Author Topic: .38-55 range report  (Read 1320 times)

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Offline rbergum95

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.38-55 range report
« on: June 09, 2007, 11:29:01 AM »
took the .38-55 to the range for the first time today. shoots good groups with buffalo bore 255 gr lead factory loads. 1.5 inch average at 100 yds. cant wait to change the sights to the williams fp so i can fine tune it with some handloads.

Offline handirifle

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Re: .38-55 range report
« Reply #1 on: June 09, 2007, 01:55:51 PM »
Must be nice to see that far, nice shooting.  Good to hear about the BB ammo too.
God, Family, and guns, in that order!

Offline moxgrove

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Re: .38-55 range report
« Reply #2 on: June 10, 2007, 11:56:21 AM »
I'm impressed and surprised. I've stayed away from the38-55 because I've heard of so many headaches with the odd bore size.

Offline quickdtoo

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Re: .38-55 range report
« Reply #3 on: June 10, 2007, 12:06:31 PM »
I'm seriously considering it and a 44Mag barrel as my next H&Rs!! ;)

Tim
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline eskimo36

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Re: .38-55 range report
« Reply #4 on: June 10, 2007, 12:39:18 PM »
1.5" at 100 yards...I wouldn't tinker too much...
"one shot is usually enough"

Offline handi243

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Re: .38-55 range report
« Reply #5 on: June 10, 2007, 02:54:46 PM »
Quick i ordered a 44 mag barrel and a 7mm08 barrel on Monday of last week they got my frame on wed. its hurry up and wait again! been reading up on the 445 super mag LOOKING GOOD!!!!!!!!

Offline Mitch in MI

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Re: .38-55 range report
« Reply #6 on: June 10, 2007, 04:40:24 PM »
Is Jeff still around? I used his 445 reamer back in 2005.

Offline quickdtoo

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Re: .38-55 range report
« Reply #7 on: June 10, 2007, 05:09:23 PM »
He got banned, then came back as buck....something or another and got busted again.

Tim
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline John Boy

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Re: .38-55 range report
« Reply #8 on: June 10, 2007, 05:18:59 PM »
Quote
I've stayed away from the38-55 because I've heard of so many headaches with the odd bore size.
Moxgrove, the bore is really not the issue with the 38-55, it's the under sized chamber.  For about $25 and shipping, send it to Old Scout.  He has a reamer to open the chamber up that will allow your to shoot 380 lead bullets with good accuracy.

R. F. Clark, Gunsmith
640 Emerald St.,
Upland, Calif. 91786
909-984-1548
Old Scout (o.scout@verizon.net)

I was playing around with mine last month, that Old Scout reamed out, using BP loads and it did a good job moving the Pigs off the rails at 300yds
Regards
John Boy

Offline quickdtoo

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Re: .38-55 range report
« Reply #9 on: June 10, 2007, 05:21:55 PM »
Handirifle's 38-55 shoots .379" cast bullet good with no changes to the chamber neck, so it's possible that H&R has fixed the problem, his was why I reconsidered getting another one, I really like the 28" barrel on the 405 Winchester. ;)

Tim
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline HonkerHunter

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Re: .38-55 range report
« Reply #10 on: June 10, 2007, 06:43:14 PM »
Tim,

forgive my ignorance here but are you saying that the 405 winchester can be made from trhe 38/55 barrel? Can it safely handle the pressures? Does it still shoot the same bullets?

HH

Offline quickdtoo

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Re: .38-55 range report
« Reply #11 on: June 10, 2007, 06:54:02 PM »
Sure, rechambered and with a rebore to .411" by Wayne York of Oregunsmithing!! ;D

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,95550.msg1098235943.html#msg1098235943
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline HonkerHunter

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Re: .38-55 range report
« Reply #12 on: June 10, 2007, 07:05:58 PM »
Good reading Tim, thanks for the link.

HH

Offline quickdtoo

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Re: .38-55 range report
« Reply #13 on: June 10, 2007, 07:07:06 PM »
You're welcome! ;)
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline Ireload2

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Re: .38-55 range report
« Reply #14 on: June 11, 2007, 04:40:29 PM »
Handirifle's 38-55 shoots .379" cast bullet good with no changes to the chamber neck, so it's possible that H&R has fixed the problem, his was why I reconsidered getting another one, I really like the 28" barrel on the 405 Winchester. ;)

Tim

By serial number my .38-55 was made in 2006 and it is a pain to chamber .379 bullets with new brass. I hope it gets easier to chamber  after the burrs are ironed down, I would hate to turn that expensive brass.
BTW I was able to push a .375 Hornady bullet through my barrel by hand. it was a light drag fit on the top of the lands all the way through.
My groove dia is .380 so .381 or .382 bullets would not chamber if I tried them.

EDG

Offline moxgrove

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Re: .38-55 range report
« Reply #15 on: June 12, 2007, 11:00:23 PM »
.375 is a bit small for most 38-55 s they use a .377 bullet (jacketed) your bore is one of the oversized That has kept me a way. With a 380 groove. I would try to use a .381, .382 diameter bullet(cast), but like you say it won't chamber in a lot of them, plus finding a bullet that diameter . I would be inclined to use a softer cast bullet hoping it would bump up a bit. All these thoughts are what kept me from getting one. Now that it sounds like things might be squared around though, who knows.

Offline rbergum95

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Re: .38-55 range report
« Reply #16 on: June 18, 2007, 11:15:47 AM »
i shot it again this weekend with some mild handloads (1000 fps). .380 diameter 240 gr laser cast bullets and unique powder. no problems chambering or firing. upon cleaning there was no leading of any kind in the barrel or throat. (i did polish the bore before the original firing last week.) i plan on testing it again in a few weeks with some higher velocity loads, 1400-1600 fps. il let you guys know what i find.