Anyone load for the .454 Casull?

[Sgt_Jamez]

Howdy all... maybe the wrong place to ask about pistol loads, but I trust the advice I get here.

So... I am thinking to buy a .454 and wondering about good loads that wont break my wrist. I've read threads about underpowered loads washing out the forcing cone in the barrel... so is the only way to avoid this being to make fire breathing loads?

 

[Clark]

Re: Anyone load for the .454 Casull?

I put 40 gr H110 .459" 405 gr in a 45 Colt, large rifle primer, but the powder will not compress much, and I have an OAL of 2.1".

That is too long to fit in a 1.8" long 454 revolver cylinder, but it will fit in a .410 shotgun.

That would be a 454 double load, if it would fit.

It kicks something awful in the little single shot break action shot gun.

What does it all mean to you?
You don't need to use 454 brass if you don't want to, 45 Colt brass will do for 454 loadings.

 

[former naval person]

Re: Anyone load for the .454 Casull?

WW296 is as a good a powder as you can get...but it needs full pressures to burn completely. Lil Gun or the old reliable 2400 would be better for moderate loads. The lighter 250 grain/265 grain bullets keep your wrist attached. A full load of some 30 grains of 296 and a 320 grain lead bullet cured me. Porting...as in Mag-Na-Port helps but in my experience you will need to stick to jacketed bullets when ported. In one I had...note the tense...after porting, with full loads the barrel was leaded the last inch to the muzzle with 5 rounds being fired. Destroyed the accuracy. Evidently the ports blew all the lube off the bullet, allowing the vaporized lead to coat the last inch. Shot fine with lighter loads and jacketed bullets. JMHO

 

[ggmanning]

Re: Anyone load for the .454 Casull?

I load for it and enjoy shooting it. Let me know if you end up getting one and want some loads. Mine is a ported Super Redhawk...I do not load it full bore but even at mid range loads it is a heavy hitting round. Make sure you get the cast or jacketed bullets for magnum loads. I am using the Hornady XTP's mainly and use it shooting deer. You can load to 45LC velocities and have a nice practice round also.

 

[oldreliable45120]

Re: Anyone load for the .454 Casull?

I have 2 Freedom Arms 454's and love them. My most used load is 22gr of 2400 with a 280gr bullet from RCBS mold 45-270 SAA. It's not a wrist breaker but it puts a whitetail down fast. Its more of a heavy 45 colt load. With this load I can keep groups in the 1" range at 50yrds and under 2" at 100yrds using a 2x Leupold.