Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors 38-56 WCF

I have a Winchester 1885 in 38-56 WCF . Looking for input on that cartridgeI have no experience with it. Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks

The 38-56 Winchester was developed by them in 1887, for the John Browning designed Model 1886! Winchester bought the patent from Browning, and they developed the 38-56 Caliber. This Caliber was also used in the Winchester 1885 Single Shot, and the 1895 Marlin, lever action. Originally a Black powder Cartridge, it was then transformed, (around the turn of the Century) to the smokeless powder that were accustomed to today. It was loaded until about 1936! It has since caught fire again, in cowboy action shooting, and naturally re loading! The Colt new Lightning pump action Rifle also uses this cartridge, among others. It's mainly a souped up 38-55, cartridge! It is a bottle necked case, that's not really inter changeable with others. 255, and 265 grain, lead bullets are common, with 25-35 grains of powder! Velocity, about 1400-1800 are common. Mainly good for Deer, and possibly small Elk at close range, but not preferred! It's mainly an old time cartridge that has gained some renewed popularity! Caution should be taken using modern ammo in an antique Firearm, hence; Smokeless powder pressures are greater than Black powder pressures! Do your homework!

Thanks for the info. My model 1895 was made in 1891 definitely a black powder era gun so I will stick to black power loadings

Make sure to slug the bore. Groove diameter can vary and getting properly sized cast bullets is obviously important. Case has the 45-70 case head. It's a very good round.

It has been a long time since I have resized 45/70 brass to 38/56, but is very easy. It is best to use new brass, without a cannelure. Simply lube the case, and slowly push into sizing die. When I was doing it, over fifty years ago, I did not have to trim or neck ream, but you may have to. The cartridge looks pretty potent, but I don't think in the original loading it was enough more powerful than the 38/55 to justify the two or three pound weight difference from an 1894.

Not sure what I’m going to do with it yet but I will definitely slug the barrel before making some loads for it

Run 45-70 cases through a FL 38-56 die, trim if necessary, buy or cast some 260-270gr cast lead bullets sized to .380 diameter, have or lube them with good black powder lube, buy a powder compression die stem from Buffalo Arms for the 38-55 WCF, also get some 30 thou Walters wads for the 38-55, i'd dump 60gr 2F, compress with wad on top enough to just see the edge of the top driving band on the bullet, pull decapping stem from size die and easily close case mouths enough to chamber.

"Dont ever compress powder and wad below the neck"

Any large rifle primer will do, ENJOY!