Time to continue load development with my .44-77.

[Distant Thunder]

I think that from today's shooting the longer bullets seem to be shooting better in my .44-77. The exception is the BACO ADJ. at 1.350" long, it shot well. The Brooks bullet shot better at 1.400 than at 1.350. So I figure I cast some as long as the mold will go which is about 1.435. The flat base plug that Brooks made is over 1/4" thick and that limits the length I can cast.

With the BACO ADJ. mold one of the first things I did was cut the base plug down so I could cast longer bullets. If I remember right I cut it down .100" and I can cast up to 1.450" long now. I will cast some of those at the longer length also.

As soon as I get my lathe set up I will cut the Brooks plug shorter to, 1.450 to 1.460 is all I need so if I cut it down .015 to .025" I shuld be good.

All my bullets are dry patched too, I often forget to mention that. I have been using Staedtler tracing paper for all of these bullets, but just today I received a roll of Seth Cole 55W and I will give that a try also. I don't expect there should be much difference between the two papers, but I'll see. It took a few tries for me to be able to patch with the 8 LB paper being I am used to my 9 LB stuff, but the 8 LB is working for me now.

Kurt,

I don't see an advantage in the cupped base so I will likely stay with the flat base, it's one less thing to worry about. The one cupped base bullet I recovered show the base to be in perfect condition, so the 2 wad thing was working.