Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers 1895 38-72 loads

Just picked up a Whinchester 1895 in 38-72. Bore is good but shallow. Any load suggestions. Not much info that I can find. I would like to shoot mainly cast bullets. Any good source besides Buffalo arms?

Thanks

In Ken Waters"Pet Loads Complete Volume"He has some loades listed for the 38-72.

form cases from 405 Winchester brass,turn rim to .519 diameter
Lyman #375167 267 gr. 32 gr. IMR3031 target load
37 gr. IMR4895 hunting load
Hornady 220 gr. jacked 37 gr. RL-7
Speer 235 gr, jacked 35 gr. RL-7
No velocities were given.

405 brass has too thick a rim to close the bolt with a round in the chamber. You need to find 38-72 brass. The rims were made thicker on the 405 so the action wouldn't close in the 40-72 as the 405 loads are more potent and could blow up the 40-72. The 40-72 and 38-72 were black powder chamberings before the 405 was developed.

I got a bunch of Jamison brass from Graf...

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/category/categoryId/851

Mike Venturino and I have just completed an article on the 40-72 and the 405 Winchester testing both cartridges and cast bullets in original 1895 Winchesters.

We are using 5744 powder and 408 gas check bullets. I can't say what you will want to use for the 38-72 without a bore measurement and choosing a cast bullet accordingly. Ours is a mould Mike ordered special for this project with a 320 grain bullet. I would expect yours to be a bit lighter, but you should be able to closely duplicate the same loads.

The article will be out shortly, I don't know which magazine he is sending it to, Rifle or Handloader...

Thanks Gents for the info. Looking forward to bringing the ole gal back to life again.

Post some pictures of the "ole gal", we like the porn!