i picked up some 38/55 win ,want to resize to 32/40.now there rounds have the ring round the shell can i resize there.

Most all of the 32-40 Brass I now have also have that cannelure ring and as Jeff stated it does no harm in resizing. Just need to keep an eye on that ring as that is typically where the case will seperate over time. Also kind of miss-leading as it will always looks like it is about ready to separate so it's best to have a separated case remover on hand as it always seems to happen right in the middle of a match. Brownells sells such tools and they are reasonably inexpensive and if you have the means its really quite easy to just go ahead make your own to keep in your at the range shooting kit.

JLouis

Another good way to remove a stuck, separated, case is to push a soft cast bullet from the muzzle to the breech.  It'll catch on the case and pop it right out.  No risk of damage to the rifling or chamber unless you are a neanderthal

Chris.

Quick and dirty separated case extraction method I learned from BPCR guys: always carry a fired rimless pistol case that is just small enough to fit down the bore. When you extract a broken case, put the pistol case in the muzzle the run it in enough to guide a Delrin rod and throw the rod/case down the barrel, the broken part of the case, pistol case and a good chunk of the Delrin rod will exit the breech and the rod can be pulled on through. The shock does the work.

38-55 to 32-40 is an easy conversion if you'll full length size them 38-55 first and clean up the case mouths, anneal the cases, -lightly- lube them with Imperial Sizing Wax the full length size in 32-40 die. Any slight imperfection in the case mouth, nicks, out of round, etc. will fold the case when run into the 32-40 die. Winchester length 38-55 cases should come out just about dead nuts 32-40 Ballard length.

It was brought up for a very good reason the area at the cannelure is thin and they do separate or it would not have been mentioned. Folks here were just trying to be helpful so the gentleman can be prepared for it if and when his time comes. I have had enough of my own to deal with over time and if one shoots allot it up's the odds quite a bit. Powder being used and amount also plays a big part in it as well as it just being the nature of the case design. 

JLouis

No right or wrong to it just the nature of the beast per-say and no need for anyone to get the heebie-jeebies over it but only to be aware of it and how to easily deal with it should it arise. Of which all of the good folks here were just being more than willing to freely share by apparently having to deal with it themselves at some point in time as well. And hopefully as yourself it might be something that he may never have to deal with but he now knows how thanks to all of those who have taken their time to freely share their individual methods that have successfully worked for them. It is what makes this site a very special place to visit and to hang out at. 

JLouis

Leadball I have experienced it on more than one occasion and it always seems to happen right in the middle of shooting a match target and exactly what happened the last time. Jerry Hartwig keeps a separated case extractor in his shooting kit and has came to my rescue. I made one for my 25-21 but knowing Jerry always has the one that works for the 32-40 I just haven't bothered to make one for myself. That and I now shoot my 28-35SS in the matches and pretty much retired the 32-40 three years ago right after I built my 28-35SS. Not sure how many others have had it happen but having put over 144,000 bullets down my 32-40 barrel while still using the original handful of cases the odds of it happening might have been a bit greater for me than for some of the others. Bottom line is I have had it happen over the past seventeen years of use and I have no reason not to be totally honest and truthful about it and why I brought it up. I have also never used BP but have only used smokeless. 

JLouis

John, I don’t doubt your statement but I also have sent many thousand rounds down range with the 32/40 and have never seen or heard of one coming apart not to say it has never happened but it would be quite rare. I’ve used the same case more than two years with the only problem being a loose primer pocket. Maybe you guys just have weak brass.ledball