.454 loads...powders?

[horsey300]

Sooo we're very close to Mrs horsey's .454 coming home, looking at data, I have 2400 on hand for full house loads but on paper, Longshot and universal seem to be where we'd spend most of our time, universal loads/velocities seem right for plinking and fun, trailboss is out of the question, Longshot for all around usage, and a few of the 2400 loads for that "just in case", my question to those who have played with .454, for my intentions, am I on the right track? Are there other powders I'm missing? Will universal be disappointing for casual paper/plate punching? Fun loads=240-260 gr bullets at sub 1000-1200ish(minimal recoil), general purpose=1200-1400(deerish), and "just in case" should be self explanatory, but lookin at the rip snorting magnum "kill 3 moose 1 shot" (being humorous here). Based on research to date primers will be small rifle magnum. Any productive input is welcome, thank you all!!!

 

[mrawesome22-250]

I use 250gr bullets and 45Colt data in the SRH. I've gone to BE-86 in all magnum "non-magnum" loads.

 

[black mamba]

The most accurate light load in my 454 is 12.5 gr. of HS6 under a 255 gr. SWC deep-seated to an OAL of 1.605" (roll crimp over the front driving band) and R7½ primer. Around 1,000 fps out of a 5" revolver.

 

[BBarn]

For much less than full power Casull loads, I've shot HS-6, True Blue, 231, Unique, Universal, Titegroup, and Power Pistol under 240gr or 250gr jacketed bullets. I preferred HS-6 and True Blue overall but all the others gave acceptable results, with Titegroup turning in some nice groups.

 

[AJC1]

I'm really keen on Silhouette for medium power mag pistol loads. I love the powder and the flash suppressant.... I bet you could make some nice loads she would like... I also like the price compared to hogden powders

 

[SingleActionAndrew]

My buddy with 460S&W loves VV N110 for it

 

[BW460]

Be-86 or Power Pistol will work well. They measure better than Universal.

 

[cfullgraf]

In my 460 S&W Mag, I like W296/H110. But, I’d also try Accurate 5744 or 1680.

I’ve had good success with 1680 and 5744 in other applications.

 

[Mk-211]

Reloading The 454 Casull - Reload Ammo

Shown above, a .45 Colt, .454 Casull and the .460 S&W Magnum (HP = Hollow Point, RN = Round Nose, FMC = Full Metal Case, FMJ = Full Metal Jacket, JHP =

reloadammo.com

Some good info here.

You can do a search on the board, plenty of 454 Casull info has been posted over the years.

 

[bigpower491]

I like AA5 and a 255gr lead bullet seated to the edge of the front band. 8.5gr usually does the trick. I also use regular small pistol primers for these types of loads in the casull case. I call it 454 "Casual"

Ramshot Enforcer for my full on jacketed loads

 

[Obturation]

I've loaded and shot an honest 8-10,000 rounds of 454 casull. This is a different critter but also familiar if you dabble in magnum pistol cartridges.

Best you'll get is h110/296, I know Lil gun does similar with less pressure but Bob Baker warns against it and that's enough for me

Mid loads are great with 2400, it can be downloaded to suit needs.

Mild loads have several powders that work OK, I use clays with a 250 rnfp for just target shooting- a pound of powder lasts forever and it burns clean. Clays meters poorly for me so I load these with a dipper.

trailboss is out of the question,

No... trailboss is awesome in 454. It may be that it's out of the question as far as availability but as far as making sweetheart plinkers it works perfectly in any big ol case you care to put it in. It's literally listed as for use in ANY cartridge as long as load data is followed. I've used hundreds of these loads with a regular plain Jane 250 grain bullet and it saves me from the crud build up that's possible from using 45 colt cases. Trailboss is great.

In my opinion the 454 casull is all about versatility. That's not the common consensus but it's been my experience . Treat it like a 45 colt that isn't scared of insane loads. Of all the revolvers I've fired , the 454 chambered pistols have been the most viscous as far as recoil, more powerful cartridges are typically chambered in much heavier guns. You'll know when you hit you limit and I'd wager it'll be in the 50k psi range. The only thing you do by increasing velocity with this cartridge is flatten trajectory . A 360 grain wfn at 1500 fps is no more effective as the same bullet at 1000 unless you can't connect because the trajectory . It's going through whatever in front of it.

One last point to mention , this cartridge seems to have an extreme point of impact shift between bullet weights. It's not uncommon to be dead on at 10 yards with a 250 grain @ 1000 fps and then have a 300 grain at 1500 fps not even be on paper. It took time for me to recognize this for what it was. Each load seems to require individual sight in. I attempted and am still working on a plinking load that can be close enough to my full power load that they're both on paper, I'm close but far off too.

Good luck, anything that bears the casull name is a monster. Treat it with respect and it will impress you but to get it all right takes patience and effort. It's worth it.

 

[bigpower491]

In my opinion the 454 casull is all about versatility.

Absolutely agree. Theirs not alot of cases out there that can be loaded from powder puff to full on howitzer.
Couple that with the fact that you can use small pistol primers for your low end, 45 Colt equivalent loads,up to about the 30-35k pressure range. That's some versatility

 

[Targa]

I use H110/296 for the full experience and Universal for a less eventful experience…