38-55 : Still used/Effective?

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Spektral

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My Father passed away this spring and left us boys his collection. He had been an avid gun owner/hunter/ Safety Instructor for many years.

He had kept my Great Grandfathers 38-55 with the original bullet molds, the whole shebang.

The rifle is in tremendous condition except for a silver braze job to hold the magazine tube solid to the barrel.

I have heard stories of my Great Grandfather knocking deer and moose over with it, and wonder if in this day and age if it would still be relevant, as I would very much like to continue the tradition of using it deer hunting for the winter meat for my family.

Opinions?
 
Welcome to the forum. A lot of old timers where I grew up swore by the 38-55 when it came to Elk, bear and deer. I've got a lot of different guns and calibers and try to use a different one each year, so I've only bagged one deer with my 38-55. It was running flat out at 75 yards. I led it by about 3 feet and pulled the trigger. The bullet was a 255 grain cast bullet with a muzzle velocity of 1,400 fps or thereabouts. It went right through that deer and it piled up instantly.
 
Well like anything , old does not necessarily mean no good. I still swear by his Model 99 in .308. Things a bloody tack driver, He had to have it rebarrelled twice as he shot the barrell out of it.

That one actually (As per the story I was told) captured the second largest moose in NB to date in 1979. 1200 lbs dressed 21 point 4.5 foot point to point on the boards.

We still have the antlers.
 
Oh gawd no! Didn't you know that once a cartridge is introduced, the shelf life of its effectiveness on game is limited to 50 years? That's why they keep pumping out (I mean developing) new chamberings at this dizzying rate.

You'll find the .38-55 (Ballard/Winchester) a fine cartridge for hunting. I think in many ways it is superior to the .30-30. What breed of .38-55 is it? Make sure the barrel is marked for smokeless powder. Otherwise, learn to load black like I do in mine - more fun than you would think.

You will enjoy this rifle. I wish I was as lucky to have an heirloom gun.

My condolences about your dad.
 
Short Knife Johnson said:
Oh gawd no! Didn't you know that once a cartridge is introduced, the shelf life of its effectiveness on game is limited to 50 years? That's why they keep pumping out (I mean developing) new chamberings at this dizzying rate.

You'll find the .38-55 (Ballard/Winchester) a fine cartridge for hunting. I think in many ways it is superior to the .30-30. What breed of .38-55 is it? Make sure the barrel is marked for smokeless powder. Otherwise, learn to load black like I do in mine - more fun than you would think.

You will enjoy this rifle. I wish I was as lucky to have an heirloom gun.

My condolences about your dad.
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Ya he passed unexpectedly from a stroke at 62. Its a winchester '94 made in 1901. The barrel has been looked at by a gunsmith and he recommended slow burning powders if we reload for it, but seeing as its a deer gun I can buy factory ammo and it will work fine he said.

My great grand dad , Papa Quint, its said would be cutting wood and see a deer, then scare it since he couldnt hit them standing still. Once they were running he hardly ever missed. (He did alot of Bird Hunting, Still have his 30 inch bolt action 10 gauge.)
 
Spektral said:
I have heard stories of my Great Grandfather knocking deer and moose over with it, and wonder if in this day and age if it would still be relevant, as I would very much like to continue the tradition of using it deer hunting for the winter meat for my family.

Opinions?
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Moose and deer are no different today than when your Great Grandfather was shooting them. In fact, with today's bullets and powder it is even better than it was then.
 
Unless the deer are wearing flak jackets there is no reason not to use your 38-55. find some rounds or load some up and go shoot it that is what it is made for. Have fun. ps sorry about your Dad been there done that life goes on. Enjoy his rifle and do him proud this season with it.
 
People always tend to fall for the 'bigger is better' idea and cartridges are no exception. My 38-55 is good out to 200 yards .... at least that is the furthest I've practiced shooting with it. It can't compete at 400 yards with a modern gun, but part of hunting is getting off ones duff and actually walking/stalking within range. There is something about the 38-55 that has made it a favourite cartridge with me for years.
 
I think what your gunsmith meant, was to stick with black powder equivalent loads.
That would indicate it likely has an early barrel, not proved for smokeless powder power levels.
Winchester is still loading the 38-55, and they are holding the loads to BP levels.

It's a terrific hunting cartridge, short on range, but long on killing ability.
 
Just as relavent today as it was back then. Not like the deer or moose have changed. I shot a nice deer with my Winchester 1894 38-55 last fall. Never knew what hit it. I use factor loads with it and it is a tack driver with my peep sight. Take it out and enjoy it. You won't regret it and I'm sure it would make the old man proud. My condolences.

Good luck,

Matt
 
The 38/55 is kinda like a smaller version of the 45/70, good on big game to about 150 yds or so, low on recoil, likes cast bullets most of all so, very inexpensive to reload. I like this cal. better then the 30/30 because of the .38 cal 255gr bullets. This is also a great cal. for reduced loads for gallery use or for chickens.
 
I also plan to use my .38-55 this year, out of a 113-year-old Winchester 1894. No finish left to speak of, but still shoots like a dream. I love it, and I don't think I'd have any problem in taking a deer or moose out to 200 metres or so (with a bit more practice).
 
THE.KJK said:
They are a hoot. Very different from the hyper velocity rounds available today.
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Can I get an "AMEN"?!?

I've been all about the "original cartridges" since getting my first .44 WCF about 15 years ago, and my first .45-70 lever gun 6 years ago. Finally got around to graduating to the buff'ler guns two years ago and still get a kick over the belted magnum crowd react to the big .45's. They either ooh and ahh over the leviathon hunk of lead seated in the biggest case they ever seen, or scoff in repugnance that the BP loading of my .45-2 4/10" (.45-90) with the 535 grain bullet has very similar "stopping power" as their precious .300 Mag.

There's a simple truth about the old black powder chamberings... if you can see it, you can hit it. You just have to know what you're doing.
 
I have a Legendary Frontiersman M94 in 38-55. It is a representation of what that fine chambering was like to shoot and hunt with. Last fall, I decided to take it on a Whitetail hunt, with one antlered and one antlerless deer allowed. I shot a very respectable buck [145 or so] at 60 yards, with a Barnes 255 grain .377 Jacketed Flat point designed for the 38-55. I also took an antlerless deer at 80 yards with the same rifle shooting a cast 285 grain GC flatpoint [Lyman mold #375499, sized to .379"] Neither deer went more than 30 feet after the shot. Both bullets were passthroughs. Great performance from the old warrior. I have shot some amazing groups at 100 with this rifle. Even the Factory Winchester ammo, while pretty slow, shoots great groups. I would not hesitate to thump a moose in the ribs at <150 yards with that Barnes Jacketed or the cast slug. Both are at about 1700 fps, and that is already pretty decent energy. Eagleye.
 
I am about to work up some cast loads for my 1900 vintage 1894 Winchester. Great sights and a honking long 26in barrel on the old girl. Had the barrel slugged by a smith and bought some cast sized to my barrel. Just have to work up the nerve to stuff some of those thin walled cases. Winchester SuperX shoots real good and I got 3-4in groups at 100m. I plan to hunt it. I can take it up to about 1800FPS which is rocking for a 255 gr bullet. They have been used to hunt with for over 100 years-nothing changed except we have better powders now. For a hoot, google 38-55 and look at the bloody long list that comes up. Pretty popular for a supposedly dead cal.
 
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