38-55 and the 30-30 ??

[Papalote]

Marlin just rebarreled mine for $355.00.  I'd bet the 36 is too old for them to work on.  If you have it rebored, you can choose the smaller bore, .375 and be able to shoot most factory offerings.  I thought of this but I "NEED" forend caps and magazine tube hangers on my Marlins.  Mine is due to arrive tomorrow via UPS. I plan to slug it and get the ball rolling on reloading components.  Your smith may be higher due to the cost of the barrel.  Midway sells them for $400, in the white.  Good luck on whatever you do.  While looking at a box of 38-55 shells in an old hardware store many years ago, I decided to have one if they were ever produced again.  Tomorrow is the day.


Papalote

[jtaylor1960]

 I have a 336 38/55 that was rebored from a 30/30.It was done by Jes reboring.Great gun.Shoots extremely well and doesn't lead with cast bullets.

[papajohn]

I have a 336 38/55 that was rebored from a 30/30.It was done by Jes reboring.Great gun.Shoots extremely well and doesn't lead with cast bullets.

Someday I hope to be able to say exactly the same thing!  

[missionary5155]

Good morning
I have been shooting 38-55 for many years.  I do my own reloading (why does not everyone) and casting so amo is no big deal.  ALL factory ammo is EXPENSIVE !
As far as bore variations go... yes 38-55s tend to be more .380 but so what... Ranch Dog molds took care of that and jacket bullets seem to grip fat bores just fine.  Are 30-30's really all that much more uniform?  I seem to remember a few older ones that ran out to .312+ at the throat.  And are new ones really .308 ?
BUT take the BIG difference of a 255 grain boolit smaking anything next to a 170 grain missle!  1850 fps is easy to reach and in a NEW rifle near 2000 fps can be achieved with a slower burning powder.  That is why I will keep my 38 bores and leave the 30-30 at home. Actually my last 30-30 is rebarrelled with a 375 Win. barrel.   Plus with a 38 bore I can fire a 300 grainer and not ever have to wonder if it will COMPLETE penetrate a HOG or Black Bear.  Can your fine old 30-30 move a 300 grain lead pill at 1600 FPS ? 
So if you are looking for a real step up in power try a 38-55... in a modern rifle it can do everything a 375 Win can and you will have no regrets.

[Yellowhouse]

There are too many complex variables associated with older 38-55's to offer a simplistic answer.  With a 30-30 in an original 30-30 about all you have to worry about is bore condition and headspace.  I mention the later just because it says smokeless doesn't mean that warhorse will withstand a barrage of modern ammo.  The smokeless ammo of yesteryear was mild in pressure compared to modern loadings and steels weren't as strong as they are now.  THIS is a GIVEN.

38-55 loaded to express type loadings are far superior to the 30-30 in terms of bullet weight, penetration, and cross section.  However, bore diameters can be all over the place and you may or may not encounter some obstacles in getting set up.  As long as the bore is good, most anything can be overcome.

I won't go into great detail as you don't have one yet.  Suggest you find a copy of Ken Waters "Pet Loads" and Mike Venturino's " Shooting Leverguns of the Old West".

Twas me, I'd leave that 36 alone....don't see many around these days.

The 38-55 is a great round but if you don't do your homework you'll find yourself embedded in a money pit of frustration with especially the  older guns and some of the new ones.. 

[p3cwst]

I would go with my Model 94 38-55 over any 30-30 anyday...  I'm attempting to insert a scan of a target I shot with my 94 many years ago.  Hopefully, it'll work properly.

[p3cwst]

It didn't!

Anyway, the grouping I get is usually MOA with open sights (back when I could see much better).  Reloader 7 works best with H4895 & 3031 a very close second place.  255 grain GC NEI bullet .379 diameter.  My only 30-30, a 336, shoots very well also but doesn't have the impact on game that the 38-55 does.

[drjjpdc]

I am just about to pick up a H&R Buffalo Classic in 38-55. Way cool as said before. Especially those peep sights. Bought a new Resistol white hat to finish the ensemble.

[RareBrass]

...With a 30-30 in an original 30-30 about all you have to worry about is bore condition and headspace... [will] warhorse withstand a barrage of modern ammo... steels weren't as strong as they are now.  THIS is a GIVEN.

38-55 loaded to express type loadings are far superior to the 30-30 in terms of bullet weight, penetration, and cross section.  However, bore diameters can be all over the place ...

Twas me, I'd leave that 36 alone....don't see many around these days.

The 38-55 is a great round but if you don't do your homework you'll find yourself embedded in a money pit of frustration... 

Good post, a lot in it...  I didn't know much about the 38-55  until I came to these forums (except that it begat the 30-30).  This thread prompted me to read a little on this cartridge. The following is probably not news to most

Bore size of 38-55s vary from .375 to .38, with most around .375, .377 or .379.  Thus each rifle is a bit unto itself, though I'm sure Marlin's current offerings are standardized.  Once all that is worked out, it is very accurate, not unlike the 30-30.

Ammunition offered: For 38-55, it is a 255gr bullet, MV 1320fps, SD .259 and point-blank range of about 135yds, zeroed at about 115yds.  Standard max handloads with the 255gr bullet yield MV around 1550fps, pbr - 150yds, z - 127yds. 

Among 30-30 offerings, that is equivalent to the standard 170gr load in 30-30, SD .256, MV 2200fps, point blank range - 207yds, z - 177yds (approximate for both ammunition and recommend handloads).   There are various pet handloads for both 38-55 and 30-30, hotter and milder.  But apples to apples, this is how it stacks up. 

Penetration and expansion: as we've seen the sectional densities are about the same.  So we'd expect penetration to be about equal with similar type bullets.  But taking into account velocity and expansion that may not be the case. 

The 30-30 performs very very well, with remarkable consistency; perfect mushroom expansion with deep (usually complete) penetration.   I would expect the 38-55 to have very little, if any, expansion beyond 50-60yds and penetration like there's no tomorrow. 

All in all, maybe the 38-55 would best be compared to larger bore cartridges, as .308 is upper small bore and .375 is lower large bore.

[smithywess]

Rarebrass,your own post is good as is Yellowdog's. Like all these old rifles they shoot better if they have good bright bores with sharp rifling,although the odd one with a dark,pitted bore may surprise you. I have a Model of 1893 in .25-36 with a ring 2" back from the muzzle which groups to 1 1/2" at 50 yards. Otherwise slug your barrel carefully,wait a week before you accept the micrometer reading to let the slug 'cure up', and cast your bullets one to two thousandths of an inch overbore. I've had good luck with with a homemade Lyman No.2 type alloy by adding half a pound of tin (50/50 solder) to 9 lbs. of wheel weights. The tin helps to fill the mould out,and I've found that pure wheel weights need a very hot furnace to get consistent cast bullets. In my view none of these older rifles should be hotrodded. It's not necessary. If you want,rather than need, more than the 1320 f.p.s.that your .38-55 should be giving you maybe go to a different rifle.