.38-50 Hepburn

[ian45662]

It would appear that Rick Moritz has won the BPCRS Nationals with his 38-50

[Kurt]

Ian, the .38-50 I have found to be a very good caliber. Very light in recoil and good accuracy potential.
But I will admit that mine fell asleep since I got this new lot of Swiss that I have not been getting a reliable accuracy under 2 MOA.
I haven't quite figured out what's going on and I went through several changes shooting ladder loads and seen groups 6" plus at 200 yards.

I been working with Gail at CPA for a second .38-50. I like the 44-1/2 Stevens action.

[Don McDowell]

I'ld like to see the score sheet and some commentary on the conditions. Rick is a hell of a shot and Hugh is one of the top shooters in the country.
I'm thinking from what we've seen so far the 38-50 may have been more of a detrimental thing given what we've seen for results so far.

[Kurt]

Don,

I also would like to see that posted. I been searching different black powder forums for match results but so far all I see this caliber mentioned but no match results other than what Ian has posted.

I mentioned above that I was having a problem with the new lot of swiss 1.5 so to test the difference I emptied some .45-90 loads that had the old lot of Swiss because, I don't have any left of it.
I screened out the fines from digging the powder out of the cases and reloaded it in the .38-50. I really thought that I screwed up the barrel from the results I been seeing lately shooting ladder loads with the same powder charge of the smallest groups but I used every different primers pistol as well as LR several different brands. The target I shot this morning @ 200 yards and the results between the old and new powder is dramatic.
The top target I just shot two relays to see what it looked like with several shots and it would not be good on a midrange target.
The other 4 targets is a comparison between the two lots of powder.
I hope it has a better result with my larger calibers

[craneman]

Hey Kurt
What lot number is the new lot? I recently received a case of Swiss but haven't had the opportunity to work with it yet.
Todd

[craneman]

Hey Kurt
What lot number is the new lot? I recently received a case of Swiss but haven't had the opportunity to work with it yet. Just curious.
Thanks!
Todd

[Kurt]

7/4/21 Todd,
I will be interested in your lot when you get a chance to load some.
Or anyone else that has this lot.
Doing this last range session I even went as far as to weigh every bullet and only used the exact weight cast with the same pot of alloy. I haven't weight bullets for a very long time.

[craneman]

Kurt,
Interesting. I have a BACO bullet mould, Metford style, that you had once posted a picture of that looked to me to be what I wanted to replace the pointed Money bullet I've used for years. I absolutely could not get an accurate load using Olde E. I ordered a case of Swiss from Gullo, same lot as yours and wall! Tiny groups out of my 4 45-70's. Honest to goodness 2 1/2"-3" groups at 200 yards, repeatable over and over. I immediately ordered another 50lbs, from powder inc. because BACO was out. New lot is 8-11-21, haven't tried it yet but my Harrell powder measure throws charges the same weight as the 7-4-2021 lot so hope springs eternal! I haven't had time to try it in other calibers yet but have a Ballard in 40-65 I had a 14 twist liner installed in that's begging to get out of the safe! I also have a high wall 38-55 12 twist that I picked up from Gussy at the Q that hasn't seen any range time yet, don't have a PP mould for it yet. I'm tickled that business is good but it sure hasn't left much time for fun! I'm going to have to get busy loading for Lodi though.

[Kurt]

That 5/11/18 was a good lot for me and it filled the same case flush with 66 grains where the 7/4/21 I can only get 62 grains in.
I will try it in the .45-90 and .40-65 but the .38-50 is a challenge using it.

That Metford shoots well in all of my .44's 16, 17 and 19 twists. It's very forgiving.
I have a feeling that the .100" freebore into a 1.5º shallow lead angle might be the gremlin if I don't get the DD PP bullet seated tight into the lead. But the 5/11/18 lot sure worked good.

[craneman]

Kurt,
In the 45-70's it's 82 gr Swiss 1.5 drop tubed with a ldpe .060 wad compressed about .1. Shot very well for me at the Quigley, misses were my fault not the load, was good enough for 7 on the off hand (don't think I'm ever going to get that damn pin!). I'm hoping to try that lot of Swiss in my daughter's Browning 40-65 this weekend with the DDEP bullet today or tomorrow to get her a load for Lodi.