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Oakdale
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Bullet search
Nov 20th, 2024 at 3:26pm
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I know this is a very personal attitude. But....I have a CPA on order chanbered in.38-55 with a 12 twist Bartlien barrel. I will be attempting breach seating for the first time. I'm considering a 300-335-grain bullet weight but am open to suggestions. From what I've been told and have read, a soft, tapered bullet is a pre-requisite.

I own an NOE 376-329 which falls from the mold @ 0.3758" or so. It is tapered and weighs about 333-grains. I also have a Saeco #571 that weighs about 305-grains, which is slightly tapered. However, it falls from the mold close to 0.380" and seems too fat to be a viable candidate. CPA advises the new bore will slug about 0.375".

Someone suggested a 325-grain Buffalo Arms mold that is a Money bullet design and has reduced driving bands.

I could do a chamber cast and then see how Accurate Molds could offer a candidate.

My alloy is about 9 bhn or close to 30:1.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

Tom



  
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Bulseyetom
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Re: Bullet search
Reply #1 - Nov 20th, 2024 at 4:03pm
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Take my advice with a grain of salt as I am no match competitor but a lot I think would depend on how you will be breech seating. I use a tool for my Hepburn and shoot non tapered bullets cast 0.002 over bore with no problems.  When I shoot my Stevens 44 1/2 with a plugged case (actually two cases one to get started and one to put it to the desired depth) I need to use a tapered bullet with a thick base band .002 over bore but the taper going about 0.002 per each band give or take.  The advantage of Accurate Moulds is that you can pick out a design and then change the dimensions for each band to suit your fancy.  Tom
  
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gunlaker
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Re: Bullet search
Reply #2 - Nov 21st, 2024 at 9:03am
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My favorite 38-55 bullet is a 325gr Tapered Creedmoor bullet from Buffalo Arms.  It shoots very well in one of my CPA's with a 6 degree per side leade ( needs a breech seating tool with mechanical leverage to seat ).  In a couple of highwalls with 1.5 degrees per side it also works well and can be breech seated more easily.  I have been using a plugged case setup that I made.  For, I believe, an extra $10 you can get the mold's driving bands & nose changed.

Chris.
  
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gunlaker
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Re: Bullet search
Reply #3 - Nov 21st, 2024 at 9:12am
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I should add that I've never used that bullet in such a fast twist rifle.  Mine are 1:14 and 1:15

Chris.
  
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marlinguy
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Ballards may be weaker,
but they sure are neater!

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Re: Bullet search
Reply #4 - Nov 21st, 2024 at 10:23am
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Without having the gun in hand I'm not sure it's worth pursuing any bullet mold to use on it? Until you can do a chamber cast, or slug the bore it might all be wasted effort.
  

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Oakdale
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Re: Bullet search
Reply #5 - Nov 21st, 2024 at 2:10pm
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Agree with Marlinguy on waiting. Once I get the rifle I will start load testing with the two bullets that I presently have. Eventually do a chamber cast and slug the barrel.

Just snooping around to see what other bullet candidates I might consider.

Tom
  
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