ASSRA Forum › General › Reloading the Single Shot Rifle › Black powder in .38-55
(Moderator Group: Moderator)
‹ Previous Topic | Next Topic ›
Page Index Toggle Pages: 1 Send TopicPrint
Normal Topic Black powder in .38-55 (Read 58 times)
Oakdale
Full Member
***
Offline



Posts: 118
Location: Maplewood, MN
Joined: Jun 7th, 2017
Black powder in .38-55
Today at 10:35am
Print Post  
Just a bit of an experience question.

I have a CPA in .38-55. I’ve been breech seating an Accurate 
345-grain bullet in the 12” twist barrel using various smokeless powders. Our local match season is over at the end of August. Fall is a time to do some experimenting.

I have several pounds of Old E. 1 1/2 black powder. I’m guessing the .38-55 started its life in the BP era. So…

Is there an accuracy “gain” over smokeless in the use of BP in this rifle? If so, what charge weight of BP should be considered? I’m not interested in duplex loads.

I have 0.060” thick .38 veggie wads and a 24” drop tube. I think I probably need a powder compression die.

Thanks!
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
calledflyer
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 4009
Joined: Mar 9th, 2015
Re: Black powder in .38-55
Reply #1 - Today at 11:29am
Print Post  
If there was an advantage to the use of black powder, the ODGs would have continued using it. 
If you want to piddle around, not needing it to meet some class requirement, go ahead. Gonna take a lot of extra effort in addition to the things you figured you'll need to add as well as washing the residue from the cases and even the rifle itself. Have fun.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
sharps4590
Full Member
***
Offline



Posts: 123
Joined: Mar 24th, 2016
Re: Black powder in .38-55
Reply #2 - Today at 12:20pm
Print Post  
Black powder can be very accurate but you have to jump through a few more hoops to get there.  As far as a gain, no, my experience says not but, it can be very, very close.

I've been shooting BPC's with great success since the mid-80's and have never owned a compression die and the only wads I've ever used are .020 card wads punched from florist boxes or cereal boxes. 

As far as charge weight what I've done for decades is calculate the powder column height to the base of the bullet then add enough to bring it up 1/10 to 1/8 of an inch, add the card and seat the bullet.  With a .060 card you might want to deduct that  amount from the powder charge then add 1/10 to 1/8.

Olde Eyensford is a fine BP from my experience.

If you're wanting to continue breech seating I'm sorry I can't recommend anything as I've never breech seated.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
bpjack
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 3866
Location: East Olympia, WA
Joined: May 18th, 2008
Re: Black powder in .38-55
Reply #3 - Today at 12:41pm
Print Post  
I have always had good luck with a bullet that is a slip fit into the fired case. No case prep required after cleaning. My current load is 37gr of Swiss 1.5” dropped through a 24” tube. I use a card wad and for long range top it off with a newspaper wad to insure the card wad doesn’t stick to the bullet. I do slightly compress with a shop made die in my Lee hand press that I added a ‘calibrated’ scale to so I can measure the amount of compression. I adjust the powder charge so the compressed column allows the slip fit bullet to be the height I want. My go to 38 cal bullet is a 303gr Saeco in 30-1. I use a blow tube between shots. More work but it translates to more fun. My last 200yd match target scored 239 on the ASSRA German target using a scope.
  
People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Schuetzendave
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline


Retired Ex-Shooter

Posts: 4251
Location: St. Albert, Alberta
Joined: Jan 28th, 2005
Re: Black powder in .38-55
Reply #4 - Today at 1:22pm
Print Post  
You can get up to 10% increase by converting to Swiss FFFg.
The finer BP works great in .38 caliber rifles.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Page Index Toggle Pages: 1
Send TopicPrint
‹ Previous Topic | Next Topic ›
 
  « Board Index ‹ Board Top  

ASSRA Forum » Powered by YaBB 2.6.12!
YaBB Forum Software © 2000-2026. All Rights Reserved.

Valid RSS Valid XHTML Valid CSS Powered by Perl Source Forge

Page completed in 0.6618 seconds.