Log In
Members
Home
Add Reply
Add Topic
Offline
Headed over to the range today to try out a new load for my Winchester Model 1894 38-55. This particular rifle was made in 1904. It has a full octagon barrel and a tang sight. I set up the target at 100 yards and took five shots. Measuring with my steel ruler, all five shots went into a 1 & 7/8″ group at 100 yards. The load was 17.5 grains of 5744 under a 255 grain soft cast bullet sized to .380. To write this up, I went to weigh one of the sized and lubed bullets and noticed that the butt end seemed to have a lot of lube on it, so I wiped it off and made a discovery. These are gas checked cast bullets and I’d completely forgotten they were when I sized and lubed and loaded them! So that five-shot, 1 & 7/8′ group at 100 yards was shot with soft cast bullets that were missing their gas checks! I’m surprised they are so accurate without them. Having done that, I don’t see why I would bother with the expense of putting gas checks on them in the future. This particular load gives me a 10 shot average velocity of 1,365 fp with an E.S. of 29 fps. The temperature was in the 80’s and I have found 5744 to be temperature sensitive, so they will probably slow down to around 1,330 fps when hunting this fall in below freezing temps. Anyway, here are a couple photos …
Good shooting Kirk. I havent used 5744 in a long time but if I remember right I was using 17 grn loads. I bought a ton of the SR4759 before they quit producing it and thats all Ive used since. If I ever run out, the 5744 or IMR 3031 will be my next choices. Both shoot good groups as well.
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
Gaschecks are not “needed” below roughly 1600fps but are a must above.
In general you’ll see improvement as speed increases when a check is applied.
To stop contamination of powder apply a milk carton wad at the bottom of the bullet when seated.
1892takedown said
Good shooting Kirk. I havent used 5744 in a long time but if I remember right I was using 17 grn loads. I bought a ton of the SR4759 before they quit producing it and thats all Ive used since. If I ever run out, the 5744 or IMR 3031 will be my next choices. Both shoot good groups as well.
SR4759 has also worked well for me as well. I only have slightly less than 1 pound left. 🙁
Thanks for the write up Kirk. I don’t own a 38-55 but still always learn something from your posts. Good luck hunting!
My reference material show your serial number as a 1901 production. My sources could be wrong.
Easty said
My reference material show your serial number as a 1901 production. My sources could be wrong.
You are indeed using an incorrect reference source. I highly recommend that you use this one – https://winchestercollector.org/dates/
Bert – WACA Historian
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Easty said
My reference material show your serial number as a 1901 production. My sources could be wrong.
Based upon what information??? I see no serial number to do a lookup.
Chuck said
Based upon what information??? I see no serial number to do a lookup.
Click on the picture of the target in the original post…
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
Click on the picture of the target in the original post…
Thanks Bert, I did not catch that. The Guests information is still wrong.
Thanks for getting me started using the right date of manufacture reference. My 1894 TD 38-55 that several “experts” told me was made in 1903 was actually made in 1905. Will have to check several other Winchesters I have and get those correct dates.
Easty said
Thanks for getting me started using the right date of manufacture reference. My 1894 TD 38-55 that several “experts” told me was made in 1903 was actually made in 1905. Will have to check several other Winchesters I have and get those correct dates.
You can verify it with a factory letter from the CFM records office.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
1 Guest(s)
