38/70

[txpete]

anyone got any info on the 38/70 winchester???the rifle is a 1886 win. 24" barrel.need any info y'all have.
thanks
pete

[Harry O]

anyone got any info on the 38/70 winchester???the rifle is a 1886 win. 24" barrel.need any info y'all have.
thanks
pete

Per Cartridges of the World:
"Introduced in 1894 for the 1886 Winchester lever-action repeater, the 38-70 did not catch on and was discontinued within a few years. This cartridges offers little if any improvement over the 38-55. It is of bottlenecked design, but is not the same as the 38-56 or the 38-72 Winchester. The older Lyman catalogs indicated it used the standard 38-55 bullet of 0.379". Although the 38-70 case is longer than the 45-70, usable but short-necked cases could be made from the 45-70. However, the "basic" 45 cases now available will make perfect replacement cases."

It shows some dimensions in the back of the book. Rimmed bottleneck case. Bullet diameter 0.378". Case length 2.31". Rim Diameter 0.600". Neck diameter 0.403". Shoulder diameter 0.421". Base diameter 0.506". Overall cartridge length 2.73". Large rifle primer.

[6pt-sika]

Here's what is written in the "7th Edition , Cartidges of the World".

Historical notes : Intoduced in 1894 for the Winchester Model 1886 lever action repeater. The 38-70 did not catch on and was discontinued within a few years.

General comments : This cartridge offers little if any improvement over the 38-55 . It is a bottleneck design but is not the same as the 38-56 or 38-72 WIN . The older Lyman books indicated it used the standerd 38-56 diameter bullet of .379".

38-70 loading data ;

250 lead IMR4198 - 27 grains MV- 1350 ME - 1120 (using Lyman mould 375167)

255 lead IMR3031 - 33 grains MV - 1735 ME - 1715


275 SP Factory load MV - 1475 ME - 1330


Bear in mind all this came directly from the above mentioned book ! NONE of it is stuff that I personally have done , as I have never had a 38-70 in my hands :(

[6pt-sika]

Pete , if the rifle is in decent shape and decently priced I would purchase it as I think this cartridge is a little difficult to come by !!!!!!!!

Hence should you get it and keep it a few years then decide to liquidate it , you might be able to turn a tidy profit [smilie=1:

[Nueces]

Howdy, Pete

Snooky Williamson's book says it was introduced in 1894 and initially loaded with BP, ballistics little better than the 38-55. Groove diameter of 0.375. Not in the lineup very long and probably scarce.

Using the Barnes 255 slug, Snooky got 2161 fps out of it using 3031 and said: "It is a lot of gun! It will handle anything in North America." The Lyman 375296 achieved 2000 fps.

Base case is the 45-90 and forming dies are recommended for the long tapered case.

hth, Mark

I used to stop at the Hill burger place in Bellville. Pretty good rings, too.

[StrawHat]

According to Ken Waters:

Factory specs;

Balck powder load 255 grain lead bullet @ 1449 fps

Smokeless load 255 grain lead @ 1489 fps

Recommended load

Lyman 375296 with 36,0 grains of H-4895

Venturino lists no loads for it and comments that less than 600 were made.

It would seem to be a rare chambering.

The M94 in 38-55 can be handloaded to duplicate or better the ballistics.

If you have the rifle, are you considering shooting it?

[txpete]

thanks to all for the great info on this 1886 and data.my son in law just picked it up in kansas.he says the rifle is in 80+ cond.sure sounds like a winner and I have a bullet mold that will work.
thanks again.
pete

[StrawHat]

thanks to all for the great info on this 1886 and data.my son in law just picked it up in kansas.he says the rifle is in 80+ cond.sure sounds like a winner and I have a bullet mold that will work.
thanks again.
pete

Congrats on the find.

If Venturino is correct, a call or letter to the Winchester record place (can't remember the correct name but it is/was located in the Buffalo Bill museum) might be well worth the effort.

KW also stated the rifling twist was 1 turn in 24 so looking down the bore you should see one complete turn.

Congrats again.