44-77 continuing development

[Distant Thunder]

My .45-90 Shiloh '74 was the rifle that got me off the ground shooting paper patch and I would go back to shooting it again for Creedmoor without hesitation if I didn't have other rifles begging me to to play with them. That was the rifle that turned everything around for me and it's standard chamber shot bore diameter PP bullets like it was made for them. I was loading 100 to 105 grains of Swiss 1 1/2 it it and that just seemed like a lot of powder to me.

My grease groove load, before paper patch, was only 85 grains and was a very effective Creedmoor load too. I still have that mold too and the only thing wrong with that bullet is that it has only 3 grease grooves and I really had to keep an eye out for leading.

I believe strongly that about 85 grains of Swiss 1 1/2 and a 520 grain bullet is just about optimal for 1000 yard shooting. Of course whatever powder gives 1300 to 1350 fps with whatever bullet a bit over 500 grains that shoots 1 1/2 MOA or better is the same formula and should be capable of winning any match provided the shooter & spotter are on their game.

There is more than one way to get there, I just use what works for me. Every rifle is it's own animal and in the end you have to feed it what it wants. Half the fun is figuring out what each rifle/cartridge wants to be fed.