Barnes Originals Bullets .38/55 WCF .377" 255 gr FNSP 50/ct

The Barnes Originals .38/55 WCF rifle bullet is a specialized round for handloaders working with this classic black powder cartridge. With a .377" diameter and 255-grain flat-nose soft point (FNSP) design, these bullets deliver the kind of reliable, controlled expansion that made Barnes Originals a cornerstone of American reloading when they first hit the market in 1939. If you're loading ammunition for a period-appropriate rifle or hunting with vintage .38/55 WCF firearms, these bullets offer the proven performance that seasoned reloaders have trusted for decades.

The Barnes Originals line pioneered the pressure-formed copper construction method—solid lead core wrapped in 100 percent copper tubing—that became the gold standard for dependable bullet performance. This design philosophy pays off in the field: on impact, the bullet typically expands to roughly double its original diameter while retaining as much as 90 percent of its weight. That combination of expansion and weight retention translates to deep, predictable penetration and energy transfer on game, without the fragmentation issues that plague less robust designs.

The flat-nose soft point profile is well-suited to lever-action and single-shot rifles chambered in .38/55 WCF, offering good ballistic coefficient for the cartridge and reliable feeding in tubular magazines. Each box contains 50 bullets, giving you a practical component quantity for hand loading a decent stock of ammunition. This is a component bullet for reloading—not loaded ammunition—so you'll need to pair it with .38/55 WCF brass, powder, primers, and a suitable reloading setup to complete your rounds.

Key Features

• Pressure-formed 100% copper construction with solid lead core for reliable, consistent performance
• .377" diameter and 255-grain weight optimized for .38/55 WCF cartridge
• Flat-nose soft point design for controlled expansion and deep penetration
• Expands to approximately 200% of original diameter while retaining up to 90% of weight
• 50 bullets per box—component quantity for hand loaders

Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the .38/55 WCF, and what rifles use this cartridge?

The .38/55 Winchester Center Fire is a classic black powder cartridge developed in the 1880s, primarily chambered in Winchester Model 1885 single-shot rifles and some lever-action designs of that era. Collectors, historical shooters, and hunters of vintage firearms still load for this round today.

Are these loaded cartridges or component bullets?

These are component bullets only—not loaded ammunition. You will need to supply your own .38/55 WCF brass, reloading powder, and primers to assemble finished cartridges.

What does FNSP mean?

FNSP stands for Flat-Nose Soft Point. The flat profile is traditional for lever-action and tubular magazine rifles, where pointed bullets can be unsafe in close quarters. The soft point core allows the bullet to expand reliably on impact while the copper jacket provides penetration and weight retention.

How much does each bullet weigh?

Each Barnes Originals bullet in this .38/55 WCF load weighs 255 grains, a weight that works well in this classic cartridge for controlled, deep-penetrating performance on deer-sized game.