Thanks, I will try.
If I am willing to clean out crud ring ocassionally, I still don't see why I would use 454 all the time, even toned down. Those cartridges don't seem designed for that.
Clean out the crud ring constantly, assiduously. You should be doing that anyway, but it is easier the sooner you do it after shooting-some even do it while the gun is still warm from the range.
True, those cartridges aren't "designed" for light loads, but they stand up to that loading just fine. Light loading of fast powders is not all that problematic.
Is this thing about using the 454 exclusively something specific to the SRH? Because, many folks have also recommended using all 45lc, and only very ocassional 454, both those familiar and unfamiliar w/ the SRH in question.
Not specific to the Ruper Redhawk. Any 454 chamber, or any chamber longer than the shorter cartridge (.357 Mag/38 Special, 44 Magnum/44 Special, same principle) has the exact same issues.
The 454 does have relatively higher pressures than the 45 Colt when you compare to the 44 Special v 44 Mag. 17k to 40k where the 45 Colt v 454 Casull is 14k to 48k. Now that I type it, it doesn't seem that much a difference. The 44 is 2.35:1 and the 45 is 3.42:1. The 454 is using rifle primers when fully loaded, so you be the "Judge".
You can go either way. I chose to go all the longer case, no matter the power level. Since you do have a 45 Colt not safe with +P loads, your decision is a bit more complex, but if I were you I would load 45 Colt to 45 Colt specs, NEVER +P and if I wanted to shoot 45 Colt power loads in the SRH, I would load light in 454 Cases. The brass just fits the chamber dimensions better. Less "jump" in freebore to the rifling, less cleaning effort (note that I did not say "less cleaning", but just less EFFORT).
That is what I do with 44, as I own no 44 Special guns and have never owned a 44 special piece of brass. With 38, I did have a small supply of 38 Special cases that I used until I wore them out (in 1975-76). But I do own one 45 Colt revolver. With my 45 Colt brass and two 454 guns and one Ruger Blackhawk 45 Colt (which is OK for 45 Colt +p) my choice is more complex, so I have an inventory of both sizes of brass.
What I am saying is, what any of us do may serve as a guide for you, but ultimately you must decide which of our reasons for our choices are applicable to your situation and gives you an acceptable assurance that you will never bluw up your Taurus with a +p load intended for your SRH.
You have one SAAMI spec 45 Colt and one +P 45 Colt / 454 Casull gun. I would do whatever it took to GUARANTEE there COULD NEVER BE a +P 45 Colt slip into my SAAMI spec gun.
Seems like there are divergent views on this. Some say that bigger bullets, above 250 grns push smoother and produce less harsh recoil. I was thinking of a 300 grn 45lc at about 1200 fps. Isn't it the velocity that causes most of the nastier recoil elements?
Bullet weight and velocity have a large influence on felt recoil. Powder quickness and peak pressure also has an influence. I don't understand it, but it has been testified to (and I have to accept it on face value for now) that if you load a fast powder (say, Unique to a given velocity with a particular weight bullet and load that same bullet with a slower powder (2400 or Lil'Gun) to the same velocity, the Unique load will produce fiercer recoil than the slower powder.
Check this recent thread from another forum
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=488372
Yes, velocity and bullet weight have the most influence on recoil, but they are not the only factors and may be able to be outweighed by those other factors. Like I said, I don't understand it, but I am working on it.
I hope my thoughts are helpful.
Lost Sheep