Favorite molds, .38-40?

[Abert Rim]

Wondering what .38 WCF shooters are favoring these days. I am looking for a mold that would work with both BP and smokeless in a Model 1873.

[Speedo66]

I'm not casting so I can't give you a specific mold, but I've used this bullet shape from Missouri Bullets in my 1873, and they feed perfectly and are accurate. I've only used them with smokeless powder (Trail Boss), so I can't comment on their use with black powder.

http://missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=80&category=5&secondary=22&keywords=

[Abert Rim]

Thanks Speedo. I have it on good authority that the Accurate 40-190C works well with black and smokeless. Leaning toward this mold.

[smkummer]

The traditional Lyman 40143 or 401043 will only work with a case full of powder such as black, pyrodex or 777 in a lever gun or pump as it crimps on the ogive without a modern crimp groove. It works fine in my vintage Colt Bisley. Rcbs makes a good modern copy of the mold with a proper crimp groove.

[Le Loup Solitaire]

Post #4 is spot on. Early on I used the Lyman 40143/401043 and because of the old style crimp groove the loaded rounds would not feed thru my 1873 unless I crimped the case mouths too far forward which was hard on the already thin brass. I then tried shortening the cases in order to be able to use the old crimp groove...that worked as long as I was willing to use altered cases. Best advice is to get the RCBS modern copy of the mold with the proper crimp groove to start with. LLS

[fouronesix]

Thanks Speedo. I have it on good authority that the Accurate 40-190C works well with black and smokeless. Leaning toward this mold.

The Accurate 40-190C and 40-180C molds are very similar to the 180 gr flat base bullets that have worked very well in my 38-40s- carbines, rifles and revolvers. A soft alloy of 20-1 or softer seems to work best. Best diameter I've found for the originals I shoot is .401.

[mac266]

I don't have a .38-40 and I'm away from my books right now. If memory serves, it is a .40 caliber bullet, not a .38 as the name implies. Is that correct?

[Good Cheer]

Yep, it's a .40.
My dad's 3840 rifle and revolver used the Lyman mold.

[enfield]

I have the 40-185c from Accurate, it's the BP version with a large lube groove. The great thing about Accurate is that they will make the mould whatever size you want, you let them know the dimensions and they make it that size. Custom mould without the custom price.

[Superfly]

lee 401 truncated cone is what I use my marlin loves it shoots great

[William Yanda]

The Winchester type 5 mold which I have throws a boolet 0.377/0.378 using my 50/50-COWW/Soft Lead with 2% tin alloy.

[Harry O]

I have been using a Uberti Winchester 1873-clone for my CAS rifle for the last 10 or more years. I started out with a Lyman 40143. As has been noted, it does NOT have a crimping groove. I was not using BP, so I had problems with it pushing down into the case. I then sized the case and flared the mouth without expanding the neck, in order to increase the grip on the bullets. That helped a lot, but did not end the problem. The necks were just too thin to hold the bullets secure. There were still occasional bullet set-backs that jammed the rifle. Time to get a new mould.

I had a 401452 that was never intended for a rifle. It worked great in my handguns, but did not even come close to working in the 1873 rifle. It was WAAAAAAY too long for the rifle to feed. I did some experiments with the 40143 and found that the 1873 rifle would not feed anything any longer than the maximum amount listed for the 38-40. It would also not feed if more than about 0.010" - 0.012" under the maximum amount. A very limited distance. I understand that Winchester 1892's, their clones, and Marlin 1894's are much more tolerant of length, but have never tested it with them.

Then I got a new NEI 401-195 with a crimping groove. It was about 0.003" too long to work reliably in the 1873 rifle. NEI told me I was using the wrong mix. I had been using a 40:1 mixture. I tried a harder mix (as they suggested) and it still did not work.

While experimenting around, I bought some of the Missouri Bullets and they worked perfectly. I asked them what they used to cast them and they said they used a Magma mould. I then bought a Magma 38-40-180-RNFP modified for hand casting. Unfortunately, the mould was oversized. When run through a 0.401" sizing die, there was virtually no lube groove left. When used full sized, it was too large for the chamber.

Handloader magazine (Mike "Duke" V.) has recommended an RCBS special-order mould for the 38-40 several time. Unfortunately, he calls it different names in different articles. NONE of the names mentioned match what is listed on the RCBS website. I e-mailed RCBS asking then which one they have was mentioned in the magazine articles. They did not know or would not tell me.

I am still using purchased Missouri Bullets for my 1873 rifle.