Gas check for .38-55

[COLT45SA]

I just acquired an 1885 Win in .35-55 and need to know what size gas check ti buy for lead bullets. First experience with this caliber, so I need your help~!

 

[451whitworth]

I have used .375" Hornady for my 38-55 and .375 H&H. The checks OD is over .380" to cover a wide range

 

[JSH]

Once again depends on mold design.

I wouldn’t fool with a GC for the 38-55 provided it is a proper fit.
As far as that goes the 32-20 doesn’t need one either.
A quality PB mold may be hard to find used.

 

[dantiff2]

Another option that hasn't been mentioned is to powder coat your cast boolits. This reduces (eliminates) lead fouling and lube smoke, not to mention it cuts down on the lead to skin contact when handling them for the loading process. You can use any color imaginable from clear to black and everything in-between. It's also fun in it's own right. My kids love to help me. It's another step in the loading process if you like to tinker and loading is a form of therapy. Ask me any questions you may have and i'd be glad to help you out.
Dan

 

[COLT45SA]

Another option that hasn't been mentioned is to powder coat your cast boolits. This reduces (eliminates) lead fouling and lube smoke, not to mention it cuts down on the lead to skin contact when handling them for the loading process. You can use any color imaginable from clear to black and everything in-between. It's also fun in it's own right. My kids love to help me. It's another step in the loading process if you like to tinker and loading is a form of therapy. Ask me any questions you may have and i'd be glad to help you out.
Dan

Great~! I've considered that. Where do I buy them or should/cab I coat them myself~?

 

[JSH]

Just discussion and no offense meant. Opinions are like elbows everyone has a couple ;-).

Powder coating may or may not solve an issue. A lot of folks like it for ease of loading. I got about the same end results as I did shooting bevel based bullets or GC bullets with no check, poor. I expect and strive for jacketed accuracy with cast myself.
When everything is right jacketed velocity can be achieved with no bad end result.

If you cast, fumes from high heat and contamination are more a health issue than the lead bullet.

The dust and fumes from powder coating are nothing to disregard or ignore.

If you try the “lip stick” bullets I would suggest trying a few before investing in the whole process. I didn’t and regret it.

I will keep casting in a well ventilated area, sizing and lubing and washing my hands, thank you.

Best of luck to ya.
FYI if you can find any SR 4759 is a dandy powder for 38-55/375WW.

 

[dantiff2]

Great~! I've considered that. Where do I buy them or should/cab I coat them myself~?

https://acmebullet.com is a great place to look but you can find good deals all over the internet for powder coated cast bullets. You can certainly do your own. There's a ton of videos online and it's a very short learning curve. I like to do my own because I like to tinker and when i'm not shooting, I like to do something shooting related ; )
Dan

 

[dantiff2]

Just discussion and no offense meant. Opinions are like elbows everyone has a couple ;-).

Powder coating may or may not solve an issue. A lot of folks like it for ease of loading. I got about the same end results as I did shooting bevel based bullets or GC bullets with no check, poor. I expect and strive for jacketed accuracy with cast myself.
When everything is right jacketed velocity can be achieved with no bad end result.

If you cast, fumes from high heat and contamination are more a health issue than the lead bullet.

The dust and fumes from powder coating are nothing to disregard or ignore.

If you try the “lip stick” bullets I would suggest trying a few before investing in the whole process. I didn’t and regret it.

I will keep casting in a well ventilated area, sizing and lubing and washing my hands, thank you.

Best of luck to ya.
FYI if you can find any SR 4759 is a dandy powder for 38-55/375WW.

You are absolutely right! Powder coating is not the Golden Unicorn ; ) You still need to properly size your cast bullets to YOUR bore and most often the over-the-counter boolits are too small. Most manufactures will do a custom sizing for your needs, if you ask them.

The one thing I noticed immediately was the smoke, or lack there of when shooting powder coated vs, lubed. I've pushed velocities way above where they should be with soft wheel weight alloy with no ill side effects, so there's another benefit that is often not talked about. And they just look good!! I color code mine so different calibers are different colors. I never had any leading issues with naked lead but I would occasionally get a very small amount in the corner of the lands in my pistols (if I ran a lot through them) but with PC, after hundreds of rounds fired, there is only powder residue to clean. I won't shoot another cast boolit naked ever again.
Dan

 

[rockhound78]

I have some Chey-Cast 38-55 powder coated slugs. Supposed to be at .379" Going to try them in my H&H and my 38-55 bolt gun. I so shoot cast 310's and 278's in my H&H and 38-55 now, sized .379" and gas checked with great results.