Which 38 caliber?

[lkydvl]

Am looking for a 38 cal. cartridge for a Rem Rolling block and came across a reamer in 38 2.5. Fella said it was made for a group of guys out in the NW that made the cases by swaging 30-40 Krag brass down a bit in the head area. Can anyone provide me a contact point with these shooters or sources of the dies they used or even some ready made cases and info?

Am hoping some one in that group will chime in. The reamer is very reasonable but as was noted the dies would be expensive. The brass was swaged 30-40 Krag. If I could purchase some reformed brass from someone I would consider the 38 2.5.

I was originally going to reject it as it wouldn't be "legal" in BPCR but I'm unlikely to ever compete anyway.



Thanks

Andre`

[Sir Charles deMoutonBlack]

I've just had a Martini .303 sporter re-barreled in .375 Flanged Nitro Express (2.3") In effect, it is a .375 using the .30 U.S. krag case.  It is very nearly like the .375-.303 wildcat, but a little longer.  The original was 2.5", introduced in 1899, but mine was short chambered for the .30-40 case almost staightened out.  Dies are from C-H.

[Lead pot]

That sounds like a .38-50 Remington to me.
You can use .405 Win brass or the .30-40 brass.
As long as you have the reamer you can get some blank dies and make your dies or call Dave at CH-4-D and tell him what you want to do.
The 38-50 Rem Heburn is BPCR legal.
CH-4-D have the .38-50 dies.
http://www.ch4d.com/

LP

[Sir Charles deMoutonBlack]

According to CARTRIDGES OF THE WORLD, 3d Ed. you are right.  The Remington has a case length of 2.23' which would make the .375-303 its younger twin.  I thought of that, but my gunmaker had the .375 Flanged reamer and dies in stock.

[Dusty Ed]

Howdy Pard
How about a 38-56 that is an orginal USA cartridge.
It was chambered in the 1886 Win. which I have.
It is a 45-70 cartridge neck down to .375 same bullet that is fired in the 38-55.
The Dies can be had from Lee's.
You can size them directly from common 45-70 Brass with these dies.
If you need any more info just Ask.
Dusty Ed

[John Boy]

Andre`, am just an old fashioned 38-55 shooter - I'm no help.  But, if this new rifle you plan on is a 1:18 twist ... I got the bullet for it.
It's the remake of of the Ideal 375166 (379 base) ... http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,149653.0.html
I've shot it freehand benchrest at 100 - 200 - 300, all under MOA.  Here's a couple of 200yd target using Swiss and Cartridge...




PS:  Doing research for the bullet for remake and trying to get a couple as cast ones, I only could locate 3 original 375166 molds in the US.  And doing the normal eBay looking, I recently was the winning bid on an original Ideal/Lyman 375166 mold!  Now they are 4 knowns in the US  

[lkydvl]

I purchased a PT&G 38-50 reamer of Dan T.'s design.  The rollers have been prcision ground parallel on the sides and the face squared to the bore line.  One barrel chambered and fit so far.  Working on the second.

ANdre`

[rk4570]

I also have a 38-50 with Dan T's advice from a few years ago. I used the single groove NASA II bullett but he has done a lot more research since then. You can look him up at the Shiloh Sharps web site. Lots of info on the long range 38's.