Handloading Vintage Cartridges
Reloading the Classic .38-55 Winchester
The .38-55 Winchester has earned its place as one of America's classic rifle cartridges. Dating back to the late 1800s, it even appeared in early Winchester Model 94 rifles before the .30-30 became the better-known chambering. Despite its age, the .38-55 remains an excellent choice for shooters who enjoy vintage lever actions and traditional cast bullet loads.
In this Brownells Tech Tip, Steve demonstrates just how simple it is to reload this historic cartridge using standard dies and basic reloading equipment.
Comparing the .38-55 to the .30-30
One of the easiest ways to understand the .38-55 is by comparing it to the .30-30 Winchester. Both cartridges share the same basic case design, but the .38-55 uses a much larger .375 caliber bullet instead of a .30 caliber projectile.
Owners of older rifles should pay special attention to bullet diameter. Many vintage barrels measure larger than modern specifications, making it worthwhile to slug the bore before selecting bullets. Some rifles perform best with .378 or even .379 diameter cast bullets instead of standard .375 bullets.
Preparing the Brass
Case preparation begins with primed, lubricated brass. Steve uses the Frankford Arsenal priming tool and Hornady One Shot case lube, while also mentioning Lee Case Lube as an excellent option for smaller batches.
Once lubricated, each case is resized using the sizing die. Proper die adjustment is essential for reliable ammunition, and Steve recommends reviewing the Brownells Reloading Series for detailed die setup procedures.
Selecting Cast Bullets
The featured load uses a 275 grain powder coated round nose flat point cast bullet. This bullet style is well suited for rifles with tubular magazines because the flat nose provides safe stacking inside the magazine tube while maintaining dependable feeding.
Powder coating also helps reduce barrel fouling and can improve overall shooting performance with cast bullets.
Expanding the Case Mouth
Unlike bottleneck rifle cartridges, the .38-55 requires a separate case mouth expansion step. This operation is similar to loading large straight wall handgun cartridges such as the .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, and .45 Colt.
Expanding the case mouth creates enough clearance to start the cast bullet without shaving lead or damaging the powder coating during seating.
Charging the Case
After expansion, each case receives its powder charge. Steve points out that Lee die sets include a powder dipper along with load data, making it possible to begin loading even without a dedicated powder measure.
Carefully following published load data remains one of the most important parts of safe handloading.
Bullet Seating and Crimping
Once the powder charge is in place, the bullet is seated to the proper depth while the seating die simultaneously applies a crimp.
A firm crimp is especially important for lever action rifles with tubular magazines. Recoil can cause cartridges to press against one another inside the magazine tube, potentially pushing bullets deeper into the case if they are not adequately crimped.
The process is then repeated for each cartridge, demonstrating how efficiently the .38-55 can be loaded.
A Great Cartridge for Beginning Handloaders
The .38-55 Winchester is one of the easier rifle cartridges to reload. Its generous neck length provides excellent bullet grip, making seating straightforward and forgiving. Shooters comfortable loading the .38-55 will find that many of the same techniques apply to other traditional cartridges such as the .30-30 Winchester and .45-70 Government.
Whether you're preserving a vintage lever gun or building accurate cast bullet loads, the .38-55 remains a rewarding cartridge for today's handloader.
For additional instruction on die setup, priming, powder charging, and other handloading fundamentals, be sure to explore the complete Brownells Reloading Series. If you have technical questions, the Brownells Tech Support team is always available to help.
