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Steve brings up a good point, with the .30/40 Krag. as it is an excellent round using slighly smaller bullets than a typical .303. Couple years ago, I barreled up a P-14 for a friend using a .303 Reamer with a .300" pilot. This was so he could use 220gr. Hornady RN's accurately. After using the 220's for a year and from testing, he found he preferred 150gr. Interbond Hornady's as they shot well under an inch and ran 2,750fps for him.
This last fall, he shot his moose, whitetail buck, muley buck and 'royal' elk with the same 150gr. Interbond load. The longest shot was on the whitetail buck at just over 400yards - laser ranged by his wife (she used her .358Winchester Browning lever gun for her deer).
He obtained incredible penetration and 90%+ weight retention on those bullets that stayed inside- all balled up. The exits barely made it out the hide with totally destroyed lungs and the heart as well - when hit. He's really 'stuck' on that bullet for all game in that chambering.

The rim size and pressure generated is what produces the breech thrust and resultant stress on the action itself when accompanied with the actual taper in the case.

Thus, with larger diameter rims & same normal case taper at the same pressure there is more 'force' being applied to the action itself by the larger rim:
Same pressure, same diameter, similar taper, same action stress.
Thus, loaded to the same pressure, the .38/55 would produce less action stress than any of the others, due to it's rim diameter and minimal taper in comparison to the other rounds.

The ctgs. well over a century's use in lever and the weaker single shot actions proves it's not a chamber sticker. Too - easily obtained .30/30 brass or .375 Winchester brass which is slighlty stronger. I use all three of these chamber designated brass in my lever action .375 Winchester- without problem.

6.5x53R Dutch Mann.== .526"
7x57R================ .521"
.30/30/.38/55Ballard= .506"
.303 British========= .540"
.30/40 Krag========== .545"
.444 Marlin========== .514"
9.3x74R============== .512"
.348 & .45/70======== .605"
.35 Win.&.405 Win==== .543"

All pretty close, except for the .348/.45/70 size with the .348 having the largest base diameter at about .550" and the .45/70 at .500".
These measurements are taken from books. If you actually measure brass, you will find some minor differences, make to make.

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Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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