SN 258230
SN applied: 3-8-1905
Date in: 3-28-1905
Type: Rifle
Caliber: 38/55
Barrel: Round
Trigger: Plain
Date shipped: 4-1-1905
Order: 5091
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v497/3855Win/Desktop%20Photos/38-55%20close%20D_zpsxd4vwfoj.jpg)
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v497/3855Win/Desktop%20Photos/38-55%20Full_zpsfle3mizi.jpg)
It shoots very well using a standard weight bullet (255 grains) at either the original BP velocity of 1,300 fps, or the later High Velocity 1,600 fps. I'm talking approximately 2", five-shot groups at 100 yards.Tycer wrote:That's a real beauty Kirk. Shoot well?
Pete, I'm glad you are still enjoying it. I was just thinking about that one the other day. It was my very first vintage Winchester and my first 38-55. I also bagged a Whitetail buck with that one. I've got a lot of good memories of that rifle.Borregos wrote:Nice one Kirk, I am still enjoying the one I got from you, great accuracy![]()
Cat and Jerry, it is a standard 26" round barrel. I would very much like to make meat with it, but this year's hunt is over. In the meantime, however, I've already put about a hundred rounds through it at the range.JerryB wrote:Such a fine rifle Kirk, 24 or 26 inch barrel? Will you make meat with it this year?
I've probably done more load experimentation with the 38-55 than any other caliber, and with more different rifles/carbines. The rifle I now have is an example of a completely standard Winchester Model 1894 from that era. I find that the round barrel shooting characteristics are not the same as the octagon barrel characteristics.southfork wrote:So what loads are you shooting through it? Factory or reloads? If the latter, would you care to share your loading data?
KirkD wrote:Got this one a few months ago. Took some photos today. It's a beauty, with lots of case colouring on the lever and some nice figuring on the buttstock.
SN 258230
SN applied: 3-8-1905
Date in: 3-28-1905
Type: Rifle
Caliber: 38/55
Barrel: Round
Trigger: Plain
Date shipped: 4-1-1905
Order: 5091
You and Gamekeeper should come over sometime and we'll have a good time shooting it.Nath wrote: What a peach!
You sure can sniff'm out friend!
I'll get the canoe greased upKirkD wrote:You and Gamekeeper should come over sometime and we'll have a good time shooting it.Nath wrote: What a peach!
You sure can sniff'm out friend!
The octagon artel is stiffer so is not so sensitive to different loads.geobru wrote:You really do know how to find them Kirk! That is one NICE rifle!
I am intrigued by your comment about the difference in octagon versus round barrel performance.
How do they differ in your experience?
Good to be home for a few days. Sorry for the delay, Southfork. Here it is http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_det ... 255L-D.png I went with the brass, two-cavity option. For the last few years, I don't bother looking around for moulds, I just go straight to Accurate Moulds and see what they got. Customizing a mould is free. You specify your alloy and what you plan to size them to, and they adjust the mould diameter accordingly. Lubed and gas-checked, my bullets weigh in at 262 grains with clip on wheel weight alloy. They give excellent accuracy in my 38-55's as well as a 38-72 I once had.southfork wrote:Kirk, if your back at home from your travels, have you had a chance to check your 38-55 bullet mould particulars and number? I picked up my 38-55 Model 1894 rifle today. It also has a round barrel, but is a commemorative rifle.
- Southfork
I expect that the main problem is an oversize bore. I've seen Marlins with a .384 groove diameter. This can be fixed by sizing the bullets as large as they will chamber and using soft cast bullets. That Marlin with a 384 bore gave me 2" groups at 100 yards with oversize bullets. I've never seen a bore so bad it wouldn't give five-shot groups of 4" or less at 100 yards, and I've seen some sewer pipes in '73's and '76's. See if he can slug his bore and measure the groove diameter. I'll bet it's oversize.GunnyMack wrote:A buddy of mine was given a Marlin 38-55, we finally tracked down a box of factory loads and took it to try it out. Couldn't hit paper at 50! So we moved to 25 and put a bigger piece of paper up, then we found it shot patterns instead of groups.
We knew the bore was dark and pitted but had no idea it was that bad!
Discussed having it relined but he wants it to stay original. So it hangs over his mantle now.
That Marlin probably never saw a cleaning rod!
Real shame, what a great caliber!
+1.KirkD wrote:I expect that the main problem is an oversize bore. I've seen Marlins with a .384 groove diameter. This can be fixed by sizing the bullets as large as they will chamber and using soft cast bullets. That Marlin with a 384 bore gave me 2" groups at 100 yards with oversize bullets. I've never seen a bore so bad it wouldn't give five-shot groups of 4" or less at 100 yards, and I've seen some sewer pipes in '73's and '76's. See if he can slug his bore and measure the groove diameter. I'll bet it's oversize.GunnyMack wrote:A buddy of mine was given a Marlin 38-55, we finally tracked down a box of factory loads and took it to try it out. Couldn't hit paper at 50! So we moved to 25 and put a bigger piece of paper up, then we found it shot patterns instead of groups.
We knew the bore was dark and pitted but had no idea it was that bad!
Discussed having it relined but he wants it to stay original. So it hangs over his mantle now.
That Marlin probably never saw a cleaning rod!
Real shame, what a great caliber!
KirkD wrote:Good to be home for a few days. Sorry for the delay, Southfork. Here it is http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_det ... 255L-D.png I went with the brass, two-cavity option. For the last few years, I don't bother looking around for moulds, I just go straight to Accurate Moulds and see what they got. Customizing a mould is free. You specify your alloy and what you plan to size them to, and they adjust the mould diameter accordingly. Lubed and gas-checked, my bullets weigh in at 262 grains with clip on wheel weight alloy. They give excellent accuracy in my 38-55's as well as a 38-72 I once had.southfork wrote:Kirk, if your back at home from your travels, have you had a chance to check your 38-55 bullet mould particulars and number? I picked up my 38-55 Model 1894 rifle today. It also has a round barrel, but is a commemorative rifle.
- Southfork