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CRK
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Hartford Pope in .38-55
Jun 24th, 2005 at 7:39pm
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Does anyone have experience with selecting bullet diameter for a Pope barrel. This rifle came with an unsigned or numbered swedging tool to used with the bullet starter. It sizes a bullet to .380". Problem, the groove diameter is .386".

I've got about 2" groups. When I finally broke down an got a bore scope, I saw I had a leading problem. That's now clean and I'm ready to get a new mold.

Since this is my first post, I'm about as "new" as they come.
It would be great to put the original loading kit back togather so I'm looking for the ram rod, mold and lubrcator bearing the number 355.

Very Best Regards and many thanks for the help and advice,
   CRK
  
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FITZ
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Re: Hartford Pope in .38-55
Reply #1 - Jun 24th, 2005 at 8:07pm
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CRK, I also own a Hartford Pope 38-55. The .380 Diameter bullet will work well with Black Powder cast at 25/1 or 30/1 with a good black powder lube. You are absolutely right about bore size. Mine is large also and to get it to shoot with smokless I have a Bud Welch 38-55 Mold that casts up at .385 and I still cast it soft. My Pope mold that came with the outfit is a 285 Grain bullet at .380 diameter. Many of Popes Hartford molds are stamped on the side "H.M.Pope Hartford Ct." It appears to me that he used his barrel stamp and just set it off so just his name and Harford Ct. struck. I have not ever seen Pope Mold numbered to the rifle. Does not mean he did not do it just that I have not observed one. The False Muzzle is normally numbered and most of the Bullet starters I have observed were numbered and some of the grease pumps. All of this is so on my Rifle. But A friend has a few Popes that the Bullet starter is not numbered. A year or so ago I sent samples from two pope molds out to Dave Mos and he cut a number of molds to order. One was a Hartford 32-40 and the other also a Hartford 38-55. You may inquire here about anyone having one for sale. Another possibility is our own Schuetzenmiester Jim Borton. He and Barry Darr are cutting Cavities and so far everyone who has recieved one of their molds has been quite happy. Barry has extensive experience with Single Shot shooting and barrel making. I believe he has cherries for most of the most popular Pope style tapered bullets. I do not have his email addy handy but I will post it to you in another reply before I go offline tonight. Congradulations on your aquirement andI am sure that with a little effort you will get it going. Regards, FITZ.
  
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FITZ
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Re: Hartford Pope in .38-55
Reply #2 - Jun 24th, 2005 at 8:24pm
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CRK. Here are Jim and Barry's address. 
Barry>>>>> bwschutzpaper@icsys.net
Jim>>>>>> jimcindyborton371@hotmail.com

By the way my best loads have been using 4759 and Large Pistol Primers. 
From 16.5 Grs to 18.0 Grs 4759 and CCI #300 Large pistol.
alloy 25/1. I used to use 30/1 but on cleaning would see small shiny glittery specks of lead on the first patch. No leading in the Bore. I switched to 25/1 and they disappeared so have stayed with that ever since. I use Pope lube as described in many Single Shot Books. I breech seat but the lazy mans way. I just drop the bullet in the chamber and insert the loaded shell in behind and let it seat the bullet. Now my definition these loads shooting well are open to question as I do not shoot or test from the bench. All my shooting is offhand and my definition of "Shoots Good" is from my experience over a number of times at the Range. If I get a good target one time that does not mean the load is good. I just may have been lucky that day. But if a number of Targets come up good over a significant period of time  then I know I have a good load as you just are not lucky all the time. Well enough for now. Good luck. Regards, FITZ.
  
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CRK
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Re: Hartford Pope in .38-55
Reply #3 - Jun 24th, 2005 at 8:27pm
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Fitz,
   Thanks for the knowledgable response. How often does this kind of equipment show up for sale?
CRK
  
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CRK
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Re: Hartford Pope in .38-55
Reply #4 - Jun 25th, 2005 at 6:47pm
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In reading Kelver's book about Pope, the concept that these barrels could be very accurate, but were really touchy about the components of the load and the technique of seating the bullet. Any Pope owners like to comment?

Thanks for the advice!
   CRK
  
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40_Rod
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Re: Hartford Pope in .38-55
Reply #5 - Jun 26th, 2005 at 9:05am
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All Schuetzens can be cranky. They will shoot great one day and not so great the next. Haveing the advantage of smokeless powder helps, it burns at a much steadier rate that Black that is subject to changes in its burn rate due to moisture content. 
Haveing said that all these rifles have their own personallity. You can spend a lifetime looking for just the right bullet, powder, charge, lube combination.

40 Rod
  
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FITZ
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Re: Hartford Pope in .38-55
Reply #6 - Jun 26th, 2005 at 9:39pm
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CRK, finding accessories for Pope,Schoyen,Zischang rifles is really a labor of patience. You have to go to lots of shows and haunt the tables of the more advanced dealers. Gary Quinlan is one guy to contact for Pope stuff. James Goergen is another. The stuff does show up here and there but if you do hear of something you want you must leap at it because there are so many others looking also. It just does not hang around long at all. As to the value? How much does finding an original Pope mold increase the value of a Pope rifle? I feel it will now be worth much more than the cost of the mold. A freind last year paid 1500.00 for an original Pope powder measure with the mounting spud. Now I have an original Pope measure with my outfit but do not have the mounting spud and in fact had never even seen one or even a picture of one. It is a nondescript casting with a wood screw sticking out of it that you screw into a bench or wall post so you can hang the measure. So, it looks like about a $1.50 item and most were probably lost by the owners family because they did not know what it was for. So that is what you are up against. But again congradulations on your acquisition.
Regards, FITZ.
  
FITZ
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