First H&R rifle

[Kirb]

Hello guys I am a first time owner of a new H&R rifle. I got the 38/55 for a good price. I want to use a tang sight and I think I know how I want to mount the sight, but don’t know what sight I want. So I have a couple questions, do I have to get a sight that matches the stock angle to be right with the front sight? What sight is need for a range of say 500 yards or am I dreaming? Still looking for the cast bullet I want to shoot.  The barrel slugged @ .3815. I will start out with smokeless powder but want to shoot BP after accuracy has been checked all loads will be with cast bullets. Any information you have to guide me a long will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Kirb   

[MSP Ret]

Hello Kirb and welcome aboard. I am sure some members here with 38-55's will offer up something. I do not have one but others do. I understand H&R 38-55's may benefit from slightly oversize bullets. You can do a search for "38-55" in the H&R Centerfire section and I am sure you will have a lot of reading and info to digest. I am sure others with more info on that caliber will also respond, at least I hope so, good luck....<><....

[canon6]

As MSP said  welcome, I do not have a 38-55, but there are several on this site that do.Hang in there ,  again  welcome.   Doug

[ben.]

Hello:
      I have a 38/55. 4 or 5 year old barrel. Took a lot of work to hone the 45/70 chamber to match the large barrel.
      Somebody a few days ago posted a 38/55 with a .375-.377 barrel. I read H&R corrected the
barrel problem and that meaurement would varify that. 381.5 means you have an older barrel.
      If you understand what I am saying you can see the chamber and the barrel are not comparible without some work.
      I shoot now .380 cast bullets. I use a Lee mold because  it is easy to hone to a larger diameter.
I have never slugged a barrel cause I just buy the different bullet sizers and which ever shoots the best is the barrel size. For the 38/55 I have sizers .373,375,377,378,379, and 380. .373,375 and .377 are for paper patch. I need to try .381 lubed bullet. I shoot both smokeless and BP.
      I hope this helps.

[quickdtoo]

Welcome back Kirb, sounds like you got one of the Targets with the mismatched chamber and bore, you'll likely have to ream the chamber neck to be able to load bullets big enough to shoot well, there are volumes written on it here, please use the search feature to locate those threads, there's also a link to a 38-55 article in the FAQs on it as well as a link to threads on sights.

Good luck, 

Tim

[NickSS]

I have several rifles in 38-55 and one of them is an H&R.  Mine has a tighter bore than yours does so you will have to deal with getting setup to shoot fat bullets.  You may also have to have the chamber neck opened up to seat those bullets.  However to answer your questions.  You need a tang sight that will stand up straight both for and aft and side by side.  I just mounted a tang sight on a Sharps rifle and I needed six shims of aluminum can to get the sight sitting perpendicular.  This is important so that your windage does not change as you elevate the sight.  You can mount the sight with wood screws on the butt stock just behind the receiver.  As for getting on at 500 yards you can do that if your barrel has a fast twist and you use bullets over 300 gr.  With the H&R I do not think this would work but I could be wrong.  To get there you will need a mid range sight.  This is a sight with about two inches of elevation available. 

[deltecs]

I finally did it.  Broke down and bought a new Handi in .223 Rem with 22" bull barrel and laminated wood stock.  Stock to metalwork was better than anticipated.  The rifle holds and balances well.  I hope it meets my accuracy expectations.   Won't know until I get it home and to the range.  Totally new to these rifles and the peculiarities of them all.  I'll probably miss some topics post when searching for answers to any problems that may arrise.  Hope you all bear with me on this, as I'll probably be asking some stupid questions that have been answered a dozen times before elsewhere on GBO.

[quickdtoo]

Greg, spend some time in the FAQs and Help sticky, if it's been asked before, there's likely and answer to the question there, if not, be sure to ask.

Congrats on the new rifle!

Tim

[deltecs]

Thanks TIm,
I've reviewed GBO now for a while and realize answers to any questions I probably have are listed there.  It is just that I'd probably overlook the one topic that answers it.  It will be a while before I can do any shooting with it, as I have a lot of maintenance over the winter to repair before I can play.  My brother also brought back my Sedgely Springfield from my dad, who had borrowed it and then moved to OK, taking it by mistake with his rifles.  Be glad to get it back into my safe.