Author Topic: Just bought a NIB Buffalo Classic 38-55 (Read 1790 times)

coyotehunter223 · « **on:** March 22, 2008, 03:14:45 AM »

I've been reading everything I could find lately about the 45/70 and 38-55 H&R Buffalo Classic's. After a couple weeks I decide I want the 38-55 for a number of reasons (one of which is reloading costs). Then I find out they have been discontinued and very hard to find, at least where I've been looking. I think a lot of hunters in Mississippi have bought them with the new hunting regulations. Anyway, I just hit the "Buy it Now" button on AuctionArms. The price was $329 and that includes shipping. I can't wait to get it. Of course now I will have to get some dies, brass, bullets, powder etc to start reloading as I only reload for the Hornet and .223 up until now.

Smoke Wagon · « **Reply #1 on:** March 22, 2008, 03:19:15 AM »

congrats on the new one...I'm thinking of getting one myself only in 45-70

PHATINJUN · « **Reply #2 on:** March 22, 2008, 04:08:24 AM »

Congrats on the New member if you have just been loading for those 2 so far first thing you'll notice is man that powder goes fast. But they are a BLAST. Let us know how she shoots. Kurt

BillinOregon · « **Reply #3 on:** March 22, 2008, 05:36:31 AM »

Coyote: I just bought one, too, and you did better on price than I did. Should have it early next week. I had one several years back and found it very accurate with a .379 jacketed bullet. I understand that H&R changed barrel sources or specs a year or two back, so don't know what to expect in terms of bore/groove/chamber diameters in the new one. The .38-55 is s wonderful cartridge, though. Depending on how mine shoots, I may try to make up a schuetzen-style buttstock for mine, with high cheekpiece, perch belly and swiss prong buttplate.

lonewolf5348 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 22, 2008, 05:45:57 AM »

I have a 2007 model 38-55 and with starline brass @ .381 diameter boolets chamber without any problems.
I had some lead cast to .380 and loaded with IMR 3031 to start

BillinOregon · « **Reply #5 on:** March 22, 2008, 10:02:01 AM »

Mine just arrived earlier than I expected; HX prefix indicates 2007 manufacture. Haven't slugged the barrel yet, but a WW case with .379 220grain jacketed softpoint drops right into the chamber.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #6 on:** March 22, 2008, 11:45:27 AM »

Mine is 2007 model, received in January 2008 from SWs distributor, bore slugs .379" in the grooves, .374" at the lands, .380" cast bullets will chamber fine in the long Starline brass, .379" cast bullets won't chamber in 375 Winchester brass, haven't shot it yet, April's coming tho!!

Tim

coyotehunter223 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 22, 2008, 12:12:32 PM »

I do have a quick question. I do not have any reloading components or even dies yet for the 38-55. Since reading all the possible concerns with bore and chamber dimensions, what factory ammo can you all suggest that might prove to be good? I'm just wanting to get to the range next weekend and have some fun with it!!! Much appreciated

quickdtoo · « **Reply #8 on:** March 22, 2008, 12:29:45 PM »

There isn't much 38-55 ammo variety, better get what you can find, Winchester is the only thing available locally.

Tim

38-55 ammo

coyotehunter223 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 22, 2008, 12:50:15 PM »

Quote from: BillinOregon on March 22, 2008, 10:02:01 AM

Mine just arrived earlier than I expected; HX prefix indicates 2007 manufacture. Haven't slugged the barrel yet, but a WW case with .379 220grain jacketed softpoint drops right into the chamber.

Bill, what kind of accuracy do you get with that brass and bullet? What powder?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #10 on:** March 22, 2008, 01:03:19 PM »

While you're at it Bill, please tell us where ya got those .379" jacketed bullets.

I found a source of .378", but they haven't responded to my email yet, dunno if they're actually still in business.

Tim

http://www.custombullets.com/pricelist.php

coyotehunter223 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 22, 2008, 01:29:37 PM »

I'm also a big fan of neck sizing only. How do you guy's feel about this for the 38-55?

BillinOregon · « **Reply #12 on:** March 23, 2008, 05:12:05 AM »

Coyote, Tim: With a Marlin cowboy I have gotten five-shot groups under an inch with WW brass, IMR 3031 and the .379 220-grain soft point. I will have to dig into my file of targets for groups from the H&R TC with the same loads, as it has been a while. As soon as I can shoot these loads in my new rifle, I'll post. Tim: I make the bullets myself using Corbin swaging equipment. Sending you a PM ...

BillinOregon · « **Reply #13 on:** March 23, 2008, 05:30:45 AM »

Coyote: The .38-55 has a long and distinguished history of being neck sized, or even unsized, so you should be fine. The .38-55 was one of the brightest stars of the schuetzen era of the 1880s and 90s, when many shooters would fire 100- and 200-shot matches using a single case, scraped, reprimed and loaded on the firing line with powder and wad behind a breech-seated bullet. I mean to try this myself, and am thinking of cobbling up a schuetzen-style stock for the Target Classic ...

gr8ful · « **Reply #14 on:** March 23, 2008, 05:45:41 AM »

Quote from: coyotehunter223 on March 22, 2008, 12:12:32 PM

I do have a quick question. I do not have any reloading components or even dies yet for the 38-55. Since reading all the possible concerns with bore and chamber dimensions, what factory ammo can you all suggest that might prove to be good? I'm just wanting to get to the range next weekend and have some fun with it!!! Much appreciated

I have had my best luck with 255 LFN Black Hills ammo, Winchester 200gr power points were a BIG disappointment.

coyotehunter223 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 23, 2008, 07:55:38 AM »

Thanks to all, That's encouraging. For the time being, I ordered some Ten X ammo from Midsouth to see how they do. Man, at $40.00 a pop, I can't wait to get my reloading stuff!

spinafish · « **Reply #16 on:** March 24, 2008, 04:18:51 AM »

I just got my 38-55 outta lay-away at Sportsman Warehouse. I had the luxury for working with a buddy's before I received mine. He had bought a box of winchester ammo when he picked up his rifle..I check the ballisitics and they are on par with a .41 Mag outta a pistol! I pulled the bullets and replaced the charge with the beginning charge for .375 Winchester and boy, was that a huge improvement..the bullets didn't keyhole, they mushroomed beautifully..Too bad they are not available as components. I have tinkered with Hornady and Sierra bullets, but they won't bump up to fill the bore, so I will probably go with cast bullets or fork over big bucks for some Hawks. Just for kicks, I have paper patched some .357 180 grain cast bullets. Will load and shoot those in the next couple of days. Its a really fun rifle to work with..

coyotehunter223 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 24, 2008, 12:05:03 PM »

I got a call from the dealer today. My NIB 38-55 rifle shipped today and he confirmed the serial number is HX _ _ _ _ so I feel good about that!

quickdtoo · « **Reply #18 on:** March 24, 2008, 12:06:19 PM »

Ireload2 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 24, 2008, 01:57:07 PM »

I made a chamber cast of of my HW serial .38-55.
At the case mouth it is .394 and the chamber is 2.100 long so the longer brass will not fit.
A .379 bullet will not chamber with .010 thick WW cases though the groove diameter is .380.

lonewolf5348 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 24, 2008, 03:28:49 PM »

I tried the longer brass from starline 2.125 and a .381 bullet in the 2007 barrel chambered without any problems

spinafish · « **Reply #21 on:** March 25, 2008, 01:08:25 PM »

My experiment with the cast .357 bullets was really interesting in the aspect that I used the same powder charge that I had saved from the cartridges that I pulled the bullets from. I just dumped the powder from each cartridge into its own plastic bag. the paper patched bullets were spot on at 40 yards ( this is with the sights set by the factory). I might have to pursue this project with some jacketed 180 grain Remingtons that I use in my .357 MAX.

coyotehunter223 · « **Reply #22 on:** March 28, 2008, 12:34:00 PM »

Whew! I think I've read evry post available on the 38-55. One thing I want to do since reading all the suggestions is to make a chamber cast with Cerrosafe. I plan on casting about 1" into the rifling so I can determine my bore size. I just ordered some from trackofthewolf. I bought a half pound for $11.95. Brownell's wanted $24.95 for the same stuff

. Oh well, here's my question: With whatever size I find my bore to be, would I want cast bullets the same size or .001" larger? This part puzzles me

. Thanks for the help.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #23 on:** March 28, 2008, 12:37:16 PM »

Cast bullets should be .001" to .002" larger than the groove diameter, if your bore slugs .379" in the grooves, you'd want a cast bullet of at least .380".

Tim

coyotehunter223 · « **Reply #24 on:** March 28, 2008, 12:41:00 PM »

Thanks Quick. You guy's are always there with the answers!

torpedoman · « **Reply #25 on:** March 28, 2008, 04:34:38 PM »

Quote from: coyotehunter223 on March 22, 2008, 01:29:37 PM

I'm also a big fan of neck sizing only. How do you guy's feel about this for the 38-55?

works great when you fire it out of the same gun. I have a 38-40 great round and if you realize you jerked the trigger you can run down and move the target to correct it so the bullet will hit were you wanted it to. LOL

handirifle · « **Reply #26 on:** March 28, 2008, 07:01:33 PM »

Quote from: quickdtoo on March 22, 2008, 01:03:19 PM

While you're at it Bill, please tell us where ya got those .379" jacketed bullets. I found a source of .378", but they haven't responded to my email yet, dunno if they're actually still in business.

Tim

http://www.custombullets.com/pricelist.php

Tim
Have you ever read Paco Kelly's article on the 375 Win? He used 3/8" dia copper tubing and cast lead into it into a mold he modified to accept the smooth sides of the tubing. he cast some of them weighing about 300gr. But my point was he pushed them hard too. I got some of the tubing and it measures about 377-378.

I'm considering getting a bullet press and dies for the 375 and or 38-55. Partly for making all copper bullets for the CA hunting laws, and partly for cheap jacketed loads for the 38-55.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #27 on:** March 28, 2008, 07:06:38 PM »

Sounds interesting, but I talked to Dave at Custom Bullets yesterday, he's sending me some samples as soon as he gets them made, making them myself sounds like a lota work!!

Tim

handirifle · « **Reply #28 on:** March 28, 2008, 08:41:36 PM »

Quote from: quickdtoo on March 28, 2008, 07:06:38 PM

Sounds interesting, but I talked to Dave at Custom Bullets yesterday, he's sending me some samples as soon as he gets them made, making them myself sounds like a lota work!!

Tim

Yea, I never do stuff the easy way.

jlchucker · « **Reply #29 on:** April 06, 2008, 09:40:49 AM »

Everybody sounds so positive about the Buffalo Classic 38-55! Not me! i've loaded my own and cast my own for over 30 years. This rifle is the worst piece of crap I ever wasted my money on! I got it brand new a couple of months ago, have experienced keyholes, tight chambering with bullets .380 and over, and lousy groups with .379's. I've never fired this piece of crap over 25 yd from a rest, either. Calling H & R is a waste of time--the bimbo who answers calls you "honey" while obviously chewing gum, and stupidly spins the party line about shooting only Winchester jacketed 255 grain, factory loaded ammo! If a gun buyer needs to remachine chambers, work up cast loads which require special sizing dies, and still get lousy results, it's a good thing that H & R got bought out. I will fool with this thing a bit more, but I've bought my first and last H & R handi rifle, or exotic version thereof, and I don't care who knows what kind of junk they make. Too bad the Chinese didn't really buy them out. Based on my luck, I don't think anyone who works for them is fit for anything more than working in a rice paddy anyway if they can't make a decent shooting rifle based on a target cartridge over 120 years old!