Author Topic: .38/55 win, classic caliber or archaic dinosaur? (Read 4484 times)

rvtrav · « **on:** November 18, 2005, 02:55:49 PM »

Hello everyone,
I'm just about finished building a Win94 in 38/55 (Numrich octagon barrel) Does anyone have any commentary on this cartridge?

I'm planning on shooting cast bullets in it. I have a RCBS 255grn FN mold and will be working up some loads as soon as I get the stock finished. Does anyone have some favorites (loads) to use as a starting point?

There really isn't much out there for data with the new,(or even many of the older) powders available, Accurate powders has some onfo in their manual, but RCBS and a lot of the others don't have a listing at all.

Thanks in advance, Rvtrav

Lone Star · « **Reply #1 on:** November 18, 2005, 05:23:19 PM »

I had Ackley rebore one of my M94/.30-30s to .38-55 in 1975, and I've had at least one .38-55 ever since. If you want to complain about little or no loading data - we didn't even have jacketed bullets to use back then (other than Barne$). I used the 255 RCBS bullet a lot, and with the gas check it shot very well in light to moderate loads (1100-1300 fps). I particularly liked IMR4227 and Red Dot.

Actually there is a lot of modern data available for the .38-55 today. Hornady #6 lists loads with their 220FN (great bullet!) with VIHT-130, H4198, RL7, etc. with velocities up to 1700fps. Lyman #48 lists XMP5744, IMR4198, etc., Barnes #3 shows data for their bullets, and Hodgdon and Alliant both list loads with some of their powders too.

Then there are the on-line reloading pages. This data can be great, or it can ba dangerous. Two sites which seem to be reasonably good and have .38-55 data:
http://stevespages.com/375_5_200.html
http://www.reloadersnest.com/frontpage.asp?CaliberID=194

Good luck and enjoy that classic cartridge!

rvtrav · « **Reply #2 on:** November 18, 2005, 08:39:04 PM »

Thanks for the tip lonestar,

I may just need to invest in a new hornady manual. Those sites helped a bunch! that gave me some min-max loads to start developing from and I'll have some good ideas as to velocities too.

targshooter · « **Reply #3 on:** November 19, 2005, 04:01:30 AM »

rvtrav,
I used a Winchester Model 1894 in .38-55 to hunt deer in PA in the late 1960s and early 1970s. I shot two deer with it and it was a very capable round, being able to push a 255 grain bullet at about 1700 fps. The old Winchester developed headspace and became a wall hanger. I sold it and traded the RCBS dies many years ago. Winchester kind of revamped the .38-55 cartridge in their .375 Winchester and Big Bore 94 offering in the late 70s. I had been so impressed with the .38-55 that I bought and hunted with the Big Bore for two years. I shot two deer with it, and it was also a good killer, but no better than the .38-55 in my opinion. I have been using a .45-70 exclusively for the past 20 years and sold the Big Bore at that time. I have a Lyman 1964 Reloading Manual with plenty of tips and data for the .38-55, it being the one I used when I owned the rifle.

Dana C · « **Reply #4 on:** November 20, 2005, 03:14:50 PM »

I have a Stevens 44.5 in 38-55. The cartridge was one of the very first center fire rounds developed and gain quite a following due to it's inherent accuracy. It was used as a Shutzen round in the late 1880's and as hunting round after. It is currently being offered in a Win. Legacy and by Marlin as well.

It is a great historic round that will do everything a 30.30 will do and a little more due to it's bullet size and weight. Plus, every time you squeeze the trigger you are firing a cartridge that has been around 116 years.
Way cool!

rvtrav · « **Reply #5 on:** November 20, 2005, 05:56:39 PM »

Thanks much Target shooter and Dana,

I wanted a good medium"heavy hitter" lever action without going to an expensive exotic shopping for a new gun, I really like the OLD '94. (less all the elaborate safeties.)

Much of the local skuttlebutt labled the .38/55 as rather lackluster in preformance, little of it was from first hand experience. You both have bolstered my confidence!

Thanks guys!

handirifle · « **Reply #6 on:** November 30, 2005, 02:27:50 PM »

Before you convince yourself it is weak, read this . You'll be pleased I'm sure.

rvtrav · « **Reply #7 on:** November 30, 2005, 03:09:36 PM »

Great article Handirifle!!
And perfect timing, I just finished up the gun last night. I've got a few test loads ready to go and tommorrow I've got the day off. If it doesn't rain/sleet, and snow on me, I'll be giving the gun a long awaited "breaking in."

handirifle · « **Reply #8 on:** November 30, 2005, 06:10:34 PM »

Wishing you good weather and good shooting. I thought you'd like it.

dixda · « **Reply #9 on:** December 01, 2005, 05:28:34 PM »

Thank you for that link,Handirifle. I just picked up a Win 1894 in 38-55 and have been looking for some good sites to visit. Mine is an old black powder shooter so I'm going to treat it very gently with as near to original load specs as I can muster. I've read that XMR 5744 shoots pretty close to black powder pressure wise. I'm using cast .379 bullets weighing 245 grn lubed with SPG. KD

rvtrav · « **Reply #10 on:** December 04, 2005, 05:49:27 AM »

Hi Guys,

One thing that I will say about the .38/55 is that it is an accurate cartridge!
The load that I am using is an RCBS 255FN with a gas check and 20 grns of 2400. the gun definatley likes that load. I'm going this afternoon to do some more paper punching, but I am having great results so far!

Rvtrav

victorcharlie · « **Reply #11 on:** December 04, 2005, 08:05:48 AM »

Some would call it a classic, some would call it a dinosaur. If your going to use the gun at close range then the dinosaur ain't dead yet......Still quite a thump in the 38.55 and the only thing is gives up to the the more modern cartridges is cost and range.........I've found myself going back to the old classics.....not sure if it's wisdom or nostalgia, but the idea of hunting a lever action appeals to me now more than ever.....if your out west, there might be better choices, but hey.....so you got to get a little closer?...I say hunt with it!