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

[Distant Thunder]

Kurt,

It might be only 180 yards but there's nothing wrong with any of those groups!

I have shot some group almost as good at 200 and 220 yards, but not with the consistency I'd like to see.

The bullet that has been the most consistent for me is BACO 430520 that is cut to .433 diameter. That bullet is 1.460" long. I plan to shorten it to 1.420" before I cast anymore.

My Brooks adjustable original Sharps Profile shot very well with the cupped base, but since switching to the flat base has been disappointing. I plan to go back to the cupped base before casting any more with it.

Your Sage bullet has shot very well in my rifle everytime I've tried it, but I have not shot it beyond 600 yards and I only have a few left. I may try one relay at 1000 yards at Lodi with them just to see.

My new Brooks elliptical which is 1.396" long is showing some promise with two different charges of Swiss 1 1/2 and my next move will be to shoot some 10-shot groups at 220 yards with the two loads and see how they look. I plan to cast more of these today. It didn't take long to burn through the first 50, but I do have something to work with going forward.

If both still look good I will shoot them at the 2 mid-range gong shoots coming up in July, Merrill and Rapids. Probably one load at each match to compare.

The hope is to pick the best load to shoot for the 1000 yard match at Lodi in August. I don't care for the all 1000 yard format and I considered not going but Cliff threw in the 200 yard .22 match and that I really want to shoot, so I may as well shoot the 1000 yard.

The final test before Lodi will be the mid-range paper match at Rapids in early August. The results there will decide what I shoot at Lodi. It might just mean I put the .44-77 aside and shoot my Hepburn, but time will tell. If I have any kind of a "working" load for the .44 I will stay with that.

If I still have not worked out the best load and have a couple that "look good" I'll shoot both and compare.

The earliest I could get to my 400 yard range would likely be mid July and there would not be enough time for any development just some testing. That range is too remote and setup too time consuming to do any real development, but testing at 400 would be good.