Here is my newest project. I know most of you fellows are not big fans of bolt actions (BTW why is that?) but this has a  real schuetzen look to it.  I am sure that in its time it fit into some class at the matches. When I bought this rifle the seller said it was a 9.3x62r and I was ok with that.  After casting the chamber the specs were just a bit off and looking through the COTW book I could not see a match anywhere.  The caption for the 9.3x62r it was very close to the 38-55 so I looked at it and it was a match.  I have no idea whether it was originally made for that cartridge or an alteration of the chamber was made later.  This rifle is after the 1871 Mauser pattern but without proof marks. The 38-55 came out around 1884 so it is just possible the rifle was chambered for it. It has double set triggers and a lot of fancy work.  It never had a barrel mounted rear sight just the receiver square in the tang for an aperture sight. Sadly it is not original and looks to be the Mortimer sight that DGW sells.  I had to add about 5/8th of an inch of ¼” key stock to the shank to have it set securely in the tang receiver.  I got my brass and bullets today and I will work up two starting loads one with BP and one with 3031.  I picked up some .375 250gn 20-1 hand cast bullets from BA. I am thinking of starting with 25 grs of 3031 for the smokeless load and a full case of Goex minus whatever I need for the bullet to seat with about an 1/8th inch of compression and we shall see how she shoots.

Have you had the stock off to look for proofs, etc. on the hidden areas of the barrel?
If it is original and German, it should have proofmarks somewhere.
Probably just me, but I would very careful about anything but the very mildest smokeless loads in this rifle.

Nice rifle be fun to shoot.  Make sure the bullet fit's is the best advice

My standard 38/55 loads with 290 gr bullets are 16 grs 4759 or 17 grs of 4227.  I think 4759 gives slightly better results, 4227 measures better.  

Published 3031 loads mostly came out when 4759 was out of production. 3031 is not a good powder for the 38/55

Black powder I fill the case with 2 F it's about 43 grs weight.

All three about 1250 fps and very accurate 200 and even further.  

Boats

Too slow will leave a lot of unburned powder in the bore & inconsistent velocity. 3031 was formulated for high pressure bottlenecks of moderate size like the 30/30.  With the moderate loads we use in Schuetzen it's not optimal. 

If I was loading .375 Winchester (about the same case as 38/55) and jacketed bullets to hunting velocity in modern strong rifles 3031 would be a powder I would try.

Published generaly means safe does not always mean good.  Most of the Schuetzen loads we use are not in manuals.  4759 which was preceded by SR # 80 was formulated for the large straight wall cases duplicating black powder loads.  It's about ideal for the 38/55 and perhaps with 4227 the most often seen on target ranges with large straight cases. 

Doubt if anybody at Etna Green or Raton uses 3031 powder. Ask those guys who swear by it how it preforms side by side in competiton.

4759 went out of production for a number of years and manuals recommended other powders.  If not 4227 or 4759 something of similar burn rate is going to do best. Look at a relative quickness chart for other powders staying around 4759 rates.

You guys chime in if I am wrong

Boats

BP agree, get a 265 gr Jacketed going 1750 fps 3031 is about the right powder.  4759 is reported to spike in high pressure loadings, not the right powder for higher pressure.

It's all a question of suitability. Don't put diesel in in a gas engine, both engines, pressures are considerably different.

Boats

Check out Trial Boss. Over charges seem near impossible in most cases and pressures seem mild.
It's a popular Cowboy Action powder, but is catching on with other cast bullet shooters and those who don't need everything to be near max all the time. . .

I have heard some good things and bad about trailboss. It is an interesting choice and fairly versatile. It shows up on my list several times and i am considering it. I have been warned that the pressures get high for very little velocity. There are some cartridges that dont have data from the IMR website but it dose say you can fill the case, weigh it and then take 70% as a starting load. Seems to me that for the high end you have to look for signs of overpressure to tell when you have reached your upper limit.  I have a 45 LC 45-70 38-55, 10,5x47r and an 8.15x46 so i am trying not to buy 5 different powders at least not all at once.

I have only limited experience with Trail Boss at this point, so most of wht I know about it is based on that and what I've read.
As for 4759 (or 4227) and Unique, I agree they are really about all you need for light to mid-range loads. I've used a fair bit of 4759, but have never had the level of success (accuracy) with it that most seem to experience. I've had better luck with 4227.