Paper patched 38-55 winchester

The round was produced and designed by the now defunct ballard rifle and cartridge company, and after they were defunct, winchester adopted production of the cartridge. I have a box of winchester 38 55 from the late 40s and that brass is 2. I feed paper patch bullets through tubular magazines in leveraction rifles chambered for the 307 and 356 winchester cartridges along with the 4570. It was used bymarlin firearms from 1875 on for various singleshot target rifles and their 1893 lever action rifle. Mass produced bullet molds are designed with very conservative, minimal dimensions north of the crimp groove, so that they will chamber in the great variety of firearms out there.

It was used by marlin firearms from 1875 on for various singleshot target rifles and their 1893 lever action rifle. Paper patched bullets a blast from the past sporting shooters. It has been my experience, however, that most of the cussin has been from folks with little or no personal experience with ppbs. Causes them trouble when they load cast bullets big enough for the bore. This is a rare paper patch mold for the winchester model 1885 hi wall single shot rifle in. The round name is derived from its approximately 38caliber projectile in reality its a. The rifle shot very poorly with grease grove bullets, and my friend suggested paper patched. Loading with correct 3855 winchester cases 3855 rifle rifle. No more than with a lighter 38 55 with similar wt bullets. It was later offered by winchester in its model 1894. Nov 21, 2005 so, with your paper, plan on a cast bullet diameter that would give you a. You may choose from these designs, use one of these as a basis and specify modifications, or submit a completely custom drawing either electronically or by regular mail.

His level two loads marlin 1893winchester 94 are lyman 375248 and 3032 gr imr 3031 his level three loads highwall, etc are lyman 375248 and 3334gr imr 3031 i shoot a uberti highwall with a. My uberti high wall in 38 55 will take the longer brass but my new winchester 1894 miroku manufacture requires the shorter, current specification brass. We shoot 100 and 200 yards ar pha on the 5th sunday. I have a couple articles one titled shooting the old ones. Even in the old days the 3855 didnt hold 55 grains of black unless yo loaded like buckshot said.

My 375 big bore winchester and marlin using 3855 brass. The use of paper patched bullets is especially known from the buffalo hunts on the american prairies where millions of the shaggy beasts fell for paper patched bullets. My 3855 is a winchester model 1894 and it was shipped in 1897. Collectable rifles are best left to the less hot loads but a modern 336 action will wear out no faster with the warmer 3855 loads than with 3030 loads. Winchester continued to use the round in various rifles until about 1940, and also used it in a few commemorative editions of rifles.

Rcbs case lube is fine, its wax based, a little dab will do. I have been shooting a 336cb 3855 for about 4 years with a traditional 250. The 38 55 winchester is a round designed for single shot target rifles in 1884. Roberts and the schuetzen rifle edited by gerald kelver. Much discussion and cussin have been laid at their doorstep. His level two loads marlin 1893 winchester 94 are lyman 375248 and 3032 gr imr 3031 his level three loads highwall, etc are lyman 375248 and 3334gr imr 3031 i shoot a uberti highwall with a. Have another project to tackle on some of those rainy illinois days. Found a good load for my 3855 winchester shooting and. Then i am wondering about a 1892 1893 that also is fat bored. Feb 24, 2015 we go into some detail on how to load for some of the older black powder rifle calibers such as the. If anyone has experiences with 3855 paper patch, i would. I friend who was a sharps collector and cast bullet shooter told me the shallow rifling was actually used in originals for paper patched bullet.

For sale are two boxes of winchester legendary frontiersmen ammo in 3855 caliber. Cant give you much info on a 3855 but have been very successfull with 4570. Something that you can also tinker with is paper patching your loads. These molds are designed to fit lee six cavity handles. Im hoping for a good amount of you folks who have dedicated your time to help the new folks to the paper patched bullet. As new designs are ordered, they are numbered and added here. Paper patch supplies, paper patch templates, paper patch paper, lead bullets, paper patch bullets. Cant wait to try out my 3855 winchester 1894 vintage takedown posted on 7232015 by jake c these guys are great i placed a last minute order for this hard to find ammunition. I can hold minute of ram at 500 meters and have taken buffalo with paper patched bullets. I have two boxes of oliver winchester commemorative ammo in 3855. I also wipe my own loaded cartridges with a paper towel before boxing, to prevent dust and dirt from accumulating on the bullet.

I load paper patched bullets in larger calibre rifles 308, 3006, 3855. Alternatively, if you care to be into paper patched bullets i have a 380 gr ddepp bullet that also shoots very well in 406516 twist. Most shooters, given quality ppbs and proper loading techniques. In that era, paperpatched bullets were the most accurate design known for cartridge loading. However the 38 55 was one of the old cartridge that designed for a purpose and that was accurate target shooting. The 375 winchester was a way of modernizing the 3855 and offers an indication of a 3855 loaded to 3030 pressures. When used in front of a black powder charge, paper. There are 20 cartridges in each box, these were manufactured in 1979 and are in very good conditi. You can try paper patched bullets in your rifle or try very soft bullets and see if they will bump up. Lube grooved bullet on left paper patched without the paper on the right one of the issues involved with paper patching is the bullet needs to fit the bore nearly perfectly for best results. Later, winchester strengthened this versatile case and used it for their. Very good accuracy has been obtained with paperpatched bullets, but the assembly. It solved my problem until i get around to opening my chamber or get rid of the rifle. Disadvantages became evident as loadings shifted to smokeless powder in the late.

Box of 25 each winchester 3855 primed shells unopened, 6 boxes 25 each of paper patched 38 cal 255 gr target bullets. You used a bore size paper patch bullet and it bumped up to fill the grooves when you touched off the round. Many thanks to starline for offering current production 38 55 win. Loading with correct 3855 winchester cases 3855 rifle. What works and why the standard modernrifle approach is to apply a paper patch to a bullet core of ascast or slightly smaller diameter, to dry. Personally, i use the thickest paper i have available and purchase 100% bond paper by the sheet from a local stationer. Ive used the short cases but prefer the longer cases. Reflecting on 30 years of paper patching for lever guns.

A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves rifling cut into the barrel walls. Personally havent done it, and my 3855 is a m93 marlin. Paper patched or lubricated lead bullets can be swaged in two basic styles, the swc shoulder style shown here, and the smooth ogive style shown below. A bit of lube on the patch, something that wont soak thru the patch. Paper patched bullets a blast from the past sporting. Loading with correct 3855 winchester cases 3855 rifle by m. However the 3855 was one of the old cartridge that designed for a purpose and that was accurate target shooting. They are actually in better condition box, but equally nice bullets and paper.

Using winchester 3855 brass, i cannot load an appropriate diameter gg bullet and have it fit in the chamber. The short brass wont cause problems with the jacketed bullets, and if that is an original chamber it likely wont cause much grief with cast bullets, but do be advised that chamber was meant for paper patch. A good bell on the case mouth to start the patched bullet wo tearing the patch. For those who might want a faster load, i tried 19 grains of 5744 with a standard winchester rifle primer which chronographed at 1,452 fps. Again, i find it a pussycat to shoot in my just under max legal weight 4065. The ballistic performances based off one grain type. Youll only need enough lube to cover the paper patch. The raised areas of the rifling are called lands, which make contact with the projectile for small arms usage, called a bullet, imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the orientation of the weapon. This was the paper patched version for ballard rifles, that became the 3855 winchester for winchester and other lever action rifles. Do not paper patch but the 200 yards is shot with sticks or not and the steel does not stand a chance. At the velocities you are able to realistically achieve, cast bullets are just fine. This means you need to carefully measure the bore of your rifle and then have a custom mold made by one of the many mold makers. Best accuracy is usually accomplished with a much closer. No more than with a lighter 3855 with similar wt bullets.

It still has its original tang sight, which is what ive been using for all this shooting. Choose a design from our catalog or submit your own custom design. I have a box of winchester 3855 from the late 40s and that brass is 2. Contents are all tinjacketed soft points correctly headstamped wraco 38 55 w. Wolfe publishing printed a special issue several years ago just on lever guns and loads that is very informative. This expanding catalog contains designs that are already on file. Winchester metal patched 110 grain super speed bullets for 30 w.

This is the very first loading of this round with commercial sport. Winchester 3030 short range factory bullet 18961924. A cast bullet is made by allowing molten metal to solidify in a mold. Paper patch bullet d reamer and shop made casting mold. If you use my paper patch lube, make sure that it is as soft as butter when you apply it. Personally havent done it, and my 38 55 is a m93 marlin. I drew up a design and had tom at accurate cut a block for the bore size of my rifle. Paper patch bullets were used in the 1800s for target shooting and hunting and are still being used today. You would use the skinnier bullet for the rapid fire of the herd shots and the thicker bullet in a regular silhouette shoot when you can run a bore pig and dry patch down the bore. It had very shallow rifling and a very oversize throat.

Winchester continued to use the round in various rifles until about 1940, and also used it in a few. Well after waiting 5 months for my winchester model 94 3030 to get. Feb 28, 2012 we shoot 100 and 200 yards ar pha on the 5th sunday. One is marked jm marlin and is paper patched bullets for the. Mar 22, 2015 lube grooved bullet on left paper patched without the paper on the right one of the issues involved with paper patching is the bullet needs to fit the bore nearly perfectly for best results.

Paper patched bullet design software is available from corbin, as well as software that calculates multiple density, multipart bullet weights and volumes, calculates bullet air resistance and bc, and helps you determine the bullet diameter for a given rifling depth and paper thickness. We go into some detail on how to load for some of the older black powder rifle calibers such as the. The 3855 winchester center fire wcf is a unique example among metallic cartridges through almost 125 years of production, until quite recently, 3855 cases had evidently never been made correctly for use with conventional bullets. This was the paper patched version for ballard rifles, that became the 38 55 winchester for winchester and other lever action rifles. Whilst trying to sort out how to feed the rifle, one thing that i tried was my pp lyman 366408 bullet patched up to. Contents are all tinjacketed soft points correctly headstamped wraco 3855 w. The label is marked as made for the ballard rifle by the winchester repeating arms co. Swaging, rather than casting, became a preferred manufacturing technique during the 19th century industrial revolution. Precision cnc lathe bored custom bullet casting molds. Paper patched bullets ppb are probably the most controversial of all lead bullet styles. This is a full 2 piece box of 20 rounds of winchester. Starting a journey, paper patch 3855 marlin owners. In my opinion, paper patched bullets was a kind of fashion in the early black powder cartridge era, and they were not necessarily better compared to grease grooved bullets. Documented special order winchester model 1885 high wall rifle.