Author Topic: Accuracy With 38-55  (Read 533 times)

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Offline dashcaliber

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Accuracy With 38-55
« on: December 21, 2009, 03:36:19 PM »
I have a Wesson & Harrington Target1871 in 38-55 (LIKE H&R) When shooting long nose 325g bullets(.378-379) I get decent accuracy and it is a pleasure to ring the steel with at 200 yards. If I try to go to a shorter nose(lever gun type) bullet in any weight(250-325g) I go from accurate to flyers. It is almost like they barrel roll down range. They are not key-holing at short range according to the paper target. I suspect there is a chamber issue here. Anybody been down this road with this style gun. DC?

Offline Spanky

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Re: Accuracy With 38-55
« Reply #1 on: December 21, 2009, 03:53:36 PM »
There seems to be a problem with the neck size being too small to load bullets that are proper size for the bore. Alot of guys on here have neck reamed their 38-55's and are loading .380 or larger bullets. I think guys were using a .400 neck reamer for them. There is info in the FAQ's about neck reaming the 38-55. check it out. ;)



Spanky

Offline mauser98us

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Re: Accuracy With 38-55
« Reply #2 on: December 21, 2009, 05:44:27 PM »
I shortened my cases to .375 Winchester length,then seat the bullet out . This has solved my tight neck problems. It would be proper to ream the neck,but alas I guess I'm too lazy

Offline Blackhawker

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Re: Accuracy With 38-55
« Reply #3 on: December 21, 2009, 07:52:26 PM »
I have a W&H and typically shoot 265g FPGC's (which actually weigh out to 289 grains).  I have found decent accuracy with IMR-3031, IMR-4198, and 2400 powders in combination with these bullets.  However, recently I tried pushing the loads to higher pressure and velocity and started to get scatter and keyholes.  This was especially present with the 2400 powder.

When I first received my rifle I slugged the barrel at .379 and pushing near .3795.  The bullets I purchased are supposed to be .379 in diameter, so it would follow that maybe the bullets are not getting enough spin on them because they are not fully engaging the rifling however, what seems odd is that at the lower velocities they shoot great.  One would think that at lower velocity they would have even less spin and worse stability in flight.  ???

If you're wondering why I purchased these bullets; well, when I heard all of the talk about narrow chambers etc, I figured I'd start out loading this round with a few .379's and hope that obturation would lend a hand as opposed to reaming a chamber before I ever even shot the thing.  As it turned out, I got good accuracy from the start and decided to stay with the .379's as opposed to changing anything.  

Anyway, in a nutshell, maybe you should try cutting your load back to see what happens.  Perhaps at a lower pressure/velocity you'll get better results.  

Another idea might be to seat your bullets out further and almost resting on the lands.  Perhaps the jump between the bullet and the lands is causing your problem. 

Offline quickdtoo

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Re: Accuracy With 38-55
« Reply #4 on: December 21, 2009, 08:28:14 PM »
Welcome DC! I have a late model 38-55 Target with a .379" bore, it shoots .379" jacketed under 1"at 100yds using 375Win data and achieves velocities near 2400fps, and .380" 330gr gas checked not quite as good at about 1800fps. I recommend slugging the bore and using .380" or even bigger depending on the bore size, at least .001" larger than the groove diameter, always works for me with cast bullets.  ;)

Tim

"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline Blackhawker

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Re: Accuracy With 38-55
« Reply #5 on: December 21, 2009, 08:36:19 PM »
Welcome DC! I have a late model 38-55 Target with a .379" bore, it shoots .379" jacketed under 1"at 100yds using 375Win data and achieves velocities near 2400fps, and .380" 330gr gas checked not quite as good at about 1800fps. I recommend slugging the bore and using .380" or even bigger depending on the bore size, at least .001" larger than the groove diameter, always works for me with cast bullets.  ;)

Tim


Tim,
Yup, I know....the general rule of thumb is to go .001" over diameter with cast bullets.  Since the time of my higher pressure loads, I've purchased some .380's and thus far they have worked great.  My only problem is that they're not gas checked and with the heavier loads, I've accumulated some leading.  Since I target shoot and plink a lot, I just can't afford some of those higher priced gas checked bullets offered by some casters in .380, hence why I've tried the inexpensive .379's and the plain based bullets in .380.  
What can I say, the "poor man's blues" is my song.   :(

Chris

Offline lonewolf5348

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Re: Accuracy With 38-55
« Reply #6 on: December 22, 2009, 12:54:11 AM »
Blackhawker: I like to ask you with the sarco mould 255 FP soft cast BHN10  bullet are you still getting barrel leading?
I push these with IMR 33.0 should be around the 1700 fps no gas check no barrel leading????

Offline Blackhawker

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Re: Accuracy With 38-55
« Reply #7 on: December 22, 2009, 03:33:12 AM »
Hi Lonewolf,
Yes, I got some leading.  I believe my highest load with the 3031 was only 29.0 grains and with the 2400 I tried only up to 19.0 and still got leading.  According to my Lyman book, that should only be about 1600 fps with the 3031 and I figure maybe only 1450 to 1500 with the 2400.  The bullets shot fairly accurately, though not quite as accurately as the previous gas checked bullets but I haven't fully worked up a load with the 255 plain bases yet.  However, with the leading, I may have to search for another bullet or perhaps a slightly different hardness.  I believe these were BHN 12.

Happy Holidays Lonewolf  ...and to all.   :)
Chris