Wisconsin Rapids mid-range match with my .44-77.

[Distant Thunder]

Gavin,

I will be chronographing the Goex load eventually, maybe this weekend. I would think 91 grains would scoot that 505 grain bullet along at 1300+ fps.

I did a quick check of my 2 lots of Swiss 1 1/2 and my Goex 2F just scooping the same volume of each and weighing them and there wasn't much difference, the 2016 lot of Swiss was 37.5 grains, the 2013 lot was 38.0 grains and the Goex was 36.5 grains.

As I said early I have had very good results with Goex 2F over the years at around 1/4 compression and I have read of other shooters saying the same thing. I'll need to try a few grains above 91 grains and a few below to see if more or less is better but 1/4" compression is usually a good starting place with Goex.

This morning I did what I usually do when I start shooting with a clean and oiled barrel, I ran one wet and one dry patch through the barrel. I do that at matches too. I was a bit surprised when that first shot went so low. I've had rifles before that take a round or two before they settle down. It looks like that will be the case with this one. I'm still learning with this rifle but I really like it. Once it settles down it tends to just stack one on top of the other and I'm not exactly holding a 1/4 minute either, I'm not that good.

It's good to hear that you had some success with paper patch. If ever there was a cartridge that God made for paper patching it was the .44-77! After shooting this cartridge for 2 months I have to wonder why it isn't more popular today and it's easy to see why it was so popular back in the 1870s. It has been very easy to work with and shows excellent accuracy potential.