compressing blackpowder

[samwithacolt]

So I tried some black powder in my .38-55, but measuring by volume I got 40 grains in the case with the bullet just seated on it, maybe a little compressed. Can I compress it enough to get 55 gr in? Is that normal or safe? I'm using 2f.
I have only used black in muzzle loaders till now.

[tbierley]

The more compression the better. I compress my 45/70 .250 or a 1/4 inch. Black powder needs to compress to shoot right.

[nhrifle]

You can safely compress it to just before the case starts to swell and cause chambering problems. Use a drop tube or a funnel and trickle the powder into the case and you will be able to get more in.

[w30wcf]

So I tried some black powder in my .38-55, but measuring by volume I got 40 grains in the case with the bullet just seated on it, maybe a little compressed. Can I compress it enough to get 55 gr in? Is that normal or safe? I'm using 2f.
I have only used black in muzzle loaders till now.

SAm,
The original b.p. load for the .38-55 cartridge was 46 grs. The -55 is in reference to the case capacity when used with breach seated bullets back in the Schuetzen days.

w30wcf

[John Boy]

Can I compress it enough to get 55 gr in?
No unless you use FFFg. With FFg, 42gr is about max and is a nice accurate reload

[country gent]

Start with a load with little to very light compresssion, work up in 2 grn increments changing only the powder charge. This also slowy increases the compression. When you find the most accurate load the compression will be the given of the equasion.

[CanoeRoller]

Your rifle will tell you how much powder to load. Depending on your primers, brand of BP, Boolit and seating depth, you will find that your rifle will favor a different amount of compression than the next guys. Trying to reach a powder load based on the arbitrary name given to a cartridge is like chasing your own tail. Fun, but it does not take you anywhere.

[Brownie Nash]

Those boys have all given you good advice. The only thing I can add is use a compression die and do not compress with your bullet.

[kokomokid]

I can get 46gr 1.5 swiss into a ww 38/55 case that is necked down to .359 by slow drop tubed. Got 50 gr slow drop tube with case full and a lot of compression. Track of wolf has cheap compression and expander Lee plugs. LB

[Matt85]

my favorite way to load BP cartridges is to slow drop powder till the case is full of 2F then compress till my bullet will seat. this is a little over 75 grains of KIK 2F in a R-P 45-70 case. this tells you your max, then you can work your way down till you find a load that shoots the best.

also, don't use the bullet to compress! use a compression die they aren't expensive and will do a much better job without deforming your bullet.

-matt

[bigted]

SAm,
The original b.p. load for the .38-55 cartridge was 46 grs. The -55 is in reference to the case capacity when used with breach seated bullets back in the Schuetzen days.

w30wcf


I wanna thank you for that tidbit of info. ive tried everything and no way to get a boolit and 55 grains in my long starline cases. and 46 fits very well so that lines up to me as well. I can easy get 70 in my 45-70 cases ... 120 grains in my 45-120 ... 40 in my 45 colt ... so I always wondered why the 55 grains absolutely would NOT fit in any cases I have. ive bulged many cases trying and just wont werk.

[MikeT]

Just a bit of perspective on the 38-55 cartridge. I shoot a PP bullet in my 38-55 and I have loaded 55-60 grains of Swiss 1.5. My most accurate load is 56 grains of Swiss 1.5, which gets my 1302 fps average MV and a Sd of 6. The bullet I use is a Buffalo Arms 340 grain PP bullet. So based on my experience, I would say that originally Ballard probably loaded 55 grains of powder in that cartridge.

Keep on hav'n fun!
MikeT

[Gunlaker]

That's pretty consistent with what I see. I use 58gr of Goex Express FFg in my .38-55. That's compressed about 0.030" with a breech seated paper patched bullet. I've played a bit with a Buffalo Arms greaser and then used 47gr but with some compression.

Chris.

[Boz330]

I have gotten 55gr in a case but with a lot of compression.
Swiss is a denser powder and you can get more by weight in the case. My best load is 47gr of 2F Swiss compressed about .160 IIRC with the Lyman 330gr boolit. That is not a case full. This is with WW brass which seems to hold more powder.

Bob