The 38-55 Winchester

[ColColt]

I've sort of gotten the hots here lately for a lever in 38-55 caliber. I know Winchester use to make them and also made Commemoratives but don't know what's out there now. If anyone has one of these what's your opinion of this cartridge...accurate or just so-so? I'm not hunting with it, just paper punching or killing tin cans maybe. I haven't had a lever in decades and just thought it would be great to have one again-maybe even an 1873 Winchester repro if they're available.

[Le Loup Solitaire]

Its one of my favorites. It can deliver great accuracy and also serve as an effective hunting cartridge. You are not going to find it available in the 1873 model of the Winchester, as the cartridge came later. It used a 255 grain bullet and originally had 55 grains of BP behind it. A lot of good shooting was done with that combo. I have three guns; an 1894 rifle, a 94 carbine and an 1885 Highwall. The Highwall shoots most accurately of the three. I tend to favor the use of IMR 3031 although there are several other powders that work very well. With MV around 1500-1600 fps the carbine can kick like a blue mule; the rifle isn't quite as bad. the Highwall has an orangatang barrel and is the heaviest of the three. With a tang sight it does very well at 100-200 yards. I use two bullets; one is the Lyman #375248 and the old 94 original Winchester mold that is a little on the antique side, but it does really well. Sometimes I load for the three guns using the old model Winchester 94 tool; its original, but slower than molasses running uphill in January. Its a great cartridge and certainly has its place in "Americana. It was made in the 1885, 1894 models of the Winchester originally and in several modern day repros. LLS

[Nrut]

Factory 38-55's are all over the map as far as chamber size and groove size..
In lot's of cases you can't chamber a loaded round with a bullet that is even groove size..
I have both a Marlin CB and Winchesters like that plus a H&R "Target" Model..
I don't own one but I read good things about JES Rifle Reboring:
http://www.35caliber.com/
There are some on this board that have bought 38-55's from him..
If you buy a 38-55 from him you know that you will be getting a properly dimensioned chamber and bore..
Good luck!

[Guesser]

I looked for a good "shooter" 38-55 for a number of years; either worn out or seriously over priced. I finally had one built. I traded "stuff' for a lot of the work and some cash. It came out to be a beautiful rifle and shoots better than I had any reason to expect. I load Lyman 375449, 265 gr. over RE-7 for a solid 1800 FPS with fine accuracy. Great gun and I have less than 600$ in it and traded stuff that I had no money in and no use for.

[ColColt]

I saw the Winchester 94 Legendary Frontiersmen .38-55 at guns America but they're wanting $900 for it. Good looking rifle but a bit steep for me.

[doubs43]

I have an Oliver F. Winchester Commemorative 1894 rifle in 38-55 and it's quite accurate. I put a Lyman receiver peep sight on mine which helps greatly with getting the best from it. The receiver is D&T'd and the sight simply screws on. I shoot the Lyman 248 grain boolit in it.

OTOH, my Winchester 1885 Traditional Hunter with globe front sight and Vernier rear is VERY accurate with both 248 grain Lyman boolits and the RCBS 312-BPS boolits. I've won the last two local steel silhouette matches with it. In the last match I cleaned the 350 yard line of 8 rams and two turkeys.

The 38-55 is a superb cartridge IMO and you can't go wrong with one.

[Muddy Creek Sam]

1983 Winchester Model 94 Chief Crazy Horse Commemorative (http://sassnet.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=171370)

[missionary5155]

Greetings
Another consideration is to buy a 94 or 336 beater 30-30 and send it to Jeffs and get it bored & chambered corectly for 38-55. You can end up with a fine shooter for less than buying a factory question.
Mike in Peru.

[Throckmorton]

I recently inherited a circa 1910 Winchester model 94 in rifle length,and my steel plate at 150 yards can attest to being hit a LOT. I had to experiment with a few boolist but when I got some Bear Creek molys ,sized to .379 from a SASS Pard,the magic began to happen. ;)
It had been drilled and tapped for a marbles sight,and a fellow here sold me one at a good price,and it looks real good on there.
Whether you by an original,or have a Marlin modified for it,it's a real fun cartridge to shoot.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v30/Throckmorton/DSCN2956.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v30/Throckmorton/38-55alsoMay2011.jpg

sorry,couldn't help myself. lol

[FromTheWoods]

Love the photos, Throckmorton. No need to apologize.

On seeing them though, now I have to go get my old '94 out of the safe and bask in its Karma! DOM=1895, 26" octagon, crescent buttplate, Marble's tang sight, double-set triggers.

Yes, ColColt. Do get yourself a .38-55! You'll love it!
A joy to carry. A dream to shoot. Accurate (once you figure your diameter and load.)

[Whit Spurzon]

38-55 is my favorite rifle caliber. Like others have said it takes a little work find the load but once you do it does great. My 336 Cowboy has a generous chamber and bore which works even with Winchester brass and .3815" bullets. A friend of mine has the same rifle and he needs the Starline brass (thinner necks) to shoot anything bigger than .380" Luckily his rifle shoots .379" well in most bullet styles.

It is an awesome milk jug caliber.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-kTlnhsa2Q

Real good at long range too. Here's some video of a friend connecting with a 20"W x 32"H target at 1,000 yards.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO6ihrcukcc

[Buckshot]

http://www.fototime.com/47DD87E404FADAE/standard.jpghttp://www.fototime.com/34A89A527939537/standard.jpg

............I bought this 1893 Marlin 38-55 from a gunshop in upper NY State in the mid '90's for $500 and shipping (I had an FFL).

http://www.fototime.com/1BADD2284797AF1/standard.jpghttp://www.fototime.com/9F5891A7D1FCEBE/standard.jpg

It was made in 1906 and whoever ordered it liked rifles. It's a half octagon, half round bbl, and a half magazine. The butt is I believe Marlin's 'S' type? There is still color casehardening evident, but only in protected areas.

http://www.fototime.com/1B284DC94ADF118/standard.jpghttp://www.fototime.com/D2244CBB5698496/standard.jpg

The left target is what I load a lot of and keep on hand. Fired at 50 yards. Just visually inspected slugs and thrown charges. It's the Saeco 225gr FNPB over 16.0grs of 2400. The slugs fall at .382" on the wide base band. The Marlin has a groove a couple tenths over .380 and I size to .381". I used to lube-size but have just gone to TL'ing and then sending them up through a .381" die. A very pleasant load.

http://www.fototime.com/60E6988607F591E/standard.jpg

These are what I shoot in my Hi-Wall. I like the 38-55 cartridge very much. It's a nice looking, well proportioned affair that is pretty much a shrunk down 45-90. It might not do everything, but what it DOES do, it does exceedingly well :D

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