There are some folks who specialize in exactly that conversion. Usually they also do some work with the forend/hanger as well as adding a breech-seater pivot screw or pin to the action to improve accuracy, from the bit I've seen.



Are you thoroughly committed to .38-55? In the old days, as you no doubt know, they eventually moved on down to the .32-40 because, subconsciously, even lightly loaded .38-55's have a "shoulder-mirage" affect in a 50-shot or 100-shot match. That is probably as small as you could go, though, if you wanted to be able to shoot both black and smokeless matches. Personally, I'd select the .33-40 (.338 bore diameter), which I believe is what Harry Pope shot most of his later years.



And, if you're not committed to traditional or black powder matches, the Ruger #1 will definitely handle the .32 Miller Short cartridge, whereas a lot of the more traditional rifles are not 100% safe with many (most?) of the Miller Short loads. I think a good many of today's matches are won with either the .32 Miller Short or the .33 Miller Short cartridges.



Good luck, sounds like a real fun project,



AC