38-55 and silhouettes

[polebilly]

I have a chance at getting a 1885 in 38-55 with the idea of shooting some BPCR silhouette matches (full distance). The gun has a 1-15 twist. Can a 38-55 reach rams? Not expecting miracles but would this cartridge have some potential.

[Chill Wills]

Yup, it will work. You will lose a ram every now and then - ring them but they do not fall. But, if 38-55 is what you have or you can not take recoil, you can play. I like the challenge - sometimes.

Choose a tapered bullet that you can seat out so you can get 50grs Swiss 2F behind it. You will want the speed Swiss gives. - 330 gr bullet - not to exceed 1.25 long and it will work. Longer bullets will give you trouble in the wind.

-Michael Rix

[upnorthwis]

For all around silhouette use, get at least a .40-65 Win. I have both a CPA in .38-55 and an 1885 Browning in .40-65, and a 330 grain boolit is not a 420 grain boolit in the wind. With the .40 you can even take a crack at 1000 yard matches.

[country gent]

My shooting partner uses a high wall in 38-55 and its very accurate he is currently shooting the rcbs 312 grn bullet over a smokeless black powder velocity duplication load. It / he does very good the local matches here are shot on swinging targets so ring and wiggle are all thats needed. But at times with some hits hearing the ring or seeing the wiggle movement are harder than the 40-65 or 45-70. It does a good job and will work well for you. Work up a good load with a bullet of 300 grns to 330grns and learn the rifle. Besure and make notes of sight settings for diffrent yardages.

[BrentD]

It is doable, but not optimal. You could rechamber it to .38-50. I believe that will clean the chamber entirely and you will have a little more case capacity, which will not be a bad thing relative to the .38-55. I have used a .38-72 a lot of at silhouette with a 14 twist and a 300 gr bullet. It never left a ram standing, but also didn't hit as many as I would like. It is not the most accurate rifle and probably a little too much of a good thing. The bullet really gets there fast and rams don't stand a chance with it - if they are hit.

If the rams are giving you trouble some days, try to hit them in the rump. They will go off easier than if hit in the shoulder.

[Knarley]

I have been trying to work up a load for the wife's 38-55. She has an H&R 1871. I've loaded 55 gr FFFG, @ 50 yrds are hitting the target sideways. LEE 379-250-RF.
Dropped down to 50 gr FFg, still all over the place. Not hittig sideways, 20-1 lead, SPG. Just kissing the lands. Going to drop to 45 Gr.

[Nobade]

Knarley, if you are into paper patching, that H&R really responds well to it if the original chamber hasn't been modified. I'm shooting a .366" 295gr. slick from Accurate Molds, patched to .373" and loaded over 56gr. FFFg Old Eynsford. .030" poly wad, and 1/8" cork wad. (Bullets seated .100" into the case.) Using the ladder sight made for it (can't remember the make now) it has no problems hitting and knocking down rams at the 500M line. At 100 yards it's barely over an inch. Great shooting rifles if you load them right!

-Nobade

[ascast]

I shot a 38-55 for years and never lost a ram I hit - NEVER ! and there were a lot of them hit. ie 500m or 600yds. That said, as wind goes up and range gets stretched out, more weight and powder are always better, meaning the 40's and 45's will beat you as conditions get worse.
Bullet wgt around 330 is probly best, 2 size if you can get one to stuff up in the bore. Fouling will be a tad worse in the smaller caliber, but handle-able. Take copious notes of sight setting, loads etc. Practice a lot. On match day, you will find that most guys on the line "can't see your misses", meaning there of no help walking you on target
I would not re-chamber or anything until I had proven to myself I was undergunned. Remember, you don't lose a match on 1 missed ram unless you have put all 10 chickens, 10 pigs and 10 turkeys on the ground. If you are currently shooting 38 or 39 out of a possible 40,.. maybe you should pass on the 38-55.

[ascast]

I have been trying to work up a load for the wife's 38-55. She has an H&R 1871. I've loaded 55 gr FFFG, @ 50 yrds are hitting the target sideways. LEE 379-250-RF.
Dropped down to 50 gr FFg, still all over the place. Not hittig sideways, 20-1 lead, SPG. Just kissing the lands. Going to drop to 45 Gr.

you need a bigger bullet like 382 or something

[BrentD]

I agree with ascast. Going slower will not help. Might make it worse. Your bullet is either way too long for twist, or too small, or something else (crown?) is whoppingly out of whack. I'm betting your bullet is too small.

[ascast]

bullet too small is the easy fix