Milk Jug Apocalypse with video

[Whit Spurzon]

A friend of mine had been collecting Milk Jugs for about a year and invited me over to help him video and ventilate them.



First up was the Shilo Sharps in 45-70 with a 350 grain Oregon Trail LaserCast bullet

Next we used the same rifle with a 500 grain Laser Cast Bullet

And just that fast 30 jugs, more than half of what he had were gone in two shots...

Next up was the Marlin 336 Cowboy in 38-55.  My prediction was 8 jugs.  Boy was I in for a surprise.

After that we had a bunch of muddy ground and only seven jugs left.

The 218 Bee was next and it took out two more.  The last five (which wasn't enough) were handled by an old Marlin 1894 in 32-20.

Good fun!

[Hazcat]

Looks like a blast!  Never heard of a 38-55 before but it looks like it's a very potent cartridge!

[sledgemeister]

Awesome fun, what better way to spend an arvo!

[twyacht]

One day the 45-70 will find it's way into my collection.

Looks like a blast!  Never heard of a 38-55 before but it looks like it's a very potent cartridge!

Little Google foo....

The .38-55 Winchester cartridge is named for its approximately .38 caliber bullet (actually .3775 caliber) and was introduced in 1876 by Ballard which belonged to Marlin Firearms from 1875 on for various single-shot target rifles and in their 1893 lever action. It was later used by Winchester for its Model 1894 lever-action rifle. Winchester continued to use the round in various rifles until about 1940, and also used it in a few commemorative editions of rifles since then. Also Marlin use this caliber in some 336 models.

A modernized version of the cartridge debuted in 1978 as the .375 Winchester, designed with higher pressures and to be used in modern firearms only. It is not safe to fire factory .375 Win ammunition in rifles chambered in 38-55, especially in older versions of the 38-55. The brass is very similar (identical in some cases) but using modern, higher pressure .375 loads in an older rifle could cause serious injury to the shooter.

The .38-55 is renowned for its exceptional accuracy at ranges up to 330 yards. It is often used to hunt black bear and deer at moderate ranges[1], and is also used in Cowboy Action Shooting sidematches.

Both great thumping rounds for sure.

[Hazcat]

One day the 45-70 will find it's way into my collection.

Little Google foo....

The .38-55 Winchester cartridge is named for its approximately .38 caliber bullet (actually .3775 caliber) and was introduced in 1876 by Ballard which belonged to Marlin Firearms from 1875 on for various single-shot target rifles and in their 1893 lever action. It was later used by Winchester for its Model 1894 lever-action rifle. Winchester continued to use the round in various rifles until about 1940, and also used it in a few commemorative editions of rifles since then. Also Marlin use this caliber in some 336 models.

A modernized version of the cartridge debuted in 1978 as the .375 Winchester, designed with higher pressures and to be used in modern firearms only. It is not safe to fire factory .375 Win ammunition in rifles chambered in 38-55, especially in older versions of the 38-55. The brass is very similar (identical in some cases) but using modern, higher pressure .375 loads in an older rifle could cause serious injury to the shooter.

The .38-55 is renowned for its exceptional accuracy at ranges up to 330 yards. It is often used to hunt black bear and deer at moderate ranges[1], and is also used in Cowboy Action Shooting sidematches.

Both great thumping rounds for sure.

Dinged that target at 400 so yep, sounds accurate to me!  Nice round!

[Sponsor]

[Whit Spurzon]

We've actually had good luck with it out to 1,000 yards.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO6ihrcukcc


My first hit at 1,000 yards at a target (20" wide by 32" tall) that I could just barely see.  I was smiling for weeks.

Beyond 400 the wind makes it a lot tougher and you a tang sight makes it a lot easier.  At those ranges you can touch one off perfectly and the wind blows it off the target, or you guess wrong and you hit where you held hoping the wind would work with you.


We use this same target for 400, 500, 600, 800 and 1,000 yards

A few years back I didn't even know I NEEDED a 38-55.  It has since become my favorite rifle cartridge.  Accurate, hard hitting, economical (if you cast and reload) and just plain fun.


50 yard target


38-55 compared to a 30-30 muzzle


The Lee 379-250 recovered from sand backstop


My rifle likes them as cast - .381"  

[Hazcat]

That's a hell of a gun, Whit.  Would love to touch one off sometime! (own one if I could)

Watching the 1000 yard off hand it doesn't look like it has much of a kick.

[Whit Spurzon]

The 38-55 is soft shooting.  That thousand yard shot was with a load that averages 1300 fps.  We estimated that the peak trajectory of that load at 1,000 yards is about 52 feet!

[fightingquaker13]

The 38-55 is soft shooting.  That thousand yard shot was with a load that averages 1300 fps.  We estimated that the peak trajectory of that load at 1,000 yards is about 52 feet!

Screw that! If you hit a mini-cooper at 1000 yards using iron sights with a lever action, and hand cast lead bullets, its something to be darn proud of!
FQ13

[tombogan03884]

Around here most people go for the 30/30, and most of the younger guys never heard of 38/55.
But now and then you'll run across some old fart who swears by it. It's supposed be flatter shooting than the 30/30, up here in the thick woods it's not really an issue so much.
I have no idea why it faded out and the 30/30 is still going strong.