old lever gun in 38-56 cal

[swamp rooster]

Ok got another gun 38-56 win. any one have any info on it..has octagon barrel its nice..magnum man you heard of it.bigcountry or mr 45-70.

[Chris W.]

The 38-56 came out in the late 1880's. It was originally a black powder cartridge that was converted to smokeless at some point. I don't believe the cartridge has been in production for a long time.

[swamp rooster]

Its a big o gun really nice bought in colorado around 1880s found a place in texas called cowboys they have ammo.

[eldeguello]

ORIGINAL: swamp rooster

Ok got another gun 38-56 win. any one have any info on it..has octagon barrel its nice..magnum man you heard of it.bigcountry or mr 45-70.

Sounds like you found an 1886 Winchester. If so, in reasonable condition, it's worth a lot of money to Win. collectors, SO DON'T ALTER IT IN ANY WAY!

RCBS (and perhaps others) make reloading dies for that caliber, which is around .375" to perhaps .379" in the groove diameter. The .38/56 is a .45/70 case necked down to shoot .379" bullets. So ammo is no problem. In fact, I believe Graf's has the empty cases.... http://www.grafs.com/metallic/845

Yep! Sure enough.

[swamp rooster]

O I WOULD NEVER ALTER ANY OF MY OLD STUFF I LIKE ORIGINAL

[BrutalAttack]

ORIGINAL: eldeguello

Sounds like you found an 1886 Winchester. If so, in reasonable condition, it's worth a lot of money to Win. collectors, SO DON'T ALTER IT IN ANY WAY!

RCBS (and perhaps others) make reloading dies for that caliber, which is around .375" to perhaps .379" in the groove diameter. The .38/56 is a .45/70 case necked down to shoot .379" bullets. So ammo is no problem. In fact, I believe Graf's has the empty cases.... http://www.grafs.com/metallic/845

Yep! Sure enough.

It doesn't even have to be in reasonable condition. 10% specimens list for $850. 90% condition can be up to $15,000 depending on model.