38-55

[Arthur Morgan]

I went to my lgs yesterday and they had a really nice Cimarron 94 in 38-55 that I know I'd have to handload for. The issue that's preventing me from buying it is brass availability, sent an email to Starline asking if they have an eta for another run but haven't heard anything back yet but it hasn't been long enough to hear back. So with that being said, is there anywhere good brass can be found? I know it can be fire formed from 30-30 in a pinch, but I'd prefer the proper brass instead.

 

[JDeere]

That's going to be a tough one. I have a an old Model 94 Win with Octagon barrel that I started reloading for years ago. I love taking that old rifle out and have taken a few deer with it. She's a fun range rifle as well. 250 gr .378 dia gas checked cast are what she likes. JMHO if you want it get it and wait for Starline to come through. Put in for notices of arrival with those like Midway and Grafs. When Starline is getting close to a run they usually open up placing backorders from my experience. It will hurt but you may find some Buffalo Bore ammo in stock somewhere for brass. Good luck it's fine straight wall round. I love hearing that 250 gr bullet slap the 100 yd target due to the slower mv...

 

[King Medallion]

Brass is easy to find, one just has to be willing to pay for it.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

That's going to be a tough one. I have a an old Model 94 Win with Octagon barrel that I started reloading for years ago. I love taking that old rifle out and have taken a few deer with it. She's a fun range rifle as well. 250 gr .378 dia gas checked cast are what she likes. JMHO if you want it get it and wait for Starline to come through. Put in for notices of arrival with those like Midway and Grafs. When Starline is getting close to a run they usually open up placing backorders from my experience. It will hurt but you may find some Buffalo Bore ammo in stock somewhere for brass. Good luck it's fine straight wall round. I love hearing that 250 gr bullet slap the 100 yd target due to the slower mv...

My grandpa had one and I loved shooting it, always have had a soft spot for the cartridge and the 94 in general, been looking at getting one for a while. IIRC i haven't seen starline have any available either in stock or on backorder for almost 2 years now. Hopefully they're planning on releasing some soon, my lgs also has an 1886 in 45-70 for $50 more and I just dont know if i can justify that kinda wait to shoot it over getting the 1886.

Brass is easy to find, one just has to be willing to pay for it.

Yeah that has been the struggle, got a couple bids on gunbroker if I won both I'd get 152 peices for 135 which isnt great compared to normal prices.

 

[garandsrus]

The 30-30 brass will hold you for quite a while while you wait for Starline. The 30-30 will be a little shorter than the correct brass, but it will work fine.

 

[SASS#23149]

be aware that 38-55 brass comes in 2 lengths , the shorter is for lever guns, the longer for single shots.They are a great plinkker with cast bullets over Unique ,and other 'pistol' powders.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

be aware that 38-55 brass comes in 2 lengths , the shorter is for lever guns, the longer for single shots.They are a great plinkker with cast bullets over Unique ,and other 'pistol' powders.

Longer 2.125 brass is the original length for the 38-55 I think sometime in the 70s is when the shorter brass and slightly smaller bullets (.3775 vs older .379/.380) became standard, however the Cimarron is set up for original 2.125 brass and larger bullets although starline 2.08 works well too. Winchester brass apparently is too thick at the neck for the larger bullets to chamber or at least thats the common report.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

be aware that 38-55 brass comes in 2 lengths , the shorter is for lever guns, the longer for single shots.They are a great plinkker with cast bullets over Unique ,and other 'pistol' powders.

I wonder… would .375Win brass work for a lever gun?

 

[CraigC]

You can use .375 Winchester brass. Midway has Starline in stock. Just don't load to .375 pressures.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

.375 Winchester parent case is the .38-55 shortened a bit.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

You can use .375 Winchester brass. Midway has Starline in stock. Just don't load to .375 pressures.

Really glad to see you post, I've heard the extra thickness of .375 brass makes in harder to chamber in rifles that use the old groove dimension of .379. Is that really something I should worry about or will the extra .008 really make that big of a difference?

 

[CraigC]

Really glad to see you post, I've heard the extra thickness of .375 brass makes in harder to chamber in rifles that use the old groove dimension of .379. Is that really something I should worry about or will the extra .008 really make that big of a difference?

I'll check and answer you tomorrow, I have both.

 

[garandsrus]

The thickness of the case may matter, depending on how the chamber was cut. If you are shooting cast bullets, you want to use a bullet a couple thousandths larger than your groove diameter, so .379 to .381 or even .382. However, the larger diameter bullets may not allow the round to chamber. This is where the thinner brass can help.

Strainer brass my be thinner than other brands.

 

[Catpop]

32-40 brass would also work, but it too is scarce as hens teeth!