3855 case problems

C

coyoteshooter

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Ontario, Canada
i need some help ..i use a lee powder through 3855 die set ..when i seat my 255 gr cast plain base bullet from time to time i get a bulge in the case on 1 side if i seat it down to the crimp groove ...the expander shank seems to be short and does not expand the case far enough down to accept the bullet before the flare angle comes into play ..its been my understanding that the un expanded portion of the case if expanded by the bullet has the ability to alter the cast bullets dimention and therefore its accuracy....i have no other die set of 3855 cal to try ...there seems to be lots of metal to turn down more of the expander plug to increase the length ...so it will expand more of the case neck..i need some input from someone who has had experience thanks for now ...don
 
I have experienced that "bulge" in my 38-55 cast bullet reloads as well.
However, it does not seem to have any effect on accuracy whatsoever.
My M94 Reproduction is a "Legendary Frontiersman", and it is quite accurate
with just about anything I have loaded for it. I shoot 255 grain Jacketed,
240, 265 and 285rain cast and only the 285 is GC, I have aperture sights on
this rifle, and regularly shoot into 2 moa with cast, using Norma 200 and H322.
Dave.
 
I had that problem and found that neck sizing only did the trick. In some cases, full length sizing was just too much. I then found a Lyman neck sizing die that works too.
It seems that with new rifles and the older rifles, .38/55 specs are all over the map and there are more variables than with most other cartridges.
 
if your buying your bullets commercially they are probably "hardcast" and the brass swaging wont affect them however if you are using home cast WW or softer lead then I would be concerned about bullet base diamater deformation.
 
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