Reloading 38-56 wcf

[Roger]

Anyone reload for a winchester model 1886 chambered in 38-56 wcf? Having trouble finding advice for my rifle because the bore slugged at .381 and doesnt fit into the redding seating die I purchased.

[claybob86]

Welcome to the forum, Roger! Somebody will be along to answer you question.

[otteray]

Maybe try a smaller diameter cast bullet with soft lead and Black Powder, for better obturation as it travels down the bore? I do that with a Marlin 1895 and it shoots well enough to please me!
I'll check my dies, in any case tomorrow and see what they are sized to with a Lee die. I think .381 but lemme check.

[otteray]

What brass? You may need to inside neck ream the case if they are thicker ones.
I checked my lubrisizer die I use for 38-56, and it was .381.
So a lee die seating die works for me at that diameter.
Give them call and ask, to make sure in your case.

[6pt-sika]

When I was hung up on Marlin square bolt 1895’s I had a very very nice circa 1897 model 1895 in 38-56 got it from Leroy Merz . I never slugged the barrel on that gun but my cast bullets sized at .379” did very nicely with a moderate charge of XMP5744 . Shot a big old doe in the temple at about thirty yards with it DRT as you would expect .

[marlinman93]

I did long ago with an original 1895 Marlin in .38-56. I used .45-70 cases reformed, and had the same issue as your gun. But inside neck reaming fixed the issue and no more problems. But I was using a set of RCBS dies, so not sure if your Redding dies were quite the same.