.44-77 bullets for a 19-twist barrel?

[Distant Thunder]

Don,
What you said is pretty much what I have concluded from my reading and following your posts.

Kurt,
I really don’t know what I’ll end up with here and it seems I’ve pretty much jumped in a bit too quickly. I still have a few things to sort through and I’ve been talking with Kirk and I’m sure we’ll work it out.

The path of least resistance may well be to just have Shiloh put one of their 19-twist barrels on my rifle and enjoy it for what it is. I don’t know that shooting it at long-range is a must. There’s nothing wrong with my .45-70 Hepburn and if I really want a chance at winning a match that is the rifle I would count on, every time! I would likely give a .44-77 a go at long-range just say I did it and see what happens.

The .44-77 is just something I want to play with while I still can and I figure I’d have enough time to really enjoy it. In my view it is the coolest paper patch cartridge there is. It’s been several years since I had the challenge of getting a “new” rifle up and running and I guess I’m due. I feel I would enjoy the heck out of it regardless of twist rate as long as it will shoot reasonably well. It would not be my first choice for Creedmoor, but it sure would be a good one for silhouette, gong matches and mid-range too.

I’ve got several .44 caliber molds tucked away is a “safe” place and if I ever remember where that is I’ll have plenty of things to try in whatever twist I end up with.

I was just looking to confirm what I could expect from a 19-twist and I knew you and Don would give it to me straight. I am leaning toward more of original design in bullet for this rifle anyway, I just think it would be better.

I really appreciate the offer of the molds to try and I may take you up on that. Let’s see how this all shakes out first. I really enjoyed shooting your .44-77 at Harris and if it had been for sale I’d have bought it right there. It’s a sweet rifle!

Shiloh has my action and the 17-twist GM barrel I sent them, but putting that barrel on my rifle is more complicated than I realized and it would be much easier to just go with one of their barrels (19-twist), but no decision has been made yet, we’re still talking.

I’m thinking that if I can make an 18-twist .40 work, I damn sure can make a 19-twist .44 work. I just may just have to design a bullet (or two) to fit the rifle and the purpose. That’s the really fun part anyway.

I’d still like to hear from other Shiloh .44-77 shooters as to what they’ve experienced with different bullets.