38-56?!?!?!

[polardaddy]

So my dad gave me his great grandfathers 38-56, now before anyone corrects me, it is truely a 38-56 not the 55. I have only found one website that sells resized 45-70 reloaded bullets. I have about 18 true rounds for it, and one 45-70 that was resized via the dies that I have, so here goes the questions.....

1) anyone know where besides for buffaloarms to get ammo, this is of course after having a gunsmith check it out
2) the 38-56 brass have a rounded headstamp edge where as the 45-70 is thick and has squared edges (pics of what i'm trying to sound smart describing) and will not cycle nice at all, it gets caught up at the extractor.
3) does anyone have a link or recipes for this caliber?


http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...dy/toys010.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...dy/toys009.jpg

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Jeff F]

Give Dave Casey a call at Rocky Mountain Cartridge in Cody. They won't be cheap but they will be correct. Know Dave very well (shoot with him) he's a great guy and makes top notch brass.
http://www.rockymountaincartridge.com/

This would be brass only, to reload yourself. Looks like Buffalo Arms has the only reloads. Nice thing about Dave's brass is that it will have the correct headstamp.

[alnitak]

I would ask the guys over at Paco Kelly's Leverguns forum. Those guys would love to talk about the (unique) rifle, and there isn't better expertise available on the web. A number of the members, like Paco, Terry Murbach, Hobie, Jeff Quinn, etc. are recognized and respected experts. And it's a nice friendly forum. Ask the question there.

I may even mention this thread over there...

FYI:
The 38-56 Winchester was introduced in 1887. It made the transition into the smokeless powder era and was loaded until about 1936. The Winchester 1886 is the original big bore lever rifle designed by John M. Browning. Twin vertical locking bars provided strength for solid lock-up in this stout rifle. A rugged tool to tame the Wild West that can still deliver in high timbers or the Great Plains on big game species.

For load date, check this:
http://www.loaddata.com/members/sear...91&MW=&PM=&PT=

Also, here's one for sale by Cabelas (for $6k...[gulp]):
http://www.cabelas.com/gun-inventory...3856-gon.shtml

[Hobie]

I don't know that I should be included in the same league with those gentlemen but I do know a few things.

Many folks use reformed .45-70 with perfect results. I imagine it does depend on the gun in question as every gun seems to be a law unto itself. You can break the edge on the rim of those cases with a file and a bit of patience. If you have a lot to do, a mandrel on which you can spin the cases in a drill (press or even a hand held) will make the work go quickly.

The .38-56 has greater capacity than the .38-55 but, again, it depends on the firearm as to whether or not you can take advantage of it.

Come on over to leverguns and set a spell. We love old leverguns!

[polardaddy]

Thank you very much for the info, will have to check out the guys and gals over at the lever forum. I did find a website and according to it my manufacture year was 1889.