Hornady 38-55 bullets

[Mike S.]

Anyone ever use the Hornady 270 gr. .375 jacketed bullets? I've had good luck with the Barnes 255, but wow the Hornady's are half the price & I was thinking of trying some.

thanks,

Mike

[Malamute]

I may be mistaken, but I believe the Hornady .375 270 gr bullets are meant for the 375 H&H, not the 38-55, unless it's a new offereing.

[1886]

Hornady makes a 220gr offering that is more suitable for the .38-55 assuming the proper groove diameter for the .375" projectile. Regards, 1886.

[505stevec]

How do you know which diameter to use? I have been told to slug my barrel (haven't yet) I am looking to shoot lead more than likely. When i look at Midway there is a plethera of bullets at different diameters and completely different weights. Can I shoot lighter bullets or is 255 grain the ideal. My Hornady Manual doesnt offer alot of suggestions on this. Any info is a great help.

[Bluehawk]

YOU DO need to slug your barrel. IF you have a newer rifle like a Browing High Wall or a Winchester commenerative or the like, it will probably have a barrel compatable to .375 Most other INCLUDING the H&R Target have barrels considerably larger and bore size is differtent on many guns even by the same manufacturer .
I have a Savage 1899 in 38-55 made in 1916 will not shoot 375 bullets but will shoot the 377 Barnes with great accuracy . My H&R will shoot cast but with 380 or 381 bollits only .
I have a friend with a Winchester made in the 80s that likes the 375s and he shoots the Hornady 220s nicely. The 270s are made for the 375 H&H, all three of the 375 H&Hs I have owned shot them well. The Speer 235 Semi Spitzers as well

[Bill in Oregon]

I will be right up front here. I make a 220-grain .379 jacketed softpoint bullet specifically for use in proper .38-55s, whose original bore diameter was .379. I spent the money several years ago for the swaging equipment after reading an article by Ken Waters decrying the lack of a proper bullet for this caliber, and upon acquiring a new Marlin Cowboy. A .379 jacketed bullet is capable of wonderful accuracy in the Marlin and in the H&R 1871. The reason for the bullet weight being lighter than the classic 255-grain slug has to do with the availability of jackets and the design of same. Sending you a PM.

[1886]

Bill, I would like some info as well. Please P.M. me. 1886

[RSY]

The Speer 235-gr. bullet was specifically designed for and is intended for use in the .375 Win. out of the Contender. The tips can be hammered down for use in a rifle, though.

[Leverluver]

First off, what rifle are we talking about? If is a lever, you are limited by what will feed and function in a lever action (short ogive, flat point). If single shot, your options go up if your groove diameter is no overly huge. If you are .377 or under, most 375s will work well to OK. If over that, you are back to ones specifically designed for the 38-55.

The Speer 235 is an overly hard bullet for the very fact that it IS made for the H&H. At 38-55 speeds you will be essentially shooting a solid. If the gun can handle spitzers (i.e., single shot) and it compatible with 375 bullets, the Hornady 225 is a better deer/black bear sized game bullet if you looking for the bullet to expand some on impact, yet it will still hold together pretty well at speeds greater than you could ever generate from a 38-55.

[Hobie]

All that has been said is correct and I would like to add (to directly address your question) that those 270s have been cut off (using a cutoff wheel/saw) to a length at which they weighed 255 gr. and they both shot and performed well. If you use the 270s by cutting them short you will need to invest in a cut-off saw to get the consistency needed for top-flight accuracy.

IME, there is a problem with the 220 gr. Hornady and most .38-55s in combo with .38-55 brass and the normal throat. They don't work together. Even in my modern .375 bore gun the 220s were only usable in the much shorter .375 Win brass. This is due to the cannelure (and thus common seating depth) and ogive.

This is my humble and likely undesirable opinion, use the Barnes or get Mr. Deering to make you up some (if you can) or use cast. Cast bullets are by far the easiest to get. Sometimes you can luck into a stash of factory 255 gr. bullets. Get them.

[RSY]

IME, there is a problem with the 220 gr. Hornady and most .38-55s in combo with .38-55 brass and the normal throat. They don't work together. Even in my modern .375 bore gun the 220s were only usable in the much shorter .375 Win brass. This is due to the cannelure (and thus common seating depth) and ogive.

Hence, the two separate bullets of the same weight made by Barnes for the .38-55 and .375. Only difference: cannelure placement.

Hornady, you listenin'???

Scott

[1886]

All that has been said is correct and I would like to add (to directly address your question) that those 270s have been cut off (using a cutoff wheel/saw) to a length at which they weighed 255 gr. and they both shot and performed well. If you use the 270s by cutting them short you will need to invest in a cut-off saw to get the consistency needed for top-flight accuracy.

IME, there is a problem with the 220 gr. Hornady and most .38-55s in combo with .38-55 brass and the normal throat. They don't work together. Even in my modern .375 bore gun the 220s were only usable in the much shorter .375 Win brass. This is due to the cannelure (and thus common seating depth) and ogive.

This is my humble and likely undesirable opinion, use the Barnes or get Mr. Deering to make you up some (if you can) or use cast. Cast bullets are by far the easiest to get. Sometimes you can luck into a stash of factory 255 gr. bullets. Get them.

Hobie is correct, Hornady makes the 220gr for the .375 Win. If I understand your concern correctly, the Lee FCD does not care where one seats the bullet. You can crimp without the cannelure (sp?). I know you know this but it is worth mentioning. If you use the Starline 2.125" brass Lee will make you the FCD for $29.00 shipped. I have not shot any jacketed through any of my .38-55s but I will give Bill's bullets a shot through the CB .38-55. 1886.

[Hobie]

IIRC the FCD won't work with the 220s due to the shape of the ogive hence the need for the short .375 Win case in the .38-55 chamber. That gives a COL compatible with the chambers. The 220s didn't work in either my 1893 Marlin OR my new Bullberry Contender barrel otherwise.