[30-30 vs. .32 Winchester Special vs. .38-55]

12 minutes ago, Longfoot said:

With 0% experience, but, having just faced a similar conundrum and having made my purchase over the weekend.  I brought home an Uberti '94 26" .38-55.

 

Wanted a Rifle caliber lever gun for Cowboy LR, Lever Metallic Silhouette and BPCR.

 

Most ranges around us can't set targets to 500, BUT, a few can and do.  We have even fewer ranges to 1000 and none that I know of that host BP shoots.

 

Most Common will be reduced targets at 50, 100 and 200.  But, I still want the ability to knock down Rams at 500.

 

I've owned .30-30 '94s and wouldn't consider them appropriate for greater than 200.  Others will have greater experience than me and may have success, but, I ruled out the .30-30 and its nearest siblings.

 

.45-70 was off the table, because I desire that my wife be able to shoot whatever I have and have a chance at enjoying it.  And, I know that .45-70 wouldn't see her come back for seconds.

 

.38-55 looks like the happy middle ground.  Capable of all that I'll regularly ask of it.  And, probably, no more likely to leave 500 y/m Rams standing than a 6BR is.  I'm hoping to avoid the .38-55 variabilities by going with a modern produced Uberti and if I follow that up with a single shot it'll be from them or Pedersoli.  That in combination with Starline long brass and decent online advice can shorten the learning/load development curve.

 

I also looked at .32-40 or .32 Special.  But, with regard to .32-40, there's not much modern support for it.  And, when I look at histories, it really appears to be a 200 y/m schutzen cartridge.  And, probably/possibly isn't up to what I'd like from it.

 

When I get done with this addition to our shooting disciplines, I have a Martini/Enfield in .30-40 Krag to sort out.  With me luck.

 

Both (38/55 & 30WCF)  are the same cartridge ,  just a different projectile.

Enjoy your new rifle .

Rooster 

[Another Rifle Question]

14 hours ago, Widder, SASS #59054 said:

If you're only gonna use it for Cowboy (SASS) competition, ya gotta consider a Uberti or Marlin.

 

If you're gonna load up some hot stuff and hunt deer and bear, ya better stick with Marlin, the 1892,  or the Henry 'steel' frame.

(just my opinion).

 

There are numerous GREAT gunsmiths that can slick up and short stroke the Uberti.

 

There are just a couple of GREAT gunsmiths that I would consider 'tuning' up the Marlin.

If you want a really fine short stroked Marlin, ya gotta stand in line for a 'Cowboy Carty' Marlin.

If you want a really fine, NON-short stroked, Marlin, the line is a little shorter to get a 'Widdermatic' from SLATER, at 'Slaters In-House Guns'.

Longhunter use to be at the top of my list, but he retired..... as did myself.

 

The .45 Colt is a great setup in the Marlin 1894, which I own 2 of them.

But I mostly shoot the hotter fodder in mine.   

 

ROOSTER mentioned above to ...'stay away from the jamomatic Marlin'.

Well, I hope his problem is soon fixed and he can become another 'HMO'.....  Happy Marlin Owner.  

 

God Bless,

 

..........Widder

 

 

Me too Brother  lol 

[RIP Rebel Bill]

This kind of post is happening way too often. 

RIP Bill 🙏 

[Another Rifle Question]

1. Chiappa 92

2. Uberti 66

3.Uberti 73

4. Stay Away From The Jamomatic Marlin and The Henry Big Boy !

[Footwear in age based categories?]

6 hours ago, Dantankerous said:

Plenty of Karens in the world already, we don't need them in our game. 

Too Late ! 

Enough said before I go to jail again 🤫

[30-30 vs. .32 Winchester Special vs. .38-55]

I have been making plinking loads with 30 Carbine bullets .

Fun short range shooting 100 yards or less plinking .

Rooster

 

PS. This is me trying out some load development. 

https://youtube.com/shorts/GisrVpHLDlg?si=0tq9bK97g6-BoBYf

[Cool Old Car]

My Dodge Truck .

[Comancheros]

I thought it was just me ! 

I thought I must have Pissed off the internet gods 🤣

[Boy Scout Rifle]

Back when Boy Scout's was actually Boys !

[Gun Refinishers]

Not all that hard to do yourself  .

Just Sayin 

Rooster 

[30-30 vs. .32 Winchester Special vs. .38-55]

I have most everything to choose from these days.

But I have found with hand casting and rolling my own.

I can do it all with the 30-30.

I was going to switch over to the 38-55 about 15 years ago.

Then I found some heaver bullet molds for the 30-30. 

200gr is as large as she can handle though.

I load the 30-30 from 95gr to 200gr.

99% of the time with Black Powder , But have used some Unique loads just to have some smokeless developed for a backup.

Rooster.

[30-30 vs. .32 Winchester Special vs. .38-55]

Myself Im a 30WCF Man.

You can do it all with a 30/30

[NEW!! Case Gauges! 38 Spl & 32 HR]

What about 44 Special  ? 

[Taylor's and Cimarron Firearms...]

Yes they do 

Ether one 

They are By 

Like Tranyz   , They go back and forth 🤣 

[WAD recommendation for 60 grains by weight bp and 1-1/4 oz of shot]

30g fff clay buster 7/8 wad and crimp .

Saves Time and Money  !

 

https://www.ballisticproducts.com/Claybuster-CB0178-12-12ga-WAA12L-Wad-500_bag/productinfo/030CB12L/

[Affect of wonder wads]

This is how I load 99% of the time

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/ByP6HkJUx10?si=fKfYnfigq2MfD3yr

[Thunderbolt has joined God's Posse]

Prayers up 🙏

Been way too many of these lately. 

R.I.P Thunderbolt 

[Michigan church shooting]

My Daughter was on her way to a renaissance convention and the Police was on the way there to the scene .

She thought what are we getting pulled over for ? 

Then they went around her.

She found out about it at the renaissance

Convention, and she thought O.M.G ! 

Prayers for all of them involved and touched by this 🙏 

[Chicken balls]

What ? 

[Long Hunter Operation]

Good luck Pard. 

[Pierce Brothers Video on Last Gun]

12 hours ago, Whitey James said:

It would depend on the scenario. If somehow there was a law enacted that restricted civilians to one gun but the rule of law was still in place, I'd choose one of my handguns.

If it were a TEOWTAWKIT scenario and I had to grab one gun to bug out with it would be one of my 12 ga pump action shotguns. Even Wally World still carries ammo for it. It is the closest thing to a "do-it-all" gun from hunting small game all the way up to the largest game with slugs.

Plus Joe Biden said all I would have to do is blast two rounds in the air and it would solve any problem I had.

No You are mistaken. 

 

I believe it was  Kamala who said. All she had to do was Blow

One or Two and they all would come running.

Or it was  something like that

🤣😂🤣

[powder arrived]

I completely understand.

I do everything I can to not run out of my favorite powders .

Rooster 

[.44 Rossi M92 question]

Im am a 92 Man and always will love the 92 .

The M92 44 mag will run the 44 special very well , But you have to load them long for it to reliably run them good .

 

I load my 44 Special's with a 200g Lee rnfp bullet that I cast myself. 

I load them long and crimp them at the top lube groove instead of the crimp groove. 

This make it just long enough to run reliably with zero issues. 

If you load them crimped at the crimp groove they will cycle OK .

But they will hang up once you get to running them fast .

You can pm me if you would like more info .

Rooster 

[Pierce Brothers Video on Last Gun]

On 9/23/2025 at 11:28 PM, Pat Riot said:

Only one gun? That just ain’t right! No, Sir. Not right at all.

 

I was all ready to pick my favorite revolver, a S&W 327 Night Guard 8-shot .357 Magnum when I thought “Did he mean handguns? I could just take the 327 and all my rifles.” But no, I had to go read the OP again. 
What to do…

What to do…

 

This is what to do.

 

Sig Sauer P226 Mk25 9mm

I love the night guard pistols. 

I would love to have the 44 special Night guard  !

[It ain't a SASS gun but...]

As a 44 Special Man Myself. 

I have to say .

GREAT FIND !