Paper Patch Success with 44 Mag

[Fire_stick]

You guys inspired me to try paper patching, and based on my initial results, I am sold. I don't know why anyone would want to cast and reload any other way.

Following is my first venture/experiment.

The firearm is the Rossi Puma M92 44 Magnum.

The bullet is Ranch Dogs TLC432-265RF.
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The paper is Bugler cigarette paper, which just happens to be the correct length to give the bullet 2 complete wraps when the bullet is sized to .429".
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Here is one of the finished cartridges.
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Here is the first target using factory ammo. American Eagle 240gr. FP. 3 shot group at 35 yards. One shot was high and not on paper.
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I loaded a total of 18 PP cartridges using the TLC432-265RF. 9 using H110 in 19.5gr., 19.7 gr. and 19.9 gr. increments (3 each). And 9 using Lil'Gun in 19 gr., 19.2 gr. and 19.4 gr. increments (3 each).

I was impressed with all groups at 35 yards. They all exhibited good potential, given I was using a less than ideal rest with iron sights. Here is the best group. 3 shots, 2 holes, one hole a little bigger than the other. I want to try this one again with a better rest.
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No leading, and confetti with every shot.

Look out hog and deer!

[Bigjohn]

Look out hog and deer!

I'd say so! Good work. Don't forget to give us the word on your success in the field.

John

[303Guy]

Thanks for the feed-back. Be looking forward to further results, particularly field results!

How do you like Lil'Gun in the 44mag?

So the cig paper works for you. That's great! Paper patching is fun. There is something satisfying about the ritual. (I still have to get bench results but I think I know the direction I have to take, having had some encouraging early results).

I once loaded up a few grease boolits for a friend with a 357 Rossi Puma. The accuracy was astounding! I don't recall whether he had leading issues.

[pdawg_shooter]

Sure takes the work out of getting accuracy and velocity we want! And NO leading to clean out!

[Fire_stick]

303Guy -

I like the Lil'Gun. I got my second best group with it in this session. I will cast and load some more this weekend and do another comparison from a better rest.

[Fire_stick]

pddawg-

I started casting because I did not like paying for bullets.
I wanted to try paper patching because I did not want to fool around with either buying or making gas checks.

Next the 357 and 38 specials in my other Rossi 92.

[pdawg_shooter]

My rifle bores NEVER see a bare lead bullet anymore.

[Marlin Hunter]

did you have to wrap the paper like teflon tape on a pipe thread?. In the opposite direction of the twist so it does not unravel in the bore?

[1874Sharps]

Fire Stick,

Congratulations on your success (and quick success at that)! I have had good luck with cigarette paper as well when I needed just a couple of thousandths extra to make the difference between the grooves and the bullet. There are alot of experienced patchers here to help out, too, as you experiment and save a bit on stray shots. I am watching "Quigley Down Under" even as I type this. That movie was my introduction to what a paper patch bullet was and after watching I just had to get me a Sharps and try my hand at it!

The photo is a target with the results of a 70 grain black powder load under a 520 grain custom Lee mold paper patch pure lead bullet at 100 yards out of the Sharps. Not quite as good as Quigley, but I did not have a movie director to help out my accuracy.

[Marlin Junky]

MH,

The reason bullets are/were wrapped in the opposite direction of the twist is to promote shedding their jackets as soon as they leave the muzzle. This was more of an issue in the days when tall rifling was .003" and most rifling was on the order of .002" (the last quarter of the 19th century) which wasn't capable of cutting through the patch.

MJ

[montana_charlie]

The photo is a target with the results of a 70 grain black powder load under a 520 grain custom Lee mold paper patch pure lead bullet at 100 yards out of the Sharps.
1874Sharps,
What are your diameters...'naked' and 'patched to' ?
CM

[1874Sharps]

Montana Charlie,

The diameter of my pure lead 45-70 boolit as cast is 0.442" at the nose, tapered to 0.448" at the base (0.006" taper). When patched up with 100% cotton 9 lb. paper it adds 0.008", just enough to hold the boolit in an unsized case after taper crimping.

[303Guy]

Next the 357 and 38 specials in my other Rossi 92. Oh Yeah!:drinks:

Are you finding these cartridges ideal paper patch candidates? (Well, you've only done the one so far but you know what I mean). I've just made a prototype mold for my 25 and now busy patching the first casting. I shall test fire it shortly.

[montana_charlie]

Montana Charlie,

The diameter of my pure lead 45-70 boolit as cast is...
Thanks, Pard.
CM

[Fire_stick]

did you have to wrap the paper like teflon tape on a pipe thread?. In the opposite direction of the twist so it does not unravel in the bore?


Marlin Hunter,

I did not tghink about the barrel twist direct. I just rolled the wet paper around the bullet which ever way felt natural. Once dry, the paper resembles a thin cast around the bullet.

[Fire_stick]

Oh Yeah!:drinks:

Are you finding these cartridges ideal paper patch candidates? (Well, you've only done the one so far but you know what I mean). I've just made a prototype mold for my 25 and now busy patching the first casting. I shall test fire it shortly.

If it looks like a bullet, I am paper patching it right now. I still have a whole lot of loading and shoot'n to do in order to sort everything out in my mind. I am not blessed with with a lot of free time, but I have my moments, and I try to use them wisely.

[303Guy]

If it looks like a bullet, I am paper patching it right now.Me too!:mrgreen:

[Rattus58]

MH,

The reason bullets are/were wrapped in the opposite direction of the twist is to promote shedding their jackets as soon as they leave the muzzle. This was more of an issue in the days when tall rifling was .003" and most rifling was on the order of .002" (the last quarter of the 19th century) which wasn't capable of cutting through the patch.

MJ

So are you saying that you wrap the bullet so that it "unwraps" as it leaves the bore so to speak?

Aloha..

[Nobade]

I am glad to see you are having good luck with PP and the 44 mag. After I bought a Marlin 1894 44 mag rifle with the microgroove barrel it didn't take me long to realize if I wanted this thing to shoot well I needed to patch for it. Fortunately Lee makes a off the shelf .427" sizer which allows me to size boolits with that and then patch with 9# paper to .433", perfect for this Marlin's bore. The patched boolits need to be seated out way longer than normal to engage the rifling, so it is a single shot only. But with 240's going 1900 fps and accuracy better than I can see with the stock barrel sights I don't mind having to single load it. Oh, using IMR4227, a compressed load. The normal ball powders would overpressure with a case full having the boolit seated way out. More like a 445 supermag load than a normal 44 magnum load.

Keep up the work, sounds like you are a convert already!