Brass Length for Ruger #1 38-55

[RickinTN]

Hello all,
Does anyone have any experience with a Ruger #1 chambered in 38-55? My question is would it take the long 38-55 brass? or would it be chambered for the shorter brass? Any help with your experience would be most appreciated.
Thanks,
Rick

[rking22]

I sincerely hope you have that gun in hand…..
Sorry, can’t answer your question, but since you (hopefully) own it you can measure it up

[Winger Ed.]

I'd dig around and research it, but I heard a vicious rumor the shorter ones were best for paper patching.
(Straight wall cases aren't exactly straight unless you use a carbide sizer.)

With the old school type sizer you have to lube the cases for,
the mouth dia. was left a little bigger for the paper patch on a shorter case.
The longer ones tend to be more accurate with everything else.

[Red River Rick]

Doing a Cero Safe chamber casting would answer your question, and then some.

[Rapier]

Drop a note to Veral Smith, Lead Bullet Technologies ask him to send you a throat slug kit. When you get the throat slugged, Veral will make you a mold that will fit the throat and your grove perfect. You can send him some of your brass.
I just got a 375 Win XTR which is a long brass 38-55. I figure to get Veral to build a dual cavity mould for me.

[RickinTN]

I don't have it in hand. It is however paid for and in transit! I can always fire a short case with one of those bullets with a copper jacket around it and then do a chamber pound cast. I guess I was just hoping someone had been there before me. I just bought it yesterday and I thought I had never heard of a Number One so chambered. I guess, since they only made a few less than 300 that I had not.
Take care all!
Rick

[gewehrfreund]

I had a Ruger 38-55 for a number of years and shot it quite a lot with everything from newer factory ammo, a lot of my reloads and a fair bit of old vintage ammo I picked up here and there. It shot all with no problem. In fact, it shot the older vintage ammo a lot better than the new shorter stuff, and it also shot a reload duplicating the older ammo using W630 powder just about as well.
Since these rifles came out in the late 1980's, I'd guess Ruger chambered them to SAAMI specs (i.e. for the original longer brass).

[pulaski]

RickinTN
I have the same rifle .
Starline brass trimmed to 2.09
Accurate molds 38-250B bullet
IMR 3031 25.0g
Shoots a 1/2" 5 shot group at 50 yds. (off bag)
I have taken deer , bear and 2 hogs with mine .
Steve

[RickinTN]

Pulaski,
I gifted a friend that very mold a few years ago for his Big Bore 375. I believe I can borrow it back. I also just purchased an 8-pounder of 3031 so I should be good to go to try your load.
Thanks,
Rick

[beagle]

Keep in mind the .375 Winchester also. They'll chamber and shoot in a .38-55 just fine and with that "bank vault" action on the Number 1, no worries. Just in case you want to ease over to the "smokies" and ambush a Black Bear or hog./beagle