I know I am becoming a real pain asking these stupid questions but I really don't know where else to go. a shooting buddy of mine has a 38-55 high wall I think it is ubirti. He wants to start breach seating. my real question does the factory throat work as is or is a throat reamer necessary? I tried to seat a bullet into my Winchester 38-55 and the complete bullet was engraved causing extreme pressure to be applied to the seating tool. now it might be that the throat on his rifle is longer or just bigger. I am going to attach a picture of both the breach seating tool I made and a bullet I drove out to shot the lands engraving, and also the tool I made for breach seating. maybe my tool is no good but it is one I saw a picture of so I copied it. I may have to post 2 messages as there are 2 pictures. I want to thank the group in advance for their help and putting up with my questions. argie1891  aka joe

thanks for your reply.. what I want to know is  should the complete bullet be engraved as it takes so much pressure to seat the bullet I put a picture of the bullet in the post.  and maybe the problem is I made the wrong type of seating tool all I know the seater almost needs to be driven in with a hammer

The throat that a chamber has, really isn't to important but, the fit of the bullet is.

Most of us, use a tapered bullet. with the front band .002 - .003 smaller than the groove diameter. The bands enlarge from there, up to groove diameter but, the base band should be about .001 - .002 larger than the groove.

With that configuration, you should be able to BS with your seater. I used a seater about like yours for a couple of years with a 32/40.

It looks like it's adjusted about right but, it's hard to tell from the picture. Not quite all the base band should be engraved. Try to get that around .030-.040, to start. After you get a basic, good load, you can adjust it both ways.

I've been using the Russ Weber method for the last few years (a little different than above) and have had good accuracy with it but, that will get you shooting. Randy might post a picture of the Webber method for you.

Although a custom mold is expensive, it's cheap compared to the frustration of trying to seat a bullet that's larger than discribed above. After spending the $ for the rifle, it will be the best $ you spend for accuracy.

Put a add on the forum for a BSing bullet of your caliber and see if you can find one that way.

Frank

A tapered bullet will work best for breach seating in a fixed ammo chamber and it still will probably require mechanical leverage to push it in.

The gunsmiths will have to answer that. I have BS rifles with and without a BS throat.  The throated ones push in easy and the others require mechanical leverage even with a tapered bullet.    I'm sure a straight full sized or slightly over would have to be hammered in as you said above.

argie 
To get the most out of the bullet in the photo you posted, here is what I suggest you consider doing:
1. If you have not already done so, slug your barrel, measure that slug to determine the precise groove diameter
2. Measure your cast bullet
3. If the cast bullet is greater than .002" over groove diameter, size the bullet so it is .001" greater than groove diameter*

*Order a push-through custom sizing die from Lee Percision. Lube bullets prior to sizing them. I have ordered several custom Lee sizing dies in the past several years and each has been dead-nuts to my specification. I have successfully used those dies on both tapered and straight cylindrical bullets. You can find out how to order such a die on Lee's web site.
As a secondary issue, I suggest you shorten the handle on your breech seater to about half the length in your posted photo. The only reason for a dog-leg in the handle is to clear a tang sight.
With a bullet .001" greater than groove diameter, they will seat much easier and accuracy should improve.

Joe if you have some Cerrosafe I would make a chamber cast so you can get a clear picture of what you have to work with, freebore, leade, etc. and then you can work off all of the deminsion to come up with a fix. If you choose to do so don't forget to pay attention to the chamber cast deminsion changes based on time. I make and keep casts of all of my chambers for current and future use. 

JLouis

i made the seater for a guy who is using a tang sight. and it still probably has too much off set. thought I would try it and if it doesn't work make another one.