44 bullet

[Nuclearcricket]

For you 44 shooters out there, I was wondering if any of you have any experience with this bullet? http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_deta...480S-D.png
I am considering this for my first bullet for the 44-77 I am putting together. Since it is a 17" twist barrel, it should handle this bullet well. I am thinking of having it cut at .446, on the driving bands, .438 on the first band and the nose at .436. Any opinions? The current alloy I have is about 30-1.
Thanks
Sam

[Don McDowell]

I'ld be cautious about the nose diameter. Make sure it is smaller than the bore diameter, otherwise you may have some problems chambering, and you will have unlubed lead sliding down the tube at a high rate of speed..

[Nuclearcricket]

Don, how much smaller would you suggest on the nose diameter? .432 to .434?
Sam

[Don McDowell]

I don't know how much smaller would be best, but the main thing is to make sure it doesn't prohibit or make chambering difficult.

[Kurt]

Sam.

It would depend on the bullet profile. (ogive)
When using a bullet like the money bullet cast with 1/30 T/L alloy even with the way the ogive falls away from the shank fairly fast the nose gets setback making that sleek MB look like a pastels bore rider.

Kurt

[Mike]

Sam, I haven't tried 44-480S but I've shot a lot of the 44-400B bullets in my .44/77 and those work very well. The nose of 44-400B is .003" smaller than what Accurate lists for 44-480S and I've had no trouble in chambering cartridges while shooting with a dirty barrel. Because of my good experiences with 44-400B I'll recommend the heavier version which is 44-450B. And my .44/77 has the 1 in 17" twist which lets it handle all of the bullets I have tried from 400 grain to 475 grain very well. As you might have noticed, I do like the products from Accurate Molds.

[Nuclearcricket]

Sam, I haven't tried 44-480S but I've shot a lot of the 44-400B bullets in my .44/77 and those work very well. The nose of 44-400B is .003" smaller than what Accurate lists for 44-480S and I've had no trouble in chambering cartridges while shooting with a dirty barrel. Because of my good experiences with 44-400B I'll recommend the heavier version which is 44-450B. And my .44/77 has the 1 in 17" twist which lets it handle all of the bullets I have tried from 400 grain to 475 grain very well. As you might have noticed, I do like the products from Accurate Molds.

Thanks Mike, I think then I will have him cut the nose to . 432 and then I should be in good shape. Hopefully they will drop from the mold close enough that I don't have to size them. That way I can just pan lube and shoot them. I will probably order the mold within the next week or so and once I have that it will be time to pack up all my parts and off to the smith to get the barrel fitted and chambered. I will have it throated with a 7 deg lead and little to no freebore. That should give me a good chamber for both greasers and PP if and when I get around to getting things together for that adventure.
Sam

[Mike]

Sam, Having the nose cast just a bit smaller as you suggest sounds good. I might have recommended .433" but we can't fight over .001". And Tom (at Accurate Molds) will make the mold just about any size you ask for with no extra charge. The leade in my .44/77 is cut to 1 1/2 degrees by C. Sharps Arms and that is really hard to beat. The 7 degree leade that you suggest is only a little steeper and, of course, we're talking about a "climb" of only .004" so we probably won't be able to detect any difference. Let me ask, what action are you building your .44/77 on? I have a rolling block action that I want to build into a rifle but so far I haven't decided on making it a .44/77 or a .50/70.

[Nuclearcricket]

Yea Mike, .001 on a bullet is pretty much nothing. In my past line of work as a precision toolmaker, that much difference is a whole bunch as most of the work I did was to +/- .0002". Yes everyone says Tom will make just how you want things within his ability. I think it would be great if he were to offer some of his longer bullets as nose pour brass molds.
As to my action, I have a pedrosoli rolling block that I am going to re barrel. I picked it up as a kit from Cape Outiftters many years ago. It is of the creedmore style with the octagon receiver ring and pistol grip. I have enough 45-70's that I figured I could spare one. I will put a 3 1/2 taper green mountain barrel on it. I have a spare Lyman 17A front with level for the front and will either use a Parts Unknown, or Snover rear. I have a spare base for each of those sights, for the snover I will have to drill another hole but that isn't a big deal. It should make a nice looking and hopefully nice shooting package when it is done. Pluss if it is going to look like a creedmoore, it should be in a proper caliber. The 44 will just nicely round out the stable, so to speak, that will give me single shots in 38-55, 40-65, 44-77 and 45-70, and 43 Mauser. Pretty much the mauser is a safe queen but it still counts I guess.
Sam

[Mike]

Yea Mike, .001 on a bullet is pretty much nothing. In my past line of work as a precision toolmaker, that much difference is a whole bunch as most of the work I did was to +/- .0002". Yes everyone says Tom will make just how you want things within his ability. I think it would be great if he were to offer some of his longer bullets as nose pour brass molds.
As to my action, I have a pedrosoli rolling block that I am going to re barrel. I picked it up as a kit from Cape Outiftters many years ago. It is of the creedmore style with the octagon receiver ring and pistol grip. I have enough 45-70's that I figured I could spare one. I will put a 3 1/2 taper green mountain barrel on it. I have a spare Lyman 17A front with level for the front and will either use a Parts Unknown, or Snover rear. I have a spare base for each of those sights, for the snover I will have to drill another hole but that isn't a big deal. It should make a nice looking and hopefully nice shooting package when it is done. Pluss if it is going to look like a creedmoore, it should be in a proper caliber. The 44 will just nicely round out the stable, so to speak, that will give me single shots in 38-55, 40-65, 44-77 and 45-70, and 43 Mauser. Pretty much the mauser is a safe queen but it still counts I guess.
Sam

Please keep me posted on what bullet you finally get. I might want to beg from you.