38/55 loads

[Woodbutcher]

Hey, could someone answer Montana 38/55?
I'm expectin a surprise from my family, an NEF in 38/55
 Specifically, cast and BP, for target work, and then maybe PP and smokeless for deer. At least thats what I get from the books by Paul Matthews.
 Hey Montana:
 Matthews writes in his book, The Paper Jacket, that a PP needs a grease cookie when used with BP, but not when smokeless is used. Sounds like a natural for hunting. He also speaks well of Marlin rifling when using lead. Keep in mind, my experience so far is readin, but ya gotta start somewhere.
 Inter-library loan is a great system. The Library Ladies ain't never seen book subjects that I ask for. They had a hard time with the above title, thought it was a novel.
                                                                        Woodbutcher

[Harry O]

Hey, could someone answer Montana 38/55?

This may be a little late, but I have been experimenting with BP loads for my wife in .375 Winchester.  As you may know, that is considered the "smokeless 38-55".  Size of both are nearly identical.  Anyway, here is what works for me.

I load Swiss BP with a drop tube (approx 40gr).  Set it so that when you put everything into the case and seat the bullet, it only compresses the powder 1/16" to 1/8".  Then I put a fiber disc in the mouth of the case and press it down against the powder with a short section of wood dowel.  The discs were bought from Midway.  It was a lot easier than cutting them out myself (I tried).  Then I invert the case (the disc keeps the powder from running out) and press it into a 1/8" thick layer of lube.  Then I put another fiber disc on top of the lube and push it all down with the dowel.  Then I seat the bullet.  I use a Lee 255gr plain base I cast myself.  It is from fairly soft lead sized 0.002" over groove size and lube it with SPG lube.  Then I crimp the whole thing with a Lee Factory Crimp die.

It is an accurate load and I have been able to shoot up to 20 rounds before cleaning the bore with a wet patch.  That depends a lot on how humid it is when I am shooting.  When accuracy starts going downhill, you need to do that.  I normally run a patch down the bore every 10 rounds or so rather than push it.

I have tried some rounds without a lube wad, just a single fiber disc between the powder and the bullet.  Accuracy starts going downhill after 2 or 3 shots and by 5, the bullet is keyholing.  The bore is totally clogged with fouling.  The lube wad is needed.

[Woodbutcher]

Thanks Harry O, I'm gonna go to the Midwest site and look up those discs. As I write this I'm looking at a loaded 375 and a 38/55. Yes, they do look close to the same size. H-mmm gotta go to one of those rifle info sites, and check this out.
                                                                         Woodbutcher

[JBMauser]

My Circa 1958 Lyman cast handbook recomends three bullets for the 38-55  all loaded with 4759, 2400 and Unique .  the 145gr. 37583, the 250gr. 375348 and the 265gr. 375296

Nonte talks of forming brass from 30/30 but it will be .080 short. He listed loads of 4759 of 16 gr and 21gr for the 250gr lead bullet and a 265gr SP respectively.  JB

[Woodbutcher]

Hey! 30/30 brass! I like that! Might have possibilities! Thank you!
                                                                  Woodbutcher

[Harry O]

Hey! 30/30 brass! I like that! Might have possibilities! Thank you!
 
Actually, that is what the .375 Winchester is made from.  It is a 30-30 case that is necked up to .375".  That is why the .375 Winchester case is a little bit shorter than the 38-55 case.  

The advantage of using the .375 Winchester (at least for me) is that I already had one.  I had two smokeless loads for it.  One was equal to factory loads and was uncomfortable to shoot for more than a few rounds in a row (about 2,150fps with a 220gr Hornady jacketed bullet).  This is too high a pressure for any original 38-55 rifle.  I also had a "plinking load".  That was a slower powder at about 1,600fps with the same bullet (a full case of IMR4064).  That could probably be used in all but the earliest BP 38-55 rifles.  Then my wife wanted to try a BP rifle.  So I decided to let her try the load I listed above (about 1,200fps) to see if she liked it.  She did.  

I recently got a Ruger No. 3 for her in .375 Win so she could shoot the same loads.  I thought of buying a Uberti Browning Hi-Wall replica in 38-55, but it cost too much.  I thought of an H&R 38-55, but she thought it looked ugly.   She really likes the Ruger No. 3, though.  Cost was between the other two.  I am still working on the sights for her.  Mid-barrel semi-buckhorn rear sights are TERRIBLE for aging eyes.

[45 2.1]

Actually, that is what the .375 Winchester is made from. It is a 30-30 case that is necked up to .375". That is why the .375 Winchester case is a little bit shorter than the 38-55 case.
 
Harry O-
 The 375 case is heavier and has thicker case walls than either the 30-30 or 38-55. Same basic dimensions, but built to take more pressure.

[Harry O]

"Harry O-"
"The 375 case is heavier and has thicker case walls than either the 30-30 or 38-55. Same basic dimensions, but built to take more pressure."

You may be correct.  The .375 Winchester cases I have average just under 147gr.  My 30-30 cases (of recent manufacture) average just under 140gr.  That is only about a 5% difference.  I wonder what manufacturing tolerances are for for one batch to the next?  I already know that the tolerances from one case to the next within one batch (within one setup of the machinery) are less, but I would be willing to bet that it is larger from one batch to the next.