4759 substitute for 38-55

[Shanghai Jack]

Good day

I have a load for the 38-55 winchester that was superbly accurate
It was 16.5 grains of 4759.
My understanding is that 4759 is long gone.
Reviewing the powder burning charts I see 4759 was flanked by 5744 and 4227.
Can I assume a reasonable correspondence between the two - maybe backing off 5% and working back up to see what the accuracy looks like
Any pet loads for heavy bullet (330 grain) 38-55's
Thanks

[RickinTN]

My experience with the 38-55 is very small but with it's little sister, the 30-30, I have quite a bit. If I were in your shoes I would be looking at one of the 4227's. I have a mold from Tom at Accurate molds which fits several of my Marlin 30-30's quite well. It drops a bullet of around 185 grains, depending on the alloy used. I use an RCBS Little Dandy powder measure also. I doesn't seem to matter accuracy wise if I load 15 grains or 16 grains of IMR4227, the accuracy is excellent.
I believe it should serve you well.
Good Luck,
Rick

[veeman]

You may want to try Shooters World Buffalo Rifle powder. It is basically the equivalent of 5477, and works wonderfully in my 38-55, 45-70 and 45-75.

[5614estell]

4198 works well. Bulks up like 4759. Start about 19g and stop when it shoots best.

[John Boy]

Not 330gr bullets with smokeless but 42gr FFG in the Ideal 375166, 325gr shoots MOA for me
Take a look here for smokeless loads … http://stevespages.com/375_3_250.html

[Walks]

I use IMR3031 in My Win 94. Lyman #375449 loaded with 28.0grs, but that's a lever gun load. it does burn very clean in a 24" bbl.

[Dom]

You didn't say what weight bullet your shooting . PB or GC ? I have come up with very happy accuracy results & velocity with IMR-4198. The bullet I use is an LBT 260 with GC. One thing I have learned about 4198 in my 38-55 is to put in Dacron filler to keep the powder snugly in place. Once I did this accuracy was consistent.Here is bullet with lube & with PC. PC for sure has produced my best, very best results.Attachment 285970 Forgot to mention, my rifle is a Marlin Cowboy, 24" Bbl.

[marlin1895]

My go to load for 38-55 is 265 gr bullet GC & 30 gr of 3031. Good accuracy

[ascast]

I have used IMR=4198 with excellent accuracy with Hoch 310 or 330 ? grain, 21 grn 4198. Also might try Reloader 7.

[Shopdog]

Maybe not a lifetime supply but,got "plenty" of 4759;

Back a few years I was using it in a few bottlenecked rifle cartridges. At lower velocity it is pretty durn impressive. So when the word comes that it's not going to be produced anymore..... well,even with a goodly amount,I went looking for a replacement. Wasn't long and the 4198's were right there on the accuracy. And it's both,H & IMR.... they're just different enough when loading cast for accuracy that you probably should try both. My experience is,they really start to perk up,about where 4759 starts to fade,in the velocity. But that's just what was going on in my rigs,yours may be different. As posted above,around 19g of 4198 in several chamberings,it is magic. In 223 with a Lee 225-55RF through a 12T,19g is a bugholer. It's nicely into JB territory so well,it ain't your Gdad's cast load. They're pretty jacked up.

Just sayin,4198 really helped me get "past" 4759.... in more ways than one. Good luck with your shooting.