.38-55 Troubles

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45LC

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I've been loading into new brass, but now that I finally found a lee case length gauge for .38-55 I sat down to trim my sized brass. Problem is, the case length gauge wont fit in the sized brass. Did some measuring;

New brass .373" ID at the case mouth
Fired un sized brass .379"
Sized brass .368"

The case length gauge measures. 366" OD, to tight a fit for the sized brass and will not enter and spin to full depth.

Using Rcbs dies, Winchester brass.

Question is to the .38-55 loaders, have you encountered this, and if so is it the dies sizing to small, or the case gauge just to big? Never had this trouble with any other caliber. Thanks for any insight.
 
Your 38-55 dies should be a 3-die set, correct?
Use the second [expander and case mouth flare] die and run it into the case far enough to expand
the case, That should open the case enough to get the trimmer pilot and/or trimmer shank into it.
You do not want to flare the case, so do not run the case all the way into this die, just enough
to open the section that is sized too small.
Dave.
 
Thanks Dave, that was my initial thought as well. Problem is the case gauge is still about a 1/2" from full depth, and the expander plug wont get that far down.

With more examining, I think I've got two problems combining in one. The case gauge measures. 366" at the bottom, but measuring right at the top where the cutter is it is .370". This wouldn't be a problem if I hadn't oversized the brass by just running them all the way in and not stopping to check. (My own fault). I'm going to try raising the sizing die up and measure the results on other brass. I'm loading a .379" lead cast and dont want a case bulge anyway, and that should solve the trimmer issue as well. I hope.

Next issue will be dealing with the oversized brass I've got .
 
I load for 375 Win which is nearly identical so am familiar with it.

It's extremely unlikely that your cases are too long for your chamber, so much so that many 38-55 guns can use the original length of 2.125". Starline makes their 38-55 brass in both 2.080 and 2.125" lengths. On the Starline website there's a very interesting article about the history of the case and the differing case length's https://www.starlinebrass.com/articles?id=2540

So load your rounds up, shoot them and then use your Lee trimmer on the fired and unsized cases. I load my 375 at a MV of 1723 fps with the 264 gr cast lead and my cases only need trimming every 4-5 reloads if that.

If you are shooting these in a modern Winchester or Marlin it's a pretty low pressure round so you're not going to hurt anything.
 
Heddok your right, I probably am worrying to much about the length. The once fired brass is measuring in at 2.090" so it's probably fine for another firing. Shooting out of a modern Winchester.

Wont have this problem again, I've raised the sizing die up to do just the sizing it needs to grip the bullet. I'll have to use a decapping die for the primer as the die is to high to decap while sizing, but that's not a big deal.
 
I was thinking about building a custom expanding plug without a flare on it to thread into the flare die. Expand the brass out just enough to fit the trimmer in, and eliminate the bulge from seating a .379" bullet in undersize brass. Might be a bit overkill, but we'll see if I've got some time in the shop I might try it.
 
I shoot a 1980 Winchester...the 2.125" fits fine. I slugged my barrel...it is .379, so I use .381" bullet (probably could use .380"). The .379" might not give you your best accuracy if your barrel is also .379"...have you slugged your barrel? I also only "neck size" my cases.
 
I had trouble using the Lee 38-55 dies for .379 bullets and eventually sourced some RCBS cowboy dies. The Lee set is made for .375 and I couldn't seat the bigger bullets because they would hang up on the crimping ring in the bullet seating die.

Not surprising that you are having a bit of an issue also because the dimensions vary so much over time and different manufacturers. Making a new expanding plug and not sizing so far down the cases is a good plan if other things are working. Better than over working the brass.
 
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I haven't checked my rifle. It's a Winchester commemorative Diamond Jubilee, and had heard from other guys who shot them that they slugged in at .377. I'm going to slug mine to be sure.
 
3855

lee case trimmers will not fit in any cal case that is new or resized......they fit in any case that has been fired and not resized ,,,,,found that out 30 yrs back you have no problem,,,good luck
 
45LC said:
I haven't checked my rifle. It's a Winchester commemorative Diamond Jubilee, and had heard from other guys who shot them that they slugged in at .377. I'm going to slug mine to be sure.
Click to expand...

I owned a diamond jub. shooter at one time. The bore also slugged at .377 but the chamber was cut so tight that any bullet over .375 wouldn't chamber. Groups with .375 slugs & the .377 bore = 3-4 " at the best.
 
coyoteshooter said:
lee case trimmers will not fit in any cal case that is new or resized......they fit in any case that has been fired and not resized ,,,,,found that out 30 yrs back you have no problem,,,good luck
Click to expand...

This is news to me!! I have been using the Lee case length trimmers for a long time, and they fit nicely in my resized brass, everything
from the 222 to the 375 H&H. Dave.
 
My 38-55 is a 1979 reproduction, a Legendary Frontiersman. It slugs right at .377"
I can load Cast at .379, and they chamber just fine.
This rifle is a shooter, as long as you stay away from .375" diameter bullets, jacketed
or cast. Dave.
 
coyoteshooter said:
lee case trimmers will not fit in any cal case that is new or resized......they fit in any case that has been fired and not resized ,,,,,found that out 30 yrs back you have no problem,,,good luck
Click to expand...

I've never had any problems with mine in resized .303 Br and .25-06. Maybe this is only an issue with straight-walled cartridges?
 
Yeah, I've had no problems clambering .379 cast bullets in the rifle. Action is a little tight ejecting and empty, but it was an in box rifle before I got it. Hasn't had much use till now.
 
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