Blue:        1 in 16 works fine for me in the 38-55.  My bullet is 347 gr and is 1.4" long and it does tip ever so slightly at 200.  The load is 16.5 gr of 4759 and it will give all the accuracy you need.  With a shorter, lighter bullet there should be no sign of any tipping.  Good luck with your project.
     andy  Z

Now wait a minute AndyZ, Just what do u know! Everyone knows Rugers will not shoot!
Yea right, just someone forgot to tell Andy!!!!!!

Yes Andy up here waiting on you!!!

My most favorite caliber, not perfect, but able to perform double duty in both the Schutzen and Silhouette sports.  I only have experience with a 1-15 twist barrel.  I have never shot in a Schutzen match with my rifle, there is none in Pa, wish there was.  I have spent many hours with it, this rifle would be competitive in the Schutzen sport.  Use two bullets, a 310 Hoch tappered bullet.  Which is breech seated with 16.5 grs. of 4759, this is a very accurate combination.  For Silhouette, a 338 gr. Paul Jones Creedmoor.  This is with 3F blackpowder.  I have shot this combination in an NRA F class match at 600 yds.  All the holes were round with no sign of instalbility.  A great combination for an old guy having fun.

38/55.

I shoot two CPA's with several barrels. One is a 38/55 with  1/14 twist. It shoots 300 bullets very well.  I have never tried longer so cannot say, most people advise the faster twist for longer bullets.   

When I shot BPCS with it did knock rams over with the 300 gr. Now I only use it for Schuetzen though.   In my opinion there is no reason to use heavy bullets for paper targets. I always felt if you go over 300 you are probably better off with a .40 caliber. Generaly the rifle with the least recoil is the best for paper  I prefer the 32/40 for Schuetzen but like the 38/55 when using black powder. 

There is a very good match just a few miles south of Gettysburg in Thurmont MD.  Full distance and program. Next match and the last for the year is Oct 14-15-16

Pennsylvania has 2 clubs that shoot gallery over the winter. Lebanon Pa shoots rimfire gallery,  Southhampton PA (just north of Philly) has gallery too and runs a Squib centerfire  as well as rimfire. In my 32/40 I shoot a 125 gr bullet with Unique for sub sonic which is required on that range. 

They also run some special Millitary rifle matches. Great place for squibs in a Trapdoor. I don't have the dates yet but generaly Southampton starts in December while Lebanon is in January I think both go through March

Lebanon's March match often coincides with the Baltimore gun show and makes the drive well worthwhile for me.

I have shot them all and can recomend them as very good matches.  I used to hear about matches around Cape May NJ which is not very far from Eastern PA but cannot say for sure.

If you want any details email me

Boats

Blue,
I have a 38-55 and shoot at that match, well, sort of. I haven't been able to make it shoot yet. It has a 14 twist and I have only tried light bullets with no good results. The schutzen game is still kind of new to me. I have been to the Thurmont match a few times but that is it. I also don't ever get any practice time which is completey disapointing. That said, I can't recall any one else using the 38-55 there. the 32 miller, 32-40, 33-40? pope range of bullets seem popular. One of the other shooters at the last match has the popular Hoch 310 gr tapered mould and has recently sent me a box of them. (If he is reading this I cannot thank you enough). Now I need to find a powder charge. I looked in the last issue of BPCN in the match results section and equipment list. It looks like 4227 is popular for the 38-55. I figure that to be a good place to begin gleaning load data. If anyone else reading out there has advice we would love to hear it. Jon

Pete,
When I started building this rifle I wanted to build a BPCR gun. I was using the theory of the lightest bullet with lowest fatigue for that discipline. I was reading alot about guys having luck shooting 38-55s and doing well knocking over even the rams. As things go I never make it to any of the BRCR matches for many different reasons. I had already ordered the barrel and had it installed when the reallity of not getting to the matches hit me. However; I had met the Thurmont Schuetzenmiester, Chris, a few years back at the Fairfax Ram Bash, a 200 meter offhand event. ( I used to live in Manassas, can't get any closer to a match than that ). He had always told me of his schuetzen matches and emailed me the schedules. The 38-55 seemed like it may work. The Irony is when I ordered my barrel in the first place they accidentally sent me a 32 cal. i sent it back because i thought I wanted the 38 for BRCR. If I had it to do over i'd have kept the 32.
So I made my way out to his thurmont match and figured out I didn't know a thing! But that is the fun of it. Trying to get better and learn. Of course I HAD to get a 22 to use as well,a martini. And am now lining a Ballard in 22.
I do hope to make it to the BPCR and I do have a couple of 45-70 rollers and trapdoors. I think i will leave the Stevens 38-55 as a schuetzen gun and keep working on it. All the work has been done by very good smiths. I need to find my load and then work on my abilities. i think i got off topic here and rambled a bit, I will do that! Thaks again. Jon