45 Colt Brass vs 454 Casull Brass

Gazpacho · April 7, 2007, 10:57 AM

I just got a Ruger SRH Alaskan in 454 Casull and plan on doing some reloading for it. For the record, I'll only be reloading 45 Colt, because I also have a Ruger BH in 45 Colt that could use the same ammo.

My questions are: Would 454 Casull brass trimmed down to 45 Colt dimensions be a wise choice for heavy 45 Colt handloads? I have heard that 454 has a slightly thicker case wall, so would that pose a problem with resizing dies? ARe there any other concerns I need to address?

Thanks all in advance.

dodgestdshift · April 7, 2007, 11:52 AM

I would be very careful. Loads developed for the 45 Colt are almost always developed using 45 Colt brass. I would not want to find out how the differences in case volume of the trimmed 45 Casull case would effect pressures in the Black Hawk.

I would go the other way, and use 45 Colt brass and heavy (but safe) 45 Colt loads in both guns.

bigautomatic · April 8, 2007, 07:44 PM

You are correct about the case wall thickness, so the case capacity is definately reduced when using cut down 454 cases for 45LC loads. I have 50 cases cut down right now, but have not loaded them yet. I will be using H110 with a 260gr Speer JHP Mag bullet. Still contemplating how much to reduce the load. I'm loading for a S&W X-frame BTW.

tINY · April 9, 2007, 05:27 PM

My dies say they work for 45 colt and 454 casul....

You should probably get some of each - you may want to upload that Casul at some point. You can allways get more 45 colt and use that for both.

Why did you get the 454 if you are planning on loading to whimpy 45 colt loads? They only run a 250 grain bullet up to about 750 fps....

-tINY

KW-Bane · April 9, 2007, 09:01 PM

I also have both Ruger Blkhwk .45 and a Ruger Super Redhawk.454 71/2"(I just purchased the .454 but not shot it yet...can't wait!!!).

I have been researching the .454, and I agree to only load .454 loads in .454 cases, and .45colt loads in .45 cases.

With the new Ruger Blkhwk's you can shoot .45colt loads safely that are over 1000fps. (load data in Hodgdon's web site http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp ).

I bought a box of Hornady's .454 ammo to use for reloading, and plan on buying 100 or so more Starline brass from Cabela's or someplace.

I also start with minimum loads (and work up) with diff bullets to see what works best in my gun, thats all part of the fun of reloading and shooting

I also loaded some LBT's 325gr. LFNPB .45colt...I have not shot them yet (can't wait). I will have alot of fun when I do finally get to the range!!

Gazpacho · April 11, 2007, 01:08 AM

Actually, I was thinking about a 300gr bullet at about 900fps from the RSRH. That would be well below high end 45 Colt +P. (Gunblast Chrono'd a Corbon 300gr at 1035fps).

I suppose I could just use Corbon brass.

Buffalo Bore lists a 300 gr. Speer J.F.N. (1325 fps / M.E. 1170 ft. lbs.) load that is safe for RBH and RSBH

The Real Wyatt · April 12, 2007, 06:31 PM

I regularly shoot 300 grain bullets at well over 1300 fps out of my Rugers using Starline .45 Colt brass, WLP primers and H-110 propellant. This loading is perfectly safe for Ruger handguns and modern rifles. .45 Colt brass is plenty strong.

Daniel BOON · April 13, 2007, 01:19 AM

do those hard cast 45 colt loads lead the barrel very much? I'm reluctant to buy a 45 colt rifle simply because I was traumatized by leading in an old black hawk I had. but that was yrs ago.

Jaycolo · April 13, 2007, 01:33 AM

I've been using some lazer cast lead bullets in my 45 and 9 and havent noticed any leading more powder really then anything been using unique.

WESHOOT2 · April 13, 2007, 04:53 AM

A former IPSC world champion has stated in print he considers the Federal 45 Colt case to be the finest case for handloading, handgun or rifle, in all the world.

I use Remington for development.
I have and use Winchester and Starline, too.

IME the 45 Colt case is sufficient for any power level.

There is more than reducing the length of a 454 case.....

cheygriz · April 14, 2007, 10:40 PM

I load 325 gr cast GC bullets to 900 FPS for my Colt Anaconda. The gun can take a heavier load, but my hands can't!

These make a real nice "light" load in the SRH .454 Casull. For heavy loads, I use .454 Brass.

BTW, a 300 grain lead bullet at 1350 FPS in the Casull is WAY below max, but it pretty much ballistically duplicates the old .45-70 carbine "cavalry" load. (300 grain bullet, 55 grains FFFG black powder, 1300-1350 FPS.)

April 7, 2007, 10:57 AM	#1
Gazpacho Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2004 Posts: 592	45 Colt Brass vs 454 Casull Brass I just got a Ruger SRH Alaskan in 454 Casull and plan on doing some reloading for it. For the record, I'll only be reloading 45 Colt, because I also have a Ruger BH in 45 Colt that could use the same ammo. My questions are: Would 454 Casull brass trimmed down to 45 Colt dimensions be a wise choice for heavy 45 Colt handloads? I have heard that 454 has a slightly thicker case wall, so would that pose a problem with resizing dies? ARe there any other concerns I need to address? Thanks all in advance.

April 7, 2007, 11:52 AM	#2
dodgestdshift Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2002 Location: Marilla, N.Y. (outside Buffalo N.Y.) Posts: 113	I would be very careful. Loads developed for the 45 Colt are almost always developed using 45 Colt brass. I would not want to find out how the differences in case volume of the trimmed 45 Casull case would effect pressures in the Black Hawk. I would go the other way, and use 45 Colt brass and heavy (but safe) 45 Colt loads in both guns. __________________ The shortest distance between two politicians is through your wallet. Don N.

April 9, 2007, 09:01 PM	#5
KW-Bane Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2006 Location: Mississippi Posts: 109	I also have both Ruger Blkhwk .45 and a Ruger Super Redhawk.454 71/2"(I just purchased the .454 but not shot it yet...can't wait!!!). I have been researching the .454, and I agree to only load .454 loads in .454 cases, and .45colt loads in .45 cases. With the new Ruger Blkhwk's you can shoot .45colt loads safely that are over 1000fps. (load data in Hodgdon's web site http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp ). I bought a box of Hornady's .454 ammo to use for reloading, and plan on buying 100 or so more Starline brass from Cabela's or someplace. I also start with minimum loads (and work up) with diff bullets to see what works best in my gun, thats all part of the fun of reloading and shooting I also loaded some LBT's 325gr. LFNPB .45colt...I have not shot them yet (can't wait). I will have alot of fun when I do finally get to the range!! __________________ http://www.kwsquad.com/kwsite2/ "Everyone knows there is right and wrong, but integrity proves a man"

April 13, 2007, 01:19 AM	#8
Daniel BOON Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 2005 Location: Henderson NV Posts: 360	Wyatt? do those hard cast 45 colt loads lead the barrel very much? I'm reluctant to buy a 45 colt rifle simply because I was traumatized by leading in an old black hawk I had. but that was yrs ago.

April 13, 2007, 01:33 AM	#9
Jaycolo Junior member Join Date: March 26, 2007 Posts: 59	I've been using some lazer cast lead bullets in my 45 and 9 and havent noticed any leading more powder really then anything been using unique. Last edited by Jaycolo; April 13, 2007 at 10:35 AM.

April 8, 2007, 07:44 PM	#3
bigautomatic Senior Member Join Date: December 18, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 610	You are correct about the case wall thickness, so the case capacity is definately reduced when using cut down 454 cases for 45LC loads. I have 50 cases cut down right now, but have not loaded them yet. I will be using H110 with a 260gr Speer JHP Mag bullet. Still contemplating how much to reduce the load. I'm loading for a S&W X-frame BTW.

April 9, 2007, 05:27 PM	#4
tINY Senior Member Join Date: April 26, 2005 Location: Orygun Posts: 2,589	My dies say they work for 45 colt and 454 casul.... You should probably get some of each - you may want to upload that Casul at some point. You can allways get more 45 colt and use that for both. Why did you get the 454 if you are planning on loading to whimpy 45 colt loads? They only run a 250 grain bullet up to about 750 fps.... -tINY

April 11, 2007, 01:08 AM	#6
Gazpacho Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2004 Posts: 592	Actually, I was thinking about a 300gr bullet at about 900fps from the RSRH. That would be well below high end 45 Colt +P. (Gunblast Chrono'd a Corbon 300gr at 1035fps). I suppose I could just use Corbon brass. Buffalo Bore lists a 300 gr. Speer J.F.N. (1325 fps / M.E. 1170 ft. lbs.) load that is safe for RBH and RSBH

April 12, 2007, 06:31 PM	#7
The Real Wyatt Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2006 Location: South Central KY Posts: 339	I regularly shoot 300 grain bullets at well over 1300 fps out of my Rugers using Starline .45 Colt brass, WLP primers and H-110 propellant. This loading is perfectly safe for Ruger handguns and modern rifles. .45 Colt brass is plenty strong.

April 13, 2007, 04:53 AM	#10
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	making my case A former IPSC world champion has stated in print he considers the Federal 45 Colt case to be the finest case for handloading, handgun or rifle, in all the world. I use Remington for development. I have and use Winchester and Starline, too. IME the 45 Colt case is sufficient for any power level. There is more than reducing the length of a 454 case..... __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

April 14, 2007, 10:40 PM	#11
cheygriz Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2002 Location: high up in the rockies Posts: 2,289	I load 325 gr cast GC bullets to 900 FPS for my Colt Anaconda. The gun can take a heavier load, but my hands can't! These make a real nice "light" load in the SRH .454 Casull. For heavy loads, I use .454 Brass. BTW, a 300 grain lead bullet at 1350 FPS in the Casull is WAY below max, but it pretty much ballistically duplicates the old .45-70 carbine "cavalry" load. (300 grain bullet, 55 grains FFFG black powder, 1300-1350 FPS.) __________________ If you think a mighty military force is expensive, wait 'til you see what a weak one costs.