38-55 coming my way

[Dick Dastardly]

Howdy Pards,

Not because of recoil, but because I just like the caliber, a Uberti High Wall 38-55 comes my way.  It'll be a process of discovery as to chamber dimensions, bullet choice, powder brand and granularity etc.

This will be another BigLube development project.

DD-MDA

[john boy]

Ideal 375166 1:20 bullet, 320gr and 42gr of KIK FFg.  50 consecutive shots - no tubing or patching - 1 water patch & 3 dry = clean bore... shot the 50 reloads from 500m to 200m with accuracy and minimum vernier changes due to different weather
Accurate Molds has a clone of the bullet ... http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=38-320E-D.png

[Coffinmaker]

Ah YESSSSSSSSSSSS.  The 38-55.  Marvelous.  Absolutely marvelous.  I did however, take a short cut with mine.  Well, of course I took a short cut, I own a Hacksaw and never met a barrel too "short."  Starts with 28 inches, ends with 25 inches. (gonna do it again I am).  Also took a severe shortcut with load development.  EPP UG - 36.  Loaded as cast (.380) over a case of 2f APP.  Shoots like a laser out to 50m or so.  No clue what it does after that.  Probably wanders like the proverbial blind gopher, but who cares.  For a Planesman side match, 50m max is all ya need.

Oh, forgot.  The recoil is BRUTAL.  Seriously.  BRUTAL.  It is essential to have someone off to the side watching your smoke so they can confirm it went BANG.  There is, basically, no, ZERO, ZIP, NADA, ZILCH felt recoil.  I mean, there is recoil.  there has to be.  Physics ya know.  Ya just dan't feel it .... really.  Really fun to load and shot them little itty bitty bullets.

Coffinmaker

[john boy]

Coffinmaker - keep hacking on those barrels and before you know it ... on the gerney to the operating room for shoulder surgery

[Dick Dastardly]

That 38-55 came home with me today.  It was made by Uberti.  The bore, finish and feel is as NEW.  When I try to chamber my standard 38-55 ammo, it sticks in the barrel.  Since an empty brass doesn't stick, I'm thinkn' I'm pushing the bullet into the rifling.  That may not be altogether bad.  I'll shoot some soon and report back.

FWIW, it came with a Marbles rear sight and a globe front sight.  I may stick to those.  The trigger pull is crisp and light.  The gun just feels like a shooter.  I'll probably not shoot the 1000 yard matches with it, but I'm thinkn' that inside 500 yards, it'll sparkle.

DD-MDA

[Coffinmaker]

I just don't know Monsieur Dastardy.  Putting an "as new" rifle into immediate service can be hazardous to one's health.  Causes Hives, n HicCups, n Warts.  All Kinda bad Ju Ju.

In this particular instance though, I'me willing to put my own safety and well being aside to help a friend in need.  You obviously need a dedicated taste tester .... er shot tester .... maybe it's shoot tester or ammunition proofer.  Ya know, something like that.  Like a really good partner, willing to take the risk just to assist with the initial "break in" of a Knew-Two-Ewe rifle.  May take a Lustrum or 5, but rest assured, I Amy ready to help 

Just say the word and I wall shoot ya my address!!  Yepper

Yer Pal
Smedley

[john boy]

When I try to chamber my standard 38-55 ammo, it sticks in the barrel.  Since an empty brass doesn't stick, I'm thinkn' I'm pushing the bullet into the rifling.

Is the bullet nose engraved with the leading bore cut lands?

[wildman1]

Some brands of brass are thicker walled than others and will cause this to occur. Winchester is one that causes sticking in my  38-55.
wM1

[Dick Dastardly]

Howdy John Boy,

I'll smoke some loaded rounds and see if they are contacting the lands.  I  have some brass that I pulled bullets from and they don't stick so I'm thinkn' that it's the bullets starting to engrave.  If that's the case I'll test fire some and see how the empty brass extracts.  FWIW the bullets are cast from Lyman #2 alloy and lube sized to .380".

DD-MDA

[john boy]

Dick, you don't have to shoot any of the rounds.  Just chamber a loaded round and extract it.  If the bullet nose is engraved from the lands of the leading bore cut - see how long the marks are.  Should be less than 1/8 of an inch

[pony express]

I Amy ready to help 

Just say the word and I wall shoot ya my address!!  Yepper

Yer Pal
Smedley

Don't fall for it, DD! He'll send it back with a 16" barrel!

[Coffinmaker]

Curses !!!!  Foiled AGAIN

Smedley

[Ranch 13]

It could very well be the nose of the bullet is to large diameter and is engauging the bore of the rifle before the cartridge can fully chamber.
Try one of your loaded rounds dropping it nose first in the muzzle, if it won't drop in to the driving band, then you'll need a bullet with less nose diameter.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

About 1998/99 I had a Winchester 38-55 Legendary Lawman(?) 1894.  It was wonderfully accurate, and I had a smokeless load using IMR 3031, that really pushed its potential as a hunting round.  I wish I still had it...

[Dick Dastardly]

I went to the range and sighted the little gun in.  It took me 9 rounds before I was cutting the bulls eye.  As soon as I was on the mark I shot the center out of the paper.  Trigger is very good, light and crisp as an icicle.  I'm pleased to learn that the bullets just engage the rifling and so I can shoot the same ammo in both my Legendary Frontiersman and the High Wall.

The gun has a marbles tang sight and a globe front sight that my inserts fit.  I'm going to see how the little buffalo gun does at 300 yards before I mess with the sights.  I do have a Lee Shaver long distance tang sight I can use if there's not enough ladder on the Lyman sight.

I was shooting fire formed 30-30 brass with FFFg Swiss pushing my DD 38-55 RNFP 255 grain bullet.  Primer was CCI Large Rifle.  Recoil was more pleasant then my 45-70.  I could shoot this gun all day with no discomfort.

DD-MDA 

[Dick Dastardly]

I have since gotten a Lee Shaver rear sight from my Rem roller that now sports a Leatherwood scope in Malcolm mounts.  This new rear sight is now getting installed on the little Win. High Wall.  I'll report how it works out.

DD-MDA

[Blackpowder Burn]

From my research and experimentation, freely admitting that there are many more experienced than I am, I've learned the following (I think).

1.  Winchester brass has thicker case walls than Starline
2. Starline brass has case wall thickness per the original cartridge specifications
3.  If your rifle has a minimum spec chamber, or requires a bullet toward the maximum side of diameter (near 0.380"), then Starline
     brass works best.  Ammo loaded in Winchester brass under these conditions may not fully chamber, or be very tight.

Due to the above, my Marlin requires a 0.380" bullet and performs beautifully with Starline brass. 

[Dick Dastardly]

And, Starline brass it is.  I just got 500 pieces.  And, yes, they do produce very tight groups.

Thanks,

DD-MDA

[Dick Dastardly]

Now back from my smithy, I have a Lee Shaver sight mounted on the rifle.  I may have to raise the front sight a mite because at the lowest position on the LS sight the bore sight says it's a mite high at 100 yards.  So, I'll shoot some and report back.  I sure like this little high wall.

DD-MDA

[john boy]

Reported that this Randalll due is a spammer