Shorty 38-55!!

[quickdtoo]

I recently got a great deal on a pair of 38-55 Target barrels, too good a deal to pass up, but already having one, decided I'd make shortys out of one of them, offered the other to Pete and he jumped on it, discussed it with him this morning and he wants his a shorty too! So, I cut the first one this morning to 18", then squared it up and put a nice finish on the muzzle with a slightly recessed crown, came out real nice, only took about 2hrs getting it finished. I just mounted a Weaver 2½x20 in some low rings I had, not even sure what they are, they're very similar to Leupold PRW, but aluminum.

These barrels are extractors with .380" bores and will just chamber .380" cast bullets in Starline long brass, so that's where I'll start and see how they do, I hope to use loads similar to the 375Win loads that I use in my 38-55 Target, but with a 265gr GCFN bullet, I'll post the results.

Tim

[bigvarmnt]

Sounds pretty interesting. By the way, how do I get on your adoption list Tim

I think Pete is a little older than I am. I need a new Daddy

[tacklebury]

Sweet   Looks like a fun slightly lighter version of the .500 that was posted the other day.  hehe

[eskimo36]

I think badnews bob has a 38-55 in a 19" if I recall correctly.   It is a very overlooked cartridge in the handi family....I have 2.

[dpe.ahoy]

I been thinkin about shortening mine up, wasn't sure if a guy would get bad-mouthed for doing so on here or not.  But, sticks and stones, yada yada.  I still have to get off my butt and order a throat reamer, SINCE STARTLINE HASN'T MADE ANY BRASS YET!!!  Oh. sorry, Did I yell?   Gettin tired of waiting for them to make another run.  You kids be sure and let us know what they are like at that length.  DP

[bikerbeans]

Tim,

Nice shorty!  You going to shoot them both before deciding which barrel to ship to Pete?

BB

[quickdtoo]

I have to shoot both of em, he wants me to work up a load for him!! 

thanks,

Tim

[petemi]

 

Pete

P.S.

I'm not excited about it or anything

[bikerbeans]

Tim,

What tool(s) did you use to cut the crown?

BB

[Blackhawker]

Tim,
I've got a 20" 38-55 barrel on my Thompson Contender.  I'm shooting those 265g FNGC's in it as well.  The diameter of the T/C barrel is a .375" and I'm shooting the shorter version of the brass.  I have no idea what my velocities are but I've found that 27.0 to 27.5 grains of IMR-3031 works pretty well in my barrel.  I'm sure your loads will differ a bit being that you're shooting the longer brass and your barrel diameter is different but it may be a place to start if you choose that powder.  I got some good results from IMR-4198 and 2400 as well.  I can't recall the loads off hand right now though.

By the way, have you ever weighed your 265g FNGC's?  I'm assuming you're referring to the ones from John at Western??  Mine all weigh around 280 to 285 grains.  I recently purchased the same bullet from the same Lymann mould from another caster.....his weigh the same;  280 to 285 grains.   

[quickdtoo]

Tim,

What tool(s) did you use to cut the crown?

BB

I used the PTG #1 target crown cutter with a home made pilot made from a brass ramrod end to square the muzzle, then used a jury rigged hole saw with a cutoff wheel, leather pad and crocus cloth chucked up in the drill to finish the surface, I reversed the drill bit in the hole saw so it wouldn't ruin the pilot. Then used a 5/16" carriage bolt and valve grinding compound to finish the recess.

Tim

[quickdtoo]

Tim,
I've got a 20" 38-55 barrel on my Thompson Contender.  I'm shooting those 265g FNGC's in it as well.  The diameter of the T/C barrel is a .375" and I'm shooting the shorter version of the brass.  I have no idea what my velocities are but I've found that 27.0 to 27.5 grains of IMR-3031 works pretty well in my barrel.  I'm sure your loads will differ a bit being that you're shooting the longer brass and your barrel diameter is different but it may be a place to start if you choose that powder.  I got some good results from IMR-4198 and 2400 as well.  I can't recall the loads off hand right now though.

By the way, have you ever weighed your 265g FNGC's?  I'm assuming you're referring to the ones from John at Western??  Mine all weigh around 280 to 285 grains.  I recently purchased the same bullet from the same Lymann mould from another caster.....his weigh the same;  280 to 285 grains.   

I haven't weighed them, but it looks like IMR4227 or 2400 would be best in the short barrel. I'll try a few of the .379" 220gr jacketed in it too, they're supposed to bump up in the .380" bore, they run 2375fps in the 28" barrel with RL7.

Tim

[Blackhawker]

Tim,
I've got a 20" 38-55 barrel on my Thompson Contender.  I'm shooting those 265g FNGC's in it as well.  The diameter of the T/C barrel is a .375" and I'm shooting the shorter version of the brass.  I have no idea what my velocities are but I've found that 27.0 to 27.5 grains of IMR-3031 works pretty well in my barrel.  I'm sure your loads will differ a bit being that you're shooting the longer brass and your barrel diameter is different but it may be a place to start if you choose that powder.  I got some good results from IMR-4198 and 2400 as well.  I can't recall the loads off hand right now though.

By the way, have you ever weighed your 265g FNGC's?  I'm assuming you're referring to the ones from John at Western??  Mine all weigh around 280 to 285 grains.  I recently purchased the same bullet from the same Lymann mould from another caster.....his weigh the same;  280 to 285 grains.   

I haven't weighed them, but it looks like IMR4227 or 2400 would be best in the short barrel. I'll try a few of the .379" 220gr jacketed in it too, they're supposed to bump up in the .380" bore, they run 2375fps in the 28" barrel with RL7.

Tim

Please let me know how the IMR4227 works for you.  I've been thinking of trying that out in my barrel as well.

[Doublebass73]

Very cool Tim and Pete!

[quickdtoo]

Got Pete's barrel all done, it's a duplicate of yesterday's work, looks just like the other one except his is in a set of cin laminates and has a Bushnell Legend 2-7x scope on it for testing, just need to get some time to load up a bunch of brass and take it to the range, going steelhead fishin with my son tomorrow, so I won't be online until later in the day. 

thx,

Tim

[petemi]

Tim, I hope you have a great day today with your son.....and catch some fish.  Thank you for your hard work and expertice.  You are greatly appreciated.

Pete

[Spanky]

That ought to be a dandy close range rifle. Big bullets goin' slow do the trick.
What do you plan on using it for primarily Tim?
Great job on the crown work too... I wish the "gunsmith" who did the work on my 44 barrel had done such a good job.
You got a nice setup.



Spanky

[petemi]

That ought to be a dandy close range rifle. Big bullets goin' slow do the trick.
Spanky

Spanky, buddy, do you really believe the buffalo hunters used this and the .45-70 at close range?  Hell no, they stayed back 200 to 300 yards for their shots.  Closer, they'd stampeed the herd.  They'd shoot and the buffs would mill around looking at the dead or wounded one, all confused and not run off.  They didn't know where the shot came from, and the hunter was able to make many more.  If he was at 50 or 100 yards, they'd be gone after one shot......and that was with black powder trap door loads.

Pete

[gcrank1]

FWIW, Since you cant get Starline you can get a case neck turning tool and thin your brass necks out a tad.

[quickdtoo]

Tim, I hope you have a great day today with your son.....and catch some fish.  Thank you for your hard work and expertice.  You are greatly appreciated.

Pete

I did indeed, had a great time and caught a nice, bright 9lb steelhead too, much to my wife's glee, she's gettin tired of frozen salmon!! 

You're very welcome Pete, glad to help.

Tim

[quickdtoo]

That ought to be a dandy close range rifle. Big bullets goin' slow do the trick.
What do you plan on using it for primarily Tim?
Great job on the crown work too... I wish the "gunsmith" who did the work on my 44 barrel had done such a good job.
You got a nice setup.

Spanky

Killin deer, what else!!  It will be my close range(<200yds) terminator this year if the 6x45 doesn't work out, I may even let em take turns goin huntin until one of em makes meat!!  I'm hopin for 1800-2000fps with the 265gr GCFN, 2½" high at 100yds will be <7" low at 200yds with about 1100lbs energy, I'm not one for plinkin loads. Mine in syn stock weighs 6lb-11oz. with scope.

Thanks,

Tim

[quickdtoo]

FWIW, Since you cant get Starline you can get a case neck turning tool and thin your brass necks out a tad.

I thought about that, I have a Forster hand outside neck turner, dunno if their .375" pilot will work tho, that's as big as they offer, whatcha think?

Tim

[gcrank1]

Turn a new pilot to the size your fire formed brass needs and make it fit to your standards (always better than a generic standard anyway). Its an easy job for you, but for someone without a real lathe who has the need they can use the 'poor man's lathe', a drill clamped in a bench vise and a file on a close size bolt for stock.

[gcrank1]

Another way Ive 'thinned necks' is to make a spud that slips in the case, again fitting the neck ID and a tiny nail to reach through the primer pocket. Chuck this up in a drill, or lathe and tailstock with a live center, and hold a small block against the rim and lightly run a fine file over the neck portion you want to reduce. If you jig something up, like a friend to hold the block, you can use both hands to control the file which does work much better. The necks wont be as uniform in wall thickness but you can comfortably take off several thousandths to make that cast bullet fit better (once fully fire formed again) and eject/extract better.

[quickdtoo]

Sounds like a good idea, no lathe tho, I think I need a mini-lathe to match the mini-mill tho!!!!

thx. 

Tim

[mechanic]

Tim,
Nice looking gun, but you better give it it's own place.  If you line it up with those others it will disappear.....

[quickdtoo]

Actually it's just a couple inches shorter than the two Superlights, so it will make them feel big...... but I can always give it a booster seat!!! 

Tim

[dpe.ahoy]

Hey, Tim.  Have you thought much about opening up the throat?  Did Richard do that or is CRS kicking in again?  Where would a guy get one and how big.  I think I know, measure a loaded round and that plus 1-2 thou. should be it, yes?  DP

[holahead]

You just had to do it Tim. Now I want one too!

[quickdtoo]

DP,

Lots of fellas have neck reamed their tight necked 38-55s, Richard too I think, 4D rents the .400" neck reamer for $30 and $8 shipping these aren't as bad as some of the older barrels, I suspect they were made in early 2006 because those made earlier were tighter and those made in late 2006 and 2007 has the same neck, but tighter bores, so best guess is the broaches were worn or sharpened creating a smaller bore, but the reamer used was the same. And they're both 2nd generation extractor barrels, earlier were ejector, 1st generation extractors were available in 2004/2005.

I wanta try the gas checked .380"s in them first, pushed hard they may work fine, if not, I'll consider renting the reamer and fixing the chambers so they'll accept bigger bullets.

Tim