[FLORIDA KEVIN]

well I finished my first batch of reloads tonight ! i can.t wait for the range to open in the morning to try them out ! 250 gr speer jhp over 27 grains of imr 4227 . i will be happy with no blown primers ,every thing goes bang (in a controlled manner of course ) no squibs ,and nothing comes loose !

[Snapping Twig]

Freedom Arms sold me a 260g GCTC Lyman mold to go with mine. I load those over 35g of H110. Shot some today - lots'Ofun! :)

[FLORIDA KEVIN]

Twig ! That sounds like a fun and noisy load ! I want to try some Lil gun when this IMR 4227 is used up ! It seems all the charts have it as one of the top velocity loads with the lowest relative pressures !? I don't really understand how that works , but I like the idea !

[Cheesemaker]

I too will be starting down the 454 reloading path in the near future. What dies are you using? Some people recommend a separate crimp die as opposed to seat/crimp die - are you doing this?
Thanks

[FLORIDA KEVIN]

Well i just got home from the range ! I fired my first small batch of reloads ! Every thing went great ! all went boom , no squibs , no signs of overpressure , decent accuracy ( considering how nervous I was ) this is what I would consider a mild 454 load ! very comfortable to shoot i think all is well ! Now i know I can do this ! I was nervous because I was using rem 6 1/2 primers it seems everyone is using 7 1/2s . I had no bulging or blown primers, i know the load was far from full pressure ! so time will tell !

Cheese ! I am using the Lee carbide pistol dies ! I believe this set comes with the Lee factory crimp die !it is really hard to tell the difference just by looking at the pictures in the instructions !I did a one step seating and crimping , this will probably change in the future as i believe the bullet was seated a little too deep in the case ! I was using once fired Freedom Arms brass which i measured before sizing/decapping out of 20 cases I had 3 were shorter than the others by aboout .015 . The overall cartridge length was well below maximum length. I think from now on i should size/decap and then measure and trim to a uniform case length before going further ! :D

[Cheesemaker]

Thanks for the update.
I also use Lee dies - on my .44 mag reloading. They are pretty good value for money.
It is my understanding that a separate crimp die would equal a 4 die set....I can't say for sure.

[mustang 22]

Do any of you know if the dies for 454 and 45 colt are the same?

[GunTech]

I am about to start reloading for my wife's 454. After looking at the proice of loaded ammo, it the only way I can afford for her to shoot it.

[FLORIDA KEVIN]

I loaded up another batch using the same 250 grn. jhp this time I increased the powder charge to 29 grains of imr 4227 . I had some difficulty getting the die set for proper crimp and bullet depth ?! I think I need to go back and reread the manual !

[FLORIDA KEVIN]

mustang ..I am not sure about using the same dies for 45 colt ! I will try to check the part numbers in the Lee catalog and see if they are the same

[FLORIDA KEVIN]

hey Mustang ! i just got finished ! I took 45 colt case , using my lee dies for the 454 , the sizing/depriming die is labeled 45 colt and worked just fine , the expander die is also marked45 colt and worked well, the bullet seating die is marked 454 casull but also worked fine seating the bullet in the colt case .it just required a small adjustment ! ps I cant fire it because i didnt have any large pistol primers ,so I didnt bother adding powder ! I hope this helps ! Any of you more experienced reloaders feel free to pipe up , I am a beginner at reloading ,so if I am missing something please correct me !

[jeepmor]

If the dies are analogous to the 10mm and 40S&W combo there should be no issues, only moving the bullet seater up or down depending on the cartridge length.

[redneck2]

Do any of you know if the dies for 454 and 45 colt are the same?
IIRC, the .454 is 1/10th longer than the 45 LC. Same dies. I use mine for 45LC and .454.
I was nervous because I was using rem 6 1/2 primers it seems everyone is using 7 1/2s .
The .454 requires magnum small rifle primers. I don't know if the 6 1/2's are pistol, but if they are, you're lucky they didn't blow out. Pistol primers are thinner and have different dimensions. The .454 operates in rifle pressure territory.

I'd suggest using what the reloading manuals say. They do it for a reason. From time to time, you'll see posts here of what used to be a firearm and is now a collection of tiny metal pieces.

FWIW...you may want to consider using 45LC brass and loads until you get some experience reloading. IMO, the .454 is not a very forgiving round, particularly when using powders like H-110. The 45LC will operate fine, and you can load it to very moderate pressures. It's also much more pleasant to shoot. The 45LC operates at maybe 15k. I believe the .454 is in the 50-60k range. If you make a mistake with the 45LC round, you've got all the room between 15 to 60k. If you make a mistake with the 60k load (bullet weight or seating depth, or even just primer brand), you can go off the chart in a hurry.

HTH

[kludge]

.45 Colt and .454 Casull dies from Lee are the same part numbers.

[FLORIDA KEVIN]

thanks redneck ! i was considering the same thing with regard to the .45colt loads ! The remington 6 1/2 primers are small rifle primers , everything I have read calls for small rifle primers , the remington 7 1/2 primers are listed as bench rest primers not magnum rifle primers ! :confused:

[redneck2]

Don't know. I don't use Remington primers. Just trying to give you a heads up on the differences.

I load 45LC for myself and .454 for a good friend of mine. There's a world of difference, I have a Ruger Bisley. I used to load up high end "Ruger Only" loads that would pound the crap out of you even in the 45LC. After a while, I figured out that you can only kill paper about so dead, and that a normal 45 LC load would blow clean thru a deer. Why do you need more power?? If you wanna make more noise and hurt your hand more, knock yourself out. For me, it's about getting the job done with the least pain. I got past macho a long time ago.

Finally figured out that pain hurts, sometimes permanently.

[FLORIDA KEVIN]

Redneck !! I really appreciate your advice and concern ! I think you are right about shooting the colt loads in the ruger ! i intend to load them for the range 1 Right now i am trying to just get the hang of reloading itself ! I have a about 200 rounds of colt 45 brass i intend to reload for the range ! I need to get some large pistol primers for the colt cases ! my supplies are rather limited at this point because noplace local carries much of anything for reloading ! so I have had to order everything online 1 I would rather be able to put my hands on this stuff locally ! What my goal is is to learn this gun and learn it well , and be able to shoot it accuratly with whatever load is suitable for the game at hand ! by the way the gun was a fathers day gift from my kids ! I have never been addicted to recoil but i actually dont feel that the recoil is as bad as some folks make out either !The noise however is incredable !! Thanks again for your input ! I hope to hear from you frequently ! i hope I don't come off like a know it all ! Thanks !! Kevin

[redneck2]

Everything has a learning curve. With hand loading, you can obviously get into trouble before the learning is done.

FWIW...for large pistol I use WW primers. They will work for regular or mag loads. If you elect to use ball powder (H-110/WW-296) the WW primers will work. Those powders need to be loaded within a pretty narrow range (3%). Too little and you'll get hangfires. I've laid off those powders.

I like either AA5 or Universal Clays. You can get about 1,000 fps with 255 LSWC's. Cheaper than jacketed and easy to shoot. IIRC, I use around 10 grains of AA5 or Universal Clays in my Ruger. This exceeds loads for vintage 45LC, but is well within "Ruger/Contender" range. Clean and very easy to shoot, and quite accurate in my Bisley.

If you use 45LC cases, you need to keep the area ahead of the case in the cylinders clean.

HTH

[FLORIDA KEVIN]

Redneck ! Thanks for the info on the colt loads ,I just bought a bronze / or brass brush at the hardware store meant for cleaning 1/2 inch tubing , I think it should work great for keeping the cylinder bores clean from resisdue !Have you ever tried Lil gun powder ? I think I want to try that next ,it seems to give good velocity with lower pressures than h110 or 2400. The imr 4227 powder I have been using seems to burn clean with little residue , it is what I would call granular powder I believe is considered a "ball" powder it meters very well and when I weigh the drops from the powder measure they are right on the money ! I have checked the local stores and it seems no one carries any primers other than the 209 shotgun primers used for the inline muzzle loaders ! i will have to either order them online and pay the hazmat fee or check a couple of stores up in Orlando area when i am up there next weekend !

[redneck2]

I haven't personally used Lil Gun but some of the guys here have and say it works well. I suspect the world of powders is competitive enough that there are a number of ones that will work. If you found something that you're happy with, load 'em up and spend your time shooting. You'll drive yourself nuts trying all the different powder/primer/bullets combos available.

[FLORIDA KEVIN]

i have been told by those who know me that it would only be a putt not a drive ! Thanks :D

[hawkeye1]

Hey, welcome to the 454. I have had my Ruger Super Red Hawk for about two years, and fell in love with it the first time I took it out. I use a home cast 300 grain WFN bullet with 30.5 grains of H110. Recoil is stout, but the accuracy is outstanding. It will put a smile on your face.
Also, I use the same die for 454 and 45 Colt.

[FLORIDA KEVIN]

Thanks Hawkeye! Yes the 454 is fun ! I haven't loaded anything but the 250 grn JHPs so far ! i shot some of the winchester 300 grn factory stuff and it was stout ! But either my handloads are a lot weaker ,or Ai am getting used to it ! I want to try some of those polymer coated bullets ,they offer a 200 grn that I think will make a good 45 colt load and they are supposed to have a 250 grn soon ! Do yoou use a gas check with your loads ?

[mustang 22]

Thanks to all of you for clearing up my question on the dies. I am loading 45 LC for a pair of 2nd gen colts, 6grs of HP38 under a 250 gr lead bullet. But I have a puma 92 in 454 that I'm really wanting to load for. I have put some Hornady 300 gr factory loads through it and I am impressed. I do not think I'll be using the HP38 In the 454. Load data for 454 rifle is not just everywhere. Does anyone know of a good soarce for 454 rifle loads?