Reduced loads in a 454 Ruger SBH

[riddleofsteel]

I have just purchased a 7.5" Ruger SBH in .45 Colt/454 Casull. I have a Wegand scope base and three ring set on order. I also changed my grip over to a Hogue rubber grip today. When the base and rings come in I plan to purchase a Leupold 2X EER scope and install it.
I have a several boxes of 300 grain Hornady XTP HP's and some H110 powder on the shelf already. I ordered some 454 Starline cases today and I was wondering. What is a good starting point with this combo using small rifle primers? I was planning on starting out with a minimum load of H110 and working up to around 30 grains. I don't hunt anything that requires elephant loads. My biggest game animal would be a 200 to 300 lb feral hog. With this in mind I would probably rather save my wrist from recoil and develop an accurate load somewhere between a stout .45 Colt load and the full house 454's.

comments

suggestions

 

[R.W.Dale]

There is really no reason whatsoever that you cannot use 45Colt loadings in the larger 454 case.

 

[forquidder]

Super Red Hawk

I'm guessing you've picked up a Super Red Hawk in 454 Casull.
My first suggestion would be to get a couple reloading manuals to use as a cross references on loading this catridge. It's a high pressure cartridge and there is a small area to work in when using ball powders like H110 and 296.
If I'm not mistaken, H110 can only be downloaded about 3-5% before you run into a possibly dangerous situation with powder detonation and a blown up gun. My Speer manual lists a starting H110 load of 32 grains with a compressed maximum load of 34 grains with not much difference in velocity (HOT) between the two loads. I wouldn't go lower than the 32 grain starting load with H110 because of the detonation problem. Forget about downloading H110, even your suggested max load of 30 grains could get you in trouble.
If you want downloaded ammo, pick up a manual or two, find a more suitable powder and load to the higher Ruger 45 colt specs. or the lower 454 specs. that the newer manuals have. You'll get decent velocities, lower recoil and still have all your fingers at the end of the day.
Also, alot of powder companies post load data on the internet so you can look there.

 

[tc300mag1]

For h-110 info use hogdgons website for there recommend loading they have worked for me..

also reduced loads in the big cases don't always work with with the SRH you could just load up the 45 colt also ..

 

[longhorngunman]

Whoa! 34gr's of H110 with a 300grXTp, don't know about that. I think maybe the poster was thinking of using 250gr's or such. I started with some loads of 30.5 grs of H110 with the 300gr's and a OAL of 1.775 and worked up to 32.2 gr with this bullet/powder combo and that's as far as I'm taking it. The Rugers are super tough but 34gr's I think is pushing it. The 32.2 makes for a compressed load. Really go get some good reloading info, Hornady has suppossedly a great two book set and I'm sure has .454 loadings. I have been loading some 250grXTP's with 30grs of H110 which should take care of any piggies short of a hippo . Also found 11gr of Titegroup in the .454 case to make for a pleasant but strong 45colt like offering.

 

[loadedround]

reduced loads in a 454 Casull

Just a word of caution...H110 and W-W 296 are the same powder. Under no circumstance load below the recommended starting load. That is if you value your face, fingers, and gun.