BB m94 feeding issue

[Walt]

I have two .375" bullet molds, an RCBS 37-250-FN which weighs 268 gr with my mix and an Accurate 38-265L which weighs 262 grains. I finally shot up a box of my reloads from several years ago and had to re-learn my loading technique.

When I took my Winchester Big Bore out last week it didn't want to smoothly feed the rounds I had loaded, seating the bullets to the crimp groove. I had to jiggle the lever several times before the nose of the round would line up with the chamber. It wasn't a matter of not being snappy enough with the lever, either. When I got home I examined another box of reloads that I had loaded years ago and I had seated and crimped them in the front grease groove rather than the crimp groove. Those rounds fed beautifully. When the bolt starts forward while moving the lever, it contacts the top of the rim of the round which tends to push the bullet nose downward and it hits the lower chamber mouth. The longer rounds, seated out almost .010" longer enter the chamber with no hangup. I must have known that years ago because I had loaded several boxes of them long and they worked fine. I normally write loading notes on my ammo boxes with a sharpie so I don't forget but evidently I did forget in this case.

[4t5]

On my screen it appears to be different length brass.

[JBowen]

Could it be the bullets were designed for the 38-55 which has a longer case? If you are not loading those too hot, I am thinking you could use 38-55 brass
and be able to crimp in the crimping groove and have the OAL you need.
I have been loading jacketed in my BB94 and lead in my 94 Crazy Horse this summer getting them ready for deer season but I have not tried the cast in the .375, though it has crossed my mind to try it.
Thanks for sharing your experience.

JBowen

[Walt]

Good eye, 4t5!

One is longer than the other because I didn't have an empty .375 case so I ran a .30-30 through the .375 sizer to make a dummy round.

[4t5]

Paco wrote about using 38-55 brass as winchester cut the chambers long to keep the pressure down , I ‘ve got the book in my gun room.
He did it to good effect ( in his gun ).