38-55 brass scarce?

[Marlin Junky]

Why am I having a problem locating 38-55 brass?

MJ

[Nueces]

This is one of those cases that are made during only a very few runs each year, the supply of which tends to dry up well before the next run. Midway shows an expected resupply in the first week of May. Auction sites are enjoying the scarcity.

[MtGun44]

Starline has had a "38-55 coming soon" note on their web site at least 6 months, and
I have called several times and it is still "don't know when". Haven't been able
to buy any for at least 6 months, kinda given up and hoarding my 25 cases
that I found at a range, once fired. I have heard that Win runs some periodically,
and Rem, Hornady and Fed do not. Good luck, I'll keep looking occasionally.

Bill

[Four Fingers of Death]

There doesn't seem to be any shortage og loaded ammo in the better gunshops here in Australia, but brass seems to be a bit rarer. Strangely enough, I have seen a couple of shops that have 375 Win ammo in stock and have had it on the shelves for the past 6-9 months or so.
Mick.

[NickSS]

When I ran out of this brass a couple of years ago I fire formed some 30-30 brass. They end up just a smidge short but I just load the bullet out a bit and they worked fine. Then I found some for sale again and bought a thousand now I still have plenty left so I do not worry any more. I have also used left over 375 winchesters (about the same length of fire formed 30-30s) in my 38-55 rifles until I wore them out.

[C A Plater]

Winchester makes a periodic run of the brass and I've heard they will be doing so for deliveries starting in May in this year. That Starline notice is a couple of years old and I'd love to get some when/if they make some.

[Jon K]

MJ,

Did you check Buffalo Arms & Cabela's? Online catalog shows "in stock".

Jon

P.S.
In a pinch make it from30-30

:coffee:

[Steelbanger]

Within the last two weeks my dealer just got me two bags of WW 38-55. I think his distributor is Jerry's in PA. I ordered it and three days later I picked it up at his shop. Oh yes, price was $19.95/bag of 50 cases.

[mtngunr]

Winchester does do runs, along with ammo production, and timing is everything on getting some...Starline has been saying for years that .38-55 was coming soon, this past year it was coming out in May as told in Jan., but it never did....again.....they announced at the Shot Show, again, that .38-55 is coming this year, and maybe this time they'll stop taking their cues from Ruger and actually put some out.....

[Marlin Junky]

MJ,

Did you check Buffalo Arms & Cabela's? Online catalog shows "in stock".

Jon

:coffee:

Thanks for the Buffalo Arms suggestion but why do they have two different standard length cases at different prices. They appear to be both Winchester brand with a length difference of .005". :confused:

http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm?viewfrom=25&catid=36&step=2

MJ

[NickSS]

The longer cases are the original length and shoot better with BP in original rifles the shorter length is the current standard length and work well in most modern made rifles.

[garandsrus]

Marlin Junkey,

There is even a longer case at 2.130!

John

[Marlin Junky]

I called Buffalo Arms and ordered a couple hundred Winchester cases. The answer to my question above was: the 2.075" cases are made by Jamison and the 2.080" cases are Winchester headstamped. Jamison bought Bell's equipment and is making cases with his name on them. I Didn't ask if Jamison is Rick Jamison from Shooting Times.

MJ

[boommer]

marlin junkie I got some jamison 38-55 cases from buffalo arms about 2 weeks ago
I anealed them loaded them with black. they work fine we will see how they hold up
nice looking cases . I was on back order with win cases for awhile they got these in and ask me if i wanted the jamison so i took them for old win price. that was nice of them!

[6pt-sika]

I pretty much prefer Winchester brass when I can get it .

So my dealer finally located 200 pieces of 38-55 and 200 pieces of 32-40 for me week before last .

It's all Winchester , the 32-40 was $50 @ 100 and the 38-55 was $40 @ 100 .

Think he got it from Black Hills .

[cabezaverde]

IT;s out. Winchester must have done their run as both Midway and Grafs show it in stock.

[2row]

I'll get an order out today