Development of PP loads for the .44-77.

[Distant Thunder]

There is no doubt that BACO .44-77 brass that I have, I just bought it in June, is tight in the neck ID on the fireformed cases. A bullet sized to .4465" will not push into the case. That same bullet will easily slide into a fireformed JBA case. I will check the BACO brass with a gauge pin as soon as I can.

After fireforming the length is between 2.250" and 2.246", that's a good length. The OD measures pretty much the same as the JBA, .4675" at the mouth tapering to .469" at the shoulder. Those dimensions are of course controlled by the chamber and would be expected to be the same.

The BACO stuff looks really good except the tight necks and that I can fix.

[beltfed]

Looks like you are getting the Sh.. together with the case forming, etc and decent
even during such case forming.
Will look forward to seeing you and see that rifle perform at Rapids on the 25th.

Arnie

[Distant Thunder]

Well I hope to be ready. I'm really liking this cartridge and it is very much at home in this old rifle. I never really used this rifle in .45-70 once I learned how to load BP using it. I rebarreled it to .45-90 and that was better but once I got my newer Shiloh in .45-90 the rebarrel just was never able to keep up with that one. So it was back to .45-70 and it seldom saw daylight.

Now with this rebarrel from Shiloh to .44-77 I am a happy man and it will see plenty of use. I just have this feeling it's going to shoot very well for me and for me at this time in my life it is a perfect project to tinker with. So many bullets, so little time!

Eventually my wife is going to tell me to get at those thing around the house that need doing, but for now I'm way to busy playing with this rifle!

[Distant Thunder]

I had just a little bit of time at the end of today to fireform 20 more of the BACO cases using the 355 grain PPB and 3f Goex.

I set a target out at 100 yards dialed the scope to right of center. The first 5 shots were in a pretty big "group", but I wasn't really tiring to shoot a group.

   

Then I moved to center and down 2 1/2 moa and held things a bit tighter and those 5 shots actually looked pretty good. So I dial up 6 moa and shot another group. Then over 3 moa and shot a 4th 5-shot group.

All things considered for just thrown together fireforming loads it actually does shoot about 2 to 2 1/2 moa. Not too bad for fireforming. I really like these BACO cases. I have 40 more to fireform and then I believe I'll use these cases to start some actual load development. The fact that this load shot groups is encouraging, now I just need to work toward a load that will shoot groups like that at 200m. I don't have a lot of time before my first match with this rifle and my first match of the year which is on the 25th.

One other note: I am continuing to have problems with this new batch of Remington 9 1/2 primers and not just in this rifle. They don't all go bang. I'm not going to use these primers for my load development that's for sure.

[Kurt]

Well Jim the rifle looks like it will work once you get your brass in order.
Round groups except the 12 o-clock high has some vertical but just blowing out cases they don't look bad at all.

How many rounds do we need the 25th? I need to start casting.......

[beltfed]

Guys,
Plan on probably 70 or so- 40 shots for record plus Ranging shots and 3 sighters including first on steel. I expect we will have the Gong match for starters
on the 25th, then I hope to have the paper match on Aug 22.
Looks like I have "recruited" Matt Steckel and Erick and perhaps Matt's father with his 40-82 Crossno. All DDEPP bullets.

Arnie

[Kurt]

Arnie,

How many ranging shots will you allow? I just put a scope on this rifle and have not shot it past 200 yards. Tang sights are over for me.

[Distant Thunder]

Arnie,

As long as I get to shoot it works for me.

I'm going to shoot the remaining fireforming loads this morning and it's supposed to rain this afternoon, if it rain I'll start casting for Rapids. I probably go with this BACO adjustable mold because it's really all I have right now. I plan to call BACO and have the first conversation with them about a 2-D PPB of your elliptical design. I really have enough information to order one. I just changed a few dimensions from the drawing you made for me last year before I knew anything about the barrel and chamber.

The bore .438" and my 9# onionskin adds .007" when dry wrapped. The freebore is close to .075-.080" long. The fired cases are .447" inside the mouth. With my 17"-ROT I'm still going to stay a little short of the max OAL, some where between 1.430" and 1.460" should do well.

Here what I'm thinking would work well. Please take a look and let me know if you think looks good.

   

[Distant Thunder]

Kurt,

That high shot in the top center group was the first shot in that group. I'm not basing too much on this load, just that the fact it shoots something that I can call groups is encouraging is all.

Next I'll try some 1 1/2 Swiss with this same BACO bullet adjusted out as long as it goes, which is something 1.425" and weighs about 520 grains. I will for sure use a different primer, probably Federal 210. I'll use the BACO brass (fireformed) because it has slightly tighter necks and that will help with these bore diameter straight sided bullets.

The slight taper crimp I used on these 355 grain bullet worked out very well. I can pull and reseat the bullets with any trouble but they won't fall out while handling even if turned bullet down. The BACO brass is very uniform.

[Kurt]

I wouldn't worry too much about groups till you get the cases uniform. But yes it is showing it will be just fine.

My 19 twist Hartford is not very particular what powder it shoots from 1 to 3F and it favors the 1.325" long bullets and it will handle a 495 gr at 1.4" out to the Quigley buffalo in fine shape. The Farmer .44-77 has a twist of 1/17.5 as close as I can measure and the 495 gr @1.4" just plain shoots and that adjustable mould is locked tight so it don't change.