about 1 1/2" to the right (30 mph cross-wind?) opening the group to a touch over 2 3/4". Ran a damp patch (followed by a dry one) through the bore, made a slight sight adjustment and fired five more which printed a fairly even cluster a little over 2" in dia. Repeated the damp/dry patch and fired another group...first three shots went under 3/4" center to center, fourth opened the group to 1 3/8" and the fifth was a called flyer about 2" below group center. Considering the wind, the factory buckhorn sights, and the fact that I was losing feeling in my fingers by the time I touched off those last two shots, it looks like I may be getting the piece sorted out. Didn't try any 100-yd groups...2" rain yesterday and I didn't have my mud boots...but tagged the 8" gong out there four out of five from sitting position.
I put a refurbished (original) 1884 "C" sight on my (H&R) Trapdoor carbine last week, so I test fired it, too, while I was there. Lyman 457124 plain-base RN (398 gr in 25-1 alloy), Emmert's lube, over 55 gr Goex FFg (.060 fiber wad), in Starline nickle cases. Best 5-shot group just a hair over 1 1/4"and worst a bit under 2"...still at 50 yards.
Thanks, again, guys.
Bill