Winchester 1894 in 38-55

[DWalt]

The main problem about most of the old Winchester lever action calibers like the .38-55, .33 Winchester, and .348 Win (plus a few more even older such as the .45-75) is the difficulty in finding ammunition in shootable quantities at a reasonable price. Even suitable bullets which can be used to reload for them are not abundant. Even though I have no guns for most of these calibers, if I happen to run across a box of such obsolete/obsolescent ammo at a reasonable price I will usually buy it - just in case.

 

[richcory]

For 348 Winchester, only Buffalo Bore sells complete ammunition at this point & they just recently came back out with it. Winchester hasn't made brass for it in several years, but Hornady sells new brass. I'm told that Starline now has brass also, but I have not purchased any. Bullets are available from Barnes (original in 2 weights), Hornady sells the Interlock & FTX plus Alaska Bullet Works sells a bonded bullet. I have purchased all of those bullets this year.

As far as the other calibers I don't have much info that I'm certain of.

Cory

 

[BB57]

You might even be interested in loading with Pyrodex Rifle powder.

But probably not for long.

Pyrodex has a much higher ignition temperature and it leaves a much harder fouling than black powder. I absolutely hate the stuff. IMHO the only use for black powder substitutes is if you can't get actual black powder.

As an example of the ignition issues, I have a Sharps 1859 Berdan infantry rifle. It's a standard Sharps falling block design, but designed for paper cartridges with a floating plate to provide a gas seal. The hammer strikes a musket cap on the nipple on the block which directs the flash down through a hole that make a right hand turn through a vent into the powder charge. Between the turns and the length of the path, even a musket cap won't reliably ignite Pyrodex. With FFg or FFFg black powder however, ignition is 100% reliable.

In a cartridge with a primer and the short path through the flash hole, reliability won't be an issue with Pyrodex, but you'll still have less effective ignition with Pyrodex and it will show in the form of higher standard deviation in velocity.

In my experience Pyrodex has also been much more corrosive than black powder, which is already very hygroscopic and loaded with compounds that will eat steel given time and some moisture. Pyrodex however takes it to a new level and on a humid day will flash rust parts in the time it takes to drive home from the range. Nasty stuff.

 

[BB57]

A box of Winchester 38-55 ammo here is a bit over $50 a box. I'll check another place that sells the HSM Cowboy stuff but memory says it was cheaper

Cory

Agreed. I seldom see .38-55 ammo at all, and when I do it's almost never at a reasonable price.

That makes the .38-55 as much a handloading proposition as the .375 Win. The saving grace here is the commonality with the .30-30 case which can be fireformed to near .375 Win dimensions that are just as usable in the .38-55. Plus Starline and other companies make .38-55 brass on a regular basis.

Jacketed bullets are very hard to find, but the .38-55 is almost the perfect cast bullet cartridge.

 

[DWalt]

"As an example of the ignition issues, I have a Sharps 1859 Berdan infantry rifle. It's a standard Sharps falling block design, but designed for paper cartridges with a floating plate to provide a gas seal. The hammer strikes a musket cap on the nipple on the block which directs the flash down through a hole that make a right hand turn through a vent into the powder charge. Between the turns and the length of the path, even a musket cap won't reliably ignite Pyrodex. With FFg or FFFg black powder however, ignition is 100% reliable. "


For many years I have mixed a little black powder in with the Pyrodex. It doesn't take a lot, and I don't measure it, but roughly 10% or less. I've never had ignition problems using that mixture in any of my ML rifles, my Sharps (replica), or my C&B revolvers. I have never seen the "Hard Fouling" you describe. I religiously clean all of my ML/C&B guns thoroughly with hot water after use.

 

[richcory]

For what it's worth, this weekend I picked up some of the HSM Cowboy 38-55 stuff for $25 a box. Literally half the price of the Winchester stuff & advertised at 1500 FPS vs 1320. Also it's cast vs jacketed. Didn't get to shoot the HSM.

I have decided that I won't refinish the gun. I like it the way it is. I oiled it up yesterday & the action was butter smooth after a bit of oil. Very solid lockup.

Cory