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.
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.
(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 |