Reloading .454 Casull?

jsr5 · May 6, 2001, 05:30 PM

Well Howdy folks. I'm a brand newbie first looked at your site today, looks like alot of knowledge floating around here so I hope maybe someone here has loaded for hte .454 and has some results to share.

My 300 gr. hard cast bullets are onthe way and I still haven't planned a starting load other than to decide I'll probably use my standard magnum pistol powder WW-296. Though if anyone has had good results with somthing else I'd be intrested in hearing it. i do have a .454 load book coming too but would still be hearing from people with first hand experience.

Thanks in advance

jimbrassell · May 7, 2001, 07:35 PM

I'm anything but an accomplished .454 Casull loader, but have been doing a little. I've used H4227 for lighter loads and WC820, a milsurp analog of H110, for my hunting loads. Primers are magnum small rifle, CCI 450's. The H4227 load is 28.5 gr with a hard cast SWC 255 gr bullet. Load chrono's at about 1350 fps. The hunting load is 28.5 gr of WC820 and Hornaday's 300 gr XTP MAG. It chrono's at about 1575 fps. Recoil with the lead bullet is very manageable and so is the hunting load. If I was going after elk or bear, I'd load up a heavier bullet and use the data in Hodgdon's latest manual to get me up to at least 1600 or 1700 fps. By the way, the 28.5 gr WC820 load is the starting load recommended in the Hodgdon manual.

jsr5 · May 21, 2001, 03:14 PM

Well Saturday I loaded a hundred test loads 25 ea of 29, 30, 31, 32 gr. ww 296 under a 300 gr hard cast lead bullet using CCI 400 Small Rifle Primers. I was not impressed. I am waiting for Small Rifle Magnum Primers to arrive I was surprised by not finding them on the shelf anywhere in my area.

Any way The loads certainly didn't seem very peppy and I didn't get a 454 to shoot powder puff loads Though I may load a few as reccomended for light woods walking and such. There were no signs of excess pressure at all and the 296 didn't burn as clean as I have come to expect in My 44 and 357. As for no pressure when I started and hte gun was clean the cases would fall out of the chambers I don't want them to stick But, I expect to have to eject them. I would suspect a light crimp If I hadn't loaded them myself.

Any way I'll start over when the magnum primers are in and let you all know how it goes, I'm thinking of getting a chronograph too so I can tell what kind of velocity I'm getting.

Thanks for the responses public and private I've recieved so far, it all helps eventually I'll have the load I need.

Clark · November 3, 2001, 12:33 AM

WARNING EXPERIMENTAL LOADS, DO NOT IMITATE THIS BEHAVIOR!

Today I tried to shoot 454 loads with Win 45 Colt brass, WLP primers, and 33% H110 overloads.

1)The brass held up well without a problem.
2)The WLP primers were not up to it.
3) The powder would not compress that much, so the overall length got a little long.

I do have 454 loads in my load books:
Hodgdon H110 30 gr, 300 gr, 1.775", 53,700cup

So I tried: 300 gr Western Bullets Lyman #457191, OAL=1.837", WLP, 40 gr H110 Compressed hard.
The primer went top hat and leaked bad.

So I switched to a rifle primer: CCI200 300 gr 1.86", 40 gr H110, compressed, primer flat and cratered, but no leak.

WARNING EXPERIMENTAL LOADS, DO NOT IMITATE THIS BEHAVIOR!

WESHOOT2 · November 3, 2001, 06:21 AM

W296, Starline cases, Beartooth or Cast Performance lead bullets, Swift or Hornady jacketed bullets, and finish crimp very heavy using the REDDING Profile Crimp die.

(Clark, try the Starline cases.)

sricciardelli · November 3, 2001, 09:06 PM

H-110 From 26.5 grains to 34.0 grains - CCI-400 Primer

Can't believe you loaded 40 grains!

Clark · November 6, 2001, 11:21 PM

.

Steve Smith · November 6, 2001, 11:40 PM

Remember, Clark is the one who posted the thread, "I have blown up seven guns" a year or so ago.

Redneck2 · November 7, 2001, 09:25 AM

I don't recall any other Ruger that has chamber walls 10 times thicker than the SRH.

I'd also be very interested in one that's 10 times cheaper...I'd be around $65-$70.

Are these being used in some type of test gun?? Just curious.

Danger may be that some newbie will think this works in off-the-shelf Rugers. If so, I wonder if it would be open or closed casket.

Clark · November 7, 2001, 12:15 PM

.

Ben Shepherd · November 7, 2001, 12:55 PM

WeShoot2, explain that crimp die you're talking about.
All I've ever used is the carbide 3pc. die sets from RCBS for my staight-walled pistol loads. As you've probably figured out from my other posts, I'm getting serious about handgun hunting, and anything to help would be appreciated.

WESHOOT2 · November 9, 2001, 04:46 PM

The Redding Profile Crimp die starts with a gentle taper and finishes with a (unbelievably) symmetrical roll.

You can make a marvelous heavy crimp using one, and it will enhance accuracy (for more than one reason).

Trust me.

Ben Shepherd · November 12, 2001, 05:17 PM

Thanks!!!! It sounds like the ticket. I'll check the local gunshops this weekend.

WESHOOT2 · November 13, 2001, 02:12 AM

Grafs, Wideners, Natchez, etc............

November 3, 2001, 06:21 AM	#5
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	HIGHLY RECOMMEND W296, Starline cases, Beartooth or Cast Performance lead bullets, Swift or Hornady jacketed bullets, and finish crimp very heavy using the REDDING Profile Crimp die. (Clark, try the Starline cases.) __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

November 6, 2001, 11:21 PM	#7
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	. . Last edited by Clark; November 8, 2001 at 10:32 PM.

November 6, 2001, 11:40 PM	#8
Steve Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1999 Posts: 4,131	Remember, Clark is the one who posted the thread, "I have blown up seven guns" a year or so ago. __________________ Favor the X. Steve Smith NRA Life Member

November 7, 2001, 09:25 AM	#9
Redneck2 Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2000 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 519	I work in a gun shop I don't recall any other Ruger that has chamber walls 10 times thicker than the SRH. I'd also be very interested in one that's 10 times cheaper...I'd be around $65-$70. Are these being used in some type of test gun?? Just curious. Danger may be that some newbie will think this works in off-the-shelf Rugers. If so, I wonder if it would be open or closed casket.

November 7, 2001, 12:15 PM	#10
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	. . Last edited by Clark; November 8, 2001 at 10:31 PM.

May 6, 2001, 05:30 PM	#1
jsr5 Member Join Date: May 6, 2001 Location: mid-west Posts: 25	Well Howdy folks. I'm a brand newbie first looked at your site today, looks like alot of knowledge floating around here so I hope maybe someone here has loaded for hte .454 and has some results to share. My 300 gr. hard cast bullets are onthe way and I still haven't planned a starting load other than to decide I'll probably use my standard magnum pistol powder WW-296. Though if anyone has had good results with somthing else I'd be intrested in hearing it. i do have a .454 load book coming too but would still be hearing from people with first hand experience. Thanks in advance

May 7, 2001, 07:35 PM	#2
jimbrassell Junior member Join Date: March 12, 2000 Posts: 39	I'm anything but an accomplished .454 Casull loader, but have been doing a little. I've used H4227 for lighter loads and WC820, a milsurp analog of H110, for my hunting loads. Primers are magnum small rifle, CCI 450's. The H4227 load is 28.5 gr with a hard cast SWC 255 gr bullet. Load chrono's at about 1350 fps. The hunting load is 28.5 gr of WC820 and Hornaday's 300 gr XTP MAG. It chrono's at about 1575 fps. Recoil with the lead bullet is very manageable and so is the hunting load. If I was going after elk or bear, I'd load up a heavier bullet and use the data in Hodgdon's latest manual to get me up to at least 1600 or 1700 fps. By the way, the 28.5 gr WC820 load is the starting load recommended in the Hodgdon manual.

May 21, 2001, 03:14 PM	#3
jsr5 Member Join Date: May 6, 2001 Location: mid-west Posts: 25	Well Saturday I loaded a hundred test loads 25 ea of 29, 30, 31, 32 gr. ww 296 under a 300 gr hard cast lead bullet using CCI 400 Small Rifle Primers. I was not impressed. I am waiting for Small Rifle Magnum Primers to arrive I was surprised by not finding them on the shelf anywhere in my area. Any way The loads certainly didn't seem very peppy and I didn't get a 454 to shoot powder puff loads Though I may load a few as reccomended for light woods walking and such. There were no signs of excess pressure at all and the 296 didn't burn as clean as I have come to expect in My 44 and 357. As for no pressure when I started and hte gun was clean the cases would fall out of the chambers I don't want them to stick But, I expect to have to eject them. I would suspect a light crimp If I hadn't loaded them myself. Any way I'll start over when the magnum primers are in and let you all know how it goes, I'm thinking of getting a chronograph too so I can tell what kind of velocity I'm getting. Thanks for the responses public and private I've recieved so far, it all helps eventually I'll have the load I need.

November 3, 2001, 12:33 AM	#4
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	WARNING EXPERIMENTAL LOADS, DO NOT IMITATE THIS BEHAVIOR! Today I tried to shoot 454 loads with Win 45 Colt brass, WLP primers, and 33% H110 overloads. 1)The brass held up well without a problem. 2)The WLP primers were not up to it. 3) The powder would not compress that much, so the overall length got a little long. I do have 454 loads in my load books: Hodgdon H110 30 gr, 300 gr, 1.775", 53,700cup So I tried: 300 gr Western Bullets Lyman #457191, OAL=1.837", WLP, 40 gr H110 Compressed hard. The primer went top hat and leaked bad. So I switched to a rifle primer: CCI200 300 gr 1.86", 40 gr H110, compressed, primer flat and cratered, but no leak. WARNING EXPERIMENTAL LOADS, DO NOT IMITATE THIS BEHAVIOR!

November 3, 2001, 09:06 PM	#6
sricciardelli Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2001 Location: Montana Posts: 489	H-110 From 26.5 grains to 34.0 grains - CCI-400 Primer Can't believe you loaded 40 grains!

November 7, 2001, 12:55 PM	#11
Ben Shepherd Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 1,462	WeShoot2, explain that crimp die you're talking about. All I've ever used is the carbide 3pc. die sets from RCBS for my staight-walled pistol loads. As you've probably figured out from my other posts, I'm getting serious about handgun hunting, and anything to help would be appreciated. __________________ From my cold dead hands......... NRA certified rifle, pistol and shotgun instructor. Hunter education instructor

November 9, 2001, 04:46 PM	#12
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	EASY The Redding Profile Crimp die starts with a gentle taper and finishes with a (unbelievably) symmetrical roll. You can make a marvelous heavy crimp using one, and it will enhance accuracy (for more than one reason). Trust me. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

November 12, 2001, 05:17 PM	#13
Ben Shepherd Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 1,462	Thanks!!!! It sounds like the ticket. I'll check the local gunshops this weekend. __________________ From my cold dead hands......... NRA certified rifle, pistol and shotgun instructor. Hunter education instructor

November 13, 2001, 02:12 AM	#14
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	OR Grafs, Wideners, Natchez, etc............ __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"