Need help in identifying a bullet

R & R Bullets

R & R Bullets

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Brockville, ON formerly of Hamilton, ON
I have been given a bullet which I cannot put a handle on.
I believe it to be a 38-55 cal rifle bullet, flat base with 4 lube grooves.
It weighs 339.5 grains (including lube and pocket lint!) of an unknown alloy, and a sizing of .380 diameter.
A check of the RCBS 2008 catalog shows it may be #378-312-BPS or something close to it. For a pic of this bullet, please check the pic in my Profile. I have sent letters to Lyman and RCBS with the pic but neither have responded. Any assistance greatly appreciated.- Rick
 
My 38-55 bullets, which are jacketed, are .368" (the book says .377").

In my Lyman manual (48th ed) it says cast bullets are sized to .379" in 249gr & 335gr....

So that bullet could be for a 38-55. I've been looking through a few manuals, and it is the closest match......

To be honest I really have no idea.

Cheers!
 
Notsorichguy...are you sure about your measuring as .38/55 is minimal .375" bore dia...and as large as .382"...the bullet mentioned sounds like the Lyman 335gr. bullet meant for the .38/55 as a long range bullet for BPCR Silhouette. The Rcbs bullet mentioned drops much lighter at 312grs. approx.
 
To be honest ben I am not really sure.... All I have in 38-55 right now is loaded... and I don't that many left, certainly not enough to pull one to measure (the crimp is tight as they are for use in a Lever action)...... I measured as close to the brass as I could, so my mesuremnets could be skewed on account of the crimp ring.

I have never 'slugged' the bore in my 38-55s, I have never had to buy bullets, I inherited a bunch when I inherited the rifles. Soon time for that I guess. I've loaded all I had and I seldom shoot the 38-55.... There alwyas seems to be something else that needs 'testing' or I shoot the 30-30 when I need the 'lever' fix.

Cheers!
 
I really can't imagine that there are 38-55's out there that have a bore of .368 and a normal set of dies would probably not size brass enough to hold onto such an undersized bullet. The jacketed bullets must taper fast in front of the crimp. (Isn't .368 about the the same as a 9.3mm?)

Without slugging your best bet for lead bullets is probably around .378-.379 for cast. Thats fairly standard and should be available commercially from Ben or others if you aren't interested in buying molds etc.
 
Not likely for a .38-55. Most .38-55 rifles being lever actions. Wouldn't use a spitzer. Uses a .376" cast bullet too. Maybe for a single shot though. Still too big.
Miht be that it's just not sized right.
 
I think you have Lyman Item #2660670, Mould Designation 379670, 335gr. Spitzer style bullet, with plain base and 4 wide lube grooves. My mould drops a .380" diameter bullet, 1.305" long, weighing 340gr. in the alloy I was using.
The rifle I used to cast them for is long gone, SO-- if you are looking for a used but not abused mould?????.
Regards, DaveF.
 
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