.44-77 PP bullets.

[Kurt]

Jim.

I bet keeping stock inventory up in that business is costly. I just picked up some square stock and it floored me just how much the increase of the last a got.
This bar stock is not SST, it's cold rolled and it really turned nice on the lathe but I have no idea what it is.
This guy had some tooling to sell and a friend wanted the grinder, mill and lathe and this guy gave me the bar stock and several 3"X4"X4' lengths of aluminum but I have no idea what it is.

You might check out this link for some brass. http://www.huntingtons.com/store/product...472&page=4 I got all of my cases for the .44-90bn and the .44-77 from them before Jamison made it. They sold Bell .44 basic and some with their head stamp HDS. I think that was also Bell and I still have 99 cases of this .44 basic. They might still have some on the shelf also maybe .43 Spanish 11.15x58R. It will most likely be Bertram but it's as close to .44-77 you can get right now.

[Distant Thunder]

Finally some good news on the. 44-77 front! Today I heard from Kirk that my barrel "is in the blueing line now" and "it shouldn't be long".

It's coming up on 10 month since I sent my action and barrel to Shiloh, what a journey this has been. With a little luck I'll have my rifle back by my birthday the middle of next month. Then the real work will begin.

[Don McDowell]

It's going to be a long wait now. LOL

[J.B.]

Well that's good news then Jim. Would be a nice birthday present I'm sure ! They are relaxing a few restrictions down here.. although it varies a little from state to state. It does look like our little group should be able to travel to...and conduct a shoot next month. Typically of course... I dont have the time off but at least its a chance to break out for some of the other guys. I'm sure we'll all be looking forward to any updates you can provide. The mould I ordered through Rick in Canada is obviously in the stratosphere somewhere and will hopefully come home to roost in the next month or so.. fingers crossed. Then I can try rolling over a flat base and perhaps have some ready for July. Fingers crossed.

J.B.

[Distant Thunder]

J.B.,
I was talking with Rick about an original Sharps style PP adjustable mold when this whole China virus thing hit the fan and my rifle got caught up in it. I have to get back to him on that once I'm up and running.
This .44 is one of those cartridges a guy just doesn't want to get to far ahead of having a rifle to put them in. Doing that could be a waste of time and money.
It's been a longer wait than I would have thought and certainly longer than I'd have liked it to be, but it should make a very good rifle to experiment with once I have it in hand. Enough to keep an old guy busy for awhile I'm thinkin'.

The thing I'm not sure about is what is Kirk's definition "...it shouldn't be long..." ! I say that with a big grin on my face! ?

[J.B.]

Well I spoke a day too soon as the mailman delivered a parcel from 'Kal Tool & Die' this morning. Tapered Gibbs base pour with a .433 shank and .442 base. The ogive and radius meplat make the nose seem a little sharper than expected but its certainly beautiful work. See if I cant cast up some and get a photo or two out there. Will keep you posted.

Gavin.

[Distant Thunder]

Great, I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of that bullet and the mold. Even more so to hearing how it shoots and your load details.

I'm a big believer in the 2-diameter paper patch bullet design, they work very well.

What paper will you use for that bullet?

[J.B.]

Haven't even de-oiled the mould yet Jim but here are a couple of photos. I honestly had expected a slightly more rounded/ blunt profile at the nose than what this appears to be but the proof will no doubt be in the casting and shooting. Apologies if the files are a little large

[Distant Thunder]

That's a good looking mold! Certainly looks pointed enough. Perhaps too pointed for 30-1 alloy, might be better to try 16-1.

[J.B.]

I agree with regard the ogive and meplat. Its certainly more pointed than I expected a Gibbs to be but its here now so I'll cast some up and see how I go. I usually run at 16/1 and thats the alloy I specified. The mould is heating up currently and taking a while to get heat through the blocks. I've found this is not unusual with bigger blocks..and certainly seems to take longer the first time they are used. Dont know if thats my impatience or the character of the steel though.