Opinions on Browning 1885 in 38/55

[Bigslug]

A pound-cast of your chamber and throat will tell you what you need for both brass length and bullet diameter.

A marked cleaning rod and a tight patch will tell you your rate of twist and what bullet weight you can get away with.

It's a great round that gives more mass than a .30-30 and more (or equivalent) sectional density than the lighter .458's and is pleasant in the recoil department. Guys use the faster twist models with heavier spitzers for competition at distance, but that's a matter of being on a known-distance range. For hunting, I'd regard it as the rainbow trajectory round of the 1800's that it is and treat it as a 150-200 yard timber gun.

It should do the job on elk, but I've come to the conclusion that if the hunt is going to be distant, expensive and/or difficult, the gun will be stainless, synthetic, and with an effective point-blank trajectory of about 300 yards. If I'm shooting them out of my backyard petunia patch with a resident tag, that's another matter.

[OrcPounder]

Jhon.... I'm in the same boat. I've been a visitor to the site for quite some time but just recently joined. The amount of information here and where it is withering.

We shoot a short range single shot (BPRC, Buffalo gun, etc.) to 300 yards and earlier this year I started moving from the 45/70 to the 38/55. I got a Taylor/Uberti High Wall.

The first outing was a complete disaster and at 50 yards the bullets tumbled in sideways. So my guidance is first understand your groove/bore diameters (in my case is 0.379/0.373 and twist rate (in my case 1:18). This alone will start to put you on the path on the type/weight of bullets and appropriate muzzle velocities.

As a note, be careful there's a lot of confusion and misinformation online and even in the reloading books concerning the 38/55

[Lance Boyle]

Nearly ten years have passed since all y'all posted here. A fascinating thread to someone who has just bought their first 1885 Highwall, a Uberti Sporter in 38-55, 30in barrel.

Be great to read some updates as to what you've done, where you got to since. Accomplishments, puzzles, failures triumphs and wins.

Cheers from NZ.

Jhon,

I too shoot a Uberti, albeit with the Taylor Arms Co name on it.

I am currently using a custom mold, a 250 grain Accurate mold that I ordered extra fat as my groove diameter was quite wide.

My last outing I was shooting sized and expanded and unsisized cases with a crimp. At 100 yards there was no appreciable difference. I was shooting IMR4198, 21.0 grains ignited by a Wolf (Murom) primer. My groups were about 3”. It’s still a work in progress and my eyeballs are getting on the not so great side of things.

Do slug your bore to see what you need to fit. The twist in mine I believe is only good up to about 260/275 grain bullets. I tried .381” 260 grain Hunter Specialty bullets and they were just ok. My custom mold bullet is a couple thou wider.

Hopefully your bore and groove is more to the normal side of things.

[.45Cole]

HAHA I almost flipped in my chair when this thread was on top of the feed. I passed many opportunities at a 38-55 and now have 2x, both 1893 Marlins. The 1885 .45 colt is still a tackdriver. I haven't really had an opportunity to cast/reload for the 38/55 but I love it and it gets the job done up in Idaho. For plinking I'd use the Unique load at 250grns, I've been using 4198 and 5744 for longer range loads.
Dang, 10years ago!

[warren5421]

I have a Browning that was a .40-65 that is rebarreled to .38-55. I use Swiss and a 335 gr bullet and can go to 500 yards with MVA sights, after that the wind plays to much with the bullet. It was chambered for the long case. I used the Sharps till it got where I couldn't hold the gun up without a rest but if 1000 yards is needeed the Sharps comes out and goes on a rest.

[Griff]

Here's the SAAMI drawing for the .38-55 Winchester:


Historically speaking, there have been wide variations in throat, bore & groove diameters, even among arms from the same manufacturers. It behooves one to to a chamber and leade to rifling cast to determine what bullet diameter best has a chance for good accuracy from your firearm.