Winchester 38-55 Trapper cast loads

[WinMike]

I'm the new owner of a Winchester (Miroku) Trapper in 38-55. It has a 16.5" barrel and weighs less than 7 lbs. (and has a curved steel buttplate!). Winchester tells me that the barrel has .379" groove diameter.

I have 3031 and IMR 4198 powder in my inventory, and there are lots of loads using those powders. Alas, most of the short-barrel loads I've found for those powders are for jacketed bullets.

I'm thinking of a cast 250 +/- gr. bullet, either hard-cast or gas check. I'd like 1500-1700 fps.

Any ideas, resources?

[Tatume]

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com

These data are for a 24" barrel, but you should be able to achieve your velocity goal.

250 GR. LYMAN CAST
Hodgdon Powder H4198
Bullet Diameter .376"
C.O.L. 2.500"
Starting Load
Grains 18.5
Velocity (ft/s) 1,408
Pressure 17,100 CUP
Maximum Load
Grains 24.0
Velocity (ft/s) 1,740
Pressure 26,200 CUP

[Catshooter]

I wouldn't believe Winchester when they say the bore is .379. It might be, and it might not. There is but one way to know and that is to measure.

Welcome to the site.


Cat

[smokeywolf]

Oh come on, no pics?

smokeywolf

[Hickok]

Order some Starline brass and save yourself a lot of trouble. Starline is thinner than Winchester and chambers better with .380-.381" boolits.

My Winchester AE Legend rifle is .379" groove diameter. Dave Scovill states that some of the last 38/55 rifles to come out of the Winchester plant before the big shut down/ new opening were made with .377" barrels.

[WinMike]

Don't have it yet....but here's a photo. I'm pretty excited, especially re: the leaf sight which flips up to be a target sight.

And yes, first item on the agenda to to slug the bore. I'd kind of like it to be .375", since there's a bigger selection of bullets, but if not, there are definitely lots of other choices as well. And I do have Starline brass on order. On order....who knows when? But ITM, fortunately, a friend has some to borrow.

[smokeywolf]

Thanks for the pic. I think when first introduced by Winchester, they were referred to as a "baby carbine".

[6.5 mike]

Might try the Lee 250 rf, use it in a marlin 375 with very good results. Mine drops bout 0.380, have tried it pp'ed & lubed. I'm using the data from the 3rd Lyman cast book. I also use it in a 1875 Sharps shooting 38-55. Seat boolit to engrave & see what happens.

[blackpowder man]

I have a 1885 winchester high wall with the 22" barrel in 38-55 and mine slugged .3765. I size to .378 and use starline long brass. The .30-30s I blew out to shoot in my 94 .375 won't chamber, I assumed they were too thick and left them alone. I used 3031 with good accuracy when I first got it. Since then it's only seen black powder loads. Mine is really accurate with both the lee 250 rf and the rcbs 300 grain black powder bullet.

[WinMike]

thanks to everyone....I have it now and my goodness....it's a tidy little package. Glad I didn't order it in 45-70.

Starline has brass in two lengths: 2.08" and 2.125". A friend made up a couple of dummy cartridges in each length. Using a Cast Performance LFNGC, the cartridge was slightly too long in the longer brass. I'll order (if it ever comes off the assembly line) some of the shorter brass (yeah, I know....the problem may be with the CP bullet's ogive. But I'd rather not have to fuss with that issue).

At this point, I'm leaning toward A5744....it's slightly faster than 4198, and since there's only 16.5" of barrel, I think it may be more efficient.

[Tatume]

In some T/C Contender chamberings 4198 excels in 14" barrels.

[bigted]

I know the IMR3031 does very well in both my 38's ... the old '93' marlin will hit anything I shoot at with this powder under my 275 grain boolit from Tom at Accurate molds. my 1885 Winchester with a GM 30 inch #4 octagon profile shoots lights out with some 220 jacketed but have not messed too much with cast in that one yet ... little tho and no love yet in the 14 inch twist. it will do bug holes tho at 100 yards everytime I do my part.

do report on accuracy as well as shootability and recoil with the lil bugger ... I have often seen them for sale and wondered about how they handle.