You won't believe this

[jjamna]

Well maybe you will.
Bought an H&R Target Classic today on sale. Looks like they may discontinue them, anyway. After a box of shells I went to the house scratching my head. Fired 4 at 1oo yds, nothing on the paper so I moved in to 50 yds. I had bore sited the sights before I went out. Ok at 50 they hit high then low left then right some even keyholed. Went to the house slugged the bore at muzzle .381 . I pulled one of the factory condom bullets I was firing and it measured .374. Just for the fun of I tried to push it in the muzzle-- it went right in with very little pressure. (see Pics)
I am pretty sure this is my problem. If anyone else knows something else please let me know. Now I am looking for a mold. Midway and Midsouth have them on backorder, if anyone has a .380 they need to get out of the way PM me.
Any Know if they are discontinueing them. They are not on the website or the 2008 catalog.

[oneokie]

Did you slug the throat? Plan on using .382" boolits if you chamber is large enough.

[jjamna]

No not yet but I plan on it. I was just trying to find out why it wouldn't shoot worth a hoot.

[Buckshot]

..............Pretty amazing! You should post on the "Buy and Sell" forum for the group buy oversize 375 I ran last year. Well NOW it's year before last Someone may have one they can't use.



These were to be for the older more generous 38-55's out there. These were gas checked 255gr slugs. Lee fudged them a bit and some of the folks in on the buy were a bit disappointed in them being so big. I'm currently using mine in a Unberti Hi-Wall repo and sizing them down to .382". Mine drops a bit over .384".

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

[JSnover]

I had a similar experience just this morning with my H&R BC. The throat is noticeably tighter than the rest of the bore but my best 50 yard group was 2" wide by 1/2" tall. The real problem was I ran out of left windage and the groups are still about 8" right. At 50 yards. I really like H&R products but it looks like I'll be talking to Customer Service Monday morning. It's new rifle, less than 50 rounds fired.

[omgb]

For $135 Veral Smith will custom cut you a mould for your gun and chamber. Really guys, his double cavity moulds can't be beat.

[Mallard57]

I haven't slugged my Target Classic yet in 38-55 and have only had it out once, but I was pretty happy with how it shot. I bought a 500 pack of 240gr. Laser Cast bullets in .380 (actually.3795) at Sportsmans Whse. and used them. I used both Starline and Winchester cases( but I had to pull the guts out of the sizing die and bump the neck on the Winchester loaded brass so it would chamber). I used both 2400 and 4759 in the only the two loads I tested, it seemed to like the 4759 better. My only concerns are the other day I tried to seat a Laser Cast bullet in one of the fired Starline cases with my fingers and I couldn't get it to start. I'm sure hoping the barrel slugs smaller than what everybody else says they're getting, because I think my chamber neck might be a little tight.
Good Luck with your's, I'm looking forward to getting back out there with mine.
Jeff

[jjamna]

I have a .379 mold ordered . I am going to try it. If not big enough I will bump it a little. I have heard that the Starline brass is thicker but havn't heard anything on the winchester brass. Hope it is ok because win brass is what I have. When I get to pour some bullets I will shoot and post results. Sounds like you did the right thing starting with cast.

[oneokie]

My lot of Starline brass after fireforming has a neck wall thickness of .006"-.007". Win brass, the 2.080" length has a wall thickness of .010".
With the Starline brass, a .380" boolit will chamber. With the W-W brass, .379" is largest that will chamber and it is tight for the last 1/4 inch.

[nemo]

I have the same rifle I trimed Win brass back .125 shorter. Been looking in Lyman 48 at .375 win & .38 55 .375 has a short neck.420 long. Could be H&R used an odd chamber reamer?

[jjamna]

Thank You to all especially nemo. I got my mold today and cast and lubed them. Loaded a few and tried them out. Right now they are grouping right at 1 to 1 1/2 inch groups. When it warms a little I will tweak them a little and should do even better. As oneokie and nemo said they (win. brass) did not want to chamber so I trimed them a little and then they went right in. I read in a post that fire formed 30-30- brass will be just a little short so I think I will try that also. What is the best way to make brass from 30-30 to 38-55?
Again thanks to all.

[oneokie]

jjamna wrote:

What is the best way to make brass from 30-30 to 38-55?

Use a three step neck expanding process. Start with a 32, 8mm, or 338 size die. Second use a 358 size die. Finally use the 38-55 die. Use lube on the inside of the neck at each step.
Have had some success using a 32 Wspl die, then using the 38-55, but YMMV.

[jjamna]

Will 375 Win brass work as well? or is it rimless

[oneokie]

375 Win brass will work. Shorter (2.020"), and heavier due to thicker walls in the head area. Neck wall thickness is similar to the w-w 38-55 brass. (2.080")

[bc3660]

For $135 Veral Smith will custom cut you a mould for your gun and chamber. Really guys, his double cavity moulds can't be beat.

Dose he have a web site? Dose he need the gun?
Thanks

[EDG]

My H&R Target has a .380 groove diameter and a .375 land diameter. I was able to push a Hronady .375 jacketed bullet through the bore with my fingers. I have to run a round loaded with a .379 bullet into the sizer about 3/16 to get it to chamber.

[crossfireoops]

They're cheap,
.......and pathetic.

incremental logic.

GTC

[McLintock]

On making cases out of 30-30 or 32 Special brass, I used the method Ken Waters used in his pet loads article for the 38-55 in Handloader Magazine in the late '70's or so. Take a fast pistol powder like Red Dot or Titegroup, put 15 grs in and pack a tight paper towel wad down in the neck. Hold the gun vertical (to keep the powder down on the primer) and fire it to form the case. Trim to a constant length and use. I did about 300 ten or so years ago, and I'm still using them after 10-15 reloads with moderate to hot loads. haven't lost any except when I don't watch inserting them in the powder die on the Dillon 500; I've screwed the case mouth up on several, but they're cheap.
McLintock

[garandsrus]

jjamna,

I fireformed 30-30 to .375Win/38-55 similar to MCLintock. I used 6 gr red dot with the rest of the case (up to the neck) full of cream of wheat. I stuffed a small piece of toilet paper (unused!) in the neck to keep everything together. Held the rifle pretty much vertical while shooting. Of course you need to single load...

The fireforming worked great. I don't think I lost any cases.

John