38-55 New Member

[happydog]

Greetings All !! New member. I've been reading the boards for some time now, have acquired a number of Handis (LOVE 'em ) and I'm now brave enough to jump in here and ask a few questions.  Following Tim's lead I checked out the nearest Sportsman's Warehouse and found their last 38-55 in stock.  Bought it for a discounted price (lucky me!  ) and it is beautiful!  Amazing wood grain. Assembled in August of 2007 (says so on the box).   As expected the chamber is tight compared to my 38-55 Marlin Cowboy.  Haven't slugged it yet, hope it is a smaller bore as the latest ones are reported to be. Looks like Marlin rifling.  Anyway..... I have some decisions to make (help appreciated).  First. I've read that Starline brass has shown positive results in the Target Models.  Starline makes 2 different lengths of 38-55 brass. (2.080 and 2.125) Which should I order?  Second. I am going to shoot my rifle first (cast bullets only!) and see how it does. (I hope I can get a large enough bullet to chamber).  If results are less than acceptable who might I ship my barrel to for chamber reaming and perhaps throat reaming?  I've seen a number of names on the boards but can't find them now  .  AND LAST....  I LOVE this chat board!  Thanks so much !!   

[McLernon]

Welcome to GBO. Can't help you with  the 38-55 but I am sure that others will chime in.

Mc

[quickdtoo]

Welcome!! Where'd ya see the date of mfr on the box? I just looked at mine and a bunch of others and they don't have any date on them other that dates stamped on the end by Sportsman's Warehouse or the distributor. The Sportsman's stamp has the store # on the 38-55 box which has a date of January 01, 2008, but no other dates. 

Get the 2.125" Starline brass, I dunno if all chambers are long enough to take it, but that's what's been recommended and fit fine in mine, the chamber is plenty long!! John Boy and a couple others here recommend Old Scout for neck reaming if it needs it, but I don't think it will, mine slugs .377" in the groove, so it should shoot .379" cast bullets fine, I only have one bullet to load so far, and it isn't the one I ordered, Western sent me the PB Lyman 375278 .379" instead of the gas checked 375296 .379", but they do load just fine touching the lands at 2.574" COL.

You might also be able to rent a reamer from GBO sponsor 4d.

http://www.4-dproducts.com/index.php


Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,117368.msg1098382096.html#msg1098382096

[lonewolf5348]

I just ordered some starline brass in 2.080 I am for now going to shoot smokeless in my 38-55 and just let them grow on there own to reach a longer length of 2.125 Mine will chamber the longer brass 2.125
I also purchased mine I think the same place you did yours only reason is they only had one left in stock
I did load .381 in starline brass without any problems as far as closing the action
I just may later switch to BP loads but for now to get the feel of the target model I will start out with smokeless

[happydog]

Tim and Mc;D, and Lonewolf, thanks for your answers.

Tim you just may have me on the "date" on the end of my 38-55 box.  Just after the CR3855 print on the end label there is, in red ink, hand written, 110-08-31-07.  I assumed that it was H&R applied but as you point out it could also be the wholesaler or Sportsman's Warehouse applied.  A number of other manufactures mark their labels in this manner regarding manufacture or shipping dates and I assumed that it was the same with H&R.    perhaps not!  Sorry for the excitement there.  Anyway, thanks for the excellent information.  I've been a lead bullet shooter for years and recently discovered Handis.  Great fun!  I'm looking forward to working with my new 38-55.  I have a Lyman 375248BV that I HOPE will cast large at .379. I'll just tumble lube them and not size at all.  I'll keep you posted. Lonewolf. Thanks for your encouraging information.  Also, as a side note, I shot my first 500 S&W Handi today!  Now THAT is an experience!    One of my friends has it and let me fire a couple of rounds. It effectively moves very large rocks!  We have quite a group of Handi-Holics here in the Yakima area. We know what fun is !!  Thanks  again!         

[Datil]

 Happydog, Welcome to BGO forums, And to the wonderful world of Handi!
  now you are Handi-holic, hope the 38-55 shoots good.
 
  Marv.

[happydog]

Thanks Marv.  I have my new 38-55, a BC 45-70 classic, a 45-70 Handi, a 30-30 handi with an extra .357 barrel.  I want a 44 mag, 444 Marlin, 30-06. and I want, and I want, AND I WANT !! 

Yes, I am a Handi-Holic  !!!

[handirifle]

Happydog,
Welcome to the Handi world and especially the 38-55's.  I have little actual "shooting" time with mine, since it's been involved in a LONG,SLOW, project of mine, but from my experience and what I read of others, they seem to prefer the milder loads.

If your has been rifled differently, that might not still be the case.

I still shoot only BP loads from mine so far, with Chey-Cast 20-1 .379-.380, 235gr bullets.

[happydog]

Hello Handirifle.  I'll be shooting 20-1 lead at about 1200 fps.  Should get good bullet expansion, fill the grooves, and hopefully good accuracy.  I'll do smokeless for a while then maybe try duplex.  I shot Schutzen for years and was always fond of mild duplex loads.  Many possibilities.  That's the fun !     

[quickdtoo]

Glad to see another Washingtonian on board, I'm in Vancouver, there are several others here also, Bang_Ow is also here in Vancouver, although he's been hard at work and hasn't checked in for a while, Tallyho is almost in Canada north of Bellingham, trotterlg is somewhere south of there, Cascadedad is in the tri cities area, canon6 was there also, but he moved to Montana, the lucky guy!!

As for 500S&W excitement, try the 700gr Ranger Rick with a case full of Lil'gun at 1400fps, that'll rock ya!!

Tim

[happydog]

Tim.  My friend's 500 grain load rocked me about as much as I can take being rocked !!  In truth, it wasn't all that bad (don't want to be a sissy ya know!) but my 45-70s give me plenty of excitement.  Your 700 grain load would certainly "readjust" my bones !!  Good to see many Washington members!  My daughter lives in Vancouver, we visit often, may look you up sometime.  I would like to meet a guy who has 40+ handi-rifles!  If the old saying is true; "He who dies with the most toys wins!" then buddy, YOU are winning!       

[quickdtoo]

Meeting more Handiholics is always nice, we had a couple meetings here last year, no shooting yet, but good food and great company is always a good combination, adding shooting would be kinda nice too!! 

I'm partial to the 45-70s myself with a 4 to 1 ratio if you count the 45-120 BC!!

Tim

[JonD.]

Quick, I saw on another post that H&R has discontinued the 38-55, what was the discount price that you guys got? I saw one of these rifles at SW and asked to see it thinking I was looking at a 45-70 BC. It was only after the sales guy handed it to me that I saw it was a 38-55 and the tag said $349. I'm going to purchase a 45-70 in the near future, but maybe I should go back and get this rifle and then have a 45-70 BC barrel fitted. This SW is an hour and a half drive and I won't be back up there for a while. What do you guys think? Also, reloading is out of the question for me, I don't have the time to do it, is there an issue with 38-55 ammo availability? I havent seen it anywhere but SW.(except for internet).

[quickdtoo]

The tag on mine was  $319.99 and I got 5% off that, so $349 is quite a bit higher, that's what the BC is at my SW store, they had one in stock when I was there last Saturday for their balloon coupon sale, got a balloon with a 10% off coupon in it. The last 38-55 that I bought from them for the 405 Winchester conversion was $299.99, at that time the BC was the same price, I was surprised this 38-55 was $30 less than the BC's $349.99. I wouldn't buy it unless it's an HX or HY model, but since the 38-55 accessory barrel is still available,  so maybe buying a BC rifle, then an acc barrel would be the better way to go, then you'd be sure to get a tighter bore.

Tim