Shot a 454 Casull for the first time today~

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exbrit49

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Went to the range today and the guy next to me was shooting a 454 Casull Super Redhawk. I was shooting 45 ACP and 45 Colt. It was a beautiful day for shooting and while taking a break we discussed the 454, Nice looking piece!
During the next break he asked if I would like to put six through it? I said sure, as I love big calibers.. He loaded it and I put six rounds down range and actually printed in the black with all 6.. I was quite surprised as recoil was s lot lighter than I had expected. I commented that the recoil was similar to my hot 45 colt loads. He admitted that the rounds I had fired were loaded light! He then asked if I wanted to shoot some HOT loads. I replied "Of course I would" . He went to the car and got some of the Hot Loads.
WOW, I let loose of those six hot rounds and yes, recoil was full bore but I printed in the black again but one of my knuckles was sore where the trigger guard hit my finger. It was quite an experience and despite the sore finger I enjoyed shooting the Full House loads. The owner admitted he can only shoot about a dozen at a time then his hand gets sore! So he uses the initial loads I tried for most of his range shooting!
Fun gun , Fun time but I will stick with my 45 Colt with hot loads,
 
The 454 is a pretty impressive cartridge! In a conventional revolver, it has impressive recoil. From a S&W XVR with the brake it’s pretty tame, but.....that’s a 70+ ounce handgun, with a muzzle brake. The darn blast from the brake ....may be more deadly than the cartridge! :D memtb
 
I don’t go full house very often with my SRH either, it does back up into the hands pretty fiercely. Sticking to the upper end of the .45 Colt +P range is much easier on the nerves ;).

The XVR .460 S&W is an awesome piece of machinery. My buddy has one and it is, to be kind, a beast with near maximum loads. :what:

That sounds like a good day shooting, with the plus of meeting a good guy in the other bay. Thanks for sharing the day with us :thumbup:.

Stay safe.
 
Riomouse911 said:
I don’t go full house very often with my SRH either, it does back up into the hands pretty fiercely. Sticking to the upper end of the .45 Colt +P range is much easier on the nerves ;).

The XVR .460 S&W is an awesome piece of machinery. My buddy has one and it is, to be kind, a beast with near maximum loads. :what:

That sounds like a good day shooting, with the plus of meeting a good guy in the other bay. Thanks for sharing the day with us :thumbup:.

Stay safe.
Click to expand...

I’m running 400 grain cast at near 1500 fps through mine. You certainly know that you’ve “torched” one off....but, it’s not uncomfortable! memtb
 
exbrit49 said:
Went to the range today and the guy next to me was shooting a 454 Casull Super Redhawk. I was shooting 45 ACP and 45 Colt. It was a beautiful day for shooting and while taking a break we discussed the 454, Nice looking piece!
During the next break he asked if I would like to put six through it? I said sure, as I love big calibers.. He loaded it and I put six rounds down range and actually printed in the black with all 6.. I was quite surprised as recoil was s lot lighter than I had expected. I commented that the recoil was similar to my hot 45 colt loads. He admitted that the rounds I had fired were loaded light! He then asked if I wanted to shoot some HOT loads. I replied "Of course I would" . He went to the car and got some of the Hot Loads.
WOW, I let loose of those six hot rounds and yes, recoil was full bore but I printed in the black again but one of my knuckles was sore where the trigger guard hit my finger. It was quite an experience and despite the sore finger I enjoyed shooting the Full House loads. The owner admitted he can only shoot about a dozen at a time then his hand gets sore! So he uses the initial loads I tried for most of his range shooting!
Fun gun , Fun time but I will stick with my 45 Colt with hot loads,
Click to expand...

I'm glad you had fun.

I got to shoot a 454 Casull in the early 1980's. It was the first handgun I shot that under recoil rolled me off my feet onto my heels.

But, as others have said, the 454 Casull is tame when compared to a 460 S&W Mag. I got a 460 XVR about 6 years ago when Gander Mountain had one on sale. Full power loads are impressive. I've developed a light load, about 1100 fps with a 255 SWC bullet in a 460 S&W Mag case that is fun to shoot in the "crew served" revolver.
 
Had a 454 back in the 90s....whatever their flagship model was. Gun was an amazing mechanical piece. I loaded that thing with everything from mild to wild loads - and I learned that the recoil was more severe than I really cared for, or could ever really justify. I finally came to the conclusion that, for my needs, I’m just fine with a hot loaded 45 Colt, or if I had to lean on the bore size, it made more sense to step up to the 480. There are certainly no flies on a 454, just different strokes for different folks.
 
Never figured I would need anything bigger than .44 Magnum. I didn't think I'd be able to hang on to it when I pulled the trigger. First time I ever heard of the .454 was when I saw Alien Nation and James Caan's character got one:
Alien Nation 454 Casull Scene - YouTube

What was the make of his revolver, it "Only holds five"? ?
 
Last edited:
bangswitch said:
Never figured I would need anything bigger than .44 Magnum. I didn't think I'd be able to hang on to it when I pulled the trigger. First time I ever heard of the .454 was when I saw Alien Nation and James Caan's character got one:
Alien Nation 454 Casull Scene - YouTube

What was the make of his revolver, it "Only holds five"? ?
Click to expand...


Just a guess.....I suspect that it was a Freedom Arms revolver! memtb
 
cfullgraf said:
I'm glad you had fun.

I got to shoot a 454 Casull in the early 1980's. It was the first handgun I shot that under recoil rolled me off my feet onto my heels.

But, as others have said, the 454 Casull is tame when compared to a 460 S&W Mag. I got a 460 XVR about 6 years ago when Gander Mountain had one on sale. Full power loads are impressive. I've developed a light load, about 1100 fps with a 255 SWC bullet in a 460 S&W Mag case that is fun to shoot in the "crew served" revolver.
Click to expand...

I got a Smith 460 several months ago. I’have 45 Colts in several Ruger Blackhawks, short barrel, long barrel Vaquero, a Bisley, and an Colt Anaconda. The 460 is a beast all it’s own! The only factory loads I’ve been able to find were S&B 255 grain bullets. I’m sure there are others with more energy! It actually isn’t as bad as I was expecting, but it’s definitely a noticeable upgrade from the 45 Colt. I’ve loaded some 260 gr Casull rounds and they are spunky but way closer to the 45 Colt than the 460. My eldest son likes to one hand the 460, occasionally, a cylinder or two usually does it though! I probably won’t shoot it a lot but I figured it took up less space in the safe than the Classic Doubles Top single Trap gun I haven’t shot I probably 15 years, so..... I have other Trap guns but no other 460s. Neither one of my two sons wanted the Trap gun but they’ll probably fight over the S&W 460 someday!
 
Pivot Dr, I love my 460! Yes it’s big, yes it’s heavy, and yes it’s “very” loud. But, much like the US Marine tee shirt says, “When it Absolutely Has to be Destroyed Overnight”.....the 460 is a pretty good choice! :rofl: With heavy bullets, and max loads, I much prefer to shoot it over my 629 (44 mag) S&W.

In fact, discounting my CC handgun.....it has become my favorite “do it all” handgun! I have a 300 grain, cast light load (around 1100 fps), my aforementioned 400 grain cast bullet, and a shot shell using a full-length 444 Marlin Magnum brass replicating a 2/ 1/2” 410. What’s not to like! :) memtb
 
454 casull is a personal favorite, always been into 45 colt so it was the best choice for a magnum. The revolvers are about average size and do well loaded up and down, I think of it as a 45 colt that can easily take as many nuclear loads as you care to shoot.
I've got a 5" super redhawk and a 10" freedom arms m83, ones for walking around with and the other is for sitting still with.
 
Trashyshoots said:
Way too much recoil for my crippled self, but 5 short years ago, I wanted one.
Click to expand...

I know exactly what you mean. I am 60 and my days of hard hitting handguns are over. I still shoot .45 Colt and .357 Magnums, but I cannot do the big boys. Too much abuse to my wrists over the years from guns and hard work.

I shot a friend’s Blackhawk.454 Casull years ago. That was the same day I shot his Max loaded .44 Magnum Blackhawk. My right wrist hurt for a month, but man, what an experience! :D
That was the one and only time I shot the .454.
 
Pat Riot said:
I know exactly what you mean. I am 60 and my days of hard hitting handguns are over. I still shoot .45 Colt and .357 Magnums, but I cannot do the big boys. Too much abuse to my wrists over the years from guns and hard work.

I shot a friend’s Blackhawk.454 Casull years ago. That was the same day I shot his Max loaded .44 Magnum Blackhawk. My right wrist hurt for a month, but man, what an experience! :D
That was the one and only time I shot the .454.
Click to expand...

I’ve had to switch to T/C Encores for the recoil of the big bores.
 
Pat Riot said:
I know exactly what you mean. I am 60 and my days of hard hitting handguns are over. I still shoot .45 Colt and .357 Magnums, but I cannot do the big boys. Too much abuse to my wrists over the years from guns and hard work.

I shot a friend’s Blackhawk.454 Casull years ago. That was the same day I shot his Max loaded .44 Magnum Blackhawk. My right wrist hurt for a month, but man, what an experience! :D
That was the one and only time I shot the .454.
Click to expand...


I can somewhat relate. Hard work has left me with some fingers (both hands) that are very painful to use (close/open fist)! That’s the benefit of the extremely heavy, braked S&W....recoil while certainly quite apparent is reduced! memtb
 
Pat Riot said:
I shot a friend’s Blackhawk.454 Casull years ago. That was the same day I shot his Max loaded .44 Magnum Blackhawk. My right wrist hurt for a month, but man, what an experience! :D
Click to expand...
Yeppers, running a cylinder full of "Ruger Only" loads through my .45 Colt Ruger Blackhawk leaves my 73 year-old tendonitis filled right elbow scolding me for a week. I'd probably have to start buying my ibuprofen at Costco if I went back to shooting a .454 Casull occasionally. It was sure fun back in the day though...:D
 
Pat Riot said:
I know exactly what you mean. I am 60 and my days of hard hitting handguns are over. I still shoot .45 Colt and .357 Magnums, but I cannot do the big boys. Too much abuse to my wrists over the years from guns and hard work.

I shot a friend’s Blackhawk.454 Casull years ago. That was the same day I shot his Max loaded .44 Magnum Blackhawk. My right wrist hurt for a month, but man, what an experience! :D
That was the one and only time I shot the .454.
Click to expand...

I'm a younger guy (34) but motorcycle accidents and a work accident have made me limited to mini actions in rifles and 10mm or 357s out of full size metal handguns. I'm a big baby now.

Wife on the other hand loves big bore rifles and 44 mag revolvers, go figure. Lol.
 
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