.38-55 shell length: Which one?

[TRG3]

I recently purchased a single-shot H & R 1871 rifle in .38-55 caliber. I have both the Starline 2.082" and 2.125" length brass. When using a dummy round, both will chamber by barely seating the bullet into the mouth of the brass, inserting the round into the chamber, and carefully closing the rifle's action thus allowing the bullet to seat itself and end up barely touching the lands. I plan to back off the bullet's seating depth by just a tad (app .0020") as suggested in other posts by those who reload. I'll probably be reloading with Unique, IMR 4198, or Reloader 7, possibly using Swiss 2F or 3F later on. This rifle will be used for whitetail deer hunting with shots at 100 yards or less. Based on the above information, any recommendations as to which brass length would be preferred to reload? Thanks.

[Michael J. Spangler]

Does this help?


https://www.starlinebrass.com/articles?id=2540

[Chill Wills]

Just a guess here, but if the longer 2.125" brass is sized, expanded and the case mouth opened to seat lead bullet ... will chamber without stopping short, - about a rim thickness short, you have the correct brass in the chamber. Use that original length brass.

The next question is, what is the barrel bore and groove? The original 0.380" groove and the modern 0.375" -0.376" ?

[Doog-Meister]

I have the same rifle. I use the 2.125 brass. The grooves are rather large. I find that the Lyman 380681 in a 50-50 mix of no. 2 alloy and Lead lubed with Orange magic works quite well. Use a mid-range load of IMR3031.

[warren5421]

I use the 2.125 brass. I can't get Unique so now use 4198 as recoil is less than 3031. I also use either Swiss FFg or Goex FFFg. I use a 236 gr postel bullet.

[Mk42gunner]

A chamber cast or pound slug would tell the story with no doubt.

Failing that, my personal belief is that most .38-55 chambers are cut for the longer original length brass.

Robert

[versa-06]

I have some that have been cut by JES that take the shorter brass.

[Noah Zark]

TEG3: I have two Marlin Cowboy leverguns in 38-55, and because of what is described in Mr. Spangler's link above, I use the short Starline cases and 0.380" boolits from Moyers Cast Bullets here in PA, loaded over 12 gr of Unique (I have about 13 lbs at the moment) and I have fired ORH groups multiple times in both guns.

When I found one of those H&R or "Wesson & Harrington" (whatever) single shots in 38-55 I naturally tried the Marlin load and it shoots just as well. Both Marlins and the H&R slugged 0.378" using an accredited calibrated Mitutoyo caliper, so the Moyers 0.380" boolits are the berries for me. If I load a Moyers boolit in a WW case, it won't chamber in any of the three.

HTH,

Noah