[Rodeo Rustler]

Hey All,

I am just gettin into BP reloading and decided to start with 777. I have a 72 Open Top in 44 Special. I currently shoot light 6.0 grn Unique smokeless loads in it (it shoots high with hotter loads). I want to load 777 and shoot in my open top but I am not sure if a full case of FFG 777 is to stout for the open top design to take with a 200 grn. bullet? Could I use corn meal for filler? Or is it better to reload 44Colt or 44Russian with full 777 loads? Any help is appreciated! Thanks!!


RR

 

[butlerford45]

Rustler, you're not being ignored but an open top and in 44 special is beyond my experience. I was hoping some of the resident experts would step in with their knowledge but I guess they are as stumped as I.

 

[Cuts Crooked]

I shoot an Open Top in 38 Special occassionally. It's a nice gun and surprizingly accurate. I only shoot real BP in it though, never tried 777. It's my understanding that 777 is a good bit hotter than BP, so I'd reccommend that you find a way to back down a bit on yer loads with it. Remember that the open top is really nuthin more than a cap & ball design that was utilized by the factory to get in to the cartridge business end of things. So it is not the stoutest iron to be shooting by any stretch of the imagination.

Personally, I would go with the shorter cartridge...but that's jist me. I do know that the manufacture of 777 does NOT advise using any filler with that propellant. I ain't sayin' it cain't be done, but it ain't reccomended.

Here's a good place to ask questions about the Open Tops: http://www.frontierspot.org/viewforum.php?f=19&sid=2e7c25be1756a9438c7c71bcff044865

 

[leverfan]

If you don't already have it, I'd recommend picking up one of the free powder manuals that Hodgdon gives out, or else visit their website. They give specific charge amounts for 777 in the 44 Sp. case. I make it a general rule to avoid posting loads on the web, just in case I screw something up while typing, but I don't mind referring you to a very good, and free, source of information. It appears that Hodgdon has kept pressures on the low end with their listed 777 loads for cartridges, about 3000 cup lower than their Pyrodex loads. There must be a reason for that, and I sure wouldn't increase my charge past what the company recommends, not in an open top, anyway.

 

[Rodeo Rustler]

Thanks for the replies. I figured I would get some 44 colt or 44 russian cases to try...just haven't done it yet. I let you all know how it works out.

RR

 

[wile326]

I load 44colt for use in a 58 remmington with a kirst konverter. I use a well lubed soft cast 210 gr fn bullet with a full case of BP and have used 777. it is claimed that 777 gives about 15% more power by volume than BP. I have noticed no difference between the 2. I have tried some lighter loads with a wad in the case to fill it up but I dont like "gamer loads" I have fired 5000+ rnds through my remmington almost all full loads with out a problem. A friend of mine shoots a cimmiron open top in 44colt with the same load and has had no problems after several thousand rnds. Send me an email if you want some more info on reloading for the 44colt

 

[Will52100]

From my understanding 777 is hotter than black powders like Goex and Graf's, but is about the same as Swiss. From my experiance Swiss powder is hotter than other black powders and is clossest to the original black powders. Also the 72 open top uses the same size cylinder and barrel for 38 special, 44 colt/russian/special and 45 schofield. The schofield round is more powerfull than the 44 colt and the cylinder is thinner.

 

[apache235]

I can tell you that a case full of 777 in a .44 Colt is one stout load. To the point of making reloading real hard due to crud in the cylinder. I was using the 1.9 cc Lee scoop and will back down the next time I try 777. Went back to using Universal Clays and was much happier.