.44-77 PP bullets.

[Distant Thunder]

Chris,

I feel bad for you guys up there because of the problems you have getting the BPCR stuff you need or want.

There certainly are other paths with less resistance that one can choose instead of the .44-77 (or .44-90) and unless you're like me and need something to challenge you and isn't what everybody else is using there is no reason not go with cartridges that less trouble to supply.

The one thing I didn't see coming was the twist choice being a problem. And maybe somewhat the chamber questions that came up. Shiloh only offers a 19-twist in .44 caliber and C. Sharps only has 18-twist. There is nothing wrong with either of those twists unless a guy wants to shoot 1000 yards and win. If I was only going to shoot silhouette and mid-range and/or hunt with my .44-77 either of those would work.

It's that darn Creedmoor that requires the longer and heavier bullets. That just happens to be the shooting I do the most. As I studied the different twists that can be had in a .446 caliber barrel it was pretty clear that the 17-twist would be the best to cover all that I'd like to do with this rifle. That one choice complicated this project a lot more than I ever would have thought.

If I could go back to July of last year I would have just sent my rifle to C. Sharps and had them put an 18-twist barrel on it and I would have been shooting the rifle months ago. That twist would allow a bullet of around 500 grains (1.400" long) with good stability out to 1000 yards and it would do very well with lighter bullets for mid-range, silhouette and hunting.

That being said, I am for sure getting closer to the day Shiloh finishes and ships my rifle with each passing day and even though it is likely to have been almost a year since I sent my rifle to Shiloh before I see it again I know that when that day comes I will be happy I went with the 17-twist and I will forget all about how long it took to get a barrel screwed my rifle.