Questions for the Alaskan and Toklat 454 Casull

CDR_Glock · September 20, 2017, 11:36 AM

What advantage does Magnaporting do with this?

Does a steady diet of Buffalo Bore 340 grain Cast lead bullets lead to decreased barrel life? I'm guessing that these guns would outlive me.

I prefer the open adjustable sights but have any of you added a Weigand rail and an Optic?

I live in Black Bear country and they seem to be well fed but I take no chances when I'm on my property. What do you prefer for defense between the two? I have all three Ruger Super Redhawk revolvers.

I favor the Toklat, though.

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T. O'Heir · September 20, 2017, 02:16 PM

1024 x 1024 pixels is too big.
Cast lead bullets will never wear out an SS barrel. Lead is far softer than any kind of steel.
The Toklat is a dealer exclusive. Only made for and sold by TALO. Won't make any difference except for a bit of velocity loss.

jackmoser65 · September 20, 2017, 04:41 PM

It's a distributor exclusive, not a dealer exclusive and TALO is a group of distributors, which includes Lipsey's, Davidson's and several others. So it's widely available.

the possum · September 20, 2017, 09:35 PM

I have no experience with those revolvers, but in another thread, a gentleman said to avoid Lil Gun powder in the .500 S&W, so you might want to research if that powder would be any problem in your gun/caliber. I've always stuck with W296 in my .454.

And good hardcast lead bullets should never wear out your gun. You could have an issue though if you use bullets too soft to take the pressure. They try to obturate to fill the bore at the same time they're trying to squeeze through the forcing cone. I've read that Dick Casull used to demonstrate this phenomenon by seating softer bullets over a hot charge of powder, and the forcing cone would be completely ruined in less than 100 rounds. I called the factory to see if I should order my gun with their optional tungsten carbide forcing cone, but they told me if I'm using proper bullets, I shouldn't bother unless I was going to shoot 10,000 rounds per year.

jackmoser65 · September 21, 2017, 10:33 AM

Lil Gun has been linked to premature forcing cone erosion.

357 Terms · September 21, 2017, 05:02 PM

Black bear? 357 or 44 mag are fine. Porting a Alaskan 454?!! Trim your eybrows!!!

September 20, 2017, 11:36 AM	#1
CDR_Glock Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2010 Posts: 704	Questions for the Alaskan and Toklat 454 Casull What advantage does Magnaporting do with this? Does a steady diet of Buffalo Bore 340 grain Cast lead bullets lead to decreased barrel life? I'm guessing that these guns would outlive me. I prefer the open adjustable sights but have any of you added a Weigand rail and an Optic? I live in Black Bear country and they seem to be well fed but I take no chances when I'm on my property. What do you prefer for defense between the two? I have all three Ruger Super Redhawk revolvers. I favor the Toklat, though. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

September 20, 2017, 02:16 PM	#2
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	1024 x 1024 pixels is too big. Cast lead bullets will never wear out an SS barrel. Lead is far softer than any kind of steel. The Toklat is a dealer exclusive. Only made for and sold by TALO. Won't make any difference except for a bit of velocity loss. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

September 20, 2017, 04:41 PM	#3
jackmoser65 Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2014 Posts: 754	It's a distributor exclusive, not a dealer exclusive and TALO is a group of distributors, which includes Lipsey's, Davidson's and several others. So it's widely available.

September 20, 2017, 09:35 PM	#4
the possum Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2004 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 555	I have no experience with those revolvers, but in another thread, a gentleman said to avoid Lil Gun powder in the .500 S&W, so you might want to research if that powder would be any problem in your gun/caliber. I've always stuck with W296 in my .454. And good hardcast lead bullets should never wear out your gun. You could have an issue though if you use bullets too soft to take the pressure. They try to obturate to fill the bore at the same time they're trying to squeeze through the forcing cone. I've read that Dick Casull used to demonstrate this phenomenon by seating softer bullets over a hot charge of powder, and the forcing cone would be completely ruined in less than 100 rounds. I called the factory to see if I should order my gun with their optional tungsten carbide forcing cone, but they told me if I'm using proper bullets, I shouldn't bother unless I was going to shoot 10,000 rounds per year.

September 21, 2017, 10:33 AM	#5
jackmoser65 Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2014 Posts: 754	Lil Gun has been linked to premature forcing cone erosion.

September 21, 2017, 05:02 PM	#6
357 Terms Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 248	Black bear? 357 or 44 mag are fine. Porting a Alaskan 454?!! Trim your eybrows!!!