My first question, 38-55 lever guns?

Bis · Post by **Bis** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 6:02 pm

Hi- This is my first question on this forum and I hope I am not boring you folks.

For years I have loved the 45-70, until my son bought me an H&R target rifle in 38-55. I absolutely love this round. My question is does anyone make a new lever gun in 38-55 that I won't have to take a second out on the house to buy?

Thanks for any input.

71fan · Post by **71fan** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:17 pm

There are a few leverguns available in 38-55. To be a good deal, they will be used and shooter grade. New in box Winchester 1894s and Marlin Cowboys will be north of $700 probably. Watch the online auctions regularly to get a feel for what's available.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:33 pm

Glad to see you like the 38-55 cartridge. It is one of my favourite rounds and I have two vintage Winchesters chambered in that.

arjunky · Post by **arjunky** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:36 pm

This guy is probably going to have the least expensive one you can find, but they are rebored to 38/55.
There is a few guys here that have had theirs done by him also.
I believe they are 3 groove barrels also.

Wrong ID in add.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... m=96311957

antother
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... m=96199340

one more
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... m=96207874

Byron

homefront · Post by **homefront** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 4:28 am

Hunt a round for a cheap, nice, used 94 .30-30, have it re-bored and re-chambered. If I do it with the Sears 54 (a Winchester 94, sold by Sears) I bought for $150, my total investment in a nice .38-55 would be about $300.

1886 · Post by **1886** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 6:04 am

I am a big fan of the .38-55. Love my Marlin CB. I saw a 94 Trails End this week in 97% condition with box and papers for $725.00. I would have grabbed it at $600.00 or so but at $725.00 I passed. I do not think the price was out of line but at that price it just did not do it for me. I guess if I really wanted it the price would not have been an issue. Regards. 1886.

Post by **Hobie** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 6:24 am

homefront wrote:Hunt a round for a cheap, nice, used 94 .30-30, have it re-bored and re-chambered. If I do it with the Sears 54 (a Winchester 94, sold by Sears) I bought for $150, my total investment in a nice .38-55 would be about $300.

That is the absolutely cheapest method of getting a .38-55 levergun (unless one happens upon a widow to cheat)...

jlchucker · Post by **jlchucker** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:33 am

How does your H&R target rifle shoot? I bought one of these a few months ago, with the idea of plinking and maybe deer hunting with cast bullets. However, I have had nothing but trouble with anything other than a store-bought jacketed bullet. Accurate or no, I'm not spending upwards of $35 bucks a box for store-bought ammo. I've noticed that on more than one website, handloaders have had to do much experimentation to make the H&R in 38-55 work. Maybe the leverguns are better, but H&R seems to have done a lousy job of reviving a 120 year old cartridge in their single shot.

Bis · Post by **Bis** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:55 am

Thanks for the replys. I guess to answer my question, no body makes a new 38-55. I guess it is off to the pawn shops (no gun shops around here). I would rather get a gun marked 38-55 so years down the road no one gets confused.

jlchucker- I am still trying different loads. So far it seems to be Oregon Trails bullets with 5744. Getting 1 inch groups at 50 yards.

This was obtained with lots of work on the chamber. When I got it I sluged the barrel and it was .379, O.T. bullets are .380 but would not chamber. Black Hills ammo works fine (.377 dia. bullets). Since it was so close to chambering (.003) I took some brass, drilled out the primer hole, installed a long screw, put some fine valve lapping compound on the case and started honing the chamber using a cord less drill and then J-B bore paste. I have heard that Stare Line brass is thinner and would have worked, this I heard after I went thru all the aggrivation. I think they (Star Line) will send you a sample or two of their brass.

I also got rid of the factory rear sight. I could not adjust it for 50 yards, the adjusting screw ends up on the edge of the mounting hole and will not stay put. The Williams FP works great. The only problem is that H&R has now gone to extractors instead of ejectors and the Williams sight covers up part of the case. So if you need a quick second shot and have gloves on it could be a little interesting.

I hope this helps.

Post by **Hobie** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 11:02 am

You can re-stamp the barrel with the correct chambering info, that is no big deal. Then again the old rifles are wonderful...

Bis · Post by **Bis** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 11:23 am

true I guess you could restamp it.

BTW, thanks for the help on the post.

Jaguarundi · Post by **Jaguarundi** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 11:41 am

Hobie wrote:
homefront wrote:Hunt a round for a cheap, nice, used 94 .30-30, have it re-bored and re-chambered. If I do it with the Sears 54 (a Winchester 94, sold by Sears) I bought for $150, my total investment in a nice .38-55 would be about $300.
That is the absolutely cheapest method of getting a .38-55 levergun (unless one happens upon a widow to cheat)...

or a nice uncle named "Hobie" could just give you a 38-55

!

Bis · Post by **Bis** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:04 pm

That would be nice, he always has been my favorite uncle

cshold · Post by **cshold** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 4:14 pm

Now that does have a nice ring to it.
"uncle Hobie"

tman · Post by **tman** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:10 pm

i think that you can shoot 38-55's in a bigbore 94 chambered for .375wcf. a little more money, but a nice option to have. perhaps a more knowledgiable levergunner can confirm this.

Old No7 · Post by **Old No7** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:11 pm

But if I call him "Sir Hobie" -- do I jump to the front of the line?!?!?!?

Old No7

BenT · Post by **BenT** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:33 pm

Any good gunsmith who rechambers or rebores will restamp for safety and legal reasons. You won't have the option not to have it restamped.

Bruce Scott · Post by **Bruce Scott** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 6:07 pm

Here's a nice pre CBS/Rebounding Hammer 94 Winchester. May be somewhat pricey but they are top quality rifles and, unlike so many of the Commemoratives, have a more subdued finish.

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/print ... um=8509774

Most of these are destined to spend their life in a box but they make great shooters.... Love mine!

1886 · Post by **1886** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:07 pm

tman wrote:i think that you can shoot 38-55's in a bigbore 94 chambered for .375wcf. a little more money, but a nice option to have. perhaps a more knowledgiable levergunner can confirm this.

I am not very knowledgeable but one can shoot the "short", 2.080", .38-55 case in both the Marlin and Win.94 .375s. 1886.

Post by **Hobie** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:51 pm

Old No7 wrote:But if I call him "Sir Hobie" -- do I jump to the front of the line?!?!?!?

Old No7

I ain't no "sir"...