38/55

[jtaylor1960]

I just got back from the range with my 38/55.It is a Marlin 336 that was rebored from 30/30.I was shooting the RCBS -37-250 bullet sized at .377.The load I was using was 32.0grs of H-4895.I temporarily put on a Tasco 3x9 on it until I can get a good load.Then I plan on using a Williams peep for hunting.After getting the scope dialed in I shot one group at 50yds. and then one at 100yds.I am both suprised and pleased.The 50yd. group measured .723" and the one at 100yds. was 1.11".I am ready to go hunting!

[dubber123]

Excellent! I have a 38-55 on my list. I hope mine shoots as good as yours.

[Catshooter]

My .38-55 is a re-barrel on a Winchester 94 that was a .30-30. The very first load I tried surprised me too. From a wobbly bench with a peep I fired a five inch group at 150 yards.

Nice caliber. I use mine for lever action silhouette. Love it.


Cat

[ph4570]

I just got back from the range with my 38/55.It is a Marlin 336 that was rebored from 30/30.I was shooting the RCBS -37-250 bullet sized at .377.The load I was using was 32.0grs of H-4895.I temporarily put on a Tasco 3x9 on it until I can get a good load.Then I plan on using a Williams peep for hunting.After getting the scope dialed in I shot one group at 50yds. and then one at 100yds.I am both suprised and pleased.The 50yd. group measured .723" and the one at 100yds. was 1.11".I am ready to go hunting!

WOW, sweet shooter. Did you chrono that load?

I may have to try that load in my 1885 38-55. I have a good plinker load but need to come up with a good hunt load. I was going to work one up with 4198 and probably still will. I have a jug of 4895 so I'll give it a go too.

[jtaylor1960]

Don't have a chronograph. I saw an article by John Taffin in the archives over at Leverguns.He was using 33.0grs. in a Marlin Cowboy gun.He listed about 1750fps.I just checked and the article is still there.He listed some other loads and the accuracy he got although mine actually shot better.I think he used open sights.

[jtaylor1960]

I have two of the molds I used to shoot the groups I wrote about so today I fired up my new stove and ran them both.The one had never been used .It only took about a half hour to cast over 100 bullets. I cleaned them up and put on a light coat of graphite mold release and they both worked great.For of the shelf molds I really like RCBS iron molds.

[gathumper]

Hey, is your rifle a JES reboring job? And what's the barrel length? Thanks, Lee.

[358wcf]

Your load sounds exciting- just about every lever action owners dream!
I purchased a new, unfired old Win94 Legendary Frontiersman in 38-55 (24") earlier this year, and it now wears a receiver sight, and will be used in the woods on a regular basis as a "woods rifle"-- it will never have a j-word projectile down its virgin bore, not ever!
Anyway, I'm curious about the source of the load data. The only mention I find for this powder in my extensive library of older loading data is in Ken Water's 1976 vintage article printed in his excellent test called "Pet Loads". I trust his data completely, but was wondering if this data appeared elsewhere?
Trust me to try your load with prayers that it performs as well for me!
Thanks-
358wcf [smilie=1:[smilie=1:[smilie=1:

[jtaylor1960]

Yes the gun is a JES rebore.It is a 20 inch barrel.The load is from an article by John Taffin.He was using 33.0 gr.in two different guns.Other powders like RL-7,H-322,H-4198 and similar seem to all work well in the cartridge.

[NickSS]

I use a 38-55 for 200 yard silhouette matches my club holds. I load a 250 gr LFP slug over 18 gr of AA5744. Both my Marlin Cowboy and my 1885 winchester loves this load. I get consistent 2.5 to 3 inch groups off a benchrest at 200 yards with it.

[gathumper]

ok...I have a JES rebored win 94 20" and your results make me excited about loading for my rifle. I see that it likes the .377 sized bullets so that answers one question about loading for mine. I just put a marbles improved tang sight on mine and have to order the loading equipment...are you using ww's

[glen ring]

My 38-55 Marlin likes a Barne's origninal .377 255 jsp with a good load of H-322 for around 1800fps. I plan on using this load for elk in December. The gun will group at one inch, for the first two or three shots, with this load and it seems to have a lot of energy transfer at the target.

[jtaylor1960]

I use wheel weights with some tin added.The hardness is still about 12. At the velocity you get in this cartridge that should be good for some expansion.

[insanelupus]

358WCF,

The first Legacy of Leverguns published by Wolf Publishing listed some H4895 loads (using the Lyman 375449). I believe the loaddata.com site has some of that info too (including Water's loads).

[John Boy]

JT, I'm a fan of the remake of the vintage Ideal 375166, 325gr bullet. Here's a couple of targets, 100 and 200 which are less than MOA ... using black powder and iron sights. Am totally convinced that if I had a scope on the BPCR, the groups would have been even smaller

100yd
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd220/Meadowmucker/Targets/Ideal%20375166/IMGP0317.jpg

200yd
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd220/Meadowmucker/Targets/Ideal%20375166/IMGP0320.jpg

And if you want to stretch it out to 300yds, here's the group using a NRA 200yd target ...
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd220/Meadowmucker/Targets/Ideal%20375166/IMGP0322.jpg
Here's the bullet. With nitro powder, there will be plenty of room to seat it in the case ...http://www.three-peaks.net/images/375166_330g.gif

[Nrut]

Your load sounds exciting- just about every lever action owners dream!
I purchased a new, unfired old Win94 Legendary Frontiersman in 38-55 (24") earlier this year, and it now wears a receiver sight, and will be used in the woods on a regular basis as a "woods rifle"-- it will never have a j-word projectile down its virgin bore, not ever!
Anyway, I'm curious about the source of the load data. The only mention I find for this powder in my extensive library of older loading data is in Ken Water's 1976 vintage article printed in his excellent test called "Pet Loads". I trust his data completely, but was wondering if this data appeared elsewhere?
Trust me to try your load with prayers that it performs as well for me!
Thanks-
358wcf [smilie=1:[smilie=1:[smilie=1:

358wcf..
Here is a link to the article jTaylor refers to... link is to page 2 that has the load data..Poke around at this site for more 38-55 info...good stuff!
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_2_46/ai_58446470/pg_2/?tag=content;col1

[old way]

First post but long time visitor. I have found a very accurate load in my Marlin 336 38/55 cowboy conversion with BAC's bullet #379300. I get right at 1" to 1 1/2" groups at 100 yrds. with peep sights and using 777 powder. I also get very good results with an original Winchester 38/55 255 gr. mold that produces a .378 dia. soft cast bullet.

[BABore]

I had Jesse do a rebore for me last year. I ended up doing a throat slug of it and designed up a few boolits for it. They all drop at 0.380-0.381. Jesse does fine work at a very good price. One day I'm hoping to have him do a 356 for me too.

[jtaylor1960]

Are these the molds listed on your site?How do they shoot?

[BABore]

Are these the molds listed on your site?How do they shoot?

Yes they are.

Initially I made the two 265 grain boolits. They showed good promise in initial load developement until I ran into forearm issues. Using Reloder 7 and Benchmark, the GC version ran just above an inch at full velocity and 22 bhn boolits. The PB version was similar with Unique and soft boolits. Never tried much faster with that one. Things went all to hell when the forearm loosened up on me. Likely from the few times it was on and off and the bbl band attachment and stout loads. I tried a few bedding schemes that failed to work and finally just bought a new forearm and bbl band. Anyway, during this time I switched to the 230 gr GC boolit and Reloder 7 powder. Accuracy was there, but erratic until the forearm issue was resolved. Now it runs just below an inch for 3 shots, and just above for 5. I'm running it top end. I still have to get back to the heavier boolits. So, to answer your question, they shoot pretty good.:bigsmyl2:

[oldhickory]

I want a 38/55! I promise I'll take care of it, and take it out to play, and feed it only the best boolits I can make!

[358wcf]

Last Sunday we got the unfired Legendary Frontiersman out to the range for the very first time- Gotta love those Winchester lever rifles!
Rifle was fitted with Williams FP receiver sight to improve my "old eyes" focus on the front sight and target at 50yds. Starline brass, and Lyman 375248 boolits, sized to .379 since the bore slugged at .3775 (as best as I could tell). 20-1 alloy, and Lars' BAC lube ensured no leading at low velocity. Erik Ohlen had enlarged the undersized driving bands to make the mold drop at .381 so I could size to fit the bore. Selected a very mild load of 10.0gr Unique ignited by WLR primers.
Tooka few rounds to get from "on the paper" to "in the black" on standard 50 yard targets, and I prayed that all the work would pay off.
Considering that I forgot the spotting scope, I could not see the holes in the target until my daughter strolled out to the target line to retrieve the paper for old Dad, who is still getting over knee surgery. I knew that I fired, with as much care as I could muster, 5 shots, and knew very well that I had "pulled one" a bit, so hopes were not too high. The son-in-law kept joking that he could distinctly hear the boolit strike the target, another indicator of low velocity-
To my extreme pleasure/surprise, the target showed 4 boolits in the 10 ring, ALL TOUCHING, and a fifth 1 1/2" out at 3o'clock.
This performance pays off due to careful boolit preparation, care in loading a mild load for initial sighting-in, and a quality rifle with quality sights. This initial success is highly gratifying, and causes me to plan to get some serious loading and shooting underway-- THIS IS FUN!!!

Thanks for listening to an old guy brag a bit, but this is exactly why we do this, isn't it? Looking forward to getting rid of that "pulled shot" and getting you guys photos of what a quality 38-55 is capable of -

My best to you all-

358wcf
Chuck[smilie=1:[smilie=1:[smilie=1:

[ammohead]

I bought a lee 255 gr two cavity mould and took the gas check shank off of both cavities with a sharp knife and patience. I use 17.5 gr of 4759 clone surplus powder for 1650 fps and one inch groups at 50 yards when I do my part. Good enough for the girls I go out with.

I am shooting a Win 94 legacy 26" round bbl color case hardened receiver and other furniture and a tang sight. A sweet outfit and good shooter.

ammohead

[Balhincher]

I am interested in getting a 30-30 lever rifle bored out and rechambered to 38-55. Can you supply contact information for the gunsmith (JES) who did your work?
Thank you

[Muddy Creek Sam]

Jesse Ocumpaugh
715 South 6th St.
Cottage Grove, OR 97424

Phone: (541) 942-1342
Fax: (541) 942-7533

[Charlie Sometimes]

His brother had one for sale on GB recently for around $375.

[jtaylor1960]

My gun is one Jes' brother sold on Gunbroker.I paid $400.00.

[Rico1950]

I have a Win 94AE 30-30 I'd be interested in having converted to 38-55.
What is Jes' going rate for this?
What twist?

[jtaylor1960]

Check his website.www.35caliber.com That will get you there.I think the going rate is $225.00 and that included the return shipping.He had a few different twist rates available.Mine is 1in 15".I think that is most common.I shoot a 270gr. bullet and get groups of just slightly over one inch at 100yds. from a dirty barrel.Try and match that with any name brand bolt action.

[Brother_Love]

I know I am resurrecting a very old thread but I have a question about the JES 38-55 rebore. I know it is a hybrid so what brass do you start with? Do you have to trim it? And where do you get load data or just use the 38-55 load data from the manuals?

Thanks, Malcolm

[jtaylor1960]

The short Starline brass is perfect.I also made some from 30/30 brass.

[Prodigal Son]

I got all my ducks in a row, my Legendary Frontiersman rifle bought, Lee dies & brass acquired and boolits cast, even a "M" dies too. Then the boss has me go to Watertown NY for 40 days. At least those Lyman 375449 boolits will have had time to harden up so when lube & size them we can go to shooting. I even found a copy of the Handloader magazine with the fine article on the 38-55 & loading data on eBay sent to the house. Can't wait to try and group the '94. Bore slugged @ .3785!