This is my first controversial post and while I don't intend to make a regular habit of it, I hope someone reloading industry reads it, even if at my expense I am proven less than correct.
There has never been much rhyme or reason to cartridge naming. With some exceptions in Europe, very few caliber names correctly describe the cartridge in question.
Take for example the .38-55. The rifle makers obviously treat it as a true 38. I have owned 3 rifles chambered for this caliber, an antique Winchester 94 .381", A Marlin 336 Cowboy .379" and an Oliver F Winchester 94 Commemorative .380". Average = .380. Now if that isn't 38 caliber than what is?
So you would think that as an enterprising die, bullet (Beartooth excepted with thanks) or chamber reamer maker that I would produce my equipment to suit the bore?
No!
Somewhere along the line a group of people decided that the .38-55 should be between .375 - .377" and have produced their gear to suit. So we end up with .379" bore rifles which will not chamber a case loaded with a .380" sized cast bullet. And if we fire a manufactured .375" Dia bullet through the rifle, while it will feed, it will certainly not achieve the fine accuracy that this original bench rest caliber is capable of.
This leaves the owner and shooter of a rifle chambered like this for a third time ,having to modify one or more of the following: 1. Chamber neck and throat 2. Bullet mould 3. Sizing die neck and expander ball 4. Seating die neck and 5. Lube sizer die.
Is it any wonder that there are few owners of this caliber and they are easily identified as either fanatical zealots or highly stressed gibbering idiots? (I fall into the latter category)
Yours in ranting.
Snow.
There has never been much rhyme or reason to cartridge naming. With some exceptions in Europe, very few caliber names correctly describe the cartridge in question.
Take for example the .38-55. The rifle makers obviously treat it as a true 38. I have owned 3 rifles chambered for this caliber, an antique Winchester 94 .381", A Marlin 336 Cowboy .379" and an Oliver F Winchester 94 Commemorative .380". Average = .380. Now if that isn't 38 caliber than what is?
So you would think that as an enterprising die, bullet (Beartooth excepted with thanks) or chamber reamer maker that I would produce my equipment to suit the bore?
No!
Somewhere along the line a group of people decided that the .38-55 should be between .375 - .377" and have produced their gear to suit. So we end up with .379" bore rifles which will not chamber a case loaded with a .380" sized cast bullet. And if we fire a manufactured .375" Dia bullet through the rifle, while it will feed, it will certainly not achieve the fine accuracy that this original bench rest caliber is capable of.
This leaves the owner and shooter of a rifle chambered like this for a third time ,having to modify one or more of the following: 1. Chamber neck and throat 2. Bullet mould 3. Sizing die neck and expander ball 4. Seating die neck and 5. Lube sizer die.
Is it any wonder that there are few owners of this caliber and they are easily identified as either fanatical zealots or highly stressed gibbering idiots? (I fall into the latter category)
Yours in ranting.
Snow.