1894 Marlin-OAL for .38 special rounds

[Pitmaster]

I have been having trouble for a while with "hiccups" while feeding my .357 1894 Marlin. I shoot .38 special in it. I believe I have eliminated the rifle as contributor to the problem after an action job and a thorough cleaning. I'm pretty sure that I need to start over on load development to find what works. I think OAL or bullet style has been a problem too. I've tried various OALs in the past and I want to start over.

I'm casting my own bullets. I cast 158 gr TL bullets from a Lee mold. I also have one of DD's Snakebite Greasewagon molds.

Can I use the same OAL for both bullets?

I've seen OAL ranges for .38 special from 1.43 to 1.55. Where should I start and which direction should I go to find the best OAL?

I use Pinnacle 3f and Trail Boss for powders.

I'll  glad take suggestions from everyone. I know there may be some conflicting opinions and I"m fine with that as long as I can understand the why?

If I can solve the problem I can probably save 60-90 seconds per match. I had a similar problem with shotgun but I've fixed that one.

Thanks

[litl rooster]

start at the high end work back

[Dick Dastardly]

Ol Snakebite designed his boolit, the Snakebite Greasewagon, to yield .357 Mag OAL ammo when loaded in 38 Special brass and crimped in the crimp grove.  You can also load it in .357 Magnum brass by the simple expedient of seating it deeper and crimping on the ogive.  Since both the 38 Special and the .357 Magnum will have the same interior volume under the bullet, you ought to be able to use the same powder charge in both.  With Holy Black, that's not a problem.  Simply compress the powder between 1/16" and 1/8", crimp and yer good to go.

Let me know how that works for you.

DD-DLoS

[Pitmaster]

Dick, the issue is the OAL from brass rim to bullet top. Or I'm not understanding your response. I'm having feeding problems where the rounds catch when entering the chamber. I like filling the cases up with powder.

I'm not quite there yet but by the fall I should be using Snakebites as my bullet for the Darkside and Smokeless.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

If you are using a Keith type semi-wadcutter the edge may be hanging up.  I have an 1866 in .38 Spl.  I can't use a semi-wadcutter.  I had to get a mould for a flat pointed bullet with a smoothly rounded ogive.  Dicks snakebite would work great.

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

Semi-Wadcutter style bullets can cause problems feeding in a rifle, because the sharp shoulder can catch on the mouth of the chamber. These bullets were designed to be used in a revolver, where feeding is not an issue. The sharp shoulder is designed to cut a clean hole in a paper target.

I have nice little Marlin Model 1894 CS that Mrs Johnson uses as her Main Match rifle. It usually feeds my Semi-Wadcutter 38s OK, but I was just fooling around a bit, and did get it to jam when I worked the action fast. My 38 Semi-Wadcutter loads are about 1.465 long Overall. Mrs Johnson's usual ammo is my 38 reloads with a 125 grain Truncated Cone bullet. These rounds are about 1.445 long Overall. The smooth shape of the bullet makes them run through the little rifle like poop through a goose.