Why not a powerful 38-55 load???

[Bogie35]

Hey folks. The thread about "30-30 or 38-55" raised the question: Why doesn't one of the major ammo manufacturers offer a more powerful 38-55 load for big game hunting? Do they actually think that the cartridge is only used for cowboy action? Or is it because they are "protecting" us from using it in older model guns?

Large scale prevention of injury produces large scale abandonment of common sense.

bogie

[Nath]

I often wonder!

They do different levels in 45/70 and it sems to work!

Nath.

[3t-]

Just my thoughts here but the same reason they don't offer too many high power loads for any "old time" chamberings. Folks still buy factory ammo to shoot in older guns that may not be up to par on soundness. A few folks make high power rounds for the 45-70 and such but these come with serious warning and are not the "mass" marketed rounds of the major ammo manufactures. In a word (or two) Safety and Liability.

There is also the idea that for the purpose of hunting with the style firearms that use these older rounds the original loading power was all you needed to get the job done. Different time and different style of hunting.

again just my opinion here so take it for what it is worth

[Hobie]

I guess you guys have covered it...

[TedH]

Just my thoughts here but the same reason they don't offer too many high power loads for any "old time" chamberings. Folks still buy factory ammo to shoot in older guns that may not be up to par on soundness. A few folks make high power rounds for the 45-70 and such but these come with serious warning and are not the "mass" marketed rounds of the major ammo manufactures. In a word (or two) Safety and Liability.

+1 but I will also say that there just isn't as many 38-55s around as there are 45-70s, so the small market for the hot rod 45-70 ammo is even smaller for the 38-55. While it's a great cartridge in it's own right, if a hot rod version would be popular and profitable, then the 375 Winchester would have stayed in production. No demand, no supply.

[msmith1228]

How about Buffalo Bore?

Mack

[Bogie35]

Yep. It's too bad that we have to protect people from having to use common sense.

Aside from Buffalo Bore, I do see that Ten-X offers a 260 grain/1675 fps load and Conley Precision offers a 255/1740. That ups the ante quite a bit, however they are INSANELY expensive!
Rest assured, if I ever get a 38-55, I WILL be purchasing some dies!

bogie

[3t-]

Bogie,

That's the only way to go. I've had a couple 38-55s over the years and still have one Lone Star Roller and hand loading is the ticket. I shoot a 255grn gas checked at around 1900 fps that is plenty potent for most hunting I would ever do. You also pay terrible high money for factory loaded ammo.

[tman]

Just my thoughts here but the same reason they don't offer too many high power loads for any "old time" chamberings. Folks still buy factory ammo to shoot in older guns that may not be up to par on soundness. A few folks make high power rounds for the 45-70 and such but these come with serious warning and are not the "mass" marketed rounds of the major ammo manufactures. In a word (or two) Safety and Liability.

+1 but I will also say that there just isn't as many 38-55s around as there are 45-70s, so the small market for the hot rod 45-70 ammo is even smaller for the 38-55. While it's a great cartridge in it's own right, if a hot rod version would be popular and profitable, then the 375 Winchester would have stayed in production. No demand, no supply.

sad,but true

[Bogie35]

Bogie,

That's the only way to go. I've had a couple 38-55s over the years and still have one Lone Star Roller and hand loading is the ticket. I shoot a 255grn gas checked at around 1900 fps that is plenty potent for most hunting I would ever do. You also pay terrible high money for factory loaded ammo.

And I think a .377-.380" 255 grain hard-cast bullet at 1900 fps would drop anything in North America out to as far as you could shoot it.
Candidly, with all due respect to the 30-30, I'm not sure why the 38-55 hasn't been a more popular big game cartridge. It has always intrigued me. It's still hanging around after over 130 years!

I just got my first reloading equipment. And once I get comfortable reloading for my 35 Remington, a levergun in 38-55 will be on my list!

bogie

[Don McDowell]

Keep in mind the 38-55 was a target round in its early days. Was highly thought of for the short range out to 300 yds and occassionally on calm days would work in midrange matches to 600 yds. Hunting with the round came about as a secondary thought.
There were several variations of the "38-55" but the Winchester is the one that survived the test of time.
It was primarily a blackpowder cartridge and even Winchester wouldn' put it in the nickle steel barrels of the 94 unless special ordered. They did however for a time preceeding its obsolesence offer a high speed load for the nickle steel guns with a claimed velocity just short of 1600 fps
But even in its "anemic" 255 at 1350 fps, it offers a bullet of better ballistic properties and sectional density than any 255 gr bullet heaved out of a 44 magnum handgun, not to mention the ability of the rifle to be more apt to put the bullet where it needs to go , than the handgun.

[2X22]

My guess is that a heavier factory 38-55 loading would sell fairly well if it were 'affordable'. I don't know what factory costs but have heard it is terribly expensive.

I shoot 280gr cast at 1750fps through my Marlin CB with no problem. A 255 @ 1600-1700fps would make a pretty healthy factory load.

2x22

[Don McDowell]

I was looking at the availability of 38-55 stuff the other day, and it looks like at the moment the only place that had 38-55 ammo was Grafs and that was Winchester at almost 40$ abox.

[Leverdude]

If someone made a modern gun chambered for it a regular thing & it caught on someone would make hotter ammo for it.
But they dont cuz it wont so they dont. Make sense?

[BenT]

I think the other thing is the varying size of bores. If you put a hot rod .380 bullet load it something that really needs .377 , then you can have pressure issues. That's why it's more of a custom load more than any other caliber I have.

[Buck Elliott]

Winchester made a blind stab at it -- called it the .37 Winchester

[Griff]

Winchester made a blind stab at it -- called it the .375 Winchester

Fixed that! And a very good stab it was!

I have a Marlin chambered for that round, and wouldn't give it up!