Wish Me Luck

[Dave T]

For the first time in 26 years I am about to start loading black powder 44 WCF rounds. Cases are from Star-line, primers are my stash of Win LPs, powder is FFg from Olde Eynsford, and I just got the Big-Lube bullets from Mark Whyte.

Rifle is a Winchester/Miroku 1873 w/24" barrel. Feel like a kid at Christmas again...except for all the aches and pains. (LOL)

Dave

[The Pathfinder]

Good luck, Dave. And I agree with you about the aches and pains. If I'd known as a kid how much they'd hurt as I got older, I'd would've taken better care of myself. Or invested in the company making Bio Freeze, Ibupropin, Naprosin etc.

[Isom]

Good luck from here too. Just don't try to rush those bottleneck cartridges. Take your time. Started SASS with 44-40, ten years in I switched to 38-40 and B/P. If you go to the Winchester '73 section and look in the stickies there's a boat load of info on the 44-40.
Have fun, be safe.
Isom

[Coffinmaker]

Well > > > > OK > > > > GOOD LUCK   

[medic15al]

I can't recommend Big Lube or Mark Whyte's services enough!

Outstanding on both!

[sail32]

In case you missed these,

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?265478-My-44-40-Black-Powder-Journey&p=3088182&viewfull=1#post3088182

https://sites.google.com/view/44winchester/handloading/ancient-history-part-1

[Coffinmaker]

  PLUS ONE too medic15al   

[Blackpowder Burn]

Sounds like the perfect recipe, basically what I use, except I cast my own.  About 32 grains of FFg Olde Eynsford by weight works well, with lots of smoke and boom 

Next, you need to start loading shotgun with brass hulls....................

[Dave T]

Next, you need to start loading shotgun with brass hulls....................

Did that too, some years ago. I did CAS from 1985 till about 1995. After the first year or so I had switched to nothing but black powder. Part of that transition was acquiring a dozen brass 12 ga shells. This was before my local club (Los Vaqueros in Tucson, AZ) even recognized BP as a separate class. Ah, the memories! (smile)

Dave

[Dave T]

Quick follow-up. Got to go shooting Thursday. We were out in the desert so we didn't set up paper targets. Instead I offered an old knock-down target I used to shoot BP shotgun at. 14"X12" and a half in thick with a 6" wide base.

My friend's '51 Navy just dinged it at ~25 yards but my 45 Colt rounds with 250g Big Lubes over 35g of FFFg knocked it over (had to set it up every time I hit it - lol).

Moved it out to about 50 yards and cut loose with the '73. Another Big Lube bullet, this one is 200g over 35g of FFg Ol' E. Every time I hit it with the 44 WCF it made a loud "smack" just before it tipped over. Got tired of setting it up again and just shot at the base (6"X14"). When my old eyes could find that little brass bead I even hit the base.

The Winchester/Miroku repro shoots great and looks good too. Couldn't be more pleased and impressed.

Dave

[Coal Creek Griff]

It looks like you received the luck that you asked for!