TxGunNut,

  I load a traditional Lyman 255 grain lead bullet with IMR 4198 powder, and sometimes RL 7, for use in my 1894’s.  I can not say for sure, but since 255 grains was the original weight, it may be you are a little “heavy” with the 285 grain bullet.  In the for what its worth category, I have had issues with the 255 grain, flat nose bullet not being able to religiously flatten the ram silhouette at 200 yards, let alone the buffalo silhouette, and a heavier bullet would definitely help.  Thus, I use a 312 grain, pointed silhouette bullet in my 1885 (modern make) Winchester.  Now, have I measured the twist rates in any of the above rifles?  No.  I do know I can NOT use the 312 grain bullet in my 1894, and was pleased it stabilized and shot relatively well in the 1885, and let it go at that.  If you wish to know the powder charges I use for my 1894’s. let me know and I will check my records.

Tim Tomlinson

TxGunNut,

  If you are trying a 255 grain lead bullet, with IMR 4198, start about 20.0 grains and ease up a little.  May be able to go to 20.5 or so.  Velocity should be in the high 1300’s to low 1400’s, about where bare lead does well in my estimation.  Much higher in velocity and it seems groups go a little wild.  While I said I had some RL-7 loads, at present can find no documentation of that, so would not recommend anything along those lines.  I seem to recall trying it with lead, but without written records, can say nothing further. I have used, and like IMR 4198 as it seems bulkier than the loads for lead using, say IMR 4227 and 2400, and seems tolerant of differing position issues.  Having said that, and in the “no good deed goes unpunished” category, I had a friend in a hurry to get some .45-70’s loaded for his T/C Contender pistol.  Against my judgement, I read off a load I used frequently in my 1886.  Soon my friend was busy shooting the “exact same load” as put together by yet another party, and it was detonating with wild pressure swings, stuck cases, etc.  Obviously it was my fault.  The fact I was on the line with the 1886 with my loads exactly as I had related to him without having any issues did not bear on the matter at all.  I thus tend to no longer give out my load recipes but only approximations and a caution to start low, and work up in your individual rifle.  

  Let me know if you have any success with your loading of 255 grain lead.  By the way, I size to .379 as that is the biggest that will allow chambering in MY rifles with Winchester long brass.  Perhaps, with either the short version of Starline brass or trimmed brass, you may be able to go to .380.  A LOT depends on the chamber dimensions as well as the groove diameter of your particular rifle.  Did I slug any of mine?  No.  I assumed the worst, sized as large as I could and get them to chamber, and it worked out.  I tend to not look for details if I have miraculously avoided a problem.  

Tim

I ordered a brass mould from Accurate Moulds, #AM379255L several years back. I’ve used the air-cooled, soft-cast bullets (clip on wheel weights) with gas check, in several original Winchester 1894 38-55’s and one original Marlin 1893 38-55. It gives me an average of 2″-2 & 3/4″ groups (five shots) at 100 yards no matter what rifle I shoot them out of BUT, and this is a big ‘But’, I do size them to match groove diameter, or 1 or 2 though under groove diameter. I don’t know why they shoot so well when sized that way, but they do. Of course, this is over 5744 powder.

Here is the link to the mould