Is the 38/55 take .375 bullets?

The 38-55's are all over the map generally running from .379 to .382 groove dia..
For the most part they have issues with .375 bullets both cast and jacketed especially as the groove dia. increases..

The newer Browning and Winchester 1885 High Walls have tighter groove dia. and you may be able to shoot .375 jacketed bullets in them.. I don't own one of them so I can say for sure..

Just the info that I was looking for. Thanks very much.

They are a dog for bore size. You need to get a mould to suit the bore. Or find custom made lead bullets to suit the bore. Even factory ammo can give yo accuracy problems.

Try to find a 375 Win rifle they use .375" bullets. I have a Ruger#3 in 375 Win and that is one fine shooter.

This is my delima. The "black powder" deer season has been changed to the "Primitive" deer season. The selection of guns has also changed.


Here is the choice of rifles we have.
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/p...rimitive_weapons.pdf

most selections would be in 45-70 or something with the trajectory of a brick but I want something with a bit flatter trajectory. I could rebarrel an H&R handy rifle to 405 Win. The ideal way to go would be to find a Remington 1 1/2 rolling block action & rebarrel it to a wildcat in 375 cal based on the 444 Marlin case. The ONLY caliber requirment is that it be 38 cal or larger!

My .38/55 likes .379 bullets, but they all seem to vary.

You could ask your local CO, but I seriously doubt if there will check your bullet with a mic. if the barrel is marked "38"...so any of the .38/55 loads should fly

...but I see what you are saying....the .375 Winchester aint marked .38

quote:

but I see what you are saying....the .375 Winchester aint marked .38

38 cal is .358 and 375 cal is .375.

Could use either the 358 JDJ or the 375 JDJ.

As mentioned, they range all over the place a far as groove diameter is concerned. Some have a groove so big that a cartridge loaded with the correct bullet diameter won't chamber! The case neck will be too fat.

quote:

Originally posted by D Humbarger:

quote:

but I see what you are saying....the .375 Winchester aint marked .38

38 cal is .358 and 375 cal is .375.

Could use either the 358 JDJ or the 375 JDJ.

My reference to the barrel marking was more in thinking of a wet behind the ears CO looking at the caliber stamped on the barrel and telling you “ Sir, the regulations require a .38 and you gun say it’s a .375”

I know, that is being nit picky and somewhat anal – and common sense should cover the situation should it arise...but common sense is sometimes in short supply these days.

The bore in my daughter's .38-55 handi-rifle was .378 if that helps. Just slug the bore on whatever you get, order dies with the correct expander and a mold from Buffalo Arms, and go shoot. The only problem with the handi-rifle was that the twist was slow for bullets over about 280 grains. However, it was accurate enough with 275-grain bullets and black powder to hit the buffalo silhouette at 780 yards at the Quigley match in Montana.

Dave

Dave

quote:

Originally posted by loud-n-boomer:
The bore in my daughter's .38-55 handi-rifle was .378 if that helps. Just slug the bore on whatever you get, order dies with the correct expander and a mold from Buffalo Arms, and go shoot. The only problem with the handi-rifle was that the twist was slow for bullets over about 280 grains. However, it was accurate enough with 275-grain bullets and black powder to hit the buffalo silhouette at 780 yards at the Quigley match in Montana.

Dave

Dave, not all Handi (NEF Target Model) in 38-55 are created equal...The groove on mine is .3815" which means ideally I would want a bullet at least .383" in dia. Problem is they cut the chamber to take a maximum bullet dia. of .379"..
My Marlin CB in 38-55 is the same as the NEF Target..
My advise is to stay away from both rifles unless you are prepared to have your chamber and throat area reamed out to accommodate a bullet larger than your groove dia.

My choice would be the H&R in a .35 Whelen..
H&R brought this cal. out in their line a few years ago but had headspace problems (quality control issues) so they where discontinued.. They recently addressed that problem and are starting to make them again. They are hard to come bye from what I have been reading..Most of the first run was sent to the southern states that have changed their regs. to accomadite these new "primitive rifles".... See GrayBeard NEF forum for all the info you need on this topic..
Another option would be to order a H&R in .357 mag. and have it re-chambered for a .357 Max. That's a fairly easy cost effective way to go..

If you are "flush" get a Winchester/Miroku in 38-55 and you are set with a qualitiy rifle...They are available with 16",24" and 28" barrels..

The 35 Whelen isn't legal for the Louisiana primitive season....yet, their minimum is still .38 cal, Mississippi changed theirs to .35 cal, so the 35 Whelen is legal there.

As to the H&R 38-55 Target Classic, those made before 2007 were very overbore with tight chamber necks, but that's easily solved by renting a .400" chamber neck reamer and hand reaming the chamber neck to allow chambering of rounds loaded with cast bullet big enough to fill the bore, usually .381" or bigger. The 2007 barrels, which were the last made before it was discontinued, have .378"-.379" bores and will load .380" cast bullets in Starline long 38-55 brass just fine, mine shoots 220gr .379" jacketed and 330gr .380" gas checked bullets great, the 1:18" twist rate works good with 330gr bullets, one member and GBO shoots oout to 1000yds with his H&R 38-55 using blackpowder loads, it's just a matter of loading the right bullet for the bore as has been stated above.

If the H&R 38-55 doesn't satisfy your needs, the 38-55 barrel can be rebored and rechambered to 405 Winchester, Oregunsmithing did one for me several years ago, I get nearly 2500fps with 300gr Hornady SPs with a max load of Benchmark, plan on spending $300 for the work.

http://home.earthlink.net/~oregunsmithing/

The groove diameter in my C.Sharps 1885 HiWall is .376", and it's very accurate with .377" bullets.

quote:

common sense is sometimes in short supply these days

AMEN!

my winchester crazy horse has a 378 bore. it really shoots beartooth bullets cast 379s well.

Doug, the 45-70 with the new poly tipped bullets shoot's flat enough, and you don't have to build a custom barrel