FYI-Ruger Alaskan .454 Casull Velocity Range Report

[Southern Shooter]

I took my Ruger Alaskan to the range this weenend. The goal was to look into the velocity this shor-barreled gun can produce. Here is the information.

.454 Casull Star-line cases
335 grain Cast Performance Gas Checked LFN
25.8 grains H-110

Average velocity was 1070 FPS.

Just wanted to pass this on since there is really not much data for this shor-barreled Casull.

Thanks

 

[DC Plumber]

SS,

Thanks for posting your experience. I too have an Alaskan 454. I saw some 360g and some 395g lead bullets out there and was temped to try some. Below are some of my chrono'd loads. The 250g load is a nice easy shooting plinker.

454 Casull: 240g XTP MAG, 30.0g 2400, CCI Large Pistol Primer, Starline new brass
Velocities: 1384, 1325, 1306, 1320, 1334, 1241 fps

454 Casull: 250g XTP, 11.0g Universal, CCI Large Pistol Primer, Starline new brass
Velocities: 1064, 1072, 1051, 1012, 1031, 1056 fps

454 Casull: 300g XTP MAG, 25.0g 2400, CCI Large Pistol Primer, Starline new brass
Velocities: 1173, 1210, 1223, 1233, 1171, 1173 fps

 

[Hunt480]

Southern Shooter,what kind of accuracy did you get?

 

[Southern Shooter]

UPDATE: Various Range Information

Sorry guys for dropping the ball on this thread. Below you will find a few shots with various loads fired over the last year. The samples are just a fraction of a fraction of what is needed to be statistically significant. This is just information to think about and show you what I experienced.

Note: I am very new at handloading. If you replicate any loads here you do so at your own risk...Thanks

10 grains Trail Boss
Roll crimp
Lee 452-255-RF @ 264 grains

FPS:
807
804
868
869
869
-----
843 Ave
************************************************

11 grains Unique
Roll crimp
Lee 452-255-RF @ 264 grains

FPS:
1017
1036
988
978
-----
1004 Ave
************************************************

22.5 grains W296
Roll crimp
Accurate Mold 45-360 @ 362 grains

FPS:
976
938
964
918
901
962
962
906
-----
940 Ave
*************************************************

Lee 452-255-RF...264 grains, plain-base, 10.5 grains Unique, LLA mixed with Penetrol.
FPS
977
1000
940
951
965
968
-----
Ave- 966.8
*************************************************

Lee 452-255-RF...264 grains, plain-base, 11 grains Unique, LLA mixed with Penetrol.
FPS
1022
1044
1040
1003
1020
992
-----
Ave-1020
*************************************************

Accurate Mold 45-360C...362 grains, plain-base, 23 grains W296, LLA mixed with Penetrol.
FPS
953
944
963
930
922
975
-----
Ave-947.8
SD-19.97
*************************************************

Ruger SRH Alaskan .454 Casull
362 grain plain-base boolit
23 grains of W296

FPS:
923
966
919
957
971
------
Ave-947 FPS
SD-24.5
**************************************************

IMR 4227
23 grains
Accurate Mold 45-360-C @ 362 grains

FPS:
927
917
908
910
911
------
Ave- 914
SD- 7.7
*************************************************

Blue Dot
15.0 grains
Lee 452-255-RF @ 264 grains

FPS:
989
975
1007
1040
------
Ave- 1002 FPS
SD- 28.09
************************************************

Blue Dot
15.5 grains
Lee 452-255-RF @ 264 grains

FPS:
1032
1043
1033
1012
------
Ave- 1030 FPS
SD- 12.99
***********************************************

Blue Dot
16.0 grains
Lee 452-255-RF @ 264 grains

FPS:
1128
1105
1085
1060
------
Ave- 1094 FPS
SD- 28.95
**************************************************

Blue Dot
16.5 grains
Lee 452-255-RF @ 264 grains

FPS:
1086
1107
1124
1123
------
Ave- 1110 FPS
SD- 17.8
****************************************************

Blue Dot
16.0 grains
Lee 452-255-RF @ 264 grains

FPS:
1105
1144
1119
1101
1102
------
Ave- 1,114 FPS
SD- 18.2
************************************************

Blue Dot
17.0 grains
Lee 452-255-RF @ 264 grains

FPS:
1140
1186
1174
1136
1162
------
Ave- 1,159 FPS
SD- 21.5
****************************************************

Blue Dot
17.5 grains
Lee 452-255-RF @ 264 grains

FPS:
1201
1199
1190
1219
1160
------
Ave- 1,193 FPS
SD- 21.6
***************************************************

Blue Dot
17.5 grains
Lee 452-255-RF @ 264 grains

FPS:
1165
1224
1233
1177
1190
1175
1201
1201
1187
1205
------
Ave- 1195 FPS
SD- 21.5
****************************************************

Unique
11 grains
Lee 452-255-RF @ 264 grains

FPS:
1012
1035
1044
1033
1020
1016
------
Ave- 1026
SD- 12.5


Again, keep in mind that I am very new to this world of reloading. If you use this information, you do so at your own risk.

Thanks...............

 

[Fishslayer]

.454 Casull Star-line cases
335 grain Cast Performance Gas Checked LFN
25.8 grains H-110

Average velocity was 1070 FPS.

330gr @ 1070 FPS is gonna leave a mark.

 

[Southern Shooter]

More Range Time

Just passing on today's experience........

Went to the range today. Sunny. Warm 80 degrees. The bullets fired were from my Accurate Mold 45-360C plain-base. The bullets were the "rejects" in my last casting. Out of 140 bullets cast 114 weighed in at 362 grains and the remainder weighed anywhere from 364-370 grains.

I just grabbed 20 of the mixed weight bullets, did not check their weights, and loaded them on top of 23.5 grains of W296 and used my Lee Factory Crimp Die. The numbers are listed below in the order they occurred.

FPS:
1033
1040
1024
1044
1056
1044
1030
1044
1027
1031
1031
1056
1024
1064
1039
1024
1031
1036
1020
1058
------------
N=20
Ave=1037.8
SD=12.8

 

[Prosser]

Hi
Great thread, keep it up.

Just a few comments from an old reloader.

My general observations are the same as yours. With a short barreled gun, using a heavy, read around 350 grains or more, and a decent crimp, you will get velocity equal or real close to the lighter bullets. Therefore, with a short barreled gun, in a big caliber, if you can load and stand the recoil, the heavy bullets are the way to go.

That said, the powders for the .454 are 4227 and H-110. Others need not apply.

http://www.sixguns.com/range/454_super_redhawk.htm

I get scared thinking of the explosive spiking high pressure Blue Dot creates, in that big case. I also start thinking about double charges when I see some of the other powders you are using. Be careful.

What does the book say is the maximum load for H-110 and a 350 grain bullet? 24 grains of H110, for 1447 fps.

The great thing about this caliber is it's ability to shoot heavy bullets out of a short barrel.

If you want a zip gun, get a longer barreled .454. Casull developed this cartridge in a 10" barrel to start, for Wyoming hunting.