454 Casull

[loadaholic]

Does any one have any good loads for 454 Casull 255 gr hard cast swc, i worked up a good load for a 300 gr good hunting load, but not one you want to shoot just for plinking, thanks for any help...

 

[918v]

A casefull of Trail Boss.

 

[kludge]

Yup.

Hold a bullet next to the case where it would seat and make a mark. Fill to the line and weigh. That is your max load. Reduce 30% to start.

http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Trail-Boss-data.pdf
http://www.imrpowder.com/data/handgun/trailboss-feb2005.php

Or if you go by the Hodgdon online data, 6.7gr start and 9.0gr max for a 250gr LRN.

 

[PM40]

"A casefull of Trail Boss."

That's what I've been using for my "plinking" loads.

 

[DC Plumber]

I've heard people say that 9g of Unique in a 45 Colt was a standard load, why not try
10g of Unique in the 454. I use 11g of Universal in my 454 with 250g XTP's. Nice plinker in an Alaskan.

 

[kludge]

DC Plumber, I was going to suggest that Unique/Universal load too, but I don't have any "published" data.

 

[DC Plumber]

I knew I saw it somewhere. It's a load for Ruger/Contender guns. Page 992 of the Speer #14 reloading manual. A 250g Gold Dot HP, starting load, 9.8g of Unique, max load of 10.8g Unique, for 1075fps with a 7.5" Blackhawk. I use 11g of Universal with 250g XTP's in my 454 Alaskan and it's a nice plinker.

 

[loadaholic]

Thanks for all the help,, sounds good Unique or maybe Blue dot i want to be around 1200 to 1400 fps .. out of my TRB 8 3/8 " .. i have another question i been having problems with miss fires , the primer untouched ,its like the cylinder isnt rotating all the way, pull the hammer back and drop it a 2nd time then it will fire, im thinking of sending it in to Taurus , getting it fixed the selling it , and getting a Ruger SRH , my Taurus shoots like a dream, but i dont want to deal with the problems, how does the Ruger shoot ,,, any feed back would help me make up my mind, thanks much..

 

[loadaholic]

Thanks DC PLUMBER it gives me some where to start.

 

[kludge]

My 9.5" SRH shoots cloverleafs at 25 yards and 2.5"-3" groups at 50 yards with a 300gr XTP-Mag at 1600+ fps. This is my go to hunting load. It's not a plinker load. I have a Burris 2-7x32 mounted. I've gotten good results with A-1680 and the same bullet at 1400+ fps that goes 2.5" and much more comfortable to shoot. I recently picked up some 250gr XTP to try with Universal and see what it will do for a reduced recoil whitetail load in the 1200+ fps range.

 

[Inksinme2]

is it alright to use small magnun rifle primers in the 454 casull when loading 24-26 grains of 2400 in starline brass under a 250 grain xtp? my speer manual calls for cci 400's but all i have on hand are 450's.

 

[marsofold]

Starline brass, 255-grain SWC, 9.7 grains Trail Boss.

 

[DC Plumber]

Loadaholic, your welcome.

kludge, I think you'll really enjoy that as a reduced load. Out of my Alaskan, I've chrono'd that load at 1050fps. For a 2.5" barrel, I'm pretty accurate too. I don't shoot for tight groups, rather I shoot at my 14"x14" steel plate which is blaze orange so it's easy to see. At 75 yards, I hit it 3 out of 6 times. I'm holding at the top edge of the plate. The sights cover the plate, but it works.........sometimes.

Inksinme2, no idea on the primers. I only use CCI pirmers.

 

[zxcvbob]

Try 12.5 grains of Herco for a start. (I shoot 12 grains in my .45 Colt Blackhawk.) It should get you at least 1250 fps unless you have a really short barrel. You can go up or down quite a bit to find something you like. Max load in a Casull is about 20 grains, but you don't want to go there -- if it's not juicy enough for you by about 17 or 18, switch to a slower powder like Blue Dot or AA#7.