Shiloh Sharps 44-77 paper patch

[Eric Johanen]

    On the range today with my Shiloh Hartford 44-77 Orville's paper patch chamber. Really impressed with the rifle and chamber. As I do more work with it I find it can really bring the goods. This load used Jamison brass ( neck sized using a Meacham bushing die), Winchester LR primers, 75.0 grains of KIK 2 fg, DGL 3/16'th lube between 2 .450 card wads. Benched at 100 yards using the Timed and Rapid fire pistol target. Lawrence rear and Hartford front sight. 6 O'clock hold. The Brook's .431 440 grain Medford style bullet wrapped with .002 100% bond paper at .439 diameter. Combination of blow tube and wiped after 3 or 4 rounds. I will stay with this bullet and paper for target work but will test patching with Seth Cole 55W and 55Y thinking patching thinner will allow a long string of shots with no more fouling control that several breaths up the breach. The .439 bullet still exhibits some fouling interference on repeated shots and a patched bullet several thousands smaller might just be the ticket for hunting and general field use. Things are tightening up with use and with more practice I think I can get a repeatable sight picture and shrink the group smaller. Practice, practice, practice! (Naturally, my last shot was the 6 O'clock 8 on the line messing up a pretty good target!)

[Kurt]

Eric are you holding center bull or 6 o-clock?

[Eric Johanen]

Six O'clock pumpkin on the post. Those shots a bit high are too much blade over the rear sight. Light was a bit dull today and when things darken up I have a bit of trouble. With this load and the sights currently adjusted, the poi is just above the front sight at 100 yards. At 100 yards, that 25 yards Timed and Rapid fire looks a bit small for me. It is not much larger that the width of the front sight and a tiny error makes a difference with poi.

[Kurt]

It looked like you where crowding that fine white line with the 6 shots at 6 o-clock in the 9 and 10 ring then 6 at 10 o-clock.
The rifle shoots that combination your loading.

I think I will pull my .44-77 Hartford out and shoot the old loads I have left from the last Buff hunt and get them emptied out. I like shooting that rifle but I been working with the new .40-65 mostly lately but match season is over for me till next year so it's plat time again

[Eric Johanen]

I can see what you are looking at. Really it is just a matter of how much front sight I am bringing up in the Lawrence rear notch. I may clean up the notch a bit more with further shooting. Maybe not it all depends on practice to replicate the sight picture every time. That load does show promise and I have a very good supply of KIK 2 fg. 2 fg OE has also shown it can bring the goods. I will test the bullets you sent me soon I've been pretty stingy with them not wanting to waste any until I get a mold ordered from Steve. Those I shot at 400 yards on steel showed very good accuracy! I really like this rifle and chamber for my intended purpose and am having more fun that a guy should be allowed to have. Wish I could clone myself so I could shoot the different rifles and cartridges more as each one is great fun to work with. Next out is the Military Rifle in 50-70 and then a 45-90 and then.....

[Eric Johanen]

    Out again today. Same load only used CCI BR2 primers. Our firing line is covered and due to the subdued light on the sights they do not appear as sharp as when in daylight. It makes a perfect sight picture a little harder to achieve. I do not think I'll open the rear sight notch anymore. Today's test was to see how many shots I could fire with acceptable accuracy using no fouling control. Cold bore shot was the 10 on the line at 9 O'clock. Wiped with 1 damp and 1 dry patch. Shot #2 was the outside 10 at 3. Blow tubed with 5 breaths and fired the high X at 12. Something changed a little on following shots and I shot #4 through 10 into the white and lower black with no fouling control. (shot #5 was the 9 at 8 #'s 8 and 9 cut the bottom of the black at 5:30 and 6:30). Rounds chambered easily and shot pretty nice. I then wiped with another damp followed by a dry and shot the remaining 10 rounds. I either pulled #11 or had a poor sight alignment. I confirmed my position and sight picture and the rest were: 3 X's, 5 10's, 2 9's just a whisker off the 10 ring at 9 O'clock. I again used a 6 O'clock hold pumpkin on the post with no line of white. The cartridges all chambered with very little resistance and the fouling from the KIK 2 fg was pretty light. The bullets were patched with .002 100% bond paper and just short of the ogive with 3/32" folded under the base, wet patched. Paper was nicely cut and left a very nice grease ring at the muzzle, soft and greasy. My cards were clean with just a hint of lube on them. All the lube seems to be deposited in the bore and with this 30 inch barrel no hint of crustiness at the muzzle. I think this load wants to work and while I will keep experimenting, I'll keep this load as long as my supply of 2 fg KIK lasts. Pretty much fun when things start to come together!!

[Eric Johanen]

In continuing to work with this rifle and tight paper patch chamber my accuracy is still improving and the load is working very well. Taking a break from charging cases and thought to give a progress report. I've taken to sizing the wet patched bullets thru a Lee sizer at .439 for uniformity and with as fired brass I can seat the bullets with slight friction fit, enough to handle without the bullet moving in the case. Using the Meacham bushing at .458 the fit is better and it brings all cases to the same I.D. Probably sizes the mouths about 1/2 thousand under as fired diameter. With the .457 and .456 bushings I can match the fit with wrapped bullets using Seth Cole 55w and 55y for a slightly smaller bullet for dirty shooting. Accuracy with all combinations is quite good. In the field I can just clean and re-prime the cases and load using the fired cases. Pretty nice! Have good zeros at 1,2,3 and 4 hundred yards. Have not had enough time at 5 and 6 to establish a solid zero and am thinking about putting the MVA tang sight on the rifle to get those zeros and match up to the slider bar on the Lawrence rear. I have hope to try 500 and 800 on steel yet this season and with the MVA hope to get some hits. Have 120 cases to fit the chamber and still have about 40 more to work up this winter. I have ordered another mold from Brook's in the form of a round nose 480 grain base pour bullet. With these 2 bullets I should have the bases covered. Both 2 fg OE and KIK are working very well with just a slight edge to the KIK powder. Must say that with help from forum members this cartridge has been very easy to develop accurate loads for. This Shiloh Hartford 44-77 paper patch chambered rifle is becoming my favorite.

[Eric Johanen]

My new Brook's Mold arrived yesterday and I measured up and weighed a few. 478 grains and .4310-4315 diameter and when wrapped with .002 bond paper and run through the Lee .439 sizer they are .4395. These are wet patched and just short of the ogive. Ordered a base pour non-adjustable mold. i set up a test fit in brass right from the package (Jamison Brass). Now I have bullets for hunting/steel banging and long range. I'll put some on paper at 200 next week. Pretty slick deal !    

[Eric Johanen]

Let's try a better look at the two loads.    

[Distant Thunder]

There is just something about that .44-77! Very cool looking!