.44-77 and paper patch?

[Don McDowell]

What profile/weight is that gm barrel? I've sort of have the itch for a 44-70st.
A while back Buffalo Arms had some 44 Kriegers in stock, but can't remember if they were round or octagon.

We still have a lot of snow drifts, that are now closer to ice blocks here. I don't think I can get to the 200 meter target line to post a new target yet, but may be able to get thru the gate to get to the bench... But that will depend a lot on what this storm starting tonite does...

[Distant Thunder]

Don,

This it - http://www.gmriflebarrel.com/sharps44-34...s-profile/

I've pretty well detailed all I know about this barrel in this thread, .4455" groove diameter, .4363" bore diameter. It is very well finished on the octagon and is 34 1/4" long and weighs 8.1 lbs.

[Kurt]

Sounds like there will be a lot of .44-77 shooters soon. I ended up buying OLR's .44-77 Farmer because the chamber it has was cut by Steve Rhoades that is pretty close to what I was going to have a reamer made and it had the right 17 twist I find working very well in my .44's I have so I took the short cut and took his. I will pick it up at the Q in June because I didn't want it sent to get damaged in shipping.
I think we should all get together when we have them and shoot shoulder to shoulder at a match. I think the .44-77 is a great chambering.
Any update on yours Jim?

[Don McDowell]

Jim that's the same barrel I put on the rough rider and had chambered to 44 2.4. Great barrel for a long range gun.

[Distant Thunder]

Kurt,

Just that Kirk and I worked out the final details and assuming he has no trouble getting the Krieger blank he needs it should be in process shortly I would think.
Of course changing barrels nullifies any numbers I had for bore and groove and therefore nothing can move forward on any molds until I have the rifle. I would think that I'd have it in a month or so which would put it in that 5-6 months that was expected.

Winter has a way of taking the urgency out of shooting and load development. Right now I'm having trouble just keeping the main trails open and getting the ice out of my gutters on the house. Winter hit us hard the last day of our deer gun season with 18" of wet heavy snow followed by subzero temperatures. Then we got another 9" of snow yesterday! To make matters worse the ground was not frozen when the snow came so you can get stuck in the mud under the snow just as easy as the snow itself. I've spent more days moving snow around the past two weeks than not.

Next weekend I'll start trying to open up my range so I can do some shooting when the .44-77 gets here. That stretch from mid January into February can be rather brutal. We've already got just about as much snow on the ground this year in mid December as we had by the end of February last year. At least it's back in the 20s now and I can work outside, it wasn't so easy a few days ago when the high was 5 degrees! With wind chills in the -20s I could only have my gloves off for a few minutes and my fingers would get so cold I couldn't get them warmed up again unless I went in the house. We haven't seen the sun for more than a few hours in the past two weeks. Things will start to get better in about 4 months.

I'm sure it will take a while to get my .44-77 up and running, but I'll start shooting matches with it as soon as I can. There are only two matches next year that I will for sure shoot my .45-70 Hepburn, The Cup and the State Championship. Everything else I hope to shoot with the .44-77 if it's at all up to the challenge. It's got to be at least down to a 2-minute rifle I would think, but that should be fairly easy to get. I don't see being able to shoot beyond 200 yards until sometime in May, but if it will shoot into 4 inches or less at 200 I can work with that.

[Distant Thunder]

Don,

That's what I was thinking, but Kirk did not like that barrel and I can understand his reasons. The Krieger barrel will be as good I'm sure and it will fit better into Shiloh's system. I only wish I had known that back in July!

[Don McDowell]

That would of been good information for sure.

Don't despair tho, the 44-77 is very easy to get up and running. I'm betting if you get it in time, it'll make a good show at Lodi.
I'm planning on bringing the 77 in 45-90 and the 44-90 st, will shoot one in the Cup and the other in the State match.

[Kurt]

Jim I have a Krieger barrel chambered in the .44-100 on my Shiloh with a 17 ROT that I furnished and Kirk put it on. You won't have any problem getting the .44-77 shooting. When I got my .44-77 Hartford I took it out on the front yard and shot my 130 yard target it put all 5 rounds on the paper under 2" and it still does that with the barrel sights on it.

I understand what the weather does for sitting out in the cold. This is why I told Gary to bring it to the Q when he comes. But i'm like a Kid waiting for Christmas Morning to come I might make a run and pay him a visit before June.

[Distant Thunder]

Waiting is the hard part, but I know it's required, I really think I'm handling it well. Winter is helping me cope. One look outside and a glance the thermometer and I don't really want to go outside and sit with bare fingers while handling cold metal things and wet cleaning patches! I'd rather make fire would and framing timbers, at least then I'm keeping warm. Shoveling snow keeps me warm too, but it ain't near as much fun.

My hopes remain high for my .44-77. There will be a lot to do once I have before actual load development can begin and spring will come (eventually).

Kurt,

What are the bore and groove diameters on your Krieger? Just wondering, not that it will be exactly the same a mine.

[Kurt]

Jim. my barrel is a 6 groove and it's .438/.4498" close enough to call it .438/.446