38-55 Versus 30-30 For Hunting?

[rwt]

I'm interested in purchasing my first lever action-a pre-64 Winchester carbine for deer and hog hunting in the woods of Michigan and at a friend's ranch in Texas.

I'd appreciate your perspectives and advice on these 2 calibers.

I'd also appreciate your suggestions of which Winchester carbine I should purchase. Good/usable sights are a must. Assume my budget could stretch to around $1,200 or so.

A note: I don't want to have to handload to get a "good" round. I'd like to be able to purchase ammo for this carbine.

Thank you!

[edsguns]

I'll go ahead and figure that 150 yds will be your max range while hunting. That being said, I really like the additional frontal area that the 38-55 (.375) gives you. Here's a load that should work well for you with both deer and hogs. I have a .375 Win and really like it.
Best of luck!
http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l= ... tail&p=159

[BigSky56]

Based on your buying loaded ammo there is alot of companies for 30-30 and only one loading 38-55 although there is a couple of custom outfits loading 30wcf & 38-55. Ive used 30-30 to kill elk and deer and it worked fine not having used a 38-55 I cant speak from experience but my guess is it would work fine too. danny

[Old No7]

"I don't want to have to handload to get a 'good' round. I'd like to be able to purchase ammo for this carbine."

I was just about to recommend the classic .38-55, until you mentioned the above...

Go to MidwayUSA, Natchez or another online retailer and browse the factory loads for both rounds. I dearly LOVE the 38-55, as my dad raised me on that using his old Ballards and High Walls. Problem is, the anemic factory loading from Winchester is made for all the older 38-55s still out there... The load works well in my Marlin 38-55 Cowboy, but handloading really makes that old round shine.

But with that said... you will find more and likely better factory loads in the 'ol thutty-thutty.

Old No7

[RIHMFIRE]

if you dont want to handload....then get the 30-30...ammo is cheap....
first off you will be hard pressed to find 38-55 ammo in any store....
and its expensive too....mfrs only have occassional runs on it....

[1886]

I have a Thang for the .38-55. I have owned and shot a number of each, a Marlin 81 with double, set triggers, an antique 94, a 94 SRC, a Browning 1885, and several Marlin Cowboys. Certainly, either will serve you well. The .38-55 predates the .30-30 so it was harvesting game earlier than the .30. There is something special about that round. Just my opinion. Ask Kirk D., he hunts those bruiser northern whitetails. Get the .38. 1886.

[Bogie35]

A couple years ago, I was in your position basically. I came here and asked questions, and I got excellent advice. I ended up with a Marlin 336C in 35 Remington, and I have been completely satisfied with the gun and cartridge.

After excessive and exhaustive research, I have concluded that the 30-30, 38-55, and 35 Remington are fantastic all-around cartridges that are capable of taking anything in the lower 48. In fact, trying to determine a "winner" is like splitting hairs.

If you only want a Winchester 94, then that eliminates the 35 Remington.
For cheaper ammo or flatter trajectory, go with the 30-30.
For slightly more killing power but very limited factory ammo selection, go with the 38-55 (but not the Winchester load).
For the "cool" factor, they are neck in neck.

If I were you, I would get the 30-30 and a couple boxes of 170 grain Remington Core-Lokts, and go have some fun!

bogie

[pokey]

i have two 38-55s and 7 or 8 30-30s. nuff said.

go with the best condition of rifle, either caliber will do just fine.

[SJPrice]

+1 on what Bogie and Pokey said. Find the best pre 64 94 you can find, no matter which caliber. Then your quest begins for finding a nice pre 64 in the other caliber and then you will need a 92 in a pistol caliber, then you will have to get an 1886 in 45-70 for those really big hogs and then........

[Hobie]

I am a big fan of the .38-55. However, since you don't want to load for it,... *sigh* ... get a .30-30. It will do just fine and ammo is everywhere and most of it of the same 150 or 170 gr. weight, even from different makers, shoots to the same POA (or close enough) to use in hunting to 150 yards.

[msmith1228]

Have you considered the 32 WS?

Mack

[nemhed]

Welcome to the forum! as others have pointed out, 30-30 will be the most logical choice if you don't want to reload. The last time I bought over the counter ammo was for the 30-30, it was cheaper than 223 at that time and they had plenty of 30-30. The 223, not so much. Besides,it will be easier to find a 94 that you like in 30-30.

[jlchucker]

Welcome to the forum! as others have pointed out, 30-30 will be the most logical choice if you don't want to reload. The last time I bought over the counter ammo was for the 30-30, it was cheaper than 223 at that time and they had plenty of 30-30. The 223, not so much. Besides,it will be easier to find a 94 that you like in 30-30.

+1. If you don't handload, the 30-30 will be your most logical choice. Not only are there lots of Winchesters around available at the money you have indicated, and even plenty less, there are lots of Marlins available as well. Around my parts, and probably most rural areas in the US (and maybe Canada as well) most general stores carry this caliber on their shelves. Ammo is not hard to find. 38-55, as others have said, may be kind of scarce. Don't worry about the potency of factory 38-55 ammo though. It may not be up to what some handloaders make up, but that cartridge has been around for over a century, and I've never seen any written record claiming that those old blackpowder and early smokeless loads ever bounced off a deer or bear. As a kid in the 1950's I saw more than one old timer haul in some fairly large whitetails to be reported and weighed at the town clerk's office. Some of these guys carried old 38-55 Winnies, and there was seldom more than one hole in those deer they brought in. Still, most of the generation of my parents at that time were using 30-30's. Hardly anyone had a scoped rifle.

[oic0]

I didn't know anything about the 38-55 so I googled it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.38-55_Winchester
Looks like the anemic factory ammo for it is about as powerful as .357 magnum out of a carbine so if you aren't reloading at all wouldn't the .357 be a better than the 38-55 for ammo price and availability reasons? 30-30 still beats them both though.

[2X22]

I am a big fan of the .38-55. However, since you don't want to load for it,... *sigh* ... get a .30-30.

I agree...........sigh........especially with the sigh....... I take elk regularly with my 38-55 with cast and absolutely love the caliber. Don't get me wrong, I take deer with my 30-30's and cast, but there is just something wonderful about the 38-55 and cast bullets.

2x22

[O.S.O.K.]

Well, I'm getting in on the end of this thread but I will re-iterate the logical choice: 30-30

This is based on your choice of ammunition procurrement.

If you were to handload, it would be a toss-up IMHO.

And as mentioned, you can split the difference and go with the 35 Remington but I'm not sure that was chambered in the Winchesters... don't think it was.

[Blaine]

Hand loading is soooooo easy......*another sigh* You could pay for a basic set up with the savings you'd get on four or five boxes of ammo.

[missionary5155]

Good morning
I would always want a bigger hole to leak out faster.
Why not just take the plunge and learn the EASY steps in reloading. Do you want to be enslaved to the factories for your Right to fire your weapon(s). I have been around reloading all my life and MUST say I am thankful for it. I have no fear to buy any caliber knowing I can find a way to make amo for it. Plus I can taylor make ammo for my 38-55´s to shoot bunnies to grizz if I care to. The last 30-30 I bought is a "barrel change" 38. As good as the 30-30 is the 38-55 is just that much better.
The day may come when only reloaders are those who can still feed whatever arm they have and need. There certainly must be a reloader you know who would be happy to help you get a start.

[Pete44ru]

I would (have, actually) get a .375 Win Big Bore 94, and you'll have what amount to virtually a .38-55 magnum, with powerful factory ammo available.

.

[SJPrice]

Was the 375 ever offered pre-64?

[Pete44ru]

Winchester introduced the .375 BB94 in Sept 1978, IIRC.

.

[jlchucker]

I didn't know anything about the 38-55 so I googled it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.38-55_Winchester
Looks like the anemic factory ammo for it is about as powerful as .357 magnum out of a carbine so if you aren't reloading at all wouldn't the .357 be a better than the 38-55 for ammo price and availability reasons? 30-30 still beats them both though.

If you are comparing the .357 magnum pistol cartridge, even out of a rifle, to the 38-55, ammo price and availability are about the only way I can see that there's an advantage for a .357. How many store-bought .357 cartridges throw out a 255-265 grain flatnose slug? I'm not big on comparisons based upon printed statistics. I'd defer to those who speak from actual hunting experience with either cartridge. Somebody like 2X22. I've yet to see anybody say that they've seen even the "weak" Winchester loads bounce off deer. I've never hunted with a 38-55, and even though my go-to rifle is a 30-30 (with reasonable, not hot-rodded handloads) I wouldn't hesitate to trudge out into the woods with a 38-55, even if it were loaded with what some call "weak" factory ammo. By the way-- some posters today have mentioned the 35 Remington. Sure, ammo for this round isn't found in every store in the countryside, but that caliber is a one-shot deer thumper like nobody's statistics would ever have you believe. And it does it with ease, jacketed bullet or cast.

[missionary5155]

Hello again EWT
I did a little searching about and there is a feller over at CASTBOOLITS that is selling all sorts of 38 caliber lead rifle slugs for $18-20 per hundred. I have no stock in that sale.
Cast is all I shoot and can attest a proper fitted lead slug will not lead a barrel and at lever action velocities will do all any factory jacket will do.

[Nath]

I can only relate to the 30/30.
I think it is a wonderfull under rated efficient cartridge and will down stuff bigger than some would say it should.
It will also down load very easy too.

Nath.

[buckeyeshooter]

I'll go ahead and figure that 150 yds will be your max range while hunting. That being said, I really like the additional frontal area that the 38-55 (.375) gives you. Here's a load that should work well for you with both deer and hogs. I have a .375 Win and really like it.
Best of luck!
http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l= ... tail&p=159

$60.00 a box for boutique ammo give me a break. You can buy 4 boxes of 30-30 ammo for that!! Guess I would buy the 30-30 so I could practice enough to hit what I'm shooting at! Even if you buy the winchester factory ammo when you can find it in 38-55, it will be 2 times the price of 30-30. Now if you load your own, it really does not matter as it will be closer in price.

[wm]

Do you handload & perhaps cast your own bullets? If yes then the 38-55(or 375 Win) is a good choice.

If not then get a 30WCF.

Both will work equally as well hunting at the typical range distances encountered in Michigan. To be successful with any rifle/cartridge you need to practice and if you can hand load you can more easily afford to shoot enough ammo to gain proficency with your choice.

I live and hunt in Michigan and I use 38-55, 30 WCF, and 35 Rem. I pick one to use each August and then make a point of hitting the range weekly from Labor Day until Opening Day. I shoot 25-50 rounds total from standing, sitting, and kneeling positions and from 25 yards out to 200 yards. And I skip rope while I do it to elevate my heart rate to simulate 'buck fever' or the exertion of trudging up a hill in a hurry to cut off a retreating buck of a lifetime. Great preperation that......at least I think it is.....I'll let you know if I ever run into the buck of a lifetime.

Wm

[kaschi]

The 375 didn't show up until about 1978 or 1979. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SHOOT A 375 WIN IN A 38-55 RIFLE!!!

[jtaylor1960]

If you load and cast the 38/55 is a great gun.I have one in a Marlin rebored from a 30/30 and boy does it shoot!I haven't yet taken any game with it though.

[jnyork]

This reminds me of the old controversy of .270 vs 30-06, many gunwriters virtually made a living with that chestnut for years and years, you still see it in the gun rags every so often.

I guarantee you without fear of contradiction that the WELL-HIT deer, hog or whatever will never know the difference. If you dont reload, the 30-30 makes more sense to me.

[KirkD]

I have both a 30-30 and a 38-55 and have taken deer with both. The original Winchester H.V. 38-55 was a powerful cartridge. I would take it over a 30-30, but you have to reload for it. Since you do not want to reload, the 30-30 is your choice, as others have already mentioned.

[Griff]

I'm interested in purchasing my first lever action-a pre-64 Winchester carbine for deer and hog hunting in the woods of Michigan and at a friend's ranch in Texas.
I'd appreciate your perspectives and advice on these 2 calibers.
I'd also appreciate your suggestions of which Winchester carbine I should purchase. Good/usable sights are a must. Assume my budget could stretch to around $1,200 or so.
A note: I don't want to have to handload to get a "good" round. I'd like to be able to purchase ammo for this carbine.
Thank you!

and Welcome to THE Forum. Given your parameters... the .30-30.

[Buffboy]

I love the 38-55. I "know" my limits, my rifle and load. I use the original sights on my 1893 Marlin(made 1905) and have used it to take deer cleanly at up to 250 yards given the right shot. The gun/cartridge will do it, cleanly, if "you" can. That said, I've done the same with the 30-30. If you aren't going to handload your own, I'm going to join the rest and say: get the 30-30. The reality is: it will work as well in the game you are discussing. My father had(my brother has it now) an 1893 30-30 set up the same as mine and regularly killed deer at similar ranges since it was given to him by his father in 1945 at age 15.

The difference in capability is not that much and the availability of good(not downloaded to anemic status as is most factory 38-55) ammo is the key. The 30-30 has been figured out for a long time, there are no bad bullets in any factory ammo 150gr or more and it's much less expensive to feed. All that translates to more practice for the buck and that will make "you" better. That makes far more difference than the cartridge.

[tman]

i'd buy a 30-30 and a.375wcf . if you look hard, you can get both for $1400. you can shoot .38-55 in the the .375. with the .375 you have a hot rodded .38-55. with leverrevouloutions the 30-30's good to 300 yards on deer and elk. the .375 is a good close range grizzly gun. lot of versatililty in those 2 levers.