The .38/55 can be a challenge to reload for. A friend of mine got one of the "baby Sharps" rifles by Dakota Arms, and is it a beauty! But problem about the .38/55's is their groove diameter. This can run from .375 all the way up to .380" or a little more. His is .379" groove diameter. So he can't use factory .38/55 jacketed bullets at all, as they are too small in diameter.

But the .38/55 CHAMBERS are usually cut so it is difficult, ifnot impossible, to use bullets that are big enough in diameter in the cases and still have ammo with necks small enough to chamber in the gun. It is also sometimes necessaryto order a custom-made expander plug for the cast bullets you have to use to fit the bore. (Got mine from Huntington Die Specialties-Lyman could not furnish one big enough. Lymanacted like they'd never heard of this little problem. They've lost a lot of the expertise they once had as the Ideal company!) Cast bullets need to be at least .001" or perhaps even more over groove diameter to properly seal the bore on firing to prevent melted bullet bases, which causes leading and poor accuracy.

So before you purchase one of those rifles, you should ask the makers what their groove diameter is! If it is bigger than .377" or so, look out!