Hobie:

Congrats. I think 4198 and RL 7 are two powders that are often overlooked for versatility.

They work well in other things besides Old Lever Action cartridges and Varmint cartridges.

Locally I have noticed that H 4198 is drying up fast, I wonder if Hodgdon is going to stop making it since it bought IMR. IMRs 4198 evidently sold better.

Actually I liked both of them, H4198 is easier to load in 223 cases than IMR, although I am more an IMR fan than Hodgdon's powders.

Good luck with the 38/55.
Cheers and good shooting.
Seafire

seafire,

I knew you'd like this. I was a bit careful but after studying everything I knew it would go.

H4198 is pretty available here but I might buy another pound or two, just in case....

Hobie,

Your loads are pretty hot. My comments are directed only at your loads with Rel 7. They are in the same league as my 405 Win loads. Specifically, the 405 Win loads, which propel 300 gr bullets at 2500+ fps and 400 gr bullets at 2100+ fps. I am quite confident they exceed 30-30 Win pressure levels.

Scott

A big thankyou from this quarter too. 38-55 loads suffer from old gun + lawyer desease.
I'll be working those up when my 38-55 arives.
H4198 and R7 are favorites of mine in the 45-70.

I have several 38-55's - the strongest 2 being a Browning highwall traditional hunter and a Ruger #1(yep - its factory). The Ruger has a .379 bore so its a cast shooter only. The highwall will digest max 375 Win loads(in 375 brass ) down to 300 gr cast at 1100 fps. You can go up to 37 gr of Re-7 in the highwall! Don't overlook AA 1680 for heavy jacketed loads or AA 5744 for cast and moderate jacketed loads.