Douglas barrel on CPA

[Sendaro]

A new Douglas XX barrel for my CPA rifle chambered in 30-30 Winchester arrived the other day. A look at the bore with the bore scope showed me a barrel that appears hand lapped. It's bore is one of the nicest I've ever seen. I could find no cross bore reamer marks as some makers leave in their premium barrels. Pushing a tight fitting patch through the 28" went very uniform and smooth til near the last 1 1/2 inches where I could feel a slight tightening. Although it got somewhat tighter it was still smooth.

Loaded some test rounds to give it a try with Lyman 311332GC bullet over 15.5 grains of IMR4227 and provided the spark with Fed 210s. After 3 shots at 25 yards to get the scope on I switched to the 100 yard target. That target a 1 inch black shoot and see dot on a white paper provided a great aiming point for the Leupold 20X. Shot #1 on that target came in about 3 1/2' low. I adjusted the scope for a dead on hold and fired at the bullet hole. That shot was nearly cutting the targeted hole. The next 5 shots were at the 1" shoot and see sticker. Four were inside and one at 3/8" out to the right.

It was very cold so I didn't feel like setting up the chrono. That will be done soon. Very pleased with CPA's work, and look forward to load development with this barrel and cast bullets.

Sendaro

 

[Richinsd]

A new Douglas XX barrel for my CPA rifle chambered in 30-30 Winchester arrived the other day. A look at the bore with the bore scope showed me a barrel that appears hand lapped. It's bore is one of the nicest I've ever seen. I could find no cross bore reamer marks as some makers leave in their premium barrels. Pushing a tight fitting patch through the 28" went very uniform and smooth til near the last 1 1/2 inches where I could feel a slight tightening. Although it got somewhat tighter it was still smooth.

Loaded some test rounds to give it a try with Lyman 311332GC bullet over 15.5 grains of IMR4227 and provided the spark with Fed 210s. After 3 shots at 25 yards to get the scope on I switched to the 100 yard target. That target a 1 inch black shoot and see dot on a white paper provided a great aiming point for the Leupold 20X. Shot #1 on that target came in about 3 1/2' low. I adjusted the scope for a dead on hold and fired at the bullet hole. That shot was nearly cutting the targeted hole. The next 5 shots were at the 1" shoot and see sticker. Four were inside and one at 3/8" out to the right.

It was very cold so I didn't feel like setting up the chrono. That will be done soon. Very pleased with CPA's work, and look forward to load development with this barrel and cast bullets.

Sendaro

I have had a heavy Douglas barrelled CPA 38-55 for several years now. And with a Hoch 335 grain nose pour and 14 grains of IMR 4227 breach seated, the smallest five shotter at 100 is .796" so far. Loaded with the same bullet and 3F Goex black as fixed, right at one minute for ten shots at 200. They are very nice rifles. Glad yours is shooting well. I am happy with mine.

 

[Sendaro]

Richinsd,
I'm planning to get a 3rd barrel for my CPA in 38-55. Hope to do this project starting next December. My 32-40 bench rest CPA can be a fickle wench! She starts to give good score and groups and then makes me work very hard. Best group at 200 yards with it was with HOCH bullet BS'ed and 14.5 grains of IMR4227. Five shots in .837". At 100 yards same load .317". However I just seem to shoot a higher score than 248. My shooting a Schuetzen 250 is still to come for me. I have other CPA's with Shilen's air gauged barrel on it. My Douglas barrels shoot better.

Do you shoot Schuetzen?

 

[Richinsd]

Richinsd,
I'm planning to get a 3rd barrel for my CPA in 38-55. Hope to do this project starting next December. My 32-40 bench rest CPA can be a fickle wench! She starts to give good score and groups and then makes me work very hard. Best group at 200 yards with it was with HOCH bullet BS'ed and 14.5 grains of IMR4227. Five shots in .837". At 100 yards same load .317". However I just seem to shoot a higher score than 248. My shooting a Schuetzen 250 is still to come for me. I have other CPA's with Shilen's air gauged barrel on it. My Douglas barrels shoot better.

Do you shoot Schuetzen?

There are no schuetzen activities in this part of the country. However, a few years ago some members from a club that I frequent suggested starting some Schuetzen matches because there are several of us that have the equipmet but nothing ever came of it. So the shooting that I do is just for my own enjoyment.

That CPA 38-55's main purpose was BPC midrange but after making a breach seater and trying smokeless, I think it could do double duty if the shooter was up to it.

R.

 

[Sendaro]

The 38-55 cartridge seems somewhat under powered and just a fad of the past. Weather it's the past or present to become anything of notoriety there has to be something there that at the time that stands out. The Schuetzen shooters of the past and the present have high regard for this cartridge as an accurate one. that holds true today when shot in the type of firearm that it was designed for. As for power I offer the attached photo. It was taken by my father while he was stationed in Alaska in the early 1940's. That native is holding a 38-55 that he defended his salmon traps with. The photo attests to the fact the 38-55 is a lethal big game cartridge if used properly. Sendaro

 

[9.3X62AL]

My time-in-grade with the 38/55 is quite short, but in spite of short duration my impression of the caliber is that it is accurate and useful for short- and middle-range game taking and protection against toothy critters. Marie and I spend a LOT of time in the back-country, and a rifle of large-caliber with heavy bullets using a flat-pointed form are very comforting to have ready at hand. Such tools are no slouch vs. predators of the 2-legged variety, either. One of my better moves was to have the Win 94 in 25/35 (with spoiled chamber) rebored to 38/55 in 2013.

 

[Sendaro]

My plan for the 38-55 is for Schuetzen and killing steel critters.

Sendaro

 

[freebullet]

Really cool pic!

Thanks for sharing.