.38-55 loading
 

Just aquired my .38-55 in a model .94 diamond jubilee. The intent is to use this rifle as a shooter, but components are about impossible to find. Hornady discontinued their 220 gr flat nose, and all I can find is Barnes 255 gr. Building the load won't be a problem, but does any one know of a more reliable source of bullets? Any load insight would be appreciated as well. New to the cartridge, would like to learn from the guys who have been shooting it instead of the hard way. Thanks.

Have you thought about casting your own bullets? I've been wanting a 38-55 Just because they do well with cast, would be a good stablemate for my 45-70's in that regard.

I might have to go that route. Was hoping not to, but having the jubilee as my shooter has been a goal for some time now, and if that's how I need to do it, then I guess that's what I do.

Getting into casting doesn't have to be a big deal, I just use old wheel weights from the local tire shop, half my casting gear is from the local thrift shop. I started out with a old pot and ladle, I've since invested in a bottom pour pot. The biggest investment is the collection of molds that's slowly growing.

The Bullet Barn has 345 gr RNFP for $47.00 for 200

This fellow (Terry) has a good reputation.
I think he is located somewhere between Red Deer and Edmonton (he will certainly ship)

http://www.jetbullets.com/
http://www.jetbullets.com/hardcast-rifle-bullets-.html

38-55
1. 250 gr RNFP, plain base .379" ....$25/100; $46/200
2. 265 gr RNFP .379 (.381") gas check....$35/100; $66/200

38-55
 

Jet bullets is in Wetaskawin I have some .381 265gr FN GS coming today if Canada Post gets their act together.Mine is an 1894 and they all had generous groove size hence the large bullets.The groove size with the Jubilee model should be .377 not .375. Jet also makes a 250gr FN no gas check.RE#7 is the powder followed by IMR 3031. FWITSW Barnes makes 255gr Jacketed.Gun shows also can be good as I've picked up old CIL and Barnes there.Do you have the Ken Waters Pet Loads manual? If not PM me with your mailing address and I'll send you a pile of data. You want about 2/1000" larger bullets than groove size with cast.There is also two correct OAL of brass with the 38-55 Starline makes both short and long.

https://www.westernmetal.ca/shooting...c-3855-245-500

Sometimes Wolverine in Red Deer has these on their shelf too.

Really appreciate all the info on this. I've only been loading the common calibre's, so getting some insight on the old ones is great.

1894 Diamond Jubilee
 

First off nice rifle. I picked up a nice 1894 D.J. shooter last summer. Lucky for me it came with brass, bullets and dies. I already had a Lee mould to cast for my brothers .375 Winny Big Bore.
For the 220gr FN Hornady I’m loading 34.7grs of IMR 3031. This load dropped a moose in his tracks.
I have a Lyman 250gr gas check mould amd sizing die on order which I’ll be using in both the 1894 and 1885 High Wall. Powder will be IMR 4198.
I might have a set of Lee dies I’m not using if interested.

The good news is the modern replicas will take a whole bunch more pressure than the originals so you can get quite a lot better speed. First great thing to know, you can make brass by necking up 30-30 brass. #0-30 and 38-55 brass is MUCH thinner than 375 brass and will produce the same velocity at much lowe pressure so don't get foolled into using 375 Win brass.

As far as bullets, bullet barn will custom size their cast bullets for anything from .376 to ,382 so measure your bore and order .002 larger to ensure a good seal and engagement of the rifling. Sierra still makes a 200 grain FN for the 375 and 38/55 if you want jacketed bullets.

Great article on high performance 38-55 ammo.

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.ph...uct_list&c=175

Dean2, You Sir are the Chuck Hawks of Canadian gun forums :)
As a matter of fact you respectfully replied to to my thread to offer a threshold of caliber knowledge when I first dove into the new world of of 38/55 cartridge.
It is always so nice to have you on board :sHa_shakeshout:

http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=325578

Op, the article that Mr Dean2 left the link for is an excellent read btw

Thanks Dean2. Keep it up!

Thanks. Enough to make a fellow blush.:)

Op

For powder, try Varget to start with or 4198. Both produce good velocity, low pressure, low kick. Dick posted Western Metals, good link guy. Didn't know about them. Same price for cast as Bullet Barn, don't know if they custom size, but they do have Sierra 200 grain FN in stock for a reasonable price.

For your loads, make sure you crimp the bullets in place. It provides low SD in the straight wall cases, better accuracy and ensures the bullets don't move under recoil. Also, suggest you start load development with magnum primers, CCI 250, typically work well. For some reason they work better in the long straight cases then regular primers.

cast bullet with a gas check
the 35-55 is not a fast moving or super high pressure caliber
a good cast bullet from Ben Hunchuck at MTY chambers foam lake SK 306-272-4341

Thanks to your guys advice, loads are coming along quite nice. As for brass, .38-55 is hard to come by but I have an abundance of .375 win brass. I can hit the COL no problem with it, but the brass will of course be short, and the extra thickness when using .377 bullets should not be a problem. Anybody have experience doing this?

Do as u like but you are using the worst choice for brass. If u cant find 38-55 then u are much better off necking up 30-30 than subing in 375. The 375 brass willl substantially up your pressures without getting u the velocity that is possible using the thinner brass. 38-55 vrass is available by mail from a number of places in Canada. Try bullet barn, rusty wood trading
Raynershine and xreload for starters

I just bought 100 rounds of new Winchester 38/55 brass at Bashaw sports for a buddy a few days ago. They had a few more bags left too.

I’m sure I seen a bag or two at Proline in Calgary too.

Dean 2, I appreciate your candor on the subject, I'll leave the .375 brass for what it was meant for. Sportsman's Den in red deer had some .38-55 and I bought it all, so should be in business. Also thanks to all that mentioned Terry at Jet Bullets. I should be full steam ahead on this cartridge now.

Sorry if I was a little abrupt but 375 Win brass goes for gold prices. It is REALLY easy to resell for big bucks and you can but 4 times the amount of 30-30 brass or 2 times the 38-55 brass for what you can get for the 375 stuff. I always hate to see a really expensive option used when it produces inferior results to the cheaper stuff. Also, because I have 375s as well as 38-55s I would never want to get my 375 loads into one of my 38-55s by mistake. I save the 375 brass just for the 375s.

I thought I was being diplomatic but it is hard to convey tone in typed messages. Glad you found some brass.