Development of PP loads for the .44-77.

[Kurt]

Jim all in all just getting your cases fitting the chamber looks very promising except for some of the stringing I see, especially the oblique strings get a little troubling for me anyway.
What I have found with me behind the butplate and your noticing this when you mention holding tight.
My .44's have ROT's 16. 17 and 19's and there is a world of difference changing the control of the rifle. The 1/16 I can see as much as 5-7" change in the oblique string relaxing the hold of the rifle that I don't see in the 19's as much even the .44-90 that has a lot more powder behind the bullet.
Another thing I find that opens my groups, and I ran loads verifying this. I don't size my brass, just clean the cases, when I seat the wads before compressing the powder some wads need a hard push to get them in the case and some just about fall in. This can't be good with a loose wad that might let more pressure get past them. When I seat the wad and I notice a loose one I take a sharpie and mark that case and move it to the other side of the loading block. Out of 100 loads I might end up with a bunch loose once around 10 +- and especially if I don't use a lube wad using those loose wad shells the group widens and they widen more if I use a taper crimp when I use a standard chamber over a tight chamber.
When I use polly wads I quit using .060" wads. I will use two .030" polly or carton wads instead.
Just some of the things I have noticed going with the tighter twist barrels.
Heavier down pressure on the sticks I notice the group open up.