24hourcampfire.com
24hourcampfire.com
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Hop To
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,383
Campfire Regular
OP Offline
Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,383
Have a chance to shoot mule deer does in a small suburban lot. Would really like to use my Marlin 38-55 with reduced loads to limit sound. Shots will be 50yds with plenty of chance for supported shooting so ideally head shots. Anybody have favorite load to suggest? Thinking Hornady 220fp at 1500ish fps?

BP-B2

Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 59,904
M
Campfire Kahuna
Online Content
Campfire Kahuna
M
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 59,904
They're going to be quietest at sub-sonic velocities, eliminating the "sonic boom," which means much lower velocity, preferably around 1100 fps depending on air density.

My present .38-55 has a 26" barrel and does this with a 247-grain cast bullet and 9.5 grains of Trail Boss, but some other powders will work.


“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.”
John Steinbeck
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,383
Campfire Regular
OP Offline
Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,383
thanks for the info. Pass throughs? I am a big fan of cast bullets but pass throughs are an issue do I use pure lead treat it like a black powder?

Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 59,904
M
Campfire Kahuna
Online Content
Campfire Kahuna
M
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 59,904
My bet is you'd get pass-throughs with any bullet from a .38-55, except maybe a round ball. You going to be shooting from the ground or elevated?


“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.”
John Steinbeck
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,383
Campfire Regular
OP Offline
Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,383
ground....around buildings under a dead tractor over an abandoned scrap pile that kind of thing, 65yd about longest shot I can see potential for. abandoned farm "weed corner" over run with does and 3 point bucks. Serious consideration to archery but never a fan of the arrows DRT(dead right there) effect. If I can do this discreetly I will be invited back years on.
Got a 50-90 im thinking to turn into a blackpowder and "slap" them down.....I know thats an exaggeration but hope it conveys th idea....but ive a wonderfully accurate 38-55 ive never shot anything with and that rankles

IC B2

Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,701
J
Campfire Regular
Online Content
Campfire Regular
J
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,701
How's the .22 ammo availibality there? Good subsonics-S-K or Eley and an accurate .22 would be much safer.

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,383
Campfire Regular
OP Offline
Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,383
not legal......

Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,575
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,575
250ish cast and 10gr or a bit less of Unique will work but they will pass through with behind the shoulder shots--maybe even with high shoulder shots.


'Tis far better to walk alone than to follow a crowd going the wrong way.
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,153
M
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
M
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,153
I'd cast your bullets dead soft--pure lead--and either load black powder or cast them a little oversized. If your rifle is really accurate and you have time to pick your targets, look for raking shots from "either end."

I'll look at Ken Waters' "Pet Loads" and see if he has any "gallery loads." Those might work if cast soft.


Was Mike Armstrong. Got logged off; couldn't log back on. RE-registered my old call sign, Mesa.
FNG. Again.
Mike Armstrong
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,153
M
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
M
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,153
Couldn't find any .38-55 gallery loads in Waters' book but the Hogdon powder catalog/reloading manual I have shows two low velocity loads for the .38-55 under "long range rifle match," a "Cowboy Action Shooting" event"

250 grain cast bullet, 6 gr. Trail Boss @842 fps

250 grain cast bullet, 7 gr. Trail Boss @911 fps

Those should be quite quiet, and have low penetration.


Was Mike Armstrong. Got logged off; couldn't log back on. RE-registered my old call sign, Mesa.
FNG. Again.
Mike Armstrong
IC B3

Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 21,615
Campfire Ranger
Offline
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 21,615
I would try to get high and shoot into the ground.


Parents who say they have good kids..Usually don't!
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 36,823
D
Campfire 'Bwana
Offline
Campfire 'Bwana
D
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 36,823
It's never gonna be "quiet" while supersonic.

A nice solutions would be a .300 Whisper/AAC with a can. You can shoot .220 gr. bullets at 1,050 fps subsonic, pretty quiet. Now, the range won't be that much, probably 100 yds. And you'll need to hit them in the right spot.

You don't need to spend a bundle on an AR set up, a single shot H&R will work. The cost of the can and stamp will be more than the gun, but it can be used on other .30 cal. rifles with threads.

It's an excuse to get another gun... grin

DF

Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 102
J
Campfire Member
Offline
Campfire Member
J
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 102
Might find this article by Paco Kelly interesting..
http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/small_charges.htm

Last edited by Jedi_Swagger; 08/31/15.
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 423
J
JFE Offline
Campfire Member
Offline
Campfire Member
J
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 423
I've used the load in Paco's article (6.5 gr Red Dot behind a 250gr cast bullet) and not only is it very accurate, it is also very quiet. Velocity from a 20" carbine was 1030 fps and the load was accurate enough to head shoot rabbits at 50 meters.


Moderated by  RickBin 

Link Copied to Clipboard
YB23

Who's Online Now
722 members (02bfishn, 12308300, 11point, 10gaugemag, 10Glocks, 12344mag, 88 invisible), 2,736 guests, and 1,284 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums81
Topics1,187,698
Posts18,399,950
Members73,820
Most Online11,491
Jul 7th, 2023


 







Fish & Game Departments | Solunar Tables | Mission Statement | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA
Hunting | Fishing | Camping | Backpacking | Reloading | Campfire Forums | Gear Shop
Copyright © 2000-2024 24hourcampfire.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5
(Release build 20201027)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 7.3.33 Page Time: 0.127s Queries: 14 (0.003s) Memory: 0.8522 MB (Peak: 0.9584 MB) Data Comp: Zlib Server Time: 2024-03-28 23:47:16 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS