38/55 Win. Loads

[brennemanj83]

Hello I'm new to the forums.was wondering if anyone had any good load data for cast bullets in the 38/55 with smokeless or black powder?just bought an H&R classic target and looking to get starting point for some target and hunting loads.

[ktw]

I described some work I did with a Uberti 1885 in 38-55 in the following thread. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=19451

The load data and bullet designs I have worked with to date are listed there. Other people contributed helpful suggestions. My 38-55 project has been on hold for the last 6 months or so, but I plan to get back to it again next spring.

-ktw

[Jon K]

Fit the boolit to the barrel...........the H&R likes a fat boolit, so get the fattest thing the chamber will accept, and don't try to drvive it too fast, like a modern BN smokeless cartridge.

Smokeless there's a lot to choose from out there, but fit first, size should determine which you shoot.

BP I have had real good luck with 43-46 grains Swiss 3F & Goex Express 3F.

Jon

[garandsrus]

Jon,

The Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook has a section for 38-55 loads. There is also a section for .375 Win loads. You might check with H&R, but the Handi can probably digest either load.

With a Lyman 375449 boolit (ACWW) and 10gr Unique, I get about 1250fps 10 feet from the muzzle. It is an accurate load with mild recoil.

I also like 18 to 18.5 gr 2400 with the same boolit for about 1530fps.

John

[Jon K]

Jon,

The Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook has a section for 38-55 loads. There is also a section for .375 Win loads. You might check with H&R, but the Handi can probably digest either load.

With a Lyman 375449 boolit (ACWW) and 10gr Unique, I get about 1250fps 10 feet from the muzzle. It is an accurate load with mild recoil.

I also like 18 to 18.5 gr 2400 with the same boolit for about 1530fps.

John

I know there's lots of data out ther and there's lots of H&R's out there and if the boolit doesn't fit, it doesn't shoot. I don't have the H7R anymore, that's ancient history, but I still cast and load for the current owner. Data for the 375449 @.379 out of the Lyman book , in that gun will keyhole @200m and looks oval @100 yds, so to enforce my statement "FIT THE BOOLIT TO THE BARREL"

I have had as many as 5 38-55's at one time. I now have 2, and always looking for another, it's one of my favorite calibers.

Jon

[garandsrus]

Jon K,

You are absolutely right about fitting the boolit to the barrel... I size my boolits 380 to 381 for the 38-55 to fit my H&R rifle. Some 375449's won't cast that large.

There have been a couple group buys for 38-55 molds which drop a large enough boolit.

John

[NickSS]

My Har shoots great with a lyman 250 gr slug sized 379 with 18 gr of AA 5744 driving it. At 200 yards it prints groups in the 3 to 4 inch range and half that at 100. My rifle is a newer one and the groove diameter is .3775" so I guess I got a good one.

[C A Plater]

I had a devil of a time getting mine to shoot anything reliably until I fixed the chamber. The barrel slugged .378 but chambering .380 bullets was extra snug. It would still tumble about half of the rounds while the other half showed promise. Factory loads all tumbled. I ended up renting a reamer with a .400 neck and reamed the chamber by hand. Presto! All round holes in the target instead of some of them being rectangular. The best load I have so far is 30.0 grain of IMR3031 and a 265 grain cast still sized .380. It needs some more development to refine it more but that's waiting for the end of deer season.

[brennemanj83]

slugged bore today.muzzle=.378" in front of chamber=.380.can i get away with using a 380-381 dia. bullet?

[garandsrus]

Brennemanj,

You got lucky that the chamber is bigger than the bore :)

I would try 380 or even 381 and see if both chamber.

John