What sizer for 38-55

[DCP]

Lee 379-250-RF is dropping .380-.381 with WW

Bore is .376 on this 1885 Win Hi Wall

So do I need to get a .378 sizer or what do you recomend?

[BABore]

Measure the inside diameter of an unsized, once fired case from this gun. Remove any crimp that might remain or you will get a false reading. You can use a caliper if your careful. Roll the case to get a good reading. This diameter will be the biggest boolit you can safely use. Your bbl makes an excellent final sizing die. Filling the case and throat with a bigger than normal boolit will boost accuracy over the general CB rule of 0.001 to 0.002" over groove diameter. I'm assuming you slugged the bbl to get your 0.376 diameter.

[DCP]

Measure the inside diameter of an unsized, once fired case from this gun. Remove any crimp that might remain or you will get a false reading. You can use a caliper if your careful. Roll the case to get a good reading. This diameter will be the biggest boolit you can safely use. Your bbl makes an excellent final sizing die. Filling the case and throat with a bigger than normal boolit will boost accuracy over the general CB rule of 0.001 to 0.002" over groove diameter. I'm assuming you slugged the bbl to get your 0.376 diameter.

Yes I slug the bore its .376

I am using Starline cases

If I would go back to Win wont the inside dia of the 1 fired case be different.
Starline cases are thinner brass

38-55 (2.080") 2.076"-2.082" O.A.L.The .38-55 is the standard length of 2.080" which is the same as Winchester case. Case mouth has thinner walls (.0072" average thickness at mouth) than the Winchester case allowing for use of the wide variety of bullet diameters, especially in tight chamber/large bore situations. Headstamp reads *-* .38-55.


Starline told me I probably can use these also


38-55 Long (2.125) 2.122"-2.130" O.A.L.
This is a .38-55 case with the original overall length of 2.125" for use in .38-55's that are suited for longer cases (most firearms will accept this length). Wall thickness at the mouth averages .0072" which allows for use of a wider variety of bullet diameters, especially in tight chamber/large bore situations. Headstamp reads *-2.125-*-38-55

Boy is there a lot a variables

But I have to start some where .378 to start??????????

[Boz330]

Yes I slug the bore its .376

I am using Starline cases

If I would go back to Win wont the inside dia of the 1 fired case be differnant.
Starline cases are thinner brass

38-55 (2.080") 2.076"-2.082" O.A.L.The .38-55 is the standard length of 2.080" which is the same as Winchester case. Case mouth has thinner walls (.0072" average thickness at mouth) than the Winchester case allowing for use of the wide variety of bullet diameters, especially in tight chamber/large bore situations. Headstamp reads *-* .38-55.


Starline told me I probably can use these also


38-55 Long (2.125) 2.122"-2.130" O.A.L.
This is a .38-55 case with the original overall length of 2.125" for use in .38-55's that are suited for longer cases (most firearms will accept this length). Wall thickness at the mouth averages .0072" which allows for use of a wider variety of bullet diameters, especially in tight chamber/large bore situations. Headstamp reads *-2.125-*-38-55

Boy is there a lot a variables

But I have to start some where .378 to start??????????

I think you misunderstood what BA was telling you. Measure the inside diameter of the fired case and see what that measurement is and size the boolits that size.

Bob

[38-55]

dcp,
Your only constraint is the final size of a loaded round ! If you can get it in the chamber it will safely come out the other end.. With that said.. make a dummy with one of the .380 boolits and see if it chambers.. if it does your golden.. Once again the outside diameter of a loaded round should be your gauge.. Personally I hate to size bullets... I've found that the 'big light' that happens right after the hammer falls does a fine job of sizing boolits.. But if you must size I'd say your on the right track (with .378 )as long as your sized boolit will fit in the case and the case will fit in the chamber..
Hope this helps
Stay safe
Calvin

[DCP]

I think you misunderstood what BA was telling you. Measure the inside diameter of the fired case and see what that measurement is and size the boolits that size.

Bob

I really apprecate the help
But now I a really confused

I must start some where
I dont Think it a good Idea to fire a .380 bullit in it. It would probably be ok

Sizer are going to run $30.00 with everything

Are you saying that if you use a fired Win or Starline case and Measure the inside diameter of the fired case at the neck. They will be the same size. Even thought the Star case is thinner

[jtaylor1960]

I have a 38/55 with a .376 groove dia. and I size with a .377 sizer.It shoots very well with no leading.

[BlueSmoke]

I've got a 2005 mfg Winchester M94 lever that loves bullets sized .380. I can feel a bit of tension on the lever as the bolt fully closes. I shoots cloverleafs at 50yds with open sights.

Regards,

BlueSmoke

[DCP]

dcp,
Your only constraint is the final size of a loaded round ! If you can get it in the chamber it will safely come out the other end.. With that said.. make a dummy with one of the .380 boolits and see if it chambers.. if it does your golden.. Once again the outside diameter of a loaded round should be your gauge.. Personally I hate to size bullets... I've found that the 'big light' that happens right after the hammer falls does a fine job of sizing boolits.. But if you must size I'd say your on the right track (with .378 )as long as your sized boolit will fit in the case and the case will fit in the chamber..
Hope this helps
Stay safe
Calvin

I took a .381 boolit.
I loaded a dummy round and It loaded, its was dragging a little.
I could push it in with my finger.

So guess I am GOLDEN

[excess650]

I generally will shoot as large diameter as will chamber without resistance. If you can chamber a .381" with a little drag, it might be better to back it off to .379" or .380".

As for 2.08" vs 2.12" cases, the longer length is the original 38-55 length. The 2.08" is what is commonly available, and doesn't seem to hurt. I wouldn't spend the extra $ for the longer cases unless I knew that my chamber was that length.

[451whitworth]

I took a .381 boolit.
I loaded a dummy round and It loaded, its was dragging a little.
I could push it in with my finger.

So guess I am GOLDEN
i would say so. if you can seat the dummy round with finger pressure there is no problem. my 38/55 Winchester 94 also shoots .381". there is nothing to fear about shooting a throat filling cast bullet, that is exactly what you want. just for an example, i have a Browning 1886 that was converted to 50-110. the bore/groove measurements of the barrel are .500" and .510". the chamber will accept a round loaded with a .515" bullet so that's what i feed it.

[lwknight]

The fired winchester cases and the fired starline cases probably will not be the same size.
You will just find out what size bullet you can use with each. Like matching brass to bullet requirements.

[ErikT]

I have two different rifles in .38-55, a Win 1894 lever and an antique rolling block. The Win slugs at .376, and the roller slugs at .380. I have several different molds for them, and I have found that as long as the loaded rounds freely chamber, both will shoot whatever I feed them accurately regardless of what size the boolits turn out to be. I've cast boolits from .375 to .381 diameter, and they all work great. I figure that as long as they will chamber freely with little resistance, then go ahead and try them out. I've found that lead is much more forgiving than jacketed.

Erik.

[DCP]

In Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 3rd Edition

It shows

700x Starting load 6.0 grains 950 fps 29 inch barrel using 249 gr
(#2 alloy) sized to .379

I am using
Lee 379-250-RF is dropping .380-.381 with WW
28 inch barrel

With 2 rounds fired

I got

807fps and 850fps between 100fps and 150fps lower

Anybody know why ?

8.5 grains 700x is supposed to be 1150 fps I don't think I will be that high


Why so low of fps?

[BABore]

Likely because your shooting a big 0.381 boolit in a 0.376 groove. What size groove and boolit did the lyman manual use? Nothing to fret about none the less. Accuracy is what counts. A good low end load for the 38-55 is 9-10 grains of Unique. Very accurate

[DCP]

What size groove and boolit did the Lyman manual use?

Groove .379

Lyman 249 gr bullet #375248 and sized to .379

So the bullet and the groove are .379 (the same)

My groove is .376 .
bullets .380-.381

I did measure the fired case mouth.
This is a very difficult measurement because of the flex.
Its between .379 and .380 but a .381 will chamber

I got 1 inch group at 30ft with open sights. (I think I can do better)

[ph4570]

Likely because your shooting a big 0.381 boolit in a 0.276 groove. What size groove and boolit did the lyman manual use? Nothing to fret about none the less. Accuracy is what counts. A good low end load for the 38-55 is 9-10 grains of Unique. Very accurate

+1 on 9-10 grains of Unique. My Winny 1885 pops 10 round 1.5" groups at 100 yards with the Lee 379-250-RF and 9 grains of Unique.