Coal Dragger
member
Ran a test series of 300gr Speer Deep Curls over 29.0 grains of IMR4227, these were fairly stout but not really a lot worse recoil wise than the same bullet over 28.0 grains. This is 1.0 grain under listed max with that powder. Fired cases either fell out of the chambers or needed just a little love tap with the ejector to punch out. No pressure signs or flattened primers.
Accuracy seemed to be quite good, although I didn't formally shoot any groups. However I was able to hit every target designated by a friend of mine out to around 40 yards or so, the best being a fist sized rock on top of another good sized boulder. I have now discovered that a .454 Casull busts rocks pretty much as well (judging by the way they seem to explode) as some centerfire high powered rifles. Shooting rocks is addictive.
As a side note for anyone else reloading the .454 Casull, the listed velocities for different powders seem to vary wildly based on information source. My Speer manual (14th edition) has the IMR 4227 loads maxing out at around 1450fps with 30.0grs of powder under a 300gr bullet, Freedom Arms lists the same charge as pushing a 300gr bullet at around 1650fps, and my Nosler manual lists a max charge as only 26.0gr under a 300gr Partition for 1561fps. In the Speer manual the max Nosler manual load would be a reduced recoil plinking load, but is listed by Nosler as achieving higher velocity. Then the testing methods are different too, Speer and Freedom Arms are listing a 7.5" revolver or pressure test barrel as their equipment. Nosler decided to go with a 12" barrel TC Encore, even though the .454 Casull is really at it's best as a revolver round.
The lesson here is that I need to buy a Chronograph sooner than later, and that evidently different bullet designs must really affect safe pressure levels so using data for each specific bullet is going to be very important for this round.
Accuracy seemed to be quite good, although I didn't formally shoot any groups. However I was able to hit every target designated by a friend of mine out to around 40 yards or so, the best being a fist sized rock on top of another good sized boulder. I have now discovered that a .454 Casull busts rocks pretty much as well (judging by the way they seem to explode) as some centerfire high powered rifles. Shooting rocks is addictive.
As a side note for anyone else reloading the .454 Casull, the listed velocities for different powders seem to vary wildly based on information source. My Speer manual (14th edition) has the IMR 4227 loads maxing out at around 1450fps with 30.0grs of powder under a 300gr bullet, Freedom Arms lists the same charge as pushing a 300gr bullet at around 1650fps, and my Nosler manual lists a max charge as only 26.0gr under a 300gr Partition for 1561fps. In the Speer manual the max Nosler manual load would be a reduced recoil plinking load, but is listed by Nosler as achieving higher velocity. Then the testing methods are different too, Speer and Freedom Arms are listing a 7.5" revolver or pressure test barrel as their equipment. Nosler decided to go with a 12" barrel TC Encore, even though the .454 Casull is really at it's best as a revolver round.
The lesson here is that I need to buy a Chronograph sooner than later, and that evidently different bullet designs must really affect safe pressure levels so using data for each specific bullet is going to be very important for this round.
