38/55 NEF Taget

[Jim Stacy]

I am considereing buying a 38/55 target . Have any of you had  or shot one . Give me your feedback. I know 38/55 brass is very expensive . I also know you can make a cheap substitute from necked up 30/30 cases which should worrk for cast bullet shooting, my planned use .Steel butt plate ? Other option is haveing a 38/55 barrel fitted to one of my Handi's ? sights or scope. Are there any unsual things about the 38/55 Target , have heard some comments about the chamber ?      

[cheatermk3]

Don't let this scare you--:

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,63539.0.html

[boommer]

cheatermk3 is right if you like to tinker you can get them to shoot.I have a target model 38-55 chamber one problem then dies!
but is workable. I got mine to shoot great 1-1.5 100 YDS with black loads. with the posts on here and of my tweaks it worked.
IF you like a problem child and like a challenge it's do'able  but if you just want to shoot I would not do it.
but thats me!

[Badnews Bob]

Mine shoots great just hard to get rounds loaded right to chamber, I am going to have the chamber reamed as soon as I get 57 other things done(to many irons in the fire) My good friend Haywire just had a .375 win made turns out its just the oppisite of my .38-55, It has the large chamber but smaller bore, go figgure, My rounds will drop right into his chamber but wont mine, His rounds drop right into mine but wont shoot well. The guy who did his chamber is gonna get my barrell.

[eskimo36]

I love my 38-55 Target Model.  It does have its own little demons to deal with but once figured out is great fun to shoot while being easy and cheap to load for.  Mine won't chamber a shell with any amount of roll crimp but it is accurate and very pleasent to shoot with lead bullets and Trailboss.

[Kmrere42]

I just received back my target model from NEF.  I had sent it back trying to get a new barrel from them.  I have one with almost a .382" grove.  All they did was to shoot 3 rounds through it and send it back.  (sigh)   

Has anyone tried the bullets from National bullet in the copper coated variety in the .379" dia.  if so how did they shoot???





Paul

[Capt. Augustus]

I got mine and forwarded the barrel to Old Scout to have it's neck reamed.  It was easier and cheaper than trying a lot of different bullets.  I think any hard cast lead bullet plated or plain that would successfully chamber with the stock barrel would be a problem.  He only charges $20 + shipping USPS back to you.

[Badnews Bob]

Capt. How do I get ahold of this Old Scout?  Mine likes the .380 bullets and shoots well, Just gotta fix that chamber.

[Prof. Fuller Bullspit]

I got mine and forwarded the barrel to Old Scout to have it's neck reamed.  It was easier and cheaper than trying a lot of different bullets.  I think any hard cast lead bullet plated or plain that would successfully chamber with the stock barrel would be a problem.  He only charges $20 + shipping USPS back to you.

I too had Old Scout ream the chamber on my .38-55. I can now chamber .382-.383 bullets that work much better. I also had to fireform my brass and thereafter I deprime with a universal decapper instead of the sizing die.

[Roudy]

I agree that the H&R 38-55 chamber dimensions are unique, but I still feel it is well worth the effort of 'getting to know the rifle'.  I have only shot my own cast bullets in mine since it was new, and didn't buy a bullet sizing die until after I was able to slug the bore.

My Target Rifle shoots a Lee 250 grain cast bullet with a beveled base and no gas check very well....at least to my expectations.  The bullet is sized to .378" in my Lyman sizer and I got the following groups:

.875"  5 shots @ 50 yards 11.5 grains of Blue Dot
.880"  5 shots @ 50 yards 20.0 grains of IMR 4198
1.50"  5 shots @ 100 yards 20 grains of IMR 4198

These are not exceedingly powerful loads, but the most accurate I have shot so far.  I too, had trouble with a tight chamber when I first got the rifle.  The first batch of ammunition I loaded I put a mild crimp on the first round then chambered the round.....it stuck and would not extract, had to poke it out with a dowl rod.  I no longer crimp.

I 'chose' not to ream out the chamber.  When I first started shooting the rifle the case stuck in the chamber for virtually every round I fired and I had to use the dowel rod.  After firing a few hundred rounds I still get an occasional case stuck, maybe one in 20 or 30.  This condition certainly would not be acceptable if I was using the rifle for hunting, but for target shooting it is still acceptable.

Guess my logic, if there is any, is to let the chamber and brass wear in together, can always get the chamber re-cut.  For me 1 1/5" group for 5 shots at 100 yards is not something I want to fool with.

Roudy

[John Boy]

How do I get ahold of this Old Scout?

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

[Jim Stacy]

Well went to the gun show looked one over and just decided to pass on it. I have a couple of others I can shoot cast bullets in or I can have an extra barrel fitted to one of my other frames. I did see a bargin and  walked away came back and it was gone. 150 new WW brass for 50.00.  Too bad should have picked that up some one on here could haev used that.
I have a 30/30 to shoot cast bullets out of . Guess I'll go back to it for CB work.
Thanks to everyone who responded. Maybe NEF will get their chamber fixed in the near future !

[quickdtoo]

Thanks to everyone who responded. Maybe NEF will get their chamber fixed in the near future !

Don't count on it, they've had plenty of years to fix it and haven't yet.

Tim

[Jim Stacy]

Tim you are probably correct ! Do you have a 357 max reamer ? If so do you do 357--> max conversions? ??$$$$
Or just send me an e-mail to jwstacy214@yahoo.com    Thanks my friend.

[quickdtoo]

No, I don't have a reamer, but if I was of the mind to do my own, I'd rent one from Fred at 4D. You may also be able to rent a neck reamer for the .38-55 too, if ya change your mind!!

Tim

http://www.4-dproducts.com/display.php?group=Pistol+Calibers&PHPSESSID=c9a4002a8902c071bea43b060d39af2b

[Badnews Bob]

Thanks John Boy