reloading 454 Casull

[mnh327]

I'm interested in reloading this caliber if I can find a Ruger Alaskan 454.

I've read that you need to use rifle primers. What's the cheapest way to reload this? I didn't see any hand-loading Lee press for this caliber. Is there a low-cost Turret press?

Are there any gotchas to look out for in this caliber? I'm only going to get this caliber Alaskan if I can find one (seem to be out of stock everywhere) and if reloading isn't very hard. Even reloading this caliber is expensive (components).

[Bongos]

I'm interested in reloading this caliber if I can find a Ruger Alaskan 454.

I've read that you need to use rifle primers. What's the cheapest way to reload this? I didn't see any hand-loading Lee press for this caliber. Is there a low-cost Turret press?

Are there any gotchas to look out for in this caliber? I'm only going to get this caliber Alaskan if I can find one (seem to be out of stock everywhere) and if reloading isn't very hard. Even reloading this caliber is expensive (components).

get a single stage press for $60-$80, the dies, shellholder, scale, tumbler, calipers, and you are good to go. If you already have the brass, bullets is about $0.28, powder is about $20/lb each pound will yeild 200 rounds = $0.10, primers $0.04 Total per round : $0.42

[5shot]

Any standard press will handle the .454 dies. Unless your shooting low power target loads, not all .45 bullets will handle the pressure of full .454 loads. Hornady .45 300gr XTP Mag, Sierra .45 300gr Sportsmaster, Barnes .45 250 gr., and the Cast Performance .45 bullets with gas checks work well. Speer claims that their .45 300gr Gold Dot can be loaded for .454, but I had a bullet failure with them, so I can't recommend them.
In addition to the 3 die set, also buy a "factory crimp" die. The .454's in the cylinder will jump the crimp after a shot or two if you don't have a very heavy crimp on them.
I load .44 mags, 480 Ruger, and .454 Casull. And the only one I've needed a really heavy crimp on is the .454.

[Slash2]

It kinda sounds like you are new to reloading, if that's the case you may want to hold off on buying reloading gear until you've had a chance to shoot the gun a few times, a 454 may not be something you'll enjoy shooting in high enough volume to justify setting up to reload only it.

However you can shoot .45 Colt through it for days, and the dies can be used for both calibers.

[Cowboy T]

It kinda sounds like you are new to reloading, if that's the case you may want to hold off on buying reloading gear until you've had a chance to shoot the gun a few times, a 454 may not be something you'll enjoy shooting in high enough volume to justify setting up to reload only it.

True. .454 Casull rounds are pretty darn stiff.

However you can shoot .45 Colt through it for days, and the dies can be used for both calibers.

That's true. I do this out of my SRH 454 all the time. Stock .45 Colt in that gun feels just like .38 Spl in a GP-100. Very pleasant to shoot.

Additionally, you can download the .454 Casull cartridge to .45 Colt levels if you wish. I just got some .454 brass, and I'm going to develop two loads for use with them. One will be slightly hotter than .45 Colt (about like .38 Spl +P is a little warmer than std. .38 Spl). The other will be near-full-power.

And to answer the OP's question about presses, yes, there are some good inexpensive turret presses for this round. The single stages have already been discussed. Lee also makes two affordable turrets, the "regular" Turret Press and the Classic Turret Press. Both will work just fine, though the Classic Turret is built considerably beefier and is simply a pleasure to use (it's also a little more $$).

[Whiterabbit]

What's the cheapest way to reload this? Are there any gotchas to look out for in this caliber?

I'm still finishing my research, but what I am finding, is that if you can find a cheap bullet, you are good to go.

This assumes you consider your brass and press investments rather than consumables. Beyond that, everything is cheap.

Here are my short list bullets to try when it comes to finding a plinker bullet:

http://www.beartoothbullets.com/bulletselect/index.htm?category=22&id=

http://www.pennbullets.com/45/454340.html

20 cents a pop doesn't seem too bad...


Also check out cast performance bullets, looks like a potential candidate, between $40 and $45 per hundred.

[TKM]

I'm still finishing my research, but what I am finding, is that if you can find a cheap bullet, you are good to go.

This assumes you consider your brass and press investments rather than consumables. Beyond that, everything is cheap.

Here are my short list bullets to try when it comes to finding a plinker bullet:

http://www.beartoothbullets.com/bulletselect/index.htm?category=22&id=

http://www.pennbullets.com/45/454340.html

20 cents a pop doesn't seem too bad...

Big thumbs up for the penn bullets. Get a bucket of H110 while you're at it. You just have to find it within yourself to shoot as many as you can afford.

I still get a twitchy eye when I reach for the 454. I've worn out gloves shooting the beast.

The 500, not so much. Fortunately I've never found myself standing in front of a Smith 460 with a pocket full of money.

[bumpo628]

Missouri Bullet has a few options that cost less:

.452", 250 Grain RNFP, Brinell 12
$47.50 for 500 = $0.095 / ea

.452", 255 Grain SWC, Brinell 18
$45.00 for 400 = $0.1125 / ea

.452", 255 Grain SWC, Brinell 12
$45.00 for 400 = $0.1125 / ea

.452", 300 Grain TCFP, Brinell 18
$49.00 for 400 = $0.1225 / ea

http://www.missouribullet.com/results.php?category=5&secondary=14

[Whiterabbit]

they say brinell 12 is for cowboy loads only. Think the Brinell 18's are good to 1900 fps or 1700 fps for the 300 grainer? The options I was looking for guaranteed it.

nevermind, found the FAQ

http://www.missouribullet.com/technical.php

nice equation to guestimate optimum bullet hardness. I'd take it with a grain of salt as long as I was in the ballpark. But for casull pressures of 45-50ksi, their equation spits out 36 as the ideal hardness!

I can see why the 454 recommended bullets always seem to have gas checks...

[bumpo628]

I can see why the 454 recommended bullets always seem to have gas checks...

I didn't catch that the 454 need CGs when I looked at the Penn or Beartooth links before. The Penn didn't have a GC in the picture, but they say in the copy below that it is not needed because of their silver additive (also good for werewolves).

[Whiterabbit]

That's why I used the qualifier "seem" rather than absolute terminology. That Penn bullet is the first I've really seen. Note how they say they start with a Brinell 21 alloy (Missouri finishes at 18!) then adds the silver allow for further improved properties.

I'm no expert here. Like I said, I'm still performing component research. I even sent an email to 'Ask Jeff' from Gunblast asking for input on speed limitations of bullets and what criteria are used to determine such.

It seems to be one of those things where there are obvious black and white candidates, and a HUGE gray area in the middle. Hard to find experienced folks making plinkers for 454 and willing to talk about bullet selection, leading, etc. Lots of opinions and experience, but very few talk about why they made the selections they did.

[bumpo628]

With a gas check behind the bullet, the hardness is not as important.
It will be cheaper in the long run to start casting. You can get all the equipment for under $100. Bullet materials will run you another $100 or so with enough to do 1000 bullets. If you get 3 packs of GCs & 2 packs of lead, it will only run you about $85 per 1000. The bullets can be tumble lubed and the sizer comes with enough for about 1000 bullets.

So, for an initial investment of about $200 for 1000 bullets, you will be paying the same as buying them. Future bullets will only cost you about $0.085 each.

Casting tools:
$19.49 - Lee 2-Cavity Bullet Mold C452-300-RF 45 Colt (Long Colt), 454 Casull (452 Diameter) 300 Grain Flat Nose Gas Check

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=658577

$52.99 - Lee Production Pot Four Furnace 110 Volt

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=637732

$17.29 - Lee Lube and Size Kit 452 Diameter

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=116429

Bullet making material:
$37.99 - Hornady Gas Checks 45 Caliber Box of 1000

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=211316

$65.00 - Clip On WW ingots 65lb Boxes

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=117979

This is just one example. Other sources can be found at http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?f=18 or http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?f=52
65 lbs x 7000 grains/lb / 300 grains/bullet = @ 1500 bullets

[Cowboy T]

The one change I would make to bumpo628's list is to go for the Pro 4-20 pot instead of the 10lb Production Pot. The reason is the Pro 4-20 has a more powerful heating element, thus you melt the alloy faster, and the double capacity certainly doesn't hurt. Other than that, +1 to his list and to the idea of casting. I cast virtually everything I shoot, and it's a major money saver, plus I enjoy doing it.

[tankerman]

I've been reloading 454 for about 8 years and own 3 454's

Ignore anyone that suggests you buy bullets intended for shooting in a 45 acp. The majority of bullets designed for shooting in a 45 acp will blow apart immediately upon leaving the barrel, they are not built for that kind of speed/pressure.

Lead hard cast is great, with a gas-check. That's primarily what I shoot. Been getting them from this fellow. Top quality, super nice people and good prices.

The round really shines when you get into the heavier bullets 400 - 420 grain. Recoil is still heavy, but not bone jarring snappy like with the lighter bullets. Stick with Lil' Gun and H110.

If you buy a Ruger 454, the first thing you should do is walk over to a lake, throw the gun in, then go buy a Freedom Arms.




Last - Don't shoot 45 Colt in your 454, unless you enjoy extricating stuck 454 cases due to residue build up in the cylinder from shooting the shorter 45 Colt.

[bfoosh006]

Are these suitable for the .454 Casull ?

http://store.brassmanbrass.com/servlet/-strse-185/%28501j%29-45-Cal--dsh-/Detail

If so ... seems to be a decent deal.