Browning/ Win 1885 in 38/55

[T-Bird]

I got a Jess rebore of a Win 94 AE in 38/55 this fall and love it.This was my first 38/55. I would like to have a Browning/Win 1885 in 38/55 to sit with it (and shoot the dickens out of). I saw one on the net with a 28 in bbl. new for sale for 1200- sounds kind'a pricey, but is this what they go for? How do they shoot? Are they still being made? Shoot Straight T-Bird

[blackpowder man]

I have one I bought new with the 22" barrel and I love it. It is one I'll always keep. The 28" in .38-55 sold out pretty fast and they weren't much less than $1200 then. I bought a .45-70 first with the 28" barrel and it was an awesome shooter, but that crescent buttplate on a 7.5 pound .45-70 was too much for me and I shot the .38-55 more often anyways. I only shoot bp in mine anymore, although I have shot smokeless and cast as well. I say go for it.

[Nobade]

A friend here in town has one of those, and it is one neat rifle. He uses black powder and bore size paper patched bullets, and it regularly shoots under MOA on paper. A few weeks ago we had it out and were having no problem keeping our shots on a 1/2 size torso plate at 600 yards. Doesn't kick much, doesn't use much powder and lead, and is super accurate. I wish it was mine!

-Nobade

[T-Bird]

Thanks bpman. The gun was sold last night- oh well... T-Bird

[T-Bird]

Thank's Nobade.

[lotech]

I bought a new .38-55 Traditional Hunter (28" barrel and tang sight) in 1997. Only .38-55 I've ever had. Don't recall trying jacketed bullets in it, but shoots cast very well and it's been fired a lot. I don't know how many of these guns were made and I'm not up on current prices, but would guess $1200.00 would be a great buy for one in good shape.

[EDG]

When the 38-55 first came out they were about $750 at gun shows, I started watching them on GB and they went up to $850 to $900 after they were discontinued. Within the last 2 to 3 years they started creeping over $1000 except for some of the trappers and short barreled rifles.

[LynC2]

Thanks bpman. The gun was sold last night- oh well... T-Bird

Too bad, I am sure you would have enjoyed it. I paid $1,300.00 for mine recently but it was new in box and I was happy to get it for that price. Like Nobade says, it is very accurate and the recoil isn't bad even with the crescent buttplate. I am shooting bore diameter paper patch boolits with straight black and smokeless/black duplex and I am happy with the accuracy so far but need to refine the BP loads for silhouette shooting. 55 grs of Old Eynsford motivates the 285 and 335 ones nicely. :-)

[.45Cole]

T-Bird - I have been looking for on of these since I held one at a gunshow. Essentially you will want a Traditional Hunter (28" octagon bbl crescent buttplate) or one of the super cheap trappers (like 16.5" bbl). The traditional hunters pop up every once in a while for about $1200. The trappers can be had for ~1000 and they you can rebarrel for ~300 can be out 1300. What boolit are you using?

[T-Bird]

I'm using the Lee 250 grainer. It shoots great in my rebore. I bought my other desire- a miroku 94 sporter with a 24' bbl. May continue to look for the 1885 and on my next gun money availability event pop on one of those. Didn't know about the rebarrel possibility for a trapper. Those are pretty widely available. Shoot Straight, T-Bird

[lotech]

I have not seen the new catalog or looked on the website yet, but on display at the Winchester SHOT Show exhibit a few days ago was an 1885 Traditional Hunter in .38-55. It appeared to be identical to the rifle I purchased in the '90s with 28" octagon barrel, open rear sight and tang sight. Whether this is a regular or limited production gun, I don't know.

[Rifle 57]

Don't discount the Uberti 1885 in 38-55 I have one and it shoots lights out. I bought it used on GB with a Malcom scope and a tang sight for $1000 and I will buy another one in 45-70 some day.

[tdoyka]

http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/centerfire/idealsharps.php

[gewehrfreund]

Don't discount the Uberti 1885 in 38-55 I have one and it shoots lights out. I bought it used on GB with a Malcom scope and a tang sight for $1000 and I will buy another one in 45-70 some day.
I have to agree. With a sample size of only 1, my Deluxe version Uberti 1885 in 38-55 has been surprisingly accurate right from the start.