45 colt in Ruger Alaskan 454 Casull

[BGD]

I just bought a Ruger Alashan 454 Casull. I will be loading 45 Colt and 454 Casull rounds for it. I have seen loading data for 45 colt that says Ruger, freedom arms and TC only. I would assume that since it says Ruger I can load with this data. It looks pretty hot. I assume the brass is regular 45 Colt.
I notice the 45 colt uses Large Pistol primers. If I load with H110 should I use magnum primers?

The Cassul rounds use small rifle primers. do you think I should I use magnum primers?

I have always used magnum primers with H110 in 44 mag.

Any pointer on loading for this gun?

 

[billybob44]

Here's the Deal...

If you want Hot loads do it in the 454 Cass., and yes, use Mag primers with the WW-296/H-110.

You will find that if you "Hot Load" the .45 Colt that the base of the brass will swell.
When it does, you can not get it into the standard shell holder for the .45 Colt.

I have found as much as 10% of some of my range brass that I get have the base (close to the rim) swelled enough that they will not fit my RCBS shell holder. YMMV....Bill.

 

[.452]

Recommended loads for .45 Colt and .454 Casull brass can be looked up at Hodgdon's-

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol

As far as using .45 Colt cases, check this link to an excellent article by John Linebaugh on just this subject-

http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/dissolving_the_myth.htm

 

[gamestalker]

There's yet another approach to this, and one that can more or less recycle some 454 brass, as follows.

When your 454 brass reaches the point to where the mouths are splitting, you can trim them down to 45 LC length, then load them at full tilt 296 loads. I've done this numerous times with various pistol cartridges, 357 mag to 38 spcl, 44 mag to 44 spcl, and of course there are a few different longer 45 cal. cartridges that will handle the pressures of full house 296 45 LC.

As for the specifics of loading with 296, always use magnum primers, use a good roll crimp, and by no means reduce start charges to less than published. 296 / H110 requires those higher operating pressures to attain a complete burn, thus it has one, and only one purpose in the world of reloading, that being full tilt magnum loads.

I've loaded a lot of Ruger 45 LC loads, and I've never experienced problems with the case head swelling, however, I have little doubt this is possible.

GS

 

[highlander 5]

454 chambers are cut much tighter than 45 Colt chambers so case swelling swelling shouldn't be a problem. My experience with 3 45 Colt pistols,all Rugers btw come out looking like pilsner glasses.
I have a 454 Super Redhawk and have never had a case swell to the point where I couldn't reload it. Depends on the brass also I have found that Starline brass will hold up quite well under heavy loads.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

Taffin has some data for the Blackhawk.
http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt45lc.htm

 

[BGD]

Thanks for all the great information. Hopefully my dies will get here Wednesday. I have some brass in the vibrator now getting ready.

The black powder load's look like they may be some fun.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

You will find that if you "Hot Load" the .45 Colt that the base of the brass will swell.

Funny.
I've loaded a lot of "hot" .45 Colt loads for my Blackhawk and have never noticed a swollen base.
There are a lot of myths going around about weak .45 Colt cases that no longer apply with newer modern cases.

In any event I have shot quite a few with 255 grain bullets and 26 grains of H110 in my Ruger. That's about as hot as I care to shoot it. No ill effects to the brass. None.

My brass is a mixture of Starline, Hornady, Remington and Winchester BTW.

Maybe my Ruger has tighter tolerances than most and that's why I haven't experienced it. Anything is possible I reckon.

 

[TimSr]

I just bought a Ruger Alashan 454 Casull. I will be loading 45 Colt and 454 Casull rounds for it. I have seen loading data for 45 colt that says Ruger, freedom arms and TC only. I would assume that since it says Ruger I can load with this data. It looks pretty hot. I assume the brass is regular 45 Colt.
I notice the 45 colt uses Large Pistol primers. If I load with H110 should I use magnum primers?

The Cassul rounds use small rifle primers. do you think I should I use magnum primers?

I have always used magnum primers with H110 in 44 mag.

Any pointer on loading for this gun?

The "Ruger /Contender Only" loads are like a 44 mag type load and even loaded at publsihed max will be far below the pressure limitations of your gun. You'll want to use Large Pistol Magnum primers when using 110/296. You can also do any standard 45 LC load if you want some light plinking rounds.

Your 454 Casull cases take Small Rifle Primers for the pressures involved. Small rifle magnum primers are recommended but some companies do not even make Small Rifle Magnum primers, so regular Small Rifle Primers are okay. Small Rifle Primers burn longer and hotter, more like a pistol magnum primer than a standard pistol primer.