How about some 38-55 Loading Data

[MikeWSC]

Well a fine good evening everyone!

Have a new filly in the stable, a 1885 Uberti in 38-55. Have looked in my
books and have found very little on this round. The Hornady book shows one
jacketed, the Lyman shows one jacketed and 2 cast, nothing in Nosler.

Would like to try both types of bullets and of course there are a few more
types of .375 bullets than the date shows. Any help would be great!

Thanks.......... Mike.

 

[cdrt]

From Lyman's # 45 manual (couldn't get the page to scan very well)

255 Grain jacketed:
IMR 4227, 20.0 grains 1275 fps max: 22.0 grains 1374 fps
IMR 4198, 21.0 1228 fps max 23.0 1322 fps
IMR 3031, 31.0 1271 fps max 35.0 1805 fps
2400, 17.0 grains 1221 fps max 19.0 1360 fps
RX 7, 27.0 grains 1219 fps max 30.0 1543 fps

These loads were fired from a Winchester 94 with a 26" barrel, twist 1-18", groove diameter .377"

 

[MikeWSC]

Hi cdrt,

I saw that one, the Hornady book shows a 220g. Then looked in the Cabela's
Shooting catalog and found Nosler makes a 260g. & 300g. Sierra makes a
250g. SBT & a 300g. SBT

I can use the date for the 250g. Sierra/260g. Nosler any idea for the 300g SBT by Sierra?

Thanks............ Mike

 

[Jim Watson]

I have no interest in jacketed bullets and not much in smokeless powder.

46 grains of Swiss 1 1/2 Fg works well in my real Winchester 1885.

Groove diameter of a Uberti .38 -55 is listed as .379". A .375" bullet will be marginal to poor; Lyman has been lying about that for as long as I have been handloading.

 

[MikeWSC]

Thanks Jim,

Guess I'll chuck the idea of jacketed bullets. I push lead 405g through
my .45-70 1885 and heavy barrel Sharps and 535g. in my .45-120 Sharps.

The gentleman I purchased it from had a box of 255 g. Winchesters with it.
So I thought it might be worth trying. With the .379 bore I'll stick with lead.

Best Always.............Mike

 

[MMCSRET]

I have had excellent service with Cast performance 260 gr. GC sized .379 in a custom 1894 w/.377 bore loaded to 1800 fps using Reloader 7

 

[paperpuncher49]

Mike,

I would suggest (IMR) SR 4759. With a cast bullet or a jacketed bullet in the 250-260 grain weight range, anywhere from 14 or 15 to 19 grains should do well, on the lower end if you want light loads, on the higher end if you don't mind a little thump (about like a .30-30).