CIMARRON MODEL 1894 .38-55

DOWN RANGE

- Mike Venturino

Mike’s Model 1894 is at top and the Uberti/Cimarron Model 1894 is below. Mike encourages all shooters to have a tang peep sight mounted.

Way back in 1984, a particular Winchester launched me on an everlasting fascination with vintage leverguns and eventually to writing my book, SHOOTING LEVER GUNS OF THE OLD WEST. That Winchester was an 1897 vintage Model 1894 rifle with an extra cost octagonal barrel as opposed to a standard full round one. Also in its favor was its .38-55 chambering, which I figured ideal for a predominately cast bullet shooter such as myself.

Along with reloading dies, I also bought a box of .375-inch jacketed softpoint bullets and a bullet mould for 255-grain gas-checked bullets, which I sized at .375 inch. Imagine my disappointment when every one of those bullets tumbled in flight. From 100 yards, not one hit the four-foot square backboard point on.

Okay, that was when I got out my pure lead roundballs, wooden dowels and micrometer, all necessary for slugging rifle barrels. That slug measured right on at .379 inch, which was my first hint that all Winchester’s .38-caliber rifles, except .38 WCF/.38-40s, were nominally .379 inch across their grooves. (I’ve slugged more Model 1894 .38-55s, Winchester Model 1886 .38-56s and Model 1895 .38-72s along the way.)

The Uberti/Cimarron Model 1894 .38-55 (right) compares favorably with Mike’s 1897 vintage Winchester Model 1894 .38-55 .