Time to continue load development with my .44-77.

[Distant Thunder]

It certainly has warmed up some, we've had a few days in the 50s and even one that was in the 60s. The snow has taken a hit and we are at that point where it's either slush or mud. The mornings aren't too bad as things dry up overnight and even freeze just a bit.

This morning I set up a target at 220 yards to shoot the first test with the flat base version of my new Brooks nose pour adjustable mold. I decided to start where I left off with the cupped base bullet.

Brooks .434" adjustable original Sharps profile set at 1.340" long and cast from 17-1 using lead:95/5 solder. It weighs 485 grains and is patched with Staedtler tracing paper (.0015") and sized.

BACO brass primed with Remington 2 1/2 LP and filled with 82.0 grains of Swiss 1 1/2 lot # 18-01-2021. I seated a .060" LDPE under a .060" HDPE with very little compression leaving the bullet .150" in the case.

Temperature was 36 degrees with 76% humidity and the wind at 9 to 11 mph from 12 o'clock with slight shifts left and right.

For whatever reason the first shot went to the right, but the next 4 went into just over an inch. The extreme spread finished at 2 11/16" for the 5 shots. This is the first time I've shot anything in 3 months.

I also loaded 3 each with everything the same except increasing the powder charge in 1 grain increments to 85 grains (83, 84, 85). At 84 grains I started getting more vertical spread, but all the groups stayed under 3 inches.

I plan to cast some more of these at 485 grain bullets and load them up the same with 82 grains for more testing and to use at whatever match turns out to be next after the Lodi spring match at the end of April. That match I will shoot with my .45-70 and then switch to my .44-77 for the rest of the season.

I will also cast some that are longer and heavier to test and compare to how the 485s do. The 82-grain load looks like a good place for now so I think I'll stay with that.