Are the .44-77 BN and the .44-90 BN viable contenders in modern Creedmoor

[Distant Thunder]

Sam,

I happen to have an 18-twist take-off .44 caliber barrel and a roller action, neither is doing anything a the moment. That would make a sweet shooting little rifle!

According to my book on cartridge conversion the base diameter in the originals was the same as the .44-77, .517-ish. However, if you're building a new rifle you could absolutely go with .45-70 brass as the base and have very little taper to the shoulder. Case is 1.900" so it would work fine. With a bore diameter PPB you would be able to load a bit more powder.

I think you could still use a .43 Mauser die for initial sizing and once fireformed you'd be good. I'm not sure if you'd have to shorten the die but no big deal either way.

I was thinking about the .44 Maynard for my roller, but it's just another straight case. The .44-60 BN would be way cooler! You got me thinking that's for sure.

I would make a cool levergun cartridge! And very effective as a hunting round.