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Post by cz93x62 on Dec 4, 2015 20:47:05 GMT -7
I have been looking for load data in this caliber, and most of what is published is of the Marlin & Ballard intensity......250 grainers at 1400 FPS. Nice, but I have a couple revolvers that can meet or beat that. Not trying to re-create the 375 Winchester here, but I feel the rifle is safe to run to a mid-point between M&B and the 375--say, 1750-1800 FPS with Lyman #375248 or its RCBS clone (both gas-checked). Anyone have experience of this sort?
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Post by Junior on Dec 4, 2015 21:19:51 GMT -7
I've got a load hear listed as 27.5gn of RX7 for a velocity of 1788.
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urny
Bullet Head
Posts: 39 
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Post by urny on Dec 5, 2015 6:57:36 GMT -7
Almost 1800 fps with a 250-270 grain bullet would make a deer killer, no doubt. I had such a load, also with RX7, for the departed Wesson & Harrington Target Model, but those records are in a box somewhere in Missouri and I in a house somewhere in NE Nevada. How that load was derived is probably something I shouldn't share on a public forum.
Mostly I shot eight or nine grains of Red Dot and got considerable ribbing for shooting such a mousy load. I liked it.
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Post by Bullshop on Dec 5, 2015 7:28:48 GMT -7
Well Sir what I would do is look at starting loads for the 375 Win first. If those loads are still more than you want I would reduce them a small percentage. There should be no issues with reducing below starting loads because of the relatively fast (for rifle) powders you will be using and a straight wall case. Because of its slightly greater case volume due to greater case length the 38/55 case will give a lower velocity/pressure than The 375 Win case with equal loads. That and the fact that your 38/55 likely has a 1/18" twist where the 375 Win has a 1/12" twist will also lower pressure/velocity with the 375 starting loads in the 38/55.
Looking at the Lyman 4th edition I see,
38/55
Lym 375449 max load @ 29.5gn - IMR 3031 for 1560 fps @ 27200 cup
375 win
Lym 375449 max load @ 32gn IMR 3031 for 1770 fps -- no pressure given
I wanted to give loads using the same powder but also see this load for the 38/55,
Lym 375449 max load @32.5gn IMR 4895 for 1631 fps @ 27200 cup
Now remember that these pressures for the 38/55 are also intended for use in some single shot rifles that are not considered as strong in breaching as the 94 Win.
Looking at loads in the same Lyman book for the 30/30 which is not loaded down for weaker actions than the Win 94 I see top pressures reaching 36600
cup.
Personally in a Win 94 in top condition I wouldn't be shy about loading all three cartridges 30/30, 375 Win, and 38/55 all with the same case head size to the same top pressure assuming the use of modern brass.
As is my habit I would let the gun tell me what/where its top end loads are.
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Post by cz93x62 on Dec 5, 2015 9:00:57 GMT -7
Urny--I'm sure the load development story on your 38-55 is worth the drive to Northern NV to hear. That alone justifies a varmint hunt this Spring, and the drive to get there.
Dan--our thinking is very similar. The few loads I have seen published at the 1700 FPS range also gave pressures in the 27K ballpark. That seems pretty docile and conservative for either a Win 94 or a Marlin 336, as you allude to.
All o' y'all--FWIW, this carbine I have did not begin life as a 38-55......au contraire, mon amis. Its serial number (in the early 1,500,000 range) indicates construction c. WWII, and it came to me in 25-35 WCF/flatband motif. Use of dacron in cast bullet loads caused a chamber ring at the neck/shoulder junction. Serial cuss words and about 2 years of palavering around followed before I sent the rifle off to Jesse Ocumpah/JES Reboring to have it freshened up to 38-55. I am VERY HAPPY with Mr. Ocumpah's work quality and turn-around time (less than 3 weeks). He recommends the shorter Starline brass (2.082") in 38-55 and cut .376" grooves with .376" + a few tenths throat. A couple different loads using the Lee 250 grain bevel-based bullet at 1300-1400 FPS shot gently and accurately at 50 yards, with 5-shotters hitting between 7/8" and 1-1/2". That kind of accuracy from an open-sighted levergun is more than acceptable to me. If velocities of 1800-1900 FPS yield similar accuracy at safe pressures, I will be one happy hobbyist. I plan to make haste slowly on this project, though it will be the first one undertaken in my new garage shop that is almost finished. I hate it when life interrupts fishing, hunting, shop construction, and cartridge refilling.
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Post by Bullshop on Dec 5, 2015 16:26:35 GMT -7
What twist?
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Post by cz93x62 on Dec 6, 2015 1:58:57 GMT -7
Twist is 1-18", 3-groove form, land/groove ratio unknown but looks about 1:2.
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Post by Bullshop on Dec 6, 2015 8:08:41 GMT -7
I had a Marlin done by Jess with the 3 groove rifling and it was a hummer of a shooter with cast. Its sold now mostly because it was carbine length and I prefer rifle length barrels on my hunting lever guns. Also its caliber overlapped the performance of others where its performance level seemed never quite right or I guess preferred compared to the 45/70 on the bigger end and the 32 special on the smaller.
I took a small WT buck this year with the 32 special. The load utilized the RCBS 32/170 design at 180gn in my alloy pushed along by 31.5gn IMR 4895.
I have not got around to chronographing this load yet but it seemed more than adequate. The shot landed a bit too far forward and hit the shoulder breaking one going in and one going out. It was too destructive for my pleasure and I lost some of the blade steaks that I like so well. This does though emphasize my point that if I need bigger than the 32 special I want a lot bigger so the 45/70 or 50 AK will get to go. BTW the 32 is rifle length and more to my liking than was the carbine length 38/55.
Anyhoo enough drivel on that and all the best with your acquisition. If your not well heeled with bullet designs available to try we can help with that.
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Post by 1oldgentagain on Dec 7, 2015 9:09:13 GMT -7
Gents: Not being a purist of any type,a decade or so ago,I acquired 40x20s CIL 38/55 factory loads, I cannot find in the time I want to spend a credible reference,but my recollection is that load was fully the equal of the old U.S.companys 38/55 HIGH SPEED loading.. It is in the old long brass..and I think it is suppose to do 1680 fps...Urny and I have fired that stuff in my late series 94AE,that is rebarreled with a 26" factory Winchester barrel marked 1:1000 (apparently a leftover from one of their commemerative issues) Ii also functioned without issue through all my 375 W.Rifles(Marlin,Winchester,Ruger,and Savage) 1oldgentagain
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