30-30 brass to 38-55 Cal.

Dick Dastardly · January 17, 2016, 04:25:43 PM

For reasons I can't quite narrow down, my Winchester "Legendary Frontiersman" 38-55 seems to prefer ammo loaded in fire formed 30-30 brass. Both that and 38-55 brass chamber fine. I'd expect the longer 38-55 factory brass to be more accurate, but it's not.

Any suggestions?

DD-MDA

Coffinmaker · January 17, 2016, 06:28:37 PM

Sure. Shoot Wildcat 30-30 to 38-55 brass. Seems simple.

dI miss something??

Coffinmaker

Sir Charles deMouton-Black · January 17, 2016, 06:44:22 PM

.30-30 brass is much more "available" (free!) than .38-55. Even after priming, inserting 15grains of bullseye and tamped down paper towel and firing into the air. The case length will be about 2.03". Weigh the cases first as there is much variation in case weight that might cause inaccuracy.

There is nothing wrong with using .30-30 cases.

Lefty Dude · January 17, 2016, 07:21:36 PM

I think you Rifle likes a little Free-bore in the chamber throat/leade. You can take advantage of this by seating your bullet out more, plus you will gain some case capacity.

I would tune your best most accurate load by adjusting the case over all length and see if you can squeeze a few more seconds of accuracy out of the piece. It will be worth a try.

Coffinmaker · January 17, 2016, 08:11:13 PM

Way back i the way back, when I was certified, using a 40b rifle to make little itty bitty groups at ranges I can't even see targets at, I would run into a combination that would shoot into one hole. So I'd sit down and try to figure out "why" the rifle was shooting such a small
group. Then: TA DA .........

This long term bench rester walked by while I was reviewing my notes and working on a possible WAG (Military Acronym for Wild Ass Guess) and asked what I was doing. I explained. To which he replied - "Why" doesn't matter. "What" matters. Why it groups like that
just doesn't matter. Just write the recipe down and keep doing it.

Overthinking just makes my head hurt.

Coffinmaker

Blackpowder Burn · January 17, 2016, 09:15:24 PM

Have you tried using the shorter 38-55 (2.08") brass sold by Starline? I tried the "original" (i.e. longer) brass (2.125") they sell as well as the shorter length. My Marlin also prefers the shorter version of the brass.

Dick Dastardly · January 18, 2016, 08:52:18 AM

I'm shooting a Winchester 94 "Legendary Frontiersman" chambered in 38-55. Standard Federal 210 primers and Swiss FFFg pushing a 255 grain Big Lube bullet. Yes, I can seat the bullet further out some, maybe a couple of thousandths short of engaging the rifling.

Now, if only my eyes would cooperate. . . That visual cortex deficit left over from a stroke makes long range ladder sights hard for me to see well enough with. I have a scope on my 45-70 rolling block and that seems to help some. I don't think I could do a malcolm mount to work on a Win. 94??

DD-MDA

Coffinmaker · January 18, 2016, 10:49:26 PM

DDD,

Was considering a Malcolm scope for one of my Henry rifles. While researching it, I saw where Hi-lux makes a Malcolm mount for
top ejectors listed for 92/94. Do believe mounts for a scope are readily available. Cost?? No clue. But worth your looking into.

Coffinmaker

Good Troy · January 19, 2016, 02:10:41 PM

DD,

I have a Legendary Frontiersman, and all I've ever shot in it is the Starline short brass. It gives me good accuracy results for what I need...100 yd or so targets for CAS Cody Dixon. I get 2 to 2-1/2" groups from the bench with stocks sights, 2F Goex and a 265 gr flat based bullet.

Sir Charles deMouton-Black · January 19, 2016, 03:44:46 PM

Quote from: Good Troy on January 19, 2016, 02:10:41 PM
DD,

I have a Legendary Frontiersman, and all I've ever shot in it is the Starline short brass. It gives me good accuracy results for what I need...100 yd or so targets for CAS Cody Dixon. I get 2 to 2-1/2" groups from the bench with stocks sights, 2F Goex and a 265 gr flat based bullet.

That is excellent shooting with a levergun and open sights!

Good Troy · January 19, 2016, 04:13:01 PM

Thanks, Sir CHarles...but I should point out that is off sand bags.
To give you an idea how well I shoot off-hand (standing and unsupported/no prop), I missed half the targets with this very gun in a Cody Dixon match (75 to 100 yds). I have a terrible habit of pulling off (low and left) anticipating the recoil. I'm spending time dry-firing, and at the range to improve....hopefully, my next match, I will see better results!!

Sir Charles deMouton-Black · January 19, 2016, 05:52:24 PM

Good Troy; Do as much offhand practice as you can. .22 with a win 9422, Marlin 39 or Browning .22 if you have one , but anything you can shoot lots, even an airgun. The bench is for testing ammo & sights.

2 - 2.5 inch is almost all you can expect from an open sighted levergun regardless. So your performance is excellent.