Reloading the old calibers of the West: 38/55 Marlin Ballard

I picked up a new (never fired, 1982) Winchester 94 for a good price in 38-55. I'm convinced I am now starting to look at firearms in strange calibers just for the challenge of reloading them.

Do I care if anyone cares about this post? No I don't, but now it's part of Internet Bullet Science should anyone else want to reload for .38-55. There was not a lot of data for 38-55 during my research. So I am offering up more.
This is my experience and mine alone. You're mileage may vary. Load at your own risk.

I went with my trusty AA 5744 smokeless powder to start. I Hate the cost of 5744 but I love the accuracy with 405gr bullet/26 gr of 5744 in a 45-70 loads!

I Started with Lyman's suggestion (validated by other load data) with min load of 20 gr. Max load was 23 gr but I stopped at 22 gr.

Bullet:
Missouri
#1 Ballard - Hi-Tek
.379 Diameter
245 Grain RNFP
Brinell 18
For The High Plains
Hi-Tek 2-Extreme Coating

Brass:
38-55 Starline "short" (2.080)
Primer:
CCI Lg Mag Primer

Took about 1 hr min to prep and set up the new RCBS 38-55 dies.

Checked the first 6 rounds for loading ability and cycling action (facing the Game Preserve just in case a primer went off and shot something, hmmm, like an elk or deer.)

Observations:

Walls are extremely thin. One must not use the same primed brass starter more than 3 times over when doing a 'final powder measure' on the AP press as the case edge gets 'loose'. I use a small glass dish to cycle the Powder drop but do one final check with the casing....cannot do it more than three cycles. This brass is essentially "REALLY long .357 magnum straight wall"

Sexy looking round next to the .45-70 Sort of a sister on a diet! It's very similar to .30-30 but with no neck down, and a bullet weight much heavier, so much that when it arrives at the intended destination it will say "Hello, I'm here a little slower the 30-30, but I'm going to knock you on your butt".

Coated bullets seat nicely although there is a slight case buldging due to .379 bullet. I think .378 cast is going to be perfect when I get to black powder for this caliber.

Racked and shacked smoothly on the Winchester action although I will have to grow my right thumb nail about 1/8 of an inch longer when reloading.

Pic 1:
Bullet left, first dummy load, bullet seated too deep, too much crimp.
Bullet right, 2nd attempt, seated good, and a kiss crimp.(My definition of a Kiss Crimp is "Bullet doesn't move when dropped from 2 feet or push with 25 lbs")

Pic 2:
Comparison to .50 caliber and .45-70 with 500 gr bullet.

Pic 3:
First 6 (capacity of mag) in lowest charge.

Pic 4: 21 gr and 22 gr. I made more of the 22 gr based on my gut feeling and reading other's recipes and range reports (the few and far between they are for this old caliber)

Pic 5: 38/55 245 gr bullet next to a 500 gr 45/70 bullet.

RESULTS:
Short story if you don't want to read further.
The New Winchester 94 performed flawlessly and the BP loads were the most accurate and consistent on the Chrono.
/end story.

And now for the REST of the story (RIP Paul Harvey)

I went through 3 powder types with 3 load weights and validated velocities with these new 38/55 and my other 45/70 loads.
The Caldwell Precision El Cheapo $56 Chrono was working fine, recording velocity on the little reader window from 15 feet away but my tablet was not recording through their app.
Half way through the shooting session I tried my Samsung smart phone and viola! It also validated all 3 45/70 loads in 3 different bullet wts and powder types. JUST where I expected the velocities to be! This was the best $56 spent for 'piece of mind' for my old Springfield Trapdoor.

All shots were low (expected) and left of target (adjusted front sight when I returned home) I was looking for velocities and groups only.

The 38/55 powders/Grs-Bolded was best consistent velocity and MOA
AA5744 20/21/22.5 gr -Avg Velocity 1456 pfs for best load
AA2200 24/25 gr -Avg Velocity 1560 fps for best load. NOTE: Velocities all over the place from 1414 to 1585. Probably uneven pressure when cooking off?
Pyrodex RS Select -45 by volume (31 gr) -Avg Velocity 1267 fps. This was another that had velocities ranges from 1194 to 1275 but had the tightest group (See picture below)

Pic 1: 25 yd target and Chrono, looking down range. The angle here looks like I'm going to shoot the Chrono!
Pic 2: Black powder grouping (best) with lowest average velocity at 25 yards.
Pic 3: wads (white) used with BP loads. I used a drop tube to fit as much powder as the casing could handle without over compressing, which is 45 by volume (31 grs) Then topped it with a wad.
Pic 4: 40 more ready for the range today! Please note the primer colors, I had a good primer strike but failure to fire on a Lg Rifle Federal so this first batch I switched to Magnum Lg Rifle CCI.











Short youtube video of shoot 38-55 black powder.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUfWtc-CJlU[/ame]

Great, accurate cast bullet cartridge for which there is no shortage of published data (don't know about Internet sources). 5744 is an excellent powder, but others that are perhaps just as good include Reloder 7, one or both of the 4895s, and one or both of the 4198s.

I have one of the old winchesters (1894 ) , mine is so old it doesn't have a stamp stating " smokeless powder " on the barrel . It seems when my father got it , the firing pin was missing . So him and his dad hand made a firing pin for it . I reload for it . Lee makes an ideal mold to cast for it , but surprising enough they have discontinued the " push through " sizing die . They made one for me , I size to .378 as I tried .379 and they would not chamber . I tumble lubed as I didn't have a lube/sizer die for it at the time . It's got the long octagon barrel and is very accurate and I get no leading with my tumble lubed bullets .
I called Accurate Arms and got the load data for it . They gave me the black powder ballistics and matched up Accurate 5744 to the black powder pressures and velocities . The loads they recommended were 18.8-23.5 grs of Accurate 5744 .
As time goes by I am switching more and more to Accurate Arms powder for rifles . They are very helpful and respond quickly . Don took my call immediately , answered all my questions and supplied me with the above load data .

Years ago I had a Stevens 44 1/2 single shot rebored to 38-55. With iron sights the little sucker could punch out the end of pop cans at 100 yards.

Appreciate the load data, some day I'll get me another Stevens.

cowboy4evr said:

I have one of the old winchesters (1894 ) , mine is so old it doesn't have a stamp stating " smokeless powder " on the barrel . It seems when my father got it , the firing pin was missing . So him and his dad hand made a firing pin for it . I reload for it . Lee makes an ideal mold to cast for it , but surprising enough they have discontinued the " push through " sizing die . They made one for me , I size to .378 as I tried .379 and they would not chamber . I tumble lubed as I didn't have a lube/sizer die for it at the time . It's got the long octagon barrel and is very accurate and I get no leading with my tumble lubed bullets .
I called Accurate Arms and got the load data for it . They gave me the black powder ballistics and matched up Accurate 5744 to the black powder pressures and velocities . The loads they recommended were 18.8-23.5 grs of Accurate 5744 .
As time goes by I am switching more and more to Accurate Arms powder for rifles . They are very helpful and respond quickly . Don took my call immediately , answered all my questions and supplied me with the above load data .

Click to expand...

THanks! Great story! Wish I could afford one of the old girls...a few more years of paying youngest son's college and then...

I have found 22.0 of AA5744 is the perfect modern powder load today!
Followed by Pyrodex at 48 volume, compressed, with BP substitute.

I have a current production 1885 Low Wall Winchester in 38-55. I've bought it new in about 2005. I have a modern Lyman copy of the Marble's tang sight and a Lyman Globe on the front. I loaded up Trail Boss to 1/16" below the base of Bear Creek Bullets 255 FN coated bullets, in WW brass with Fed 210M primer. With a rest and rear bag I put 20 shots through a hole a nickel will cover at 100 yards. I've just started to work on a Black Powder load with the Lyman 330 grain bullet also sized .375 and lubed with SPG and over the powder cards made from waxed milk carton. For these I'm looking for 1/2 to 3/4 inch groups (at 100 yards) but plan on shooting with a 15x scope out to 800 yards or so, It will take awhile to get there. On the plates it is sort of; BANG, 2, 3, 4, 5, ding.

I have semi retired and now have the time to shoot more but the eyes are just not up to the Iron sights much past 150 yards.

Ivan

I have a Winchester high Wall in 38-55.




I used .379 boolits with AA5744 but haven't shot it in years now.
Would like to try some trail Boss.

Thanks OP for getting me interested in that rifle again!

I was looking st one of the new Miroku manufactured 1894's in this caliber. I have a couple of the new 1892's and enjoy them quite a bit. If time permits this Fall, I'd like to add a 94 i. .38-55. I have a Browning 1886 i. .45-70 I plan to start reloading for as well. I defintely like the d striggt wall rifle cateidges.

Variations in bore size have been considerable with regard to the .38-55 over the years. As with other cast bullet cartridges, I've usually found best accuracy by using the largest diameter bullet that will allow the loaded cartridge to chamber freely. With newer guns, this will almost always be from .378" to .380".

The Lyman Cast Bullet manual has a good deal of data for bullets ranging in weight from 225 grs. to 335 grs.

Someday I need a 38-55