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December 20, 2014
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I just bought a 94 rifle sn# 6756 ,38-55cal. I was told this rifle’s barrel is an old style for black power and not the new barrels for smokeless power.
Can anyone tell me if I can shoot conventional bullets through this rifle.
Thanks
Bill
I have the same rifle SN 2xxx and have been shooting smokeless loads with it for over 30 years now. I reload and only shoot lead bullets through the old barrel but I do exceed the factory load velocity, which was 1380 fps, by 100 – 200 fps. Jacketed bullets might put some wear on the lands but I’ve had none with the 249 grain lead bullet.
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
William Cawley said
I just bought a 94 rifle sn# 6756 ,38-55cal. I was told this rifle’s barrel is an old style for black power and not the new barrels for smokeless power.Can anyone tell me if I can shoot conventional bullets through this rifle.
Thanks
Bill
Hello Bill,
Yes the modern ammunition is compatible with your rifle in relation to the pressure and velocity. Where you will have problems is that the modern 38-55 ammo is slightly smaller than the bore diameter of the original 38-55 ammunition and thus your accuracy will suffer.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
April 26, 2015
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LOL, I remember my post about 38-55s sometime last winter. My 1901 Mod 1894 has a good bore. At 100 yds I might be able to hit an elephant somewhere, at 50 yards I might be able to hit the front half of a deer, and at 50 feet, it’s pretty accurate. More recently I saw a reference online about a new 38-55 that is a little larger than .375 and supposedly gives greater accuracy in the old rifles…but I can’t find it now but I will search further. BK
A “normal” .381-83 manufactured load would be nice for people who don’t reload–those who would like to shoot accurately with their original .38-55’s.
Rather boggling why Modern .38-55’s have that .375 (or so) bore–and are supposedly a new batch of “Winchester .38-55’s.” Made to look like the originals, but What-the-Hay!-they take a different caliber bullet and a shorter case! Somebody was a bit too creative with that one.
twobit said
Hello Bill,
Yes the modern ammunition is compatible with your rifle in relation to the pressure and velocity. Where you will have problems is that the modern 38-55 ammo is slightly smaller than the bore diameter of the original 38-55 ammunition and thus your accuracy will suffer.
Michael
Also, the overall length of the modern cartridges is shorter that the originals. The only way to get the correct length cartridge is to use Starline’s 2.125″ cases or pre-WWII cases and reload them yourself.
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
November 7, 2015
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Congrats on a sweet old rifle in one of my favorite cartridges. Modern lead (and jacketed) bullets will be somewhere around .375-.377, you will probably do better with something .380 or a bit bigger. There’s a very good article on the Starline website about 38-55 brass, as Wincacher points out case length is critical.
You’ve probably already read this somewhere but please, DO NOT use 375 Winchester ammo in your 38-55. The 375 Win is based on the 38-55 but a factory 375 Win round in a vintage 38-55 like yours would be a very bad idea.
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