Author Topic: Buffalo Classic and 38-55 Target Barrels (Read 990 times)

GrampaMike · « **on:** April 11, 2005, 10:40:00 AM »

I have a BC, but have not found a 38-55 Target yet.

Is there any down-side of just getting a 38-55 Target barrel fitted to the BC, assuming H&R has them in stock?

I am not using a tang sight, so that isn't a problem. It has the Smith Ladder sight.

Thanks, Mike.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #1 on:** April 11, 2005, 11:05:07 AM »

$286 from Walmart....but, unfortunetly, they are out of stock at Sports South for a change, and they have the 45-70 BC in stock...for a change!! Humph!!! You could always place an order and hope they get some in at SS. Or you could just order the barrel from H&R which is what I'm gonna do......about $135 fitted & shipped....

http://hr1871.com/barrelAcc/index.htm

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3138392&cat=170092&type=1&dept=4125&path=0%3A4125%3A4155%3A170080%3A170091%3A170092

bajabill · « **Reply #2 on:** April 11, 2005, 11:38:35 AM »

the fitted and shipped barrel is "sightless"

quickdtoo · « **Reply #3 on:** April 11, 2005, 11:47:22 AM »

Quote from: bajabill

the fitted and shipped barrel is "sightless"

Best price I found on Lyman front sights is $26 at Buffalo Arms, rear sights, too, depending on whatcha want....

http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/2,217.html

JPH45 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 11, 2005, 03:12:48 PM »

Got a 38-55 barrel recently, I like it alot. If I had to choose between my 44 nad the 38-55, the 38-55 would stay, but I don't ever want to have to live up to that. I'm probably non conventional, I strapped a 3-9x40 attop my barrel and have been enjoying seeing what I'm shooting at. I think it would be the perfect companion to a 45-70 BC barrel, I;d also bet it would become the most used. I got some good tips on loads and bullets and loading if you get one.

GrampaMike · « **Reply #5 on:** April 12, 2005, 08:51:39 AM »

Thanks Guys...

This is the way I will go for the 38-55 barrel.

JPH45 after I get it back, I will appreciate the tips and loads.

Mike

bajabill · « **Reply #6 on:** April 13, 2005, 05:03:23 AM »

IN the handi configuration, can the 38-55 be loaded over the 375win level, and utilize pointed bullets. Or, are these bullets designed to perform in the 375 mag velocities, which the 38-55 will never duplicate.

Im thinking of this as an alternative to the elusive 35 whelen.

handirifle · « **Reply #7 on:** April 13, 2005, 05:15:44 PM »

Bill
The problem I think you'll run into is bullet dia vs. bore dia. The 38-55 is closer to .379 while the 375 Win uses .375 dia.

Hard to say what the Handi will let you load up to. maybe someone here has the 38-55.

I know published (Hodgdons) loads of the 375 list the 200gr at 2400fps from a 24" barrel, and i have gone well over 2100 with a 250gr in my 375 Win 94.

It has to be a work up and see deal.

As for bullets, there are several good jacketed and many cast available for the 38-55 dia.

JPH45 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 13, 2005, 05:48:32 PM »

bajabill, handirifle has it right, thee is a hughe conflict between the 375 bullets available and the 379 groove diameter of the target model barrel.
The 38-55 even in the Handi is not the equal of the 35 Whelen and cannot be made to be. The Whelen has nearly twice the usable capacity, drives 250 grainer to around 2500 fps. The Whelen starts where the 38-55/375 are topping out. It would be concievable to rechamber one to 38-56 AI, Which would solve chamber size/bore/groove diameter mismatches. This would give you a tad more capacity than the 375 JDJ at nearly equal pressures, the problem remains a bullet.

What the 38-55 is, is a great short range heavy thumper for whitetails and mulies in the woods. At that it excells, try to make it something it ain't, you'll be disappointed. However, most of the ballistics of the 375 JDJ from a pistol barrel are easily equalled with the 38-55. So if you have bullets that fit, anything the 375 JDJ does from a pistol, you can do from a 38-55. That is some pretty wide open territory. What it won't do is handle the heavies as well, thus, there is no replacemnet for displacement.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #9 on:** April 13, 2005, 09:06:33 PM »

Has anyone used the RCBS cowboy dies for the .38-55? I am still haveing some problems with loading for mine and I think its from the Lee die being for a 375. That coupled with the smaller chamber isn't letting the .380 bullets work well.

Rcbs says the cowboy die set is cut diffrent for cast bullets,What'cha think?

bajabill · « **Reply #10 on:** April 14, 2005, 05:02:56 AM »

thanks for the diameter info, that is probably enough to end this quest for me. I would want the ability to sent the cheapest jacketed bullet down the range accurately. Then, in comparison to the whelen, I know it would fall short of that, but I was hoping to hear that the 38-55 in a 28" barrel would be able to readily provide 308 or even 30-06 muzzle energy.

Oh well, Im back in the line waiting or wishing for a 35 whelen. I dont need this of course, so maybe its good to keep a wish out there to keep up the interest. ONce we have everything we want, what next??

JPH45 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 14, 2005, 12:04:45 PM »

Badnews Bob, I'm curious, I think I asked before but my memory leaks like a sieve....Are you using 375 Winchester or 38-55 cases? Looking at the cartridge drawings, seems the 38-55 should have a loaded neck diameter of .398, the 375 Win. .400 Now it may sound like .002 ain't that much, but that happens to be the amount I'm squeezing my loaded ammo down by so that it works in the chamber freely. Also, have you tried blowing out some 30-30 cases for brass? I've not yet, but am definately going to as I am sure the neck is thinner than that of the 375 brassand could solve several problems. I don't trust that 375 brass is simply 30-30/38-55 brass with a different head stamp. I'm more than sure it is heavier and that part of that is in the wall thickness. This could have been the method that Winchester used to keep folks from sticking 375 ammo in a 38-55 rifle.

What kind of groups are you seeing? Mine is shooting 1.5" at 50, with Lees 250-RF, 8 of 10 will make a ragged 1" hole. Move back to 100 and the group opens to more like 3.5"-4", but that may be as much because I don't shoot much at that range. I've not yet done a lot of shooting with the Lyman 264 GC, but my preliminary groups with it were 5 shot ragged holes at 50.

cheatermk3 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 14, 2005, 03:41:40 PM »

I've measured 3 rounds from a box of Winchester factory 38-55 ammo. They were all .392-.393" as measured using my dial calipers. This was taken a few thou. back from the mouth of the case.

This is only 3 rounds from 1 box but it's something anyway.

I also have a few(5) rounds from a very old box of Kleanbore 38-55 ammo that also measures .392-.394".

My handloads using .380 dia. hardcast bullets go .397-.398", after being run into the sizing die just enough to permit them to chamber freely (Thanks again JPH45, and others for this tip). I didn't take notes but IIRC I'm reducing the diameter about .002 also.

In new, or f/l resized cases, there is a noticable bulge in the case after seating the bullet, due in large part to my inability to seat them in line, so much of the action done in the size die on the loaded round is to straighten the round out. I'm taking a reading on my dial indicator and this procedure reduces total runout from 8-15 thousandths to 1-3.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #13 on:** April 14, 2005, 09:19:15 PM »

Hey JPH I am useing Win .38-55 brass from midway. They do chamber and shoot, just not correctly. Its more of a loading problem with the bulge like cheater mentioned and crushed cases. Maybe I just need to spend more time on it, I have so many other fires burning its hard to keep up.
The rifle groups well so I am not going to get discouraged, This can be made to work I just have to find the right formula.

I have gotten a couple of groups inside of two inches at a hunnerd yards an di think it will do better once shes ironed out.

JPH45 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 15, 2005, 03:50:28 PM »

I believe most of the bulge is a result of the expander in the expanding die being sized for .375 bullets, not .379 bullets. In this respect, Bobs approach of getting the RCBS die set could be an answer, as the expander shuld be correctly sized, and if not I've no doubt RCBS will make it right. So if your loads are looking a bit bulged, it may not all be your loading. This is the problem with the current Lee dies, they seem to be more 375 dies than 38-55.

It is interesting that Bobs 38-55 brass doesn't need a subsequent sizing after having a bullet seated. I've got to get some of those 30-30 cases blown out.

cheatermk3 · « **Reply #15 on:** April 15, 2005, 04:59:59 PM »

John, I'm using a pair of needlenose pliers to bell the case mouths. I just take the primed case in one hand and push it over the closed pliers gently while giving the case a slight twist. You get a feel for just how much force to apply after a very few cases. Works like a charm.

Most of my loads in fired, un-resized cases do not show much of a bulge, if any. Still, they're a few thou out of alignment as shown by the .008-.010 runout before the final trip of the loaded round into the sizing die. Factory ammo shows a pretty noticable bulge too.

DPRinks · « **Reply #16 on:** April 15, 2005, 05:19:56 PM »

The current Lee catalog lists both die sets and factory crimp dies for both the .38-55 and the .375 Win. and they have different stock numbers.
You may be using the wrong die set.
What is marked on the neck of the die set you have,.38-55 or .375Win.?
The current production .30-30 and .32sp cases as well as .38-55 and .375 Win. are several thousand shorter than SAMMI specs, both from Winchester and Remington, expanding up, the .30-30 or .32sp cases would give you shorter cases with a thinner neck.
Don

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #17 on:** April 15, 2005, 05:57:38 PM »

My Lee dies are for the .38-55 as per the papers and what I ordered but the die body says .375.....I dunno. I tried to get a set of Lyman dies with the M die..... they do exactlly what the lee dies do except the bell is prettier before you seat the bullet. I'm gonna order the RCBS die today it can't hurt to try.

Anybody need a set of .38-55 dies? :roll: