The Letter!

[MikeR]

I received my .44-77 from Shiloh this year with a paper patch chamber. The Jamison brass fits it with no problems and I use the Lee .43 Spanish die to size the neck if it needs it when reloading. I have an Accurate mould that casts .434 and use it with the Seth Cole 8# tracing paper and a Brooks .432 dual diameter that I use with 9# onion skin.

[powderburner]

Good to know, glad its working for you
Whats the other dimention on your dual dia bullet

[MikeR]

The over all bullet length is 1.1". There is a band around the base that is .200" long and .432" diameter. Then there is a .060" transition to .428 diameter for the rest of the cylindrical body. 2.5R ogive with a .25" meplat. If I were to do it again I would decrease the .428" diameter to .425" to clear the fouling in the barrel better. The bullet weighs 412 grains cast 20:1 lead:tin.

[powderburner]

Thank you

[Kurt]

The .44-77 is a great cartridge and one of the most misinformation written about it, mostly from people that don't have one or shoot one and don't know anything about the cartridge and this goes for it's big Brother the .44-2-5/8 (.44-90bn).
I have several .44's, I like the caliber, one .44-77 two .44-90 bn Sharps and one .44-90 bn CPA 44-1/2 Stevens. Three with the 1/19 ROT and one with a 1/16 ROT plus a couple .44 straights with 16 and 17 twists.
The .44-77 does not give up anything to the .45 calibers. In my opinion it outdoes the .45's in my opinion.

A little hint, We all look for the golden bullet, don't matter for what caliber you shoot. There is always one better if we can just find it.
But look at the 4 cartridges below. The two on the left have a bullet I had reproduced from a original used in the past. That profile was not just used by the Sharps but also by most rifle manufactures of the 1800 Rds. Now days the trend is going with the two on the right, #3 is a prolate and #4 is a elliptical. The old profile will reach the target with a 1/19 ROT as far as the sight elevation will reach. The two bullets on the right will not!!! They will do a great job in the 1/17 and 1/16 ROT but the first two will also shoot as well using the 1/19, 1/17 and 1/16 ROT with the same results. Something the right two wont in the 1/19 ROT.
The original RN I have a adjustable mould that casts a .4315" diameter and it can be patched as tight as you want by changing the paper thickness, loose for the hunt , tight for the target.
The 1/19 twist will shoot this bullet as heavy as 510 gr in the .44-77 or the .44-90bn as far as you want to shoot. I settled on the .485 gr for all of the twists.

Mike enjoy your new rifle. It's a great combination, caliber and the rifle.

Kurt

[MikeR]

Hi Kurt

Is the nose profile on that 485gr. the original postel or more like the armory bullet? I see the diameter is .4315, but what is the length? If I can get this rifle shooting as well as my .45 2 7/8" SS, I'd like to shoot it next year at the Quigley. I got this rifle for informal shooting and maybe a bison. It's too heavy for serious hunting like elk or eland.

[Kurt]

Mike it's not a Armory bullet nose and not the original Postel. The Gov bullet nose is like a marble cut in 1/2 and the postel is more pointed.
Here is a better look at it straight down.
The 485 gr is 1.325" long cast as a flat base and 1.330 as a cup base.
A 510 gr cup base is 1.415" long. Both bullets shoot very good in the .44-77 and the .44-90bn with a 19 twist.
The 485 dropped 3 buffalos in fine shape.

[MikeR]

Thank you Kurt.