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Hot Topic (More than 10 Replies) Ballard .38-55 (Read 1250 times)
toppkatt
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Ballard .38-55
Apr 4th, 2024 at 8:45am
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Just got a Ballard in .38-55. Want to reload for it. The bore is 0.374 the groove diameter is 0.382. Twist rate is 1:22. I will only be shooting black powder. What would a good  starting load be for this rifle? I tried 40 Gr. 1.5F Swiss with a card wad over powder. Had slight compression of powder when bullet was loaded, pushing a 249 Gr. flat nose and it looked like I was shooting a shotgun. at 100 yards (not much better at 50 yds).
Thanks
  
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art_ruggiero
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Re: Ballard .38-55
Reply #1 - Apr 4th, 2024 at 8:49am
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i use 44 gr. swiss 1.5  about . 140 comp  shoots good
  
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JKR
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Re: Ballard .38-55
Reply #2 - Apr 4th, 2024 at 10:00am
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toppkatt,
With that load you should be seeing better results than that. Do you have a good bullet fit? My Highwall has a liner that’s .368/.375. It shoots very well with Swiss 1 1/2 and loads like Art has mentioned. Heavier bullet though. 300 grains. 
JKR
  
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toppkatt
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Re: Ballard .38-55
Reply #3 - Apr 4th, 2024 at 10:05am
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Well the bullet was one I purchased. I asked for 0.382 and black powder lube but the bullets actually measure 0.381 to 0.3815 so perhaps they aren't big enough. I'm having a mold made so I can size my own. Also, not sure the lube really was for black powder as it was red in color and I've never seen a red black powder lube, but then I haven't seen every permutation of BP lube in this world, so there is that...  Smiley


thanks for the feedback. Seems I'm not out of the solar system with where I began.
  
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JKR
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Re: Ballard .38-55
Reply #4 - Apr 4th, 2024 at 11:26am
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Provided your rifle has a reasonably good bore,I think you’ll see better results when you get your new mould and use a lube that’s meant for BP. 
  
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toppkatt
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Re: Ballard .38-55
Reply #5 - Apr 4th, 2024 at 11:46am
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The bore is very good. So awaiting the mould arrival and will then cast, size and lube for myself. Will see if it improves, but probably not until early summer with other things already planned Smiley
  
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RSW
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Re: Ballard .38-55
Reply #6 - Apr 4th, 2024 at 12:34pm
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toppkatt
You did not mention anything about fouling control in your original post. Do you wipe the bore between shots, use a blow tube to soften fouling or perhaps shooting dirty? How you control fouling can make a big difference in accuracy.
  
Randy W
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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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toppkatt
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Re: Ballard .38-55
Reply #7 - Apr 4th, 2024 at 12:51pm
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Don't use a blow tube, but the first string of 10 shots I did a damp patch then a dry patch, second string of 10 I used damp patch only and third string I didn't do anything (kinda getting frustrated by this time). The best was probably the damp patch only, but not sure it was 'statistically significant'.
  
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RSW
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Re: Ballard .38-55
Reply #8 - Apr 4th, 2024 at 1:37pm
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toppkatt
Looks like you have fouling under control. Sorry I couldn't add anything helpful  Sad
  
Randy W
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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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toppkatt
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Re: Ballard .38-55
Reply #9 - Apr 4th, 2024 at 3:54pm
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I appreciate any and all constructive advise.
  
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marlinguy
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Ballards may be weaker,
but they sure are neater!

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Re: Ballard .38-55
Reply #10 - Apr 4th, 2024 at 6:06pm
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The damp patch sounds fine, but be sure to at least dry the chamber with a dry patch, or a chamber mop to avoid getting any case separations. 
You will possibly find that once you have the correct diameter bullet that it may have issues chambering a cartridge with a fixed bullet large enough to seal the bore. If so then you may end up wanting a stepped band bullet with a base band large enough to seal, but forwards bands smaller so the fixed cartridges chamber without any issues. Or you might switch to breech seating, and maybe even smokeless powder.
  
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moodyholler
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Re: Ballard .38-55
Reply #11 - Apr 5th, 2024 at 4:48pm
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I would bet bullets are hard.
  
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oneatatime
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Re: Ballard .38-55
Reply #12 - Apr 5th, 2024 at 7:46pm
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You shouldn't be doing any compression at all with the bullet. You need one of these to seat the wad on the powder: (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)
  
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toppkatt
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Re: Ballard .38-55
Reply #13 - Apr 8th, 2024 at 5:54am
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What is the advantage of using one of these instruments over compressing with flat base of bullet while seating if there is a wad between bullet and powder?
  
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silver
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Re: Ballard .38-55
Reply #14 - Apr 8th, 2024 at 9:17am
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You don’t want to deform the base of the bullet.
If case is chamber fired and not resized ,bullet  should be hand seatable.
  
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