38-55
Welcome to the world of challenges and that expressly apply to the 38-55cartridge. The biggest problem is that most 38-55 bores are .377" or bigger and if one is using cast bullets sized bigger, they will not chamber because the bullet diameter plus twice the thickness of the brass at the case mouth is too large to go in the chambre. In short, large bore - small chamber. I have a new marlin cowboy that the bore mikes out at .380 and the chambre won't readily accept a bullet over .377". Suprised the hell out of me since I expected a bore of .375" in a modern gun. I think it has to do with Saami Specs. being adhered to so as to prevent liability problems. Jacketed bullets .375 to .377" work fine in most guns including old Winchesters. The trick with to make lead bullets work for me was as follows. Obtain a set of RCBS Cowboy dies, they come with two expander balls, one.375" for jacketed bullets and one .377" for lead. Load and crimp as one normally would to the proper OAL. Remove the decapping shaft from the sizing die and alternatly (preferribly with a made up dummy round)run the bulleted case up into the sizer a litttle bit at a time and then into the rifle until it chambers easily. Once the proper insertion depth is establised reset the lock ring to that point and run the the loaded rounds through the die. A word of caution - there has to be enough room in the chamber for the brass to expand and release the bullet. Pressures can go sky high so use this proceedure for LEAD BULLETS ONLY with light to moderate powder charges and modern cases. I have successfully done this to 1400 fps with 250 grn. Bullets and accuracy is sufficent to whack 200 meter full sized Rams consistantly on a silloettte range.
Anyone with similar problem and remedy for it?
