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Author Topic: New Compact Superlight 44mag Range Report  (Read 1336 times)

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Offline quickdtoo

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New Compact Superlight 44mag Range Report
« on: March 23, 2011, 12:42:54 PM »
A nice day for shooting seems rare lately, but today was a good one, sunny with a little wind, only took the new 44mag this time, making for a short range day, shot some 225gr FTX and a couple 240gr XTP, both factory loads I had left over from my other 44mag, the FTX doesn't shoot as good in this one, the XTP not as well, but the H110/240gr XTP handloads shoot good! All shooting done at 50yds today, the FTX grouped 1¼" and the two 240gr loads about the same. But the handloads shot into ½" with the last shot cutting the second! This was the start load of 23gr H110 from Hodgdon for the 240gr Nosler, no chrony today. This is the barrel I plan on rechambering to 444Marlin, if you recollect my previous thread on it, I ordered it thinking it would actually be a Superlight contour, but it isn't, has the same contour as the 45 Colt Carbine, it also has some blemishes in the bore just ahead of the chamber a few inches that I was concerned about, but they don't seem to be an issue, so I'll rechamber it and fit it to an SB2 frame, more on that later.  ;)

Tim 
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Offline petemi

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Re: New Compact Superlight 44mag Rang Report
« Reply #1 on: March 23, 2011, 01:14:19 PM »
It sounds like fun, kiddo, go for it.  Yeah, the H110/W296 plus XTPs shoot very well in mine.  I doubt if I'll change up much.  I love that rifle.  That's the whole problem...what gun do ya grab?  There's the Maxi, the .38-55, the .445, the .45LC.  Decisions, Decisions.  My bottle necks are languishing.  I just don't have much interest in them anymore.

Patty wants me to load a bunch of .270s for the shoot next summer, so I'll do that.  It's a Rem 700 stainless synthetic mountain rifle.  She and it both shoot well.  In the mean time, I'm going to break her in on the pistol caliber Handis.  She's an expert with a .357 revolver.

Pete
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The growing Handi/Sportster/Pardner/Topper Family:  .22 WMR, .22-250. 223, Two Superlight 7mm-08s and one .243, .30-30,  .308, 32-20, 18 inch .356/.358 Win., Two 16.5 inch .357 Max., 18 inch 38-55 BC Carbine, 16.5 inch .445 Super Mag., .45LC, 16.5 and 22 inch .45-70s, .50 Huntsman SS, .410, 20 ga., 12 ga., 20 ga. Pardner Pump, Versa-Pack .410 - .22
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Offline dave29

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Re: New Compact Superlight 44mag Range Report
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2011, 01:19:52 PM »
Local shop has one of these NIB. I have been thinking about picking it up, but haven't decided yet. If it had a slimmer barrel, I would have already had it. They also have a .357 Talo Trapper, that is also clouding my decision on what to get.  :D

I already have 3- Maxi's, and only one .44 mag, so maybe the "superlight" will get the nod.  ;)
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Offline gcrank1

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Re: New Compact Superlight 44mag Range Report
« Reply #3 on: March 23, 2011, 02:35:40 PM »
Did those factory loads just condition the bore for your handloads?
Maybe you were out of practice  ;)........
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: New Compact Superlight 44mag Range Report
« Reply #4 on: March 23, 2011, 03:44:48 PM »
Maybe, but I only shot 8 of the FTX and the 2 XTPs before the first handload, wiped the bore with two alcohol patches before I loaded it. I also lapped the bore about 50 strokes with Flitz when I first got it to see if blemishes in the bore would come out, they didn't.

Dave, I was real disappointed in their definition of "Superlight", it's not superlight in any sense of the word, just a little shorter....on both ends!  ;D :-\

I did a chamber cast, definitely microgroove,  .4235" at the lands and .4295" in the groove, needed that to get the right size floating pilot.

Tim
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Offline gcrank1

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Re: New Compact Superlight 44mag Range Report
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2011, 05:11:16 PM »
That will make a neat .444, but it still would make a real 'superlite' with a little profile job.
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Offline JMcDonald

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Re: New Compact Superlight 44mag Range Report
« Reply #6 on: March 24, 2011, 10:19:55 AM »
So the newer .44s have a correct bore diameter of ~.429, and not the overbore closer to .432? I recently got into the .44 magnum and, since I already have all the reloading stuff, it would be cool to be able to play with a Handi chambered in .44 :) . I might even rechamber it to .444 if I get one!
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: New Compact Superlight 44mag Range Report
« Reply #7 on: March 24, 2011, 11:19:04 AM »
Yes, have been since late 2006.

Tim
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Offline Spanky

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Re: New Compact Superlight 44mag Range Report
« Reply #8 on: March 24, 2011, 05:28:05 PM »
Quote from: gcrank1 on March 23, 2011, 05:11:16 PM
That will make a neat .444, but it still would make a real 'superlite' with a little profile job.

He could knock the forearm lug off it and chuck it up in a lathe. Take about half the thickness off the barrel and it'll be a real superlight.
Silver solder or tig the lug back on and it'll be all set. ;)



Spanky
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: New Compact Superlight 44mag Range Report
« Reply #9 on: March 24, 2011, 07:34:48 PM »
I've been contemplating that for a while, don't have a lathe,  but I'm going to make the barrel octagon on my mill, dunno how well it will come out, so wish me luck!  ???

Tim
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Offline petemi

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Re: New Compact Superlight 44mag Range Report
« Reply #10 on: March 25, 2011, 03:56:34 AM »
Tim, not meaning to sound ignorant, which I probably am, can't you just buy a .444 barrel and then do the mods?

Pete
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Keep both eyes open and make the first shot good.
The growing Handi/Sportster/Pardner/Topper Family:  .22 WMR, .22-250. 223, Two Superlight 7mm-08s and one .243, .30-30,  .308, 32-20, 18 inch .356/.358 Win., Two 16.5 inch .357 Max., 18 inch 38-55 BC Carbine, 16.5 inch .445 Super Mag., .45LC, 16.5 and 22 inch .45-70s, .50 Huntsman SS, .410, 20 ga., 12 ga., 20 ga. Pardner Pump, Versa-Pack .410 - .22
[size=7.4 pt]PLEASE DONATE TO THE GBO SERVER FUND  We're closer to the goal but not there yet, we can still use more donations, thanks

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,191112.msg1098959491.html#msg1098959491

Offline quickdtoo

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Re: New Compact Superlight 44mag Range Report
« Reply #11 on: March 25, 2011, 06:21:12 AM »
Already have a 444 Handi, this was supposed to be a "Superlight" as the name implies, that's why I bought it, but it's not! ::) But I'm gonna make it one, one way or another!!  8)

Tim
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Offline Old Fart

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Re: New Compact Superlight 44mag Range Report
« Reply #12 on: March 25, 2011, 07:12:04 AM »
I like the idea of the octagonal barrel, if you do it please post pics.
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: New Compact Superlight 44mag Range Report
« Reply #13 on: March 25, 2011, 04:30:12 PM »
I got two flats so far, one on top and bottom, but the top one isn't quite deep enough to run all the way to the muzzle, but it will tomorrow and I'll post pics, got to make some supper now. The short bed on the mini-mill won't allow me to do the entire length in one pass, so I have to do it in sections, also switched to a carbide end mill, hard spots in the barrel, specially where the forend stud was attached. The only carbide end mill I have is 5/16", it takes two passes to cut the widith of each flat since the flat is wider than the mill on the chamber end, and with a maximum .005" cut depth per pass, it's a loooong process.  ???

Tim


Started new thread:
http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,230862.0.html
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Offline gcrank1

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Re: New Compact Superlight 44mag Range Report
« Reply #14 on: March 25, 2011, 06:18:24 PM »
That small bite is the downside of small machines, the upside is you arent setting up heavy stresses from the cuts.
With one flat in you can index the rest with V-blocks and end up evenly spaced.
I solved the small end mill situation on my Deluxe Sherline with a small fly cutter for a swamped barrel muzzle loading 'canoe' gun.
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Offline DakotaElkSlayer

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Re: New Compact Superlight 44mag Range Report
« Reply #15 on: March 26, 2011, 06:59:09 AM »
Quote from: Old Fart on March 25, 2011, 07:12:04 AM
I like the idea of the octagonal barrel, if you do it please post pics.

Me too!  I am thinking that with a laminate stock and a deep blue on the barrel and it look better than a Ruger No.1! ;D

Jim
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