250 gr. load for .454 with H110?

[Maxinquaye]

Does anyone have a good starting load for the .454 casull using 250gr. bullets and H110 powder? I've got both Hornady XTP and Rainier plated, both 250 grain, both mike .452

These loads will be going out of a Raging bull with 8 3/8 barrel.

THANKS

 

[Black Snowman]

Don't even bother with the Rainier. It will not hold up, will foul the barrel bad, and have no accuracy in a full house 454 loading. Down load it to standard 45 colt and it should be fine but they don't like going over about 1100 FPS.

The XTPs are what I have loaded in mine but I'm using WC820 because I have a lot of it. Haven't worked up full house 454 H-110 loads yet and don't have the data with me. Try Hodgdon's website for H-110 load data.

 

[Maxinquaye]

Thanks for the tip on the rainier...I thought as much but the bullets got good reviews on midwayusa by guys specifically mentioning they shot it in their .454. Oh well, I only ordered 100 of them to try.

Hodgdens website only shows loads starting at 260 gr. for H110. Am I using the completely wrong powder here? I guess I assumed that since H110 worked so well ans was so popular with my .44 and .357 that it would work for the casull as well.

Hodgdens site is showing a never exceed load of 36.0 grains of H110 for a 260 GR. FA JFP. Can I try loading down to like 28 grains for the 250 XTP and work my way up, or should I just bite the bullet and go get some Accurate #9?

 

[50 Shooter]

For the 240gr, Hodgden's recommends a starting load of 36grs and a max of 38.2grs. COL is 1.765"

You can also try H4227, start 29.0 and max 34.0 (compressed load) same COL

Here's three other loads,
HS-6 start 15.5 - max 17.5
Universal start 10.2 - max 11.5
Titegroup start 10.0 - max 11.0
COL for all three is 1.680"

Here's the "use at your own risk" statement. Be safe and always work up your loads safely in your gun.

 

[Maxinquaye]

Hi .50 Shooter - I checked what you said and looked it up...seemed a bit fishy to me since the Lee manual says start load for the 250 grain barnes X bullet is 27.5 and max is 28.5 of H110.

Turns out the loads you posted are for the Freedom Arms revo...mine is a Taurus! Glad I caught that one...

Anyway, going off the only published info I can find that's even close (the aforementioned Barnes round), I'm loading up some Hornady 250gr. XTP with a start load of 25 grains of H110, and working up to 28.5, with a COL of 1.700,which puts it right on the factory canulwhatever.

Instead of asking for endorsements, I'll just ask anyone who thinks this is a stupid idea to speak up please

 

[Black Snowman]

Disclaimer: I am talking about load data outside of published norms. Don't trust me on this one, I have no pressure testing equipment and haven't tested an acceptably large sample. Don't hold anyone liable for anything you do. YMMV and the like. OK, now that I've gotten that out of the way.

Sounds like a plan. Normally with H-110 you want to be real careful how much you reduce the load because it can squib if the pressure drops too much. In big and higher pressure cases like .454 Cassul and .50 AE I have gotten reliable ignition with magnum primers well below the listed starting loads.

 

[Black Snowman]

Oh, another word on the Rainiers. I've heard of people having good success in .454 with them using the heavy bullets (300 gr? 350 gr?) pushed to moderate speeds (below 1200 fps). I like plated bullets for target loads but they just don't like to go fast.

 

[Maxinquaye]

Hi Snowman,

Thanks for the info...I'll make sure and check the barrel after each shot.

Any truth to the rumors I've been readin online about reduced loads of H110 detonating?

Also, I loaded the test rounds using WSR primers...are magnum primers necessary even when using rifle? I put a pretty wicked crimp on 'em using the Lee FCD...dunno if that helps or not.

 

[Maxinquaye]

Erf. Also just checked up on the X bullet. Turnd out it's heat treated solid copper!

Now, I know you're supposed to use reduced loads on lead vs. jacketed since the jacketed is harder. Safe to assume the "X-Bullet" is even harder then jacketed?

Wondering if this is a good idea now

 

[50 Shooter]

You can use the starting load in a Taurus, I own one also and usually go a couple grains over the starting load.

The last loads I made up for my Raging Bull were 360gr hard cast. These were loaded with 28grs of H110 with a COL of 1.77. I didn't have any pressure problems, everything worked fine with feeding and extraction. Out of the lot I had one bullet that started to creep out of the case from the recoil. Probably didn't get crimped hard enough when I loaded it.

Try this site for more 454 loads www.loadswap.com

 

[50 Shooter]

Here's three loads for 250gr bullets that you can try.

http://www.loadswap.com/display.php...andgun_Data&bullet_weight=250&cartridge_id=12

 

[Maxinquaye]

Well, I ran 'em up to 27.7 gr. of H110 today and they weren't NEARLY as potent as the factory Magtech stuff. I think I need magnum primers and work it up again, maybe a bit hotter this time.

BTW, that Magtech stuff is HOT! I got a couple sticky extractions, and all primers were flattened. Methinks they aren't too shy about going right up to the limit with those factory loads. Maybe since it's a new cartridge and no old guns to worry about?

 

[Wedge]

I hated the Magtech .454. My friend has a Ruger SRH .454 and bought some Magtech ammo because it was cheap. Recoil was ferocious and extraction impossible...I wouldn't call it extraction when you have to use a little wooden dowel to knock the shells out of the cylinder.

He loaded some of his own ammo (300 gr. lead over 30gr. H110 - this is from Hodgdon's website) and he got easy extraction and increased accuracy.

 

[Maxinquaye]

Man do I feel like a doof...if you can push 300gr. of lead with 30gr. of H110, the loads I was testing are snap caps!

 

[50 Shooter]

I think I might have a few of the 360 grain bullets loaded if you want to try those.

 

[Maxinquaye]

I'll, uh, work my way up thanks

 

[50 Shooter]

I actually want to give those 405 grain bullets a try from Beartooth.

Try Pat's reloading www.patsreloading.com for some 300gr XTP's. 28.5grs of H110 and a COL of 1.75" is a good starting load, nice loading to shoot, should get some good results out of the RB. I've used it in mine with the XTP's and some Sierra semi jacketed flat points and had good results. Recoil is very managable and not punishing, most of the guys that I shoot with that tried it said it felt like the gun was coming straight back in the hand.