High pressure 454 loads

TNBulldog · March 4, 2009, 05:58 PM

I was looking at some info on a Puma 92 when I stumbled on this article: http://www.gunblast.com/Paco_Legacy_454.htm In it he talks about pressures of 63,000psi. That seems a good bit high to me. I've loaded a 454 up 1 gr over the suggested limit before and it handled it fine, but this was likely in the area of 53,000psi. Do these numbers not seem high to you all?

Is it even possible, much less safe to load something that hot in 454?

SL1 · March 4, 2009, 06:36 PM

According to my QuickLoad program, the SAAMI standard for the .454 Casull is 65,000 psi,and the European standard is 3900 bar (=56565 psi).

I don't have it in front of me, but I think I recall the Speer manual saying that the original loads for the Freedom Arms wildcat was up around 60,000+ psi, but when it went standard and was chambered in other guns, the ammo manufacturers decided that the 50,000+ psi range was more "workable."

Whatever you decide is OK in your gun, remember that hotter loads will wear it (and YOU) out faster.

SL1

March 4, 2009, 05:58 PM	#1
TNBulldog Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2007 Posts: 159	High pressure 454 loads I was looking at some info on a Puma 92 when I stumbled on this article: http://www.gunblast.com/Paco_Legacy_454.htm In it he talks about pressures of 63,000psi. That seems a good bit high to me. I've loaded a 454 up 1 gr over the suggested limit before and it handled it fine, but this was likely in the area of 53,000psi. Do these numbers not seem high to you all? Is it even possible, much less safe to load something that hot in 454?

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March 4, 2009, 06:36 PM	#2
SL1 Senior Member Join Date: November 8, 2007 Posts: 2,001	According to my QuickLoad program, the SAAMI standard for the .454 Casull is 65,000 psi,and the European standard is 3900 bar (=56565 psi). I don't have it in front of me, but I think I recall the Speer manual saying that the original loads for the Freedom Arms wildcat was up around 60,000+ psi, but when it went standard and was chambered in other guns, the ammo manufacturers decided that the 50,000+ psi range was more "workable." Whatever you decide is OK in your gun, remember that hotter loads will wear it (and YOU) out faster. SL1