38-55 Lever Rounds won't run in High Wall

[August]

:(:(

Well, fooey. The new high wall (one of the Davidson's specials w/ .375 groove diameter) won't chamber my .379 equipped cartridges that work so well in my Marlin. I was hoping to use the same round in both gunz, but see now they are horses of a different breed. The cartridges won't go to battery in the Winchester and it appears the expanded case, near the mouth is the impediment. Not showing any bullet engraving. Rats!

So, guess I really got myself into two, different calibers when I decided to get involved with the 38-55.

Has anyone been successful at getting one round to operate in these two, very different chambers and bores ???? I think I already know the answer, but thought I'd ask anyway.

Thanks

[doctorxring]

August --

Did you measure that groove diameter on your rifle, or is that
a factory spec ? I'm interested, because I have one of these
rifles on order, headed my way.

thanks kindly, Chris

[August]

Actually, I mis-spoke. The groove diameter is .376 as per Davidson's specs. Lands are .368.

At any rate, the .379 equipped cartridges won't chamber. They get almost there, but are about 1/8 inch short. Too far out for the breech block to cam them home. Drat.

[Jon K]

August,

Yes, you really have 2 different guns that need 2 different boolit selections, or if can, size 1 to .377 and one to .380. That is what I am doing, but I knew that going into this. Unless you know you're geting the same chamber/ bore- groove specs in multiple guns, you need to make the boolit fit the gun. Just like having 2 different 30-30 leverguns one @.309 and one @.312 you need 2 boolits to have optimum performance.

Jon

[Dusty Wheeler]

I got lucky...same ammo (.380 dia 240 Oregon Trails, 18/5744, light crimp otherwise unsized cases) works in my H&R Target, new 1885 TH from Davidsons and new-to-me Marlin Cowboy. The H&R and Marlin slug .378/.379 while the 1885 slugs .376. I single load the Marlin so far so I couldn't say how feeding will go.

[August]

Dusty,
What brass and what dies are you using???

[Dusty Wheeler]

Starline 'long' brass. I've 'heard' it is thinner than W-W brass allowing fatter diameters to chamber...

[KCSO]

Had the same problem when I re barreled my 94 Winchester, and I had 200 rounds of 38-55 loaded for the Marlin. BUT... I have had this problem before and will again. It is very rare to find two rifles that like the same load. I have several 303's and not one of them takes the same load. Barrles range from 311 to 316 and some are 2 groove and some are 5 and so on. It's just a facct of cast bullet life unless you do what they did in the old days... Load with bllack powder and a soft lead bullet and let 'em slug up.

[The Double D]

Long brass?

Load a round in modern short brass and see what happens.

Chamber cast and see what you have.

Here are all the possible causes I can think of. Check for all.

1. Long brass

2. Thick necks

3. Roll crip bulge

4. Bullet seated to long

5. Wrong diameter rim for chamber