454 casull load help

[babills]

I just got a FA model 83 field grade with a 7.5 in barrel. I worked up a few loads using hornady 240gr. XTP Mags and IMR 4227. I started 10% below min and went up to min. What would be a good hard cast bullet I can easily.load down to 1000/1200 FPS? Should they be gas checked? and what is a good Hogdon powder to use for this task. Thank you

[bigbore5]

4227 works best loaded to the base of the bullet up to 103% of capacity.

Universal, Unique,HS6, etc for powder. Deep seat and use 45 Colt data.

45 SAA, lbt wfn, or many others around 270grs would be great at this level. The MP 452-640 is excellent but doesn't lend itself well to deep seating and crimping on it's unique ogive.

Why have a 454 if you're not going to use it as one? I'd either have it fitted for a Colt cylinder or, for about the same price, get a Ruger in 45 Colt//acp.

[zeus]

HP38 and W231 work well downloaded. 10-11 grains of it and a 255 does about 1100 and very accurate. 300 grainers over 296/110 are the full house loads. It’s incredibly accurate Gun with any load honestly. My all time favorite.

[stubshaft]

For light 250 grain loads, 15.0 grs. HS-6 should get you in the 1K range.

[babills]

Nov 13, 2023 0:00:23 GMT -5 zeus said:

HP38 and W231 work well downloaded. 10-11 grains of it and a 255 does about 1100 and very accurate. 300 grainers over 296/110 are the full house loads. It’s incredibly accurate Gun with any load honestly. My all time favorite.

To answer your question why i would have it. I have terminal pancreatic cancer andd plan on not having it too long. I purchased the gun to enjoy while I am here and pass it to my son. In the mean time, I think the recoil of the downloaded 454 I will handle better.

[bigbore5]

Sorry to hear that. My comment was not about owning and downloading the 454. Their recoil is violent. I meant why use 45 Colt brass with all the carbon buildup problems when 454 brass can be deep seated to Colt length. A spare 45 Colt cylinder costs as much as a Ruger 45 can be had for. Prices are ridiculous.

[babills]

Thanks bigbore. I plan on using casull brass not 45 colt. Just want to use it for deer hunting and really don't need the recoil of full house loads to kill a whitetail. I am new to reloading. And could use 45 colt loads but not sure of the affect on the longer 454 brass? As the brass is quite a bit longer. Not sure it would be unsafe but I'm not 100% sure.

[Encore64]

Babills, you're following the same path I did.

I opted to forego the 45 Colt Cylinder. I look at everything from a handloader's perspective. I just load reduced loads in 454 Casull Brass.

Unique, 231/HP38, Longshot, Power Pistol and many more will provide the performance you're looking for.

The Gardners Cache 255 grn SWC have been excellent in my FA83...

gardnerscache.com/45c_255_swc_pc.html

[blackmamba]

12.5 gr of HS6 with a 255 SWC deep-seated to 1.605" in Casull cases and R7½ primer is right around 1,000 fps with terrific accuracy.

[edk]

Nov 13, 2023 5:58:34 GMT -5 Encore64 said:

Babills, you're following the same path I did.

I opted to forego the 45 Colt Cylinder. I look at everything from a handloader's perspective. I just load reduced loads in 454 Casull Brass.

Unique, 231/HP38, Longshot, Power Pistol and many more will provide the performance you're looking for.

The Gardners Cache 255 grn SWC have been excellent in my FA83...

gardnerscache.com/45c_255_swc_pc.html

This approach can be taken one step further with a custom mold that has its' crimp groove moved 0.100" forward. Effectively "deep seating" while still crimping in the groove. Similar performance as a $500 Colt cylinder with a $100 mold.

[bigbrowndog]

HS6 is a great powder for loading down the big bores. Pushing a good bullet at 1000fps is really all you need for most medium game, especially at handgunning distances. Using the 454C brass is not an issue either, you can deep seat or simply use a bit more powder than 45C loads. A good softer HP bullet at those velocities should suit your needs well.

Trapr

[babills]

Nov 13, 2023 9:13:07 GMT -5 bigbrowndog said:

HS6 is a great powder for loading down the big bores. Pushing a good bullet at 1000fps is really all you need for most medium game, especially at handgunning distances. Using the 454C brass is not an issue either, you can deep seat or simply use a bit more powder than 45C loads. A good softer HP bullet at those velocities should suit your needs well.

Trapr

Can I deep seat a hornady xtp past the canaluar? And not worry about bullet jump?

[bigmuddy]

Nov 13, 2023 9:23:35 GMT -5 babills said:

Nov 13, 2023 9:13:07 GMT -5 bigbrowndog said:

HS6 is a great powder for loading down the big bores. Pushing a good bullet at 1000fps is really all you need for most medium game, especially at handgunning distances. Using the 454C brass is not an issue either, you can deep seat or simply use a bit more powder than 45C loads. A good softer HP bullet at those velocities should suit your needs well.

Trapr

Can I deep seat a hornady xtp past the canaluar? And not worry about bullet jump?

I wouldn’t. I just do as Trapr said and use a bit more powder. I have been using Longshot with an XTP. Easy shooting and extremely accurate.

Dan

[bigbrowndog]

Babills, I don’t deep seat to save powder or ID loads or such. I only deep seat because some bullets won’t fit some cylinders regarding OAL. So I’m not a good one to ask, if that question was directed at me. HS6 tends to fill my cases sufficiently enough that I am not concerned with powder position. It saves me enough powder over 4227 or H110 for the same relative velocity that I’m ok with just loading normal length. As example,30gr. of 4227 gives me 975fps with a 400gr. cast from one of my 500L, 16gr. of HS6 gets me 950fps. from the same gun. That in and of itself is plenty of savings in powder use, so deep seating is not worthwhile for me.

Trapr

[daveb]

I have had great results with 11gr of Unique and a 285gr SWC from my 45-270SAA mold. youtu.be/q4HXRMEWNTo?si=FVe6LYgPFMUCUika