The BaitShop Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home > FireArms, et cetera > Handguns, Pistols and SixGuns
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Loading The Heavies In A .454 Casull ?
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

This site is completely supported by donations; there are no corporate sponsors. We would be honoured if you would consider a small donation, to be used exclusively for forum expenses.



Thank you, from the BaitShop Boyz!

Topic ClosedLoading The Heavies In A .454 Casull ?

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
klallen View Drop Down
.416 Rigby
.416 Rigby
Avatar
** The RockChucker **

Joined: 10 June 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 2331
Direct Link To This Post Topic: Loading The Heavies In A .454 Casull ?
    Posted: 11 September 2003 at 11:32

Anyone on the site doing this?  I've always been interested in it after reading reports of hardcore handgun hunters and their stellar results on the dangerous game of Africa (not like I'm getting there any time soon).  After watching the work-up of my hunting partners Super RedHawk in .480 Ruger and the 425 gr. bullet from Cast Performance (CP), I thought I'd give it a go.  Development started yesterday.  H110 and CCI 450 primers were used with Winchester cases and the 395 gr. CP bullet.  I had a starting load from CP but no real MAX goal.  I figured I'd load till cases just started to stick (then back off a 1/2 grn.) or I couldn't take the beat'n and accuracy suffered, whichever came first    .

The last load tested before the sun set to low for the chrony to work reliably was 23.0 grs. powder and gave an average velocity of 1334 fps.  Cases came out slick as can be so went in to load up 6 more with 24.0 grs.  Three shots were taken with the chrony erroring twice and giving an unrelyable read on the third.  Those three extracted easily.  This load was quite manageable and should be right aroung that 1400 fps area.  Accuracy of the 23.0 gr. load was .926" for 6-shots at 30 yds. (approx.).  The three shots from the 24.0 gr. batch went into a group of .733".  I've heard wonderful things about the accuracy potential with these CP bullets and as of yet, I'm not a bit disappointed.  They're great.  This weekend will continue development with the last three at the 24.0 gr. level and go from there.

Next up will be the Taurus .44 RemMag and CP's 320 gr. bullet.  Waiting for scope and bullets and then we'll roll.  Also looking heavily at a Taurus Raging Bull in that .480 Ruger cartridge.  They've got great prices on them right now.  I really want to work with that 425 gr. bullet.  We'll see.  Later.  >>  klallen 



Edited by klallen
A Big Mouth Don't Make A Big Man !!!



The Duke
Back to Top
D.F.C. View Drop Down
.30/06 SpringField
.30/06 SpringField
Avatar

Joined: 10 June 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 499
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 September 2003 at 14:55

I shot some resized 405's loaded pretty stiff, primer was flat, cases came out easy. The extraction might be an indication of something, I like looking at the primer better, as I'm more accustomed to gauging pressure from the looks of them. I use Starline cases in everything they make cases for, I think their cases will stand pressure better, I know I've had very good luck with them in my comp guns. Also, I modified the forcing cone on my Ruger 454 which will change the pressure curve a little. Don't blow your fingers off or break your wrist.

 

Dan



Edited by D.F.C.
Back to Top
klallen View Drop Down
.416 Rigby
.416 Rigby
Avatar
** The RockChucker **

Joined: 10 June 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 2331
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 September 2003 at 16:24

Evening DFC  >>  If ya don't mind me asking, what kind of velocity were you getting with those 405 gr. bullets?  I really don't know what the upper end with these 395's is going to be.  I know 1400ish is mild, relatively speaking, in my SRH.  Excited for the weekend to see where it goes. 

"Don't blow your fingers off or break your wrist."

Excellent advice    !!!  I can't promise anything about the wrist but I'll do all in my power to preserve the fingers.  I'll certainly keep close eye on the primers, as well.  I've got Starline brass already on order.   They've certainly got more then competitive prices for their brass.  I like that, and if they are as good with the pressures as you indicated, I'll like it even more.  Later.  >>  klallen

A Big Mouth Don't Make A Big Man !!!



The Duke
Back to Top
klallen View Drop Down
.416 Rigby
.416 Rigby
Avatar
** The RockChucker **

Joined: 10 June 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 2331
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 September 2003 at 14:43

Was able to settle on a load I liked last weekend.  24.5 grs of H110 gave me a comfortable 1400 fps with that 395 gr. CP solid.  I figure that'll suffice for pretty much anything I run into.  CP confirmed this with some of their reports of activity in Africa with their bullets.  Now I gotta find something big to test these things on.

At 30 yds. the Casull printed a 4 shot group of .715".  There was a 5th shot that opened the group up tp 1.509".  I've a feeling that one was at the high end of the velocity spread (the other 4 were within 15 fps of each other, while the 5th was 50 fps faster).  I've got a virgin lot of brass coming and with the proper case prep, I should be able to reach a more consistent velocity spread and keep the groups tight.  Still real impressed with these LBT solids from CP as far as accuracy goes.

Got the scope for the .44 RemMag and the 320's on order.  When they arrive, we'll get jumping on that project.  We'll post a string on that one as well and see if we've got a little more activity with that cartridge then there was with the .454.

It is nice to get away from the rifles for a while and concentrate on the handguns.  Later.  >>  klallen



Edited by klallen
A Big Mouth Don't Make A Big Man !!!



The Duke
Back to Top
NH_Hunter View Drop Down
.416 Rigby
.416 Rigby
Avatar
aka The Kid

Joined: 13 June 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3508
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 September 2003 at 14:38

Hey Klallen, if you get a revolver that doesnt say Ruger twice on it, i am going to be aweful mad . The cartridge was designed for their gun, and it was made in my town. My dad has one with the shorter barrel. I want to shoot it soo bad!!!

NH_Hunter

Leverguns make me smile
Proud Left Handed Shooter
Back to Top
klallen View Drop Down
.416 Rigby
.416 Rigby
Avatar
** The RockChucker **

Joined: 10 June 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 2331
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 September 2003 at 18:01

Yeah, NH  >>  I suppose it would be fitting to have the .480 in a Super RedHawk.  Brother's got the .480 in the SRH.  I've shot it on several occasions.  I've no doubt I'd be extremely pleased with one in my safe but Taurus has treated me real well with the .44 RemMag and a long barreled Raging Bull is calling in a big way.  'Sides that, distributor says he can get me one for $412 + shipping.  I don't think I can swing that same deal for a SRH.

I'll certainly be buying Ruger handguns again.  Love to get one of those older BlackHawks in .357 Maximum.  I've got some 200 gr. CP solids just itching to go to work in one.  But that gun sure is commanding a pretty penny nowadays.  Guess I'll keep hitting the gun show circut and hope to trip across one reasonably priced. 

By the way, see what strings you can pull down at the ole gun factory to have Ruger chamber the .500 S&W Magnum in something special for me    .  That would certainly tug at my curiousity strings.  Later.  >>  klallen

A Big Mouth Don't Make A Big Man !!!



The Duke
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 11.10
Copyright ©2001-2017 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.094 seconds.