Sure has been quiet here

[Kurt]

Where are all the 855 members???
Weather is turning to the better so everyone should be out load development or just busting rocks and shooting match reports should be coming in good or bad.

Kurt

[Don McDowell]

Not much going on I suppose
Long winter not good for shooting
Matches just getting to rolling
I do think my 438470 bullet acquitted itself well at Phoenix

[Kurt]

Don,
I like the blunter ogives like that 438-470. I use it for a lot of my moulds from the .44's to the .50. It's very forgiving when the winds kick up.
With that long .400" at .438 diameter patched to maybe .444 + a little you must be seating it deep in the .44-77 ?? or does it have some freebore?

I had to make a longer base diameter for my .38-50 that has a .110" freebore.

[Don McDowell]

It does seat deep, but then I always seat the patched bullets deep, I'm not one of these of the barely seat it clique.
Most if not all of my patched loads will drop into a clean chamber with just enough of the leading edge of the patch to keep it from fully chambering but the breechblock will generally seat it.
I found over the last 15 years or so of messing with the dual diameter nose pours, that the best accuracy usually came with the base length at or very close to caliber diameter.

[Kurt]

I agree with the shallow seated PP bullet. The last thing I want to mess with during a match is fumbling with bullets falling out of the case loading.
I like about 1/8" in the case and that is good in my chambers that are on the tight side where a fired case the patched bullet is snug. No taper crimp needed and I can lift the loaded shell by the bullet and it holds the loaded case.
Several years ago you send me some of those DD bullets and I used them in the .44-90 BN with it's 19 ROT and they shot very well in it but they handy capped the .44-75 Ballard because of the powder loss.
I ended making a DD from one of the BA moulds I had cut for a hunting bullet for the .44-77 so I could load it dirty for a follow up shot that I patched a couple thousands under bore diameter and I can still do this with the shank diameter it has if I so patch it for shooting with a follow up shot in a fouled chamber.
It will hold 8/8 in the white spot on the 600 yard iron at the Q with out a problem.
When you patch a bullet at the base at groove diameter it does well sealing the gas fast behind the bullet for consistent pressure holding the ES constant. This is why I patched to groove diameter for a long time before going with bore diameter patched bullets.
This changed when I retired and had time to be able to drive out to the long range Gong matches and needed more powder capacity in the .45-70.

[Don McDowell]

Stuffing to many wads and other junk under the bullet can eat up powder space and give accuracy problems with either the dual diameter, groove diameter, tapered or straight sided bullets.

[Don McDowell]

Wet patched in the 55y the base of that. 438470 measures ruffle .442

[Randy Bohannon]

I’ve taken 6 shots with the new 77 45-70,it’s not been without problems and promises . Took it back to Shiloh to have them mount the front and rear sights. The front sight is/was a MVA Winchester Style Windage , they spent 30 min. doing the work.
Go to the range first five shots all in the ten ring @100 yds. Wind and snow finally push me off the range. 520 gr. Paul Jones Creedmoor 45001 69 grs. Swiss 1.5 has been a winner in my 74 and I am pleased this shows the same potential in the 77.
Next trip out a few days later and take shot #6 and the front sight is loose and ready to fall off. Have no ides why, Shiloh is not in the practice of loose screws . Those MVA Winchester front sights are a pain in the butt I replaced it with a #116 .I have my 100 yd. setting now for a 200 yd dead wind setting and real fun begins.

[Gussy]

Weather here has finally turned warm. Did get some varmint shooting in. There weren't a lot out yet.

[JKR]

My shooting partner and I are finally able to get back on our practice range at Spooner. We take turns shooting and pulling targets at five and six hundred yards.
Over the winter I bought two BACO Creedmoor mounds. One paper patch for my long range rifle and the other is grease groove for my Shiloh. Both have been giving great results with scores in the mid 90’s at 500 yards.
Regretfully, I missed the Long range match at Harris where I as hoping to give the patched bullet the real test. Myself and others were duped by the weather forecast and didn’t make the trip over. They were able to get most of the shooting and in on Saturday in spite of rather wet conditions and should’ve had a good day to finish yesterday.
I’m now gearing up for the Quigley match. People have been telling me that I should at least go once.
Arnie. Any gong matches at Merrill this month?
Jim