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"

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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"

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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...

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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 )

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This one?

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

Long or Short brass?

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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....

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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.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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.

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Originally Posted by grandpamac

Just typing this is triggering yet another attack
GPM.

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@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

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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

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"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.

The uburti repo Winchester 1885 is awesome bit of kit
A good mates wife has one
He shoots a custom rolling block in 38/55 and accuracy is similar

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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"

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I want one of these now. Point to a trophy on the wall, “that one? Yeah nailed it with my Scandi Bogan Cannon”

@grandpamac as promised

Top
Marlin Ballard #4 38-55 circa 1880
This is the one I am shooting because it has a good bore

Middle
Marlin Ballard #4 38-55 consecutively numbered to the one above
100% complete and original

Bottom
Stevens Ideal 44 1/2 38-55 circa 1910
Scope is an original Unertl 8x target
This I shoot jacketed nitro

Attachment 241299

Quote:

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Originally Posted by akaroa1

@grandpamac as promised

Top
Marlin Ballard #4 38-55 circa 1880
This is the one I am shooting because it has a good bore

Middle
Marlin Ballard #4 38-55 consecutively numbered to the one above
100% complete and original

Bottom
Stevens Ideal 44 1/2 38-55 circa 1910
Scope is an original Unertl 8x target
This I shoot jacketed nitro

Attachment 241299

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I really should have a good look in my rifle cupboard to see what has lost its shine and could be turned into something more interesting. Shouldn't dally too much either as 75th birthday is only a few months away.
Grandpamac.

Winchester 94 in either 38-55 or 38-40 at H&F Richmond on the 20th December. Sorry I didn't take more notice of the details. Looked too tidy to be original; maybe a commemorative.

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Originally Posted by rockland

Winchester 94 in either 38-55 or 38-40 at H&F Richmond on the 20th December. Sorry I didn't take more notice of the details. Looked too tidy to be original; maybe a commemorative.

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38/40 is a pistol round pretty much a necked down 44-40
The 38/55 is a rifle round two very different beasts
Both awesome calibers though just very different

.38/40 is common in 92s. Never seen one in a 94 factory rifle. .32/40 and .38/55 in comm 94’s.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by paremata

I want one of these now. Point to a trophy on the wall, “that one? Yeah nailed it with my Scandi Bogan Cannon”

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You will need some accoutrements to truly get the most out of one though.

Lowered Volvo 240 with rally mudflaps
High-vis thermal overalls
Scania baseball cap
Pregnant teenage girlfriend wearing hotpants

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Originally Posted by Jhon

This one?

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

Long or short brass?

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Yep. But the picture is of a carbine though.

I had a pre-64 1894 Carbine in .32-40 for a while, shot smokeless jacketed loads in it, and I also used blackpowder and soft lead loads too.

So here's a fascinating article:
https://www.starlinebrass.com/articl...s-38-55-rifle/

For those of you loading 38-55, what bullets do you buy, if any, and where from?

If casting, what moulds do you favour?

@shooternz, are you offering 38-55 projectiles?

Just doing some loads in the 44 1/2 38-55
220 grain jacketted
Re7 powder

First shot was fouler, different primer and 2mm short of ideal loaded length for this chamber
Next 3 shots all touching
50m from a rough rest

Attachment 241390

Attachment 241391

Greetings @akaroa1,
I've seen worse groups from the latest cutting edge rifles with their super television scopes.
GPM.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings @akaroa1,
I've seen worse groups from the latest cutting edge rifles with their super television scopes.
GPM.

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Actually when you adjust the Unertl cross hairs and paralax properly it is a very good sight picture
And the Stevens Ideal's trigger is one of the better ones I have

100m testing next

Quote:

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Originally Posted by akaroa1

Actually when you adjust the Unertl cross hairs and paralax properly it is a very good sight picture
And the Stevens Ideal's trigger is one of the better ones I have

100m testing next

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What projectiles?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jhon

What projectiles?

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220 grain jacketted flat point