44/77 Hunting Loads

[Stephen Borud]

Gentleman

I finally got a chance to give the 44/77 a (Hunting Workout) yesterday at my pards ranch! 90 degrees 15 to 20% humidity! Load was.........

75grains if Goex Express Fg
.025 card, 3/16" lube, .025 card and
A 405 grain .431 PP bullet of my own design wrapped with 9 lbs onion skin paper!
I installed the early Hartford front sight with the brass post that I built! 38 rounds were fired over an hour and half period, no wiping was needed just 4 long breathes between shots! I shot rocks at 125, 150,200,217,256,350 and 417 yards! I could lay the gun down for 20 minutes, pick it back up give it 4 breathes down the barrel and it would continue its accuracy! The last shot I took was at 417 yards off hand and the gun still hit the rock! Without standing the ladder sight up it was dead on out to 150 yards! When standing the ladder sight up I could use the U of the bottom of the ladder sight and a six o'clock hold would get me out to 250 yards! Fantastic round to shoot! It's a but more finicky then my straight case Sharps but I am extremely happy with the way it performed on the prairies of Wyoming!

Stephen

[Don McDowell]

Looking forwards to seeing that rifle as the centerpiece in a whole big string of dead critters pictures this fall Stephen...
Grand little cartridge isn't it?

[Stephen Borud]

I'm going to try Don! I'm really impressed on how flat it shot! It shot flatter then my 50 2 1/2 shooting a 473 grain bullet and a 100 grains of powder! I'm very pleased!

Stephen

[Don McDowell]

Stephen I'm like you , the thing is just impressive everything you do with it. I'm looking forward to taking the target sights off of this rifle and getting to work on the hunting aspect...

[Stephen Borud]

Good luck Don on your hunting loads! I sure have a good one!

Stephen

[Don McDowell]

Thanks Stephen. It sure sounds like you've got a good load.
I'm going to work with that Old West bullet I have that has the dual diameter. .435 at the base and .430 on the nose. It has shown some promise but with that 8# paper I got from Kenny, it may just come to life...

[Stephen Borud]

Hey Don I loaded the rounds I shot threw the 44/77 with KIK Fg........I will let you know how it performs! Never shot KIK before so it should be interesting!

Stephen

[Don McDowell]

Stephen I've not shot any of the 1f KIK butt the 1.5 is sure the beesknees in the 44-77. The limited number of the 1.1 inch bullets I had with me at the Quigley hit every target out to the buffalo loaded with 80 grs of the 1.5, a rubberized cork wad , lubed felt wad and another .030 wad, just blowtubed and could run as many as 8 rounds with no problem. I swabbed the bore between each target. I use 78 grs with the heavier bullets.
Thinking maybe have a possible hunting load with that 1.1 bullet combo.

[Stephen Borud]

Don what does the 1.100 bullet weigh?

[Stephen Borud]

I like the idea of a lubed felt wad! Is the rubberized cork used to cushion the bullets base?

Stephen