Need starting load suggestions 454 Casull with powder coated lead 285gr FN-FB bullets.

[thump_rrr]

I just received my new to me Magma 45-285-FP-FB I cast 200 bullets with wheel weight lead and powdercoated them.
They passed the smash test with flying colors.

I also have a Star Lube Sizer with a .452" sizing die.
I am sizing the powder coated bullets

I would like to shoot them out of my S&W X-frame.
I have 454 Casull, and 460 S&W brass.
The overall length of the bullet is 0.730".


The cartridge OAL is 1.679"
I am assuming that the bullet must be crimped like my 454 Casull dummy round.

Up to now I've only loaded 115gr RN 9mm and 230gr RN 45.ACP in lead bullets.
I'm used to loading jacketed ammo.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[243winxb]

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/very-specific-request-re-imr-4227-454.254061/

IMR4227 powder would be my choice, over H110 & W296. IMR 4227 is more forgiving when down loading or at starting loads.


My guess. 25grs IMR 4227 as a start. Load 1 round, fire. The price per pound of powder needs checked first. 4227 is way up there.

Google this & down load-

 

[thump_rrr]

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/very-specific-request-re-imr-4227-454.254061/

IMR4227 powder would be my choice, over H110 & W296. IMR 4227 is more forgiving when down loading or at starting loads.


My guess. 25grs IMR 4227 as a start. Load 1 round, fire. The price per pound of powder needs checked first. 4227 is way up there.

Google this & down load-
View attachment 1198634

Thanks,
I had already looked through that.

I found this on the Freedom arms website.
It shows Win-231 for a light starting load
https://freedomarms.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/454-Loading-Data.pdf

 

[black mamba]

You start out by saying "starting loads" but then suggest 231 for a light starting load. 231 is a relatively fast powder and will max out on pressure before you even get to starting loads for a powder that will give max velocities. It would really help to know what powders you have on hand to choose from. Good, solid midrange loads around 1100 fps are easily obtained with medium burn rate powders, but slow powders are necessary for the highest velocities which in Casull brass should be close to 1500 fps with your bullet.

 

[thump_rrr]

You start out by saying "starting loads" but then suggest 231 for a light starting load. 231 is a relatively fast powder and will max out on pressure before you even get to starting loads for a powder that will give max velocities. It would really help to know what powders you have on hand to choose from. Good, solid midrange loads around 1100 fps are easily obtained with medium burn rate powders, but slow powders are necessary for the highest velocities which in Casull brass should be close to 1500 fps with your bullet.

Can I go to 1500fps with Wheel Weight lead and powdercoating with no gas checks?
The starting load for a 300gr bullet with Win-231 is 8.5gr at 824fps and has a max load of 11.5gr at 1062fps.

Pistol and shotgun powders I have on hand.
Accurate #7
Hodgdon H-110, Titegroup, Clays (NOT Universal)
Vihtavuori N110
Winchester 231,

 

[thump_rrr]

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/very-specific-request-re-imr-4227-454.254061/

IMR4227 powder would be my choice, over H110 & W296. IMR 4227 is more forgiving when down loading or at starting loads.


My guess. 25grs IMR 4227 as a start. Load 1 round, fire. The price per pound of powder needs checked first. 4227 is way up there.

You're not kidding on the price of IMR-4227

 

[AJC1]

Can I go to 1500fps with Wheel Weight lead and powdercoating with no gas checks?
The starting load for a 300gr bullet with Win-231 is 8.5gr at 824fps and has a max load of 11.5gr at 1062fps.

Pistol and shotgun powders I have on hand.
Accurate #7
Hodgdon H-110, Titegroup, Clays (NOT Universal)
Vihtavuori N110
Winchester 231, 760

I think you can if your running straight ww. I run lead hardened to 12 bhn with superhard to 1500. The added benifit to ww alloy is that it accepts heat treatment that will give you big bhn numbers. I haven't done that but several articles in the Los Angeles Silhouette club lay out the process... I've never been fortunate enough to get ww lead.

 

[AJC1]

I think you can if your running straight ww. I run lead hardened to 12 bhn with superhard to 1500. The added benifit to ww alloy is that it accepts heat treatment that will give you big bhn numbers. I haven't done that but several articles in the Los Angeles Silhouette club lay out the process... I've never been fortunate enough to get ww lead.

Here's the article.

Heat treating cast bullets and lead - antimony - arsenic alloys

 

[thump_rrr]

I think you can if your running straight ww. I run lead hardened to 12 bhn with superhard to 1500. The added benifit to ww alloy is that it accepts heat treatment that will give you big bhn numbers. I haven't done that but several articles in the Los Angeles Silhouette club lay out the process... I've never been fortunate enough to get ww lead.

I have a friend who is a mechanic at a large freight company.
He supplies me with lead and I supply him with bullets.

 

[AJC1]

I have a friend who is a mechanic at a large freight company.
He supplies me with lead and I supply him with bullets.

Sweet deal

 

[thump_rrr]

Here's the article.

Heat treating cast bullets and lead - antimony - arsenic alloys

Thanks,
I think I need to wait for these bullets to age a few weeks.
They are at 11.9 bnh.
My 45 ACP 230gr bullets which are 2 weeks old are at 20 bnh.

 

[AJC1]

Thanks,
I think I need to wait for these bullets to age a few weeks.
They are at 11.9 bnh.
My 45 ACP 230gr bullets which are 2 weeks old are at 20 bnh.

I'm a firm believer in water dropping because I was shooting them as fast as I could cast

 

[thump_rrr]

I'm a firm believer in water dropping because I was shooting them as fast as I could cast

Mine are water dropped then powder coated.

 

[AJC1]

Mine are water dropped then powder coated.

I water drop from pc as well.... lots of drying time in my process...

 

[Targa]

You lucky dog!! Wheel weights are a casters dream in my opinion, I would just add a bit of tin ( probably not necessary) for fill out. Powder coated wheel weights will handle just about anything you need them to do out of a handgun, with the heavy movers and shakers like .454Casull, if sized appropriately for the gun, I imagine straight PC’d wheel weights could handle those velocities but I choose to add a hardening alloy to get the BHN up to 15 for any of my full bore magnum stuff.

As for starting loads, I don’t remember off the top of my head the numbers but for lower end, extended range session stuff 231/HP38 and Universal (not Clays) has worked excellent for me , basically turning the Casull into a warm .45Colt. For my eye openers, H110 has been the ticket for me.

 

[Charlie98]

You're not kidding on the price of IMR-4227

...but, it delivers. As 243 mentions, it does download a bit without complaint, has good case fill, and doesn't require a Magnum primer.

Most IMR powders are expensive, now, it is what it is.

 

[thump_rrr]

...but, it delivers. As 243 mentions, it does download a bit without complaint, has good case fill, and doesn't require a Magnum primer.

Most IMR powders are expensive, now, it is what it is.

This expensive?
FYI I’m in Canada

 

[Charlie98]

I can't speak for Canada... but it's over $400 for 8# here in America. Canada is Canada, America is America...

 

[black mamba]

With powder coated bullets the hardness of the bullets makes little difference. They should not lead the barrel at 1500 fps. But a real nice load with your Accurate #7 is 15.5 - 16.0 grains under that Magma bullet of yours @ 1.68 inches. Should be around 1100 fps out of your X.

 

[Roverguy]

This expensive?
FYI I’m in CanadaView attachment 1198736

It’s like USD 72 down here, so while that price is unpleasant, it doesn’t seem irrational.

 

[thump_rrr]

With powder coated bullets the hardness of the bullets makes little difference. They should not lead the barrel at 1500 fps. But a real nice load with your Accurate #7 is 15.5 - 16.0 grains under that Magma bullet of yours @ 1.68 inches. Should be around 1100 fps out of your X.

Thanks,
I couldn't find any load data for Accurate #7 but I plugged your data into GRT and you seem to be right on the money.

 

[LV Gun]

Can I go to 1500fps with Wheel Weight lead and powdercoating with no gas checks?
The starting load for a 300gr bullet with Win-231 is 8.5gr at 824fps and has a max load of 11.5gr at 1062fps.

Pistol and shotgun powders I have on hand.
Accurate #7
Hodgdon H-110, Titegroup, Clays (NOT Universal)
Vihtavuori N110
Winchester 231,

I load for 454 have been for quite a few years I don’t go below 15 BHN for lead bullets it makes it easier for me . If you can find any Trail Boss it is excellent for milder loads W231/HP38 works well also . I shoot 255 LSWC , powders I use based on what I can get are Long Shot , Blue Dot , Unique, 5744 , AA#9 , IMR 4227, HS-6 ,as others have said don’t try to down load W296/H110 . I sometimes shoot a 270 grain LSWC for that I like to use Unique it works very well. I do not use magnum primers either have never seen the need for them, I would recommend you start with W231 it makes a very nice load.