Fireforming 30-30 brass into 38-55

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Interesting they didn't shrink up anymore than that. When you fireform 30-40 in a 405, they shrink a bit over .2

If you try to use CH4d case mouth expanding dies they will shorten to about 2" even.  Fireforming gives you the best length possible.

[Blair]

Ranch 13,
I too would have thought the case would have been shorter.

Sir Charles,
Thanks for the measurements.
Just for the sake of comparison, here are the measurements I have from a once (BP only) fired 38-55 Winchester (new manufacture) case;

OA case length = 2.072
rim dia. = .498
base dia. = .418
mouth dia. outside = .399
    "      " inside = .376

It would seem these fire formed 30-30 will work better than I had original thought.

[Blackpowder Burn]

FWIW (probably not much) 

I use the Starline short (2.08") 38-55 brass with 47 grains of Swiss FFFg and the DD Big Lube bullet.  I have absolutely no leading in my Marlin and it will shoot about 1-1/4" at 100 yards.

[fourfingersofdeath]

FWIW (probably not much) 

I use the Starline short (2.08") 38-55 brass with 47 grains of Swiss FFFg and the DD Big Lube bullet.  I have absolutely no leading in my Marlin and it will shoot about 1-1/4" at 100 yards.

can't argue with results like that!

[Mad Mucus]

Way to DD! I have three 30/30s and hundreds and hundreds of brass cartridges for them. I think I should get a 38/55 as I have dies, two moulds and a squillion gaschecks as well. Shame to see them all go to waste, haha!

Mick, a Winchester Legendary Frontiersman 38-55 just went up for sale on Used Guns, excellent cond..... twice what I paid for mine in the same nick.

http://www.usedguns.com.au/used-guns-whats-new

[Roosterman]

Howdy the fire,

I just found a box of 30-30 brass under my reloading bench in my lab.  I needed some more 38-55 brass but am all out of my old fire forming powder.  But, I found a one pound bottle of Clays in one of my cupboards and decided to give it a go.

I shoot only black powder in my 38-55 but black powder just doesn't do the job when it comes to fire forming.

To fire form the 30-30 brass I primed it with large pistol primers (Federal), dropped in 1cc of Clays and 1.6cc corn meal and plugged it up tight with DD PL-II black powder bullet lube.

Loaded them up and shot over the south lawn.  Loud bang, some recoil, beautifully formed brass, no residue left in the barrel.

Now I have a batch of nice 38-55 brass to load up with Swiss FFFg behind a Big Lube®LLC 38-55 bullet.  These are the same loads that have won wood and paper at long range matches for me in the past.  I should have enough to keep me happily reloading till the SASS matches start in April.  Life is good.

DD-MDA

I'd use a better flying bullet if I were going for real  accuracy and distance. The Hock 310gr. nose pour is an excellent choice. Old Pope design.

[fourfingersofdeath]

I'd use a better flying bullet if I were going for real  accuracy and distance. The Hock 310gr. nose pour is an excellent choice. Old Pope design.

If Dick is winning, a 'better' mould is only going to increase his lead (maybe) and cost him money, haha!

[Dick Dastardly]

Just finished loading a batch of 30-30 fireformed to 38-55 with 46 grains of Swiss FFFg.  They are pushing a 223 grain mistake bullet that turns out to shoot very well.  We'll see how they perform this season.  I'll report back.

DD-MDA