Development of PP loads for the .44-77.

[Distant Thunder]

It can be as hard to separate the "old wives tales" form the truth with thee bottlenecks as it is in much of the rest of life.

This is a new arena for me, the bottleneck case, and there is a lot I don't know for a fact. That being said, so far I have ranged from almost no compression to a 1/4" and haven't seen where it made any real difference. At this point I can see that this case will hold all the powder I want and a bit more if I need it. So I am leaning toward minimal compression as long as the accuracy can be found.

I did a good amount of shooting today and I'm at the point where about all I can do is try some different primers and see what difference that makes. I am down to 10 shots in around 3 1/2 inches at 200m and that may be the limit of this bullet in my rifle. It's not bad but I'd like better. This mold was supposed to just get me started and help me find out what length and weight of bullet would work best for me. It has certainly done that.

I did figure out where the occasional high and slightly left shot was coming from. I have to make sure I pull the rifle in snug to my shoulder or it will shoot a minute high and and 1/2 minute left every time. That won't be a problem prone off sticks but I failed to pull it in snug a couple times today from the bench and at least once the other day. I've got to post some pictures and then a lot of this will be clearer.

I'll do some more shooting tomorrow and see what I get, but for now the 84 grain load seems to work pretty well. 86 grains didn't look bad either.

Arnie,

I think your statement that the "groove diameter base and taper up tight to the leade should give that much more initial resistance to burn that powder better." is a very much overlooked benefit of the 2-D design. I noticed right away with my .40-65 that when I got it seated tight to the leade angle it started shooting much better.

Kurt,

The molds didn't show up today so I'm hoping Monday, any later and I'm not going to be able do any shooting with the bullet before Arnie's match. There's going to be too much family around me the end of next week and thru the weekend. We'll see.