Tried out an old Winchester 38-55 today (photos)

Win 38-55

Win 38-55

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My brother-in-law let me know he'd like to own an old Winchester 38-55 SRC, so I put the word out. A friend of mine had one he was selling, made in 1907. My brother-in-law has taken a lot of game with his scoped 270 over the years, including Elk, and was feeling the need for both some history and a challenge, so this SRC needed to be fairly accurate. I figured I'd better check it out before completing the sale, and my friend said it was alright with him.

The first load was a bevel base cast bullet over 18 grains of SR4759 for 1,235 fps. Five shots at 100 yards gave me a 3 & 7/8" group. I was pretty happy with that, given that it was my first and only group with that load and the first time shooting that rifle. With practice, I'm sure I can reduce that group size. I've found that a bit stiffer load of SR4759 gives me even better accuracy in my own 38-55 with that particular bullet, so I'd like to try a stiffer recipe of SR4759 in this carbine sometime in the near future. Here's a photo of the target ....

Cast-38-55-SRC.jpg


The second load was 30 grains of IMR3031 under some old Dominion 38-55 JSP bullets I had pulled out of some old Dominion factory High Velocity cartridges. The bullets were only .376" diameter, so I was not expecting too much. This load chrono'd at 1,468 fps. When I headed down range to check out the three-shot group, I was pleasantly surprised ..... a 1 & 1/8" three-shot group at 100 yards!! It doesn't get much better than that. Here's a photo of the target (keep in mind, boys, that this is a 103 - year old SRC) ....

JSP-38-55.jpg


Needless to say, I bought the old Winchester for my brother-in-law. It is an honest old gun that no one has messed with. It has enough wear on it to prove that it earned its keep a hundred years ago, probably hanging on a rack at the back door of a farmhouse somewhere in rural Canada, ready at a moment's notice. Here's a photo of the fine old carbine ....

Grahams-38-55-small.jpg
 
Excellant old girl for sure. I have tried my 1909 38-55 SRC at a hundred and was pleasantly surprised at the results also. guess it is a great hunting caliber and will be so this fall.
 
J.S., I used the Starline brass today. The cast bullets were sized to .379 and are pretty soft, about 8 BHN. In my own 38-55, I found that the most accurate load with these soft .379 bullets was enough SR4759 to put the bullet out the barrel at around 1,490 fps.
 
John, the SR4759 loads had been made up some time ago, and I don't recall what sort of load density they had. I did take note, however, of how much the 30 grains of IMR 3031 filled the case. With the bullet seated, there was about 1/8" gap between the base of the bullet and the powder. With the more modern, shorter cases, this would be reduced.
 
Really nice SRC 38-55 !!! Those don't show up everyday congrats and have fun reloading and hunting with a piece that takes you back in time. Dale in T-Bay
 
The 38-55 is the one chambering that I really like in the M94 Winchester/93 Marlins. I have a modern Repro as well, and, surprisingly, it also has the .377" Groove diameter. I will shoot an inch occasionally with a load it likes [255 Barnes original/H322] But averages around 1.3" with cast and jacketed bullets. I have receiver sights on it, and shot two whitetails with it last fall. No flies spending time on this oldie, but goodie! Regards, Eagleye.
 
Thanks Win 38-55, always interested in the load densities to see which powders come closest to 100% or slightly over in good, yet safe smokeless loads in these old lever guns.

I would imagine with a bit more handloading research you might find that you've turned this SRC into such a tack driver (for a lever gun) that your bro-in-law will be obsessively prodding you to get him more such guns!;) :D
 
God, i would love to own one of those types of rifle. I was out at one of my local sand pits one time and someone else showed up to shoot. He had a Winchester model 70 in .270 and also and older 38-55 that he was bad mouthing because it was an older rifle and according to him, an older rifle can't be very accurtate at all. I asked him if i could fire it after he was finished and he said no problem. He shot it about 10 times and missed a 5 gallon pail sized target at 100 yards every time. He told me that the rifle was a piece of crap and that if i shot it, i wouldn't be able to hit anything with it. I said, ok, no problem, i'll give it a shot.

So i fired the rifle. 1 shot at 100 yards and i hit the target the first time. I asked him for 5 other bullets so i could try it with a full-ish mag. He gave them to me even though they're expensive and i fired off 5 quick rounds and hit the target every time in less than 5 seconds. This guy didn't like me too much after that because i made him realize that the gun was not the problem, he was. He left after a few more .270 shots and hasn't been back since. When i see him in town he avoids me because he knows i'll ask him about his 38-55 and i know he doesn't want to talk about it. I offered to buy it from him when we were at the pit (for a very good price. no low balling) but he wouldn't sell it to me because he's a really manlly man and can't accept failure. I suspect that rifle sits in the back of his safe and doesn't see the light of day too often. I had a smile on my face for about 3 days though. When i talk to him, i'm going to try to buy it again. Later.

Dorian
 
Hey Bud...what weight of bullet were you using? I have a keg of 4759 and just picked up a mod 85 win, with a No 5 barrel. Its itchen to get to the range..but I havent had time to research any old loads..I have 100 new casings, and some cast bullets, I think 255gr..but not sure..
thanks
 
Long Bow, I was using 255 grain bullets, both cast and JSP. That is the standard 38-55 bullet weight.

Dorian Grey, keep pestering that fellow to sell his 38-55. I don't think he appreciates it as much as you will.
 
Very nice rifle! I myself recently acquired an old .38-55 from a buddy who never shot it, but it took some work to make it shootable again. I wish it looked as nice as yours. The pitting all over the rifle makes it look like a teenager with really bad skin. Fortunately, I've had it relined, so the bore is mint. She's coming hunting with me this fall. 113 years old and still kicking.

Erik.
 
I have a 38-55 in a 1894 rifle full lenght octagon bbl.I have been loading 255 gr cast and fffg black powder.Hope to use it on a bull moose this fall.Just started playing with it so not sure of group size,lot's of fun to shoot.
 
reb said:
I have a 38-55 in a 1894 rifle full lenght octagon bbl.I have been loading 255 gr cast and fffg black powder.Hope to use it on a bull moose this fall.Just started playing with it so not sure of group size,lot's of fun to shoot.
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Reb, be sure to post some range reports and photos. I'd love to see your old rifle in action. Be sure to use soft cast bullets so the FFFg can work its magic on the bullet.
 
Hi Win 38-55
As I shoot it I will keep it posted.I want to play with it some more as I have only shot about 20 rds with 2 different cast bullets both 255 gr one was gas checked the other has a vegetable wad on top of the powder.Both are compressed loads for BP.
I would like to try to take a bull @ 50 - 75 yds.In the area that I hunt in it should be possible.
My youngest son has taken a 7' black bear with this rifle using H322 and a barnes orig(255 gr) One shot.
There is something about these old rifles that I love,(If only they could talk)
 
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