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Author Topic: TRIED A DRY RUN LOADING THE 38-55  (Read 611 times)

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Offline lonewolf5348

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TRIED A DRY RUN LOADING THE 38-55
« on: February 05, 2008, 11:30:16 AM »
I got the lee dies in to-day and a few cast bullet ranging from .379 and .381
Lyman cast 375449 at .379 loaded in Winchester brass no problems my max: COAL 2.538 just touched the lands.
I tried .381 with a OAL of 2.510 and it was a no go the action would not close
Too bad I did not have a .380 to try it may or may not go but I know .379 diameter will work fine.
I also tried the factory lee taper crimp die I was impressed with the crimp it adds to the bullet.I have some star line brass coming in I see some say it will chamber the larger diameter cast bullet
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Offline eskimo36

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Re: TRIED A DRY RUN LOADING THE 38-55
« Reply #1 on: February 05, 2008, 03:18:46 PM »
Take the expander out of your sizing die and run the .381 loads in it and see if they work then.  Don't force then but try it on one that won't fit now.  Make sure you lube the case.
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Offline John Boy

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Re: TRIED A DRY RUN LOADING THE 38-55
« Reply #2 on: February 05, 2008, 03:20:36 PM »
Lonewolf, H&R 38-55 chambers are notoriously tight.  Rent a chamber reamer and enlarge it.  Then 380 or 381 bullets will bulge in the case, but when you fireform the case ... good to go for future reloads

4DReamers ...
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Offline lonewolf5348

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Re: TRIED A DRY RUN LOADING THE 38-55
« Reply #3 on: February 06, 2008, 09:27:20 AM »
Today came the sample brass from starline they sent me 2 rounds for testing :The brass they sent was 2.128 before I did anything I re sized it and wanted to see if it will chamber (no problems)

I then loaded a dummy round using a lyman cast bullet 264 grains at .381 the same bullet was loaded yesterday in Winchester brass which turn out to be a NO GO

I trim the new brass to 2.125 and the .381 bullet at a COAL 2.525 chamber with out any problems:I read this on a few other post on different forum but I did not think it was going to work but it did
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: TRIED A DRY RUN LOADING THE 38-55
« Reply #4 on: February 06, 2008, 09:35:23 AM »
Sounds like not only has Marlin improved the chamber dimensions, but Starline brass is H&R Target friendly!! ;) It's a real shame they finally fixed it, but now the rifle has been discontinued, hopefully it will continue to be available in the accessory barrel program. :-\

Tim
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Offline lonewolf5348

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Re: TRIED A DRY RUN LOADING THE 38-55
« Reply #5 on: February 06, 2008, 03:34:52 PM »
but now the rifle has been discontinued
Tim: how come they stop making the 38-55 any reason?
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: TRIED A DRY RUN LOADING THE 38-55
« Reply #6 on: February 06, 2008, 04:13:34 PM »
Not enough sold. :'(
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Offline ben.

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Re: TRIED A DRY RUN LOADING THE 38-55
« Reply #7 on: February 08, 2008, 07:44:31 AM »
Called NEF this morning about a 38/55 barrel. Have a rec and wood all packed and ready to go.
Wanted to know if ejector ot extractor. It was a extractor which I wanted. Around 3 years ago I had a 38/55 fitted to a rec. It took awhile to hone that chamber and throat to be user friendly.
She said the 38/55 was disc account of ww ammo not compatible. She also said no chamber or throat work done on the 38/55. I shoot black powder lube or paper patch out of it .379 and .380. I have .375,.377,.378.379 and .380 H&I dies. Broke one of my Ly 450,s sizing down to .375 for paper
patch patch. Having a Lee type sizer made in .373 also .423 for my 444. Have a .453 for my 45/70 . For years I cast all my bullets bhn 14. I'm trying to use them up. I guess I 'll try the oven to soften them up or I could always recast with pure lead or close. I picked up another handi 45/70 from walmart yesterday, extractor type. Wanted another 444 but ware house was out.  $246 out the door. That makes four I have, one a BC. It almost sounds like they did some chamber work on the 38/55 since I bought my barrel 3 years ago. Any one know for sure.
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: TRIED A DRY RUN LOADING THE 38-55
« Reply #8 on: February 08, 2008, 07:51:50 AM »
I'd guess the reason the late production barrels are better is due to Marlin making the barrels starting in early 2007, same reason the new .444 Marlin barrel was changed to 1:20" instead of the 1:38" that H&R planned on making.  ;)

RR has 33 .444s in stock. http://rrarms.com/catalog.php?prod=GSB2444

Tim
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