.38-55 Winchester

The .38-55 Winchester cartridge (actually .3775 caliber), also known as .38-55 WCF and .38-55 Ballard,[4] it was based on an earlier cartridge called the .38-50 Ballard Everlasting that was introduced in 1876 by the Ballard Rifle & Cartridge Company. It was used in Marlin Firearms from 1876 onwards for various single-shot target rifles and their 1893 lever-action rifle. It was later offered by Winchester in its Model 1894. Winchester continued to use the round in various rifles until about 1940, and also used it in a few commemorative editions of rifles since then. In addition, Marlin offered it in some 336s, and it was used in non-lever action rifles such as the Remington-Lee bolt-action.[5][6] The .38-55 Winchester is also the parent case for the .30-30 Winchester, .32 Winchester Special, and the .375 Winchester cartridges.[7]

.38-55 Winchester
TypeRifle
Place of originUnited States
Production history
DesignerBallard Rifle & Cartridge Company
Designed1884
Produced1884–present
Variants.38-55 Winchester +P[1]
Specifications
Parent case.38-50 Ballard Everlasting[2]
Case typeRimmed, straight
Bullet diameter.377 in (9.6 mm)
Land diameter.373 in (9.5 mm)
Neck diameter.392 in (10.0 mm)
Base diameter.421 in (10.7 mm)
Rim diameter.506 in (12.9 mm)
Case length2.085 in (53.0 mm)
Overall length2.510 in (63.8 mm)
Rifling twist1 in 18 in (460 mm)
Maximum pressure (CIP)35,000 psi (240 MPa)
Maximum CUP30,000 (Standard Pressure) and 38,000 (+P Pressure) CUP
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
255 gr (17 g) 1,320 ft/s (400 m/s) 987 ft⋅lbf (1,338 J)
255 gr (17 g) 1,593 ft/s (486 m/s) 1,437 ft⋅lbf (1,948 J)
255 gr (17 g) J.F.N. Bonded Core +P[3] 1,950 ft/s (590 m/s) 2,153 ft⋅lbf (2,919 J)
Source(s): Whelen, Townsend. The American Rifle. The Century Co.: 1918, p. 272.

A modernized version of the cartridge debuted in 1978 as the .375 Winchester, designed with higher pressures and to be used in modern firearms only. It is not safe to fire factory .375 Winchester ammunition in rifles chambered in .38-55, especially in older examples. The brass is very similar (shortened by approximately 1 mm (.0394 in)), but using modern, higher pressure .375 loads in an older rifle could cause serious injury to the shooter.[8]

The .38-55 is used to hunt black bear and deer at moderate ranges and is also used in cowboy action shooting side matches.

See also

Notes
  1. Winchester Model 94 big bore. (n.d.). Retrieved February 24, 2023, from https://chuckhawks.com/win_94_big-bore.html
  2. Simpson, L. (2018, October 1). .38-55 winchester. RifleShooter. https://www.rifleshootermag.com/editorial/ammunition_rs_3855winchester_200811/84300
  3. Heavy 38-55 winchester rifle ammunition. Buffalo Bore Ammunition. (n.d.). Retrieved February 24, 2023, from https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=159
  4. 38-55 Winchester. 38-55 WINCHESTER | Cartridgecollector.net. (n.d.). Retrieved April 25, 2022, from https://www.cartridgecollector.net/38-55-winchester
  5. Barnes, Frank C. Cartridges of the World: A Complete Illustrated Reference for More Than 1,500 Cartridges. Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. p. 91. ISBN 978-1-4402-3059-2.
  6. Sapp, Rick (2007). Standard Catalog of Colt Firearms. Gun Digest Books. p. 288. ISBN 978-0-89689-534-8.
  7. .38-55 winchester. (n.d.). Retrieved May 8, 2023, from https://www.chuckhawks.com/38-55win.htm
  8. Thomas Henshaw (1993). The History of Winchester Firearms 1866-1992. Academic Learning Company LLC. p. 232. ISBN 978-0-8329-0503-2.
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