Casting for the S&W .460 XVR

[needcoffee]

Where am I going wrong? I have a 330 gr LFN PB MiHec mold that I use for my .454 Casull's. Is it within expectations to be able to shoot a non gas checked bullet out of a .460 Smith?

Hodgons data for Lil Gun has as follows:

325 GR. CPB LFN PB Hodgdon Lil'Gun 39.0gr 1843 fps 43,700 PSI to 42.0gr 1925 fps 46,400 PSI

The S&W cylinders slug at .452. The barrel is a 5 groove so is outside of my ability to accurately measure. I used two sets of slugs and two different pairs of micrometers to measure the slugs.

I sized the water dropped wheel weight bullets to .452 and lubed with Carnuba Red.

I started low and worked up from 30 grains of Lil Gun to 36 grains in one grain increments before seeing signs of pressure. The odd part is that this is below the Hodgons recommended starting load. After the test I pulled the bullets out of the cartridges loaded with 37 to 42 grains of powder and verified my powder scale was set up accurately.

From the get go I was seeing excessive leading along with the early signs of pressure.

The variables the way I see it are as follows:

1) hardness of bullet
2) type of powder
3) lack of gas check
4) type of lube

Any one have any ideas or comments?

Thank you,

Jeff

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I dont load for a 460 but i do for my encore 454
i use a mold from mihec to the ruger only mold
g/c 300gr boolit h110 powder cci srp & carnauba red lube sized at .452
air cooled ww lead and at 50yrds i think i can hit a fly

[ItZaLLgooD]

I use lead for plinkers in the 460. I just tried out some Trail Boss under a 255 grain RNFP and really liked it. I Keep a supply of the FTX's from Hornady around for the fire-breathers. Hopefully someone with more experience can help you out with that.

I think that if I get serious about hopped up lead boolits that I will get a mold that uses gas checks.

[bobthenailer]

IN my 454 casulls i have no problem with leading with plane base or gas check bullets designes without the GC installed up to at least 1,100 fps with fast burning powders. Tightgroup & BE.
if you use a slow powder 820,296,h110, lilgun, you may be able to boost velocity to 1,400 fps ? with the same type of bullets . Myself i use gas checks over 1,200 fps reguardless of the powder used in the 454 casull. I have the LBT 300 grgc lfn , MM 260 grgc frn and a MM 275 tc. sized .452 WW water dropped from the mould and carnuba red lube
For anything over 1,400 fps i would highly reccomend gas checks be used.

[needcoffee]

I would like to get around 1800 fps out of a 330 grain bullet. So it looks like I will have to go with gas checked bullets.

What do you all recommend? Just for the heck of it I am thinking of trying out the Cast Performance Bullets in the Hodgon load data. The GC and the Non GC and seeing how they perform with the Hodgon loads. If I can get decent results. I will then purchase a GC mold for the weapon.

I originally got into casting for cheap plinking bullets. This is the first time I have tried to push one fast.

Thanks for the replies.

[aussie460mag]

I have used lees 300gr gas checked with aluminium with 34gr of adi 2205 running approx 1480fps made out of WW water dropped, lubed with 3 to 1 bees wax lithium grease looks good so far