.38/55 Handi-rifle barrel?

[Mike Britton]

Handi-rifle aficionados !
I have a question. If I wanted a 22" iron sighted regular barrel, like for example my .30-30, but in .38-55, what chambering would I start with.
I know I must start with a .375 bore, but it's my understanding that the BC barrel is the only one they have. Would I get that barrel, shorten it to 22", and add a front sight? Am I trying to make this too hard?

[stimpylu32]

Mike

That would be the easy way , just shorten a 36" to 22 and have a front sight added , however there have been some issues with the oversized bore of the 38/55 barrels .

A better way but more $$s would be to have a donor barrel ( 30/30 or something similar ) re bored and re chambered to the 38/55 , that way you could take advantage to the standard bullet sizes along  with standard cases . The down side to this is that it will run you around $300 + the cost of the donor barrel , depending on who does the work .

stimpy

[quickdtoo]

As Stimpy said, the 38-55 doesn't have a .375" bore, it's .379" and bigger, it won't shoot .375" bullets worth a darn, you'll be lucky to get one that will shoot .379" bullets unless you get one made in 2007, they quit making it this year. A rebore/stub is your only option. 

Tim

[Mike Britton]

Thanks guys.
A Handi style barrel in .38/55 would be sweet, but at 400 or so just for the barrel it's a bit dear, and IMHO it takes away some of the fun of the Handi-Rifle.

[Freightman]

Handi isn't the only ones that are having a problem with 38/55's some of the hi-walls (Italian) are having a problem. Looked at getting one for my BC and talked myself out of that, already have enough problems don't need to buy one.

[lonewolf5348]

I had my buddy yesterday give me to try some blackhill factory ammo in 38-55 the first thing I ask him what was the bullet dia: He stated .377 and it came to mind they will not shoot out of my 38-55?
I did fire 5 shots at 50 yards from the bench and to my surprise it gave me a 2" group with iron sights
I have to say I got lucky with the 38-55 I have
I hope I will have better luck with the 7MM-08 barrel that going back to a screwed up installation from H@R last week I got from them

[Mike Britton]

I find all this about .38/55 bore dias. interesting. Both my original Hi-wall, and my .375 Marlin measure out at .375. Why would H&R use a larger bore? Unless they intended the rounds to be paper patched? 

[quickdtoo]

Because that the SAAMI spec. It's kind of a moot issue for the H&R 38-55 Target, it's no longer available, it was discontinued this year which is kind of ironic since all of the 2007 built barrels had good chambers and bores, they finally got it right and then did away with it.

Tim