The authority on pistol and rifle loading data since 1996.

Reloading The 454 Casull

Shown above, a .45 Colt, .454 Casull and the .460 S&W Magnum (HP = Hollow Point, RN = Round Nose, FMC = Full Metal Case, FMJ = Full Metal Jacket, JHP = Jacketed Hollow Point and if GC indicated, means Gas Check at bottom of lead bullet) Loads for 454 Casull: 4-1-2012 update The .454 came out in the late 50’s and was the big, bad boy in town, till the advent of the .500 S&W mag and now, the .460S&W magnum. This caliber, designed by Dick Casull, is great for us who have lots of .45 Colt ammo (I reload for cowboy shooting, but want a gun that can handle everything up to this magnum with very heavy lead bullets moving out at speeds in the 1300-2000 fps range.) My lighter .45 colt loads recoil about the same or less as a .38 special in this heavy gun and are good to shoot for target practice. With adjustments, you can use dies from your .45 Colt to reload the .454 (SOME dies may not full length resize the case, but mine will), however the case mouth belling and the bullet seater & crimper can be adjusted in the press to work. The shell holder works using the .45 colt for the .454. Personally, I suggest you spend $25 to $40 to buy a full new set for this caliber and shell holder. Lead GC bullet (from LeadHeads Bullets of St. John, KS and Matt’s Bullets) are good for home brew loads. Many loads below us CPB (Cast Performance Bullets). USE SMALL RIFLE PRIMERS. (Note: Shown on this page are START and MAXIMUM loads. Pay attention to which is which.) (See note on Powders below or read all about various Powders.) Bullet size is .451″ or .452″(jacketed) in diameter and .452 lead. Bullets designed for the low velocity .45 Colt may do poorly at .454 casull velocities. Keep this in mind. Use SMALL RIFLE primers in cases. You need the stronger rifle primers because of the pressures. For slow powders, magnum primers are better. Due to different barrel lengths,type of bullet, seating depth, primer brand and other factors,you may not get near the FPS charted. It is just a guide and the reason you should start 10% under these charges and work up. SOME ARE MAXIMUM LOADS! – NOTE, powder companies sometimes reduced some of these hot and maximum loads after these figures were posted. You might check current loads from powder company before loading maximum loads. The loads that produce velocities below 950 fps, are very nice, mild shooting, lower recoil rounds. Trail Boss is a great, low velocity, very bulky powder for this big boy that I have been shooting in my .45 Colt loads for some time. These are VERY mild in this big gun, and less than half the maximum pressures of the high velocity loads. Powders like H-110, Lil’ Gun and Winchester 296 are good for the magnum loads.

(Note H110 & W296 are the same as of 2008 as is HP-38 & W231) (IMR 4227 is same as H-4227 if made in Australia)

240 Grain Freedom Arms JHP .452 dia.
H4227 29.0 gr. 1,421 FPS Start
H4227 34.0 gr. 1,815 fps MAX
H110 36.0 gr. 1,889 fps Start
H110 38.2 gr. 2,065 fps MAX
W296 36.0 gr. 1,875 fps Start
W296 38.0 gr. 2,004 fps MAX
W231 9.0 gr. 844 fps Start
W231 13.5 gr. 1,399 fps MAX
2400 26.0 gr. 1,639 fps Start
2400 30.0 gr. 1,886 fps MAX
Unique 14.0 gr. 1,367 fps Start
Unique 16.5 gr. 1,580 fps MAX
Universal 10.2 gr. 1,212 fps Start
Universal 11.5 gr. 1,325 fps MAX
Bullseye 7.0gr. 842 fps Start
Bullseye 11.0 gr. 1,334 fps MAX
AA No.9 23.5 gr. 1,439 fps Start
AA No.9 30.0 gr. 1,760 fps Not MAX but close
Lil’Gun 35.0 gr. 1,952 fps Start
Lil’Gun 38..0 gr. 2,033 fps MAX
240 Grain Hornady XTP Mag .452 dia.
AA 5744 26.5 gr. 1,255 Use for a Reduced Load
AA 5744 28.0 gr. 1,432 fps
AA 5744 29.5 gr. 1,604 fps MAX.
Titegroup 10.0 gr. 1,214 fps Start
Titegroup 11.0 gr. 1,309 fps MAX
True Blue 19.8 gr. 1,496 start (Sierra)
True Blue 22.0 gr. 1,662 MAX (for Sierra bullet)
Enforcer 28.8 gr. 1,656 start (Sierra)
Enforcer 32.0 gr. 1,840 max (Sierra bullet)
250-255 Grain Lead SWC .452 dia.
TrailBoss 6.7 gr. 862 fps Start
TrailBoss 9.0 gr. 1,011 fps MAX
AA No.9 21.6 gr. 1,326 fps Start
AA No.9 24.0 gr. 1,507 fps MAX
5744 26.1 gr. 1,347 fps Start
5744 29.0 gr. 1,531 fps MAX
2400 20.0 gr. ~~~ This is contributed load, may be near max.
250 Grain Hornady XTP/JHP .452 dia. (some Speer GDHP)
(currently W-296 and H-110 are same, but if older they could be different)
AA No.9 25.2 gr. 1,421 FPS Start
AA No.9 28.0 gr. 1,815 fps MAX
AA No.9 26.5 gr. 1,889 fps Start
AA No.9 27.2 gr. 2,065 fps MAX
2400 Suggest 28.0 to 28.8 grains
2400 29.0 gr. 2,004 fps MAX
Lil’ Gun 34.8 gr. 844 fps Start
Lil’ Gun 34.8 gr. 1,399 fps MAX
W-296 27.5 gr. 1,367 fps Start
W-296 28.5 gr. 1,580 fps MAX
H-110 31.5 gr. 1,212 fps Start
H-110 34.0 gr. 1,325 fps MAX
H110/W296 34.4 842 fps Start
H110/W296 34.4 gr. 1,334 fps MAX
IMR-4227 29.5 gr. 1,439 fps Start
IMR-4227 29.5 gr. 1,760 fps Not MAX but close
Enforcer 29.5 gr. 1,952 fps Start
True Blue 20.5 gr. 2,033 fps MAX
Titegroup 10.5 gr. 1,952 fps Start
Universal 11.8 gr. 2,033 fps MAX
250 Grain Nosler JHP .451 dia.
HS-6 15.0 gr. 1,295
HS-6 17.0 gr. 1,428 max
Universal 10.8 gr. 1,221
Universal 12.0 gr. 1,290 max
Titegroup 9.7 1,193
Titegroup 11.2 gr. 1,298 max
W-296 28.8 gr. 1,406 Hi=1474, Lo=1360, ES=114 Nice load
H110/W296 34.4 1,665 (HOT) Hi=1701 Lo=1621 ES=80
IMR-4227 29.5 gr. 1,336 Hi=1398 Lo=1293 ES=43
260 Grain JHP or JFP .452 dia.
W-296 30.6 gr. Start
W-296 34.0 gr. 1,817 fps (hot)
W-296 36.0 gr. 1,954 above Max (too hot)
H-4227 28.0 gr. 1,421 Start
H-4227 33.0* gr. 1,762 MAX (*compressed)
H-110 34.0 gr. 1,817 Start
H-110 35.0 gr. 1,828 medium
H-110 36.0 gr. 1,954 MAX
Titegroup 9.9 gr. Start
Titegroup 11.0 gr. 1,270 Max
Lil’Gun 33.4 gr. 1,744 Start
Lil’Gun 35.5 gr. 1,895 MAX
HP38 & W231 11.3 gr. 1,117
HP38 & W231 12.5 gr. 1,244 max
2400 26.1 gr. 1,503
2400 28.2 gr. 1,708 max
Unique 13.2 gr. 1,229
Unique 15.0 gr. 1,447 MAX
Bullseye 9.5 gr. 1,089
Bullseye 10.8 gr. 1,275 MAX
AA #9 24.1 gr. ~~
AA #9 26.8 gr. 1,652
AA #9 28.3 gr. 1,658 in 8″ bbl
AA #9 30.0 gr. 1,835 MAX
Enforcer 27.0 gr. 1,575 start
Enforcer 30.0 gr. 1,750 max
260 Grain Speer JHP .451 dia.
Longshot 14.0 gr. 1,353 Start
Longshot 15.0 gr. 1,443 MAX
HS-6 14.5 gr. 1,252 Start
HS-6 16.8 gr. 1,420 MAX
Universal 10.3 gr. 1,157 Start
Universal 11.5 gr. 1,245 MAX
Titegroup 9.5 gr. 1,159 Start
Titegroup 11.0 gr. 1,270 MAX
265 Grain CBP Lead WFN + G.C.
H110 & W296 31.8 gr. 1,784 max
True Blue 18.5 gr. 1,409 start
True Blue 20.5 gr. 1,565 max
300 Grain JHP, JFP & XTP
H110 & W296 26.5 gr. 1,482 start
H110 & W296 29.5 gr. 1,598
H110 & W296 30.0 gr. 1,705 max
H4227 27.0 gr. 1,522
H4227 28.0 gr. start
H4227 30.8 gr. 1,688 Max
H4227 31.0 gr. 1,698 (compressed) max
AA #9 23.3 gr. 1,488
AA #9 25.0 gr. 1,570
AA #9 25.2 gr. 1,402 (Hornady) Hi=1441, Lo=1352, ES=89
AA #9 26.0 gr. 1,594 max
AA #9 26.0 gr. 1,429 (Hornady) Hi=1483, Lo=1336, ES=147
AA #9 26.8 gr. 1,515 (Hornady) Hi=1539, Lo=1498, ES=41
AA #9 24.7 gr. 1,402
AA #9 27.5 gr. 1,629 max (Two different manuals-Careful here)
Lil’Gun 27.7 gr. 1,585
Lil’Gun 29.0 gr. 1,666
Lil’Gun 30.5 gr. 1,494 Hi=1552, Lo=1431, ES=121
Lil’Gun 24.4 gr. 1,268
2400 27.0 gr. 1,443
2400 24.4 gr. 1,268
2400 28.0 gr. 1,499 near max
HP38 & W231 10.4 gr. 996
HP38 & W231 11.5 gr. 1,072 max
Unique 12.5 gr. 1,086
Unique 14.0 gr. 1,277 max
Bullseye 8.5 gr. 983
Bullseye 9.5 gr. 1,022 max
Titegroup 9.0 gr. 1,104
Titegroup 10.0 gr. 1,188
True Blue 16.7 gr. 1,278 start
True Blue 18.5 gr. 1,420 MAX
Enforcer 25.2 gr. 1,463 start
Enforcer 28.0 gr. 1,625 max
300 Grain Lead FP + G.C.
H110 & W296 27.0 gr. 1,327
H110 & W296 29.8 gr. 1,504
305 Grain Matt’s Bullets LEAD FP + G.C.
Enforcer 26.2 gr. 1,395 Hi=1408, Lo=1372, ES=36 (good) 8″ BBL
W-296 27.2 gr. 1,453 Hi=1490, Lo=1430, ES=60 8″ BBL.
W-296 27.2 gr. 1,603 Hi=1634, Lo=1583, ES=51 10″ BBL. (same load)
W-296 27.8 gr. 1,590 Hi=1591, Lo=1587, ES=4 Amazing
Titegroup 9.5 gr. 1,130 Hi=1157, Lo=1078, ES=80 8″ BBL
310 Grain Lead FP + G.C.
H110 & W296 26.0 gr. 1,491
H110 & W296 29.0 gr. 1,685 max
315 Grain Matt’s Bullets Lead FP + G.C. (8″ bbl. in S&W 460 revolver)
No. 9 21.5 gr. 1,193 Hi=1282, Lo=1121, ES=161
No. 9 23.0 gr. 1,367 Hi=1433, Lo=1261, ES=172
No. 9 26.8 gr. 1,412 Hi=1464, Lo=1346, ES=118 (MAX)
True Blue 17.0 gr. 1,383 Hi=1410, Lo=1355, ES=55 (good)
Universal 10.3 gr. 1,064 Hi=1087, Lo=1041, ES=45 (good)
Titegroup 9.3 gr. 1,047 Hi=1052, Lo=1043, ES=9.5 (excellent)
Titegroup 10.1 gr. Max
W-296 25.5 gr. 1,289 Hi=1327, Lo=1244, ES=83
Enforcer 25.8 gr. 1,372 Hi=1448, Lo=1229, ES=219
Lil’Gun 25.0 gr. 1,355 Hi=1398, Lo=1293, ES=105
325 Grain CPB Lead RN Plain base (.452″)
H4227 24.7 gr. 1,389
H4227 25.5 gr. 1,452 Compressed, Maximum load
H110 & W296 25.2 gr. 1,345
H110 & W296 26.0 gr. 1,511 max
Lil’Gun 23.2 gr. 1,468
Lil’Gun 24.0 gr. 1,526 max
Trail Boss 5.0 gr. 636
Trail Boss 7.0 gr. 798 max
Trail Boss 7.1 gr. 695 8″ bbl revolver Hi=705 Lo=686 ES 18.1
Trail Boss 7.1 gr. 841 20″ rifle Hi=841 Lo=833 ES=11.8
325 Grain Lead SWC + G.C.
H110 & W296 27.0 gr. ~1,600
2400 20.0 gr. 1,208
2400 21.0 gr. 1,326 max
335 Grain Lead FN + G.C.
H110 & W296 23.0 gr. 1,227
H110 & W296 25.8 gr. 1,494 max
Lil’Gun 21.0 gr. 1,331
Lil’Gun 24.0 gr. 1,498 max
H4227 23.0 gr. 1,306
H4227 25.5 gr. 1,460 max
Trail Boss 4.8 gr. 618
Trail Boss 6.8 gr. 778 max
Enforcer 23.4 gr. 1,377 start
Enforcer 26.0 gr. 1,530 max
True Blue 16.0 gr. 1,256 start
True Blue 18.0 gr. 1,395 max
350 Grain Lead WFN + G.C.
Lil’Gun 23.0 gr. 1,482
360 Grain CPB Lead WFN + G.C.
H110 & W296 21.0 gr. 1,265
H110 & W296 24.0 gr. 1,447 max
Lil’Gun 20.0 gr. 1,330
Lil’Gun 22.8 gr. 1,312 Hi=1321, Lo=1302, ES=19 (great load)
Lil’Gun 23.0 gr. 1,477 max
H4227 21.0 gr. 1,205
H4227 24.0 gr. 1,406 max
Trail Boss 5.0 gr. 615
Trail Boss 6.0 gr. 699 max
370 Grain CPB Lead WFN + G.C.
Enforcer 21.6 gr. 1,258 start
Enforcer 24.0 gr. 1,398 max
395 Grain Lead FN + G.C. (Leadhead’s bullets .452″ or CPB Cast Performance)
H110 & W296 18.5 gr. 1,169
H110 & W296 19.0 gr. 1,217
W-296 19.8 gr. 1,102 Hi=1135, Lo=1080, ES=55 8″bbl
H110 & W296 20.8 gr. 1,125 8″ bbl revolver, Hi=1150 Lo=1103 ES=47.0
H110 & W296 20.8 gr. 1,368 20″ rifle Hi=1388 Lo=1347 ES=40.8
H110 & W296 21.0 gr. 1,305 max
W-296 18.8 gr. 1,053 Hi=1068, Lo=1031, ES=36.6 (8″ bbl)
Lil’Gun 17.5 gr. 1,212
Lil’Gun 19.7 gr. 1,170 8″ bbl revolver, Hi=1184 Lo=1152 ES=32.1
Lil’Gun 19.7 gr. 1,426 20″ rifle Hi=1437 Lo=1411 ES=25.5
Lil’Gun 20.0 gr. 1,331 max
Lil’Gun 20.0 gr. 1,209 Hi=1236, Lo= 1183, ES=53
H4227 18.0 gr. 1,076
H4227 20.6 gr. 1,060 8″ bbl revolver, Hi=1070 Lo=1040 ES=29.5
H4227 20.6 gr. 1,272 20″ rifle Hi=1285 Lo=1256 ES=29.1
H4227 21.0 gr. 1,269 max
Trail Boss 4.0 gr. 519
Trail Boss 5.0 gr. 607 max
Trail Boss 5.7 gr. 600 8″ bbl revolver, Hi=606 Lo=588 ES=18.6
Trail Boss 5.7 gr. 694 20″ rifle Hi=710 Lo=673 ES=36.3
Enforcer 19.8 gr. 1,193 start
Enforcer 22.0 gr. 1,325 MAX
Enforcer 21.5 gr. 1,242 Hi=1252, Lo=1232, ES=20 (excellent load, 8″ bbl)
Titegroup 8.8 gr. 946 Hi=956, Lo=932, ES=24 (very good and mild load)
No. 9 19.5 gr. 1,192 Hi=1208, L0=1153, ES=55
No. 9 20.5 gr. 1,288 Hi=1328, Lo=1214, ES=113
True Blue 16.0 gr. 1,268 Hi=1296, Lo=1246, ES=50
435 Grain Lead FN + G.C.
H110 & W296 21.0 gr. 1,193
H110 & W296 21.8 gr. 1,221 max
Loads for the .454 Casull direct from Hodgdon (their web site, for Hodgdon, IMR and Winchester powders) Discussion: Trail Boss is great for lead bullet loads at low velocities (plain base bullets are OK). It’s quite bulky and will fill the case beyond half full for most loads (making a double charge evident if it happened). Accurate (XMP)5744 is one of my favorite powders that I use in my .45 Colt and other calibers. It seems to be less “case position sensitive” than others I have used. And only a few more grains (to MAX) is a compressed load, so it uses a lot of the case space. I have used Titegroup and Lil’ Gun and I like them a lot. Tightgroup is a very light powder for its bulk, so it fills the case about 3/4 when seating a big lead GC bullet. Lil’ Gun, H4227, and H-110/W296 are excellent for magnum loads with a heavy bullet. Also, No.9, Enforcer and True Blue work well in the .454 caliber. Titegroup has some of the smallest spreads of velocities as you will see in the actual tested loads above where “ES” Extreme Spread is shown. UNIQUE & Universal – are suitable for lighter bullets. Quite a difference in velocity with bullet weight (see tables above). Universal did well in the 315 grain cast bullet. * AA(XMP)5744, AA 1680, AA 4100 are products of Accurate Arms Company Tightgroup, Longshot, Lil’Gun, H110, H4227 are products of Hodgdon Powders. IMR Trail Boss (formerly DuPont) Powder Company & Winchester Powders are now Hodgdon Alliant (formerly Hercules) Powders: Unique, 2400 & Power Pistol References: Accurate Arms Co. Alliant Powder Co. Reloaders’ Guide – – Hodgdon’s Reloaders Website- – Hodgdon Tech Support – – Speer Reloading Manual, #12 – – Winchester Reloading Components Manual, 14th edition – – Lyman Piston & Revolver Reloading Handbook, 2nd edition. – – VihtaVuori Oy Company, – Numerous magazine articles on reloading special calibers and personal loads where noted. Ramshot Powder Company on-line guide 2007.
 
MD Smith

MD Smith

MD Smith has had a storied career from his family broadcasting AM radio business, to his 36 year career in TV broadcasting. He is a published fiction and non-fiction writer, earned his pilots license in 1965, and is the original founder of Reload Ammo in 1996. His loads have been successfully tested and used by others for more than 25 years.

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