Shooting Buttugly's new barrel

[Don McDowell]

Did not make it down south for the big weekend of shooting So decided to finally do some shooting with the new 44-90 barrel on my CSA 75. The barrel is a heavy round contour from Oregon barrel. The reamer was borrowed from Iron Coyote. Cases are starline 45-90 necked down to 44.
Tried 3 different loads, 2 patched and 1 greaser.
At the moment the one that looks the best is 81 grs of OE 1 1/2 compressed about 3/8's in, with the Napa wad and the muzzleloader original dry lubed felt wad, under the BACO 434470 bullet wrapped in Seth Cole 8#.
Second best might be the Brooks 480 original postel lubed with BSC, a .030 walters wad and 80 grs of OE2f.
Did shoot some of the 434470 ove 78 grs OE 3f, but the few of those weren't really impressive, so not sure if I'll revisit those or not.
All shooting was done at 300 yds, and landing bullets on top of each other wasn't out of the question if I did my part.
Will be interesting to see what she'll do with fireformed cases..

[Mike]

Don, Some doin's. Keep us posted on the performance of that barrel. Mine will be a .44/77 but much work to do yet.

[J.B.]

All interesting stuff Don. Are you planning to stay around 470-480 grns or creep up into the 520+ range ? I guess you've got enough runs with these tried bullets now to do some research with them. As is often said I guess " if it aint broke... dont fix it". Will be good to see how it comes together. I know that Brooks original Postel is a performer. I use a variation of it with my 44 and like it very much. Waiting with much interest.

[Don McDowell]

I think I'll probably pretty much stick with the 1.5, there was zero uncalled verticle with those loads. The 2 and the 3 were prone to some perfectly straight verticle.

JB, I think for now I'll just stick with those 480's if you plug the numbers into a ballistic calculator those bullets come up with about the same SD and BC as a 535 45 caliber bullet. Altho I would maybe try some 500ish greasers if I could find some. I can also let the plug down in the tank buster bullet for more length, and Mike sent me a homemade block he got from somewhere that has a couple of cavities in it that are a good bit to long to be of any use in the 44-77.But as I recall one of them is pretty fat for a patched bullet,, guess I'll have to go get that block out and do some pondering..

[Kurt]

Don.

I think with that 1/16 or 17 rot you have you will do it injustice for long range using the 480 gr.
I shot some of my 485 gr and they are a very accurate bullet but the 505 gr Elliptical I gave you out smiles the lighter once at long range.

[Don McDowell]

Kurt I've been thinking on a heavier bullet for when I take this rifle long ranging, but for the time being I'm planning on just using it for midrange and maybe sillouette. The Raton gun will be the dedicated longranger for this year anyway, and maybe more.. I really like that CPA..

[Don McDowell]

Plus I do know those 1.35 in bullets hold up well at 1000 from the 19 twist until the winds kick a bit, so I'm thinking that that 16.5 twist will likely keep them well on track even when the winds get buggery like the can at Byers and Raton.

[Don McDowell]

Went out again today with 3 loads. all had 81 grs of 1.5 OE, the Brooks original postel, the BACO 434470, and the 475 gr money bullet.
If I were going to load to go to a shoot I would probably go with the postel, followed by the BACO. The money bullet strung verticly something terrible at 600.
The postel was holding the 6 inch bull on my small gong at 600 yds, and if sillouette shooting that gong is roughly the size of a ram, so the rams would of been in real trouble.
The BACO slick held fairly well, and did shoot a decent group, but needs tweeked just a tad.
Thinking real serious at sending the tank buster bullet to Brooks and having him duplicate it in a nose pour adjustable.. That might prove to be the best of both worlds as it is in the 44-77. Paper patch bullet that will shoot 90's at midrange with just a blowtube, if the trigger jerker does his part..

[Lumpy Grits]

Don-May I ask, what's a 'NAPA' wad?
THX,
Gary

[Don McDowell]

It's a wad punched from the NAPA rubberized cork gasket material.