Best bullet in a 38-55 for silhouette?

[andym79]

Hi guys, I have a Winchester 94 with 26" barrel that I want to use for silhouette shooting. What is the best size projectile for that? I am guessing the largest I can use! The twist is 1:14.

Thanks

[Catshooter]

Andy,

I too have a 26 inch 94 in 38-55. I use the Lyman 375449 (checked and lubed mine are 285 grains) over AA 2230. Runs close to 1800 feet and will give me an inch and a half at 150 yards.

Good luck with yours and hope you have a ball!


Cat

[snglstack]

I have a custom (it says .357 on the side) double cavity mold that throws a 270gr and a 295gr very wide meplat flat point. Still beagling around with the mold for .380 but I have high hopes for these heavies.

[andym79]

Thanks guys, I have the Lyman 375449 that I have used for a hunting load in my 375W BB. I will try and load it up for the 38-55 (newly acquired) I have only sighted it in at 50 and 100 yards using lee 250 grainers and trail boss, but I want a bigger faster slug to knock down the rams! If it goes well with the Lyman 375449 :-) if not then I guess its time to try something else!

[andym79]

Andy,

Good luck with yours and hope you have a ball!


Cat

I think the 38-55 is an under rated cartridge that should never have faded into near oblivion, thank goodness its back; I guess you could say that of many old cartridges but the magnum craze nearly saw many off! Big and moderate velocity knocks um down better I say.

[shooter93]

I shoot a 270 grain bullet out of mine. If you want to spend the money.....and it's very reasonable....email Tom at Accurate molds. Tell him the gun you're using and what you want to do with it. Send him whatever he asks for....a chamber cast or a round loaded with the bullet seated backwards....and have him make the mold. Best thing I ever did and I do that now with every mold I order from him. You're essentially have a mold made for your gun and it works like a charm.

[Catshooter]

I agree, the 38-55 is under-appreciated. At 1,800 fps, that 285 grain boolit is about a 85-90% of what the round will do. Out of a seven and a half pound rifle it does have a bit of thump!

I actually like the whole family of cartridges that have descended from it: 32-40, 32 spl, 30-30, 25-35 and of course the elegant 219 Zipper. Good'n's, all.


Cat

[Shiloh]

My guess would be that the boo lit that performs best in YOUR gun is the one to use. Just like load data and component combos, seating depths, etc. What works best for someone else may not be best for you.

Shiloh

[Coconino]

Using a Lyman 375248 with 20:1 alloy casts to ~256 gr. 24 grains of IMR 4198 for 1680 fps was what I started with but it did recoil a bit.

. A bit of accuracy improvement with 20 gr for !350 fps. It does the job on steel in my 1894.