Brass length for original Winchester 1885 in 38-55?

[.41LC]

Starline makes two different lengths of .38-55 brass. Anyone know the length a circa 1889 Winchester model 1885 will take?

[NickSS]

Buy the longer cases as that was the proper length until they started making them shorter after WWII

[John Boy]

Note ... Ballard ... 1984 ... Ballard chambered their rifles for the 2.125 case
In your HiWall, both lengths work


Montana Charlie:

"I don't know much about 38-55, but I DO know there are two different case lengths to be considered. Is that where the Winchester vs Ballard designation comes into play?"

No; the .38-55 was pioneered for the Ballard single-shots made by Marlin, and Winchester adopted the caliber when the 1894's first came out (no doubt they were also making their single-shot Hi-Walls for the same cartridge well before 1894; they were still learninng to deal with the erosive effects of the first smokeless powders, and it was another year - 1895 - before they came up with a nickel-steel alloy for the .30-30 and .25-35 barrels). The .38-55 Ballard and Winchester is one and the same cartridge, in the slightly longer length. The shorter case came in - probably in the '50's and '60's - when the ammo makers decided it was not worth their while to draw the longer cases, and they made the .38-55 from the shorter .30-30 basic drawn blanks - and, for some unknown reason, everyone started to chamber for the shorter case, and make dies to that specification.

w30wcf:

Chime in here; you're the REAL expert on this.

floodgate

[.41LC]

Good info thanks guys.