Shot my new Open Top today!!

[Dr. Bob]

Howdy,

Went to a local shoot today and shot my 44 Colt Open Top with 44 Russians!!                    What a hoot!  I was able to hit most of the targets [normal for me] with it "Out of the Box"!  Had to hold a bit high on some targets that were about 18 yards out.  They were knock down and when I hit the last three, they all fell right good!   I'm shooting 20 gr. of 2F and a 200 gr. Big Lube bullet!   It's my GAMER load.

Also got to shoot my re-chambered Henry, also in 44 Russian for the first time.  Finally got the hang of the Henry shuffle and it shot where I aimed it.  All in all, a very satisfying experience!!       

[Mako]

Dr. Bob,
Congratulations!  It is a hoot isn't it?  The load you are shooting is similar to the the original .44 Henry load the Open Tops were designed for.   The .44 Colt or .44 Spl are actually closer to the 25-28 grain Henry Rimfire loads. I've never shot anything but .44 Russian through my Open Tops since I decided .44 Colt was just an expensive way of losing brass from my rifles.

I am surprised you are having to hold over at 18 yds. 20 grains is a full case and good compression.  I have shot mine on a range at 15 yds. and found they were a dead on hold, bullet impact just where you set it on top of the front sight.

I shoot .44 Russian in a carbine as well.  I have one of Jack and Happy Trails carriers in my '66 Carbine and that is what I shoot it or a .44 Spl Short rifle at matches. I keep ammunition for both and carry the other rifle as a back up on my cart.  I lose a lot of .44 Russian brass as well but I got over 2,000 rounds of once fired from an old friend of mine and my loss rate is 15-20% per match from the rifles so it will last a while longer. If you are concerned about cost, .44 Spl is actually the best choice because you can find people who carry it as once fired brass.  I never see .44 Russian that way.

Did you say you had "rechambered" your Henry?  Did you rechamber it or just block the back of your carrier off?  I'm trying to remember, did you set the barrel back on a Henry that was originally in .44-40?  My two '66s are chambered in .44 Spl.

You're going to have a lot of fun, you might try FFFg.  You get a bit more ooomph and I think it smokes a bit more.  You get more fire from the FFg and more smoke from the FFFg.  Boom seems a bit louder too.

~Mako

[Pettifogger]

I just finished a 73 that took a lot more work than I expected.  Converted a .32-20 to .32 H&R Mag.

[Dr. Bob]

Mako,

A gunsmith friend removed the bbl. [44 WCF], bored out the chamber and relined it and then cut it to 44 Russian.  He put the pin in the carrier and boy howdy, it is slick!!  I was holding near the top of 16" square knock down plates and hitting them and knocking them down.  When I aimed center it went below.  I shoot an NCOWS 2 gun category and am excited about using them as my main match arms regularly!   The load was right on on some small rifle targets at 45 yards.  Great experience all around!   Still grinning ear to ear!

[Cuts Crooked]

Well I shot my 38 Special Open Top at Goddard today. (I know, .38 Special ain't historically accurate) Mine's a salvaged ASM and with Snakebites and case full of 3F it shots better than I can!