44/77 Hunting Loads

[Don McDowell]

Stephen that bullet is weighing right at 390 grs.
I load the rubberized cork on top of the powder, then the lubed felt and then the .030. Seems to shoot pretty well and stays clean enought that simply blowing down the barrel will keep the gun running.
Look at one of the local slobber shops for some of those felt wads they use in the 44or 45 cal revolvers, for a quick source of lubed felt. Kurt merinates his felt wads in his lube for about 20 -30 minutes
The rubber cork comes from NAPA in small rolls, you can punch about 25 wads going crosswise of the roll,so a roll will make a bunch of wads.
Have used just those rubber wads under that .435 bullet with some promising results wiping between shots. I really need to get some rain in here so things will get soaked up enough I don't have to worry about starting a fire.

[Stephen Borud]

Stephen that bullet is weighing right at 390 grs.
I load the rubberized cork on top of the powder, then the lubed felt and then the .030. Seems to shoot pretty well and stays clean enought that simply blowing down the barrel will keep the gun running.
Look at one of the local slobber shops for some of those felt wads they use in the 44or 45 cal revolvers, for a quick source of lubed felt. Kurt merinates his felt wads in his lube for about 20 -30 minutes
The rubber cork comes from NAPA in small rolls, you can punch about 25 wads going crosswise of the roll,so a roll will make a bunch of wads.
Have used just those rubber wads under that .435 bullet with some promising results wiping between shots. I really need to get some rain in here so things will get soaked up enough I don't have to worry about starting a fire.

Interesting stuff Don! I would imagine that felt wad also cleans the bore as well on the way out! I cast 60 405 grain 44/77 bullets today! I might try the lubed felt wad sometime! What are you soaking the wads in?

Stephen

[Don McDowell]

Stephen I've been bein lazy on the felt wads, I buy them already lubed.
Looking forward to hearing more from 44-77 exploits.

[Stephen Borud]

Gotcha Don! I will post further developments!

[Don McDowell]

Good deal Stephen.

[Kurt]

Very good Stephen.
You and Don keep your load information coming.

I been lost up in the Big Horn Mountains since the Quigley shoot waiting for my three rifles to get finished at Shiloh.
One needed to get a face lift, one a new barrel and my brand new .44-77 Hartford.
Man did that 77 turn out fine!!
This was my first choice for my first Shiloh I wanted almost 14 years ago and was talked out of it, well I finally got it

Kurt

[Don McDowell]

Kurt sure looking forward to seeing that new rifle of yours. Maybe you can at least tease us with some pictures?until we can get a chance to get our grubby mitts on it..Then I'm really looking forward to learning from you and your load developement with the grandest sharps cartridge.
Give Carolyn our condolences and a big hug from Carol and myself.

[Kurt]

I called you yesterday when I got into a cell.
I was going to swing by for a few minutes, but didn't find you guys home.
Right now I'm in Mitchell SD with broken spring rocker linkage on the trailer, so I will be stuck here till the shops open in the morning to get parts.<I hope>
Trailer is kind of leaning on one side---

Kurt

[Don McDowell]

Oh crud, maybe time to trade that trailer??
We went to grandaughter Addisons 4th birthday bash yesterday, so when you called was probably about the time we were rolling out of Sidney headed towards Sterling.

[Caprock]

Kurt, how bout a pic of that new rifle?