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Terry J
04-18-2007, 01:47 PM
I have a new taurus 454 with the 8 3/4" barrell. I have 200 rounds of new brass that im itching to reload. but I have a couple questions if anyone can help. Some of the books i have say I can use ,451 and .452 bullets and some just say .452. Has anyone used .451? I have .451 in 230 grn and .452 in 250 grn. I mostly just plink tarkets so i didnt want to go to big for that. My next question is I have alot of unique powder and some bullseye that i would like to use if possible but i have only found one publication that even lists either of these for reloading. Can anyone advise on a load with these powders? Thanks, Terry J.

doghawg
04-28-2007, 01:09 AM
Terry

While I don't load for the .454 I have loaded jacketed and cast bullets in .45 Colt and would suggest going with .452. The .451's are usually intended for the .45 auto and I'm guessing there is no crimping groove. A lot of people load 9 grains of Unique under a 250 gr. bullet for the .45 Colt and with the increased case volume of the .454 I'm guessing 10 grains or thereabouts would make a nice pleasant load.

Terry J
05-01-2007, 05:28 PM
I have loaded both now and I like the .452's way better. Right now im using AA#9 at 29.0 grns for hrnaday 250 grn xtp and according to the hornaday book that about midaway and thats a TAD hot it seams to me. But it will deffinatley put a hole through some stuff.

doghawg
05-01-2007, 11:31 PM
My Accurate powder loading manual (copyright 1994) lists 28 gr. of AA #9 as maximum under the 250 gr. XTP although they show 30 gr. of #9 under a 260 gr. FA bullet. I guess they think the thicker jacket and stouter construction of the FA bullet is better suited for the super high pressure ....shown at 52,800 c.u.p.

Terry J
05-02-2007, 03:51 PM
Yeah After looking at my other books i have one that shows like 26grns as a max. cant remember which one it was though. Im deffinatley gonna back it down the next go round regardless. Thanks for the info though.

454shooter
07-15-2007, 07:45 AM
Hi Terry J,
You can also go to Freedom Arms website.At the bottom,is the reloading sheet/info.
When you save it, use the .TXT. Will be a lot easier to read.
I use H110 and 296 powder.
The N110, not Hodgdon powder, is good also.

454shooter
07-26-2007, 07:22 PM
Hi Terry J,
I forgot yo tell you: When doing the last operations( ie:seating and crimping),
Always seat the bullet first,(use enough bell),to prevent the case wall collapse,on
all rounds.Then crimp all your rounds next.Yes, this is a 2 step process.
The crimp should/must be heavy.
And,yes, the .451/.452" are the correct size.
I have used the .451",250 gr.You can use the 45 Colt cases.
Good luck in finding those 45 Colt cases.
If none in your area,order from Midway.Haven't checked in some time,but,an order of 1,100 Starline cases, the shipping is free.Wonder if this is still going on or not.
These has a somewhat lower case capacity.Some plinking loads, without the full power,use Trail Boss.
Since there is a big safety factor,you can load up to max on the 45's and get around 600-700 FPS.
And, what is not recommended,is below minimum charges.If done,then this can result in a hazardous situation ie:bullet lodged in the barrel.Next one,well,not good either.
Trail Boss is a bulky powder.In most cases,a double charge usually over flows the case.
I have a F.A. 454 Model 83,6".Had it since about 1996-1997.
Any more questions,please post them.
You have a good day !

454shooter
07-26-2007, 07:49 PM
I have loaded both now and I like the .452's way better. Right now im using AA#9 at 29.0 grns for hrnaday 250 grn xtp and according to the hornaday book that about midaway and thats a TAD hot it seams to me. But it will deffinatley put a hole through some stuff.

Hi Terry J,:mrgreen:
What might seem a tad hot,the Casull is designed for high pressures.
The only thing about being a "tad hot" is if you load off the books.Stay within the
manual.
Since this is a mid-range load,hot,it ain't.It's routine for these types of 5 guns.
Taurus holds 5 or 6 ? Either way,the guns are built for serious use.
And a hunting handgun.This is not for beginners.When using factory or handloads for hunting,yes the recoil is going to be very heavy.
Boy howdy ! Try firing one, with one hand, and still hang on to it.Fired a full 5,full power loads with one hand.If you're wondering,I didn't drop it.
I've loaded the starting loads for the 260gr bullet, and used the 250-255gr.
Loaded the 454 for years.
Yes, the 454 will put a hole through stuff.Or the real hurt ,if it's trying to have you for lunch or dinner.
Humans,it's what for dinner.

Cyrille
08-25-2007, 02:55 PM
Hoo boy! I am courious about something concerning loading bullets for the .454 Casull I recently accquired a S&W .460 XVR w/an 8 3/8 inch barrel. The most popular round for this revolver seems to be (from articals I've read) a 200 gr. bullet .451 dia. Now here's the rub; this S&W revolver handles three diffrent cartridges i.e. the .45 LC, the .454 Casull and the .460. If the .460 round has reloading data for a 200 gr. bullet why can't I find loading data for a 200 gr. bullet in .454 Casull?

doghawg
08-31-2007, 10:39 PM
When the .460 was first introduced it was advertised as a 200 yard cartridge. That was accomplished with a pointed tip bullet with a high ballistic coefficient. That bullet would probably be too long for most .454 cylinders, certainly for the the Mod. 83 Freedom Arms.

odoh
10-02-2007, 05:49 AM
Hoo boy! I am courious about something concerning loading bullets for the .454 Casull I recently accquired a S&W .460 XVR w/an 8 3/8 inch barrel. The most popular round for this revolver seems to be (from articals I've read) a 200 gr. bullet .451 dia. Now here's the rub; this S&W revolver handles three diffrent cartridges i.e. the .45 LC, the .454 Casull and the .460. If the .460 round has reloading data for a 200 gr. bullet why can't I find loading data for a 200 gr. bullet in .454 Casull?

W/the longer chamber length of the X-Frame I suppose one could load up some 454's w/a longer C0L. I fired 454 ammo in my 460 as well as 45 LC and maybe someone will try 45 auto rimmed someday. My experience w/other cartridges in the XVR was that it sounded puny ~ yes, on the heels of the 460 everything sounds/recoils anemic. However, thru my muffs, sounded like squib load just begging to happen.

The XVR is much different than shooting 38Spl/357Mag, 44Spl/44Mag, 45LC/454Casull. It has about 0.5" additional chamber that in rifle terms would be call freebore and the resulting pressures much lower. I know in my case some would have heavier recoil/bark and another would be quiet, like not a full burn. Anyway ~ will only shoot 460 in my X-Frame from now on. Will shoot 45LC occasionlly in my FA83 ~ maybe one can work up some load using those racy looking 200gr Barnes for the 460 rnd in 45LC case and still function in the standard 454 chamber?

GSPKurt
01-02-2008, 12:23 AM
I am reloading 200 gr lead bullets in .454 Casull brass with 10 grains of Unique for a medium load. Nice shooter in my Ruger Super Redhawk.