44-77 Sharps paper patched load

[Eric Johanen]

    This is what I'll feed my new rifle. Brook's adjustable mold set at 418 grains, .431 diameter, patched with .002 100% bond paper. Got the call yesterday from Shiloh and should have it in hand later this week. Christmas is coming early!!!

[Don McDowell]

Welcome to the 44 sickness. You'll be wanting to stock up on OE 1 1/2 and 2f.

[Eric Johanen]

Yes Don! This will be a hunter and steel banger for sure. Open barrel sights and only fed paper patch ammo. Worked out how to post picture's and will put some up when I receive the rifle. Have OE and Swiss 1.5 and 2 fg on hand. Soon as I check case fit I'll be reloading.

[rdnck]

You are really gonna enjoy that rifle. Shoot straight, rdnck

[Don McDowell]

Start with about 73 or 4 gr. The first fired case you eject from that chamber you'll be thinking someone Ackley Improved that chamber. LOL , from then on you'll likely find the sweet spot around 77-78 gr.

[Eric Johanen]

This will be a lot of fun!! The patched .439 diameter bullets fits the factory Jamison brass perfectly for fire forming. Have a Meachem bushing neck sizing die with several bushings to ensure a proper fit. Only thing I need to determine is the correct diameter for the wad stack and I'll be set. I think the standard .44's will be too tight for the brass from this chamber. I have one of Stephen's Hartford front sight ready to install. With the semi-buckhorn rear is should be perfect!

[Don McDowell]

Get the 44 wads from John Walters or one of the Cornell punches from BACO. Some of the dry lubed muzzleloader original felt wads and a bottle of jojoba , you'll be set to go.
Altho my rifles tend to favor slicks at .434 diameter

[Eric Johanen]

    I've got the .44 cal. felt wads and some .442 cards on hand. I'll try fire forming using a card, 1/8 Inch SPG cookie, SPG lubed felt wad and another card. See if I can avoid gas cutting and put enough lube in the bore to shoot this bullet dirty. Replaced the cup base with the flat base and the weight is coming in at .438-440 grains. Still looking at Thursday or Friday ETA. Jumping up and down on the inside!! Playing with photo posting preparing to get some picture's up when I get my hands on it. Jojoba is for weather proofing the patches?

[Don McDowell]

Jojoba lubricates them, it dries as a wax. I suppose it would water proof them as well.

[Kurt]

Eric a .442" wide wad is not wide enough, you will get gas cuts.
You want a wad at least groove wide or one or two thousands over groove diameter. You would be better off using a .023" thick card cut for the .458. I use .45 milk carton wads in my large "standard" chambers. The tight chambers are a different matter, one that is so tight that it will just except a PP bullet.