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38/55 Deer Again ?
May 18th, 2011 at 6:32pm
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We debated 38/55 few weeks ago.  Have a look at this video. Deep penetration no expansion. Fine for Deer as long as you know what to expect and hit them right.

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Re: 38/55 Deer Again ?
Reply #1 - May 18th, 2011 at 10:58pm
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Silhouette & Cowboy shooters tend to use very hard cast bullets, probably wheel weights/linotype type alloys.  I sincerely doubt that a proper bullet alloy of 20-1 would have had that type of penetration and no expansion.  No kids at home any more, don't buy milk in gallons, so can't check it for myself!

David
  

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Re: 38/55 Deer Again ?
Reply #2 - May 19th, 2011 at 12:46am
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David, 

Don't know if you caught it or not, but at the end of the video in the credits, the load data is given. They say they used a Lee 379-250 cast bullet 20-1 alloy, with SR 4759 powder at a starting load level. 

So... their 20-1 alloy slug behaved like a FMJ...
  

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Re: 38/55 Deer Again ?
Reply #3 - May 19th, 2011 at 12:58am
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Nope, missed it.  Very interesting, will have to try and scrounge milk jugs from friends with kids at home and try it!  Don't cast the Lee bullet, but I do have the Lyman 375248.

David
  

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Re: 38/55 Deer Again ?
Reply #4 - May 19th, 2011 at 1:07am
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Just checked... one of my old Winchester catalogs shows the factory load used 48 grs of Fg with a 255gr lead bullet at 40/1 alloy. Maybe they had a good reason for the 40/1 alloy...
  

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Re: 38/55 Deer Again ?
Reply #5 - May 19th, 2011 at 5:15am
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I don't get much expansion on deer with a pure lead Minnie Ball 585 grs 58 caliber at 850 fps muzzle.  Most just some some nose deformation.  It's real effective due to it's size and weight.

Thing about small diameter bullets is they drill, just like a small drill before a large one in steel.  Our club we have trouble with .223's shooting through swinger targets.  Hardly move the swinger at all leaving a nice clean hole.  45/70 same swinger knocks hard and frequently breaks the welded swinger chain. Either one is effective in it's own way.

38's are not small but they are on the edge of small.   

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Re: 38/55 Deer Again ?
Reply #6 - May 19th, 2011 at 7:02am
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Quote:
I don't get much expansion on deer with a pure lead Minnie Ball 585 grs 58 caliber at 850 fps muzzle.  Most just some some nose deformation.  It's real effective due to it's size and weight. Boats


   Bill :  The .58 Minnie was VERY effective on opposing troops in the American Civil War !  At battle line distances, a Minnie would shatter a man's thigh bone and limb amputation was the first measure for the  field surgeon to save the life.

   Creedmoormatch
  
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