Hello. What advice is out there for reloading the 38 55? Thanks and Merry Christmas!
Are you loading cast or jacketed? Newer gun or older gun?
You should really slug your bore to determine what you have as 38-55's are all over the place regarding bore size.
I had a Marlin Cowboy 336 in .38-55 for a while. Friend of mine owned the same rifle for a while. I don't recall now which of us had it first, for a couple years we shopped the same store and it seemed like we bought whatever the other one just got rid of though we never did any direct exchange.
Anyway, mine wouldn't feed smoothly with the RCBS cast bullet, seemed like too much "cheek" up front. It did real well with the Hornady 220 grain JFP both feeding and accuracy ... sub MOA launching them with 3031. It'd shoot MOA with WW factory ammo as well.
Like shoot4fun said, might want to slug it especially if it's an older gun. .38-55s are notorious for bores from .375 to .380. Gotta get the right diameter bullet to match your bore.
I bought a 336 action cowboy that slugs right at .380. I also have a new to me marlin 1893 smokeless barrel. Not been slugged yet. Would like jacketed for the 1893 but not imperative as my brother makes cast bullets as a hobby.
I'm sure you've read the 38-55 info over at marlinowners already but with a .380 bore, I think you'll be limited to cast. Rimrock bullets has a good selection of bigger cast diameters. Unique will often provide great accuracy and good velocity with those cast bullets. Working up to 10 grains or so seems to be the magic formula. Tremendous amount of info regarding 38-55 in these threads and sticky's:
http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/32-40-38-55-375-other-great-non-standard-calibers/
I have had good results with IMR 4198 and 240 grain cast bullets from Lasercast. I followed Ross Seyfried's rule of 40% of black with 4198, which in the 38-55 is 22 grains. I don't bother with a filler because I haven't seen an improvement with it.
Am going to be looking into some Paper Patching for the 38-55.
Will let ya know how it works. Lead boolits @ jacket velocities!! Perhaps .375s wrapped to .380!!!
Lions, tigers & bears, OH MY!!! And all with smokeless powder!!
Knarley