Berrys bullets for my 454 freedom arms

NUKE HUNTER · September 22, 2018, 01:59 PM

I’m finally getting around to reloading again, kids have been consuming all my time, and I’m having issues with soot on my brass. I know I can’t push them fast and I can’t crimp them too much but can I ruin my gun with the gas leaking by?
I started at 10.5 grains of unique then bumped it up to 11 and kept bumping it up to 12 grains and still getting soot. There’s a Lite crimp on them. The bullets are berrys 250 gr .452 flat point. Any input would be appreciated
Thanks

Grey_Lion · September 22, 2018, 09:41 PM

one thought that comes to mind is an under-powered primer - you might not be fully igniting the powder charge which can result in soot/gsr residue.

What primer are you using?

Also - what powder are you using? - Typically a powder manufacturer suggests what strength of primer to get the best clean burn of their powder.

I've had a batch of contaminated powder in the past that smoked terribly and sparked more than I thought normal - it fouled my gear and I felt like a chimney sweep more than a gun owner working through that pound of powder......

**Aguila Blanca** · September 22, 2018, 10:03 PM

What cartridge are you loading? Should we assume .45 Colt? That gun will handle other cartridges, won't it?

NUKE HUNTER · September 22, 2018, 10:36 PM

It’s a small rifle mag primer in 454 brass, the powder is unique and not old, never had a problem with it yet. Im shooting lite loads cause I just want to punch hole in paper, I’m just curious if this is corrosive to the gun and would erode any parts like chamber, throat etc ?
I don’t care about the soot, just want to be safe
Thanks for the responses

Dufus · September 23, 2018, 12:11 AM

The soot problem might go away if you use 45 Colt brass. It handles the lighter loads quite well.

NUKE HUNTER · September 23, 2018, 09:29 AM

I was trying to avoid the carbon ring with the 45 lc brass, looks like I can’t win with this combo.
Thank you all for your input

GarrettJ · September 23, 2018, 11:56 AM

You might try switching to a different powder. For a light load in a large case, I’d look at Trailboss.

Hodgdon lists loads with bullet weights from 250 gr. and up.

NUKE HUNTER · September 23, 2018, 02:53 PM

I just got back from the range, I tried 10 gr of universal with a better crimp and it was better. I was thinking that exactly garretj, got to pick up trailboss
Thanks

BBarn · September 24, 2018, 07:38 PM

I've tried only cannelured bullets in the Casull since I was concerned about bullet creep from recoil. Some of the Casull brass (such as Winchester) is on the hard side, and isn't well suited to low pressure loads and is more likely soot cases.

I've loaded some 240/250/260 grain bullets in Starline cases at lower levels using Titegroup and True Blue with decent results. But Trail Boss is probably a very good choice for your application if you are going to buy powder anyway.

NUKE HUNTER · September 25, 2018, 08:03 PM

I have to check the spent brass, that’s a good point ,although I use mixed

buck460XVR · September 26, 2018, 07:54 AM

Sooty cases will not affect anything. While Trailboss will fill the case more, it will not reduce sootiness unless you raise the chamber pressure over what you are getting with the Unique. Unique is easy to ignite, standard primers are fine. I don't see an issue. For the cost of Berry's without a cannelure, you should be able to get powder coated lead with a cannelure, which would work better with your roll crimp die.

gwpercle · September 26, 2018, 04:10 PM

To avoid the sooty cases in light cast bullet 41 magnum loads in 41 magnum brass I simply annealed (softened) a box of brass , labeled them light loads only , the softer brass would then expand and seal properly with the light loads.

Hint...simply clean the chambers with a brass brush and amazingly...NO carbon build up ring....I have been shooting 38 specials in a 357 Magnum since 1971 (47 years) and guess what...no ring around the cylinder.
I would use 45 Colt cases and simply clean the cylinder....No Problemo !
Gary

Schlitz 45 · September 26, 2018, 05:52 PM

I’ve shot a few hundred Berry’s plated flat points through my Alaskan. I have minimal reloading experience, only used Tight Group & H110 for 45 Colt & 454 reloads with minimal soot & Tight Group being the cleaner of the two.

NUKE HUNTER · September 26, 2018, 07:15 PM

All great info guys!
Thank you very much

Dano4734 · September 27, 2018, 02:53 PM

I don’t reload for 45 long colt in my casull but now my casull loads are strictly viht n110. It’s the absolute cleaniest powder I ever used and way accurate with my 340 grain harddcast from penn bullets

Old 454 · September 27, 2018, 05:31 PM

In large sized cartridges such as the 454 casull... I believe that unique will burn better at full charges.

I load for the 454 with h110 and small rifle magnum primers my loads are compressed and had trouble with just a regular small rifle primer. Switched to small rifle magnum primer and it was all good
Also you might try some 2400 powder... it's good stuff
I also used 240 grain XTP Mag bullets

September 22, 2018, 01:59 PM	#1
NUKE HUNTER Member Join Date: August 22, 2009 Location: dutchess county, new york Posts: 85	Berrys bullets for my 454 freedom arms I’m finally getting around to reloading again, kids have been consuming all my time, and I’m having issues with soot on my brass. I know I can’t push them fast and I can’t crimp them too much but can I ruin my gun with the gas leaking by? I started at 10.5 grains of unique then bumped it up to 11 and kept bumping it up to 12 grains and still getting soot. There’s a Lite crimp on them. The bullets are berrys 250 gr .452 flat point. Any input would be appreciated Thanks

September 22, 2018, 09:41 PM	#2
Grey_Lion Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2018 Location: Baton Rouge - Louisiana Posts: 407	one thought that comes to mind is an under-powered primer - you might not be fully igniting the powder charge which can result in soot/gsr residue. What primer are you using? Also - what powder are you using? - Typically a powder manufacturer suggests what strength of primer to get the best clean burn of their powder. I've had a batch of contaminated powder in the past that smoked terribly and sparked more than I thought normal - it fouled my gear and I felt like a chimney sweep more than a gun owner working through that pound of powder......

September 22, 2018, 10:03 PM	#3
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 18,468	What cartridge are you loading? Should we assume .45 Colt? That gun will handle other cartridges, won't it?

September 22, 2018, 10:36 PM	#4
NUKE HUNTER Member Join Date: August 22, 2009 Location: dutchess county, new york Posts: 85	It’s a small rifle mag primer in 454 brass, the powder is unique and not old, never had a problem with it yet. Im shooting lite loads cause I just want to punch hole in paper, I’m just curious if this is corrosive to the gun and would erode any parts like chamber, throat etc ? I don’t care about the soot, just want to be safe Thanks for the responses

September 23, 2018, 12:11 AM	#5
Dufus Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2014 Posts: 1,965	The soot problem might go away if you use 45 Colt brass. It handles the lighter loads quite well.

September 23, 2018, 09:29 AM	#6
NUKE HUNTER Member Join Date: August 22, 2009 Location: dutchess county, new york Posts: 85	I was trying to avoid the carbon ring with the 45 lc brass, looks like I can’t win with this combo. Thank you all for your input

September 23, 2018, 11:56 AM	#7
GarrettJ Member Join Date: April 13, 2008 Posts: 94	You might try switching to a different powder. For a light load in a large case, I’d look at Trailboss. Hodgdon lists loads with bullet weights from 250 gr. and up.

September 23, 2018, 02:53 PM	#8
NUKE HUNTER Member Join Date: August 22, 2009 Location: dutchess county, new york Posts: 85	I just got back from the range, I tried 10 gr of universal with a better crimp and it was better. I was thinking that exactly garretj, got to pick up trailboss Thanks

September 24, 2018, 07:38 PM	#9
BBarn Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2015 Posts: 887	I've tried only cannelured bullets in the Casull since I was concerned about bullet creep from recoil. Some of the Casull brass (such as Winchester) is on the hard side, and isn't well suited to low pressure loads and is more likely soot cases. I've loaded some 240/250/260 grain bullets in Starline cases at lower levels using Titegroup and True Blue with decent results. But Trail Boss is probably a very good choice for your application if you are going to buy powder anyway.

September 25, 2018, 08:03 PM	#10
NUKE HUNTER Member Join Date: August 22, 2009 Location: dutchess county, new york Posts: 85	I have to check the spent brass, that’s a good point ,although I use mixed

September 26, 2018, 07:54 AM	#11
buck460XVR Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2006 Posts: 4,342	Sooty cases will not affect anything. While Trailboss will fill the case more, it will not reduce sootiness unless you raise the chamber pressure over what you are getting with the Unique. Unique is easy to ignite, standard primers are fine. I don't see an issue. For the cost of Berry's without a cannelure, you should be able to get powder coated lead with a cannelure, which would work better with your roll crimp die.

September 26, 2018, 04:10 PM	#12
gwpercle Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2012 Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Posts: 1,752	To avoid the sooty cases in light cast bullet 41 magnum loads in 41 magnum brass I simply annealed (softened) a box of brass , labeled them light loads only , the softer brass would then expand and seal properly with the light loads. Hint...simply clean the chambers with a brass brush and amazingly...NO carbon build up ring....I have been shooting 38 specials in a 357 Magnum since 1971 (47 years) and guess what...no ring around the cylinder. I would use 45 Colt cases and simply clean the cylinder....No Problemo ! Gary

September 26, 2018, 05:52 PM	#13
Schlitz 45 Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2018 Location: Colorado Posts: 385	I’ve shot a few hundred Berry’s plated flat points through my Alaskan. I have minimal reloading experience, only used Tight Group & H110 for 45 Colt & 454 reloads with minimal soot & Tight Group being the cleaner of the two.

September 26, 2018, 07:15 PM	#14
NUKE HUNTER Member Join Date: August 22, 2009 Location: dutchess county, new york Posts: 85	All great info guys! Thank you very much

September 27, 2018, 02:53 PM	#15
Dano4734 Senior Member Join Date: October 6, 2014 Posts: 730	I don’t reload for 45 long colt in my casull but now my casull loads are strictly viht n110. It’s the absolute cleaniest powder I ever used and way accurate with my 340 grain harddcast from penn bullets

September 27, 2018, 05:31 PM	#16
Old 454 Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2011 Location: Chesterton Ind. Posts: 822	In large sized cartridges such as the 454 casull... I believe that unique will burn better at full charges. I load for the 454 with h110 and small rifle magnum primers my loads are compressed and had trouble with just a regular small rifle primer. Switched to small rifle magnum primer and it was all good Also you might try some 2400 powder... it's good stuff I also used 240 grain XTP Mag bullets