.38-55 dies?

[Abert Rim]

Fellas, I used to be all set with a Marlin Cowboy and an H&R barrel and a set of Lyman dies for this caliber, but no longer. I have ordered a new H&R Target Classic, however, and plan to resume casting and loading for this cartridge. While I am aware that the H&R and the Marlin have had some chamber dimension issues, I never had any problem with the Lyman dies and either of these guns, but have heard very good things about the new RCBS legacy die set in .38-55. Anyone have any thoughts, experience, advice?

[Buckshot]

............The RCBS dies set up for Cowboy shooting may just be the hot ticket as they're make specificly for loading cast lead. I have Lee 38-55 dies and the seater is marked 375 Winchester. I have no problem with them and cast slugs to .377". However I have a Saeco 225gr PBFN tapered-Loverin that's .381" on the thick baseband. WIth that bullet diameter down in the case, it gets a bit sticky sometimes.

................Buckshot

[Abert Rim]

Thanks Rick. You've decided me on the RCBS dies.

[Abert Rim]

Got the Cowboy dies by RCBS. Like them a lot.

[cabezaverde]

Plan on casting big in that H and R. I am using .379 in mine (lee mold).

[MOA Shooter]

Plan on casting big in that H and R. I am using .379 in mine (lee mold).

What kinda ac-cure-a-see with that 38+55 ish?

Thanks,
MOA

[felix]

The answer is in your handle name. But, that's not fair, is it, unless you have a good bolt gun. Say beer can accuracy at hunnert off of a roof top would suffice using open sights. Anyway, that would be my objective. ... felix

[JohnH]

What kinda ac-cure-a-see with that 38+55 ish?

Thanks,
MOA

My NEF 38-55 shoots 5/8" at 50 yards with the Lee 379-250 using 11.3 grains of #107 from www.gibrass.com It shoots just as well with with the Lyman 379499 using 28 grains of 680 or 25.5 of 4198.

Marlin, Winchester, NEF still have chamber dimension/bore,groove dimension mismatches. Go to www.graybeardsoutdoors.com and go to the NEF Centerfire forum and do a search. As well, search over at www.leverguns.com

[McLintock]

I've got 4 38-55's, 2 Single Shots (Browning and C. Sharps Hi Wall) and 2 '94's ( one made in 1896 and one a cobbled up "custom" beast), and more reloading "stuff" for them then "you can shake a stick at", and if I was starting out again I'd start with the RCBS Cowboy Dies that you're all talking about. MOA, for accuracy, if you find the right combination the 38-55 will shoot with anything. The Browning Traditional Hunter with a load of 31 grs of 3031 and a 265 gr gas check bullet will shoot out to 500 yards with close to MOA accuracy and never varies. It also shoots a load of 18 gr of IMR 4227 with a 245 gr plain base bullet with great accuracy and consistency. The barrel slugs at .377 and the 265 gr bullets are shot at .381 and the 245's are shot at .380 diameter. The '94's have been a lot harder to get to shoot good but they do alright. I'm shooting black powder in the beast, and both types of powder in the older one. Have also found RL-7, AA2015 and 5744 to do well in the 38-55. Just my $.02.

[cabezaverde]

What kinda ac-cure-a-see with that 38+55 ish?

Thanks,
MOA

The rifle shoots into about an inch at 70 yards with that bullet and I don't remember how much Unique. That's what the rifle does when my 18 year old son shoots it. It does about 1.5 inch for me. Must not like me as much.