435gr Heavies in the 4" 454 Redhawk -- Range Report

[Snyd]

I made it to the range today to test the 435gr Heavies in the 4" 454 Redhawk.

http://web.mac.com/perryschneider/pics/rh454_01.jpg

http://web.mac.com/perryschneider/pics/435_001.jpg

My hope was to get these suckers to group decent at about 1000-1100fps. Here's the stats. Cold day, 5 below, sunshine. I kept the ammo in my car. I'd load and shoot six at a time.

The 454 SRH barrels have a 1/24 twist. The RH 45 Colts; which is what this gun was, has a 1/16 twist. It proved to do the job nicely stabilizing these big long boolits! This 454 cylinder has .454 throats, at least I can shove these .454 boolits through with a pencil. .452's drop right through. The chambers are tighter than the 45 Colt cylinder as well. The bore is .451. I sized the boolits for the throat size, .454.

RCBS 45-405-fn .458 mould cast with 5/1 ww/lino, air cooled at 0 degrees. Sized down to .454. 433gr lubed/gas check. Close enough to call it 435gr! BHN was about 19 last time I checked this batch.

Starline Brass, H110, CCI 450 primers.

25yds

19gr - 995 avg
971
1017
1012
1003
990
981

I will need a taller front sight for sure. It shoots about 8 inches high at 25yds with these big heavies. After the first three shots I moved my POA down so I could keep it on paper. I almost packed up and went home after this! This'll do! But I had 2 more loads to shoot.

http://web.mac.com/perryschneider/pics/435_01.jpg



20gr - 1072 avg

1088
1072
1064
1073
1045
1092

First two are in the same hole! I thought I shot it over the top. 3rd shot was up high. This is looking better all the time.

http://web.mac.com/perryschneider/pics/435_02.jpg



21gr - 1128 avg

1133
1132
1130
1111
1138
1126

I think I can shoot this load better. Because of the way my targets were and how I was aiming to keep the load on the target, I don't think I was very consistent in my POA. But, the 20gr load will work.

http://web.mac.com/perryschneider/pics/435_03.jpg

Bottom line is mission accomplished. I've got a 1072fps 435gr 454 load that groups as good or better than I can shoot I think. No pressure signs at all. Brass dropped right out. I could go hotter but see no need too. Recoil is not an issue but the snap/torque of the muzzle flip gets your attention. It's headed to magnaport tomorrow along with a buddies 480 SRH. He's getting the chopped 480 package done. I'll just get it magnaported like my Kimber MT. Next will have to be a penetraton test.

[unclebill]

nice work.
good lookin gun as well.
it'll be great ported.

[John Ross]

Nice gun. Is this a factory offering, a factory RH .45 Colt with a SRH cylinder, or...?

[Trey45]

Wow, and here I was thinking my 4" 45 Colt loaded up with 310gr NEI Keith boolits on top of 22gr H110 was stout!

That's some good shootin' there. Nice load work up and great pictures! I really like those grips.

[Snyd]

Nice gun. Is this a factory offering, a factory RH .45 Colt with a SRH cylinder, or...?

It started life as a factory 4" 45 Colt. The SRH 454 Cylinder was a drop in. I did it last month.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=102765&highlight=454+redhawk

Trey, I've tried numerous grips on this Redhawk and these Nill Griffe's fit my hand the best. It just so happens that they look good!

[GLynn41]

beautiful weapon-- good shootin -- I have a 5.5" Redhawk - tell about the grips they look nice--
mine is a wild cat 41/454--just playing one day I shot some .41 cal 350gr boolits -- lots of jumping but they shot ok mostly I use normal .41 weights

[Snyd]

beautiful weapon-- good shootin -- I have a 5.5" Redhawk - tell about the grips they look nice--
mine is a wild cat 41/454--just playing one day I shot some .41 cal 350gr boolits -- lots of jumping but they shot ok mostly I use normal .41 weights

41/454??

Nill Griffe grips
http://www.nill-grips.com/Revolver-Grips_105.html

ebay 90 bucks or make offer (http://cgi.ebay.com/Nill-Griffe-Ruger-Redhawk-Gun-Grips-GERMAN-Quality-NEW-/400104935916?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d281cd1ec#ht_3456wt_907)
I think I got mine for 65 bucks shipped last year

[Matthew 25]

Snyd, that's great. A packable, "fast" shooting, 45 caliber, 435 flat point...That's hard to beat for an outside Packer, especially in your neck of the woods. I bet that's a penetrating son of a gun. Congrats.

[44man]

I answered on the other site. You did right with the faster twist! :mrgreen:

[GLynn41]

.41/454--goes with my 41/445 in a TC-
mine is a 5.5" RHawk - 255gr@ about 1640--210 cast hp 1700 -- took a doe with a cast hp at 40 yards -- load was 1660 with the 210 hp cast --more is possible--not needed-- I guess you mihgt say I like .41 ones-- a Tarus-4./8 Bhawk- 6" DWA all .41 etc

[The_Vigilante]

Is the frame of the Ruger Redhawk strong enough for the .454 hot loads?

[Snyd]

Is the frame of the Ruger Redhawk strong enough for the .454 hot loads?

Yup, the Redhawk frame basically the same as the Super Redhawk frame. It's as strong or stonger than the Blackhawks as well.

[targetshootr]

My hands ache just listening to you guys.

[warf73]

Synd,
When you get a chance drop me a pm about this.
He's getting the chopped 480 package done.


Thanks Warf

[Whitworth]

I answered on the other site. You did right with the faster twist! :mrgreen:

No, Ruger did right with the twist. That is the nice thing about converting one that started life as a .45 Colt!

[Whitworth]

Is the frame of the Ruger Redhawk strong enough for the .454 hot loads?

It was a fairly common practice to convert .44 mag Redhawks to .454 using the factory cylinder. They are very strong pieces. The frame is more than up to the task.

[tek4260]

On a side note, that Magnaporting may be something to skip. I had a 480 that was Magnaported and it was the most uncomfortable handgun I had. The porting took all the muzzle rize out and it recoiled straight back. That roll from the barrel rise isn't always a bad thing!

[bbailey7821]

Really nice gun and shooting! Thanks for sharing it.

[songdog53]

Nice shooting and great looking gun....but has my old hands aching just thinking of shooting it.

[Snapping Twig]

FWIW, get in touch with Freedom Arms and ask them about powder charges for that weight bullet.

I realize you're shooting a Ruger, but AFAIK a Casull is even stronger and with that in mind, I fear your load might be on the hot side.

I load a 350g NOE from my 45-70 sized down for the Casull at .452 and FA gave me a max 24g W296. You're shooting a bullet nearly 100g heavier with 20g W296, so a check to be on the side of caution would be in order IMO.

FWIW as an example, in a Marlin lever there is NO evidence of sticking cases or primer flow prior to KB. You can load it up right to the point of failure with no pressure signs warning you.

Your Ruger isn't a Marlin of course, but it pays to be cautious.

[44man]

FWIW, get in touch with Freedom Arms and ask them about powder charges for that weight bullet.

I realize you're shooting a Ruger, but AFAIK a Casull is even stronger and with that in mind, I fear your load might be on the hot side.

I load a 350g NOE from my 45-70 sized down for the Casull at .452 and FA gave me a max 24g W296. You're shooting a bullet nearly 100g heavier with 20g W296, so a check to be on the side of caution would be in order IMO.

FWIW as an example, in a Marlin lever there is NO evidence of sticking cases or primer flow prior to KB. You can load it up right to the point of failure with no pressure signs warning you.

Your Ruger isn't a Marlin of course, but it pays to be cautious.
You have to prove the Freedom is stronger then the RH and to tell the truth the RH is stronger then a Marlin.
Strength is not the issue because most modern guns are stronger and will resist stupid loading but I do not think Snyd has gone too far. I feel he has reached what is prudent and safe. Cast will support more powder in almost every case without increasing pressures.
The basic truth is that given the same steels, the more steel there is, the stronger the gun. I would worry more about a Marlin holding up. Barrel steel is not as strong as cylinder steel.

[bowfishn]

I agree with you 44man, Hodgdon shows 21 grains of 296 or h-110 with a 395 GR. CPB LFN GC bullet and only 43,200 CUP,(not even close to max pressures for 454) the load he is using does not seem out of line. By the way a quote from Carpenter the company that makes the steel used in Ruger 454 Cylinders states:
"Ruger made a cylinder from Custom 465 stainless, then fired 50 proof rounds from each of six chambers (total 300 rounds) at 92,000 psi. This is about 50% higher stress than that produced under actual firing conditions. The designers repeated this firing cycle numerous times and noted that the cylinder successfully withstood all of the proof firing without a scratch or sign of defect anywhere. "
http://www.cartech.com/techarticles.aspx?id=1608
I love Ruger

[bowfishn]

I wish they would make a 44 mag out of the same as the materials used in the 454, it would be able to with stand almot 20% more. Just make the case another .100 longer or so , they could call it the 430 Ruger. The lovers of the .429 cal would eat this up, would make a nice 200 yard handgun with a 300 to 340 grain bullet.

[warf73]

Just make the case another .100 longer or so , they could call it the 430 Ruger. The lovers of the .429 cal would eat this up, would make a nice 200 yard handgun with a 300 to 340 grain bullet.


The challenge of knocking down metallic silhouettes at ranges of 200 meters with a handgun requires considerable momentum and energy. Elgin Gates designed the 445 Super Magnum with this task in mind. The cartridge is essentially a 44 Magnum case with approximately 3/8 inch added to the overall length.
source: http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/w445supmag.html

A 445 super mag is longer than .100 over the 44mag but it would be great if ruger would produce it, would make a great match with my 445SM rifle.

[bowfishn]

Not talking about a 445 supermag, I remember when it came out years ago, as you say it is over .300" longer and we can already load or buy 44 mag loads that equal or exceed the 445 supermag. I am talking about a 44 mag case .100" longer that will still chamber in the SRH cylinder with only minor mods, the materials being made of the same as the SRH 454 and run pressures to the 454 around 65,000 psi. The 44 mag version would be stronger than the 454 version. Commercial manufacturers of 44 mag ammo are already producing +P loads (around 43, 500 psi) that can throw 340 gr cast cg loads at almost 1500 fps there would be no reason you could not get 100 to 150 fps over that and 310 grain cast gc to over 1800 fps.
It wouldn't actually shoot point of aim out to 200 but it would to 150 and only require a 4" hold over for deer size game at 200 yards. Even if they just made the 44 mag out of the same materials as the SRH 454 and left every thing the same, it would give an awsome platform for reloaders who want to go higher safely.

[saz]

Hey Snyd, have you tried that load in your Puma?

[Snyd]

Hey Snyd, have you tried that load in your Puma?

Yes, and a few others and I'm headed to the range tomorrow with it as well. The 21gr load shot about 6 inch group at 25yds, (I'd have to look at the target again), not too good. It looked like 2 of the 6 may have keyholed slightly. I went back a few days later with 22 and 23 gr. 3 rnds each. Groups tightened up but I had sticky extraction. I wasn't really using a rifle rest, just resting the barrel. first ones were .454, I'll be shooting .452 tomorrow with 21.5, 22, 22.5. I'll do a separate thread with chrony numbers and target pics in a day or two.