Inline FabricationWidenersTitan ReloadingRotoMetals2
Lee PrecisionLoad DataReloading EverythingMidSouth Shooters Supply
PBcastco Repackbox
Results 1 to 17 of 17

Thread: Vintage 38-55 cartridges - some with scoring - safe?

  1. #1
    Boolit Master huntinlever's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    S. Central Wisconsin
    Posts
    1,196

    Vintage 38-55 cartridges - some with scoring - safe?

    So my son has his great-great-grandpa's 38-55, built at the turn of the 20th century. Just discovered 60 rounds, all decades old. Some had this scoring or ring on the cases:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	38-55 live ammo with rings.jpg 
Views:	24 
Size:	14.9 KB 
ID:	314497

    -not sure what it's from or whether what that would be safe to use, or should be pulled and discarded. Secondly, outside some 22's his other late great-grandpa's .22/410, never fired ammo this old. Safe?
    Last edited by huntinlever; 05-31-2023 at 12:24 AM.
    -Paul

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Central Texas
    Posts
    1,903
    It’s a cannelure. Meant to keep the bullet from pushing back into the case when loaded in a magazine. Should have no problem shooting them.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master huntinlever's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    S. Central Wisconsin
    Posts
    1,196
    Quote Originally Posted by HWooldridge View Post
    It’s a cannelure. Meant to keep the bullet from pushing back into the case when loaded in a magazine. Should have no problem shooting them.
    OK great, thanks. I didn't know cases had cannelures - only familiar with them in bullets themselves.
    -Paul

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    SRC Northwest FL
    Posts
    669
    Quote Originally Posted by huntinlever View Post
    OK great, thanks. I didn't know cases had cannelures - only familiar with them in bullets themselves.
    One sees it now and then. Most modern bottle neck cases lack it. Most often on pistol rounds or straight wall black powder rounds intended for a tubular magazine. There are tools that will put a cannelure on a straight wall case for you.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Central Texas
    Posts
    1,903
    Straight walled black powder cases didn’t need anything to retain the OAL because the powder cake was the right length to keep the bullet from pushing too deep. Some of those cartridges got a cannelure when the switch was made to smokeless. I used to have some 44-40 shells with cannelures and you occasionally see them on 45 Long Colt.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master

    pworley1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Mississippi
    Posts
    3,248
    Shoot and enjoy, reload and repeat.
    NRA Benefactor Member NRA Golden Eagle

  7. #7
    Boolit Bub
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Posts
    58
    A picture of the rifle, would be great.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master huntinlever's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    S. Central Wisconsin
    Posts
    1,196
    Thanks for the info guys, looking forward to reloading and shooting this one. Lot of deer from an old Arcadian-Yooper.
    -Paul

  9. #9
    Boolit Master huntinlever's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    S. Central Wisconsin
    Posts
    1,196
    Quote Originally Posted by BFJ View Post
    A picture of the rifle, would be great.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	action.jpg 
Views:	89 
Size:	10.0 KB 
ID:	314562
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	serial.jpg 
Views:	89 
Size:	10.1 KB 
ID:	314563
    -Paul

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Dillon, Montana
    Posts
    754
    Nice, enjoy, the .38-55 is a cartridge that deserves more recognition!
    U.S.A. " RIDE FOR THE BRAND OR LEAVE!"

  11. #11
    Boolit Master huntinlever's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    S. Central Wisconsin
    Posts
    1,196
    Thanks Frank. He's pretty keyed to use it and I'm pretty keyed to reload it for him. In top-flight condition, testament to his great-great grandpa down to his grandpa.
    -Paul

  12. #12
    Moderator Emeritus


    georgerkahn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    South of the (Canada) border
    Posts
    3,049
    Quote Originally Posted by huntinlever View Post
    So my son has his great-great-grandpa's 38-55, built at the turn of the 20th century. Just discovered 60 rounds, all decades old. Some had this scoring or ring on the cases:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	38-55 live ammo with rings.jpg 
Views:	24 
Size:	14.9 KB 
ID:	314497

    -not sure what it's from or whether what that would be safe to use, or should be pulled and discarded. Secondly, outside some 22's his other late great-grandpa's .22/410, never fired ammo this old. Safe?
    I do not know -- "ignorance speaks loudly"! -- but, if it were my ammo, I would question the probability of the primers employed as having been corrosive? I wish I knew of a simple test, having actually thought of making a "tester" from a cap screwed on a short length of iron pipe with a hole drilled in its centre, where case with bullet pulled and powder removed chould have primer detonated; wait a couple of days; and "see"? BUT, never got around to it ...
    Anyhoos -- 'specially if it is an awesomely beautiful old .38-55 your son has -- it's not thaaaat much effort to pour some hot, soapy water down barrrel after shooting... just in case?
    geo

  13. #13
    Boolit Buddy freakonaleash's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2020
    Location
    Iowa
    Posts
    461
    Clean your gun after you shoot it and there will be no worries. Doesn't everybody clean their guns?

  14. #14
    Boolit Grand Master FergusonTO35's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Boonesborough, KY
    Posts
    6,898
    I'm 99.9% sure that the .38-55 was never factory loaded with jacketed bullets and corrosive primers.
    Currently casting and loading: .32 Auto, .380 Auto, .38 Special, 9X19, .357 Magnum, .257 Roberts, 6.5 Creedmoor, .30 WCF, .308 WCF.

  15. #15
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Central Texas
    Posts
    1,903
    Quote Originally Posted by FergusonTO35 View Post
    I'm 99.9% sure that the .38-55 was never factory loaded with jacketed bullets and corrosive primers.
    Agreed, my stepdad had some factory rounds from the late 1920’s that shot fine and never caused any corrosion issues. The lead tips were white from oxidation but they all went bang.

  16. #16
    Moderator
    Texas by God's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    14,316
    Winchester 38-55 ammunition was/is loaded with 255 gr jacketed bullets.
    My 94/JES 38-55 has never seen a jacketed bullet. The Lee379250 works perfectly for my needs.
    It’s a good thing, too. Because I haven’t seen any component .375 flat nose jacketed bullets for sale in a long time.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  17. #17
    Boolit Grand Master
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Posts
    5,271
    TBG - I've been after the Barnes 255 gr, specific for the .38-55 for a couple years. It was a super combo in the .38-55. Now it's just no longer available. I'm shooting cast now.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check