44-77 brass

[Nuclearcricket]

An addendum, the neck sizer bushing I made is marked .464, I checked the neck on the round I loaded with an unsized bullet and it is .465, so with this bushing I may only have .001" neck tension with unsized bullets. Hopefully that will be ok.
Sam

[Kurt]

I'm sorry Sam. I don't have a .44-77 reamer or I could make you a sizing die.
As far as your question about renting reamers, you might try here

http://www.4-dproducts.com/
http://www.reamerrentals.com/?gclid=CObO...MwodGEMAaw
http://www.mansonreamers.com/
http://www.jgstools.com/mainarea.html

[Nuclearcricket]

Thank you Kurt. Of that list I found 2 that had 44-77 reamers listed, and I have a call in to 4d about a throating reamer.
I called Captech today with questions about the rim thickness on their brass and made mention of hearing of some of the Jameson brass being out of tolerance, like you had mentioned. I was informed that the cause of the out of tolerance rim thickness no longer works there. I was also told that they inspect every 3rd case coming off the machines as well as in process inspections at every process step. A couple of my cases are on the low side of what is allowed, so I figure if I get it headspaced just over the thickest rim I have I should be in ok shape with the thin ones.
Once I track down a throating reamer location, it will be time to pack up all my goodies and a handful of cash and off to the smith I go.
Sam

[Kurt]

I don't have a throating reamer for the .44's. You might call Pacific or Manson http://www.mansonreamers.com/Instructions.html and ask if they have one on the shelf.
I was fortunate to be able to borrow a throater for my .44-77 before I had to get one made.

When you take the barrel to the smith take a case with you and tell him to set the headspace for this case.

[Nuclearcricket]

Yep, I figured I would take the thickest case I have and have him set the head space to a minimum with that case. I have a call in to 4d to see what they have in a throat reamer, waiting to hear back from them and then go from there. Renting a reamer is a damn site cheaper than having to purchase one and it would be my guess that this will probably be the first and last 44-77 my smith will ever do, so no reason for him to have to spend my money to purchase a reamer. Someone should have a throating reamer on the shelf someplace. I am thinking that one someplace between 7 and 11 degrees should work just fine. I think that my 40 and 45's have 11 degree throats and they seem to work just fine.
I will get things all figured out and put together one of these days.
I will make a phone call tomorrow and see if I can get one final question answered. On my GM barrel, the chamber end of the barrel is noticeably larger than the muzzle end. I am just curious if this is sort of a lead in or if there actually is a natural taper in the bore. It would be nice if it had a .001 or .002 natural taper in the bore diameter. That I would think would be just peachy. A phone call and a well scripted question or 2 should set me straight.
Sam

[Kurt]

Do they lap the bore now? I haven't got one their barrels for a long time now.

[Nuclearcricket]

Kurt, I talked to Green Mountain barrels today. I was told that their new barrels are honed before being buttoned. They do not lap their barrels.
Sam

[Kurt]

Thank you Sam.

Well if they hone the bore before pulling the button through that will make it as smooth as you can lap it for sure.
Keep us posted on that bullet when you get a chance o send some down range. I don't have a GG for a fast second shot load hunting bullet.

Kurt

[Nuclearcricket]

Kurt, I think this bullet will make for a fast reload bullet depending. If your barrel is throated it should be dandy, if it isn't, the front driving band can be easily sized down just under bore size and that should work very well also. That would allow you to seat it with the first band and grease grove out of the case.
I do know of a gentleman out in CA that is a retired machinist that makes custom sizing dies, but any machinist could whip one out quickly. I was doing a little looking on the net and found another guy that is making them for $25 each and he is using 12L14 for his dies. I was a little surprised at his choice of materials, but since that is what he is using and I happen to have some on hand it took me about an hour to turn the od, drill and bore the id, turn a 10 deg lead in and polish it. I used a piece of brass rod that was polished down a little for the ejector rod and it all works just fine. I can size the first band down to .4372 without any problems at all.
Would you like some of these bullets to range test? If so drop me a PM with your address and I will send 25 of them out to you in as cast condition.
As far as the information on barrels and such, I have the advantage of time on my hands (retired) and free long distance. Only problem is getting someone on the other end to pick up the phone.
Sam

[Kurt]

Sam,

I would be happy to test some for you

I would like to shoot them in the same 1/17 ROT as your using but I would have to breach seat them because my 1/17 will not chamber a GG, but I can shoot them in the .44-77 or the .44-90bn with a 1/19 ROT.

Kurt