Another 35/55 question

[manatee1947]

I have reformed brass for various loads for decades, 35 Whelan from 30-06, 357 Herrett from 30/30, 270 to 25/06 and the reverse, etc. I know that factory 375 Win loads should not be used in a std 38/55, but what prevents handloads from being made using the brass ? The specs are a lot closer than many I have substituted over the years. If fireformed in the chamber of a handi and using 38/55 dies, what would be the difference between them and the "short" 38/55 cases ? Especially if you are using cast bullets and cast level loads?

[Spanky]

Folks use 375 brass and load data for the 38-55 handi all the time.
get ahold of Tim and ask him the particulars.



Spanky

[quickdtoo]

In an unaltered chamber 375 Win brass won't chamber with any bullet big enough to shoot accurately in an H&R, it's too thick, even with .379" jacketed, let alone .380" or bigger cast, there's no disadvantage using 38-55 brass even at 375Win power levels except the possibility of those loads being used in a weak action 38-55.  I shoot 375Win pressure loads in both of my H&R 38-55s using Starline 38-55 brass, 220gr jacketed at 2375fps in the 28" barrel and 2200fps in the 18" barrel, both with RL7.

Tim

http://fiveshot.org/backissues/paco/375win.htm

[manatee1947]

The reason I asked was that 375 seems to be available while 38/55 may be next year sometime. What is the diameter of the newer 38/55 barrels ? Is that on ones made in 2007 or later only?

[quickdtoo]

There are no new 38-55s, they haven't been made since 2007, late 2006 and 2007 barrels have .3795" bores and fairly tight chambers, look for a factory extractor barrel, ejectors will likely have bigger bores.

If you brass availability is a problem, both Starline and Win are available. http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/category/categoryId/3778

Tim