.44mag and .454casull results

Targa · August 12, 2019, 01:21 PM

Good day at the range today, my reloads were right where I wanted them. These were ten round strings, the results are below:

Ruger Super Blackhawk .454Casull Bisley 6.5”barrel

.454 Casull 240gr. JHP 37.5 grns of H110
-1737 fps average
-34 fps deviation from hi velocity to low velocity

Ruger Super Blackhawk .44mag 5.5” barrel

.44 mag 240gr. LCSW 9.8 grns of Universal
-1146 fps average
-70 fps deviation from hi to low velocity

.44 mag 240gr. LCSW 7grns of Universal
-847 fps average
-58 fps deviation from hi to low velocity

My goal for the .44mag was to reduce the recoil to .45lc and warm .45lc velocities and recoil mainly for my wife to shoot with me. Other than the Universal powder being noticeably smokier than the H110 I use for full throttle .44mags, I am very pleased.

**Unclenick** · August 12, 2019, 04:03 PM

Your Casull load is very consistent. Probably about 11 fps standard deviation. The 44 mag loads are not bad but not minding their manners quite so nicely. What primers did you use in the different loads.

Targa · August 12, 2019, 04:13 PM

I used CCI 350 magnum primers across the board for the .44mag. I down loaded from the max for each load. Not ideal but I got lazy and have quite a bit of magnum primers since I usually use H110 for both .44mag and .454casull. Maybe I should try standard primers with the Universal powder?

I am using CCI 450 primers for the .454.

**Unclenick** · August 12, 2019, 06:09 PM

I would try the standard primers just to check that off. How they affect velocity variation depends both on the powder's position sensitivity and whether the primer makes enough pressure in that powder space to contribute to unseating the bullet before the powder is burning fully. So I can't predict which way it will go.

Targa · August 12, 2019, 07:03 PM

Thank you, I will give that a go.

Old 454 · August 12, 2019, 07:46 PM

Yes standard primers for Universal.
For the 454 and H110 use a small rifle mag.primer

August 12, 2019, 01:21 PM	#1
Targa Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2014 Posts: 2,084	.44mag and .454casull results Good day at the range today, my reloads were right where I wanted them. These were ten round strings, the results are below: Ruger Super Blackhawk .454Casull Bisley 6.5”barrel .454 Casull 240gr. JHP 37.5 grns of H110 -1737 fps average -34 fps deviation from hi velocity to low velocity Ruger Super Blackhawk .44mag 5.5” barrel .44 mag 240gr. LCSW 9.8 grns of Universal -1146 fps average -70 fps deviation from hi to low velocity .44 mag 240gr. LCSW 7grns of Universal -847 fps average -58 fps deviation from hi to low velocity My goal for the .44mag was to reduce the recoil to .45lc and warm .45lc velocities and recoil mainly for my wife to shoot with me. Other than the Universal powder being noticeably smokier than the H110 I use for full throttle .44mags, I am very pleased.

August 12, 2019, 04:03 PM	#2
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	Your Casull load is very consistent. Probably about 11 fps standard deviation. The 44 mag loads are not bad but not minding their manners quite so nicely. What primers did you use in the different loads. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

August 12, 2019, 06:09 PM	#4
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	I would try the standard primers just to check that off. How they affect velocity variation depends both on the powder's position sensitivity and whether the primer makes enough pressure in that powder space to contribute to unseating the bullet before the powder is burning fully. So I can't predict which way it will go. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

August 12, 2019, 04:13 PM	#3
Targa Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2014 Posts: 2,084	I used CCI 350 magnum primers across the board for the .44mag. I down loaded from the max for each load. Not ideal but I got lazy and have quite a bit of magnum primers since I usually use H110 for both .44mag and .454casull. Maybe I should try standard primers with the Universal powder? I am using CCI 450 primers for the .454.

August 12, 2019, 07:03 PM	#5
Targa Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2014 Posts: 2,084	Thank you, I will give that a go.

August 12, 2019, 07:46 PM	#6
Old 454 Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2011 Location: Chesterton Ind. Posts: 822	Yes standard primers for Universal. For the 454 and H110 use a small rifle mag.primer