454 Casull Load- Opinions Wanted

Striper69 · Feb 2, 2018

I have loaded up the minimum load from the Hornady manual for 300 grain Hornady XTP Mag bullets using Win 296 powder.

I shot this load out of a brand new Ruger Super Redhawk. On the second shot the 454 case would not come out of the cylinder. I had to take it out at home.

What is causing this? I could understand if it was a max load.

Biggfoot44 · Feb 2, 2018

Ok , I couldn't imeadately find Hornaday data online , so I looked to my usual sources quoting Hogdon, And Hogdon themselves .

Minimum loads vary a bit, clustering around 27.0 and 27.9gr. The current Hogdon website shows stats on 28.5gr and 30.0gr .

28.5gr , WSR , 300gr jfp Freedom bullet , shows 44, 200 cup .

Is this close to what you are loading ? ( If anything , the FA projectile would be a higher factor than XTP ) . Note Hogdon's use of Small RIFLE Primers , what are you using for primers .

44k or less isn't hot by .454 standards . The 27.somthing loads should be down in the 30's .

But since you said brand new gun , and only second shot :

Rough chambers ?
Too soft batch of brass ?

Are these the first shots period ? Or just first shots with these handloads ?

If first shots period , fire some factory loaded ammo to establish a baseline . If those stick , look to chamber dimensions and finish. If not stick , look to your brass .

Seabee · Feb 2, 2018

My Hornady #10 manual shows minimum of 28.3 gr with 300 gr bullets.

Striper69 · Feb 3, 2018

I'd rather not fire any factory ammo cause they load it too hot.

I had the same problem with a few rounds with a used gun I bought and returned (cases getting stuck in the cylinder).

The small rifle primer factor is interesting. I'll have to look up the load in the manual.

Biggfoot44 · Feb 3, 2018

Ok , a further option in that direction is the Winchester Super X 250gr JHP ( silver box) . It is a comparitive moderate load intended for mere whitetails. 250gr @ 1300fps, aka similar to .44mag .

In a virgin revolver ( or any firearm) having problems ,with handloads , it is an important step to try the gun with ammo of known specs and quality . If nothing else , one of your either macho or curious shooting buddies / club members would be tickled to run a cylnder thru it .

**************

I get about wanting full power .454 . That is a popular theme to look at a .454 revolver in the concept of being an overbuilt, extra strong .45Colt .

What is your desired level of vel/ power with your Super Redhawk ?

I am thinking your choice of H110 is not suited for what I'm * guessing* you're seeking. The data I was seeing still puts start loads of H110 into the 1500's. 200-ish fps less than nominal full power , but still quite a handfull .

I'm * guessing * you would be interested in either equivalent to .44magnum , or "Ruger Only" .45Colt level , the later either in .45Colt cases , or in Casull brass .

Powders for these type loads would include 2400, 4227, AA9 , Unique ( and others ).

Seabee · Feb 3, 2018

Have you tried 45 Colt loads in it?

Small rifle primers are required in the 454.

You may be using too light a load in it and experiencing a detonation issue. H-110/296 is NOT a good powder for very light loads. I remember reading years ago about detonation in lower than recommended loads with 296 but it was a different powder then. It is now the same as H-110. Are you getting pressure signs of any kind? Have you measured the cases?
Can you show a picture of a case head that was ok and one of the ones that was hard to extract?
I've loaded a lot of H-110 in my 44 Mag with never an issue. The 454 doesnt seem to like light loads with Mag powders

In my 454, I tried 2400, H-110, N-110, N-105, AA1680, AA9.
N-105 shot best with the Hornady 240 gr Mag bullet in my Ruger. Like you I was working near the lower end and had a couple squib loads with 1680 and H-110. I talked to Accurate powders and they recommended upping my load a bit and try again. I decided to just stay with the N-105 which shot great and let it go at that.

Biggfoot44 · Feb 3, 2018

My recently deceased Shooting/ Handloading Partner #1 used 296 and 2400 . But then since he also had .45Colt Blackhawk, the FA was designated for the higher horsepower loads.

If the tooth fairy were to give me a .454 , the first powder I would try would be 4227 .

Seabee · Feb 3, 2018

BF44, didn't have any 4227 to try or I would have.
Got great groups with the N-105 and 2400 was pretty good to.
1680 was heavily compressed and gave me some issues. I may try some 4100 in it when I get time.

Ken

Biggfoot44 · Feb 3, 2018

4227 is my go to for magnum class revolvers.

I have a standard default load : Cast swc of usual for cal weight , std primer, 90-95% load density ( with specific bullet ) . Always gave me 1.25in @ 25yd or tighter .

Striper69 · Feb 3, 2018

Seabee said:
Have you tried 45 Colt loads in it?

Small rifle primers are required in the 454.

You may be using too light a load in it and experiencing a detonation issue. H-110/296 is NOT a good powder for very light loads. I remember reading years ago about detonation in lower than recommended loads with 296 but it was a different powder then. It is now the same as H-110. Are you getting pressure signs of any kind? Have you measured the cases?
Can you show a picture of a case head that was ok and one of the ones that was hard to extract?
I've loaded a lot of H-110 in my 44 Mag with never an issue. The 454 doesnt seem to like light loads with Mag powders

In my 454, I tried 2400, H-110, N-110, N-105, AA1680, AA9.
N-105 shot best with the Hornady 240 gr Mag bullet in my Ruger. Like you I was working near the lower end and had a couple squib loads with 1680 and H-110. I talked to Accurate powders and they recommended upping my load a bit and try again. I decided to just stay with the N-105 which shot great and let it go at that.

I think I'll try N-105 with the 240 grain bullet next. That powder is in the Hornady manual on top. I bought some Federal 205 primers for it.

Striper69 · Feb 9, 2018

I looked for N-105 and couldn't find any. I talked to a salesman at one of the places that sell powder and he thought that 296 was OK with the gun. He has a S&W 460 that he loads with 296 and has never had any problems.
He thought I should clean out the cylinders real good and try again. I bought some Federal 205 primers and loaded up some rounds with 240 grain Hornady XTP Magnum bullets. I didn't have any cases stuck in the cylinders today.
I'm gonna try loading some 300 grain bullets and shoot those next.

Biggfoot44 · Feb 9, 2018

If you wish to load to more or less full power , 296 is indeed on the short list of usual suspects . Reduced loads , nope .

Glad that it went better , but suspect the chamber scrubbing was the factor .

Seabee · Feb 9, 2018

Glad you got it worked out. 296 will be fine unless you are working with light loads. All I was saying before was that my Super Redhawk shot better with N-105 than it did with 296/H-110. Every gun is a bit different

Striper69 · Feb 9, 2018

The rounds shot about 3 inches low. I was shooting at ten yards with shooting sticks. I need to get a more accurate round so I'll be doing a lot of experimenting especially once Spring gets here. It was around 10 degrees yesterday with about 5 inches of snow at the range.
I came upon a fresh deer kill on the dirt road to the range. There's a stray dog that lives near the range and I think it killed the deer. I think it's a true hunter and lives on the wild game there. At least I think it's a dog. It walked by with a bigger dog a couple of days ago and it was by itself the next day. Unless it's a black coyote but I don't think it'd show itself if it was.

Magnumite · Feb 10, 2018

Seabee said:
Glad you got it worked out. 296 will be fine unless you are working with light loads. All I was saying before was that my Super Redhawk shot better with N-105 than it did with 296/H-110. Every gun is a bit different

Your shooting better reference...was that in reference to group size or velocity?

Magnumite · Feb 10, 2018

“The rounds shot about 3 inches low. I was shooting at ten yards with shooting sticks. I need to get a more accurate round...”

Accurate relative to group size or point of impact?

Striper69 · Feb 19, 2018

I found a great article in Handloader magazine about different loads for the 454 Casull. I'll be trying some of them out this spring.

454 Casull Load- Opinions Wanted

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