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Thread: Mold for a .38-55 lever gun

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
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    Mold for a .38-55 lever gun

    I need recommendation for a lever gun with a .380 bore. Want a mold that will drop a bullet in the 240-260 gr. weight. Have no idea what mold maker or mold to order.

  2. #2
    Boolit Bub
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    Try Accurate Molds, They have one # 39-255B. It cast a .386 255 gr, a RNFP.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master

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    The Accurate Molds 38-250B, BG, BT and BU would all be essentially the same bullet altered for preference of conventional groove or tumble, plain base or gas check. Those would all be crimp-groove bullets - - presumably for a repeater where the overall length might matter more than a single shot.
    WWJMBD?

    In the Land of Oz, we cast with wheel weight and 2% Tin, Man.

  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master
    Mk42gunner's Avatar
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    Pre-panic I would have recommended the Lee for less than $25.00.

    Current conditions? I think you would be better off buying a custom from Accurate. I'd go with either a plain base or a combo of both PB and GC bases.

    Robert

  5. #5
    Boolit Master

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    +1 on the Lee, if you can find one, buy it! I used it to great success over 10.0 grains of Unique @ 1400 fps. Good groups and no leading with 94-3-3 alloy, air cooled.
    "We take a thousand moments for granted thinking there will be a thousand more to come. Each day, each breath, each beat of your heart is a gift. Live with love & joy, tomorrow is not promised to anyone......"

    unknown

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by centershot View Post
    +1 on the Lee, if you can find one, buy it! I used it to great success over 10.0 grains of Unique @ 1400 fps. Good groups and no leading with 94-3-3 alloy, air cooled.
    I second this, I have been using this boolit in my Marlin CB since I got it and using that 10 gr load of Unique. Great load and boolit.

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy
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    Accurate 38-250BU really has my attn.

  8. #8
    Boolit Grand Master In Remembrance
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    Why 240 - 260 grs. The most accurate 38-55 bullet is the Ideal 375166, 320 grs and is on the Accurate website. MOA 100 to 300 yds and accurate 500 meters with smokeless and black powder
    Regards
    John

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
    alfloyd's Avatar
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    I bought the NOE 379-379-FN.
    A friend used this boolit to win gold and silver medals in the Huntsman World Senior Games in Southern Utah.
    It works great in his lever gun.

    Lafaun
    Just staying at home and playing with multi-color boolits.

  10. #10
    Boolit Grand Master
    Mk42gunner's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by John Boy View Post
    Why 240 - 260 grs. The most accurate 38-55 bullet is the Ideal 375166, 320 grs and is on the Accurate website. MOA 100 to 300 yds and accurate 500 meters with smokeless and black powder
    My reasoning is that most of the 300+ grain projectiles are too long to cycle through a lever action. That and ~255 grains seems to be the traditional weight for the cartridge.

    Robert

  11. #11
    Boolit Master mehavey's Avatar
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    See https://thefiringline.com/forums/sho...22&postcount=1
    Calculate your max nose length from the case length to fit the action, and see if it doesn't work

  12. #12
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    Texas by God's Avatar
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    I bought the 379-250 Lee mould while Jes reboring had my 94 30-30 at his place. It shoots just fine @.377” from that 6# wonder. I’ve no reason to try anything else, if I had a single shot target rifle I would.

  13. #13
    Boolit Buddy
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    My JES rebored Marlin likes the Lee 379-250 as well sized at .377 and PC'd . Good boolit, I'm hoping it does well on deer.
    Retired: school of hard knocks
    NRA Lifer

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check