Development of PP loads for the .44-77.

[Distant Thunder]

Kurt,

Thank you! Your bullets shot pretty well and I could see the potential of this .44-77 once I got the cases fireformed. I'll need to tighten up some for Arnie's paper match in August.

Today I when I opened the mail box I was surprised and happy to see the new mold from BACO! They did a beautiful job, the dimensions of the sample bullet are on the money. OAL is 1.435" and will be well stabilized by my 17-twist. It weighs 507 grains and really looks good. I'll start casting this evening. This should be an excellent bullet in my rifle and any rifle with Shiloh's standard grease groove chamber. I expect to load it over 85-88 grains of Swiss 1 1/2 which should move it right along.

I am really looking forward to Arnie's paper match now! That will be a good test. I will be transitioning to iron sights as soon as I finish my load development with this bullet and I hope to shoot this rifle for the Fall Classic at Lodi in September. So even though it is a very short shooting season this year I will get to test the .44-77 at everything but a silhouette match.

I really like my scope and I will use it for silhouette and probably gong matches but I prefer iron sights for paper bullseye matches and I seem to be able to see the target pretty well yet. I can not see the number boards worth crap so I have to be really careful that I am on the correct target. I have caught myself lining up on the wrong target many times and that is why I always double check before I yank the trigger!

Well, I gotta go cast some bullets and cut some patches. I'll report on the process as I go. I'm really liking this .44-77!