38-55

[Mad Mucus]

G'day all,

Soon to start loading this cartridge for my Winchester Legendary Frontiersman.
Wondering what vol/gn quantities of ffg & fffg are being loaded and with how much compression?

I will be loading BigLube 38-55-255 boolits into Starline 38-55 Long brass.

[snglstack]

I've used 55gr Triple Seven but so far unfired...should be pretty safe, after all it is 38-55 (oh, you mention "Long"...I dunno there). There was some compression but seemed mild. Without looking it up, I'm recalling that I used about 53gr...there was some variability as my measure isn't a BP specific one, and I used no drop tube. I figured the factory designated 55gr black ought to work fine, with Lasercast 255. Somewhere is a dual cavity mold that throws a 245 and a 295, I oughtta dig that out. Other, less important but more numerous and no less compelling life circumstances have prevented trying these out in my MarlinCB. Retiring in a couple months to my very own range...stand by fellers, you'll be hearin lots from me!!!

[Baja_Traveler]

Are you sure about the brass? I thought the Legendary Frontiersman was chambered for Winchester Production Brass - 2.080". Thats the Starline brass I use anyway - same bullet over 50gr Swiss 1 1/2.

[JeffinNZ]

I would second the 1.5Fg Swiss. My .38-303 is rather fond of it.

[Muddy Creek Sam]

47 gn by Vol compressed .15" In my 1885 Browning.

Sam

[Kraschenbirn]

My Uberti Highwall likes 49.5 gr Goex FFg compressed .20 with a .030 fiber wad under a 304 gr. plain-base NEI flat-point using the "short" W-W brass. Same charge/compression works nearly as well with the 265 gr. Lyman 375499.

Bill

[August]

The only way I could get to the pigs with standard sights was to duplex the black powder loads. I never could get enough holy black in there to reach out to the 300 meter line. I was, however, using a 330 grain Mathews and not a 250 grain Big Lube. It will be interesting to see how that bullet flies at three hundred.

[Boz330]

The only way I could get to the pigs with standard sights was to duplex the black powder loads. I never could get enough holy black in there to reach out to the 300 meter line. I was, however, using a 330 grain Mathews and not a 250 grain Big Lube. It will be interesting to see how that bullet flies at three hundred.

A lot depends on the barrel twist rate. I have shot my C-Sharps 75 in mid range competition and scored in the top 3 out to 600yds several times. The load was the Lyman 330gr scaled down Postel on top of 47.5gr of 2F Swiss.

Bob

[NickSS]

I would like to know how you guys get so much powder in a 38-55 case? I have been shooting that caliber for several years now and with GOEX and Shutzen I have not been able to get more than about 45 gr of FFG in the case using a drop tube and a 250 gr lee bullet. With a 310 gr NEI bullet (looks like a scalled down 500 gr 45-70 government bullet) I can only get about 43 gr with about .25 omcjes of compression.

[Boz330]

I would like to know how you guys get so much powder in a 38-55 case? I have been shooting that caliber for several years now and with GOEX and Shutzen I have not been able to get more than about 45 gr of FFG in the case using a drop tube and a 250 gr lee bullet. With a 310 gr NEI bullet (looks like a scalled down 500 gr 45-70 government bullet) I can only get about 43 gr with about .25 omcjes of compression.

Nick, I use Swiss powder and it is about 10% heavier than Goex and I'm compressing it .250. I have gotten 55gr in a 38-55 case but it was compressed .500. and it was not any advantage.

Bob

[Chuckett]

My Uberti Highwall likes 49.5 gr Goex FFg compressed .20 with a .030 fiber wad under a 304 gr. plain-base NEI flat-point using the "short" W-W brass. Same charge/compression works nearly as well with the 265 gr. Lyman 375499.

My best load for my Marlin Ballard is Win case, 2.080" length, 45grs FFFG Goex Black, drop tubed, .030 fiber wad, compressed .125", Win-LR Mag. primer, Saco#61570-290grs with 1 in 30 alloy. Great accuracy a 10 shot group at 50 yards using iron sights 1-1/4"

[Sawdust]

G'day all,

Soon to start loading this cartridge for my Winchester Legendary Frontiersman.
Wondering what vol/gn quantities of ffg & fffg are being loaded and with how much compression?

I will be loading BigLube 38-55-255 boolits into Starline 38-55 Long brass.

Starline 38-55 long brass
Rem 2-1/2 primer
Lyman 275248
253.0 +-0.3gr
30-1
Pan lube
DGL
0.030" Veggie wad
43gr
Swiss 1-1/2F
0.020" compression

Schuetzen load (200yd)

[TGM]

Snglstack
Hodgdon Cowboy Action date for Tripple Seven lists 35 gr FFg with 250 gr bullet for 1261 FPS for the 38-55. Your load of 55 gr is way above the listed load. They also warn against compressing the Tripple seven. Tripple Seven is a lot hotter powder then black. I use a 55 gr load with a 500gr bullet in my 45.70 rolling block with good results. Tripple Seven is measured by volumn just like black.

TGM

[Hogpost]

Mike Mucus, if it's any help, I shoot an OF Winchester Commemorative Mod 1894 in 38-55; should be pretty similar to your Legendary. I use Win brass (the short stuff), and 48 grns Swiss FFFG over a CCI Magnum Pistol primer with the BigLube boolit. The FFFG Swiss is the cleanest-burning BP I've ever used, especially with the Mag pistol primer, in 38-55: 50 rounds at the range, no noticeable accuracy change after the 2nd round, 1-wipe cleanup with 50% Ballistol. Very consistent, and absolutely murder on pigs. (Damn, I love the flavour of wild pork!) But, I have to crimp into the top grease groove to get a usable OAL with the short brass, and still need some compression to get 48 grns. My RCBS cowboy dies came with two expander plugs; I use the larger one to expand the case, and the smaller one to compress the charge.

You didn't mention what you'll be using that Legendary for: plinking, long-range, pigs, water-buck......? Whatever, it's a great round in a great rifle; you'll have fun with her!