Tight chamber in the 38-55, Well DUH!

[handirifle]

I got my bullets today, they actually measure out at .379(5?) but not quite .380 as ordered. No matter, they still will not chamber.

Who was it here that reamed out their chamber?  Did you do it yourself or by a smith?  If by a smith, do you have his addy and email?

Just for kicks I stuck a .375 bullet from the 375 Winchester loads, in the front of the barrel.  it goes all the way in with about ZERO pressure, soooooo, a .375 bullet for sure will NOT work.  Just need to open the chamber up a bit and start loading.

[Smokin Joe]

Check with 4-D, they might have a secret reamer for rent:

http://4-dproducts.com/

They answer e-mail, too:

Reamers@4-dproducts.com

[handirifle]

Thanks Joe,
I sent an email off to hem and reamer rentals.com also.  Did anyone here do it themselves?

[eskimo36]

My 38-55 will not chamber 379's with any amount of roll crimp but they will without any crimp....shoots great.

[Smokin Joe]

If you feel like blowing out a couple of .30-30 cases, I hear it works fine due to the brass being thinner. They're a little short, but appear to work fine.

[Smokin Joe]

Also, have you considered trying this:

http://www.lockstock.com/prodinfo.asp?number=WLNKR375

[Roudy]

I've had the same issue with my 38-55.  I put no crimp on the cartridge, then remove the de-capper from the sizing die and use it to taper the cartridge until it fits the chamber.  BTW I no longer need to size the cases, simply de-cap, prime and load.

Still have an occasional case stick in the chamber after firing.....am going to try shortening the cases a few thousandths at the next reloading.

Roudy

[handirifle]

Also, have you considered trying this:

http://www.lockstock.com/prodinfo.asp?number=WLNKR375

Joe
It isn't the case stopping it.  I can insert loaded cases with .375 dia bullets, with no problem.  It's the throat of the chamber.  I'm going to try something tonight.  I crimped a bullet into a 38-55 case. drilled out the primer hole, inserted a screw into the hole.  I'll next roll the nose of the bullet into a pile of ultra fine grit and try to ream it with a drill.  If that works I'll polish it up and take it to the range.

Will post my progress later tonight.

[handirifle]

OK, now I feel stupid . But at least I figured out my stupidity by myself, instead of having someone else point it out. 

Now, my story.  It's true that I tried to chamber a round with the .379 bullet loaded into it.  It's also true that I stuck a loaded round down the muzzle, bullet first, with a .375 bullet in it.

BUT what I did was only size the case enough to hold the bullet.  It never crossed this thick skull of mine to ACTUALLY RESIZE THE WHOLE CASE.  This occurred to me when I couldn't fully chamber an EMPTY unsized case.  Now the gears started creaking and squeaking.  Hmmm, maybe it wasn't the bullet after all, soooo, I resized a case, stuck a bullet in it and guess what, it nearly fell into the chamber.  Boy am I happy and feel stupid all at once.  At least I don't have to rent a reamer or send the barrel out.

Now to load up some BP rounds. 

[John Boy]

R. F. Clark, Gunsmith
640 Emerald St.,
Upland, Calif. 91786
909-984-1548
Old Scout (o.scout@verizon.net)
Turnaround - for me was 1 week
Cost - $25 plus shipping both ways when I had mine done

Send him a mail to have your chamber reamed to the proper size.  When H&R was thinking up their 38-55, they failed to remember that there a lead bullet shooters and many that also use black powder

[handirifle]

John Boy
Thanks, but as I later posted (the DUH part) it was partially sized cases that wouldn't chamber.  Once I full length sized the cases they practically fall in the chamber, no matter what bullet I put in.

I will keep the address for future reference.

I'm wondering if NEF finally got it right on chamber sizes.  Mine sure is accommodating, now that I figured out my mistake.

Today I loaded 30 rounds, for starters.  10 with 2.8cc of pyrodex RS, the Chey-Cast 245gr RNFP bullet , and 10 with 2.8cc of GOEX cartridge with the same bullet.  These are all the powders I have in BP.  I also loaded 5 with 2.5cc of each powder with the Chey-Cast 325gr Snover bullet.    All rounds are very lightly compressed powder charges, no wad or cookie.  I didn't have any so I figured this will be my base test.  Not sure if the 335gr will stabilize, so I only loaded 5 of each, that plus I ran out of primers.  As you can see the 325gr has a much longer nose, I was suprised to see it chamber nicely as well.

These bullets are sold as .380. but all have measured .379 so far.  That is my bore dia so I will see how well they work.  All bullets are a 1-20 tin/lead alloy, so they should obturate nicely.  If the 325's do not stabilize, I might push them with a load of smokeless, to get a little more speed and see if that helps before unloading them.

When I get time and the wind drops below 25mph around here I'll see how well it all works.