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View Full Version : 38-55 Brass - a Case Study ;^)


Whit Spurzon
09-26-2010, 09:04 AM
Starline finally did a run on the 38-55 2.125" brass and it arrived yesterday. [smilie=p: My curiosity got the best of me and I ran down to the shop to check it out.

http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/Pathfinder/starlinebrass.jpg
A friend and I split an order of 500 - tried to bump it up to 1,000 but they didn't have the inventory... :|
http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/Pathfinder/brass.jpg
Starline 2.125 and Winchester 38-55 brass

http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/Pathfinder/starline2.jpg
Starline brass right out of the box

http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/Pathfinder/brasslength.jpg
Side by side comparison

The Lee 379-250 RF shoots very well in both my friend's and my Marlin 336 Cowboys. With the Winchester brass the Lee bullet must be sized to .379" in order to cycle into his and mine will cycle them as cast. His shoots the .379" sized bullets very well and mine has a definite preference for the larger as cast variety.

http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/Pathfinder/lee379250.jpg
Lee bullet as cast

http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/Pathfinder/starline395.jpg
The as cast Lee bullet in Starline Brass wide dimension is .395" Loaded with the (excellent) RCBS Cowboy dies, crimping die set ~5/8 of a turn past touching.

http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/Pathfinder/winchester398.jpg
The Winchester brass loaded with an as cast Lee Bullet. This round will cycle easily through my CB but NOT my friend's CB.

The OAL for the Lee bullet in the Starline 38-55 2.125" case is 2.530" using all of the crimp groove. It cycles flawlessly through my CB. Comparatively the OAL I've been using with the Winchester/Lee combo is 2.500"

I'm very excited to see how they shoot. I suspect the bullet seated out closer to the lands may be more optimal for accuracy. It may allow my friend's to shoot fatter bullets in his which might improve the already impressive accuracy he's already getting.
http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/Pathfinder/lee379250dingermedicine.jpg
MakeMineA10mm
09-26-2010, 10:07 PM
NICE!

That is one caliber that I have always found intriguing. Great report and excellent photos to reinforce the meaning of the article!
Old Goat Keeper
09-27-2010, 01:13 AM
I have always wondered about "why" the 2 different lengths of brass and what practical difference it makes in the 38-55. Sure interested in hearing more about this Whit!

BTW, do they have anymore of that long brass for sale?

T-o-m
cwskirmisher
09-27-2010, 09:54 AM
What load are you using? I am trying to get an original Winchester 1894 to shoot well enough to hunt with, and currently can get .379's to shoot mildly accurate enough. Have not tried larger as I am not sure they would chamber. I am using WW brass, 3031 and 4198. 9.5 gr Unique did not do well (which really surprised me).
oneokie
09-27-2010, 02:26 PM
What load are you using? I am trying to get an original Winchester 1894 to shoot well enough to hunt with, and currently can get .379's to shoot mildly accurate enough. Have not tried larger as I am not sure they would chamber. I am using WW brass, 3031 and 4198. 9.5 gr Unique did not do well (which really surprised me).

Try IMR 4227 with the data in the Lyman book. Keep velocity in the 1200-1300 fps range.
Old Goat Keeper
09-27-2010, 10:49 PM
CW that is one reason for using starline brass in the 38-55. The thickness of the neck ares is thinner than W-W brass so you can load "fatter" boolits and still get it to chamber.

Tom
jtaylor1960
09-28-2010, 03:48 PM
The reason I was given for the two lengths is: The long length was standard when the 38/55 was used only in single shot rifles.Later the shorter length was used possibly to help with overall length for use in lever actions.I use the 2.080" in my 38/55 which fits my chamber perfectly.
Whit Spurzon
10-04-2010, 08:09 PM
I had the opportunity to shoot the longer brass this weekend. It cycled perfectly and the long range accuracy shows great promise. Using Unique under the Lee 379 250 RF it performed impressively at 200, 300 and 400 yards. I don't have a lot of paper targets to compare it with at that range but at 200 it has never shot better. The 300 and 400 yard shots were at dingers and once the holdover -1/2 bead at 300 and two at 400 - it was just a matter of me touching it off at the correct moment to be rewarded with a very satisfying ring.

In my friend's 336 38-55 Cowboy he was able to chamber a bullet sized .381" without issue vs. the Winchester brass that will not feed a bullet larger than .379". Luckily his rifle likes .379" bullets.

Comparatively mine likes 380" or bigger bullets. A 379" bullet will double the group size.