38-55 vs 44 Mag

[northmn]

It cold out now, below zero and so I get to do too much thinking. Had an itch for a 44 mag as I saw one at the LGS, but then looked over my 38-55 Marlin CB again. Realized I already had about the same thing.
44 Has its advantages, cases, bullets and factory loads are so much easier to attain. And less expensive. There is Vollmer's bullets that makes jacketed soft points for the 38-55 but they are mail order. Otherwise it is a cast bullet proposition which is not all bad. My Lee mold throws bullets at 258 grains and which can be loaded quite accurately. The 44 mag looks great at the muzzle but at longer ranges the 38-55 will surpass it with good handloads. Soft point bullets negate the larger bore advantage.
But it would be nice to get a 200 grain mold for the 38-55 just for plinking. Cowboy bullets abound for the 44. Still at a sticker price of $700 and the cost of ammo/reloading set up I think I will just stay with the 38-55. Too bad Mossberg does not make the 464 in 44, at that price I might buy one to play with.

DEP

[Hickory]

For deer out to 100 yds. either one will work just fine.
For over 100 yds. I'd choose the 38-55.

If enough people ask Mossberg for a 44 magnum in the 464 you might see it happen.
Be sure to tell them you'd ONLY be interested if it had a 1-20 twist.

[nagantguy]

As your friend I'm going to say something hard for your own good; don't weight a new gun purchase against what you already have that is capable of doing similar duty, if we did that we would all stop at a .22, 12 gauge and a 308 or 06!
But for real I can't imagine life with out a good .44 lever gun or 3 around!

[georgerkahn]

I have both .38-55 and .44 Rem Mag; in the woods, I too prefer the .38-55, but this is mostly re my "liking" the firearm in this caliber over the different brand .44 Rem Mag rifle -- the latter being a bit heavier to carry having no little influence re my choice.
Just for plinking in my .38-55, my boolit of choice is cast from LYMAN 375248 (.38-55 WCF 249 gr Flat Nose GC mould -- #449 top punch) and most all drop at about 232 grains with my alloy -- this, the lubed, sized, and gas checked product. The bullets drop like magic from the mould. I size and g c both in a Lyman 45, and generally have used Lyman Orange Magic lub. I, too, had thought of getting a lighter "plinker" mould, but reasoned that re the size/shape of slug in barrel length and twist -- this 375248 was a pretty good choice. At least, for me, it is inexpensive and easy to load, with the rifle shooting better than I do ;).
BEST!
geo

[saleen322]

I like them both as well. I have a 788 Remington that was a 30-30 and was rebarreled as a 38/55 and it is a shooter. I also have a handi rifle in 44 mag. Both are good cast bullet shooters but the 38/55 has the longer range potential.

[Eddie Southgate]

Save your money and shoot what you got . Spend the money on powder, bullets and primers.

Eddie

[dverna]

If you want something to plink with, adding the .44 makes reloading much easier. For performance, the .38-55 is a better choice.

Seeing as as you have the .38-55, why not look at adding a .38/.357 lever action. Cheap to shoot and easy to reload.

Don Verna

[OverMax]

Don't know the differences in bore Dia. Perhaps a 38-40s- 180 gr cast for you're 38-55 would be a consideration.

[runfiverun]

you could just soup that 38-55 up to @ 375 win levels.

[OlDeuce]

I also have both.....the 44mag is great for close shots & goes with my hand gun! on the other hand My barrel length is a bit long for quick close shots! For the long shot the 38-55 hands down! my barrel is 32'' on my 1894 :-)

Ol Deuce

[northmn]

I also have a 357 Rossi and a Marlin 32-20 so the plinking guns are there. One of the attractions of the 44 is that of plinking with light loads but I do some of that with the 38-55 as I cast my own. If I did not have a 38-55 I likely would look harder at the 44 levers. I don't make to big a deal about any differences in performance. After 50 years or so of hunting deer with a variety of calibers, including revolvers, muzzle loaders, long bows and recurves, I have not seen much difference in performance among normal rifle calibers in the "deer rifle" class. I do like a decent blood trail and get that with the 38-55.
Still, when I put up with the cabin fever of N. MN winters and day dream, a 44 looks interesting. However, there's fishing tackle to buy, shotguns to look at and so forth. Need to sell some stuff.

DEP

[ajjohns]

I totally understand the cabin fever, it's north of you too. I have a Ruger 96/44, I know you can't find them easy, but it shoots pretty good. And the rotary mag is nice unless long oal is needed. You and I have the same problem, I can't stop thinking of the next one to buy.

[Dan Cash]

I agree with Eddy Southgate, save your money and shoot the .38. I have a first year production 1893 Marlin in .336-55. It only gets black powder in deference to it's age and condition. 42 to 45 grains of 3Fg Goex or Kik under a 260 grain bullet will kill anything in ND or MN out to 200 yards, to include our elk and do it DRT. If you have a newer .38-55, smokeless will increase your range and recoil but boost you to 250 yards if you can dope range.

While the .44 Mag in pistol or rifle is be fully respected, I would not trade for the .38.

[M-Tecs]

. There is Vollmer's bullets that makes jacketed soft points for the 38-55 but they are mail order. Otherwise it is a cast bullet proposition which is not all bad.

DEP


https://www.sierrabullets.com/store/product.cfm/sn/2900/375-dia-200-gr-FN

I mosly use the Hornady 220 grain FP but they are not availible any more.

Never used these https://vollmer-bullets.myshopify.com/collections/375-caliber-bullets

[northmn]

Vollmer advertises bullets specially for the 38-55 and makes them in various diameters to match the bores. Some of the more popular bullets like Sierra are 375. While I was able to get 375 Barnes OS to shoot out of my Marlin they are under bore size. You can get a Vollmer bullet sized to 379.
Another rifle that I enjoy shooting with cast that tends to get overlooked for a plinking rifle is my old Marlin waffletop 30-30. Through the years I have had a couple of Winchesters (one I really wish I had back) and some Marlins that were no-brainers with cast and seemed to shoot about anything I put through them. Got a couple of deer with a cast bullet. The 38-55 seems to go with cast, and I will probably stay with them. I have herd more than one claim like Dan Cash made, that the BP or BP equivalent loads work pretty well. I may try some 1-20 or 1-30 tin lead alloys in it. Not fond of hard cast.

DEP

[M-Tecs]

My mistake. I have a 375 Marlin but no 38/55. A friend of mine has Marlin 38/55CB. He claims the bore is .375 but I never measured it and after a little research Marlin states it should be .378".

[trapper9260]

If you want something to plink with, adding the .44 makes reloading much easier. For performance, the .38-55 is a better choice.

Seeing as as you have the .38-55, why not look at adding a .38/.357 lever action. Cheap to shoot and easy to reload.

Don VernaI say the same also.Since you got the bullets to do already.Also if you looking for some light and reduce loads there is alot on here about it.That is what I been working on myself since I have the 38/357 .I have a 44mag also in hand and rifle.

[shdwlkr]

you could just soup that 38-55 up to @ 375 win levels.

Are you serious taking a 30,000 psi round up to 52,000 psi in a firearm not built for the increased pressure?

[dogmower]

"44 Has its advantages, cases, bullets and factory loads are so much easier to attain"
agree with all except cases. I just make 'em out of 30-30's, most of which I've picked up the range.
Can't get cheaper than free, and if you cast, the boolits are about the same cost.