I've been looking seriously at the Uberti/Cimarron/Taylor Arms High Wall with DST and pistol grip in .38-55.

The only thing besides money that's holding me up is my complete lack of experience with .38-55.. The money will sort itself out in a couple paychecks.

I would be buying this rifle for 90% 200 yard off-hand Schutzen matches, and 10% for another local competition; a "Quigley Match" out to 550 yds. 

Assuming diligent load development (primarily a fan of smokeless, but have no objection to trying that smelly stuff some folks call "real" gunpowder), and not getting a lemon of a  rifle..
How easy is it to get .38-55 to shoot?

I'm not REAL concerned about that 550 yd match.. I have other rifles for that if need be.

Appreciate any input from .38-55 shooters!

Paul F.

Paul,
When I bought my Stevens 44.5 I intended to make a BPCR out of it. I had a 38-55 barrel put on as I was looking for LESS recoil than my 45-70 and others with the 38-55 were making serious inroads with it on the rams, etc. Since then my inerests have shifted and I realized I had the makings of a schuetzen rifle. I liked the idea of a "classic" cartridge. I am only recently getting it to shoot close to what I think it can do. With most of my guns, I am not happy until it shoots well, then the problem lies with me ( and a big problem it can be sometimes! ).
As with any gun, with the right bullet and load, it will shoot.
Bruce is right, others will tell you that other rounds are better, and they may be right. It comes down to matter of choice, cost, etc. The .32 miller is very popular, but brass can be a problem. Of course once you have it it will last a good long while in schuetzen.
If I were to do it over, I would probably get a 32-40. I have decided not to "dual purpose" my gun as I earlier thought I may and a 32-40 would have been just fine for schuetzen for me. ( I have an ugly old ballard pacific that may end up with a 32-40 liner in it someday)
If you read match results in the BP Cartridge news and the Journal, you will see plenty of 38-55's holding their own.
Merwin

I own numerous .32-40 and .38-55 rifles, and on average the .38-55 is much easier to get to shoot well than the .32-40, (in my guns) 
I've had equal accuracy from either caliber, but it's always taken me longer to find the right load for my .32-40's. On the other hand, it often works that an existing good load I found for one .38-55, works just fine in almost all of them.-Vall

When I bought my first high-walls and built my first rifles for competition, I HAD to have a .32-40.  What is my next traditional rifle going to be?  A .38-55, of course!  I don't think you can go wrong with the largest of the little guns for the purposes you outline, and as Boats said, you get the advantage of being able to use normal gunpowder or burn charcoal either one!     (Take THAT, hst!  )

Froggie

Paul, go for it! The 38-55 is a superb 200 yd cartridge and does buck the wind just a little better than the 32-40. It does have more recoil and over an extended match ( 100 shot) you will notice. It does not beat you up or bruise but your mind will reach a point where it just does not like what you are doing. I own more than a few fine 38-55 and 32-40 rifles. Have shot them both extensiively. When I am in good order and holding well I WILL shoot better scores with the 32-40. BUT when the wind is up or in poor weather as in winter I often find I shoot the 38-55 for 3 or 4 matches in row without making any sight changes. Loading is easy anywhere from 16 to 18 grs 4759 and any bullet from 250 grs up to 330 grs will shoot well. 25/1 or 30/1 lead/tin alloy and a good lube. I personally use CCI 300 large pistol primers but I know many who use all manner of different primers and do just as good or in many cases better than I do. There is another bonus, .38 caliber holes are easier to spot at 200 yds than .32 caliber holes. This is not much of an issue on the Red Schuetzen Targets but when you are shooting on the Black Targets the .32 caliber holes tend to hide themselves in the rows of numbers. I definitely agrre with the poster about multi use rifles. A really good offhand rifle is just a nightmare to shoot from bench or any other position. Well enough for now. Regards,
FITZ.

Paul. I have friend who needs a KIDNEY.        
What are you asking?        
No hagglin now!   
Your best price!!!   
4227

Does anyone know for sure what rate of twist Uberti uses in their 38-55 barrels? I owned one a few years ago and it would shoot the Lyman 250-270gr bullets OK, but would keyhole the 335gr bullets. I measured the twist at the time but can't remember if it was 1/18 or 1/20. My Browning 38-55 has a 1/15 twist and shoots the 335gr bullets just fine.
Steve

My .38-55 Uberti Highwall has 1 x 18 rifleing. Don't believe everything you read on the website. My bore is definatly larger than that stated. Bore is.374 and groove is .383.

Bill