I would like to hear some stories from guys w/ 38-55`s . How do like them? do you hunt w/ them? what kind of performance on game? thinking of getting one. I like the highwall win 1885 repoes.

Yep...have killed deer with a 1894 38-55 using 250gr. cast bulelts @ 1750fps. Probably didn't need to go that fast...deer here just aren't all that big.

Really no excitement (which is a good thing) or anything too unusal. First deer was hit from above (tree stand), hit in between the shoulder blades and exited leaving an oblong hole...wasn't dead stright line penetration, but pretty close, A few lead fragments close to the sine.

Last deer was 3/4 broadside, a little less than quartering head on. Shot so that I though I'd intersect the heart, deer dropped, started to get up about the same time as I levered in another round and settled the bead on him...kicked and died. Little high, took out the aorta, nicked the heart, nice hole though the bottom of a lung, hit a bit of liver, and on off through the flank and into the woods. No lead fragments, no evident expansion.

I've got it in my mind to change the barrel on one of my .30-30 Winchesters to .38-55. I understand they hit a mite harder than the .30-30.

A friend of mine inherited an old winchester with oct barrel in 38-55. He still has some of the ammo for it. Says it smokes alot :). Anyway, not sure what year or model but it's an oldie. I thought it was an '86 but that's just what I know.


Perferator

I just got a 336CB 38/55 this past fall and just love it. I shot a large doe at about 160 yards and it just took her off her feet. She landed on her back with legs up in the air. I have hit a lot of deer, but that was something to see! I shoot a .378 JFP bullet made by Stone Fence behind 37.5 grains of H335 it is a heck of a round. I can hear the 38/55 calling your name. You need to get down to the gun shop and get it bought. :D

I've got it in my mind to change the barrel on one of my .30-30 Winchesters to .38-55. I understand they hit a mite harder than the .30-30. Should be an easy one, as the 30-30 parent is the 38-55 I shoot my 336CB a lot with cast and have a good source for jacketed at a reasonable rate. Do like the qoute from Jeremiah Johnson. One of my favorites is in True Grit, "Well fill your fists you $0Bs" Do have fun with the 38-55s it is my favorite of all my leverguns. Swany

Hi Leadlum,
Got my 336CB in 38-55 about 6 months ago. slugged the bbl (.3803) reworked the trigger, 2lbs, Lyman 66 rear and Lyman 17A front post, Lasercast 240gr .380 rnfp bullets, outside neck turned brass, otherwise rounds would not chamber, but this is good, now rounds are fitted to my chamber. OAL is set to just clear receiver cut with a bullet still in the case. Load shots between 1200 and 1300 fps per manual, will crono when it gets warmer. After getting zeroed where I wanted it I had 3 rounds left. Off the bench they went into a .375 group center to center at 100yds. Don't believe it???, thats OK it was my last 3 rounds. When and if I can repete it with at least 6 groups then I'll start yelling all over the country. This is my first levergun, I love it and the caliber. Hurry and get one. By the way I'll be shooting this in cowboy silloutte.
Have a good one.
Mick

Hi Leadlum,
Got my 336CB in 38-55 about 6 months ago. slugged the bbl (.3803) reworked the trigger, 2lbs, Lyman 66 rear and Lyman 17A front post, Lasercast 240gr .380 rnfp bullets, outside neck turned brass, otherwise rounds would not chamber, but this is good, now rounds are fitted to my chamber. OAL is set to just clear receiver cut with a bullet still in the case. Load shots between 1200 and 1300 fps per manual, will crono when it gets warmer. After getting zeroed where I wanted it I had 3 rounds left. Off the bench they went into a .375 group center to center at 100yds. Don't believe it???, thats OK it was my last 3 rounds. When and if I can repete it with at least 6 groups then I'll start yelling all over the country. This is my first levergun, I love it and the caliber. Hurry and get one. By the way I'll be shooting this in cowboy silloutte.
Have a good one.
Mick

How far do you have to drive to shoot? I lived in Broomfield once and we had Mile high and outdoor horizons close but I here there closed now. My Cowboy likes a bullshop 280grLFNGC@.380.

How far do you have to drive to shoot? I lived in Broomfield once and we had Mile high and outdoor horizons close but I here there closed now. My Cowboy likes a bullshop 280grLFNGC@.380.


Starrbow..I live right below Jeffco Airport, 108th & Wadsworth almost in Broomfield. Mile high is no more, its now a golf course and houses. I shoot with Golden Gun Club which is now located in Watkins about 40 miles from my house. Its about 15 miles due east of Denver off I70 & Watkins Rd. It used to be in Golden but that is now houses also. We moved out east but kept the same name. I never heard of Outdoor Horizons, been here 18 years so I'm sure their houses also.
It's a bit of a hike to the club but I take a lunch with me and spend tho whole day. I can shoot out to 500 yds, go over to the pistol side shoot them, then go up to the trap and skeet range and shoot some skeet. I always have a great time.Its a greta club, been a member 17 years. Never heard of Bullshop bullets. Where do you get them? Seeya
Mick

Outdoor Horizons was were now stands Flatirons Mall, at least I think that s what they call it, the Mall between Boulder and Broomfield. So what your saying is you have at least a hours drive to shoot on a good day with no traffic. My wife really wants to go back and stay part of me does too but, here I can put the boat in the water on a 60,000 surface acre lake in 10 minutes, fish go home do chores,go to the rifle range do more fishing all without puting no more then 22 miles on my truck. The best part is almost no snow in the winter and rifle season lasts at least 80 days, so you don't need to be in a hurry to hunt. Granted theres no elk but theres no Texas elk hunters either!........................only time will tell.

Outdoor Horizons was were now stands Flatirons Mall, at least I think that s what they call it, the Mall between Boulder and Broomfield. So what your saying is you have at least a hours drive to shoot on a good day with no traffic. My wife really wants to go back and stay part of me does too but, here I can put the boat in the water on a 60,000 surface acre lake in 10 minutes, fish go home do chores,go to the rifle range do more fishing all without puting no more then 22 miles on my truck. The best part is almost no snow in the winter and rifle season lasts at least 80 days, so you don't need to be in a hurry to hunt. Granted theres no elk but theres no Texas elk hunters either!........................only time will tell.
Starr
Your right, Flatt Irons mall is there. I knew it as the Winchester club. Yes I do have to drive for an hour. It's that or nothing. Sounds like you have a wonderfull place to fish and hunt. I'm into Bass and Walleye and they don't like the climate out here, not like back east. Mostly trout and they don't do it for me. How's the Groundhog and coyote population? I do a lot of varmint and bird hunting. I was in the Marines in SC. What part do you live in? Seeya
Mick

Not yet.....but I'd like to!

s/f
Jarhead Ed

My Dad has a circa 1918 M1894 Winchester round barrelled rifle in 38-55. It has a factory installed Lyman 21, ("climbin' lyman), peep sight, a factory flat slot blank in place of the standard rear sight, the steel crescent butt plate and really good looking walnut. I haven't measures the barrel, but it looks to be 26 inches long.
It's a family treasure. I've convinces him to carry a Marlin 336 30-30 that I slicked up for him, (Williams FP, slot blank in place of regular rear sight, Firesight front), when he's in rough terrain. The 336 is a 1952 model that has seen a lot of wear, but is mechanically very sound, it has a great trigger, (probably from honest wear - 3 1/2 pounds), and in the heavy brush, shoots plenty accurately and in the truck or in the rain, she'll be ok. And the fine old 38-55 won't be in danger of being dinged, nicked or rained on.
Actually, the 336 is a great candidate for a restoration project someday.....

My Dad's getting older, and I've thought about taking a deer with it this upcoming year for the sake of sentiment.

I too have the 336CB in 38-55 with the octy bbl.

What a gun!

I have yet to hunt with it, but it's accuracy with Barnes original X bullets is super out to 200 on paper tergets!