44-77 Sharps paper patched load

[Eric Johanen]

    I managed to get out on the rifle range today with the 44-77 and shot 2 loads: 75.0 grains of KIK 2 fg and 73.0 grains of OE 2 fg. Light was a little dull under the line roof and I did have a bit of trouble seeing the rear sight and centering the Hartford blade. 25 yard T&R pistol target posted at 100 yards. 4 0'clock 7 sighter #1. moved the rear and sighter #2 resulted in the 7 at 8:30. Bit right and shot the 9 at 6, 9 at 3:30 and the 8 at 3. Light tap left and things centered up. X and the 10 at 12 0'clock. These were with the KIK powder. Remaining were shot with the OE load. High 8 and 9 and the 7 at 5:30 were just sight alignment. Core of the group went 3.25 vertical by 5 horizontal. Flipped up the ladder and put 2 shots into the 10 ring at 5:30 on the SR target at 200 yards. Things are starting to work!

[Caprock]

I dont know about your eyes but I get a much better sight pic with the ladder up.

[Eric Johanen]

I have opened up the notch on the Lawrence sight and it is fine except when shaded then it takes a bit more concentration to get the front centered up. That 5.5 inch bull is pretty small at 100 yards and you can not let the front sight wander too much to keep them in the black. 73 grain load of 2 fg OE shoots petty good and I want to try it at distance. Pleased with the shots at 200 and I'll get the shim installed on the rear sight boss next week and start working at 200 yards. The bottom notch on the ladder is fine and I get very good definition for the front and the target. Slider is also nicely defined. I do want to run this rifle and load on steel and will have a chanced in July to test it out. My hunting is out to 100 yards or a bit over and I want the bullet to hit just on top of the front sight blade at that distance. Using a 6 O'clock hold for 200, the impact in the middle of the 10 ring is about 4 inches high making it usable to around 225 yards? This will work in the field. Should also work for steel at 200 yards or meters. We will see in the near future. Pleased with this rifle and chamber. Paper is finely shreaded leaving only the fold over the base intact. All lube is deposited in the bore with just a film left on the cards. Everything seems to be working well.

[Eric Johanen]

    [attachment=922]Looking at the last two targets, I think I'm pretty close to a accurate hunting load. Discounting sighter's and a few shots due to poor sight alignment The rest would result in very dead deer. More practice with the open barrel sights and maybe a bit more definition on the rear sight.

[Caprock]

I went back and re-read the entire thread....pretty enjoyable and informative this Sunday afternoon. Enjoyed it so much I'll read it again next Sunday...by then it'll be newsy again!

[Don McDowell]

Looking good Eric.

[Kurt]

Eric did you ever shoot the bullets I dave you?

[Eric Johanen]

Not Yet. Have shot the Brook's bullet I have getting ready for the Merrill, Wi. gong match this weekend. I'll run them with 74.0 grains of OE 2f out to 500 yards and see if I can get zero's for each range. Your bullets will be next in line for a test. Chemo has been kicking my ass hard the last 2 weeks. My ass is lower than a frogs right now. I'll give a full report on the match next week. I really want to see how your bullets do and I will let you know how they fly. I'll use 72, 73 and 74 grains of OE 2 fg for the test.

[Fogman01]

I am examining a Rolling Block Creedmoor original. I have it for a three day look and permission from the seller to do a chamber cast on it. It has 44 S stamped on the barrel. So I just had it chamber cast tonight at my gunsmith's. It is in fact a 44-77 2 1/4 case and chamber exactly. It takes the Shiloh 44-77 Jamison brass from Buffalo Arms that I have for my Shiloh Sharps - I put a case in the chamber and it was a good fit. Did not seem to be a headspace problem with the Shiloh brass rim being slightly thinner than an original case was. The bore is like a mirror - as nice as a new rifle's bore. Amazing. But - the bore measures .451. When the gunsmith put a .446 bullet that I load for my Shiloh 44-77, it pushed right through with virtually no resistance. Is this going to be a problem reloading with neck brass expanding too much? Can I size back down so I can use it in the Shiloh too? If the bore is .451, then what diameter bullet do I load for it? Grease groove and paper patch both. I am going to try to shoot paper patch through this original Creedmoor and shoot it at matches. Was this rifle re-bored for a .45 caliber at some point in the past? Or did the originals have that much slop? The rifle is pricey but has good wood, a 5" original vernier tang and an original spirit level globe front sight.

[desert deuce]

I don't know what to tell you. Have you slugged the barrel or pin gauged it ?

As I recall, we ended up shooting .450" grease groove bullets in the 44 S Original Rolling Block Sporting Rifle.

BTW, I once accidently chambered a 44-90 case with a 1x20 .447 bullet in a 45-90 and it hit about six inches low at 200 yards. That 45-90 has a .4575 groove and a .450 bore.