ballistim
11-16-2014, 02:21 PM
I'm thankful to have the benefit of the wealth of knowledge here as always, and will explain on this particular topic. Many have talked about the new deer hunting regulation changes in southern MI to include centerfire rifles with straight wall cartridge length no longer than 1.80".
Original plans for me included a shortened 45/70 and I followed a nice thread here on it, but ran into a snag on crimping the shorter cartridge. While driving past my local gun shop last Saturday their sign said they had .44 mag rifles back in stock, so I used my accumulated overtime $ & walked out with a new 77/44 in camo/stainless. Several great threads here on it educated me how to proceed so I bought the mold in the post title from Swede, dies/.431 sizer from Midway, gator gas checks from Blammer, and Starline brass online also. Barrel slugged at .429 (yay!), all components arrived within days, and my loads using surplus WC297 were tested and ready for opening day. I didn't have time to measure groups, but accuracy is more than acceptable for the blind I'll be hunting from with visibility limited to approx. 50 yds. Thanks to all for helping me make the almost impossible happen in such a short amount of time! I'll report back with a more detailed range report when time allows, and hopefully with photos of a nice deer taken as well. Please share your cast bullet experiences with this model that would be of interest & of use as I love this gun so far.
Original plans for me included a shortened 45/70 and I followed a nice thread here on it, but ran into a snag on crimping the shorter cartridge. While driving past my local gun shop last Saturday their sign said they had .44 mag rifles back in stock, so I used my accumulated overtime $ & walked out with a new 77/44 in camo/stainless. Several great threads here on it educated me how to proceed so I bought the mold in the post title from Swede, dies/.431 sizer from Midway, gator gas checks from Blammer, and Starline brass online also. Barrel slugged at .429 (yay!), all components arrived within days, and my loads using surplus WC297 were tested and ready for opening day. I didn't have time to measure groups, but accuracy is more than acceptable for the blind I'll be hunting from with visibility limited to approx. 50 yds. Thanks to all for helping me make the almost impossible happen in such a short amount of time! I'll report back with a more detailed range report when time allows, and hopefully with photos of a nice deer taken as well. Please share your cast bullet experiences with this model that would be of interest & of use as I love this gun so far.