.38-55 Winchester
Introduced by Ballard in 1884 for various
single shot target rifles, the .38-55 was one of the first cartridges to
appear in Winchester's Model 94 lever action ten years later. The .38-55
was also once available in the Marlin Model 93 and Savage Model 99 lever
actions, the Remington Lee bolt action, and various Winchester single shot
rifles.
In its high velocity loading, which pushed a 255 grain bullet along at over
1500 fps, the .38-55 once enjoyed an excellent reputation as a deer and black
bear cartridge for woods hunting. Many hunters were forever convinced that
due to the .38-55's greater bullet diameter it was a far more effective big
game cartridge than the
.30-30 and
not far behind the harder kicking
.45-70.
Now the .38-55 is seldom seen in the woods, but it is one of the more popular
cartridges among todays schuetzen competitors. Benchrest shooters have their
PPC cartridges but for those who gather for the annual Coors Schuetzenfest
in Golden Colorado, it's the .32-40 or the .38-55 that win most of the gold.
Those fellows, by the way, are shooting groups of minute of angle and less
with cast bullets in single shot rifles of falling block design.
Most target shooters load the .38-55 with light charges of quick burning
powders such as H4227 and
SR-4759 for muzzle
velocities of 1200 to 1300 fps with bullet weighing from 250 to 300
grains. Some shoot cast bullets of spitzer form for increased wind resistance.
For deer and black bear, the
Sierra 200 grain and
Hornady 220 grain jacketed bullets
at about 1600 fps work fine. Another good choice is a cast bullet weighing
around 250 grains. Excellent powders for the .38-55 hunting loads are
H322, H4895, and
H335. In a pinch,
.375 Winchester
cases can be used in .38-55 rifles, although they are a bit short. Never
fire .375
Winchester factory loads in a rifle originally chambered for the
.38-55.
Source: Hodgdon Data Manual, 26th Edition
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