Loading the 38 55 and Comparing Black Powder to Smokeless

Loading up some 38-55 both smokeless and black powder. Some comparison shooting between the two.

[@lessage760]

thank you sir this was great would like to see more on the rifle build

[@donaldhesler3715]

Outstanding video. Keep it up. Had a Garret 50-140 Sharps. Never did enjoy shooting it. Kept it about seven years before selling it. It was a thumper with the 500 grain bullets and I never had the courage to shoot the 600 or 650 grain bullets it was supposed to shoot with 140 grains of 1F black powder. I had tried the drop tube but ended up placing the powdered cases in a loading Block, turned on my tumbler, picked up the loading. Lock, and placed my knuckles on the tumbler lid and watched the powder drop down approximately 3/8 inch. Gave you plenty of room for the over powder and grease wad. I think a 300 Weatherby Magnum is a close second in recoil. Certainly hope the gentleman I sold that Sharps too enjoys it more than I do. I just picked up a Uberty-Taylor High wall in 38-55. I believe I’ll enjoy it. Again, outstanding Video. I’ll be looking for more.

[@jcastle614]

Great shooting Dave! Love the 38/55 . Stay safe and God bless 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸!!

[@slimfire54]

Awesome video Dave.Thanks Slim.

[@BuckskinDave]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@johnnyholland8765]

38-55 is a good round. I have 2 of them. Both 94 win. and both made in early 1900 (1900 1910 ) One was a 32-40 with a trash barrel. Had it rebored and rerifled with 3 groove rifling for cast shooting by JES reboring. He did an excellent job. It is .375 bore. The other one is original and the bore is .378 so I had an Accurate mould made up for it. Shoot mainly 250 gr of wheel weight in the rebore and 20 to 1 in the other one. I like them for my buffalo match cause they are accurate and don't kick as much as my 1886 40-82. You are very lucky to be able to shoot in your back yard. I own 100 acres of land but can't shoot cause it is too close to town.

[@karlhammond2426]

Awesome video. So much useful information. I really appreciate it!

[@BuckskinDave]

Thanks for stopping by

[@MuskratOutdoors]

"Grave before shave, Dave!" A trim is OK though!! You do look different! I never have figured out why a drop tube is so important with black powder. It doesn't seem like it should do much, but it makes a huge difference. It even sounds different. More of a crack than a boom. The other thing that is maybe even more important is the lube. Smokeless powder, except for needing a scale, is for sure easier, but "The Dark Side" is more fun! I love that black powder smell too! 38-55 doesn't get much notice anymore, but it's a dandy cartridge. Good shooting and great video!

[@northernwoodsman]

Im rebuilding/slightly restoring my 1886. Not a gunsmith or anything but still a fun project.

[@TexasLeverGunner]

I prefer to load my BP by weight, instead of by volume, once I have cross referenced it with a volumetric measurer. I find Schuetzen 2F by weight is only 2gr short of it's volumetric measurement, Olde Eyensford, and Swiss being similar in that regard. Most volumetric measurers give some leeway, the 6 marking can run anywhere from 60-69gr, so checking it by weight helps. Pyrodex however, does not translate volume/weight at all, but pyrodex isn't burned in this house. When working up a BP load I usually go up in 1 grain increments, as I haven't found loading in tenths to make any difference. I'm partial to Schuetzen these days. It's still cheap, and burns well. My favorite smokeless powder for my 38/55 is 5744. With an Accurate 38-250f It gives me the velocity I like, and accuracy and consistency I look for. It probably wouldn't have been my first choice, but I keep many many many pounds of it on hand for other purposes, so it just makes sense. I do get some of the notorious unburned powder kernels. Great video. Glad to know I'm not the only 38/55 fan out there.

[@BuckskinDave]

Good info, thanks for checking in

[@garycorbier9123]

I believe Black Powder is weighed in grains same as smokeless.. a .45-70 has 70 grains of black powder.. a .44-77 has 77 grains of black powder. Pyrodex and other blk. powder substitutes are weighted by volume not grainweight

[@paulkoch9871]

I have an original rolling block, had a new barrel installed, and chambered for 38-55. I load a 255 grain bullet and 5744 powder, which is a sweet shooting load. They also shoot great in my Henry lever action in 38-55.

[@BuckskinDave]

Thanks for stopping by

[@marksparkplug7758]

Thanks buddy. Bluebird day here today, all outside work.

[@BuckskinDave]

Nice, I might be starting firewood gathering soon, just got firewood truck fixed an nice week ahead. Thanks for dropping in

[@HillDogTV]

new sub, i use a 375 win, but load it like yer hot rod 3855, altho just started loading more in the 1400 bracket, plinking an still take a deer out to 100 m peep sight.... keep up the videos, love to see some hunting with the gun

[@BuckskinDave]

They are similar cartridges in performance. Thanks for checking in

[@HillDogTV]

@@BuckskinDave check my videos for a lever gun deer hunt . hooroo

[@flintrichards945]

Nice shooting with that .38-55 stay well .I gonna get some more coffee see ya later.

[@BuckskinDave]

Thanks for stopping in

[@hawknives]

Excellent!

[@BuckskinDave]

Thanks for checking in

[@wilmamcdermott3065]

Mine are 255 grain hard cast at 1700 fps. Would not be afraid to use it. For grizzly

[@davidgardner863]

I have 3 original Ballards, a ‘93 Marlin, and a ‘94 Winchester all in 38-55. There is a huge difference in bore diameters. Slugging the barrel is a must to properly size the bullet.

[@BuckskinDave]

The vintage ones are true 38's. Thanks for checking in

[@davidgardner863]

@@BuckskinDave , You can’t count on that. My Ballards are .380, - .382, ‘93 Marlin, made in 1894, is .385, ‘94 Winchester made in 1923 is .379. All have pristine original bores.

[@2scoopsrasin]

Nice videos I really enjoy watching them. In case I missed you saying what is the length of the barrel on your 38-55 ? Thanks again

[@BuckskinDave]

24 inch, thanks for dropping by

[@sancharino4672]

Bore it 28 ga. Then you can use 28ga shotcups and sn overshot card. Use tps shotcups from bpi and number 9 tss. Will kill grouse to 40 mabie 50 yards. Possibly futher. Load it with lead 6s and be good to 20. Would be a very neat little pistol

[@leegeddyfan]

I usually run my 255grLFNGC to about 1650fps but I have pushed my 250grJFP to around 1830fps and both do great on whitetail and bear

[@BuckskinDave]

It really does it all. Thanks for stopping by

[@leegeddyfan]

@@BuckskinDave I'll have to try with black powder when i get a chance

[@Leverguns50]

You’re a crack shot for sure, Nice video enjoyed the 38-55, always wanted to one of them

[@chippergronholm5614]

Thanks for the vid

[@BuckskinDave]

Thanks for stopping by

[@WheelsandLevers]

Nice beard trim. Ever built a 45-70 lever gun? Like to see that.

[@BuckskinDave]

Haven't yet, but I bored out a 45-70 to 45-90

[@WheelsandLevers]

@@BuckskinDave Interesting stuff. Since you started talking about some of the old black powder levergun cartridges, it's peaked my curiosity. After studying up on the superior power of the 38-55 over the 30-30, I decided to look for one. I ordered a Henry 38-55 earlier today. They're $200-300 less than a Winchester 94, and everything I've seen or read about them says they're well made rifles.

[@JP-xh1cm]

Are 300 grain bullets the heaviest that can be loaded in .38-55 Winchester? Excellent video by the way.

[@BuckskinDave]

250s are heaviest I ever have loaded

[@MarcosCaminante]

Thanks for the video. Question about case length. Wanting a 1885 High Wall in 38-55. Long case or short case? Thanks again

[@BuckskinDave]

I only have used one size as I only have a lever gun. The single shot doesn't have an action for the case to go thru. Thank would be a question better asked to someone who has experience in that, maybe on a BPCR forum. Thanks for watching

[@davidgardner863]

It may depend on the overall cartridge length with the bullet you use. You can always shorten the longer case if you have a length problem.

[@davidgardner863]

Original or modern? You can always start with the longer case and shorten it I necessary.

[@leegeddyfan]

I've never loaded with black powder since I like the performance with smokeless powder. the usual suspects of Varget, H322, IMR3031 and H4198

[@BuckskinDave]

I like smokeless in this caliber too, but I also like to root back to its beginings

[@davidgardner863]

There is no danger of an accidental overcharge with black powder since you fill the case anyway.

[@jackson4861]

Dave, where are you located? Steve

[@Lucas-nh2mk]

wow that smoke shott is 2080 foot poundsss!!

[@BuckskinDave]

Thanks for stopping by

[@brianlee6849]

So with the black powder I thought it was designed for a max load of 55 grains by volume? But if you are compressing 40 grains by volume a 16th of an inch would you be able to fit 55 grains? And if I'm not mistaken that 1300 ft per second that you got with the black powder is what I've read was the standard load? So I'm wondering why they call it 38 over 55 grains? Thanks for your information I'm seriously thinking about getting the 3855 but I'm also looking at the 45 Colt for a lever gun black powder for hunting deer inside a hundred yards and having fun with my son and wife. Thanks

[@BuckskinDave]

Your question is a good one but there are so many factors at play in your question I think I will address it in an upcoming video. Thanks for watching

[@brianlee6849]

@@BuckskinDave Ok cool. I think that should be interesting because I've noticed a lot of times they don't hold the listed amount of black powder. Like I also heard that 4440 only takes 36 grains? Thanks

[@johnndavis7647]

There are two differences that make the powder capacity different The first difference is in the construction of the cases. The old cases were called "balloon head" cases. The case heads were folded in manufacture. Modern cases are solid head construction which makes them much stronger. This extra brass takes up some powder space. The second difference is in case lenght. The original 38-55s were single shot black powder rifles. The brass was 2.118' long. When they adapted the 38-55 for use in lever-action rifles they shortened the cases to 2.075. With smokeless powders this made no difference. So, there is early a tenth of an inch difference between old and new cases. Those two factors make it impossible to get 55 grains of black powder into a modern 38-55 case that is designed for use in lever action rifles. The longer brass can be ordered for use In single shot rifles . It will still be of solid head construction but in single shots the bullets can be seated out further in the case. By using a drop tube, compression die and seating the bullet out a bit 55 grains can be squeezed into them. The next thing I want to mention is that accuracy will be improved by weighing black powder charges. Once you work out how much powder it takes with drop tube and compression to properly seat the bullet, weigh that charge. Then make all of the charges exactly the same after that. There are powder measures that will safely drop black powder charges. These are faster and more accurate than hand tossed charges. Thanks for the video. Subbed.

[@BuckskinDave]

@@johnndavis7647 Thanks Johnn, your info is correct

[@brianlee6849]

@@johnndavis7647 Thanks for the info. I've only heard people refer to the 44-40 as originally having balloon head cases I never new the 38-55 was a balloon head. I did know about the case length change and people say they get best results from the starline cases also heard there are chamber differences and to get best accuracy they have to match and proper bullet size to the boar probably most important. It sounds like a lot of fun to get right. What rifle do you prefer and what load and bullet shoots best for you? Thanks 👍

[@paulmerritt7540]

Do you have to clean the black powder from the brass before reloading BP again?

[@BuckskinDave]

I do, wash them up in soapy water brush out and rinse and let em dry. Thanks for stopping by

[@davidgardner863]

I use Pyrodex RS but I would treat BP the same way. I drop the cases in a jug of soapy water as they are fired. That stops the corrosion process. At home I decap them and clean them in a wet drum tumbler. They come out looking like new. If you let them sit too long without cleaning you will have a bunch of corroded junk.

[@williamphillips7068]

How about 38-56 WCF as a forgotten caliber. I have my great grandfather's 1886 Winchester and am trying to find load data for smokeless

[@BuckskinDave]

Check with Buffalo Arms in Sandpoint, ID. Thanks for checking in

[@redtra236]

Not sure if using smokeless in that gun is a good idea

[@moemulkey2264]

👍

[@BuckskinDave]

Thanks for stopping by

[@sancharino4672]

Bore the pistol barrel to 28 gauge

[@lyndonfisher1974]

38-55 Gemmer with a pistol grip stock....HHmmmm...

[@BuckskinDave]

?

[@lyndonfisher1974]

@@BuckskinDave Just thinking about a build...Great Video as always !

[@BuckskinDave]

@@lyndonfisher1974 Kool, that would be a great build. I passed that through my head when I was looking for barrels. I was never a fan of pistol stocks for looks but they are comfy to shoot. Thanks for checking in

[@lyndonfisher1974]

@@BuckskinDave With that cartridge I probably wouldn't need the pistol stock. At 71...I found your channel and I love it...and I don't reload anymore.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

@@lyndonfisher1974 Actually, that Hawken style trigger guard kind of works like a pistol grip with that little swirl/ring thingy it has. A 38-55 Gemmer would be a great gun!