454 Casull factory loads

[tanoose]

I'll have a new super redhawk soon and while i plan to reload ,it wont be till next winter. I'll need some good factory loads for next falls deer and black bear season. What factory loads and what grain bullets do you guys recommend for the 454 casull? I was planning on using the federal 260 grain fusion and Winchester250 grain loads for some light recoil shooting on the range but wanted some heaiver stuff for hunting.Thanks Tanoose

[Graybeard]

Why? Either or both of those are more than adequate for the uses you plan to put them to. My most commonly used .454 Casull load pushes the Lyman 452651 GC bullet to 1550 fps. From my alloy they drop at about 315 grains and with lube and gas check weight right at 318 grains. I can think of nothing that wouldn't be adequate for and certainly nothing I could afford to shoot that would need more.

Your two listed loads will do fine on deer and black bear.

[Hairtrigger]

For deer you may consider shooting 45C in your 454, Of course it will depend on the range you plan to shoot but it will cost less per round to shoot.

[Ak.Hiker]

 I read your post and the first thing I thought was that for deer and black bear the 2 loads you have on hand would work quite nicely. Graybeard has some good advice. For medium game the full power loads are not needed. When I shoot hand loads I have had good luck with the Sierra 300 grain SP. This bullet is designed for the 454. While it is fun testing the heavy loads I prefer to keep the Sierra bullet at about 1400. If you want to see some real penetration just for fun I have had both the CorBon 360 grain penetrator and the 300 grain Winchester FP shoot thru 2 nice size trees back to back. Of course both of these full power loads are not needed for medium game. 

[tanoose]

Thanks guys you all make alot of sense but i was thinking on using a 300 grain bullet for hunting  and i was actually looking at the hornady factory ammo but wasn't sure how there XTP bullets would hold up.

[Graybeard]

The 240 and 300 XTP are designed for use in the .454 Casull. The 250 XTP is designed for the .45 Colt. As long as you use them at their design velocity level they are just fine.

[corbanzo]

I like both the 260grn fusion and the 250grn win. 

I really like corbon hunter ammo.... but that is a lot more spendy.  The 300grn JSP has been a great shooter for me, but probably more than you need for deer and black bear... (what is wrong with more? )