Who has a 38-55 rebore

[glockky]

I have recently gotten very interested in getting a marlin 336 rebored to 38-55 be Jes. Anybody have one of these? How does it shoot? Feed? What bullets do you like?
What kind of velocity are you getting?

[blackpowder man]

Great timing, I too have been thinking about this. I picked up a beauty a few months ago and the perfect load is eluding me. .38-55 with black powder and maybe smokeless with the lee 250 or something like it would be great. If it was accurate that is.......

[9.3X62AL]

I have a Win 94 re-bored by JES to 38/55. Still kinda sorting out what it likes, but so far it seems to dote on the Lee 250 FN/PB at 1300-1350 FPS. 2.0"-2.5" at 100 yards with open irons. The gas-checked Lyman and RCBS 250 grainers I'm still trying to figure out. JES cut mine with 3-groove pattern @ .376" throat and grooves. Bullets sized @ .377" don't lead the barrel a bit. He can cut 4-groove at a small up-charge, don't know if he can or will cut to old-school .379"-.381" specs.

[Buckshot]

............The 38-55 was originally a 40 rod (220 yards) schuetzen cartridge, and was no slouch in that regard, so the cartridge is proven, assuming thoughtful reloading. I have two rifles in that chambering:



First is a 1893 Marlin with a .376" groove, made in 1906.



Second is a Uberti 1885 Win repo, with a .380" groove.



These paper patched loads (.381" over the patch) 280gr HP are mainly used in the Uberti. However, both rifles have been fed the Saeco 225gr FNPB, NOE 235gr FNGC, Saeco 255gr, a Paul Jones 300gr Bore rider PB, and the Saeco 300gr FNPB.

One thing to be aware off is what chamber length are you going to get? The original was 2.125". Before Starline brought the longer case back, most 38-55 was offered only in the 2.10" length. Both my rifles have the longer chamber, so that's the brass I use.

Some load data, this was all in the Marlin since everyone is talking leverguns:

Saeco 225gr FNPB Red Dot:
6.0 gr 1036
7.0 gr 1105
8.0 gr 1196
9.0 gr 1273

2400 powder:
16 gr 1557 + dacron (favorite load)

SR7625 Powder.............
12 gr No velocity recorded A+++ accuracy with dacron.

Unique Powder .............
9.5 gr 1283
10 gr 1350

SR4759 ......................
16 gr 1330
17 gr 1405

H4198 ...................
21 gr 1351

Surplus IMR 4198 (close to IMR 3031).............
26 gr 1475 + dacron A+ accuracy
26 gr 1433 + Grex A+ accuracy

Lyman 375449 FNGC 264 gr:

9.0 gr Unique = 1094
9.5 gr Unique = 1186
10 gr Unique = 1220

16 gr 2400 = 1441

16 gr SR4759 = 1335
17 gr SR 4759 = 1370

21 gr H4198 = 1472 + dacron

26 gr Surp IMR4198 = No velocity recorded A++ accuracy

26 gr IMR3031 = No velocity recorded

22 gr AA2200 =1147 + dacron
23 gr AA2200 = 1168 + dacron
23 gr AA2200 = 1349 + Grex
24 gr AA2200 = 1381 + Grex
25 gr AA2200 = 1449 + Grex

30 gr Surp WC846 = 1576 + Grex
30 gr BLC-2 = 1487 + Grex

None of the above loads displayed any of the usual pressure indicators like flattened primers and/or harder extraction. In no loads were the boolits scaled or other efforts made to extract ultimate accuracy. After all it's a lever action without a scope and all shooting was done at 50 yards benched.

All the loads were 5 shot. Many besides those specially called out for accuracy would put all 5 in an inch. Sometimes 4 would cut one hole and the fifth would land 2" away In none of the loads listed was there a true stinker. If one was to put in some effort (like scaling the slugs) etc, they'd all show VG to Exc results I'm sure.

...............Buckshot

[northmn]

The JES rebore has been popular on the Marlin Forum and is well liked. 38-55's seem to all follow the same formulas unless unusually large bored, which some old ones are. .001-.002 oversized bullets and reasonable 38-55 loads for cast. JES permits use of some jacketed bullets available. They are spendy. Lots of us like 4198 for cast loads. Basically the problem with the cartridge is that available data is wanting. Many want to overload it or they use ridiculous components or base firearms. Most of us either use Winchester cases or more commonly Starline brass. My Lee mold drops out my alloy at about 258 grains and 380 as cast. Two popular loads are 9-10 grains of Unique or 21-22 grains of 4198 for a hotter load for that bullet or the old Lyman bullet that is similar. My old Lyman manual lists 25 grains at 1500+. I tried them and was not getting god accuracy. On a hunch I chronographed 23 grains of 4198 and got over 1600fps. As mentioned the data is not very reliable. Normally I would not offer loads but these are common loads and data is not available. I am also assuming you re-bored a modern rifle. Old originals need to be backed off a bit and close to BP pressures and loads. My rifle is a 38-55 Marlin Cowboy.

DP

[KCSO]

I have had more than one done there and they are all shooters. The last 94 he did for us is a real treasure and shoots like a target gun with 520 grain cast. You won,t be sorry.

[9.3X62AL]

Make haste slowly if your plans include "stepping up" velocity in the 38/55 from its 1881 levels. In my ventures with gas-checked 250 grain-class bullets, all has gone well through the 1600-1650 FPS threshold. Venturing into the 1700-1750 FPS dialing area got me cases with loosened primer pockets in new Starline brass, using under-max "book" loads of IMR-4198 and RL-7 derived from Ken Waters' Pet Loads compendium. I spent a couple football games-worth of time de-loading a lot of cartridges and later reworking loads, all of which will get chronographic supervision.

[Calamity Jake]

Don't have a rebore but do have a Marlin CB in 38-55, it needs a .380 boolit to shoot good.
I use a Huch nose pour at 265gr and a Lyman 375248 a 260gr.
Both shoot into a coffee cup at 100 yds. using Green Dot with a dacron filler.

[jtaylor1960]

I have a 336 Marlin JES rebore in 38/55 with the .376" groove diameter.It shoots the RCBS 37-250-fn bullet which weighs about 270 grs. when cast from wheel weights.Groups at 100yds. are just over one inch.The load is 32.0 grs. of H-4895.I do not know the velocity.I use Starline brass trimmed to 2.082".

[smokinfeathers]

I also have a marlin rebore and it shoots great

[Prodigal Son]

This a target from a Marlin 30 AS JES did for me. It has a .375 bore and is one fine shooter! I shoot a 250 PB boolit from a Lyman 375483 I think, I shoot squirrels in the head anytime! Load data is on the target, do it, he has done a 243 to 358 Win for me and his 405 JESS on a Westernfield Marlin for me! He does grade A number 1 work and will return your call!

[oscarflytyer]

not yet, but have the project gun in waiting. Glenfield 30 w/ short mag. Was a rescue - had been in an attic wrapped in blanket for 10 yrs. Shoots great in 30-30, but I only have $65 total in it - and not a Marlin, so it is a prime candidate.

[Ithaca Gunner]

I had a Winchester 1894 SRC rebored by JES 2 years ago. Two things amazed me, the speed in which it was done, I got it back about 2 weeks from the time I shipped it, and the quality of the work. I got the 5 groove original type rifling and it shoots as good as a SRC can with a mid load of IMR4198 using a LEE 250gr fn or Accurate Molds 255gr.fn. I'm very pleased with it and would do it again.

[T-Bird]

I have a mod '94 made in the '80's that he rebored for me last year. It's 3 groove, shoots great with Lee 379-259 and 16.5 gr IMR 4227 and dacron for 1350fps.NO leading at .378.

[glockky]

Thanks for all the info. I really appreciate it. This project will be a go as soon as I find the right donor rifle.

[fordwannabe]

Another Yup from Jes. He did a 38/55 on a winchester for me. Fast turn around really nice guy and he included the correct load in the case with the rifle. Shoots really well...Me sometimes not so much.