Recomended cast for Freedom Arms

[greenrivers]

It took me quite a while to try a 200gr. RNPB in my Colt SAA and find a load that shot with outstanding accurracy. I wonder if any of you have found that special boolit and load for your Freedom Arms in .454 Casull? Mine is a ported 7 1/2 inch. I will be shooting a lot more of the hot .45 Colt range loads than the Casull. My Ruger SRH liked the 300gr FNGC. Is that where I should start?

[shorty500M]

that would be great slug to start with.

[bobthenailer]

I have several 454 casulls , so far ive used a LEE 255gr RF , MM 260gr LFN GC, MM 275gr TC and a LBT 300gr LFN GC, all bullets styles were accurate in all guns . I only use 454 Casull brass in my FA handguns reguardless of velocity or bullet.
If i was to pick only one it would be the LBT 300gr LFN GC , it also shoots excellent without the GC installed at velocties up to atleast 1,200 fps after that i use GC.

[RobS]

Considering you have the 300 grain RF GC mold that is where I would start. If you are wanting to go custom design then here are some ideas that have worked well for some of us forum members.

I put these two together and they are good ones for both Ruger 45 Colt or 454 Casull loads

http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=45-310B-D.png

http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=45-345A-D.png

A few other members like these which are similar in design:

Designed for Ruger 45 Colt:
http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=45-340E-D.png

And then this 340 grain design:
http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=45-340D-D.png

I know about these designs and they have proven to be accurate.

[454PB]

That 300 Gr. FNGC will work fine.

But, lighter cast plain base designs work well to. I try to limit the plain base to 1300 fps. or less. You can push them faster, but accuracy tends to degrade. I, too, use only .454 brass in my Casulls, but then I also own a Ruger BH and SBH in 45 Colt for using the shorter brass.

[44MAG#1]

Another potential battle looms large on Freedom Arms.
Take cover and watch the incoming.
After saying that to prepare everyone I have had great success with an LBT-LFN-GC in 340 gr weight and either 2400 or H110.
Although I use 454 cases.
45 colt cases have been used too.
Use data for the 45 colt in the Ruger section of Hodgdon's annual manual.
In the 454 DO NOT go as low as Hodgdons says when using 454 cases. I wouldn't go any lower than 25 gr H110 with a 335/340 gr bullet.
Work up your own loads.

[RobS]

In the 454 DO NOT go as low as Hodgdons says when using 454 cases. I wouldn't go any lower than 25 gr H110 with a 335/340 gr bullet.
Work up your own loads.

Yep...inconsistent ignition.

[greenrivers]

Thanks guys. Looks like I have a number of available molds on hand and in various weights. Looks like more fun testing and finding the loads that will meet the need. I too have the .45 Colts and plan on using only Casull brass as a way of keeping them seperate and not ringing the cylinder on the Freedom Arms.
I am confused though about the "Battle Looming"?
I intend to keep open sights on this revolver, so I will never get the full accuracy potential. But I am looking forward to seeing what it can do.

[44MAG#1]

"I am confused though about the "Battle Looming"?"
You will find out if this goes the way other Freedom Arms post go.

[bigboredad]

I am part of the group that believes in heavy for caliber bullets. So if it was me I would start with the 300gr but that's just me others believe in smaller faster in that case your 250 would be good. Who is right and who is wrong???? Is there a right or wrong??? dead is dead no matter how a animal gets there as long as it is quick as you can make it. That's really the only important piece of the equation. But for fun only you can decide what is fun for you

[greenrivers]

Now I understand! I guess that I am in the group that looks for accuracy first and aplication second. As there are no thousand pound grisleys in my area that I have to get through tough grissell and bone to safely dispatch, I will look to lighter and more comfortable bullets to shoot on a regular basis. If a moose hunt comes up and a pass through shot is needed on a big bull, I guess that I would like to have a load for that!
With the versatility of the Cassul, why be limited?

[RobS]

My heavier/longer boolits are easier for me to find accuracy with and is why I shoot them. A longer boolit has a better chance of being supported at both ends therefore has a better chance of staying straight with the bore as it moves through the cylinder throats, into the forcing cone and then down the barrel. Just because the boolit is 300 or 340 grains doesn't mean you have to shoot it at 1300-1400 fps. A 340 can comfortably be shot at 950 fps with a smile on the face and be accurate too.

To each his own and I've gone too heavy, to the lighter side and everything in between.

Have fun shooting and enjoy the time!!!

[Bullshop]

For me the boolit is a Saeco 300gn SWC-GC. That was and is my favorite for the Freedom arms 454. My first was a 4 5/8 " barrel so I adopted blue dot for powder because anything slower gave too much muzzle blast. There have been several others including a long barrel at 9 or 10" I cant remember for sure. When I went to the longer barrels H-110 became my powder but the boolit stayed the same.
That boolit has remained my favorite for about 25 years even though I have many other 45 cal molds. It is my favorite for 45 Colt as well in pistol or rifle. Just a very consistantly accurate boolit in any 45 I have tried it in which includes several Freedom arms, Rugers, Marlins, and Winchesters.

[BigboreShooter]

Greenrivers
RCBS .45-300gr-gc. With my alloy and GC comes to 312grs.
10 grs Unique practice load, 1000+ fps. Hunting load 23grs Alliant 2400 1300fps.


BigboreShooter

[greenrivers]

The RCBS boollet has been mentioned a lot throughout my sight searches. That is a Midway order shortley. I have the Lyman version and have had good luck with them in the Rugers but understand the front drive band may be an isssue. Or not. I have the Unigue, 2400, H110 and other powders on hand. Those mentioned being old favorites.
Again, no arguement will come from me regarding big and efficient boolits. Pass through shots make twice the blood trail to follow if needed.

[bigboredad]

those powders should work great for what you have in mind. RobS and I think a like on the 340gr bullet but that doesn't mean we are right it just means we are happy with what we shoot. Like Rob I have found it much easier to find the sweet spot with the 340gr and it can be found with many powders. I love shooting the 340gr with unique for a all day shooting load and for the freight trains that need a attitude adjustment I like 296 and alliants new powder 300-mp. A lot of the reasons I like the bigger heavier is they seem less snappy to me and I hate snappy. Only you will be able to find what works for you and you'll have fun finding the right load or loads that work for you.

[MT Chambers]

My FA .454 really likes the Accurate 340grain GC bullets that I use, both in heavy and slower loads, recoil in 4 3/4" revolver is stiff, but fun!!

[doghawg]

My .454 FA's both shoot well with 22 gr. of 2400 under either the Lee 300 gr. GC or RCBS 300 gr. for 1175 to 1250 fps depending on barrel length. I shoot loads at this level much more often than full house 296 loads under a 300 gr. jacketed. For a lighter load I like 19 gr. of 2400 under the RCBS 270 SAA for around 1200 fps from a 7 1/2". For a plinker try the Lee 255 RF with 9 to 10 grains of Unique.

[greenrivers]

I had been using a 265 grn boolit and finding fair accuracy when my buddy brought over the 300 grn mold. We immediatly found better accuracy in both SRH's with just about all loads tried and made comment that a larger bullet could be worth trying. Just have not yet gotten there. Yet.

[High Desert Hunter]

I shoot a lot of a copy of the RCBS 45 270-SAA bullet (very close copy, same diameter, weight on MP molds is 289grs, weight from my actual RCBS mold is 284grs), I load them over 12grs of Unique for a comfortable accurate load that would work for just about anything I'd encounter here. I also load a fair number of a 325gr WFNGC bullet from Mountain Molds. I am now interested in a PB WFN bullet of 340-360 grains, I haven't shot anything heavier than 325grs in my M83, but I did try some 345gr RCBS RNFP bullets for my 45/70 sized down to .452 in my old Super Redhawk 454. I look forward to many years of having fun with this round, been shooting it since 2000.

[stubshaft]

300gr LBT LFN ahead of 33.0 - 35.0 296/110.

[High Desert Hunter]

Another good one is the 325gr GCSWC from LBT, Dennis gave me some to try and they are very accurate. At one time, the Bullshop had a 335gr WFN that shot VERY well in my gun, that is the mold I would love to have.

[Tatume]

Veral Smith cut a 320 gr LFN GC mold for my Model 83. The nose length is just right, being just shy of the cylinder face. The throats on my gun are 0.451" and I use a 0.452" sizer die and Blue Soft lube. Accuracy is outstanding! My hunting load runs at a very comfortable 1400 fps, and my practice load is an even more comfortable 1150 fps, both with mil surp powders (WC820 & M9). Since I now have a Model 97 in 41 Rem Mag and expect to receive a Mernickle holster for it tomorrow, I think I'll put the scope back on the Model 83. It's fun to shoot with the scope, but not so fun to carry. If you decide to have a mold made for your gun, the 320 gr LFN GC by LBT is outstanding.