44 WCF BP and SUBS in 1873 Uberti rifles

[okotoks]

Hi fellow Darksiders
I am in the process of getting a Uberti "Winchester 1873" in 44 WCF

I shoot FF or FFF(Graf&sons WANO)  in 45 colt pistols usually 33+ grains with 260gr cast bullet "Kieth" with SPG lube or equivalent., No wad(s). I have found that Mike Taffins load of 37 grains is a good as it gets for shooting the 45 Colt, but this is awkward to shoot FAST!

In my Rossi '92 (45 colt) I have been shooting about 21.x grains of triple 7 with standard hard lube and 250gr RNFP. With less velocity the accuracy deteriorates. [i.e. 9gr Unique makes "one ragged hole"]
I will probably shoot triple 7 & factory cast bullets until I get a mold for the rifle, and won't order that until I get a good idea of bore dimensions.  I have heard they can be anywhere from .427 to .432 

My questions
How much Triple 7, by weight, to use with Lazer cast .428 200 grain bullets
How much FF or FFF,by weight,  with 200-217 grain cast bullets. I tend to use CCI Magnum large pistol primers for accuracy with BP, and WW or Wolf primers for just 'shootin"
I know this is kind of a wimpy rifle compared to the '92, but  it still should shoot "lots" of  BP and remain below the pressure limits.
I chose this rifle and caliber to specifically shoot BP, and not a BP-SUB.

I load triple 7 on a 550 Dillon press and measure,
For BP I have a Lyman Black powder measure that I jerry rig on to the Dillon
For the heathen fad powders I have a good stock of Trail boss and Unique.
Thanks
Okotoks

[Pettifogger]

I've never bothered to weigh any BP sub and I shoot thousands of rounds per year.  All you have to do is keep adjusting your Dillon measure until the powder is at the level where it touches or will be sllghtly compressed when the bullet is seated.  The actual weight is completely irrelevant.

[Noz]

I've never bothered to weigh any BP sub and I shoot thousands of rounds per year.  All you have to do is keep adjusting your Dillon measure until the powder is at the level where it touches or will be sllghtly compressed when the bullet is seated.  The actual weight is completely irrelevant.

+1

[Paladin UK]

Fer okotoks ..

I will probably shoot triple 7 & factory cast bullets until I get a mold for the rifle 

FWIW..

I dont know how 777 will react with commercial lube but I know that with BP ya get one gooey mess !! Might be a better idea ta remove the lube in  dip lube with SPG or similar 

Paladin (What would avoid hard commercial lube `n` BP  ) UK

[Fingers McGee]

I've never bothered to weigh any BP sub and I shoot thousands of rounds per year.  All you have to do is keep adjusting your Dillon measure until the powder is at the level where it touches or will be sllghtly compressed when the bullet is seated.  The actual weight is completely irrelevant.

+2

777 works with BP or crayon lube with no problems

[Haggis MacGurk]

I shoot an Uberti '66 in 44-40 with FFFG using the 200gr MAV Dutchman, and I use 35gr by volume in all my ammo. You definitely know it when it goes off, but I have not had difficulty shooting quickly with this load. Again, as long as you have enough powder in there to provide a little compression when you seat the bullet, all will be good with the world.

[Paladin UK]

fingersmcgee says...

777 works with BP or crayon lube with no problems

Paladin (Whats learned somethin today  ) UK

[Grapeshot]

I add as much BP or Sub to fill the case to within one-eighth of an inch of the mouth, then I compress the powder with either the bullet, (HARD cast), or a compression die.

777 is the only one I won't compress any more.  I loaded the 777 just like I do for BP, APP, and Pinacle and exceeded the velocity limit for SASS and formed a nice ring of .44 Craters on a mild steel plate.

Bullet used them was a Hard Cast RCBS 200 grain Cowboy bullet.  I'm using trhe 205 grain MAV Dutchman bullets I got from Springfield Slim.