44 mag vs 454 casull

[21SF]

School me please, looking to buy a 44 mag or 454 casull. The Ruger Alaskan

I like the 44 mag more due to the fluted cylinder but would prefer 454 casull ballistics.

I rented a 44 mag at targetmasters.

I had to shoot their ammo, Seller and Bellot 240 gr.

The recoil wasnt bad at all, even my girl shot it and liked it.

IS this an accurate representation of the 44 mag or can I load to much hotter ammo?

The gun didnt seem too accurate, although we got it after another group had rented it, and it was my first time with a 44 mag.

If this is an accurate representation of 44 mag i think i better go with the 454, because i can see getting used to the 44 pretty quick.

Thanks in advance....

[SVRider]

Looks like the S&B is a pretty mild load for 44mag:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=926734

1180fps for only 784FPE

The good stuff should be making 1,000~1,100FPE, so about 40% more energy than the loads you were shooting.

The heavy hitter 454 should make almost double double what a 44mag should make (1,800FPE or so)...so say not quite 2.5x the muzzle energy of what you were shooting (barrel dependent of course)

[JTROKS]

I have a Ruger 44 SBH in 44 mag w/ a 10.5" barrel and a Super RH in 454. I can easily make 1500 fps using 240 grain bullets and Winchester 296 with the 44 magnum, very near 1600 fps if I give it a couple of more grains and use large rifle primers, but case life is cut to about 3 firings. The 454 Casull can easily make 1800 fps with 240 grain bullets and 2050 fps is listed as a maximum load. That load will definitely catch attention at the range and will display an impressive fireball. The 454 leaves the 44 magnum way behind with heavy bullets such as 360 to 400 grain hardcast. 360 grain bullets can still go around 1400 fps if you want a better margin of safety against brown bears. The 454 Casull has more muzzle blast and wrist wrenching recoil, but that's what makes it more fun.

[21SF]

YEA fun is what im after not bears.

I think I will get the 44 mag and get familiar with big bores then maybe ill step up to a 454/480 460/500 if the hot rodded 44 doesnt do it for me.

Thanks

[Dark Mod]

If you wanna go big just get a S&W 460, you can shoot 460, 454 casull AND 45 colt. Pretty epic.

Its overall a nicer gun, but from what i hear the Rugers are more durable. Not that big of a deal since the S&W 460 is capable of handling the 460 round, i would think that you could load some REALLY hot 454 casull's and not worry about it

Some 460 loads achieve 2300 fps!!!! thats rifle velocity

[Cowboy T]

+1 for the Super Redhawk in 454. Believe me, that's plenty of gun. It is durable, tough, hairy-chested-manly looking, and reasonably open-carryable without wearing a suspension bridge as clothing.

Yeah, the 460 is dipping pretty well into rifle territory. Basically, it's a bigger, fatter, more powerful 444 Marlin, and that's where I'd use the round--in a rifle. Yes, there are some long guns chambered for the 460.

[ojisan]

Then again, the .44 Mag is a lot easier to shoot for an afternoon.
The big guys are fun to shoot and have their purpose in life, but wrist wrenching recoil can get old really quick.
Funny, back in the day the same thing was said about .357 Mag and .44 Mag.

[Whiterabbit]

You can't shoot 454 or 460 at targetmasters. 44 mag is the biggest they allow. Fortunately Reeds allows the whole shebang, as does metcalf.

But if you like shooting at Targetmasters, you've only got one real choice.

[21SF]

I only went there to rent it. I shoot at USI.

Thanks guys. I started DROS on the 44mag.

Anyone have pet loads for the 44?

I was thinking H110, Win 296, and Alliant 2400.

And hornady 300 gr XTP's

[BigBronco]

My favorite load is 240 gr. hard cast semi wadcutter with 22 gr. of 2400, shot out of a Ruger Redhawk.

[21SF]

How does that alliant meter?

[JTROKS]

If you really want wrist wrenching combined with concentrating on keeping the barrel from hitting your noggin'... Try a Thompson Center Encore handgun chambered in 45-70 and some level 2, 405 grain bullets. I have a TC Contender with a 16" 45-70 and it is more brutal than my SRH 454 Casull.

[Bill Steele]

Paging Marquis de Sade....

I only went there to rent it. I shoot at USI.

Thanks guys. I started DROS on the 44mag.

Anyone have pet loads for the 44?

I was thinking H110, Win 296, and Alliant 2400.

And hornady 300 gr XTP's

None of my "pet" loads would probably suit you as I like hands friendly target loads using cast 240gr LSWC's.

Your list of 2400, W296/H110 are all excellent "magnum" load powders. My favorite powder for loading my 44's is AA#9, it will produce a good heavy load and seems to download better than most.

If wow factor is your cup of tea, 20grs of VV-N110 under your 300gr XTP should make you happy. This is a max (and compressed) load, so better to start lower, like 18gr and work up for your gun.

A similar load to the above would be 19.0grs of H110 under the 300XTP. Again this is a max load, so start lower, like 18.0grs. I would not download H110 very far though.

The above should bring a smile to the S&M types.

Like always, use prudent loading technique, take all of the above with a grain of Trailboss and do your own research, start low and work up in your particular weapon.

[Cowboy T]

How does that alliant meter?

Beautifully. Not sure about other powder measures (haven't used 'em yet), but I do know that Lee Pro Auto-Disk Powder Measures just love the stuff. Additionally, it seems to tolerate downloading a bit better than H110/W296. I use it for my ".45 Colt Magnum" load, about 30,000 PSI w/ a 250gr cast boolit.

[Rotting]

If wow factor is your cup of tea, 20grs of VV-N110 under your 300gr XTP should make you happy. This is a max (and compressed) load, so better to start lower, like 18gr and work up for your gun.

I will second that. 19.5 gr of VV-N110 under a 300gr XPT in my 3-inch S&W 629 Carry Comp is a STOUT load. You won't want to shoot more than a few mags-full in one sitting. Ouch.