38-55 or .375???

[pumpguy]

I recently aquired a Marlin 375. I have seen on another board that some people use 38-55 dies for cast boolits for this gun. What do some of you guys think and why?

[oneokie]

I use RCBS 375 dies to reload 38-55. Only way to achieve a crimp with the 2.080" length brass.

[jtaylor1960]

I have a 375 also and later bought a 38/55.I use the 375 dies to load the 38/55.If I were you I would go with the 375 dies.Not sure but the 38/55 dies might be sized for larger bullets .377-380 which could be a problem for the 375.

[bdoyle]

The problem I had with my marlin 375 was not using .380 dia bullet. The throat was .381 and anything smaller only left the barrel in the general direction on the target. The only other issue I had with 38-55 dies was getting a crimp because of the shorter brass. I used max overall lenght that would cycle in hopes of getting in the throat and near the rifling.
Brian

[garandsrus]

The RCBS "Cowboy" dies for 38-55 have larger expander plugs so they should work the brass less and be "better". I just bought a set in 38-55 and some of the longer Starline brass but haven't used them yet. I have .375 Win dies that I use with blown out 30-30 brass for a .375 Win. I have also shot these in a 38-55 with no problems even though the case is about 1/8 in shorter than a long 38-55.

The boolits are sized to .379.

John