38-55, Moderate Loads and Deer

[northmn]

Been playing with my 38-55 again and cast bullets. Finally getting something that is really shooting and not just "good enough" as in better than a shotgun slug. However the bullet/rifle does not like to be hotrodded very much, maybe 1400 or so. Got 2 deer with it with Barnes Originals at 1675 chronographed but was wondering how those that use the more moderate loads as in close to factory or original ballistics have fared on deer. I have a pretty good idea on how it should work but the discussion is kind of fun.

DP

[KirkD]

Got one Whitetail deer with a soft cast bullet. Velocity was around 1,350 fps and it blew right through, side to side. Animal dropped on the spot. With the traditional velocity of around 1,300 fps, you will be good out to 200 yards with Whitetail, provided you know how much the bullet will drop at 200.

[missionary5155]

Greetings
I can also attest that a 255 grain Lyman 375248 of 50-50 mix at 1275 fps (chrono avg) will pass through the chest of a young buck leaving a large exit hatch and a nice tuft of fur laying in the dirt. He did go some yards before he leaked out but at a slow walk.
As ILLinois does not trust us to use rifles I did this with my Dan Wesson 375 Supermag to duplcate what my 1905 vintage Windhester 38-55 does with a BP load and the same 255 grain Lyman.
Mike in Peru

[6pt-sika]

First deer I ever killed with iron sights or a home cast bullet was a little old spike I shot at about 65 yards using a Marlin 336CB 38-55 in 2002 or 2003 . I was using the Lyman 375449 pushed with SR4759 . I would say the load was maybe 1400 FPS . Shot him behind the shoulder and he walked as if nothing happened for 20 or 30 yards and just fell over no problem !

[barkerwc4362]

I have killed two large hogs with my restored 1893 Marlin in 38-55. I use the RCBS 37-250 bullet that is actually 265 grains+. I use IMR 4895 and Winchester Large Rifle primers. The first hog was a Texas heart shot at over 100 yards. The bullet ranged forward and broke the boar's back. The second hog was a 250lb boar taken broadside at approximately 70 yards. Bullet was placed low right behind the shoulder. Complete penetration and hog ran about 30 yards before collapsing. The Marlin and cartridge are a great reliable combination. Punches a good hole to let air in and blood out, plus comfortable to shoot and carry.
Bill

[TXGunNut]

That's how I'm planning on loading my 375 Win when I get around to it. I don't think it'll ever go hunting but am thinking 1600 will be the upper limit when I start working with it. Scored a 375449 mould awhile back and can't wait to break it in.

[northmn]

Interested to hear those results. Got frustrated and ordered some Barnes a while back, but they are on back order. Planned on using the 38-55 as my cast bullet gun as I have plenty of other rifles. Seems like it does not like the Lee Liquid Alox which works fine in other rifles but in this one tends to pattern. Why??
Get caught up in the magnimizing thing like every one else. Now I have to play with alloys. As I have plenty of brush to hunt in, longer ranges are not all that much of an issue.

DP

[Dryball]

Cancel that order and quick. I got a nice buck with my Legendary Frontiersman in 38-55 this year using Barnes Originals in .377. The first shot was "just high of the heart" and the second was a neck shot that was needed to put him down. No expansion to speak of...just 2 tiny holes for each shot. If I knew how to put pictures on here I would do it for ya. The bullet is very accurate in my gun but does not expand for ****. Upon the dismal results on the deer I cross-sectioned one...the jacket appears to be at least 2 to 3 times the normal jacket thickness for any other j-bullet I've ever shot. I would go with cast or do what I did...Have BT Sniper make you a set of dies. I'm now swaging .3775 bullets out of pure lead and cut down .223 cases as jackets with a XTP type hollow point!

93469
These are ones that BT made and sent with my dies

[dverna]

Dryball,

Those are absolutely beautiful bullets - even if they are jacketed.

I am curious though...... The .38/55 seems to be an ideal platform for cast bullets so why have you decided to use jacketed bullets?

Don Verna

[Dryball]

dverna, thanks but technically they are cast. The core is 2 .32 cast boolits mashed into a .223 case. lol I wanted to get into swaging and this seemed like the perfect gun to do it for. There is no one out there that makes a j-word in the diameter I need. The closest they come is .375 and that thing just rattles down the barrel with no accuracy to speak of. Most of my guns get cast through them and this one does well but like some of my friends say...you're not right. When all is said and done I guess I don't have an arguable or logical reason...I just wanted to.

[samwithacolt]

I shot 2 deer last fall using a lee 250 gr(actually weighed 260 gr) cast from pure lead, over 12 gr unique at 1300 fps.
At that speed the impact is impressively loud! With that much mass, the boolit does'nt want to stop. My only complaint is that it did'nt seem to expand much, but both were pass throughs(furthest was about 110yds If I recall correctly).

[northmn]

I was thinking about using the rifle with harder bullets and shoulder shots where not as much meat would be destroyed. Got a couple of places where I hunt where that might not be a bad option. I have a couple of stands where most shots will be fairly close.
DP

[Nrut]

I shot 2 deer last fall using a lee 250 gr(actually weighed 260 gr) cast from pure lead, over 12 gr unique at 1300 fps.
At that speed the impact is impressively loud! With that much mass, the boolit does'nt want to stop. My only complaint is that it did'nt seem to expand much, but both were pass throughs(furthest was about 110yds If I recall correctly).
That's interesting..
>Did you add any tin to your Pb??

>Where do you hit the animals?

>What rifle did you use?

thanks