IF 38-55 Cases have a straight-wall section in which bullets are normally seated, I would expect that bullets with a long caliber-sized section could be deeply seated, even if a portion of bullet was below this straight section.

Seating entire bullet (full wadcutter) in Cal 32Long and 38Spl, both straight cases, has been going for longer than most of us posting here have been alive. I have shot lots and lots of them and still load and shoot them sometimes. There are loading data and pressure data galore for both loads. These highly developed loads have always been very accurate -- after all they were the premier target loads for some very popular pistol matches and remain so.

Long ago I also loaded 45 Colt ammo with nose of bullets only slightly past the end of case (as required by SASS), as well as deeper down, even on powder. Never had a problem with light loads, but, again, straight walled case. Initially these were BP loads, but, later I started with small amounts of Green Dot -- never a problem in Ruger revolvers. Bullets were generally 200 grainers at lower than "normal" velocities. Never resized the brass used for these loads. Similar custom commercial ammo used to also be available but were loaded in shortened 45 Colt cases or 45 Short Colt cases.

How to adapt such loads to cases over 2X longer and usually slightly tapered, is something I have never attempted. I will note that it has been widely reported that US Army greatly down loaded 45-70 using several fiber wads between BP and light bullets to provide a load useful for augmenting rations with small game. Me thinks this "wheel" has been reinvented at least a few times.

Might be an issue putting a straight sleeve into a tapered wall case Al? But probably would form itself to the internal diameter on the first firing. But not sure how that would go ether as far as safety, or maybe creating a bulge in the chamber as it did so? Maybe no issue, but I'm not sure myself?
Still sounds like more work, and not cost effective to simply using powders designed for reduced charge loading.

Fitz,
I would be afraid that it would only push the primer out of the case.

It might be safer to turn a bore size aluminum rod fill the bore with oil and tap it out. I think the additional volume that the rod could produce might be better and if it still did only push primer out, you can still retrieve it.

Frank

   How about this ......   Decide what case volume you want, and figure out how much solder would reduce the case volume to where you want it.   Stick a tooth pick in the primer hole and melt and pour in that weight of solder.   Easy then to drill out the toothpick and have the desired case volume.  One could easily modify or adjust the volume by drilling out some solder.   Problem solved.  (Or at least the first step has been taken.)

CHRIS
RGChristensen

There was a time around 2010 at Etna Green that Andy Z for about five years could not be beat in the B R  champship match shooting a 38/55 breechseated w wolf bullet and 16 1/2 gr 4759, so if it will work for Andy it will work for someone else if you can read the wind. This thread is another hope to find a solution to a problem that does not exist.  Ledball

rgchristensen wrote on Sep 12^th, 2018 at 8:16pm:


Chris, wouldn't the lead simply melt at the first firing and close off the primer passage?

rgchristensen wrote on Sep 12^th, 2018 at 8:16pm:


The late Bill Crane and others did that at Tacoma to make the 577-.450 Snyder a winning target rifle in the Snyder matches.