Home Forums Lever Action Central Marlin 336 Lever Actions Can I shoot 375 Winchester ammunition in my 38-55 Marlin

As promised (but not on the original theme).


Oehler chronograph @ ~10 feet
Marlin 336CB 24" barrel 38-55 Winchester

W-W Factory 255 grain load: (advertised as 1320fps)

6 shots: 1227fps,1344fps,1227fps,1238fps,1245fps,1265fps,1250fps,1245fps

Some case base diameters: .4166", .4165", .4166", .4150", .4163"
(2 differing lots of brass)

Reloder 7 powder
W-W Cases
Federal 210 primer
Barnes Originals 255gr .377"
Temp: 82 degrees


27 grains: 1685fps, 1740fps (listed as maximum load in the Barnes manual)
case base: .4174", .4168" (2 different brass lots)


29 grains: 1799fps, 1837fps
case base: .4176", .4174"

30 grains: 1869fps, 1842fps
case base: .4178", .4175"

31 grains: 1882fps, 1920fps There was a barely noticable stickiness in the lever extracting the 1920fps round.
case base: .4178", .4173"

Later I'll measure the cases (edited & done) but I believe I'll use about 30 grains for big animals and 27 for plinkers and deer. The factory loads are good for thin paper and small insects.