On various sites I frequently see this caliber mentioned. I have a nice collection of antique and replica 45-70's but think I might like something in a smaller caliber just for a change.

Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? Recommendations?

Thanks, Retreever

The .38-55 Ballard is a very versatile and very old cartridge. It was first introduced in 1884 for the Ballard rifles, and was quickly picked up by other companies. It's been a popular hunting cartridge, and target cartridge for many years. And one of the few early BP cartridges that made the transition to smokeless and is still currently in production.
The .38-55 is mainly a mid range or closer cartridge, but a few have used it for longer range shooting with faster twist rates, and heavier bullets. The standard load was a 255 gr. bullet, but many shooters today use bullets up around 325 gr., and a few even heavier. Old time target shooters also used bullets around 300-315 gr. to shoot bench rest, and schuetzen too. But offhand shooters soon turned to smaller calibers to avoid stiff recoil over long shooting periods.
The .38-55 is one of my favorites, but as mentioned above the .40-65 is a better choice if your goal is 800-1000 yd. shooting. But if you plan to shoot mostly 500 yds. or less the .38-55 would get the nod from me. Very mild compared to the .40-65, and easier on the lead and powder supply too.

My thoughts: 
Yes, the 38-55 is a fine cartridge to work with for short to
medium range shooting. ESPECIALLY if you go with a 12 twist barrel to enable stabilizing heavier bullets out to 600yds.
AND the 40-65, is also a fine, modest recoil cartridge usually used for out to Midrange-600yds in usual 16 twist.
It is noted that the 40-65, with appropriate length bullets
has been shown to be accurate out to Long range- 8,9,1000yds.-even in usual modern16 twist.  However, for best versatility, I would go with a 14-14.5 twist barrel for long, heavy bullet capability.
NOW, there is a middle of the road cartridge to consider:
the 38-50 Rem Hep cartridge. My recent experience with mine
indicates much greater versatility/capability than the 38-55 BMW. (Ballard/Marlin/lately Win). It is a pussycat to shoot, but will reach out with heavier bullets, even up to 360-380 grain with a 10 twist barrel clocking up to 1375fps.
It is easy to form brass from 30-40 Krag brass. 
beltfed/arnie

JLouis wrote on Apr 23^rd, 2021 at 10:50am:


Recoil isn't my concern, I'm a big guy well padded  and I like my 45-70's I'm just looking for a another caliber to have fun with - I'm fine with the mid-range limitation.

My 45-70's fill the bill for me for long distance.

Retreever

Thanks Retreever then I too would recommend the 38-55 for your own chosen use.

Rex N wrote on Apr 23^rd, 2021 at 9:16pm:

That’s a lovely gun, wood just speaks to me 
Gumpy

Thanks,

I bought the wood at local lumber yard called Windsor Plywood, i think the guy thought I was crazy as I  bought the part with an ugly knot in it but it turned out well.  The action was just a rusty frame that a friend found at a gun show for me.  Turns out to be a forged frame and handles the 38-55 very well. It is one of my favourite rifles now.  Grumpy gumpy wrote on Apr 23^rd, 2021 at 9:51pm:

Thanks to everyone who has commented so far, appreciate the feedback.

I started looking online yesterday for a likely candidate to purchase but I'm finding very little in the way of used single shot rifles. Most of what I am seeing are older Winchester lever guns usually with a 26" barrel.

I did find a used Pedersoli High Wall Classic Model in 38-55 but that's about it.

Retreever

Retreever wrote on Apr 24^th, 2021 at 6:04am:
If it is the 38-55 Pedersoli with the 12 twist, I would jump on it in a heart beat. I kick myself for not getting one 10 years ago when they were first available. Be sure it is not the 18 twist 38-55!

Those 12 twist Pedersoli's are set up to be everything a 38-55 could be for midrange and silhouette. It was built for the job. 

If you want a modern single shot with old school looks, but a very good barrel and fast twist; the Pedersoli is a great gun. Those who shoot them love them, and are getting very good accuracy with a variety of bullet weights. Fast twist barrels can still shoot lighter bullets, but slow twist don't shoot heavy bullets as well.

Retreever,
If it is the one on gunbroker, I would buy it in a heartbeat if you are looking at a modern "state of the art" 38-55 single shot
beltfed/arnie

A thought just occurred to me - I recently purchased an 1881 Spanish Rolling Block action that had been re-barreled in 45-70 there is still some work to do but would this be a good candidate to change out to a 38-55 rather than continue with the 45-70 build?

Thanks, Retreever

Hunting Deer with Ballard in 38 55 the best .........
Max

S99VG wrote on Apr 25^th, 2021 at 12:02pm:


I've owned both, and honestly can't see enough difference between them to say one has any advantage over the other. The .38-50 case is about .1" longer, so you could get slightly more BP in it. But if shooting both with smokeless loads there's no advantage to either.
Both originally were factory loaded with the same weight bullets, and if you don't mind fire forming cases from .303 Brit or .30-40 Krag, the .38-50 donor brass is cheap and readily available. But so is .38-55 Ballard and it's usable as is.
The choice is more of a psychological choice, than a which is better choice.

Retreever,

Not all Pedersoli are listed on their sight. BA has had a DST 30" 38-55 which I purchased  a few years ago and it looks really good and at less than an original action or MVA action you get the whole rifle. It does have the .382 bore but a custom mold. And I bought a CPA scheutzen stock and Schoyen plate to convert it. a real budget entry into the sport. I have been shooting scheutzen only since the mid 1980's and the 38-55 is the most universal cartridge IMHO>

Charles

bohemianway wrote on Apr 25^th, 2021 at 7:55pm:


Thanks Charles , who is 'BA' you referenced in your first sentence?

Roger

Beltfed,

I looked it over and yes the action is labelled A Uberi on the upper tang and the barrel is marked "manufactured for Cimmeran repeating arms...". No other marks. I tried a tight patch but still got measurements between 12 and 16 so I will try something else. Luckily my use is for lighter schuetzen bullets and not the heavyweights.

Actually Uberti and Pedersoli are in the same corporation.
They "share" several projects
beltfed/arnie

When they were announced in early 2008 there was quite a bit of discussion here. One of our guys posted this in February, 2008:

Hi Green_Frog

I spoke with Pedersoli in Italy about this, they say the the action frame is made by Uberti but they were not satisfied with the DST from Uberti so they manufactured a SST instead, so the lever is possebly the lever from Uberti DST setup, I also asked them if they were going to make a DST but for now they had no plans for that. Sad

The barrels and stocking are Pedersoli made.

I think, at least in the beginning, that Pedersoli was providing Sharps actions to Uberti and getting Uberti's High Walls.

Hi All, again thanks for all the feedback and suggestions.

For those of you that have read through all my comments you will remember me mentioning my 1881 Spanish Rolling Block that has been re-barreled for 45-70. So I have decided to continue with that project - the parts (extractor) to make it shoot-able arriving this week then off to the gunsmiths.

That said I am still thinking about the 38-55. I bought a 1902 Remington Rolling Block #1 Action today and I believe I have located a source for a barrel here in Canada. Can someone tell me if a .375 bore +/- 0.0003 would be suitable for a 38-55? And if so I have the option for 1:10 or 1:12 Twist Rate - which one would be best for maximum range?

Thanks, Retreever

Twist rate actually depends on the bullet being used. This is a 200 yard target with a Douglas 15 twist and all of the data is on the bottom of this Target. I spent a year with it in Schuetzen benchrest competition but the recoil was in all honesty just abit to much for me. Shot several nice targets during that time and this just happened to be my best.

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JLouis wrote on Apr 29^th, 2021 at 9:14pm:


That's some nice shooting JL. As far as what I want , I understand that the 38-55 single shot is normally a mid-range rifle (100 - 500 yds) but some folks commented earlier in this thread if I wanted to go further I would need a heavy projectile (275-300g) and the 1:12 Twist rate if I wanted any kind of accuracy at the longer distances.

Retreever

Heard back from the Green Mountain distributor , he has a a 38-55 barrel #W38126-3 in stock - Product Description
.38-55 Cal, 1:14 Twist, 35” Long, 1”-2” Receiver Stub, 4140CM, Honed Octagon Tapered BPCR Barrel. #3 Profile- 1.05” at the breech, tapered down to .95” at the muzzle. Button Rifled, Stress Relieved, and Air Gauged.

Looking for feedback on the product and the specs.

Thanks, Retreever

Retreever I believe Steve Garbe won at least one of his four National Shilloute Championships while shoting his 38-55 at Raton several years back. He shared allot of real valuable information about his journey with that 38-55 in past Black Powder Cartridge News publications. If you or a friend happen to have any of those past articles to reference.

JLouis wrote on Apr 30^th, 2021 at 11:11am:


Thanks for the tip JL , I checked and you can order back issues I just need to figure which issues the articles are in.

Retreever

Retreever unfortunately I gave my entire collection to a friend or I could have found it for you. You might just try contacting Steve Garbe directly he and his wife started the publication and he was still the editor in 2017 not sure about now. Maybe Joe  / Westener might be able to help you find his contact information or it might possibly be in the BPCNews. Joe has shot quite allot of Schuetzen matches with Steve and why I thought he might be able to help as they are probably also good friends. 
.

Except for the twist rate B sounds like a Green Mountain barrel #3.5 weight. But the GM barrel I see is a 1:12" twist, which I'd prefer over 1:14" twist.

W381236-3.5X 35” .38-55 Cal #3.5 Profile Honed Tapered Octagon BPCR.

I'd even prefer a #4 weight myself, but I see they're out of stock.

It sounds like you are having to compromise. When you can get a blank profiled exactly the way that you want it from CPA. The last one I ordered for myself was a profiled and polished 28 inch 1/2 octagon to round #3 Douglas and the price was very fair. 
As is the cost for just an unturned blank.

JLouis wrote on May 1^st, 2021 at 12:28pm:


JL , who is CPA? Where are they located?

Thanks, Retreever

Here is the link to the CPA Web site and Gail Schuttleworth is the owner and a real nice Lady. Her contact information is also located there.

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I have several 38-55’s in various actions. The fastest twist is 1:14 which handles 370 gr slugs with no issues out to 500M.  Most of the others are 1:15 twist, which seems common for this caliber, and those barrels will also shoot these heavy projectiles with no difficulties.   
The drawback I have experienced is in heavy wind or where the backstop doesn’t permit good spotting.  I don’t have opportunities to shoot past 600 yards so I don’t concern myself with the longer distances.
My wife was consistently knocking over rams at 500M using a Uberti HW in 38-55 with 350 gr slugs. It has a 1:15 twist. 
Great cartridge.
Mike.

JLouis wrote on May 1^st, 2021 at 2:09pm:


Hi JL, CPA being in the US is a problem , US Export regulations adds significantly to the cost for us Canadians that's why I am looking closer to home.

Retreever

JLouis wrote on May 2^nd, 2021 at 11:24am:


I'm also in Canada and bought a barrel from Ron and he said he wasn't interested in doing the octagonal profiling.   

It's difficult enough up here to get good gun smithing that the last RKS barrel I bought came from Gail at CPA.  It's a beautiful gain twist barrel and they machined it to a #4 Winchester profile.  The quality of the work is excellent.  I think I could blue it with no polishing whatsoever.

One of these days it's going to go onto a Meacham 1885 action that I have ready to go.

Chris.

   

JLouis wrote on May 2^nd, 2021 at 1:47pm:


It wasn't cheap, I think a little over twice the price of the barrel blank directly from Ron, but I knew the profiling work would be done properly, and RKS 32 cal gain twist barrels can be hard to get so when I it listed on CPA's site I ordered it. 

I had to pay for an FFL to handle the import/export.  I used Prophet River Firearms in Alberta to deal with the paperwork.  I think it was $50 + shipping if I recall. 

Chris.

Many RKS barrels are 8 groove. Gramps started doing only 6 groove barrels after he turned about 75.  When he asks me how my barrel is shooting, I tell him it shoots perty good for a barrel with two grooves missing.

westerner wrote on May 2^nd, 2021 at 4:19pm:


Thanks Joe, I didn't know that.  My Ruger #1 with 8 grooves was built in 1990.  I have two recent RKS barrels from CPA that are 6 groove.  I have a .38-50 that I'll have to take a look at.  Maybe it's 8.  It shoots pretty well either way.

John when I bought my second CPA I picked a Douglas XX barrel as I remember seeing some targets you posted.  I'm quite happy with the barrel on that rifle!

Chris.