Which Are Your Favorite Low End .454 Casull Loads - Bullets & Powder Data?

[JohnnyFlake]

In the reloading books, under any caliber, they always list starting loads, up to max loads.

My question is, which of the low end/starting loads are your favorite, for accuracy and easy of shooting in the .454 Casull?

[bobthenailer]

Loaded in 454 Casull brass, 8.0grs @1,000 fps or 9.0 gr @1,100 fps of Tightgroup powder, with 260 270 & 300 gr cast boolets. shoot's excellent in my FA revolver's.

[frnkeore]

If your talking published jacketed loads, My most accurate is 25 gr H4227 with a 300 gr bullet. I can get a 1" 6 shot group at 25 yards with it in my 7 1/2 barreled RH.

Frank

[wlc]

I've worked up to 10 grains of Titegroup under the Lee 452-300RF starting with bobthenailers suggestion of 8-9gr. Accuracy is good, recoil is not tough at all shot out of my Ruger Toklat 454Casull.

[cbrick]

Back in the jacketed bullet days I loaded 34 gr IMR 4198 under a 240 gr Sierra. Used it for silhouette, basically the same ballistics as a 240 gr 44 mag using H-110. The 44 at 1380 fps, the 454 at 1430 fps.

Don't be discouraged by the fact that 34 gr of 4198 won't fit in the case, it will with the use of a drop tube.

Rick

[wquiles]

Back in the jacketed bullet days I loaded 34 gr IMR 4198 under a 240 gr Sierra. Used it for silhouette, basically the same ballistics as a 240 gr 44 mag using H-110. The 44 at 1380 fps, the 454 at 1430 fps.

Don't be discouraged by the fact that 34 gr of 4198 won't fit in the case, it will with the use of a drop tube.

Rick

Wow, and I though I was the only one using H4198 in a 44 mag case :)

In my custom Ruger SBH, I use 27gr, and although dirty (in the sense that there is a lot of un-burned kernels), with a 250gr hard cast bullet from LBT-FN-GC (OAL=1.710") I get about 1100fps out of the stock 7 1/2" barrel. I since then cut the barrel down and I have not chronograph them since, but with the shorter 4 5/8" barrel I got this nice 5x shot group from the bench at 25 yards using a 1x red dot a couple of weeks ago:
http://m3coupe.com/Firearms/loads/shooting_range/Dec14/20141205_161420.jpg

[Dr. A]

10 gr. of Trail Boss with a RCBS 270 SWC

[Big Boomer]

Just for pure accuracy from a Bowen built 5-shot Ruger Bisley, 24 grains of H110, a 340 grain WLN (wide long nose) gas check boolit (water dropped from the mould) and lubed with my own mix. I have shot 1" groups at 25 yards and 4" groups at 100 yards (though I can not do it on demand - just now and then), open sights off sand bags. Recoil is stout and not for the faint of heart, but the accuracy is there when I can hold still. I'll be 75 in a little over a month if the Lord lets me live, so you understand things are not going uphill at this time, only downhill. BTW, don't attempt over 25 rounds at one time with this load. For most guys only 1 round is plenty. Makes my hand swell up - like big! Big Boomer

[RobS]

In the reloading books, under any caliber, they always list starting loads, up to max loads.

My question is, which of the low end/starting loads are your favorite, for accuracy and easy of shooting in the .454 Casull?

What weight of boolit/bullet? I guess one also doesn't know what "ease of shooting" means to another. I would say if you are looking at loading on the lower end then look at Ruger Only 45 Colt loads and adjust accordingly especially when using the slower ball powders so you don't end up with boolits/bullets stuck in your barrel.



11.5 grains of Alliant Steel - 310 grain boolit
10 grains of Alliant Herco - 310 grain boolit

These are my easy shooting loads.

[MGD]

I've been using 9 grains of Longshot with a 280 (casts 298 grains) Lyman TCGC. Very accurate and comfortable out of 4" and 2" Freedom Arms.

[RobS]

I've been using 9 grains of Longshot with a 280 (casts 298 grains) Lyman TCGC. Very accurate and comfortable out of 4" and 2" Freedom Arms.

What mold is this boolit coming from?

[MGD]

I am not at home, so I can't look at the mold. I believe it starts with 454 it is similar to the SSK style hunting bullets. I got it this spring when they were closing out discontinued items. In a couple of days when I get home I will post the number on here.

[RobS]

I am not at home, so I can't look at the mold. I believe it starts with 454 it is similar to the SSK style hunting bullets. I got it this spring when they were closing out discontinued items. In a couple of days when I get home I will post the number on here.

I thought I remember reading about a Lyman mold like this once but couldn't remember the number or if it had history with it from being a Freedom Arms 454 Casull design.

The Freedom Arms designed molds I believe were the 255 grain or 454628, and the 300 grain numbered 454629.

[MGD]

RobS, the mold is the Lyman 454647

[RobS]

I see.........had to google search this one to find a picture, never seen that one before.

[happie2shoot]

In the reloading books, under any caliber, they always list starting loads, up to max loads.

My question is, which of the low end/starting loads are your favorite, for accuracy and easy of shooting in the .454 Casull?

Get this mold,
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/775664/lee-2-cavity-bullet-mold-452-255-rf-45-acp-45-auto-rim-45-colt-long-colt-452-diameter-255-grain-flat-nose?cm_vc=ProductFinding

or this mold,
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/570018/lee-6-cavity-bullet-mold-452-255-rf-45-acp-45-auto-rim-45-colt-long-colt-452-diameter-255-grain-flat-nose?cm_vc=ProductFinding

and 8gr of bullseye, don't need any crimp, just get rid of the bell.

I had nine 454s at one time and this shoots good in all of them,
expect 1000+fps in a 7.5'' barrel and under one inch at 25yds.

In the 16 and 20'' barrels i think it went around 1250 to 1300fps.

Cheap, quiet and accurate.

[happie2shoot]

These two will do 1500fps in a 7.5''barrel and shoot six shots in
2 to 2.25'' at 100yds with wc820 or h110.

this one falls at 340gr.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/740563/lyman-2-cavity-bullet-mold-452651-45-caliber-452-diameter-325-grain-flat-nose-gas-check?cm_vc=ProductFinding

this one falls at 313gr.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/440679/lee-6-cavity-bullet-mold-452-300-rf-45-colt-long-colt-454-casull-452-diameter-300-grain-flat-nose-gas-check?cm_vc=ProductFinding

[gpidaho]

Like Bobthenailer and wic, I use Tight Group starting at 7.5gr and using either 45 Colt brass or older 454 brass. TG was always available here locally during the shortage and I now use it in most of my handguns and as a rifle powder for plinking. 6gr. works great in my 22-250 with the 55gr Lee Bator. GP

[S.B.]

I've worked up to 10 grains of Titegroup under the Lee 452-300RF starting with bobthenailers suggestion of 8-9gr. Accuracy is good, recoil is not tough at all shot out of my Ruger Toklat 454Casull.

Did you chrono any of this?
Steve

[dougader]

I usually just shoot 45 Colt loads in my 454 SRH, or just add an extra grain of powder to the 454 cases.

With 250-260 grain bullets, 14-15 grains Blue Dot in 454 cases. (12 - 13 grains BD in 45 Colt cases).

[rhouser]

I'm looking pretty good with 14.2 gr Blue Dot over a gc'd Lee 300-452RF with BLL only. I tried 16 gr but the 14.2 is a bit more mannered. thanks rch

[S.B.]

I'm looking pretty good with 14.2 gr Blue Dot over a gc'd Lee 300-452RF with BLL only. I tried 16 gr but the 14.2 is a bit more mannered. thanks rch
BLL only???
Steve

[rhouser]

Yes, BLL only.

I posted a question in the Lubes section a couple of weeks ago about using LLA only on standard lube groove bullets. I have the entire set of TL rifle molds sold by Ranch Dog in years past. I had seen the LLA and derivatives work at high rifle velocities, so I knew the lube would work in the TL designed bullets, I just wasn't sure about standard lube groove. I got back replies from several shooters that they were doing this with great success, so I gave it a try.

I have been shooting the above load with BLL only (because of the two hour dry and much less sticky) out of a 7.5" SRH in 454 Casull with ZERO leading. I am seeing 3" - 6 shot groups at 100 yards with a 2-6x Bush elite scope, front rest and rear bag.


I am happy with this load.

[S.B.]

Yes, BLL only.

I posted a question in the Lubes section a couple of weeks ago about using LLA only on standard lube groove bullets. I have the entire set of TL rifle molds sold by Ranch Dog in years past. I had seen the LLA and derivatives work at high rifle velocities, so I knew the lube would work in the TL designed bullets, I just wasn't sure about standard lube groove. I got back replies from several shooters that they were doing this with great success, so I gave it a try.

I have been shooting the above load with BLL only (because of the two hour dry and much less sticky) out of a 7.5" SRH in 454 Casull with ZERO leading. I am seeing 3" - 6 shot groups at 100 yards with a 2-6x Bush elite scope, front rest and rear bag.


I am happy with this load.
Sorry I was asking what the acronyms stood for? I'm not up on modern English.
Steve

[rhouser]

BLL = Bens Liquid Lube. This is another mixture using the Lee Liquid Alox as the base. Do a search on the lube forum here in Cast Boolits and you will find the two ingredients. Old guy thing.... Ask me for the time and I tell you how the watch was built.
thanks rch