Designing the 2-diameter paper patch bullet.

[Distant Thunder]

I haven't worked with any thing in .44 caliber in many years and that was my .44-100 straight. Mine had a 1:18 twist and bullet length was always something that I had to watch closely. Even with the shorter lengths it never did well for me past 600 yards. I was able to get it to shoot paper patch bullets well.

The mold I used was of my own design and making. I don't remember the details now, but the mold is laying around here somewhere. It is a round nose and is a bore diameter design. I'll see if I can dig it up and find my notes. I do remember I had to use a grease cookie to get the best accuracy. It is possible that the right wad stack would have worked too.

that rifle had a grease groove chamber with a short, .150", freebore and if I had known then what I know now I would have made a 2-diameter bullet and I think that would have been a bit easier to make work and to load for in general. That rifle has been rebarreled and I am very happy with the new chambering, .22 LR. No chance I'll ever go back to .44!

As far as round nose designs go I'm very pleased with my .40 caliber 2-diameter paper patch bullet in my .40-65. I wanted a bullet as heavy as I could get in a bullet that would be stable in an 18-twist .40 and the old looking round nose design worked out well.

I really like my elliptical .45 caliber ppb for long range matches and it works very well, but I also like the looks of the old Sharps designs and they have performed well for me out to 600 yards. If fact I, for a few years back before ppb worked so well for me, used the Lyman 457125 Gov't bullet for my long range matches at 800 yards and it shot very well. I never shot it past 800 for fear it would fall out of the sky and land short! I often had the highest 2-day score at 800 yards when using it, so a RN can shoot well.

I think if you know your bullet and what it does in the wind a round nose can do very well. Where the elliptical will do better is when you miss a change in the wind, a pick up or let off or slight change in direction. That's when the elliptical will be moved less and save you some points. That makes them a better design. Assuming equal accuracy with the two.