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.38-55 Black Powder Loads? (Read 2571 times)

CptCurl Full Member Offline Posts: 210 Location: Botetourt County, Virginia Joined: Jan 23^rd, 2017	.38-55 Black Powder Loads? Mar 10^th, 2019 at 9:11am	Print Post
	Does anybody have a favorite load using black powder in the .38-55? I'll be shooting an original Marlin-Ballard Union Hill that is just now incoming. At this point the only bullet mould I have is the Lyman 375248. I am not opposed to paper patching. Your help and suggestions will be appreciated. Curl


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Yellowhouse Full Member Offline Posts: 155 Location: Oklahoma Joined: Mar 31^st, 2008	Re: .38-55 Black Powder Loads? Reply #1 - Mar 10^th, 2019 at 9:31am	Print Post
	First thing you'll want to do is slug that barrel as I'm thinking your Lyman will throw a slug too small in diameter. Accurate will make any size you want and paper patch too.


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Deadeye Bly Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1143 Location: Stephens City Joined: Feb 25^th, 2011	Re: .38-55 Black Powder Loads? Reply #2 - Mar 10^th, 2019 at 9:31am	Print Post
	Your original Ballard will probably need a grease groove bullet of at least .379" diameter and possibly up to .381" diameter. Your 248 bullet is probably too small.


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CptCurl Full Member Offline Posts: 210 Location: Botetourt County, Virginia Joined: Jan 23^rd, 2017	Re: .38-55 Black Powder Loads? Reply #3 - Mar 10^th, 2019 at 10:09am	Print Post
	Yeah, I plan to slug the bore as soon as I get the rifle in-hand. My Lyman bullet is coming out of the mould at 0.379". I've had good results with Accurate Moulds also! He made me a .50 - 490 grain bullet for a .500 3-1/4" BPE double rifle. It's No. 51-490S in the catalog. A real performer in my Dickson double rifle. 142 grains Olde Eynsford 1-1/2F. (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) But that's another story! Now I'm looking forward to getting my "new" Ballard puffing smoke. I haven't even seen it yet. Here are the pictures from the auction to make this thread more interesting. (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) Gonna be fun! Curl


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GrumpyBear Full Member Offline Posts: 139 Location: Western,Pa. Joined: Sep 30^th, 2017	Re: .38-55 Black Powder Loads? Reply #4 - Mar 10^th, 2019 at 10:29am	Print Post
	Beautiful rifle, congratulations. I am shooting 43 grains Swiss 1 1/2 with a 330 grain Lyman Postell bullet,milk carton wad with good accuracy, in a CPA.
	« Last Edit: Mar 10^th, 2019 at 10:50am by GrumpyBear »
	Μολὼν λαβέ Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you. Shash-yazhi -bear-cub Brian
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RSW Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1297 Location: Arizona Joined: Sep 8^th, 2006	Re: .38-55 Black Powder Loads? Reply #5 - Mar 10^th, 2019 at 10:41am	Print Post
	CptCurl If you are interested in breech seating your .38-55, there is an article in the new ASSRA Journal dealing with shooting dirty with straight black and duplex loads. Check it out

	Randy W ASSRA 10211 - ISSA 125 There are indeed two Americas. Simply put, it is not the haves and have nots. The two Americans are in reality divided into those who do and those who don't.
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elkchsr Participating Member Offline Posts: 24 Joined: Jun 2^nd, 2016	Re: .38-55 Black Powder Loads? Reply #6 - Mar 10^th, 2019 at 10:48am	Print Post
	I use that same bullet with 40.5gr of Swiss 1.5, a .030 vegetable fiber wad, and Fed 150 primers in my schuetzen load. This is in a a green mountain on CPA rifle.


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John Boy Ex Member	Re: .38-55 Black Powder Loads? Reply #7 - Mar 10^th, 2019 at 11:06am	Print Post
	The Ideal 375166, 320gr. Clone of the bullet was made by Tom at Accurate Molds. Star line 1.25 brass, CCI BR-2 primers, 42gr KIK 1.5Gg with a 1/8 hard felt wad. reload takes the Rams down at 500 meters. Shot 50 consecutive rounds with no tubing or patching .... one water cotton ball and 3 dry balls ... bore was clean as a whistle. The bullet calculates 17.8 in a 1:18 twist


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gunlaker Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2601 Location: lower mainland, B.C. Joined: Dec 13^th, 2010	Re: .38-55 Black Powder Loads? Reply #8 - Mar 10^th, 2019 at 11:28am	Print Post
	All of my .38-55 loads are breach seated, either with a paper patched bullet or with a tapered bullet with lube grooves. I would at least give this route a try. Better accuracy with less effort I think. Basically I use a pistol primer and either Fg or 1.5Fg and fill the case to the top and add a 0.030" wad. Breech seat the bullet. With the bore diameter patched bullets I seat the bullet with a 0.060" LDPE wad underneath the bullet. My breech seated loads are all quite a bit better than anything I've ever gotten out of a .38 cal rifle with BP and fixed ammo. Chris.


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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 18036 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: .38-55 Black Powder Loads? Reply #9 - Mar 10^th, 2019 at 11:45am	Print Post
	Depending on the groove diameter of the barrel, and whether it's the original barrel/bore, the Lyman may or may not work. Since your gorgeous Ballard appears to be restocked, and restored, it might also have a new barrel, or new liner in the bore. So the .379" bullet at 248 grs. might be OK. It certainly is a little on the light side, but that doesn't mean it can't shoot well at 248 grs. You got a real beauty there!

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