how about that 454 casull

[white eagle]

what is the difference between a hot loaded 45 colt and a 454 casull
I know the primer diff. but really is there that much difference
and I ask because I am in the market for a new handgun :lovebooli
just the facts nothing but the facts :lol:
Just a side note on stupidity on my part I had a 454 casull and in amoungst years and gun trades it slipped thru my hands for some flashy piece that I no longer have as well 8-)

[Ben]

I can't imagine 45 colt handloads at 60,000 psi like the 454 Casull.

However, as you can see, you can take the 45 Colt into
some pretty " fast company " as long as they are shot
STRICTLY in the 454 Casull revolver.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=82864

[white eagle]

what does chamber pressure bring ???
velocity ?

[44man]

Not a whole lot of much except more recoil. A little flatter shooting at ranges nobody shoots anyway.
Nobody reloads them to 60,000 psi either.
I would say they can shoot a heavier boolit then the .45 Colt at the same pressures.
I can make the 45-70 revolver shoot as fast with under 30,000 psi.
Everyone downloads them with fast powders so that a .45 Colt with slow powders will equal them.
Slow powders with the SR mag primer opens another can of worms and you can only use max charges.
What do I like about the .454? NOTHING!
You want bang for the buck, go to the .475 or .500 JRH.

[Love Life]

I have shot the 454 extensively. Recoil is sharp to severe depending on bullet weight and powder. Pick your poison, but the 454 does everything I need it to. It'll shoot like a champ to 100 yards if you are up to it.

[DanWalker]

I Have a 45LC blackhawk. Had a 454 casull BFR. Sold the BFR. Still have the Blackhawk.
I can push 320 grain boolits to 1200 fps from the blackhawk. Haven't encountered anything this load won't punch right through. I know there are those who can wring the accuracy from these 454 guns with top loads. I can't. Blast and recoil work against me, and flinches creep in, ruining accuracy. I figure a well placed shot from my 45LC is FAR superior to a badly placed one from a 454.

[RobS]

The 454 Casull has its draw backs, I know as I have a Ruger SRH. One issue has been already mentioned the SR primer which I have remedied by converting all my cases to LP primer pockets. The second is the twist rate of most barrels being 1:24 which for the originally intended purposes of shooting 2000 fps lighter jacketed bullets it may have been a decent decision. However since I shoot heavier cast and definitely not at 2000 fps I would have been happier with a 1:16" twist. Never the less the SRH has given me great results in the end with 300 and 340 grain boolits.

Most load development for a Ruger 45 Colt will do just about anything one would want but at the top end of what the firearm is to handle safely. The Casull will handle 32,000 psi loads all day long since these pressures are nearly half of what the firearm is intended for and is an advantage in my opinion. (Yes a Ruger 45 Colt will handle 32K pressures all day long too as many here have done it for many moons.) I usually load on the upper end or a bit more than 45 Colt Ruger/TC load data and never have to think about pressure issues. If I would want I could greatly extend those Ruger 45 Colt loads with 454 Casull data.

I shoot a lever action as well in this caliber and finding a 475 Linebaugh is way to expensive on this end. The better single action best bang for buck out of box accuracy is probably BFR's revolvers. I prefer a double action, so another limiting factor for me.....................back to the Ruger SRH454 Casull.

[ole 5 hole group]

The 5-shot 45 Colt will give the 454 a run for its money if that's what you're looking for. If you truely feel the need for speed with the 452 slug then go for the 5-shot 454 Casull and either ream the primer pocket out to accept large pistol primers or trim 460 brass down and use the large pistol primer (magnum variety).

When that "need" subsides, then you can load down to 45 Colt velocities but still retain that option for self-abuse.

[big dale]

I guess I am the wrong one to comment about the 454 Casull. I have never owned one but have fired several thru the years. It is just more than I cared for. I am completely happy the 44 Mag. and am used to my old 44 Mag SuperBlackhawk and prefer it over all the others. I also like the 45 Colt and have had sevral thru the years. I find it to be much more problematic to load for the 45 Colt while finding good loads as easy as falling off a log with the 44 Mag.

Have fun with this stuff.

Big Dale

[DragoonDrake]

I love the 454. I have read 44Man's research with the 454 and SR primers. I tried 460brass and had no luck. Not wanting to convert all my brass to LP, I tried some SPM (worked ok, no miss fires but did have a little primer set-back).

Alright a few things, a good crimp; pull a bullet after loading to see if you have any swage down in size. 2400 and h110 are my best friends. I have had no luck with fast powders in the 454. 25grs of 2400 with a 255-310gr bullet are kingly. I have not shot it further than 50 meters but I have managed to hold a ragged hole group at those ranges. You will need to learn to handle recoil with this gun. I don't think it is as bad as the 460 or 45-70 pistols, but the muzzle blast is very severe. I will never get rid of my SRH. Yes it will do anything you need it to on the North American continent.

Good luck White Eagle.

[Ed K]

Wow - this is always such a polarized topic!

Load your 454 like a 44 mag: bullets of reasonable sectional density and similar pressures. It will be fine. If you like a 240gr in your 44 then go with a 270gr. If you prefer a 270gr in your 44 then load a 300gr in your 454. Loaded to 35-40Kpsi each will recoil proportionately. Yes, the 454 will always recoil a little heavier but nothing big. If you want to load 240gr mag XTPs @ 2000fps you can but you do not have to. Why does everyone insist because it was designed to do that you must load it that way? The 45 Colt was never designed for more than 1000fps yet that is readily ignored in strong guns...

Of course you can always go the 60kPSI if you want to!

[Snyd]

It comes down to 1/10 of an inch of more case capacity over the 45 Colt. Either fill it with more powder or a heavier boolit. Or a little more of both.

[stubshaft]

It comes down to 1/10 of an inch of more case capacity over the 45 Colt. Either fill it with more powder or a heavier boolit. Or a little more of both.

That 1/10th of an inch was created only to eliminate the possibility of firing 454 loads in 45LC gun.s. What the 454 gives you is 600 fps mor with a 300 gr boolit. It is not a caliber for everyone, as the recoil is more snappy than the 45LC. Before you start to flame me understand that I have 45LC's, 45 WM, 460 S&W's and have used them all for hunting at one time or another, and they will all kill animals.

Do you need a 454? probably not ,unless you are going to hunt in Africa. I use mine alot as I do predator control for a local rancher and shoot hogs on a regular basis. It will go from east to west on any hog AND north to south on any hog. It will reach the vitals regardless of the angle of the shot I take. In over 600 hogs I have NEVER been able to recover a bullet.

If you can use a 454 get one, but don't fool yourself by thinking you can load it down. to get the performance you want If that is the case then get a 45LC and consider loading it up. They are generally lighter in weight, and less expensive.

[RobS]

If you can use a 454 get one, but don't fool yourself by thinking you can load it down. to get the performance you want If that is the case then get a 45LC and consider loading it up. They are generally lighter in weight, and less expensive.

I agree on the downloading part as the slower twist rate barrels are likely to not shoot as accurately as a 45 Colt with a 1:16" twist. My Casulls will shoot boolits out the tube a 800 fps of course, but accuracy is not at par in comparison to shooting the same 300 grain boolit at 1100+ fps.

[44man]

A few have converted Ruger .45 Colts to 5 shot .454's and are very happy with the twist rate for heavy boolits. The BFR has a 1 in 16" twist also.
I think boolit weight for the .454 does not even start until 335 gr and should go up. No need for those 60,000 psi things at all. Just use a heavier boolit then is common in the .45.
I will still hate the SR primer!