Based on my satisfaction with my Rio Grande chambered in 45-70, I thought this series is just begging for a 38-55 Win. I bought a new 3030B and sent it to JES Reboring to have the rifle rebore/rechambered to 38-55. Rather quickly, I packaged the rifle up and sent it to JES as I knew I would not do the work if I put much thought into. You see, after shooting it as a 30-30, I found that it would go head to head with any of my Marlins and outdo a couple of them on the initial accuracy with a wide variety of ammo.
Using QuickLoad, I went straight to a 30.0K PSI load and it was right on the money with the velocity. My bullets are 95/5, wheelweights/tin, with some #8 shot added to increase the antimony and then water quenched. On the LBT BHN Tester then are 21 BHN. Will pump up the PSI on the load this coming week.
I will end up running this up to 42.0K PSI, about what a 21 BHN bullet can survive at. That will be about 2050 FPS for the 235-grain bullet, the same as my Marlin 375.
Steelbanger, Tom Myers (TMT), and I will be working on a more traditional 38-55 bullet in the 250-grain neighborhood.
Rossi is really in a great position, in that they control the total manufacturing environment, to really complement the Rio Grande product line with the introduction of rifles chambered in 32 Win Spl and 38-55 Win. They would fit nicely between the 30-30 Win and 45-70 Govt. Rossi has always seen great support form the CAS crowd and fellows interested in traditional style rifles so I think they would be well received.
How sweet would it be if the chambered their '92 in the original cartridges; 32-20, 38-40, and the 44-40 Win. I believe they would turn a lot of heads. While they are at it, they could give us an affordable 86/71 action chambered in 33 Win, 348 Win, and the 45-70 Govt. Marlin (Remington) would be wondering what hit them. I did mention this to the TALO group, in that they have done quite a bit of work with Taurus/Rossi, and even received a reply that it was a very good idea that deserved consideration!
Rossi-Rifleman