Author Topic: My 38-55 Shoots!!!!! (Read 1248 times)

JPH45 · « **on:** March 02, 2005, 05:27:56 PM »

Got it Monday, but my internet connection has been &*&%$^%$^%$^ So I'm hoping I beat the clock here,

Shoots the Lyman 264 GC GREAT, Little 1/2" groups at 50 yards, using both 1680 (28 grains) and H4198 (25.5 grians) Books say these loads are doing circa 1800 fps. The bullets are 20:1. Lubed with Lyman Super Moly, all but he top driving band.

I am one happy Handi camper. :grin:

Have to run the loaded case back into the resizing die to get the neck down to where it chambers, seems there is the famous chamber/bore dimension mismatch in my barrel, but it shoots GREAT!

I've not decided if I want to open the chamber up about .002", so you can see we are not talking a lot here.

Gonna post before this thing loses it's mind again,

Later,

John

handirifle · « **Reply #1 on:** March 02, 2005, 05:33:13 PM »

JPH I have noticed before when I loaded straight wall cases that at times the crimp actually bulges the case somewhat and have had to do the same thing. Might be worth it to set up another sizing die just for that last step.

mag41vance · « **Reply #2 on:** March 03, 2005, 04:56:49 AM »

Is that going to be a cast bullet only gun?

Did you chrony the load, oh thats right, never mind you shot your chrony! :shock:

I sure hope that doesn't happen to me. Cause you'd be the first person to do a belly laugh, and pile on unmercifly.

Coastwatcher · « **Reply #3 on:** March 03, 2005, 05:18:21 AM »

If I recall correctly, he was forced to shoot his chrony in self defence as it had charged to within feet of his shooting position. Under the same circumstances we would all be forced to do the same. :?

Somerled · « **Reply #4 on:** March 03, 2005, 05:41:27 AM »

Thanks for the report, JPH45. I have been thinking about getting one of those .38-55 target rifles. I hadn't read about the famous chamber/bore mismatch problem anywhere. Can anyone offer some details to me?

JPH45, what brass are you using? I do not load for the .38-55. I know some .45-70 brass is thinner at the case mouth. Could switching to another brand of case solve the problem besides opening up the chamber some? I am also curious if you crimp your cast bullet loads. I don't crimp the cartridges for my Sharps .45-70, but I just shoot Goex black powder in it.

Good luck with the computer critter. Maybe a .379 or so diameter hole through the middle of it will put it in good order. At least there will be a reason to get a new computer.

Ditchdigger · « **Reply #5 on:** March 03, 2005, 03:48:12 PM »

Hey JPH45, with luck like you had with it shooting so good maybe you should rush out and buy a lotto ticket. With a string of luck going like that you would win for sure. :-D :-D Oh and about the charging Chrono's ,mine charged me once,and it was a good thing I had a 45 ACP in my hand at the time, 1 shot deadcenter stopped it in its tracks and slammed it 10' off the truck hood. :-D :-D Digger

JPH45 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 04, 2005, 02:35:49 PM »

Somerled, I'm using some Winchester 375 brass, brass can be made from 30-30 cases with the necks blown out straight, Starline says they are going to make some 38-55 brass, but it is not yet on the market.

So far running the case back into the sizing die is working just fine, and yes Handirifle, I am going to get a die to set up just for that purpose.

Meanwhile I remain impressed with this barels shootings abilities. 1/2 and 3/4" groups at 50 yards and I'm not even warmed up yet. it will consistantly put 4 of 5 into 3/8". It took me 2 yeqrs to get my 44 to shoot this good with cast.

Vance, yes this will be a cast bullet only barrel, Barnes and one maybe two other makers build a 377 bullet, none make a 379. But the whole point of the 38-55 is that it maxes out at the top of normal cast bullet velocity ranges anyway. Like the 357 Max, it is a perfect cast bullet shooter. In fact, think of the 357 Max on steriods. The 38-55 does with 250-270 grain bullets what the 357 does with 180-200 grainers. Another way to think of it is a 44 Magnum with a 30-30's trajectory and the 445's velocity.

jeff223 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 04, 2005, 03:17:49 PM »

i bet that rifle would put a jacketed bullet into one ragged hole.you think so too JPH45?it would be nice if NEF offered that caliber in a barrel that was 24 inches long for a handi rifle.i guess i could have a smith cut one down and recrown at 24 inches.is the barrel drilled and tapped for scope base?

Somerled · « **Reply #8 on:** March 04, 2005, 06:28:12 PM »

JPH45, that .375 Win. brass is probably quite a bit thicker than the .38-55 brass. I used to see Winchester .38-55 brass all over. But MidwayUSA doesn't have it. Widener's still has it in stock, however, at $12.94 per 50.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #9 on:** March 04, 2005, 07:00:50 PM »

Quote from: Somerled

Widener's still has it in stock, however, at $12.94 per 50.

They might just as well give it away compared to the cost of 45-3¼" sharps straight brass at $182 for a 100!!! :eek:

cabezaverde · « **Reply #10 on:** March 05, 2005, 01:08:37 PM »

JPH,

What are you sizing those Lyman's to ?

Woodbutcher · « **Reply #11 on:** March 05, 2005, 01:26:34 PM »

Dear Somerled:
Do you have a website for Wideners? Have you dealt with them?
Thank You, Woodbutcher

quickdtoo · « **Reply #12 on:** March 05, 2005, 01:37:24 PM »

Enter widener's in google.com....and you get as first pick....

http://www.wideners.com/

Looks to me like they have no 38-55 brass in stock.

http://www.wideners.com/itemview.cfm?startrow=25&dir=278|282|285|379

Huntington might have it in stock, $33 for 100.

http://www.huntingtons.com/CasesWinchester.html

Woodbutcher · « **Reply #13 on:** March 05, 2005, 02:07:01 PM »

Thank you for the website info. Woodbutcher

JPH45 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 05, 2005, 04:54:27 PM »

I'm back up at the moment, don't know how long it will last, here goes....

jeff223, I'm sure it would shoot a jacketed bullet great, my 30-30 is a .310 groove diameter and it shoots several jacketed bullets into 3/8" groups. The barrel does seem a little long, but it doesn't seem a hinderance either. My 1885 Browning had a 28" barrel and I never felt it was a hinderance. And yes, it is drilled and tapped in the standard Handi pattern. I took the rail and scope off my 45-70 and stuck it on this barrel, no muss, no fuss, no alligator puss.

Somerled, it has been suggested that I try turning the neck down a few thousandths, I can use the shop lathe to do this as an experiment, but what I'm doing is working very well, and it only adds another step on the press, not a big deal at all really, and I see little difference between turning the case neck and resizing the loaded case, unless one were trying to shoot a bullet that is larger by .002" or so. If what I'm doing were not working I would persue neck turning with much greater vigor. As things are....

??

cabezaverde, .379 seems this is the largest diameter Lyman or Rcbs offers a sizing die in for this caliber range. I'm sure one could be opened up, but when it is considered that I'm sizing down another .002" after the case is loaded, I'm not sure a bigger bullet would help in anyway.

cheatermk3 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 05, 2005, 05:12:54 PM »

I tried turning down my cases using my RCBS trimmer set up for ONT. I needed .005 and tried to do it in 1 pass but I was losing too many cases. I didn't really want to have to turn all my cases, and the lockup was iffy so it went back to NEF. I should have it back by Wednesday, Gordon said he'd "see if I can get it shipped 2nd day service".

Lock stock and barrel has Winchester cases in stock as of this morning.

www.lockstock.com

The local sportsman's warehouse had plenty of 38-55 and 375WIN cases on the shelf in bags of 50(winchesters) for 16.50 I think it was.

cabezaverde · « **Reply #16 on:** March 06, 2005, 01:49:08 AM »

JPH,

I must have been a little lucky with my Target model. I am shooting the Lee bullet (air cooled wheel weights), sized to .379 also with liquid alox, using a lee sizer I opened up.

With 8 grains Unique, it shoots better than I do. I have been thinking about opening up the sizer another .001, but will probably leave well enough alone.

With just enough flair to get the bullet seated, and the Lee factory crimp after I seat it (mine was made for .375 winchester), everything chambers and ejects fine.

Been awhile since I have shot this much with open sights, need to work on that now. :roll:

riverjackal · « **Reply #17 on:** March 06, 2005, 05:01:55 AM »

Cabezaverde,
I assume that you are using Lee dies for reloading the 38 55 round. If so, are you getting a bulge in your cases after seating the bullet ?
I have loaded several since my new rifle, 38 55 H&R Target Model, and none will chamber without running the loaded round back through the sizer die, which I don't like to do. I think some have good luck with doing that.
I loaded some .375 speer 235 grain bullets yesterday and they would not chamber after seating the bullet, so I'm led to believe that somehow it is not a fat bullet (.379 ) causing them to not chamber.
I think that I will try some RCBS dies and if that don't do the trick on brass and allow the loaded round to chamber, I'll give up on it. I have been reloading for 35 years and I never run across a round that would not chamber after loading.
Just some of my thoughts on the subject

cabezaverde · « **Reply #18 on:** March 06, 2005, 06:54:37 AM »

riverjackal,

I am using Lee dies, the ones that are made for 38-55, but marked for 376 diameter bullets only. I have found that I can seat bullets up to as cast from that mold (.383) with them no problem. I was using my Hornady .375 Winchester dies before I found these, and they would not seat the fat bullets.

The first loading of new WW cases did have the bulge. After that, I partially sized them, flared the necks as little as possible to allow seating, and have not had any bulging, which is ugly as heck.

I think the big thing is using the seperate crimp dies after seating, which is the factory crimp die. I could see where a roll crimp would cause a problem with chambering. I load a lot of 375 Winchester, so I had it around. Midway lists one for 375 and one for 38-55, but the 375 one works for me.

riverjackal · « **Reply #19 on:** March 06, 2005, 08:07:00 AM »

Cabezaverde,
I also raised my sizer die .100 inches, I am using lee dies. I will try the Lee factory crimp die as soon as I can order one.
I appreciate the info.

Maverick · « **Reply #20 on:** March 07, 2005, 03:49:55 AM »

Graf's has Winchester 38-55 brass for $15.70/50 or $150/500. I recently bought two bags of the stuff from them and it is good stuff.

http://www.grafs.com/

As for using the Lee factory crimp die, I do not know about 38-55 cast bullets, but my book on loading 45-70's specifically states not to use it. Basically the reason is that that die is designed for use with jacketted bullets.

Mav

cabezaverde · « **Reply #21 on:** March 07, 2005, 12:33:32 PM »

Maverick,

Depends on how you use it. I seat my bullets to line up with the crimp groove (cast Bullet) and use the crimp die to remove the flare.