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Offline lostarrow

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38-55 target
« on: January 30, 2012, 12:41:17 PM »
My 38-55 target rifle has had poor accuracy to be nice. Best I can do with 377 Barnes bullets has been 4-6 in. @ 100 yards with an occasional "flyer".
I know the bore is too big for the bullet.
I'm trying a trick from muzzleloading, I'm seasoning the barrel with Thompson center grease & not cleaning. It may be working ?
Last time I shot got a 3 in group @ 100yards with no flyers! Does this make since?
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Offline tacklebury

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Re: 38-55 target
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2012, 12:47:49 PM »
Quote
I know the bore is too big for the bullet

That means you are basically shooting a smoothbore.  If rifling doesn't get a good purchase on your bullet, you aren't going to get good accuracy...  If it were me in that caliber, I'd start out using light loads and lead bullets.  Honestly, I'd probably only load it with BP a case full with slight compression of FFFg or FFg powder is what that's beggin for.  I'm using these in .40-60 Marlin and .32 Winchester Special loads and they are decent inexpensive bullets.  Buy  a box of each size and load about 10 of each.  Shoot groups with each and it'll probably point to one that is more accurate.  Typically lead bullets need to be .001 bigger than your lands diameter to get best performance.  ;)
 
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/2046190771/hunters-supply-hard-cast-bullets-38-55-wcf-379-diameter-260-grain-lead-flat-nose
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/2046270933/hunters-supply-hard-cast-bullets-38-55-wcf-381-diameter-260-grain-lead-flat-nose
 
***edit*** 
I additionally put a thin coat of Lee Liquid Alox Bullet lube/coating on them.  This seems to improve performance some more.  ;)
You can also add an overpowder wad or grease cookie between the bullet and the powder to improve some .  ;)
Oh and if you still have issues, send it in to get it checked out.  hehe
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Offline gendoc

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Re: 38-55 target
« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2012, 12:50:19 PM »
Quote from: lostarrow on January 30, 2012, 12:41:17 PM
I'm trying a trick from muzzleloading, I'm seasoning the barrel with Thompson center grease & not cleaning. It may be working ?

i wud'nt put tc grease ona bicycle chain......... ::)  naw, jus kid'n !!! ;)
i use borebutter to condition. it works quite well.
i guess tha tc stuff will also....gud luck !! ;D
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Offline 26-t

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Re: 38-55 target
« Reply #3 on: January 30, 2012, 12:52:37 PM »
You should slug your bore. Mine likes cubby bullets ,.379 or .380. 26-t
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: 38-55 target
« Reply #4 on: January 30, 2012, 01:49:40 PM »
Quote from: lostarrow on January 30, 2012, 12:41:17 PM
My 38-55 target rifle has had poor accuracy to be nice. Best I can do with 377 Barnes bullets has been 4-6 in. @ 100 yards with an occasional "flyer".
I know the bore is too big for the bullet.
I'm trying a trick from muzzleloading, I'm seasoning the barrel with Thompson center grease & not cleaning. It may be working ?
Last time I shot got a 3 in group @ 100yards with no flyers! Does this make since?

You have a couple choices, use a softer bullet that will bump up, or neck ream it and load bigger bullets, I've had three 38-55 extractor barrels, they all slug .3795" in the groove, a .380" or bigger cast bullet is needed, or .378-.379" jacketed which are custom, there's a source in the FAQs for the jacketed, lots of sources for the .380" and bigger cast bullets. My 2007 38-55 shoots the 325gr Sheycast into an 1½" at 100yds using 375 Win data in Starline line brass, .381" bullet wouldn't chamber until I necked reamed which is covered in the FAQs also.

Tim
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Offline RPRNY

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Re: 38-55 target
« Reply #5 on: January 30, 2012, 02:04:21 PM »
You could always paper patch to bump out bullet diameter and get traction with the rifling. Paper patching and lubing was state of the art on big bore dangerous games guns right up through the first decade of the last century. Tradtional methods with template and fold are pretty painstaking but there are people using cigarette papers and a twist (and I have even read of a fellow using a cigarette rolling machine to patch) that seem to be effective. Just a thought.
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: 38-55 target
« Reply #6 on: January 30, 2012, 02:09:57 PM »
That may work if the round can be chambered, but the SAAMI spec neck won't likely allow it, that's why the .400" neck ream suggestion.  ;)

Tim
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Offline TopperT

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Re: 38-55 target
« Reply #7 on: January 30, 2012, 04:47:01 PM »
I had mine reamed to .400 and the result is night and day.  I shoot only Black Powder so my results will reflect that.
 
I use a 265 grn. .381 bullet over 42 grns of FF Swiss.  Accuracy is simply amazing.  The 38-55 is an inherently accurate round, once the chamber allows for the necessary larger bullet you have a tack driver.  I never tried the paper patch route, that could be interesting.  If you go that way let us know how you make out.
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