The Revenuer Posted December 1, 2024 Posted December 1, 2024 Looking for recommendations for a black powder load for 38-55 for long range. Thanks! Quote
Cholla Posted December 1, 2024 Posted December 1, 2024 (edited) The case is filled to the point that the bullet slightly compresses the powder. Some add a card wad between the powder and bullet. That’s the load. No air gap. Edited December 1, 2024 by Cholla 3 Quote
The Revenuer Posted December 1, 2024 Author Posted December 1, 2024 3 minutes ago, Cholla said: The case is filled to the point that the bullet slightly compresses the powder. That’s the load. No air gap. Thanks, I’m also looking for other details. Bullet weight? Any specific powder better for long range? Quote
Jackaroo, # 29989 Posted December 1, 2024 Posted December 1, 2024 11 minutes ago, The Revenuer said: Thanks, I’m also looking for other details. Bullet weight? Any specific powder better for long range? Works out to be about 35 grains of 3F 245 gn bullet. overall length 2.5" Quote
wyliefoxEsquire Posted December 1, 2024 Posted December 1, 2024 (edited) 265 money 40.0 grain 1.5 F swiss Federal Match Large Pistol Primer 0.030 fiber wad newspaper wad above primer before powder Edited December 1, 2024 by wyliefoxEsquire Quote
Griff Posted December 1, 2024 Posted December 1, 2024 (edited) Choose your bullet carefully. It needs to carry enough lube to still be present at the muzzle. You'll know by whether there's a "star" or smear of lube on the muzzle face after the shot. (That's if you want the fouling soft at the muzzle... and you SHOULD). To get really pertinent advice, folks need to know if you're shooting a single shot or a lever gun. I don't load a .38-55, but a 265 grain bullet should get you to about 500 meters. I prefer Swiss for my long range loads... which by my definition, is beyond 500 meters, which is why I went with a .40 caliber and 330 to 400 grain bullets; depending if I want to knock over a target or just hit it. Edited December 1, 2024 by Griff ooops 5 Quote
The Revenuer Posted December 1, 2024 Author Posted December 1, 2024 19 hours ago, Griff said: Choose your bullet carefully. It needs to carry enough lube to still be present at the muzzle. You'll know by whether there's a "star" or smear of lube on the muzzle face after the shot. (That's if you want the fouling soft at the muzzle... and you SHOULD). To get really pertinent advice, folks need to know if you're shooting a single shot or a lever gun. I don't load a .38-55, but a 265 grain bullet should get you to about 500 meters. I prefer Swiss for my long range loads... which by my definition, is beyond 500 meters, which is why I went with a .40 caliber and 330 to 400 grain bullets; depending if I want to knock over a target or just hit it. It is a single shot. It is a sharps rifle. Quote
Griff Posted December 1, 2024 Posted December 1, 2024 18 minutes ago, The Revenuer said: It is a single shot. It is a sharps rifle. 19 hours ago, wyliefoxEsquire said: 265 money 40.0 grain 1.5 F swiss Federal Match Large Pistol Primer 0.030 fiber wad newspaper wad above primer before powder There ya go. Quote
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted December 1, 2024 Posted December 1, 2024 OP, what do you call 'long range'? Fouling control is critical in BPCR shooting. Will you wipe or blow tube? Quote
The Revenuer Posted December 2, 2024 Author Posted December 2, 2024 42 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said: OP, what do you call 'long range'? Fouling control is critical in BPCR shooting. Will you wipe or blow tube? Just looking to compete in long range side matches at SASS shoots. This year I didn’t see anything over 200 yards at the shoots I attended Quote
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted December 2, 2024 Posted December 2, 2024 1 hour ago, The Revenuer said: Just looking to compete in long range side matches at SASS shoots. This year I didn’t see anything over 200 yards at the shoots I attended FWIW, true long range is 600 yds+ Quote
Equanimous Phil Posted December 2, 2024 Posted December 2, 2024 As there is no true standard in 38-55, bore diameters and chamber sizes do heavily vary. Please note that Starline even makes two different length brass cases for this cartridge. So, slugging your bore and measuring your chamber is a must if you want reasonable accuracy. The maximum bullet weight is somewhat dictated by your barrel's twist rate, but a 320 grain bullet with large lube grooves is kind of a standard and should work for any sharps rifle out there. If you can't find any bullets that fit, Accurate Molds is the way to go. Tom makes them fully customized to your needs (diameters, tin ratio in your lead). I ordered a mold with two different cavities, a 320gr and a 331gr type. The bullets get pan lubed with SPG and seated in cases filled with Swiss No.3 (2 Fg) over a .030" vegetable fiber wad from Buffalo Arms. I read somewhere that large pistol primers should be used instead of rifle primers, but can't remember why. As LPPs is what I have at home anyway, I went with them and it worked for me. Quote
Cusz M. Dutch SASS Life 55326 Posted December 2, 2024 Posted December 2, 2024 Try and locate a big lube bullet Great in a single shot but need to load one at a time in my marlin Quote
Frontier Lone Rider Posted December 4, 2024 Posted December 4, 2024 On 12/1/2024 at 8:45 PM, The Original Lumpy Gritz said: FWIW, true long range is 600 yds+ There is no rule or standard in SASS Cowboy Long-Range. The various clubs set up their Long-Range at the distance their range allows. In these parts, West Virginia, hills and mountains limit the Long-Range Distance. The WV State Match shoots their Long-Range at 182 yards, up the side of a mountain, in the woods, come on Sun Light. The VA State Match does go out to 6oo yards, but they only allow you to shoot three times? I believe PA sets theirs up at 120 yards. The average around here is between 100 to 180 yards. When most clubs shoot their CAS Stages at 10 to 20 yards, they don't really need to look for a range with greater depth. Many clubs do not offer Long-Range as their range just will not support that competition. Those states that are flat may more easily find ranges which reach out farther. I also belong to a 1000 Yard Club. But they do not shoot CAS. Their Long-Range Rifles are almost all custom built and cost what all five of ours would cost. The VA State 1000 Yard Club comes to The Harry Jones Memorial 1000 Yard Range, Farmington, WV to shoot their matches. We just happen to have two 1000 Yard Ranges in WV that just happen to be almost 80 miles apart. They both offer 100 Yard, 200 Yard, 300 Yard ... 600 Yard, out to a 1000. The White Horse Education Center also hosts our small CAS Club, The White Horse Rangers. But we are not nearly large enough to sponsor an annual match with Long-Range. Shoot what is offered at the matches you attend and have fun. Quote
Eyesa Horg Posted December 4, 2024 Posted December 4, 2024 I'm feeling too lazy this morning to look it up myself! Is there still a 1400 fps IIRC limit on the loads for long range? Or does the distance dictate the velocity? Quote
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted December 4, 2024 Posted December 4, 2024 1 hour ago, Eyesa Horg said: I'm feeling too lazy this morning to look it up myself! Is there still a 1400 fps IIRC limit on the loads for long range? Or does the distance dictate the velocity? Doesn't apply to side matches 1 Quote
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