Loads for 38-40 rifle?

[andym79]

As some of you guys may have read on another post. I have just bought an 1892 (1903) in 38-40 and so will be looking for good loads for it! Normally I simple consult my Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook, the 4th edition however doesn't list any 38-40 loads for rifle only pistol!

The 3rd edition for a 175gn bullet lists;

Red Dot 5.5 1080 — 9.0 1485
700X 5.5 1085 — 9.0 1505
Green Dot 6.0 1090 — 9.5 1480
PB 7.0 1155 — 10.0 1510
Unique 7.0 1115 10.5 1515 —
SR-7625 80 1210 11.0 1560

i have none of these powder on my shelf, and I am not keen on using really fast powder that occupies 30% of the cartridge! I have had a lot of luck with light loads using trail boss in the 30-30 and with the 45-70!

I m looking for around 1050-1100fps or whatever is likely to be accurate up to a maximum of 100yds! The projectile will be approximately 2 alloy 180gn RNFP.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[Sam1911]

It is a rifle designed to shoot a pistol load. The load data is the same for both. You can always use Trail Boss, using their universal method: http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Trail Boss Reduced Loads R&P.pdf

Actually, you don't have to. Hodgdon lists the data for that cartridge on their web site:
180 GR. CAST LRNFP
IMR Trail Boss
Length: 1.600"
Start Grains: 4.5 @ 694 fps (from a pistol) and 7,300 PSI
Max Grains: 5.5 @ 800 fps (from a pistol) and 9,900 PSI

With the longer barrel of the rifle you're going to be somewhere up around 1,000 fps no doubt, with that max load. Check with your chronograph.

 

[blue32]

I don't shoot 38-40 but off the top of my head I'm thinking #2 alloy may be a tad hard for 38-40 velocities in regards to adequate obturation. Hopefully, someone has more experience.

OP, please let us know how your loads work out with that alloy. I'm interested to know.

 

[CraigC]

I m looking for around 1050-1100fps or whatever is likely to be accurate up to a maximum of 100yds!

You can safely exceed those velocities with revolvers. The 1892 is a strong rifle and as long as it's in good shape, there little need to hamstring yourself with such low expectations. You're talking about a very light load in a large case so anything in that velocity range will have low density. Trail Boss is probably really your only option.

That said, I load everything over 10.0gr Unique. Be it a standard 180gr cast RNFP, 180gr Gold Dot, 135gr Sierra or various 155's. The 180gr RNFP runs 1550fps out of my 24" Uberti 1873 Deluxe Sporting Rifle or 1200fps out of revolvers.

It is a rifle designed to shoot a pistol load.

It's technically a rifle cartridge, designed for the Winchester 1873. It just so happens to be compatible with handguns.

 

[Don McDowell]

The 38-40 began life as the 38wcf, a chambering in the Winchester 1873. Colt adapted it to their Model P shortly afterwards. It is quite a cartridge when it's loaded to it's proper levels in either a rifle or a handgun
That all said, I like bludot for smokeless powder in the 38-40. Alliants website did carry data for it.
For the drizzly slow velocity trailboss is just the ticket in these short cartridges, altho accuracy with it may or may not be particularly good.
Have also been loading the cartridge with some of Goex's Olde Eynsford 2f powder and getting some excellent velocity with good accuracy and minimal problems with fouling.

 

[witchhunter]

I see powder Valley has Winchester brass right now.....

 

[CraigC]

Midway has Starline brass, which is all I'll ever buy.

 

[Bad Flynch]

I load for the .38WCF in both rifle and revolver, but my guns are modern. I have two Ruger Vaqueros and a converted Marlin rifle.

At one time, the loading companies did load two loads: a lead bullet for revolver and rifle and a jacketed soft0nose for rifle only. Your '92 can handle rifle loads.

I suggest that you look up some of the older loading manuals, as I remember seeing loads for both categories.

I like BP loads most.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Correct me if I am wrong, but back in the day I thought there were rifle loads and pistol loads. I can't see Winchester downloading ammo so it would not blow up a handgun.

 

[Don McDowell]

There was the regular 38wcf, good for both rifle and pistol, and there was the 38wcf loads good for ONLY the model 92, they also had those for the 44 and 32wcf's, but they did not last long as folks had trouble reading labels, and such. So they went back to the standard load good for any gun so chambered.

 

[andym79]

Well I finally took the old girl out to the range this morning, and for 110 she seems to be doing okay. Here are three photos;

50 Yards 180 grain RNFP 16 BHN cast bullets and 6 grains of Trailboss.
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=192632&d=1387597624
This was 10 shots and I'm sure if I had done my part it may have been a 10 shot hole.

100 Yards same load.
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=192633&d=1387597624
I can't really call this 5 shots a group, but I am hopeful with the right load I can get this rifle shooting 2-2 1/2" groups at 100 yards!

The load is federal large pistol primers, 180 grain RNFP 16 BHN cast bullets and 6 grains of trailboss.

At a 100 yards I thought a little more velocity was needed so I tried 17 grains of H4227

 

[ole farmerbuck]

Nice shooting. How much drop from 50 to 100 yards?

 

[1-12 INF (M)]

I have a modern '92 Winchester in .38-40 and it's a great gun, and very accurate with LaserCast 180g RNFP over 7g of WW 231 - and a WW primer, usually in a Starline case. Load development for this rifle was easy - this load outperformed about 10 others.

 

[andym79]

"Nice shooting. How much drop from 50 to 100 yards?"

Thanks drop from 50 to 100 yards is about 2 3/4" - 3".

"I have a modern '92 Winchester in .38-40 and it's a great gun, and very accurate with LaserCast 180g RNFP over 7g of WW 231 - and a WW primer, usually in a Starline case. Load development for this rifle was easy - this load outperformed about 10 others."

Amen to that; load development was easier for the 38-40 than any other cartridge I have loaded, though the 223wasn't too hard. I think that is partial because, the performance I want from it necessitates >50% fill. All my other light cast loads require reduced loads and more space!

 

[andym79]

Whilst I am extremely happy with the accuracy of the load and the fact that the case is well over 50 % full.

I have noticed that rather a load of powder is left unburnt. whilst this isn't really a problem in the barrel, I do not lie the fact some powder is getting in the action! I got a friend to runthe calculation on quickload and it returned only a 74% burn!

Should I just accept it and clean the rifle up after each use? I am reluctant to abandon a very accurate load just because of this!

Has anyone tried one of these loads?

Red Dot 5.5-6.5
Green dot 6-7
Unique 7-9