38-55
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JNewell
Member
I don't have anything for you, but when I was looking into .38-55 I think I found some good info on the SASS forum (sassnet or sasswire, don't remember which).
ribbonstone
Member
If you are a reloader, and sepcally a bullet caster, the 38-55 is a favorite. Even modern made guns tend to continue the 38-55 tradition of .378"-.379" bores while the commonly availiable jacketed bullets are .375".
With cast bullets that match bore diameter, it's a great caliber.
With cast bullets that match bore diameter, it's a great caliber.
Jim Watson
Member
I shoot a Winchester Single Shot .38-55 with every satisfaction.
I don't know the rifling twist of the current Jap Winchesters, if it is the original 18" twist you will have a 40 rod (220 yd) to 300 yd rifle, if it is a faster twist (like my 15" rebore) for heavier bullets it can make it to the 500 metre silhouette rams... usually.
Mine gets a steady diet of Swiss 1 1/2 black and a Lyman 378674 lubed with SPG.
I don't know the rifling twist of the current Jap Winchesters, if it is the original 18" twist you will have a 40 rod (220 yd) to 300 yd rifle, if it is a faster twist (like my 15" rebore) for heavier bullets it can make it to the 500 metre silhouette rams... usually.
Mine gets a steady diet of Swiss 1 1/2 black and a Lyman 378674 lubed with SPG.
I've got a spare military Rolling Block action...
As a departure from my usual .45-70 toys, I've been thinking about either a .40-65 or .38-55 BPCR, and there are some gorgeous .38 cast bullet designs out there, notably the NASA bullets. How's the reliability at 500 on knocking down hard-set silhouettes, Jim?
As a departure from my usual .45-70 toys, I've been thinking about either a .40-65 or .38-55 BPCR, and there are some gorgeous .38 cast bullet designs out there, notably the NASA bullets. How's the reliability at 500 on knocking down hard-set silhouettes, Jim?
Jim Watson
Member
The .38-55 is a little mild for hard set rams, especially if the ground is wet and their feet get muddy and sticky, at least with the 335 grain Lyman. I have read of 12-14" twists and 340-350 grain NASA or Creedmoor bullets doing better.
A .38-50 Remington would be more authentic for your RB and actually holds more powder and hits harder, nomenclature notwithstanding.
A .38-50 Remington would be more authentic for your RB and actually holds more powder and hits harder, nomenclature notwithstanding.
0007
Member
If you're a glutton for punishment you might try a 45-120 - 3 1/4" with a 550gr. pill... I had a rolling block with a 1"dia. barrel in tha one. Sometimes I wish I had kept it, but not too often, heh, heh.
Nope. I've found my recoil threshold already.
550gr swaged Marcel spitzers on top of 70gr Goex Cartridge in my '74 Sharps Business Rifle are about it for me. The .40-65 and .38-55 sound like something one could shoot all day long.
If I have a desire for punishment, I have a Ruger #1S that I run Beartooth 405gr gas-checked bullets on top of Reloder 7 up to 2150fps, and about 10 of those will send me home with broken capillaries in my shoulder.
550gr swaged Marcel spitzers on top of 70gr Goex Cartridge in my '74 Sharps Business Rifle are about it for me. The .40-65 and .38-55 sound like something one could shoot all day long.
If I have a desire for punishment, I have a Ruger #1S that I run Beartooth 405gr gas-checked bullets on top of Reloder 7 up to 2150fps, and about 10 of those will send me home with broken capillaries in my shoulder.
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