454 Casull load help?

[TonyM]

I am reloading for a TRB 5.5" 454 Casull. I am shooting 300gr J-words, and 325 cast (Both in .452). The problem I'm having, is I can't the velocity I'm trying to achieve with Lil Gun.... however, it is not for lack of reloading data for this combo....

With my max loads (Case volume wise), I can't get outside of around 1200-1300 FPS. I'm trying to get to 1500 FPS... without compressing.


On multiple sites (Reloading sites, not forums), I keep seeing these loads with charges of 30gr or more of lil gun. However, any more than about 25gr it will compress if loaded to COAL of around 1.775 (Which is what I load to because of cylinder length).

Can someone recommend a powder that I should try? I've heard good things about H110... but it seems to be pretty close to Lil Gun (Atleast out of the rifles).

Do you think it's worth picking up a can of it? Or does someone have the exact answer/miracle powder I'm looking for....:D

Thanks again for your input on this.

[Tom W.]

When I chronographed my .454 load 29.5 gr of Lil' Gun and a 300 gr cast Lee boolit, I was getting 1760 fps from my 12 inch Encore. This was an average of 12 shots.
My COL is 1.766




Kicked like a damn mule, too.

[onesonek]

1500 fps might be tough to get to in a 5.5" barrel, but you can try a faster powder that uses less volume and work up until pressures become a problem. You can check, but I believe 19-20 grs. of Alliant 2400 would be a start for the 325 cast with 21-22 grs. being max, but whether it would get you 1500 fps I'm not sure. I also believe you are correct in thinking H110 won't be much different in results.
Personally, if it were me,,,I would opt for a 360 gr. in that 1200 fps range if that is possible from a 5.5" barrel. Living in your territory that is.

[TonyM]

When I chronographed my .454 load 29.5 gr of Lil' Gun and a 300 gr cast Lee boolit, I was getting 1760 fps from my 12 inch Encore. This was an average of 12 shots.
My COL is 1.766
Kicked like a damn mule, too.


Was this a compressed load?


1500 fps might be tough to get to in a 5.5" barrel, but you can try a faster powder that uses less volume and work up until pressures become a problem. You can check, but I believe 19-20 grs. of Alliant 2400 would be a start for the 325 cast with 21-22 grs. being max, but whether it would get you 1500 fps I'm not sure. I also believe you are correct in thinking H110 won't be much different in results.
Personally, if it were me,,,I would opt for a 360 gr. in that 1200 fps range if that is possible from a 5.5" barrel. Living in your territory that is.


After some reading, it looks like A2400 might be a good choice for me. Thanks for the info on that...

I'll go pick some of that up tomorrow hopefully... But a quick question about it... is it temperature sensitive that you know of? I'll do some more looking and see what I can come up with...

Thanks again for the input... [smilie=p:

[onesonek]

I can't say on the temperature aspect. I tried to find my source again on the data, not sure where I got it however. Alliant don't list it. I did write it down, and with a 325 cast it starts at 19.8 with 2400. I did do a load ramp in mine with 320 cast starting at the 19.8 grs. and worked up to 20.8 in .2 gr. intervals. It shot well, but I can't say what vel., as I didn't chrony it. That would be somewhat a mute point anyhow, as it was also shot in an Encore 12" barrel. More barrel length and no cylinder gap, kinda negates that part.
I switched to H-110 and saved the 2400 for another application.
I'm thinking you will be safe with the 325 cast, starting with the 19.8/2400, but I doubt very much you will get to 1500 fps with any powder out of the 5.5" barrel. Just a speculative guess, but I suspect you will run into pressure issues with the 2400 in that short barrel around 1300 fps give or take. One scource I found, which I can not confirm, states max of 21 grs. @ 1326 fps,,,but no barrel length listed. As I see it, most data comes from 7 1/2 or 9 1/2 " barrels.
Honestly, I would likely go to and stay with H-110 (or stay with the lilgun, and call it good for what ever it obtains in you revolver. And again, if I felt I needed more, I would go to a 360 gr., maybe even heavier and not consider max speed the priority,,,,,,,,,,That or trade it for a .460.

[Love Life]

Alliant 2400 is my go to powder for the 454. Clean and powerful.

[Tom W.]

"Was this a compressed load?"


Not according to the paperwork. It's not quite a max load, either.

[TonyM]

I can't say on the temperature aspect. I tried to find my source again on the data, not sure where I got it however. Alliant don't list it. I did write it down, and with a 325 cast it starts at 19.8 with 2400. I did do a load ramp in mine with 320 cast starting at the 19.8 grs. and worked up to 20.8 in .2 gr. intervals. It shot well, but I can't say what vel., as I didn't chrony it. That would be somewhat a mute point anyhow, as it was also shot in an Encore 12" barrel. More barrel length and no cylinder gap, kinda negates that part.
I switched to H-110 and saved the 2400 for another application.
I'm thinking you will be safe with the 325 cast, starting with the 19.8/2400, but I doubt very much you will get to 1500 fps with any powder out of the 5.5" barrel. Just a speculative guess, but I suspect you will run into pressure issues with the 2400 in that short barrel around 1300 fps give or take. One scource I found, which I can not confirm, states max of 21 grs. @ 1326 fps,,,but no barrel length listed. As I see it, most data comes from 7 1/2 or 9 1/2 " barrels.
Honestly, I would likely go to and stay with H-110 (or stay with the lilgun, and call it good for what ever it obtains in you revolver. And again, if I felt I needed more, I would go to a 360 gr., maybe even heavier and not consider max speed the priority,,,,,,,,,,That or trade it for a .460.

Yeah thats just it... if 1200-1300 is the realistic limit for this weight of bullet (After some more reading, it looks like 1400 can be achieved, but the recoil is drastic/dramatic), I might as will stick with LG, since thats what I'm getting now...


Thanks again for all the input guys.... [smilie=p:

[southpaw]

I worked up a load with h110 and the 454 300 hp (ruger only mold) in the casull. I needed to seat them a little past the crimp grove. I didn't crimp them just enough to remove the bell. I left one in a chamber and fired several and it did not pull.

I worked up to 31 grains. However I didn't crony them. 30 grains of h110 got me a little over 1400 fps. The casings showed no signs of pressure and were easy to remove from the cylinder.

This was out of a SRH with a 7.5" barrel.

Recoil wasn't that bad but then again I was also shooting the 500 with 700gr solids and the 620gr. grand canyons.

Jerry Jr.