Range report (Jess/rebore/38-55 )Marlin waffle top 30-30

[Edward]

Went down the street to my short range with my new /old Marlin 336RC 50s vintage with a brand new 38-55 3 groove rebore by Jess .Awesome works at 51.5 yds I shot my 1st shot 5 oclock off paper plate and got to where I was willing to make holes in a store bought (gift) target . Shooting fire forming/ new Star line brass/CCI primers/15gr 2400/1/2 grain Dacron under a Lee379-250-Rf /sized to 377 lubed with Larry Gibsons Black powder lube Yes it works with smokeless ,better in the Sharps .I was pleased to get a base line /brass for shooting Black powder ! The neighbor shot the last boolit at our 200 yd plate ,the recovered slug was found 16 inch low (windage perfect) All in all a real good day thanks to Jess and 2 week turn around Attachment 201105Attachment 201106Attachment 201107Attachment 201108Attachment 201104Attachment 201109Attachment 201110Attachment 201110Attachment 201111[ATTACH[

[T-Bird]

Looks good, JES did a mod '94 for me 3 groove and it shoots the same boolit very well. I use 4227, I'm going for 13-1400 fps also and that's great. Hope you enjoy yours like I do mine!

[downwind]

Question to the people who have had this 38-55 rebore done:
Does he chamber for the original long brass of 2.125 or the shorter 2.080?
What made the decision on how many grooves, 3,4 or 5
Is one better than another for some reason ( bullet weight,size,shape,etc.) and what rate of twist?

Any input would be appreciated
Thanks
Downwind

[ole_270]

His reamer is the standard SAAMI 2.118 length, mine is anyway. I've read where some feel the 2.125 brass is for the earlier breech loading rifles and needs trimming to keep from encroaching into the throat area. I use the shorter Starline brass with no problems and great accuracy with the 3 groove barrel. 10 gr-Unique/Universal for plinking loads, 4198 and 3031 for mid range hunting loads have worked for me with plain based Lee 250 and Accurate 38-250B bullets.

[Speedo66]

I think I've read here more grooves = more money. People say the 3 groove barrels shoot well, so no need to spend more.

[WALLNUTT]

I have a JES rebore 38-55. He says they are bored/chambered for Winchester cases and .377 cast. Winchester cases are the short variety and a bit thicker than Starline. I use a neck sizing die and a Starline case won't hold .377 bullet but Win does. I have fires long Starlines also so I guess they're are chambered long.

[fordwannabe]

As to the question of choosing which number of grooves.....I asked Jesse what he thought. He does the work and knows his process, so I let him decide. Three grooves in mine. In
took my 26 inch post 64 94 to a jug shoot and with a tang site was hitting a gallon milk jug at 200 pretty regularly. I guess Jesse was right. I am SERIOUSLY considering having him rebore an original 1886 that is not in original caliber to 50-100-450.