Model 1893 in 38-55

[Bingo]

   My sons Grandfather just gave him a 1893 Marlin In 38-55. I've been checking on the rounds for this gun and found that the factory ammo @255 gr. flies at about 1300fps. Some folks say you can load up to 16-1800 fps. Is the action on this gun capable of handeling the pressure or am I asking for trouble?
 
    Also It seems to have come with a beach front site that is now broken. Neumrich has regular front sites but I don't think they have the one that came on this gun. Can anyone help me with this?

[Richard P]

Your question will be best addressed on MarlinOwners dot com.  I would respect the original loading in a mod '93 rifle, especially an early one. When was the rifle made ?    I have a mod 1893 barrel marked ''special smokeless steel'' on a mod 336 action.  I can load a 270gr cast bullet to 1650fps in this rifle.  For woods use you can use the original load to good effect.  rp

[Bitterroot Bob]

Howdy,
When I look at the factory performance numbers of the 38-55 I see numbers that any handgun hunter would drool over. A 255-grain bullet at 1300fps is a 100-yard deer cartridge by any standard. My dad killed his first whitetail with one in the 1940's. His dad traded the Marlin for a Winchester 30-30 the next season and that was how Dad developed a low opinion of Model 94's. The Marlin was truly a superior rifle and the 38-55 is a great cartridge.
It will never be a .375 Winchester, either, but you can bump the velocity up a bit. I would recommend cast bullets sized to .001" over groove diameter. For some reason the .38-55 bores don't have a standard groove. Modern Winchesters are generally .375" while modern Marlins run as big as .380". I size my Lyman bullets to .379" and they work fine in my Winchester and a buddy's Marlin. I'd recommend slugging your bore to find out what you have.
Lucky kid!
Bitterroot Bob