Development of PP loads for the .44-77.

[Distant Thunder]

Well being I plan on using a 2-D PPB in the end and I really need 200 good cases I can count on being pretty uniform. I will no doubt have to do my best to make these BACO brass fall in line with the JBA stuff or get another 100 BACO and uniform all of those.

The BACO cases do look very nice and within this batch are very uniform. If anything the rims on the cases I have are just a bit thin, which I don't think is necessarily bad. I just used these cases to set up my .43 Mauser die so the shoulder is just tight against the chamber. For my die/rifle that means it is set at .104" above the shell holder. Then when chambered the block just drags across the case. That shoulder I hope is substantial enough to head space off of and everything I've read indicates it is. Once fireformed there should not be any headspace problem no matter the rim thickness and with these cases it's only maybe .004" on the thin side.

No matter what, we are very likely not going to see Jamison brass anytime soon and the BACO is well made and available. The trick is be able to order enough all at one time to have the consistency throughout. When funds become available again I may just order 200 more from BACO now that I know what they are like.

I'll let you guys know how the necks look on my BACO brass once they are fireformed and what steps I take to get the IDs to what they should be, .447-.448". My JBA stuff is .447" inside after fireforming and .467" outside at the mouth and tapering to about .468" at the shoulder.

The BACO cases are .471" outside with a .4465" grease groove bullet seated and won't chamber. These will either have to be OD turned or ID reamed. Turning the ODs is probably easiest and best in the end. I have sure done enough of that in my time!

I'm enjoying the heck out of this cartridge and rifle, but it would not be a good choice for the faint of heart!