The .38-55 Winchester is a historic American cartridge dating to the mid-1880s, originally a black-powder lever-action and target round. Valued for accuracy in its era, it endures today for lever-action shooting, hunting at moderate range, and historical recreation.

The .38-55 Winchester dates to around 1884, originating as a black-powder cartridge — its name follows the old convention of caliber and original powder charge — and it earned an early reputation for accuracy, seeing use in both hunting and target shooting in the late 19th century. It became a classic lever-action chambering and has one of the longer continuous histories of any American sporting cartridge. Ballistically the .38-55 fires a large, heavy bullet at modest velocity, reflecting its black-powder-era roots though it has long been loaded with smokeless powder for modern firearms. It is effective for deer and medium game at moderate range, with the mild recoil and large frontal bullet characteristic of cartridges of its generation. It is also part of the lineage that influenced later lever-action cartridge development. Its modern role is largely historical and recreational: it is favored by enthusiasts of lever-action and single-shot rifles, by some target shooters in traditional disciplines, and by hunters who appreciate classic cartridges. Its ammunition availability is steady but narrower, supporting those enthusiast and hunting roles. Today the .38-55 Winchester is used for moderate-range hunting, lever-action and historical shooting, and target shooting, with steady if specialized availability. Its combination of deep heritage, accuracy reputation, and large-bore lever-action character is why this 1880s cartridge remains in use.

General information about this caliber — not a recommendation for this specific firearm.