Lever rifle matches

[Kurt]

I been looking for a lever rifle for the lever rifle matches.
Today I spent the day browsing the local gun shops and I ran across a very nice Mod. 94 Winchester in the .375 caliber. Fine looking rifle. It almost followed me home. The .375 is a Baby .38-55 It has a little more push then the .44-40 has and it might even make a better rifle for the lever matches. But I'm not sure with the 20" barrel it has.
Do any of you guys shoot this caliber?

Kurt

[knobsmt]

I shoot 38-55. penny shoots 30-30. brian 38-55. all 24 " barrel longer sight radis ...with a lever gun you will need more ammo don't want to run out

[Kurt]

LOL, I won't run out this time. I picked up an extra 500 cases
The .375 is only 1/10" shorter then the .38-55 from just looking it up. But it seems to have more punch then the 55.
The short 20" barrel is the only reason I didn't take it home.
Kurt

[Kurt]

Just thinking With all the extra ammo maybe I better put another set of airbags under the gypsy wagon

[bruce moulds]

kurt,
check out saami chamber specs on the 375 win.
it might have a 45 degree transition while the 38/55 definitely has a better one.
keep safe,
bruce.

[Mike]

Kurt, I have and sometimes shoot a Marlin in .375 Winchester. My gun, however, and other Marlins as well, will chamber .38/55 ammo quite easily. I'm thinking that Marlin just quietly gave them .38/55 chambers while the barrels have a 1 in 12" twist. Not a bad gun at all. I stopped a black bear with mine back about '85, using factory 250 grain ammo. And mine wears a Lyman 66. Shoot sharp, Mike

[Kurt]

TNX. Bruce and Mike.

I'm going in the morning and look at a couple .40-60 Marlins and a 93 marlin in a .38-55 special smokeless steel barrel.

[Mike]

Kurt, Let me put in a bit of a plug for the '93 in .38/55. My comments must be entirely in general, of course, because I have no idea about the condition of the rifle you'll be looking at. But in my little collection of cannons is a '93 SRC in .32/40 and I do like that little gun. Mine is just a shooter but in the best way. It was re-barreled sometime before I got it, with a Marlin barrel in new condition. So, the best part about the rifle is the barrel. That also brought the price down to my level and I got in in the late '70s for $200. There are times when I wish it was a rifle with a tang sight, for more accurate shooting. As it is, it only has the carbine rear sight on the barrel, probably a Winchester sight actually, and that will probably never be changed. It's just a good little "short range" shooter the way it is. And I have a range of bullet molds for it from the 98 grain short range bullet up to about 175 grains. Now, if I could only find a twin to it in .38/55... Shoot sharp, Mike

[Kurt]

Well my Marlin .444 and I came to a agreement, well sort of for now I been shooting at my 130 yard target here at home and the rifle settled down to a 3" group average. And a little tighter with 50 gr of 2F OE shooting dirty through the magazine with 10 shots fired with out feeding problems. So Black will also work.
I been using the Accurate 43-280-F bullet and 27 gr of 5744 powder. It is a good load and the rifle handles it well, not as good as my Jacketed swaged bullets shoot but it is a good start. Those little 27 gr squib loads sure do jab some. Makes that 50 gr load of 2f feel light.
The impact at 130 yards is 7" low with the rear sight all the way up and I even sanded the base of the front sight down as far as I can and still hold the barrel couture the sight ramp has. I have a Lyman 66 sight coming tnx. to Mikes suggestion so the elevation wont be a problem once I get that on. I have a 17-A globe for the front but this will wait. I like using a post anyway.

Kurt

[Don McDowell]

Kurt leaving the front post on is a good idea. Especially if you happen to shoot any of the NRA lever gun silhouette matches, they only allow the globe front if it has a post aperture in it..
Might try backing that 5744 down to 20 and working back up to 25 keeping a close eye on group size.