Author Topic: 38-55 target classic and .379 cast bullets  (Read 759 times)

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Offline Jason F

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38-55 target classic and .379 cast bullets
« on: February 19, 2012, 09:52:31 AM »
loaded up some .379 cast bullets for 38-55 they chamber fine but will not eject live round. once i shoot it ejects right out with no problems. do i need to open up throat or just leave it alone as long as spent brass is ejecting fine. loaded them with full case of trail boss this will be another fun one to shoot.
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Offline petemi

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Re: 38-55 target classic and .379 cast bullets
« Reply #1 on: February 19, 2012, 10:21:48 AM »
How many grain bullet?  Sounds like it's loaded too long for the throat.  Tim, Brent's daughter (thejanitor), and I are shooting .379 213 gr. bonded pointed bulltes that work fine.  My .38-55 is an extractor as is at least one of Tim's.  I'm not sure about the young lady's.

Pete
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Offline TopperT

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Re: 38-55 target classic and .379 cast bullets
« Reply #2 on: February 19, 2012, 11:12:13 AM »
That is interesting as I cannot get .379's to shoot out of mine.........However, mine LOVES .381's as I had the chamber opened up to take them.

Offline quickdtoo

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Re: 38-55 target classic and .379 cast bullets
« Reply #3 on: February 19, 2012, 11:39:49 AM »
Other than neck reaming, you can try shorter brass or do as I have done, try a Lee Factory Crimp die which crimps the offending tight spot on the end of neck right where it jams, or convert it to a factory type extractor which won't stick. The problem is the .379" cast probably won't shoot good anyway, .380" are better, .381" are best, more than likely neither will chamber without neck reaming, 4D rents the reamer.

Tim
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Offline TopperT

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Re: 38-55 target classic and .379 cast bullets
« Reply #4 on: February 19, 2012, 12:23:14 PM »
Do as Tom has suggested ;D .  My Wesson & Harrington version 38-55 is one sweet shooting rifle but it gets its high marks with 381's.  Its a night and day change and well worth the effort. 
I will be selling mine in the near future and the top selling point aside from its sights and condition, will be the wonderful chamber job I had done on it :) .
I have moved on in my shooting and must sell a few things, but if you do the chamber job you will have a wonderful rifle.  I know I will miss mine but thats the way things go ( 8) and I have a wonderful Marlin 336 in 38-55 for hunting.  Good luck.  Jim.

Offline petemi

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Re: 38-55 target classic and .379 cast bullets
« Reply #5 on: February 19, 2012, 01:14:53 PM »
Tim, this CRS is for the birds.  Yes I had the same problem with cast bullets before I went to jacketed and the Lee Factory Crimp Die was the fix......Too many calibers.....too little brain power.

Pete
Keep both eyes open and make the first shot good.
The growing Handi/Sportster/Pardner/Topper Family:  .22 WMR, .22-250. 223, Two Superlight 7mm-08s and one .243, .30-30,  .308, 32-20, 18 inch .356/.358 Win., Two 16.5 inch .357 Max., 18 inch 38-55 BC Carbine, 16.5 inch .445 Super Mag., .45LC, 16.5 and 22 inch .45-70s, .50 Huntsman SS, .410, 20 ga., 12 ga., 20 ga. Pardner Pump, Versa-Pack .410 - .22
[size=7.4 pt]PLEASE DONATE TO THE GBO SERVER FUND  We're closer to the goal but not there yet, we can still use more donations, thanks

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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: 38-55 target classic and .379 cast bullets
« Reply #6 on: February 19, 2012, 01:23:29 PM »
Yup, when I get as old as you are, I'll be the same way!! ;D As if I ain't already!!! :-[

Tim
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Offline Jason F

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Re: 38-55 target classic and .379 cast bullets
« Reply #7 on: February 19, 2012, 02:30:37 PM »
I remembered when I slugged my barrel it was .3775 so I ordered .379 bullets from Penn bullets. I did use lee factory crimp die on them they are 245 grain bullets. It didn't feel like there was any resistance when chambering them.  I will just have to mess with it more tomorrow after work.
handi rifles- 22 mag      22 hornet    223      7mm-08      308 chip shot     30-30 x2     30-06 shorty      358 cheez whiz     357 max     35 remington     375-08    410 rifled slug     454 casull     460 s&w     45 smokeless muzzleloader x2     45-70    50 huntsman    50-70 government shikari     20 ga.ush     12 ga.ush    12 ga.3 1/2     10 ga.imp.cyl. slug gun

Offline cwlongshot

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Re: 38-55 target classic and .379 cast bullets
« Reply #8 on: February 19, 2012, 03:31:11 PM »
I remembered when I slugged my barrel it was .3775 so I ordered .379 bullets from Penn bullets. I did use lee factory crimp die on them they are 245 grain bullets. It didn't feel like there was any resistance when chambering them.  I will just have to mess with it more tomorrow after work.

For this application, if the FCD is allowing things to work its a faulse fix... In effect all its doing is reducing the diameter at the end of the brass. Once it fries its still gonna be tight on the bullet and will raise pressures. (Lead is more forgiving in this regard)
 
Try trimming back a couple pieces of brass and I'll bet it chambers/shoots just fine...
 
The real fix is as Tim already told ya, Call call to Fred for a .400 throating reamer and then two minutes work with a tap handle and ten repackaging the reamer to ship back.... ::)
 
CW
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Offline gcrank1

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Re: 38-55 target classic and .379 cast bullets
« Reply #9 on: February 20, 2012, 05:19:17 PM »
Its obviously the combination of the brass neck wall thickness and the bullet dia.; the neck reaming job will fix it for sure, but if you feel like a free fix to 'get by' you can neck turn the brass a tad to reduce that OAD. I dont have the 'real' outside neck turning tool (you dont need to use an inside tool) so I have done it with a fine tooth file and magic marker to spot the neck, then spiffed up with 0000 steel wool (the slow but can do-do way) all the way to making a proper neck spud and doing it in the lathe. It only took .002 reduction (which is .001 on a side) to make most of the few I did to work fine. With the low pressure, full case of Trailboss loads they dont expand enough to be come a problem. With high pressure/velocity loads it might be another issue. BTW, I dont resize the cases either.
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