Thread: 38-55 Recommendations

Looking at adding the Uberti 1894 in 38-55 WCF to the arsenal this year. Doing my research. Decision is between this and 45-70. As I have 454Casull and 45Colt I'm leaning to 38-55. Application is closer range hunting and potentially target. So tossing up between LA repeaters and a Single Shot.

Any views on 24.5in vs 20in in LA. Single shot kinda defaults to the longer barrel.

Experience with Uberti Rifles vs anything else comparable?

Anything else to consider?

I'm not into BP at all but happy to shoot cast. Will need moulds - any recommendations here?

Cheers

Get a repop 1885 38-55 if you really want it to shoot well
Upgrade to a tang sight and globe front and you have a real shooting / hunting rifle

I have 3x vintage 38-55s Two are over 140 years old and I'm just doing range work with one of them at the moment and really nice to shoot BP only !
One is a circa 1910 and I am running that light nitro and it's a work in progress
And I also have a 375 Win ( 38-55 renamed and run hot for the big bore 94 ) Contender barrel that is run full nitro

I think he wants a lever gun

Copy of Model 1894 Winchester in 38-55 made by Uberti

Not a 1885 rolling block "Scandi Bogan cannon"

Originally Posted by norsk

I think he wants a lever gun

Copy of Model 1894 Winchester in 38-55 made by Uberti

Not a 1885 rolling block "Scandi Bogan cannon"

He might be teetering towards the dark side of single shots " So tossing up between LA repeaters and a Single Shot."

A rolling block 38-55 is a very nice thing also
But a repop 1885 would be my pick
An 1894 would be an ok goat rifle though ( just my opinion )

Pain of a calibre for BP, always cleaning the barrel, nice in nitro. I know where there’s a double trifle in this calibre, would be great set up for hunting, it’s a hammer, but using nitro in it at BP pressures would be good. I keep asking, but he’s not ready to sell…. Yet

Get the .38-55. I dont know why I dont already have one dammit.

Uberti are excellent quality in every way. You are not obliged to shoot BP in .38-55 but I will think less of you for not. (Why not - its much easier to clean than smokeless, and much more fun to load for. )

I would get the 24 inch in the lever action, the carbine are great but the rifle is a different animal.(And its a plus for black powder, which, I know, you're not going to use...)

Molds from Accurate Molds in the USA.

A 94 with a 24 barrel and a tang sight, in .38-55 would be a great stag rifle....

Sorry mate, you'll just have to think less of me. Lungs can't handle BP smoke..tried, lovely to shoot, f'd me up...

Originally Posted by akaroa1

He might be teetering towards the dark side of single shots " So tossing up between LA repeaters and a Single Shot."

A rolling block 38-55 is a very nice thing also
But a repop 1885 would be my pick
An 1894 would be an ok goat rifle though ( just my opinion )

This one?

https://www.magnumimports.co.nz/prod...arrel-30-38-55

Long or Short brass?

Originally Posted by JohnDuxbury

Get the .38-55. I dont know why I dont already have one dammit.

Uberti are excellent quality in every way. You are not obliged to shoot BP in .38-55 but I will think less of you for not. (Why not - its much easier to clean than smokeless, and much more fun to load for. )

I would get the 24 inch in the lever action, the carbine are great but the rifle is a different animal.(And its a plus for black powder, which, I know, you're not going to use...)

Molds from Accurate Molds in the USA.

A 94 with a 24 barrel and a tang sight, in .38-55 would be a great stag rifle....

This one?

https://www.magnumimports.co.nz/prod...on-rifle-38-55

Long or short brass?

If your going to shoot smokeless then a marlin in .375 win is an option.

Older win 94 commemoratives were also made in .38/55.


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Many years ago I had a few shots with a friends Remington Hepburn in 38-55. Later I looked at a Martini rebarrelled to 38-55. Regrettably neither resides in my gun cupboard. Just typing this is triggering yet another attack of 38-55itis. One thing to be careful of is the groove dia of the barrel and you should check that before ordering your bullet moulds. The 38-55 was popular for target shooting in the late 1800's so a single shot with decent sights would be my pick.
GPM.

A bit more info,
The .38-55 and later the .32-40 were used for target shooting on ranges like the Creedmoor near New York. Often the shooting was done standing at a range of 40 rods or a little over 200 metres. Often the projectile was loaded separate from the case either breech seated or loaded from the muzzle. The cartridge case with primer and powder was loaded from the breech. The scores achieved were astonishing. The sport of Black Powder Silhouette still shoots from 200 metres (even in the US) standing at metal targets. They use black powder and cast lead projectiles with no gas check in old design single shots with an exposed hammer.
Regards Grandpamac.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Just typing this is triggering yet another attack
GPM.

@grandpamac after my tea I will go to the gun room and release my vintage 38-55s and fan the flames of your desire into a full inferno, with some fresh images

Originally Posted by akaroa1

@grandpamac after my tea I will go to the gun room and release my vintage 38-55s and fan the flames of your desire into a full inferno, with some fresh images

"You beast"😁

@grandpamac, I have a citadel martini rebarrelled in 38/55 with a Tony Hawkins barrel, I'm not allowed to use it in open sights competitions at my local club anymore, it's too accurate.