Wednesday night Casual

[bigpower491]

Nothing better after dinner than a good chaw of Red Man and letting rip some 454 "Casuals". Ive been wanting to get back to this project for a spell, so figured tonight be a good time to break out the old Super Redhawk and shoot some of the casual jacketed loads i put together the other night. Basically a 250XTP deep seated and 9.5gr of #5. They shot fairly decent, actually pretty darn good considering the operator was having a hard time keeping himself steady. Was good to finally put this big chunk of stainless back in my hands after a long layoff. It had been awhile.
Spring has sprung, nice evening tonight. Made better by Ruger.........

 

[Targa]

Very nice, sounds like a great evening! I like taming my .454 loads a bit as well. When I don’t feel like full blown Casull abuse I take my 250 grain cast bullets and put 11 grains of Universal under it. It’s good for over 1200 fps, basically a very spicy .45Colt.

 

[shoebox1.1]

That sounds like a perfect evening

 

[halfmoonclip]

Understand the notion of loading down cannons a bit; been doing that with a couple .44s.
Bigpower, enjoy that young cannon!
Moon

 

[cfullgraf]

Great on down loading the 454 for fun.

I have a hot 45 Colt load in a 460 S&W Mag case that makes shooting my 460XVR fun for plinking. I use Unique under a 255 SWC bullet.

You do not have to have wrist snapping recoil for all ammunition you shoot in the "hand cannons".

 

[bigpower491]

This big revolver is a ton of fun with the light loads. Could shoot it all day long casual. I can't handle the big loads like I used to. Still occasionally let go my pet 300 cast performance/296 loads, but not toooo many, maybe a cylinder or 2 here and there.
This gun never shot 45 Colt well at all. But lighter loads in the Casull case work just fine, go figure. I do love its flexibility tho. I use small pistol primers in it up to about 44 Mag level, small rifle for everything above. Needless to say, I don't go thru many small rifle primers with it. I have been considering selling it off and getting a SRH in 44 Mag, but it's totally unnecessary with the 454s flexibility to adapt. With a couple savvy loading techniques you can pretty much make it what you want

 

[Rock185]

I used to load my .454 down about 150 FPS or so below factory with 300 grain bullets. In my dotage though, I can't handle the big loads anymore either. I could have gone lower with the .454, but after a wrist injury just used the aux. .45ACP cylinder instead. I still have some of those old 300 grain "loaded down" .454 handloads. They're only suitable for small dinosaurs though; 10 tons max With handloading, a very versatile cartridge.

 

[LV Gun]

Before my father in law passed he gave me his Magnum Research BFR in 45/70 and his Ruger SRH 454 Casull I was told by others you cannot load either down to a softer load I found that to be very untrue. For the BFR I use IMR 3031 , 300 grain LRN , LR primer and TC load data from Lyman which works very well ,,for the 454 Casull I like to use W231/HP38 , SR primer , 255 grain LSWC both loads are very nice to shoot if I want more power I usually go to Blue Dot or Ramshot Enforcer. I still like to shoot the big bores but at 69 full power loads are just not my thing anymore in these guns even my Taurus 44 magnum I load down. One powder that’s works extremely well for all 3 is Trail Boss for all day easy shooting loads I just wish it would become available again.

 

[halfmoonclip]

With a couple savvy loading techniques you can pretty much make it what you want

In my ongoing role of Captain Obvious, this is the second great advantage of handloading. It is nice to be able to turn down the heat on real thumpers.
Moon

 

[Bronco72]

90% or more shooting in my 44 Redhawk is with a my 300 grgc in front of 5.5 gr of WST. About 775 fps and I found that WST burns cleaner than Bullseye! Shoot all day long and no medical problems

 

[bigpower491]

In my ongoing role of Captain Obvious, this is the second great advantage of handloading. It is nice to be able to turn down the heat on real thumpers.
Moon

Absolutely. The great thing about the Casull is it takes that ability to a whole new level. Casual, or Casull, your choice, no sweat, no 45 Colt cases, no carbon rings to scrub, just load up and shoot

 

[PapaG]

Sneaking up on 80 and my hands and wrists are done with full power magnums except for 357. I load my 44 to 1100, my 45 Colt to 1050-1100, and more often than not reach for a carbine or single shot if I just have to shoot full bore.
I often carry a Kimber Pro Carry with 255 grain semi wadcutters at a lumbering 750 fps down on the farm. Not much dangerous there other than maybe a tweaker.

 

[halfmoonclip]

90% or more shooting in my 44 Redhawk is with a my 300 grgc in front of 5.5 gr of WST. About 775 fps and I found that WST burns cleaner than Bullseye! Shoot all day long and no medical problems

Sounds my Trailboss .45 Colt loads....yet the darn things do real damage to a dangling bowling pin.
Yes, fun to shoot, but not like kissing your sister.
Moon

 

[rugerman89]

I used to load my .454 down about 150 FPS or so below factory with 300 grain bullets. In my dotage though, I can't handle the big loads anymore either. I could have gone lower with the .454, but after a wrist injury just used the aux. .45ACP cylinder instead. I still have some of those old 300 grain "loaded down" .454 handloads. They're only suitable for small dinosaurs though; 10 tons max With handloading, a very versatile cartridge.
View attachment 1208078

Wow, what a great looking revolver! LOVE it!!