38 LC heeled bullet crimping die

[Mataham]

Hi,

I own a 38 LC from 1895 (.375) and I would like to try heeled bullets with it. I have the dies for the .359 hollow base reloading.
I've seen on Track of the Wolves website pages suggesting a Remington 35 Factory Crimp die will work to crimp 38 LC heeled bullets :

Reloading the .38 Long Colt or .38 Short Colt for the 1851 or 1861 Navy revolver converted to cartridge, using the "heel base bullet", will produce the best accuracy, using a .375" bullet with smaller diameter "heel". These dies will not crimp a heel based bullet, which requires a collet crimp die, sold separately. You will need both these dies, and the special collet crimp die.​

[It must be this.]

I've read elsewhere such FCD have to be modify to correctly crimp shorter cases. I've seen some US online shops such modified FCD for 38LC, but I'm outside the US, and I don't want to pay a $50 shipping fee. So here's my question : will the Rem 35 FCD work out-of-the box for 38 LC or will I have to do some work with it?

Thanks for attention.

 

[Mataham]

I emailed Track of the Wolves; they told me they use Old West Bullet Molds adaptators.

 

[randys]

The head of the Old West Bullet Molds shell holder enters the body of a 35 Rem FCD. The OWBM shell holder is a precise length so that case is positioned when the collet starts to close, the crimp fingers close at the mouth of case.

The WIKI cartridge dimensions for 35 Rem show about 0.384" at the mouth. That would be a .358" bullet, with ~.013" thick brass. 38 SHORT Colt has a nominal outside diameter of .379".

Assumption is that 35 Rem FDC will crimp a case whether the diameter under the crimper is .379" or .384".

You imply the bore and or chamber mouth are 0.375", what are the dimensions of the rest of a chamber?

What I don't understand is if the chamber is "bored through" at an even, parallel-wall .375", how does one fit the cartridge if it is a few thousands larger than .375"? (.379", for example?)

Answers:
- The chambers are not parallel straight-walled, rather are cone or ever so slightly bottle neck, but allow for thicker brass.
- The chambers are intended for a larger diameter bullet; are straight bored .379-.384", with matching chamber mouth
- (It's not .375"? )

 

[Mataham]

Thank you for your reply.
I'm on vacation right now, but I'm going to check the bore size as soon I'm back.
The 38 LC cases fit perfectly into the barrel, whose chambers have parallel walls. For now, I'm shooting .360 minié bullets, so I can't say much about heel bullets actual loading and shooting.

 

[Jim Watson]

I have a replica percussion 1851 with cartridge conversion. I started out shooting .358" hollowbase wadcutters hoping they would expand to fit, but not all did. So I had the barrel lined to .358" for conventional loads. Not a reasonable option in your case.

I have a Lee collet crimp die modified to put a cannelure in the middle of .45 ACP cases to prevent setback of short light bullets. Similar approach to the heel bullet crimp design.

 

[mm93]

I own a couple .38 Long rifles, and neither would shoot with a .359" heeled bullet. Have you slugged the bore yet to determine your gun actually takes a heeled bullet that size? Mine take .375"-.376" heeled bullets.
But heeled bullets aren't normally crimped either. Since the bullet's largest diameter is equal to or slightly larger than the case mouth, a crimp would affect the bullet diameter right where it seats. When I load my cases I simply set up my die to remove the bell in the mouth, but not crimp. A straight case wall hold a heeled bullet just fine.