Time to cast,

[Kurt]

Jim,

I think that .44-77 will do fine when you get your confidence build up using it at the matches. I think you only had it once at Lodi for one relay I think you said.
I just shot mine once at Lodi and that was with a couple different loads and bullets just to see what needs changing. Yes it's tough to be down on the leader board at the end but one learns something.
My problem is getting used to use the scope and even using the scope I have a hard time seeing the target unless the light is very bright and it seems like it's getting worse every time I shoot here local. I'm going tomorrow to find out what is going on in the morning and what they can do to fix the problem.
Like you I have a lot of rifles sitting in the dark safe. They are good shooters but they just sit there and I only pull two when I go to the match.
This new .38 Hep. I spent a lot of cold days with a bullet that just did well on and off, it just was not right for the large .100"+ free bore and very shallow lead. This new mould I just got fits the freebore and with the 30 shots I fired using it most of the 3 shot ladder loads stayed under 2.5" except for a couple @200, but they were ladder loads. I don't intend using this caliber for long range but I will shoot it at Lodi to see what it's capability is now that I have a bullet that will make the pit safety rule for that range.
I very much like this rifle but it will be used for midrange or shorter.
I just wish I could mount the tang sight on it. It just has a better balance with it than a scope.

[Don McDowell]

Jim the plan is to post scores daily. Hopefully it will come to be.

[Distant Thunder]

It sounds like a great match reading through what d. deuce posted and a guy would learn a lot. The rules require everyone to have fun so I don't see how it could bad!

I for one would sure appreciate the scores and I'm sure others would too. That being said I know how fast the days can go when at any match, so I understand the difference between "The Plan" and what actually happens.

[Don McDowell]

It's going to depend a lot on available internet. We should have the scores from each day by the time the last relay is thru putting their stuff away or shortly there after.
One of the really nice things about the way Zack has laid this match out, there are not yard line changes, only pit changes. So hopefully we'll be done in fairly good time everyday.

[Distant Thunder]

Kurt,

That first time I shot my .44-77 at Lodi was a total debacle! I was in no way ready to deal with the fouling I had and in the long shot strings the fouling just killed me even though it shot well here at home (220 yards).

I don't think I shot it in a long-range match after that one. I'm pretty sure I got the fouling problems resolved, but shit shows up at a match that never even looks like a problem at home, so we will see.

I seem to be able to use the irons on my 34" barreled Hepburn and do well. I think I can see pretty darn good. When I have tried irons on the 30" .44-77 I can't make out anything, I can tell if I'm aiming at the target or just a dull grey smudge or shadow.

I have never yet done well with my scoped rifles at a long-range paper match. I've done better at mid-range paper and I love my scope for silhouette. Both my scopes have just plain crosshairs and I'm not sure I'm centering the target that well. The learning curve is definitely there. I'm not discouraged at all, I like the scope and with the DZ or MVA mounts I have no trouble making corrections. I sometimes have trouble with the math that the 7.2" mounts causes me to have to do. Each .001" on the dial moves me .5 MOA, so do I divide or multiply? Being dyslectic I can easy do it wrong. That might not be the best excuse, but it's the only one I've got!

If I went to a spacing that equaled 1/3 or 1/5 MOA I'm sure there would be a complete disaster waiting for me.

[Don McDowell]

When I get back from the Desert. I plan to mount one of my 23 inch MVA scope in DZ mounts, stick that on top of my new 44-77 and go to work with it. Hopefully will have it dialed in and shooting well for the Alliance spring match, and if I'm happy with the way it works for that will take it to the Wy State midrange . Heck if things work well enough in those 2 matches I may even break down and see about catching a silly wet match with the thing.

[Kurt]

Jim,

When you get your shop setup and get bored here is a bullet that shoots very well in my 17 twist .44-77. I used this bullet toward the end of the relay at Lodi and it outshot the others. Or if you want to use this mould before you spend time making one.
If I was to cut one I would make it adjustable. I already started to make a D cutter but the ogive needs a little more work before I split it and harden it.

[Distant Thunder]

Don,

I hope both of us can get our .44-77s up and shooting well this summer. I can't see any reason this cartridge shouldn't be competitive. The powder capacity is between the .45-70 and .45-90, both of which win matches. With a 17 twist the bullet weight can equal the .45s. There is no lack of good quality molds in .44 caliber. I have molds from Steve Brooks and BACO and both make excellent quality molds. The nose pour adjustable that Steve made for me last fall casts the best of any mold I have ever used. I have only worked with that one a little bit early this winter and it shot very well. That is the bullet I will work with this year.

My plan right now is to shoot the Lodi spring match with my .45-70. No matter how that goes I will shoot the rest of the matches this year with my .44-77. I'll fine tune it as I go.

[Don McDowell]

Jim I have a fixed Brooks mould that drops a .434 parallel sided bullet 1.3 inches long. It weighs 455 or so and has shot well at times out of my other 44-77's. I am reasonably sure that wrapped in sc 55y it'll shoot with about any of my rifles. I have a bunch of them loaded already.Was planning to wring it out a little this winter, but unfortunately the weather just hasn't been fit to try and test loads in since last November. Hoping April is better.
Would like to scale the dual diameter bullet I'm using in this 45-90 to fit the 44-77, but will have to think on that one a bit.

[Distant Thunder]

Kurt,

That is the drawing I have on file for a future mold, either one I make or for Brooks to make for me. I think that is the mold I borrowed from you before and I cast up a few hundred of them and still have left. Your Sage bullet is the bullet that I used at Arnie mid-range match in 2020 and I finished only a point or two behind Schuenke and Steckel who were tied for 1st, Schuenke won with the higher score at 600 yards. That was my first match with the .44-77 and the best I've done with it.

I like the looks of that bullet with it's nose length at 43% of OAL. The tip radius is a little smaller than I usually like, but not much. The length is near the upper end of what a 17-twist .44 will stabilize well if launched at 1300 fps, but should be good still.

As for my shop, I got the wiring done for my machine last week. I put lights up on the ceiling and it's bright in there now. I moved my gantry cane this weekend and just need to put the wheels back on it. The darn thing wouldn't fit through the door with the wheels on, it was about 4" too tall at the lowest adjustment! I'll need the crane to lift the machines off the trailer and set them on my rollers so I can push them in place. Each machine will have to be leveled and have the power connected. It's a lot of work for one old man.

The weather is starting to warm up and as soon as the frost is out of the ground I can start moving machines. It will take a little time to them set up, but I'm getting closer every day. I still have to finish painting the walls.

I still don't have heat in my shop yet. The heater is up on the ceiling but I'm waiting (4 months now) on the furnace guy to connect it up! In a month I won't need it until fall so there's no hurry now!