38-55 loads

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bitterbeer
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38-55 loads

Post by bitterbeer »

Anyone care to share some 38-55 loads for silhouette? I have modern Winchester 94 26" barrel built in CT before going off shore. I bought some .240 gr RNFP to try from Rim Rock Bullets.

Not may books carry reloading data for cast bullets that I can find. If someone has a good source let me know

Thanks,
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Re: 38-55 loads

Post by Another Dang 9 »

Lyman and Lee have the most data for cast bullets that ive seen. Check both of their books for info.
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Re: 38-55 loads

Post by 44 mag »

A shooting partner of mine uses 9.0 of unique with a 240 grain but its a bit lite on rams so in some cases he will use 21 grains of H-4198 with a 250 for rams. Both loads shoot lights out with very little recoil in a Marlin Cowboy.
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Re: 38-55 loads

Post by BrentD »

19.2 gr 4198 and 250 gr Lyman FN. Takes down everything every time (including pronghorns), but a pretty mild load.
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Re: 38-55 loads

Post by Merlin »

28 gr. of IMR 4895 with a Hunters Supply 260 gr. flat point. Big Medicine. :-bd
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Re: 38-55 loads

Post by BrentD »

Merlin wrote: Sun May 19, 2019 8:44 am 28 gr. of IMR 4895 with a Hunters Supply 260 gr. flat point. Big Medicine. :-bd
Do you have any idea of what your velocity is with that load? Just curious how it compares to my load of 19.2 gr of 4198, which I don't really have velocity for anyway but could find one.
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Re: 38-55 loads

Post by Merlin »

Brent I obtained the load from a friend and just went with it, I will take my chrono to the range next time I take the rifle out and see what the velocity is. I do know that this load is noticeably softer than my 30-30 with factory 150 gr. ammo. I have had one ram not to fall on a target that was clamped down due to stout winds at the TX State match a couple of years ago. Other than that one target it has been very satisfactory.
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Re: 38-55 loads

Post by squinty_shooter »

I am shooting the Hunter supply bullet over 27.6 win 748 with great results.
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Re: 38-55 loads

Post by Merlin »

BrentD wrote: Mon May 20, 2019 6:02 am
Merlin wrote: Sun May 19, 2019 8:44 am 28 gr. of IMR 4895 with a Hunters Supply 260 gr. flat point. Big Medicine. :-bd
Do you have any idea of what your velocity is with that load? Just curious how it compares to my load of 19.2 gr of 4198, which I don't really have velocity for anyway but could find one.
Fresh from the range. IMR 4895 28 gr. with Hunters Supply 260. Gave me 1447 fps average 10 shot string and I can get 2" at 100 with a Williams rear and Lyman from with the smallest dot/post included with the front sight. Very accurate and fairly mild. Shoots just as well with Unique ~10.1 (where my first few test drops fell - I just left it there.) 1244 fps on the test string. Very mild and seemed as accurate as the heavier load of IMR 4895.
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Re: 38-55 loads

Post by squinty_shooter »

My 748 load is extremely soft on the shoulder and is running abt 1400 never failed to take a ram anywhere it hit.
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Re: 38-55 loads

Post by Merlin »

An update on my experience with Unique.10.1 with Hunter Supply 260 gr.@ .386. Shot a 40 round leg of a match yesterday and found the Unique to be very inconsistent during the match. Not sure if it is position or temperature sensitive but I had extreme elevation variations during my match. New rifle so for today's final leg of the match, as a trest of the rifle, I used the same rifle with 27.7 of IMR 4895 and it was flawless.

It is possible that my RCBS powder measure somehow dropped varying charges but I used the same RCBS measure with the IMR 4895 and, as far as I could determine, had no problems. I also checked about every 5th load on my digital scale and all was within a tenth on my testing. So, for me I am excluding Unique. At least until I figure out why the major variations.

As an interesting observation for me - the 1952 Marlin 336A rebored to 38-55 by JES Reboring shot the same as my Marlin CB in 38-55. I have a Williams peep on both of these guns at this time and today the IMR loading was totally untested in the Marlin 336A. I sighted the 336 in on turkey before the match started and used the come ups and downs for my proven CB sight settings on the 336. It was perfect with the exact same clicks needed on the 336 as the modern CB rifle.

Marlin 336A 24" rebored tp 38-55 by JES - Hunter Supply 260 gr.@ .376. IMR 4895 - 27.7. Starline short brass
Marlin CB 24" with Hunter Supply 260 gr @ .381 IMR 4895 - 27.7. Starline long brass..

Edited to correct bullet size on the JES 38-55. I had mistakenly stated the diameter as .386. NOT correct. It should have said .376.

I hope this did not adversely affect anyone.
Last edited by Merlin on Thu Sep 05, 2019 3:34 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: 38-55 loads

Post by PAndy »

Sounds like the 4895 load is working well. Might be wise to stay with it! One of the hassles I had with h4198 was case fill. In my 30-30, it takes roughly 6 fewer grains of 4198 to get the same velocity as 4895. The lighter charge weight reduces recoil, but the down side is more air space in the case with the 4198 loads. (Imr4198 is a little bulkier.). At the test bench I felt that I got more consistent velocities with a little Dacron filler on top of the 4198.
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