Fireforming .44-77 brass?

[Nuclearcricket]

Just about any black will work for fireforming those cases. I think I mostly used Elephant that I have. Also used some CTG that I have on hand. I didn't notice any difference in the cases no matter what powder I used.
I had made up a bushing for a Wilson trimer and used that to gage how well the cases blew out to fit the chamber. Most of them were pretty close with a few that were just a whisker small but not small enough to really make any difference.
One that did surprise me is the 45-70 case that I necked and fired in the 77 chamber, it actually filled out a tad bigger than the 77 cases, as my first bushing came out a bit big but it fit nicely on the 45 case.
One thing you can look at and take into consideration, with the shoulder being pushed back so far on the new brass, the lower capacity does save you a bit on powder.
On another note, I have my adjustable PP mold from BACO back and have had 2 casting sessions with it. It has been a bit of a learning curve getting things set right but all in all its a nice mold and casts very well. The big issue I have been working on is getting the base to fill out to the corners. I had to play some with the temp and getting a good coat of smoke on the base plug and I think I finally have things set just about right. I also set up and case some Lyman bullets from an old Ideal mold for the 44. The bullets drop about 350 or so and are about .450 in diameter. I think I may be the first one to cast with that mold as it didn't have a mark or stain on it. It does now. The slicks I cast from the BACO mold are 1 1/4" long and go about 435. Both should be fun to shoot.
Sam

[Hiwall55]

I prime my 44/77 ,put 10.5 grain of bullseye inthem, put in loading block,grab my tub of Cream of wheat, go up on the deck and put on the railing. Then put my gun box on the table, with the rifle in it and a wiping rod. Fill a shell up with COW, then set the rifle on the railing straight up,slip the shell in and close the breech ,clock and fire. Put the gun in the cradle,open and tor shell is fire formed. Wipe the barrel so no kernels fall down on the next casing and repeat. Do NOT use a wad or any wax or your shell will split and it won't be the same length all the way around.

[Distant Thunder]

I gave you 45's and 44's, more 45's than 44 I think.
Cliff had Dave build him a dual diameter mould based off that one of Arnie's. He sent me 50 of them to repay the .446 535 money bullets I sent him home with in October.. Anyway, I've got 15 or 20 of them loaded for my Shiloh 45-70 but haven't got a chance to give them a try yet. I am thinking they may work better in the Browning. And I'm thinking that maybe try the rest in the CPA 45-90, but so far this fall the weather just flat hasn't cooperated for bullet trial shooting.

Don,

I'll be darned! There are a some .44s in there with the bullets you gave me at Lodi.
The ones that really caught my eye were the .45 caliber with a fairly short base diameter. My old CSA .45-70 has a freebore that is about 3/16". I like them better if the base band was maybe .100" longer but them buggers look like they would shoot very well in that rifle. I really like the nose on these! These are about perfect wrapped with SC 55W. There are only 6 on these so I can't really do much, but it does help me figure what sizes I'd need to fit this rifle.

The .44s I will try in my .44-77 of course and those I'll have to seat a little deeper. but I can make that work.
I wrapped one of these with my .002" paper and it seemed a bit small yet at .433/.445". It almost looks like I'd have to use .0025" paper.

I've run out of time today to look at the other .45 caliber bullets in the box. Those have a long groove diameter part and I think a cupped base.

I do believe a 2-diameter ppb is what my CSA needs.

[Don McDowell]

My CPA really likes those 45's, the other rifles are so so on them, using SC 55w. That bullet and the CPA have shot some pretty decent scores out to 1k. I may try some with the SC 55y one of these days if I can find time, but for now it's going to really take some real super duty performance for it to beat the .446 525 and 535's in the other 45xx rifles lounging around the safes.
Those 44's I use the SC 55 w and both of my 44-77's really like them. The nose on that bullet turned out a bit blunter than I had hoped, but danged if they won't shoot to 1000 , just need a few more minutes elevation on the rear staff. Silhouette rams don't give em any sass.