44-77 brass

[Don McDowell]

I believe you're dead right Don. Within the limits that I'm likely to achieve with powder/ velocity increases.. it is never going to make up for a faster twist rate. A poor attempt to compensate perhaps but it's giving me more excuses to shoot...so it cant be all bad. This bullet is certainly better than the earlier Creedmoor style I've been using beyond 750 yds and was fairly consistent in 'average' winds out to 900 when I tested recently. I'll stay with my Brooks mould for anything up to 700 yds though and I think it would be fine for silhouette. It may not be the ideal 1000 yd contender I'd hoped for ..but I still think it's a gem of a cartridge. In a faster twist... it will likely be a longer range contender without the fiddling about . I'll be interested to see your results when your faster twist gun is on the line. Bit disappointed with my latest lot of Swiss as it's much lighter for its volume than the previous lot . Hopefully it's performance will be the same .

JB this rebarrel on buttugly will be a 44-90 st It'll take about 10 grs more powder, and the twist came out at 16.5 so it won't really even be and apples to grapefruit comparison when stacked up against the 77.
I do think that staying with bullets at or around 1.3 inches gives the 19 twist a better chance at 1000.
I also think that it would be darn hard to find a better hunting/sillouette/midrange cartridge than the 44-77. I would be curious at some point to set down and do some serious work with a C Sharps 44-77 as their 17 twist barrel should really give some good bullet choices for 100 yd work. But as I have these 2 Shiloh's I'ld hate to have to sort brass that close to keep the chamber sizes separate.

[Don McDowell]

Don.

What chamber are you going with? Do you still need my .44-75 reamer?

Kurt I decided I'ld better use Iron Coyotes reamer as it's closer to the size the groove diameter on this barrel came out to.

[Kurt]

Just as well Don. Hard saying when I will get mine back.
What is the caliber?

[Don McDowell]

Kurt it's a 44 2.4 straight, and very close to your maynard chamber. It is made for the .448 groove diameter, and this barrel measured .4475.
I was looking at Hornady's web site, and it looks as tho they'll make custom dies off of 3 fire formed cases. I'm thinking to call them this morning and confirm that, and visit with them a bit about a set of dies for the 44-77.
Ran into some chambering problems this weekend, so I'm thinking some closer resizing may help with a multitude of problems.

[Kurt]

Well maybe the sizing die I made for you will work if it's not to tight for the larger chamber.

[Don McDowell]

Kurt I think that die should work fine. I have all my new starline cases sized, and a couple loaded with that 434470 bullet and 80 grs of OE 1.5, just itching to be fired.. Just wish the thing would get done in time to find a load to take to Raton for the Creedmoor match.
MVA shipped my unertyl rear scope mount and blocks yesterday.

[Kurt]

Well I do load development at the matches all the time Maybe it will be great right off the bat.

[Don McDowell]

Have done the same thing, but the problem at Raton is the time limit and not really having any sight settings to work from, so you end up spending more time an ammo than is prudent just to get on target...

[J.B.]

so you end up spending more time an ammo than is prudent just to get on target...

... Boy.. am I familiar with that phenomenon !

.. Actually Don with a 16.5 " twist .. I cant see there would be many projectiles... 520 or even longer/heavier that wouldnt work favourably. Will be interesting to see. I gather C. Sharps run a different twist rate for the 44's as standard ? ...ie. 17" ? Perhaps one day Shiloh will run a twist rate option on the 44's like they do with the 50's. In the mean time I'll 'eneavour to persevere ' ..

[Don McDowell]

JB, CSA now uses Green Mtn barrels, and they do run 17 twist..
Yes I'm thinking this 16.5 twist should run about everything I'll want to put thru the rifle. I don't think however it'll shoot bullets under 450 or so very well, but that's ok as it's main purpose in life will be 800 and beyond.