Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Good 38-55 loads

have a rem. Hepburn in 38-55. this rifle is in excellent condition, I have always shot factory Winchester 225 gr. soft point, I need powder. bullet and load info, just got the dies, have plenty of brass, will the 255 gr. TSX work ? in this rifle seems a little long to me. rio7

While the Hepburn is a good stout action, I've never wanted to use anything but lead bullets to save wear on the barrel.

I doubt the bullet could be driven fast enough from the .38-55 to get any expansion, but I'm no expert. Probably best to contact Barnes on this.

While I've used the .38-55 for some time, my only experience has been with cast bullets for which this cartridge is well suited.

Thanks for the info, I don't know how fast the factory win is running, but I have killed whitetail, and pigs with this rifle at ranges from 100 to 125 yrds, ON good day i can hit an egg with it every shot at 100 yrds, iron sites. I am not set up to do cast bullets is there a place I can buy good cast.? rio7

Midway perhaps on cast bullets. I would want to slug the bore to determine the correct dia. of bullet. They can run anywhere from .375 to .383 +/-. Yours is probably on the smaller side if the Winchesters are shooting for you.

Les Vollmer at works4us1yahoo.com makes and sells jacketed bullets for the .38-55 in six different diameters to fit your rifle perfectly. He also sells a slugging kit to determine your bore exactly. You might want to write him and see what he can do for you.

TuckeredDavid59, Thanks for the info 38-55 bullets, I will check it out. Rio7

This ^^^^^

I spoke with Vollmer about bullet expansion in the .38-55 and he told me he can add skiving to any of his bullets to enhance expansion at lower velocities. 1/4 ogive, 1/2 ogive, 3/4 ogive and full ogive skiving is available. He can skive the whole bullet if so desired. Another option is changing the ratio of exposed lead.