38-55 load worked

[Charles Vail]

After asking several months ago about the suitability of using a Hoch 365 grain bullet in a 14" twist 38-55 I have since done my own testing. I loaded this with 46 grains of Goex cartridge in Winchester cases the current shorter 2.08" version. I used a home brew lube of beeswax, neetsfoot oil and neutrogena soap. My wad was .010" thick with a 22 guage beeswax sheet under it. Compression was about .080" and the bullets weighed out at 370 grains. My results on target at 100 yards were about an inch apart and at 550 yards about eight inches apart although I could only get two on paper the first time (too small a target couldn't see it) The second time at 550 yards after figuring out my windage problem I  had a vertical group about twelve inches tall and 4 inches wide with five shots. I think I need to work on my bullet casting and compression and I will try more shooting at 200 yards and with a chronograph until trying the longer range again.  The bullets that did hit paper at 550 yards appeared stable with nice roud holes!!! More testing!-Charlie  :grin:

[Charles Vail]

FINALLY   :cry:   got a repsonse via E-mail on this posting. Someone else out there has the same cartridge and bullet combo. We will be sharing info and I will post my results for anyone interested.  :roll:

[First Shirt]

Charlie, I've been working up a .38-55 load myself, and this is what is working for me so far:

WW cases (The current length of 2.080"), fireformed to my chamber and unsized
50.0 gr. 2F Goex, compressed .235"
Federal 210 primers
.030" LDP wad
360 gr. Mountain Molds flat point bullet, in 1:20, lubed with 50/50 beeswax/olive oil

My bullets are a slip-fit in the unsized cases, and are seated to an OAL that just touches the front driving band into the rifling.  So far have only been able to shoot at 100 yds, but groups are running 1.25" to 1.50".

I'm shooting these in a rebarreled Browning B-78 with a 1:15" twist barrel.

Greg

[Charles Vail]

You'll be happy to know that the Upper Nisqually Sportsmans club in Eatonville Washington is building target pits at 500 yards and we plan to have BPCR shoots there. Target pullers with spotters will help alot using the iron sights. Its only a 30 minute drive from Ft. Lewis. I am the treasurer of the club and you may contact me on directions if you aren't familiar with the location. charles_vail@hotmail.com

[First Shirt]

Charlie, I guess I really need to change my profile...I PCS'd from Fort Lewis a few months ago to the sunny? Mid-West...Terre Haute Indiana, where I'll finish my Army career teaching ROTC for the next year or so.  I plan to get back to Washington fairly often (have a daughter and grandson moving to Olympia, and the steelhead fishing just plain stinks here <G>), and who knows, maybe I'll move back to the Sound when I hang up my combat boots.

In the meantime, I've been having a ball shooting in our local BPCR matches here, and hope to attend my first real schuetzen match at the ASSRA range in Etna Green, Indiana, in August.

Greg

[Charles Vail]

:toast: .........Greg , Washington State certainly has its advantages. Perhaps by the time you move back we will have our matches up and running smoothly. I will be testing some loads soon but am prepairing for a 1000 yard benchrest championship in Montana this summer. Just finished putting the final touches on my 38-55 and only have the engraving to do which I will take my time on. I plan to either color case or nickel plate after its all finished. At least I can shoot it now without ruining the wood. Later........

[First Shirt]

Charlie, what rifle did you build your .38-55 on?  Mine is a Browning B78 fitted with a Badger barrel in 1-15" twist, about a #2 taper (a tad light, actually).  I've fitted an MVA midrange Soule tang sight, and a Lyman 17A front.  I also remodeled the stock to remove the "Monte Carlo" comb.  This is my first BPC rifle...I had the Browning hanging around in the cabinet, and it needed blueing and a barrel anyway, so...anyway, she gets her "baptism by fire" in her first silhouette match this Saturday.

Next project (already well underway) is an original rolling block that will be fitted with a Badger .40 caliber tube, probably chambered in .40-65.  Thought about engraving, but have decided to just build this one into an every-day shooter...color cased/rust blued/nice wood.

Greg

[Charles Vail]

built on a 1902 Remington rolling block. It was originally a 7mm mauser. I used the inexpensive Green mountain round barrel. The steel however isn't as hard as a badger and I have to keep the pressures in the black powder range (smokeless is a no! no!) according to the manufacturer. I wanted to do the rifle on a budget. So far, I have spent less than $500 not including the reamer from PPG. I had some fiddleback maple already and the action was only $150. It required some carefull block sanding after sandblasting since it was pitted badly in a few spots. Overall though the action is decent and will make a nice looking rifle when engraved etc. You will like your rolling block its fun to make a rifle from an old rusty  junker and make it nice and new looking/shooting! :-D

[445supermag]

how old is that gm barrel? They are now 4140 in the blackpowder cart cal,s. I have one in 38/55 and am working up loads.

[Charles Vail]

Its the older 1137 round barrel as sold by Brownells. There is some controversy as to the use of smokeless powder. My thought is that it could be used if the pressures were kept in the Black powder range. I think the use of jacketed bullets however would be extremely hard on the rifling. Lead is the only material I will (and have shot) in this barrel and as yet have not tried any smokeless as I can't think of a good reason to use it.  I may rebarrel in a chrome moly barrel in the future after I get a lathe I traded for set up. :wink: