Author Topic: NEF .38-55 (Read 1972 times)

Papa Jack · « **on:** March 09, 2011, 06:39:45 PM »

I spent the day with a friend going to every Gun Shop and Pawn Shop in our County.....Found some nice guns but not real cheap, but it seems nothing is anymore...

I found a like New condition NEF Handi-Rifle with a real nice walnut stock with cut checkering, peep sights, in .38-55 caliber. If this gun was fired at all, it wasn't but a hand full of times, it was clean.
The price was $300.00 .
This gun had the straight butt stock and Schnabel Forend....
I am a hand loader. but the brass is still pretty spendy for this caliber, I plan to shoot Cast Bullets if I buy it.
Is the price too far out of range

All day ,all the shops we went to, I only found two Handi's, This .38-55, another in .45 LC, and one 410 shot gun.... Thank's Papa Jack

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #1 on:** March 09, 2011, 06:48:01 PM »

In the shape you describe, no that is a fair price. Haven't made em since 2007, not alot of em around. Those of us who have em like em and not to quick to let em go. DP

quickdtoo · « **Reply #2 on:** March 09, 2011, 07:23:25 PM »

That's not a bad price, I have three of them, bought two new, a new one in 2005 for $299 at Sportsman's Warehouse, took it straight to my smith and had it rebored and chambered to 405 Win. Bought another new one in early 2007 at Sportsman's, paid $320 for that one, it's an extractor, has a tight chamber and not so loose bore, .380" cast or .379" jacketed from Starline long brass shoot well without any chamber reaming. I've also bought two late model extractor barrels, cut them to 18", they both shoot .379" jacketed using 375Win data very well, sold one of em to Pete, the old guy from Michigan!!

Older ejector barrels will likely be much more overbore requiring .381" or bigger cast bullets to shoot well, there are hundreds of posts on loading for the 38-55 H&R if you use the search feature, a couple good links in the FAQs that you need to read to get you started, if it hasn't had the chamber neck reamed to .400" you'll need the info you find here before you start reloading for it, typically they won't chamber a bullet big enough to shoot well, but there are work arounds as you'll see.

Tim

bikerbeans · « **Reply #3 on:** March 10, 2011, 02:20:53 AM »

Quote from: quickdtoo on March 09, 2011, 07:23:25 PM

, sold one of em to Pete, the old guy from Michigan!!

Tim

I heard he is going to be really old in a couple of weeks.

BB

Papa Jack · « **Reply #4 on:** March 10, 2011, 03:29:27 AM »

Thank's for the Info Guys !!
I forgot to Check the Extractor/ejector type yesterday when I looked down the bore...
I may go back there this weekend and look it over again and check the Serial Number Prefix.
This gun looks like it came right out of the box, it's that nice.....
They also have an old Mossberg bolt 22 I'd like to add to my pile....... Too may guns and not enough coin.
I gotta sort thru my shop and see if I have some "junk" I could part with to finance my addiction...
Thanks Again ! PJ

petemi · « **Reply #5 on:** March 10, 2011, 03:54:45 AM »

Tom, you're right and I'm begining to feel it. I got another beagle from a friend yesterday, so now I've got three new dogs to run before March 31. We got 3 - 4 more inches of new snow yesterday, so I don't think I could do it without snowshoes..........and I don't know if I'm up to dragging them around. I walk my dogs out on my own property so they know how to come home by themselves if I quit.

Tim cut and re-crowned the two new 38-55 extractor barrels to 18 inches. Mine's a shooter and I believe Tim's is too. I did find that the loads I made up chambered more easily after running them through the Lee Factory Crimp Die. The once fired Starline brass chambered well after shooting. It is a sweet little rifle on a BC Carbine stock set. I tried hard to get a deer with it last season, but I was skunked......two years in a row after 19 good years. I had shots offered twice at about 5:15 PM at 200 plus yards, but I let him walk. I don't want to track wounded deer around in the dark. If I had been carrying my .308 it would have been venison time.

Pete

gcrank1 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 10, 2011, 04:06:53 AM »

BUY IT !!!

Papa Jack · « **Reply #7 on:** March 12, 2011, 03:58:41 PM »

I went back to the Gun Shop today, checked the rifle a little closer....

The Serial Number prefix is "HX" , it is marked Harrington Richardson 1871,
This rifle is like new.. "PJ"

gcrank1 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 12, 2011, 04:09:32 PM »

And you 'didnt buy it'?
That is probably the 'prefix' most likely to have the right chamber throat with no need of modification for trouble free brass.

Papa Jack · « **Reply #9 on:** March 13, 2011, 09:13:09 AM »

I can't help it Crank....I need to amass more dinero. I'm geared for the $100-150.00 mode, $300.00 is the National Debt to me.....I'm working on it, might take time. By the time I get the coin and walk thru the door, some blow hard will be there filling out the paperwork with the gun in hand.....Just my luck.

"PJ"

gcrank1 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 13, 2011, 09:50:38 AM »

PJ, I really like mine, and it isnt even an HX, but I dont think 38-55's are going to show up very often, and when one does it is not likely to be 'a steal'.
Maybe if you talk 'lay away plan' with them it can eventually be yours?

XD40SC · « **Reply #11 on:** March 13, 2011, 10:32:22 AM »

I haven't fired my Target 38/55 in a few years. Now that you guys have given me the bug, I'll have to get it out as soon as the weather allows. It's almost as much fun as the 45/70.

mauser98us · « **Reply #12 on:** March 13, 2011, 10:37:19 AM »

H&R 38-55 plus cast boolits equal a rockin good time.

petemi · « **Reply #13 on:** March 13, 2011, 11:22:30 AM »

Mine's a sweetheart. Thank you Tim,

Pete

XD40SC · « **Reply #14 on:** March 13, 2011, 11:26:41 AM »

What's a good group size at 100 yds. using their iron sights? What's the farthest reasonable distance to shoot one with fairly good accuracy- 150 ; 200 yds

gcrank1 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 13, 2011, 11:57:19 AM »

The history of the 38-55 with cast bullets is interesting. It is not only a fine large game, through black bear, but not the big bears, hunting cartridge, but was a 200yd. schuetzen target round. The 32-40, based on the same parent case, took over in popularity because scores went up due to lessened recoil in a long days shoot. It has as good a potential today as in the past, in capable hands.
As to group size, well, one man's group is another man's pattern. All I know is that when I do my part the bullet goes where Im looking.
As you see in the above comments, those who have one (or more) are not trying to get rid of them.

XD40SC · « **Reply #16 on:** March 13, 2011, 01:26:51 PM »

Would a 2 inch group with open sights be asking too much at 100 yds.? Using cast bullets.

gcrank1 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 13, 2011, 01:48:13 PM »

I imagine you really mean 'with iron sights', which includes the rear peep and front globe, rather than the typical 'open sights' as on a Win. '94 and most old .22's. I also assume you mean off the bench.
The answer is..........the rifle is capable, but a lot of shooters need some work to do it, and is that just one rare 'braggin' group or can a shooter do it fairly regularly.
For me, and the different matches I have engaged in, the proof of the rifle, load and myself is if, in whatever the course of fire is, can I place or even have a chance at the 'gold'. In informal fun 'matches' or practice the comparison is if we score 'in the running' of real match scores.
And, now that I am 'less tightly wound', it is if it goes where Im lookin' and hitting 'the spot'.
To this end I like the 38-55, but also wish they had made it in 32-40 as the reasons the 32-40 became the pre-eminant target round of over 100yrs. ago are still valid today; but thats another topic..............

gcrank1 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 15, 2011, 12:54:43 PM »

Conditions were good today, but I only have a 50yd. range at home. Still, I loaded up three rounds, a recipe that has worked before; Lee 379-250-RF cast of W Wt. with a dash of tin / WW cases / old Alcan LR primers/ 19.0 gr. of IMR 4227. Casual rest off my back deck rail with the standard Williams WGRS peep and the large aperture insert in the front globe. The three shots cut each other in a nice cloverleaf. BTW, Ive used that same load for varmint at about 125yd. when I had the rifle scoped, so I know it carries on out at a long walk too.

bikerbeans · « **Reply #19 on:** March 15, 2011, 04:29:27 PM »

Quote from: gcrank1 on March 15, 2011, 12:54:43 PM

Conditions were good today,

I think this is code for the glacier has started to recede.

BB

lonewolf5348 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 16, 2011, 08:29:51 AM »

Quote from: XD40SC on March 13, 2011, 11:26:41 AM

What's a good group size at 100 yds. using their iron sights? What's the farthest reasonable distance to shoot one with fairly good accuracy- 150 ; 200 yds

my 38-55 at 75 yards using peep sights

I shoot mine with IMR 3031 255 FP bullet cast no gas check at 33.0 grains of powder
Last year took a large doe at 75 yards here the results of the bullet

Papa Jack · « **Reply #21 on:** March 16, 2011, 08:47:43 AM »

You guys ALMOST got me convinced to buy it.....I might go back Friday and if it's still there, I might put a deposit down on it til I can sell more car parts to pay it off.
This means I still have to come up with another $150.00 for tooling and brass....$$$$$$$$

I guess it's better than Beer and Women...... Ohhhhhhhhhh Wait, What am I saying

?? ...... PJ

Blackhawker · « **Reply #22 on:** March 16, 2011, 08:56:21 AM »

Quote from: XD40SC on March 13, 2011, 11:26:41 AM

What's a good group size at 100 yds. using their iron sights? What's the farthest reasonable distance to shoot one with fairly good accuracy- 150 ; 200 yds

Mine has a Marble's tang sight and a globe sight up front. When I first bought it, I loaded up some ammo and headed for the range not knowing what to expect. I started at 50 yards. It took me four rounds to adjust the tang sight until I was on target. The next five or six rounds all were touching and made roughly a one inch vertical string type hole. I've now learned that it takes a few shots to warm that long heavy barrel (especially at 35 degrees) and the stringing was printed out as such.
With 26 to 28 grains of IMR-3031, 16.8 to 18 grains of 2400, or 24 to 26 grains of IMR-4198 under a 265 grain GCFP (actual measured weight is more in the 280 to 285 grain range) I typically get 2 inch groups at 75 to 100 yards when shooting 10 shot stings. My best yet was 10 shots in 1.25" at 75 yards.
As for longer distances, I've decimated a few prairie dogs out to about 200 yards with the iron sights from a seated position in a folding chair and no rest. Unfortunately, the longest distance I can shoot with mine is about 300 or so yards due to the lack of elevation of my tang sight. But it's every bit of accurate out there too.

Blackhawker · « **Reply #23 on:** March 16, 2011, 09:01:49 AM »

Post script:
I think my Target Classic 38-55 is probably my most favored rifle of all. It's fun and easy to load and I'm always anxious to shoot it by comparison to the rest of my rifles. It's a classic round and I have to say, there's nothing better than lobbing big heavy bullets down range. There is hardly a load that won't shoot well from it.

XD40SC · « **Reply #24 on:** March 16, 2011, 11:48:01 AM »

Quote from: lonewolf5348 on March 16, 2011, 08:29:51 AM

Quote from: XD40SC on March 13, 2011, 11:26:41 AM
What's a good group size at 100 yds. using their iron sights? What's the farthest reasonable distance to shoot one with fairly good accuracy- 150 ; 200 yds

my 38-55 at 75 yards using peep sights

I shoot mine with IMR 3031 255 FP bullet cast no gas check at 33.0 grains of powder
Last year took a large doe at 75 yards here the results of the bullet.

Great shooting- I'm gonna try your recipe

Papa Jack · « **Reply #25 on:** March 18, 2011, 10:20:12 AM »

I guess I don't have to procrastinate about this one anymore.......I went in today to put a few bucks down on the 38-55, and it was missing from the shelf !!
I hope someone from this forum beat me to it !! Have fun with it !!..... I Snooze, I Looze...... LOL $:-\$ "PJ"

bikerbeans · « **Reply #26 on:** March 18, 2011, 12:24:41 PM »

PJ,

Just tell yourself it was one of the 38-55s with the loose bore.

BB