38.56 marlin help

45-70 as above. George C. Nonte Jr. in his book on cartridge conversions adds: size full length in 38/56 die; use .375" bullets, uncannelured cases are best for this.


My opinion, if using cast bullets, it's best to slug your bore and buy / size accordingly.
 
I just made up 50 rounds of 38-56 from 45-70 for my special order 28" barreled 86, and I can give you a few tips..........Try and get hold of R-P (Remington) 45-70 brass as it forms beautifully. Under no circumstances use Starline as it is too heavy and it folds and buckles when you try to form it. W-W works okay but it is a lot harder than R-P and it will crease and doesn't form as well as R-P.
After that just load 'em up and go give 'er hell. I loaded Barnes originals 255 gn .375 bullets for mine, there is also a 220 gn FN for the 375 Win available which works well in the 38-56. Then of course there is a plethora of cast bullets and molds in .375.
 
c-fbmi said:
I just made up 50 rounds of 38-56 from 45-70 for my special order 28" barreled 86, and I can give you a few tips..........Try and get hold of R-P (Remington) 45-70 brass as it forms beautifully. Under no circumstances use Starline as it is too heavy and it folds and buckles when you try to form it. W-W works okay but it is a lot harder than R-P and it will crease and doesn't form as well as R-P.
After that just load 'em up and go give 'er hell. I loaded Barnes originals 255 gn .375 bullets for mine, there is also a 220 gn FN for the 375 Win available which works well in the 38-56. Then of course there is a plethora of cast bullets and molds in .375.
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thanks for your reply to my 3856 case questonns some time ago///i got a die set at a gun show for 20 dollars in the late fall.....not sure if we could talk some time but i would like to some time if i had your ph no i would call you thanks again don near kingston actually enterprise ont 613 358 2002
 
From Ken Waters Pet Loads250gr Lyman cast IMR 3031/30.5gr/1450 fps accuracy load jacketed 255gr Barnes/H-4895/40gr/1828 fps.........high velocity 220gr Hornady/H-335/38gr/1950 fps Use at own risk. after sizing from 45-70 in forming dies trim to 2.10"
 
I had a neat little Winchester 1886 in .38-56 for a while. It shot quite well with a soft cast 260gr flat nosed bullet and a case full of black powder.

I formed my cases from .45-70 Federal brass that I had lying around. The cases would hold a bullet that was a bit undersized for the bore but the black powder bumped it up to fit the bore/groove.

Chris.
 
I have formed a lot of brass for my 38-56 from 45-70 (all Win. brass if I remember right). I tried doing it in one step with a sizing die that I had home-made but it didn't work out so well, a lot of wrinkled/crushed cases. I was lucky enough to have access at the time to a 38-56 chamber reamer so I made up a couple more forming dies with stepping the neck down to .44 then to .40 and finally used the sizing die to finish to .38 and haven't ruined a brass since. One thing that I did do was shorten the sizing die a smidge so that it bumped the long tapered shoulder back a few thou. then fire-formed (9 or 10 gr of Unique and fill remainder of case with cornmeal, seal with a dab of white glue) them to fit the chamber. It's a bit of a chore but was worth the trouble as they all chamber perfectly now.

Forming dies might seem like an unnecessary expense but at the price of brass it doesn't take long to break even on the deal.

Personally , In an old 1895 Marlin I would stick with the offered up Ken Waters load of 1450 fps, those others would be hotter than I would fire in either of mine.
 
Good point. I sized my .45-70 cases down first with a .40-65 die and then ran them through the .38-56 sizer. I had to go quite slowly and carefully. When doing this sort of thing I'll run the case part way into the die and then back out again a few times until it's done.

Chris.
 
coyoteshooter said:
i was handed a mod 1895 marlin in 3856 ..before i start my search for brass .any one have info on new or donor cases to fire form etc...only a thought thanks don
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Any chance of seeing some photos of that rifle? I've got an 1895 in .33 WCF, and I find these old rifles super interesting. From what I gather they are very rare, but they seem to pop up in Canada more commonly than in the US, all things being relative.

I just got some .33 dies, I have some old Hornady flat nose bullets, now I just need to either form some brass or purchase some. Quality Cartridge in Maryland has 38-56 headstamped brass in stock, $40 per 20. I was going to order some .33 brass from them, shoot me a PM if you'd be interested in combining an order.

Pat
 
Don:

Lee Precision may be your source, for 38-56 dies. Pacesetter die set. Part No.:90763. Currently listed as discontinued, but may yet be available, either through site sponsors, or call Lee, direct. Higginson Powders, in Hawkesbury ON may also be a good source. E-bay shows some available, too.
 
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