454 Advice Needed

jjmorgan64 · November 10, 2002, 10:48 AM

My SuperRedhawk 454 71/2" will be in on Tues.

I have a lot of 45 colt loaded, but I would like recommendations on loads, and bullets for the 454.

I curently have hornady 300 gr xtp's and I cast Lee's 255 gr rnfp.

What have you gotten the best results with?
Powders?

Bullets and/or molds?

Primers?

would like to end up withy 2 loads, target and hunting.

Thanks again.

rick_reno · November 10, 2002, 11:59 AM

I shoot these in my FA 454's. I've primarily cast bullets - I was using my own cast bullets until about two years ago when I switched to Laser Cast 300 gr. When I got my first FA pistol, Dick Casull was selling a Lyman mould that (supposedly) he'd developed for the gun. It cast a 285 gr. bullet and is very accurate in both my 6 inch and (older) 7.5 inch gun using 28.5 gr. of H110. I can't find the chrono data on what these bullets did, if it shows up I'll drop you a note. The mould # is Lyman 454647BV, I believe they discontinued this mould over 10 years ago - I haven't checked recently but with the popularity of the 454 (Ruger/Taurus) they might be making it again and you could pick one up and try it. I did use gas checks on those bullets.
A couple of years ago I got tired of casting bullets and put my pots and moulds away - I'd rather shoot than cast - and I tried some Laser Cast 300 gr. bullets. I've found these to be an excellent bullet and I load mine with 29.5 gr. of H110 and get 1460-1480 FPS from them from the 6 inch gun with my Oehler chronograph. I haven't chronographed the 7.5 inch gun yet with these bullets.
I'm planning on trying some 250 gr. Laser Cast bullets next year.
I've not seen any evidence of leading with any of the bullets/loads.
The Freedom Arms sight has some info on reloads for these guns.
http://www.freedomarms.com/freedomarms.html
Laser Cast might have loading data in their books now; they sent me a sheet with some loads on it - they didn't work well in my guns. I was supposed to call them back with what did work, but lost the fellows name/number who called me.
I use small magnum rifle primers.

WESHOOT2 · November 10, 2002, 01:52 PM

335-360g (Beartooth, Cast Performance, Dry Creek, Penn).
W296, AA1680.
Redding Profile Crimp die.
Starline cases.

For HP's recommend Swift 325g A-Frame.

For funsies try your 250g over Universal Clays.............in 45 LC cases.

Pigshooter · November 11, 2002, 05:52 AM

I use lyman's gas-checked 255 and 325 bullets. Sized .452.

Unique with regular small rifle primer makes a great download for close range accuracy, 2400 with SR magnum primers for good long-range work. Either would make a good hunting load, assuming that you loaded and set-up for a given window of range.

Remember, even a 325 @ 900 is very light but extremely capable on game.

November 10, 2002, 10:48 AM	#1
jjmorgan64 Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2001 Posts: 519	454 Advice Needed My SuperRedhawk 454 71/2" will be in on Tues. I have a lot of 45 colt loaded, but I would like recommendations on loads, and bullets for the 454. I curently have hornady 300 gr xtp's and I cast Lee's 255 gr rnfp. What have you gotten the best results with? Powders? Bullets and/or molds? Primers? would like to end up withy 2 loads, target and hunting. Thanks again. __________________ The Forty-Four spoke and it sent lead and smoke And seventeen inches of flame. -Marty Robbins JM

November 10, 2002, 11:59 AM	#2
rick_reno Junior member Join Date: May 28, 2002 Location: Idaho Posts: 917	454 advice I shoot these in my FA 454's. I've primarily cast bullets - I was using my own cast bullets until about two years ago when I switched to Laser Cast 300 gr. When I got my first FA pistol, Dick Casull was selling a Lyman mould that (supposedly) he'd developed for the gun. It cast a 285 gr. bullet and is very accurate in both my 6 inch and (older) 7.5 inch gun using 28.5 gr. of H110. I can't find the chrono data on what these bullets did, if it shows up I'll drop you a note. The mould # is Lyman 454647BV, I believe they discontinued this mould over 10 years ago - I haven't checked recently but with the popularity of the 454 (Ruger/Taurus) they might be making it again and you could pick one up and try it. I did use gas checks on those bullets. A couple of years ago I got tired of casting bullets and put my pots and moulds away - I'd rather shoot than cast - and I tried some Laser Cast 300 gr. bullets. I've found these to be an excellent bullet and I load mine with 29.5 gr. of H110 and get 1460-1480 FPS from them from the 6 inch gun with my Oehler chronograph. I haven't chronographed the 7.5 inch gun yet with these bullets. I'm planning on trying some 250 gr. Laser Cast bullets next year. I've not seen any evidence of leading with any of the bullets/loads. The Freedom Arms sight has some info on reloads for these guns. http://www.freedomarms.com/freedomarms.html Laser Cast might have loading data in their books now; they sent me a sheet with some loads on it - they didn't work well in my guns. I was supposed to call them back with what did work, but lost the fellows name/number who called me. I use small magnum rifle primers.

November 10, 2002, 01:52 PM	#3
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	335-360g (Beartooth, Cast Performance, Dry Creek, Penn). W296, AA1680. Redding Profile Crimp die. Starline cases. For HP's recommend Swift 325g A-Frame. For funsies try your 250g over Universal Clays.............in 45 LC cases. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

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November 11, 2002, 05:52 AM	#4
Pigshooter Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2001 Location: Euless, TX Posts: 334	I use lyman's gas-checked 255 and 325 bullets. Sized .452. Unique with regular small rifle primer makes a great download for close range accuracy, 2400 with SR magnum primers for good long-range work. Either would make a good hunting load, assuming that you loaded and set-up for a given window of range. Remember, even a 325 @ 900 is very light but extremely capable on game.