McLintock
05-10-2007, 05:59 PM
I've had a Browning Traditional Hunter in 38-55 for 6 or 7 years now, but only shot smokeless loads in it for cowboy action matches. It's a great shooter, very accurate and fast, just what is needed for cowboy matches. I've always wanted to shoot some black powder in it but didn't want to mess with changing the sights and such in order to do well with BP. I was at a gun show last weekend and found a Browning TH in 38-55 for a reasonable price (under $1000) and bought it intending to finally do some BP stuff with it. I had a Browning BPCR rear sight and got a spirit level front sight from a friend, so here's picture of the rifle with the new rear sight.
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1620/1303399/2593806/251665624.jpg
I'd bought a Paul Jones mould off E-bay, for a 300 gr 38-55 bullet, earlier in the year, which throws a .377 bullet so it's just about right for the .376" bore in the Browning. Made some loads this week for it which look like this.
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1620/1303399/2593806/251665636.jpg
The cases are old WRA cases trimed to 2.125", the 300 gr bullet is at the left. The first one is with the bullet seated to the top of the first band, the second to the bottom of the first band and the third to the bottom of the first grease groove. That's about max OAL as the front edge of the first band is engraved by the rifling. Compression figures are .075 with 46 gr, .065 with 47 gr, and .095 with 48 gr of Swiss 1 1/2 . The last round is a 38-55 Basic case at 2.234" with 53 gr in it and ..030" compression, topped by a Steve Brooks 335 gr Creedmore; it's for my C. Sharps Hi Wall. I'll be trying to work up good loads for both rifles, so hope this is at least a good start. I'm using CCI BR2 primers, a .060 veg wad and Bullshop's green lube in them.
McLintock
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1620/1303399/2593806/251665624.jpg
I'd bought a Paul Jones mould off E-bay, for a 300 gr 38-55 bullet, earlier in the year, which throws a .377 bullet so it's just about right for the .376" bore in the Browning. Made some loads this week for it which look like this.
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1620/1303399/2593806/251665636.jpg
The cases are old WRA cases trimed to 2.125", the 300 gr bullet is at the left. The first one is with the bullet seated to the top of the first band, the second to the bottom of the first band and the third to the bottom of the first grease groove. That's about max OAL as the front edge of the first band is engraved by the rifling. Compression figures are .075 with 46 gr, .065 with 47 gr, and .095 with 48 gr of Swiss 1 1/2 . The last round is a 38-55 Basic case at 2.234" with 53 gr in it and ..030" compression, topped by a Steve Brooks 335 gr Creedmore; it's for my C. Sharps Hi Wall. I'll be trying to work up good loads for both rifles, so hope this is at least a good start. I'm using CCI BR2 primers, a .060 veg wad and Bullshop's green lube in them.
McLintock