marlin 38-55

[yunggun16]

should i put a scope on my new marlin 336cb ballard rifled gun with a 26 inch barell for deer hunting or should i leave it open sites or should i get a tang site?
thanx
doug

[herbings]

I would not recommend shooting deer at a range >75 yrds with a 38/55. It does not have enough velocity to carry energy downrange and you better be a magician understanding its trajectory if you even think out extending the rangeability of a 38/55. Check out the ballistics and compare to other hunting loads. You'll see that it is a relatively weak cartridge.

With that said, it is a cool cartridge to carry through the woods for the challenge of getting close enough to deer for an acceptable, responsible shot.

Therefore, I wouldn't think of larding it for hunting. This will just take whatever "quick to the sights" advantage you have with the open sights and just give it right back to the deer.

If you're looking to extend your range, consider buying a 30-30 or 35rem.

The 38/55 is a good brush gun, so if you're into to driving or still hunting -- it's a great gun. However, if you're looking to extend rangeability out of it, I believe you'd be better off saving that scope money and putting it toward your next gun.

Plus the scope will just add weight which also takes away from the purpose of the 38/55 -- as I see it.....

Here's my advice -- (1) don't buy the scope, (2) sell the 38/55, (3) buy a 30/30 or 35rem, and (4) when you free up enough funds again, buy a 1.5-6x32 for the new leadthrower. I find this scope configuration to offer the most versatility for different styles of deer hunting.

Then I think you'll have the ideal deer hunting weapon.

How big are the deer where you hunt? If you ever want to hunt bear or elk, consider the 45/70. This cartridge has such load versatility that it can cater to all kinds of hunting and shooting.

BTW, I don't know sqwat about tang sights -- no experience with 'em.....

respectfully,

[yunggun16]

the 3030 originated from the 3855 plus the 3855 was also used as a target rifle and why would it have such a long barrel if was ment for real short range its about 125 yard deer rifle it about a $700 gun so it aint gunna part so easily i aprecaite your input but a scope is definatly worth while

[Second Wind]

The 375 Winchester was deveolped from the 38-55 and I have had great success on deer, black bear and also dropped a 2 year old bull moose at 100yds. with my 375 big bore 94, but 150 yards would be the maximum with a clear shot on any of the above I would take. One of the old boys at my camp has taken numerous white tails out to 125 yds. with a 38-55.

Try a Williams peep sight.

MY 2 cents

[bufflernickl]

younggun,

back before deer could read (and most of 'em read everything the gun writers write :-) it didn't require 1000 fpe to kill a whitetail. AAMOF, some of them would die when hit correctly with only, say, 600 fpe.

What you've been told (above) is absolutely true, if you buy only cartridges loaded to old BP ballistics, and if your deer are readers, as All seem to be these days.

In that Marlin of yours, you can load a 200 gr flatnose to over 1600 fps (a lot over, a whole lot, if you care to watch for pressure signs as you go up) But, if you stick to that velocity, you'll have a gun that shoots point blank out to 175 yds (7" kill zone) and has over 600 fpe at that range. Can you hit that far with anything other than a scope?

If you really want to work on load development, you can make that .38-55 into a legitimate 225 yd deer gun, even 250, if you can learn to hit at that range. Oh, yes, be sure to shoot only those deer who don't read :-)

Cheers/buffler

[surbat6]

A small low-power scope may be an advantage if your eyes aren't, shall we say, comparable to one of the larger birds of prey. They're easy to pick up quickly, if mounted correctly, but they do add some bulk to the rifle.
Is there any reason you want a tang sight, in particular? All the modern Marlins I've seen are drilled and tapped on the left side of the receiver for a standard aperture (peep) rear sight. I have outfitted most of my Marlin lever actions with receiver-mounted peeps. They're more precise than the factory sights and don't add weight or bulk.

[magnomark]

;) There are a new set of peeps that are mounted to the scope mount screws on top of the receiver called "ghost rings" and are carried by Dillon in their blue press catalog.I put a set on my 1895 45-70 for horseback hunting in the timber country and they point fast and are easy to see,also have 2 different aperature sizes in the kit. :D :sniper:

[txpete]

I guess I must of done things backwards.my 375 win BB came first,then a 38-55 win, next then my marlin ltd 45/70.
the 38-55 is a great deer round and with the proper bullet load can take deer out to 100-150 with no problem.the 38-55(win) is one of the best for shooting cast bullets with its 1-18 twist.with a 250 gr cast gas check bullet 22.0 grs of 2400 will clock at 1800 fps.rcbs cast book pg.102 first ed.
the factory loaded ammo from winchester in the 38-55 is pretty weak as to the older guns out there but I think buffalo bore makes a pretty hot round it you don't handload.
30-30/ 35 rem a dime a dozen a good shooting 38-55 priceless :lol:
pete