38/55 Vs. 375win

[Goat]

I took another look thru my reading materials(re-loading manuals) and realised that there is a lot more difference between the two in the load books than what I remembered. I know that the 38/55 has been taking game that can't read the f.p.s. and ft./lbs. for a long time but I like the idea of being able to up the level of "whoppem" if I should ever wish to hunt something other than whitetail deer. Can the 38/55 be loaded up a bit in a modern gun or should I think about building a 375 instead of a 38/55 and just loading down for deer? I really want to stay with the classic caliber but want to make the most of my options. What are your thoughts?
Goat

[Old Savage]

The Win and Marlin 375s are essentially 38-55s to wiith bore dimensions that match modern bullets. Paco said in his book and other places that he used four more grains of powder in his Win BB 375 with the 38-55 cases.

[Hobie]

I load my .38-55 TC Contender up to .30-30 pressure levels...

[Stone Fence]

The .38-55 can be loaded all the way up to 1900 fps or perhaps a bit more while staying within .30-30 pressure levels as Hobie said. This is within spittin distance of the .375 Win, and enough for bigger game than whitetails.

BTW, I am back at making bullets after a 2 year absence while my son got old enough. In addition to .378" jacketed flatnose bullets for .38-55's, I make them at .375", also a .357" 190 grain designed for use in the .357 Max., and I just added a 270 grain .431" for .44 mag and .444 Marlins. E-mail for more info and pics: david@custombullets.com
-Stone

[JerryB]

Stone Fence, glad to see you back with us.

[Duff L Bagg]

I have had the 375 win for many years now and love it. I shoot a 235 grn WFNGC bullet cast from a NEI mold that is very accurate I have not had a chance to chronograph the load but I am quite sure that it will take care of anything up to black bear with no problems.

I built a 38-55 this last summer and have not had a chance to really work with it yet but it is showing a lot of promise.

So my best advice to you is to get both!!!!!

[KCSO]

There is very little difference between a 38-55 and a 375 in MODERN guns. A Modern 94 in 38-55 will push a 260 gr bulllet at over 1850 fps from a 24" barrel and a 375 will push a 250 at 2050 from the BB carbine. The biggest differrence is if you still shoot holy black, then the longer case of the 35-55 shines. I have shot deer with booth and so far the deer haven't commented on the lack of 150 or so fps from the 38-55. Mostly I shooot cast bullets and b/p and I only load up with smoklless for mule deer once a year.