38-55 bore sizes

[DCP]

I have new production Win 1885 with a bore size of .376 a boolit sized at .380 will still load easy. .381 you have to push in

I have a Lyman 37583 single I am think about opening it up to .381 then sizing to .380

It is dropping 374-.375 with 50% WW and 50% stick ons

So what do you think?
and
What are the bore sizes on your rifles ?
__________________

[missionary5155]

Good morning
Well first remember 38-55 is a caliber.38 so do not be surprised to find some FAT throats that must get filled. Forget bore sizes... it is that first .5 inch area after the chamber that is far more important with cast.
I have numerous 38´s ... the older ones are at least .381 throats and as big as .385
Newer rifles can still be fat at the throat especially Marlin. .381 is common.
My Browning 1885 is more like a 375 Win at .377 throat.
So the real issue is getting a mold FAT enough to do what we want.
So yes.. I have lapped numerous molds intended for my 38´s and have no regrets.

[Buckshot]

...............Due to ome of the fat throats and groove OD's out there, about 3-4 years back we did a group buy for a 6 cav Lee mould. It dropped a 265gr GC design with a flat nose for safe use in tube mags and also good hunting use. It dropped a slug (using common type alloys) of .384".

I have a M93 Marlin chambered 38-55 made in 1906 and it has 6 lands and grooves of .372" x .380". My first Uberti M85 repro had a .382" groove but I don't recall the land size. The barrel was trash and was replaced (eventually on warranty) and it's now .374" x .381". I load with a .382" slug.

..............Buckshot