44-77 Sharps paper patched load

[Fogman01]

After seeing some of the blogs answers to the dimensions of an original Remington Rolling Block Creedmoor bore and cartridge and comparing it to the chamber cast I had done, I decided to go with the original RB Creedmoor. I put 70 grains of powder in a Shiloh Sharps 44-77 case from BACO and used a .060 wad, grease cookie and another .060 wad to get the load almost to the case rim. After checking the bore diameter (about .451) I used a slick .444 diameter bullet that I paper patched and seated about 1/16" into the case, just so it chambered nicely. I didn't want to put any more powered in it until I saw how this old gun would shoot. I have only shot it out to 300 yards but I am hitting the steel swinging target at my range. The 100 yard groups are not bad and will improve with my load work ups. This old rifle shoots really nice and I like loading it the way it was done at the Creedmoor shoots.

My friend has an old Rem RB military rifle that was so rough on the outside that there were no markings other than the tang which said the last patent was 1874. He had bought it at an auction some years ago for $100 and had never shot it; he was told it was a 45-70 - not! After a chamber cast the closest cartridge would be .43 Spanish. The bore was surprisingly bright but not over sized like the Creedmoor - it matched the .43 Spanish dimensions pretty well. So again I loaded the unfired Shiloh 44-77 brass with a .432 dia bullet paper patched with 45 grains of powder for a gentle starting load, some corn meal filler and wads and grease cookie. My buddy shot the rifle yesterday and it did surprisingly well. We thought if it hit the paper at 75 yards we would be happy but his first two shots were in the 9 and 10 ring and the rest grouped well for his ability. It has a VERY hard trigger - maybe 15 -20 lbs and we aren't sure why that is. Considering that, the groups were excellent. So two originals with 44-77 type cartridges shooting pp bullets very well. Love it!!!!