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moodyholler
10-09-2005, 08:37 PM
Anyone know of a mold that throws a 250 grain bullet about .380 or .381? Thanks, moodyholler

cabezaverde
10-09-2005, 08:59 PM
The Lee mold should be right about there. Mine throws nice .381 bullets.

Buckshot
10-10-2005, 05:25 AM
.............My Lee mould drops a bit smaller then that. Maybe .379"? But the alloy is a bit softer then WW, running about 10 bhn. If you wouldn't mind a bit lighter slug, Saeco offers a tapered 225gr FNPB and mine drop .381" on the base band. I use it in my M93 just lubed with Lee TL over 16.0 2400. Shoots like the dickens.

..............Buckshot

McLintock
10-10-2005, 04:16 PM
The Magma Engineering 38-55 moulds are supposed to throw at .381, but I've don't have one so can't vouch for it, but a commercial caster I know pretty well says his does. All Lyman moulds seem to throw at .379 and I've got 3 of those, so don't let someone tell you they will. I had Mountain Moulds make me a mould that throws at .381, but it's a custom proposition. NEI shows 236, 240 and 250 gr'ers in the range you're looking for that throw at .380.
Ought to be something out there that'll do the trick for you, hope this helps.
McLintock

moodyholler
10-12-2005, 12:14 PM
One other question, does anyone know the fps of a balckpowder load 50 grains 3f goex and 250 grain bullet from a 28" barrel? I would like to duplicate this load in smokeless. Thanks, moodyholler

Buckshot
10-13-2005, 01:51 AM
One other question, does anyone know the fps of a balckpowder load 50 grains 3f goex and 250 grain bullet from a 28" barrel? I would like to duplicate this load in smokeless. Thanks, moodyholler

...........I'd say maybe 1250-1300 fps, but I'm thinking 2Fg powder. Why 3Fg?

.............Buckshot

moodyholler
10-13-2005, 08:00 AM
I shoot Goex cartridge, but I have the most luck so far with 3f in my trapdoor 38-55. Thanks, JAP

moodyholler
10-13-2005, 02:41 PM
Got the proper loading tool for it from Evilbay today! Maybe it will throw a larger bullet. moodyholler

McLintock
10-14-2005, 12:25 PM
Just a hint of caution, don't get too wild on the loads with smokeless powder in that 1881 Marlin, they have a very weak action, about like a toggle link in the Winchester. An article in the Black Powder Cartridge News that I got yesterday has all the Marlins in it and they recommend just shooting Black Powder in the 1881 due to the strength issue. The action has no locking bolt and just depends on lever pressure and a big hinge pin to hold it together. Sounds like it's about like shooting smokeless loads in a damascus barreled shotgun, it may or may not hold. Incidently, if you find a 1893 Marlin in 38-55, a good load, actually the only load I've found that shoots good in my 1896 '94 Winchester is 26 grs of AA2015 and a .381 260 gr Gas Check bullet similar to the Lyman 375449. Way too hot for the 1881 though.

moodyholler
10-14-2005, 02:28 PM
Thanks for the heads up! I was going to keep pressures under BP loads anyway. I don't mind shooting the BP, just planning on hunting with it and didn't want to drag along the extra cleaning stuff. Am going to order the SPG news just for the Marlin info. I have 16 Marlin lever guns but no 38-55 other than the 1881. moodyholler

McLintock
10-14-2005, 04:18 PM
You bet Moodyholler, it's fun to shoot the old ones. I think, at least from what I've read about it, that it's not the amount of pressure, but how it's delievered that is dangerous in the older black powder guns. The steel they're made of and wear they've experienced doesn't help either in a lot of them. But, smokeless is a lot more instant and spiky for want of a better term, than black powder, so effect on the action is more severe for a given velocity. A lot of Cowboy Action Shooters are using their '73 clones with smokeless, but at loadings that hardly make it out of the barrel. The ones that shoot hotter loads soon start noticing headspace problems and the like. They just weren't made for smokeless. If you're going to hunt with it then you will need a sufficient load to do the job, so just be careful and good luck with your rifle.
McLintock