Thoughts on the Winchester 1885 Trapper 38-55

[Jtarm]

What have experiences been like with this gun and/or cartridge?

I found a used one in an LGS yesterday wearing an $800 price tag. Near as I can tell from GB completed auctions, that's pretty reasonable.

With that 16.5" barrel, I don't think I'd want anything bigger than a .38-55!

[jlucke69]

If you get it, I'd be interested in a range report. I have been looking at the same gun myself.

[Nobade]

That is a very good buy on one of those, since dealer cost is about $1100. And with what you saved you can put a longer barrel on it some day when you get tired of the short one.

-Nobade

[John Allen]

I liked to hear how you like it also if you get it. I have looked at a couple of these myself and thought they would be fun to play with.

[Mumblypeg]

I have one of the Hunter models with the longer barrel in 38-55. It's a shooter. And yes that does look like a good price. I also have a Uberti high wall in 38-55 and while it shoot good the Winchester I think shoots a little better. I just wish they had a shotgun butt plate enstead of the crescent one.

[Jtarm]

Ah man I wanted someone to talk me out if it! Now I have to go buy the dang thing, + dies, moulds, cases. Oh, yeah, & sneak it in the safe.

[Mk42gunner]

You could leave it at my house for a few decades. I promise in twenty or thirty years I will tell your wife that I borrowed it and need to return it.

It might not be in the same condition by then, but you could always put another barrel on it.

Robert

[bbqncigars]

The RCBS Cowboy dies are great for loading 38-55. Finding the 'long' brass (which is what both mine use) is difficult right now. I have 500 on back order at Starline. Who knows when the next run will be made. A very fine and accurate round. As a large fellow, I have no love at all for the crescent metal butt plates. :evil:

[blackpowder man]

I have the hunter model with the 22" octagon barrel and it shoots amazingly accurate. Cdnn had the trapper models on sale not that long ago for $799 I think. Do let us now how it shoots. A friend of mine got one of the new 1886 trappers with the 16" barrel and it worked him over pretty good with that crescent buttplate. Last i heard he was shopping for a new stock.

[bigted]

the 38-55 is an agile and comfortable old cartridge. everything from deer to bison have been felled with it. some like it for long range shooting as it is easy on the shoulder, lead, powder, and it done take a truck to haul 100 cartridges. i have 2 ... an old Marlin '93' with the 26 inch barrel and a Browning 1885 that i had rebarreled with a heavy winchester #4 contour barrel at 30 inches.

when you get your short barreled '85' i also would like to read about and see rifle and targets from your range trips.

both shoot great and they are very addictive.

[williamwaco]

I have the "short rifle", The bbl is 22" Octagon.

.38-55 Winchester Caliber.

It is very accurate at 100 yards with two different Lyman bullets.

I use Unique or 2400 and get .75" to 1.25" groups at 100 Yards.

[Taco Belly]

I have the Trapper in 38-55 and have shot the heck out of it for a few years now. I got rid of my Winchester 1885 Sporter in 38-55 because the little guy shot off hand just as well up to 200 yards...then got it back a few months later because it was too nice to not have, lol. I carried my Trapper everywhere in Texas in a scabbard on my 4 Wheeler, and even dropped it once in the Red River...almost lost it!

With a Saeco 255 grain sized .479 and 9 grains of Unique (1150-1200 fps) I can shoot 100-150 at a time without shoulder replacement, and hit clay targets at 100 yards all day long. It is indeed, an accurate rifle (and load). In fact, I bought a second as a back-up. Turned out to be one of my most favorite rifles...I shoot it way more that my Browning 1885 in 45 Colt now. I just bought some of the Starline long brass to try out. I used the RCBS Cowboy dies and a .380 sized Saeco 255 gr. and it chambers just fine. Will test it out this week I think.