Yes Mike. This is the replacement barrel. The shallow grooves sure improved it.

(08-16-2015, 07:59 PM)Kurt Wrote: Yes Mike. This is the replacement barrel. The shallow grooves sure improved it.

Kurt, That's good to know. I'm just getting to know my .44 barrel from Oregon too, on the .44/77 roller. There were problems but they were all with the trigger, my gun's barrel seems to be doing just fine. More shooting will tell. I'm shooting it with greasers for now. Shoot sharp, Mike

Mike.

I dropped Joe a line tonight telling him all is well with the replacement barrel and thanked him for standing behind his product.
Him and Ms. Suzy are fine folks.

Kurt

Performing very nicely there Kurt. Well done. Glad to see the replacement barrel answered the question for you.

Gavin.

(08-16-2015, 09:52 PM)Kurt Wrote: Mike.

I dropped Joe a line tonight telling him all is well with the replacement barrel and thanked him for standing behind his product.
Him and Ms. Suzy are fine folks.

Kurt

Kurt, It's very good that you got back to Joe & Suzi rather quickly, they appreciate knowing their barrel is doing well. I do intend to give them a good review about my gun's barrel and I'm going to order at least one more from them, probably a .50 with a 1 in 32" twist for a .50/70. Shoot sharp, Mike

Mike.

I just got my new .45-90 reamer and I will be looking for a barrel. I think I will give Ron Smith a call and pick his brain about a gain twist for this project. I been reading a lot of good reviews on this.
Kurt

(08-17-2015, 10:24 AM)Kurt Wrote: Mike.

I just got my new .45-90 reamer and I will be looking for a barrel. I think I will give Ron Smith a call and pick his brain about a gain twist for this project. I been reading a lot of good reviews on this.
Kurt

Kurt, The only experience I have with gain twist is with muzzleloaders shooting a patched round ball. Such doin's for a long bullet would be very interesting. Maybe you can keep us posted on what you find out. Shoot sharp, Mike

Mike.

I have to give it a try. I will have CAP mount the barrel on one of the actions and see what will happen.

Went back to the range this morning till I got rained out. I can say that I'm convinced that the vertical with this barrel is gone. And I'm convinced that the shallower then the normal .004" now used has something to do with this. MY new barrel has grooves just slightly over .003" deep. Today I took 5 different powder loads from 83 gr of 2F OE to 79 gr using the same KAL bullet and the worst vertical was 1 3/4" at 200 yards. The largest horizontal was 3" but the important showing is the vertical and most was 1" to 1-3/8" I can take that
Now it's time to load up for Lodi.

Kurt

(08-17-2015, 03:33 PM)Kurt Wrote: Mike.

I have to give it a try. I will have CAP mount the barrel on one of the actions and see what will happen.

Went back to the range this morning till I got rained out. I can say that I'm convinced that the vertical with this barrel is gone. And I'm convinced that the shallower then the normal .004" now used has something to do with this. MY new barrel has grooves just slightly over .003" deep. Today I took 5 different powder loads from 83 gr of 2F OE to 79 gr using the same KAL bullet and the worst vertical was 1 3/4" at 200 yards. The largest horizontal was 3" but the important showing is the vertical and most was 1" to 1-3/8" I can take that
Now it's time to load up for Lodi.

Kurt

Kurt, With grouping like that you'll hardly give other shooters a chance!! Shoot sharp, Mike

Ok, my final report on the .44-75 Ballard Everlasting caliber on a Stevens 44-1/2 action and the Oregon barrel.
So far I shot 32 3 and 4 shot ladder groups starting with .100" to .300" compression just using 2FG OE powder with 4 different bullets I mostly use for the .44's and they where shot from the 200 yard line. I used cut down and reformed to .44 caliber .45-3-1/4 Norma cases and .45-2.6 Starline brass.
The load particulars are for all loads fired.
2fg olde Eynsford powder 78 to 83 gr. in one grain intervals 3-4 rounds each.
The wads I used where all cut from OJ cartons
Lube was my mix of 50/50 soy wax Vaseline cut with peanut oil to the very soft temper I like. Squeeze it between your fingers it turns to liquid. The wads are 1/8" thick
A .012" poster paper wad under the bullet.
The bullets are the Jim 430-530 PP 1.460" long from BA.
The 506 gr elliptical from KAL 1.468" long
The 485 gr prolate from a Brooks mould 1.460" long.
The 485 gr Sharps profile 1.320" long.
Primers where the WLR. Bullets where patched .001" over bore diameter.
All shots where off bench and sand bags using tang sights.
I must say that all bullets used shot well. The Norma gave the most consistent groups. The bullets fit a lot tighter in the cut down Norma cases, tight enough that I had to start the bullet in the case and finish using a seating die in the Lyman 310 tool. The Starline cases where just snug seated so the bullet will not drop out holding it upside down and slightly shaking it.
My groups where as tight as 3/4" 3 shots using the 530 BACO PP bullet using 83 gr of the 2F OE powder shot using the Norma brass.
The very largest and only four of these had one round open the group to 4" @ 200 yards A bunch of the groups where sub MOA with all of the powder loads and bullets.
This is the most unusual rifle I have. I never had a rifle short of the .22 RF that will shoot a lead bullet as consistently as this caliber does.

Short range testing is over. The long range 800-1000 yd is coming up in a couple weeks up at Lodi Wis. This will tell if this rifle will be a long range rifle that will put all holes on the paper and not some in the sand.
I wish I had a place to test the best of the 4 bullets at long range before shooting at a LR match, but what the HEY!! done it several times before.

Kurt