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

[Distant Thunder]

I didn't do too bad at Lodi in some really tough conditions. When you figure that 4 of us, including Brent and I had to do our own wind calling for the two relays at 1000 yards on Saturday it looks even better. I don't mind calling my own wind, but it is an advantage to have someone else's eyes on the conditions when they are changing as rapidly as they were.

I missed the last shots on both those relays from having things change as I got in the rifle and took the shot. Put those on paper and things look a lot different! I do think most shooters had at least one miss per relay from 1000. It sure was a lot of fun though.

The temps were only in the 40s both days and the humidity was high, so fouling was not a problem for anyone. My bore critters worked well, but I have plans to build new, better ones before we get into the really hot weather. The main reason for the change is to make them longer, right now they are 2" long. It's a bugger to chamber one in that '74 with a scope on the rifle. If I make them 2 1/2 or 3" long it will be much easier and I'll be able to add a 3rd felt in the really hot dry weather.

Except for the last 2 relays at 900 on Sunday I really felt I was in control and the rifle was putting the bullets on the targets well considering the wind. The scope worked perfectly and I didn't have trouble turning the knobs. I did note that I was 7 1/2 MOA above my normal sight setting at both 1000 and 900. Bob Walline had about the same on his scope. Some of that was the temp, some was the damp air and a lot was the wind.

It was really hard to nail both the windage and the elevation in the same shot. You can see by the low X counts that the center was pretty elusive. When I was spotting for Brent at 900 he was hitting at 2 o'clock 9-ring, 10 o'clock 9-ring, 4 o'clock 9-ring and 8 o'clock 9-ring, but 10 and Xs were hard to come by.

My .44-77 is shooting pretty darn well, now I just have to find the best bullet to shoot in those tricky winds and I should be good. One more mold can't hurt, right!