Sharps in 38-55

[ColColt]

Anyone have a Single Shot rifle, especially a Sharps, chambered for the beloved 38-55? I'm giving a lot of thought to a C. Sharp's in that caliber. I don't know how they chamber their rifles in that caliber whether for the shorter or longer version of Starline brass or the twist. I'm assuming a 300-350 gr bullet would do well with black powder which is all I care to shoot in it.

[Model 52B]

Uberti makes an 1871 rolling block copy in .38-55. It's high on the list as they are light and handy little rifles.

I've also seen Uberti 1885's chambered in .38-55, but they are no longer listed. Cimmaron however lists a .38-55 high wall and I'd love to have one of those as well.

As for a Sharps, for C. Sharps $, I'd probably just go with a 45-90.

[vancelw]

Anyone have a Single Shot rifle, especially a Sharps, chambered for the beloved 38-55? I'm giving a lot of thought to a C. Sharp's in that caliber. I don't know how they chamber their rifles in that caliber whether for the shorter or longer version of Starline brass or the twist. I'm assuming a 300-350 gr bullet would do well with black powder which is all I care to shoot in it.

Lyman sells one.
http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/muzz ... sharps.php

I have .45-70 and .40-65 BPCRs. In the .40-65 I use a .409 Hoch bullet at 405 gr with 18gr AA5744. Recoil is minimal . Just thought you might like a .40-65 if you don't have any luck finding a .38-55 you like.

[Blaine]

Shiloh will chamber a Sharps in 38-55.....

[vancelw]

Shiloh will chamber a Sharps in 38-55.....

And for not much more money than the MSRP on the Ideal.

[Don McDowell]

Shiloh and C Sharps both will chamber a rifle in the 38-55, as to which brass they use, just give them a call and ask.I would imagine they'll chamber it to which ever brass you specify. Either outfit will be more than happy to answer your question.
C Sharp's actually has more rifle model options in the 38-55 than does Shiloh, when you take into consideration the 75 , the hunters carbine, and the hi and lowalls.
As long as you stay with the basic models, the price paid for the Mt rifles isn't all that much higher than any of the Italian imports, plus if you use the example of the busted firing pin on a Uberti , and the two week wait for it to be shipped in another thread here, break one of the Mt firing pins, give them a call and it's on it's way that day or the next, no charge..

[ColColt]

The C. Sharps is available on their website and there wouldn't be any waiting period. That's a bonus as you wouldn't have to wring your hands waiting on it to get to you. It's a good price even with adding the front/tang sight as optional.The only part I didn't like was the shorter 26" barrel. A 28" would have been better I would think but the 38-55 is not a big case and would probably burn the powder as good as a longer barrel. It is a model 1874. I don't know how they chambered it but that's easy to find out. Bullets are hard to come by other than flat point style. I've noticed several of the Hoch moulds have been discontinued in this caliber...at least on Midway and some would have been perfect.

[Griff]

An 1885 is a huge advantage over the Sharps. As the breechblock is lowered, the hammer is cocked, doesn't require a separate action as with the Sharps. This can be a big deal, depending on your intended use. If speed is a factor, get a Hi-Wall (1885), besides, it's a J. M. Browning design.

And, from my perspective, if you're looking to sling 300-350 grain lead, think about one of the .40 caliber cartridges. Again, depending on your intended use, the larger case capacity of even the smaller .40s (.40-65, .40-70BN, .40-70SS) will be more efficient if you o the BP route, and still allow you some flexibility with smokeless powder choices. Plus you can get a rifling twist that can stabilize up to the 400 grainers and improve that long range capability.

I've been advised to rebarrel my sharps to a .40-65 and have my twist rate sped up to a 1:15 to utilize the 400+ grain bullets. But, I really got mine to hunt, so it'll stay as is, a 1:18 to toss those 350gr pills @ an average 1576 fps w/90 grains of Goex FFg. My rifle is 1 oz less than NRA BPCRS rules allow, and an 80 shot match is more than I care to absorb in recoil!

Had I known what I know now about the differences between the 1874 Sharps & the 1885 Hi-wall, AND there had been a new 1885 on the market, I mighta taken the Hi-Wall route first! A custom Hi-Wall might still be in my future... hmmm... definitely a .40........

[Don McDowell]

The Lyman 335 gr postel is about as good as it gets for heavy bullet in the 38-55.
BACO has a couple of heavy designs in their blocks.
You can get a pretty good variety of high quality bullets to try before you buy the blocks from John Olsen in Miles City Mt. 406-853-0196

[ColColt]

Griff-I have a Browning BPCR in 45-70 so I know what you mean about the lock time. It is faster to a degree but with double set triggers on the Sharps, well...about as good as it gets. I'm not into hunting-too old to be draggin' deer out of the bush. I have a 40-70SS I just wanted a mild shooter and the 38-55 is not only just that(I have the Winchester 94) but was initially developed as a target round from all I've gleaned. I was curious if anyone else had a SS rifle in this caliber and their feelings on bullet weight/charge for this old timer.

he Lyman 335 gr postel is about as good as it gets for heavy bullet in the 38-55.

That's about what I figured. Some of BACO's molds in that caliber that would be good choices are "temporarily unavailable" but, I'll look into those also.

[Don McDowell]

. I have a 40-70SS I just wanted a mild shooter and the 38-55 is not only just that(I have the Winchester 94) but was initially developed as a target round from all I've gleaned. I was curious if anyone else had a SS rifle in this caliber and their feelings on bullet weight/charge for this old timer.

he Lyman 335 gr postel is about as good as it gets for heavy bullet in the 38-55.

That's about what I figured. Some of BACO's molds in that caliber that would be good choices are "temporarily unavailable" but, I'll look into those also.

I still have that Lyman mould , but for most of what we do with a bpcr type rifle the 38-55 falls a little flat. It's hard to see the misses or the hits on long range targets. That Uberti was horrible about leading.
The "temporarily unavailable" only means they don't have any on the shelf, Jim is building other things at the moment. If there's one you want just call and order it, but I think you're ahead of the game to try some bullets before buying the blocks

You got your rifle back from the rebarrel already?

[Terry Murbach]

THE LIL Sharps in 38-55 is the pick-of-the-litter.

[ColColt]

You got your rifle back from the rebarrel already?

Not yet. It's not been gone but a little less than a week...keeping my fingers crossed it won't take three months.

I think the little 32-40 would be a sweet rifle to shoot but some places I've looked the brass is astronomical.

[Don McDowell]

32-40 isn't any problem , just neck down 38-55 or fireform 30-30's and 32 specials.

[rjohns94]

Also there are mini sharps chambered in that caliber also.