38/55 or 375win ?

[Goat]

I want to find a straight gripped Marlin 336 and either re-bore or re-barrel to one of these cartridges. I really like the classic 38/55 but like the option of the heavier hitting loads of the 375. I have been hand loading for nearly 20 years so I will probably never fire a factory load. I know the 38/55 has been killing critters for a long time but really want to have the option of more horsepower if I hunt something beside deer. Can the 38/55 SAFELY be stepped up some or should I just go with the 375?
Goat

[no_1]

The 375 Win is a favorite cartridge of many on this board. There has been a lot of thread activity in the last couple days on it. If you go with the 375 Winchester you can always safely load it down. Trying to safely load up the 38/55 which could be a bad idea if someone else gets a hold of your "hot" ammo.

Robert

[beagle]

Lot to be said for the above post. I built a Number 1 .38/55 and enjoy the best of both worlds. Cast in .38/55 and jacketed stuff in .375 Win brass./beagle

[6pt-sika]

I suppose I took care of this question in a rather expensive way

I got a Marlin 336CB in 38-55 first out of which I only shoot cast !

Then maybe 3 or 4 months later I got a Marlin 375 and from this one I only shoot jacketed .

Coupole years after that I was able to get a nice old Marlin model 1893 in 38-55 of 1894 vintage and again cast bullets only !

But not to be left out I found a great deal on a second Marlin 375 about 2 years ago and so now I have a cast bullet 375 as well !

For the straight grip aspect of this both my 38-55's have straight grips and both the 375's are still stock with PG's .

I might add that 336CB in 38-55 was the FIRST rifle I ever killed a deer with cast bullets , also first one to be killed with my OWN cast bullets and the first one to NOT be scoped when I killed the deer . I used the RCBS 37-250GC if I remmeber correctly .

The 375 Marlin cast bullet rifle was the first rifle I ever used cast bullets in a scoped gun to kill a deer ! Up until last season all the deer I killed with cast bullets were either shot with open , reciever or tang sights !

[beagle]

The advantage to rebarreling is that you can start with a .375" barrel and avoid the need for oversize bullets that the Marlin .38-55s require for accuracy.

I went that route and eventually got the Number 1 rebarrelled. If you can use .375" bullets, another whole world of bullets is available./beagle

[DJWright]

Go with the .375 Win. then you can easily use both cast and common jacketed bullets and have the best of both worlds.

[EDK]

There's a 38/55 Cowboy on gunbroker and over at sasswire...both around $750...the one on sasswire has a LYMAN tang sight and other goodies included IIRC.

There have been articles in SHOOT! magazine and otherplaces/forums on the 38/55's issues with bore/groove diameter and case length versus chamber length in various era guns. No big problems with a chamber cast, slugging the bore and buying a custom mold....all of which the guy who buys a 38/55 would do automatically with most obscure/obsolete calibers. (Not being a PITA...just stating the way I see it...remember I shoot a 50/90 SHILOH SHARPS. 38/55 and 50/90 aren't on the shelves at any WALMART in my area.)

Lots of luck on the straight gripped MARLIN! I recently got one off gunbroker for $350, with a 2.5 BUSHNELL scope mounted. The scope is going to my brother and the 336 RC is going to MARLIN for conversion to a 30/30 Cowboy next week. Cost of new components from receiver forward is $300+...and a new buttstock is $$? The supply may open up as the economy continues to falter, but I'm not seeing a lot of them and I check several auctions daily. If I wanted a 38/55, I'd get one of the two mentioned above and do what was necessary to get it shooting the way I wanted...it's basically what I'm doing for the 30/30...there's even less of them around. Maybe someone at MARLIN will take notice and re-issue the 336 COWBOYS and/or straight grip stocks on their 30/30 lever guns...but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting!

[Pioneer2]

At least you only need one set of dies as the 38-55 and .375 Win can be done on either set while you're mullen things over......Harold

[missionary5155]

Good afternoon
And just to muddy the water a little... Last time up there I bought a ugly speceled 94 Winny in30-30 for $200. I already had bought a .375 Winchester barrel off a Big Bore model for $50.
A machinest friend recut the barrel threads to fit the 94 reciever. The Big Bore barrel is a larger diameter. So I have a straight grip lever action .375 for $250 + .
Winchester did the inicial testing on the .375 using the 94 frame. I am not going to HOTROD either with just cast. When I get ready to pass it on I will replace the 30-30 barrel and sell it as a pachage .. NO IT IS NOT FOR SALE. It shoots as good as my 38-55 Winny and I am happy with both.
God Bless You !

[ddeaton]

I passed up a Marlin in 38/55 today at the gun show. I am fairly new to levers and wasnt sure about the caliber. I ended up getting one in 38/357. I am going to get a couple molds and try this one out. So 38/55 is still a good round. Can brass be bought reasonable? I only seen 2 boxes of ammo and he wanted around 44 dollars a box.

[ktw]

So 38/55 is still a good round. Can brass be bought reasonable? I only seen 2 boxes of ammo and he wanted around 44 dollars a box.

Many of the normal outlets carry Winchester 38-55 brass (2.080"). Starline makes it in both the 2.080" and 2.125" lengths and will sell it to you direct. 30-30 brass can be blown out and used if you don't mind it being a little bit short.

-ktw

[missionary5155]

I passed up a Marlin in 38/55 today at the gun show. I am fairly new to levers and wasnt sure about the caliber. I ended up getting one in 38/357. I am going to get a couple molds and try this one out. So 38/55 is still a good round. Can brass be bought reasonable? I only seen 2 boxes of ammo and he wanted around 44 dollars a box.

Good evening 38-55 STILL agood round ??? When did it ever stop being a GOOD round ! I have never met anyone who has owned and used one that would say it will not still do just what is was meant to do.
Sadly there have been a few NEW rifles with bad barrels BUT that sure has nothing to do with the cartridge. Smack any lower 48 critter with a 255+ grain flat nose soft lead boolit moving at 1300 fps correctly placed and said critter is on the way to the meat locker. Up that fps to 1600 and I would tackle any critter in North America. Up that fps to the Marlin capabilities and there is not a lot you could not hunt world wide. Boolit placement is everything and 255 + grains of lead if a healthy pill to get smacked with.
Any reloader can load 38-55 easily if they pay attention to details. Casters can really make the 38-55 into what it is.. a great old cartridge that just keeps doing good work in the hunting fields. Get one and find out. IF you decide you do not like it.. let me know and I will buy it from you.
I buy my new brass at STARLINE. you may have to buy 100 (I seldom buy any brass in quantities less than 250) but it is reasonably priced.
And I Never buy any factory ammo if I can reload my own.
God Bless you !