Load manual for gas-checked?

[FromTheWoods]

I plan to use Bull Shop bullets in my old '94 Winchesters--Mainly gas-checked slugs. Having trouble finding minimum/maximum loads on the internet. With the powder shortage affecting my load choices, I've been searching for loads for H4895.

I'm thinking I would benefit from purchasing another reloading manual. Which load manual would you recommend which has lead/gas-checked loads for .25-35, 30WCF, 32.-40, .32WS, and .38-55 using H4895?

Is there an internet site that would have these loads?

[Larry Gibson]

Don't know about the "internet" but Lyman's #3 and #4 manuals (Cast Bullet Handbooks) have all sorts of loads for GC'd bullets in the cartridges you mention. Either one of those manuals is handy to have not only for the data but for the information in the articles, especially the #3 CBH.

Larry Gibson

[runfiverun]

ask Dan he can give you some loads..
he shoots the same boolits he sells.

[OverMax]

http://www.castpics.net/LoadData/Surplus/default.html (http://www.castpics.net/LoadData/Surplus/default.html)

Perhaps a little poking around in this site may help some.

[helice]

Richard Lee's present book is exceptional imho. It is well worth the price.
I pulled down my first edition and found loads for the 30-30 using 100, 125, 150, and 170 grain bullets. The H4895 load is listed as the highest velocity load for the 150 grain bullet. 170 grain loads using this powder seem to do very well at right around 2000 foot seconds.

[FromTheWoods]

Thank you, All.

(The "thanks" is a bit late--I was out of computer range, creating elk and other critter habitat.)

[Tatume]

I went to the Hodgdon data site and started to look at your cartridge selections. The very first one I looked at (38-55) had H4895 data for cast bullets!

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/

In my experience this is the most reliable source of loading data available.

[FromTheWoods]

If I'm remembering correctly, last year's Hodgdon site listed only loads for Ballard rifles. That one presently listed is for rifles chambered for something other than the old '94 Winchesters--the bullet diameter is too small for vintage 94's.

Also, I haven't learned yet how to adjust jacketed and plain-based loads for gas-checked bullets.

[sthwestvictoria]

If you look at the Hodgdon data in the cowboy section there is cast data for h4895

[Tatume]

Also, I haven't learned yet how to adjust jacketed and plain-based loads for gas-checked bullets.

Usually, plain based cast bullets should be held to not more than 1400 fps. With gas checks you can go faster.

Usually, gas checked bullets can't be pushed as fast as jacketed bullets. Sometimes with very hard bullets, often with high antimony proportions, you can go faster.

There is no cut and dried formula. Loading depends on so many things, such as alloy, heat treatment, bore condition, etc. Start low with a powder and cast bullet combination that should work, say about 1400 fps with a gas checked bullet. Then work up. With somewhat hard bullets I can easily make 2250 fps in the 358 Winchester, which is above the ability of the cartridges in your list. That's with air cooled bullets cast of wheel weight metal with the addition of 2% tin.

Take the 38-55 as an example. The Hodgdon H4895 data place velocities well within the capabilities of wheel weight alloy. Start at the low end and work your way up from there.

Take care, Tom