Hi all - while loading my .40-65 rounds for the next BPCR silhouette match this weekend, my mind wandered to what to do with the several bags (a lot - don't ask  ) of Starline .40-65 brass I have that is too short for my chamber (I case form with WW brass).  Then I thought about the two Hoch molds I haven't used yet - .377" - 320 and 360 grains.  And I have a line on a lightly used C. Sharps highwall for sale that I could get a new barrel put on (anyone ever heard of or shot .40-110? - I got to shoot it three times ). 

My question is, when case forming to .38-56 from the .40-65s,  how much lengthening can I expect?  The Starline cases run 10 to 15 thousandths short from 2.1" - which is the spec length for the .38-56.  Buffalo Arms has a Redding case form die (set?) in stock.

Thought there might be a few here with experience in forming these cases that would know.  With a 12 twist barrel, I think this round could be a silhouette contender with light recoil (comparatively).

Thanks - cheers -

OVW

I don't remember how much my cases lengthened on forming, but I can say that if you are careful, you don't need a special and expensive forming die.  I used .45-70 brass and sized it with a .40-65 die and then sized it with a .38-56 die.  The only real trouble I had was that my (RCBS) .38-56 dies sized the neck down way too much.

Chris.

Thanks for the replies.  More research is in order but am confident I have the brass I need if I do this.  Have read on older threads that C. Sharps used to chamber rifles in .38-56, but they don't list that as an option on their website now.