Development of PP loads for the .44-77.

[Distant Thunder]

The repeat test wasn't bad, but the first shot out of cold clean barrel went a bit low. The next 4 went into 2 1/2" with all 5 were in 3 inches. It's time to start thinking about what to do next to tighten things up. I would go with this load as is if I had to, it's not bad.

   

The last group of the day was shot with the 450 bullet from my BACO 431ADJ mold and is the load I used at Rapids at 220 yards for the offhand target and the prone ones. Now I understand why I missed one gong prone at 220 yards slipping the shot just under the gong! Still if I could get the vertical tightened up it's a possible offhand load, nice and mild shooting.

   

[Kurt]

Hey Jim.

I found my mould at the front door when I got home from the range. Jim really has the mould making down from the last one I got. Fine looking mould.

The sample bullet is about a thousands small in diameter but may mike has taken the deep dive on the hard floor a couple times but even I can live with that. The base and shank is .001" less but round. The ogive is a little sharper then I expected but this will tell when I starts shooting it. The radius is a little longer then I thought it would be. But I haven't measured it to make sure.
But the way it looks it should fly!!

[Distant Thunder]

Kurt,

It will be interesting to see how it shoots for you. You've got a few different rifle that should be able to shoot that bullet.

So far it looks like it will shoot pretty well for me. Tomorrow I will load 1 1/2 Swiss with 86 grains, 87 grains and 88 grains and see if that makes a difference. The 86 grains has been a little under 1 1/2 moa at 220 yards and that isn't bad.

I don't really think my Hepburn is any better than that, but that bullet holds up so well out to 1000 yards that it will hold the 10 ring. I figure if I'm in the 10 ring I'm doing good. I have won more matches with that bullet than all the others I've used combined. And I've use a lot of different bullets over the past 25 years.

[Kurt]

Jim,

A just finished casting 75 with my L/T/A alloy and they dropped from the mould right on the button the specs say. I dug the new mic out and took some measurements.
The bore section is .43112"
The base is .440037" close enough.......
Length is 1.44001"
And it's round with no runout.
The weight is 5055 grains.
It falls right out of the mould just opening the blocks. Great work!!!

I checked theater from the base to the shank and it matches my funnel throat.

I been working with the CPA .44-100 straight this week and I have a hard time keeping the bullets on the 2x3' paper learning how the use the new scope. Some bullets I shot I can cover with a quarter at 200 and some of the other 3 shot groups barely stay on the paper.
This barrel is a 16 twist I had made in Oregon that had very drop grooves that I worked on getting closer to the cartridge rifle groove depth and I have it working but it's very selective the bullets it shoots.
But I will put the 100 aside and get the .44-77 and see what this new bullet can do.

   

[Distant Thunder]

Kurt,

Which .44-77 is that and what is the twist rate? It will be interesting to see how this bullet performs in different rifles and as we extend the range.

[Kurt]

It's my Farmer. 1/17 ROT.
I just finished making a template for the patches and cut a bunch of patches.
The patched bullet just fits in the fired case perfect that I can turn the case upside down and it holds the bullet. I made a dummy round with a couple bullets in the case and paper towel on top and seated the round till it pushed the bullet tight into the lead and the bullet is in the case less than 1/8". When I load some in the morning I will compress a round in small steps till the round makes contact with the lead and lock the compression die. If I have time tomorrow I will head back to the range where I have 200 yards. I don't have any Swiss left so it will be 2 or 1.5 OE maybe both. I think 82 grains will be a good start using that powder. 82 gr is about .230" compression in my cases using a double wad stack with plastic and cork under the bullet.
My next step will be mixing some of Arnies hard mix lino/ww. I shot some of his bullets into the snow bank and they just engraved the base band with no setback to speed of. Maybe one thousand.

[Distant Thunder]

I load 5 each with 86, 87 and 88 grains of 1 1/2 Swiss. I will shoot those tomorrow morning. I just need to figure out a better target setup. The 6 inch paper plates are nice but when trying different bullets and load I have a hard time keep all shot on the plate. My range in under water from about 50 yards to 100 yards due to all the rain we keep getting. I try to set up a few target at one time to reduce the trips through the mud and water. I'll figure out something.

I checked my primer supply and I don't have as much variety as I once did and with empty shelves at Cabela's I'm not likely to pick up anything new soon. I hate election years! I'll test with what I have and see what works best and go with that until thing get better, if they get better! Did I mention that I hate election years?

[Kurt]

I like using those 1.5" orange stickers and I get a roll of rosin paper 36"X167' for $12. from Menards. I can see the holes using this setup. The little orange target spot has a small black diamond. This works well for me holding center.

Primers are in short supply again for some reason. I was down to 250 Fed 210 GM so I searched the web and found some at Powder Vally and had them send me a sleeve of 5000. Everyone seems to be out of most brands again and the prices are jumping for those that have some in stock.
I picked up some Remington primers here local and they turned out pretty junkey having misfires and patterns with what bullets paper.

Well I better get to the loading bench and see what these new bullets will do. I really should get out and mow my hayfield lawn. Rain 2-3 times a week sure makes the grass grow.

[Distant Thunder]

I found the same problem with the last brick of Remington 9 1/2 primers. I am not happy about it either.

[Distant Thunder]

I just can't see the orange stickers very well, something to do with my eye I guess. I can see white much better. There was a time I could see the white spotter at 800 yards and even 900 yards (at times) with my naked eyes as long as it was in the black. Now I can see a black blur that is more or less round if the sun is on the face of the target. Put the face of the target in shadow and I have to aim at the grey smudge that I can kind of see at times! Funny thing is I can still hit the darn thing! I don't ask questions.

I don't even want to talk about the number boards. What numbers?