Are the .44-77 BN and the .44-90 BN viable contenders in modern Creedmoor

[Kurt]

Yes Don, the paper and iron matches are different, but in the scoring. The final at the top of the leader boards are the winners. Some of the finest match shooters compete at the gong matches that shoot th paper matches and you still have to compete against them.
I see no difference at the finals between the two. Top score is top score in both disciplines.

[Don McDowell]

Jim if this fuel doesn't get to crazy high I might try to make the August match in Lodi. So will be working on this new 44-77 as soon as I get home from Phoenix, and if things look decent, run it in the May Alliance gong match, and if things are still looking good will run it at the Wy. State midrange match in June.

[Distant Thunder]

Kurt,

Anytime I finish in the top 6 at Lodi I'm doing good, there are several very good shooters at those matches and they will make you work to be near the top.

I know all too well how things can be going along very well and the wind can change in a heartbeat to something that you have nothing to go off and the wheels can come off very quickly! Been there!

[Distant Thunder]

I will shoot the spring match at Lodi the end of April and I don't think there any doubt but that I will be shooting my .45-70 Hepburn. Then I will have to get everything moved into my new shop before I can go to any other matches. Once Everything is cleared out of my old building and I lock the door for the last time and hand the key to the new owner I'll be a free man once again.

If I have a load for my .44-77 that I have confidence in I will be shooting that rifle the rest of the year to include the August match at Lodi. Hopefully that will include a mid-range match on Thursday and Friday. That would give me an opportunity to fine tune my load during the mid-range and give the long-range a good run.

I am not sure what other matches will fit into my schedule this year, so I'll have to work that out before the season kicks off. Because I usually have to travel alone I don't travel as far or as often as I used to years ago. The cost of gas is going to be higher than it has in many years and the estimates range from $5 per gallon to damn right scary. That won't help my traveling any, so I will try to shoot everything I can within about 8 hours distance. Even then it could cost as much as $200 just for gas, that will limit my travels. Time will tell.

[Don McDowell]

Sometimes tho you just got to pack a rifle and your best guess at the ammo for it load up and go. By the time the match is over win, loose or draw, you'll know more about what it needs before the next time out.

[Distant Thunder]

I knew a guy who was a regular at Lodi years ago, he had a large motorhome in which he had a complete reloading room setup. He would show up with enough ammo to shoot the first day and then he would make whatever adjustments he felt were needed for the second days, including casting bullets if needed, and load for the next day's shooting. He was a very good shot and was always finetuning his loads. He was also very helpful to a then younger me, who knew almost nothing, always answering my questions and giving me good advice.

I, at one time, had a loading bench that fit in the back of my minivan, and I could go to a range that was a long distance from home and camp all weekend and do my loading on the spot. I was able to finetune a load for the .45-90 I had back then that served me well. That was a very good system for me at that time.

Now, I'm hoping that this 400-range I set up at my brother's place will lead to better load development for my .44-77. It's got to be better than 220 yards and it's as far as I can stretch things in the northwoods and rolling hills where I live.

In the end my final load development has always been done at matches where there is a lot more than just the load that comes into play and you shoot what you brung!

[Kurt]

I had a loading bench in the toy hauler when I pulled it and load test loads at the Quigley getting there a week or more early.
But with shooting black powder loads when you run out of the lot you just finished it all starts over again finding a good load.

These days of inflation I don't think I will burn up 4-5 cases of powder a year anymore as well getting a couple sleeves of primers every year.

They have a hard time getting our guns but they can stop you for getting the components to shoot in the guns, and it will get worse when they get better than 2/3 control to change the constitution.

[Don McDowell]

No one should be without a good flintlock....

[beltfed]

Jim,
I have been looking to a possibility that I could put on a squadded practice at 600yds
at Wi Rapids in April before the Lodi match which is April 30/May 1.
It is tight, what with other things going on for me and my wife may be in cancer treatment.
Also, I did set up two dates for Rapids later in the summer. July 16 and August 6.
1818 and the 20th 21st Long range at Lodi. I will again have one gong and one
300/600/600 paper match
Hope you can put our matches to good use for tuning that 44/77
Arnie

[Distant Thunder]

Arnie,

I hope so too. Those dates look doable and I'll put them on the calendar now.

What's the word on LGC matches?

The more the gas cost the more I'll have to pick and choose what I can do.

Sorry to hear about your wife, I hope all goes well.