.30-30 and .38-55 Buffalo Classic?

[homefront]

New to Handi's but not new to shooting.

I really like the Buffalo Classic, but I'm not set up to shoot .45-70. Nor am I interested in becoming so.

I am set up to shoot both .30-30 and .38-55, currently in Marlin and Winchester lever guns. I cast and hand load.

I would REALLY love to have a Buffalo Classic with barrels for both of those calibers.

What would be the best way to obtain this setup? Is anyone else interested in this combination? Has anyone done a group buy for Handi-rifles to obtain something not currently in production?

Thanks!

[petemi]

To the best of my knowledge we've never been able to get enough people to agree on a specific combination to do a special order.  I believe the .30-30 would have to be a custom made barrel.

Pete

[thejanitor]

To the best of my knowledge we've never been able to get enough people to agree on a specific combination to do a special order. Pete

+1 Pete- Everyone has a good reason for the caliber they want and no one agrees enough to get a run of the 300 or whatever the minimum of the caliber it the original caliber wanted was... It is like a can of worms.  thejanitor

[quickdtoo]

Last time I checked with H&R they required an order of at least 250 firearms from a distributor for special orders, that's not very likely to happen considering the 38-55 was discontinued the end of 2007, it wasn't one of their best sellers. Best advice is find a second hand barrel or rifle and make your own combo, lots of members here have done that to get the combo of their choice, finding a 38-55 target and sending it in for a 30-30 barrel would be the best way, they appear in the H&R classifieds here once in a while.

Tim

[Blackhawker]

First off, as far as nomenclature goes, I believe the only true "Buffalo Classic", by name, was the 45-70.  The 38-55 was sold as a "Target Classic" and the 45 Colt (CR-45) was sold as a "Classic Carbine".  All of these were sold with a case colored frame.  Any other sold with a blued frame is just a "Handi", if I'm not mistaken.  Tim is probably the expert here who can clear that up, however.

In any case, (back to the subject) I have a Wesson and Harrington Buffalo Classic (45-70 barrel) which had a 28" Target Classic barrel fitted to it in 38-55.  Both barrels shoot well and as much as I like the 45-70, I really must say that the 38-55 is by far one of my favorites.  I have a 30-30 barrel which I had purchased from someone here but it does not fit well on this frame.  However, the 30-30 fits very well on my 45 Colt Classic Carbine frame and therefore I use it on that platform as opposed to the Wesson and Harrington BC.   

In order to do what you are asking, you might buy yourself a Target Classic and then send it in for a 30-30 barrel once you have made the purchase.  (I believe this is somewhat of an echo of what Tim has already mentioned)  I see Wesson and Harrington as well as Harrington and Richard Target Classics on GunBroker quite often either used or even new in the box.  You might make note, as listed in the FAQ's however, that some of the chambers of the 38-55's may require some adjustments, reaming, or gunsmithing. 

[jlchucker]

There are reasons why that 38-55 version was discontinued.  One only needs to go back and read all of the discussions posted about that gun in this and on other websites.  I had one, brand new, and felt lucky to get rid of it.  Many of those that liked them were not above re-machining a brand-new rifle just to get it to shoot a handload that wouldn't keyhole.  It's obvious that there are many Handi's that do shoot well, but  I'm only going by what I've read about them.  If I saw one for sale (reasonably priced) in 30-30 and with stock and forearm similar to that on the 45 Colt version, I might be tempted.  The 38-55 experience that I had, though, soured me on Handi's and the customer service folks that they employed at that time, for a long time.

[45-70.gov]

what does the  BC  stock set sell  for?.........[$100??]


make your  own.....it will just have a 22 inch barrel

[Blackhawker]

The BC stock looks like the CR-45 Classic Carbine stock but with a slightly longer fore stock.  I'd suggest, if buying just wood for $100, get a Classic Carbine in 45 Colt and then get the 30-30 barrel later, and possibly the 38-55 as well. 
....just a thought.

what does the  BC  stock set sell  for?.........[$100??]


make your  own.....it will just have a 22 inch barrel

[rdlange]

I agree with Blackwater.  The BC carbine stock looks better with my 357 maxi 22" barrel than on the 20" barrel.  I think it balances better also.  JMHO.

Be well...

[homefront]

Thank you all for the replies.

So I need to find an older .38-55 Target Classic, then have a 22" .30-30 fitted to it?

Guess I'll have to keep my eyes open. 

[gcrank1]

That TM is the first approach that came to me, though it might be easier to find the 45C carbine (some are still avail. new?) and go that way.
The 're-machining' thing is a bit overstated (though it is something that can intimidate a guy, I know; no stone here), it is a simple hand turned 'rechamber of a few thou' on the neck of the chamber, which was usually a bit too tight for an optimum cast bullet dia. You can just neck turn some brass, too, and accomplish the same thing of bullet fit. Where can a guy get a 38-55 for this kind of money (but you do have to find somebody who wants to get rid of one!)
It is to bad they didnt make them in 32-40 as a Target Model, as that caliber is what mostly replaced the 38-55 in target circles (less recoil, thus less fatigue and better offhand scores in the course of a match). However, the 30-30 can, and has for years, proven itself every bit the equal, and more, than the venerable 32-40.
BTW, I like the looks of that 'shorter 45 Carbine forestock on even the long barreled 38-55. I think if you got the 45 Carbine and have the factory fit a 30-30 barrel to it you will be very happy (get the front sight too) and you would have no trouble selling that 45C barrel here (though you really should keep, and shoot it).

[John Boy]

There are variables for the 38-55 Target Model barrels:
1.  One has to find one because there are not many up for sale
2.  If found and one wants to shoot 38-55 lead bullets, then the chamber has to be opened to accept a loaded round with a 380-381 bullet.  Even a 379 Pb loaded round will be pregnant and not chamber properly
All the 38-55's were chambered on the 375 Winchester dimensions.  Talking with the factory ... way back, was told they tested the 38-55 with Winchester 375 jacket rounds.

[homefront]

Thanks for that, John Boy. I could rent a reamer and do both the future acquisition and my 1895 Cowboy. Naturally I would slug and chamber cast both before selecting the reamer.

[quickdtoo]

There are variables for the 38-55 Target Model barrels:
All the 38-55's were chambered on the 375 Winchester dimensions.  Talking with the factory ... way back, was told they tested the 38-55 with Winchester 375 jacket rounds.

Don't plan on .375" bullets working, been there, tried that.  .379" jacketed in Starline long brass will work fine if crimped with a Lee factory crimp die, see Pete's latest work. 

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,244315.msg1099406518.html#msg1099406518

[homefront]

There are variables for the 38-55 Target Model barrels:
All the 38-55's were chambered on the 375 Winchester dimensions.  Talking with the factory ... way back, was told they tested the 38-55 with Winchester 375 jacket rounds.

Don't plan on .375" bullets working, been there, tried that.  .379" jacketed in Starline long brass will work fine if crimped with a Lee factory crimp die, see Pete's latest work. 

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,244315.msg1099406518.html#msg1099406518

I have a couple of molds dropping bullets at .380-.381. I will probably have to order a pair of Lee sizing dies, one for each barrel. I'd rather not neck size brass for this cartridge so reaming the chambers to the same dimension is the best bet. Then I just have to size for each barrel.

[mauser98us]

I have one with the tight throat. I guess I ought to ream the neck,but I use 375 Win cases with the proper size cast slugs. Mine shoots just fine with this setup.

[dodd3]

a friend of mine had a 38/55 with a tight camber and over sized bore he had his redone out to 40/65 now it is a shooter.
Bernie

[gcrank1]

Neither my '04 or '07 have a '375Win. chamber'. IIRC, the problem with the cartridge is that it was developed long before SAAMI came into existence and there are a number of different original chambers and barrel B/G dia.s that they could choose from. That they didnt pick a reamer or barrel to ideally match with each other is unfortunate, but not so far off as to be horrible. The 38-55 is at its best as a cast bullet shooter, IMHO, but Im a committed cast bullet shooter. I can chamber .379s in Starline cases fine, some WW are 'snug, but a smidge of neck thinning takes care of it. They shoot well too, but I prefer to shoot as cast dia. and that is .380 from the Lee mould we use (W Wt + a dash of tin alloy), so that requires I thin the WW a bit more.
Lee doesnt make .379, .380 or .381 sizing dies except on a custom order, but I sure wish they did. I think it is something like $10 more than the std. dies. But for about $30 or $40 you can rent the reamer, just get the throat size you want for the bullet of choice in the brass you use + .001-.002(max) and the proper size pilot for your bore (critical).