454 casull bullets

[wyozx]

What is your favorite 300 gr jacketed bullet for the 454 Casull and why?

[stubshaft]

Hornady 300gr XTP.  Never was able to retreive one to check on expansion or weight retention but used it to harvest 41 hogs and 6 feral sheep.  Took 47 bullets.

[wyozx]

300 gr xtp mag or xtp standard?

[stubshaft]

Standard

[Mikey]

stubshaft:  Feral Sheep??  What, Bull Merinos gone bad??  Hogs I can definately understand but sheep??  That's a new one on me but ya learn something new every day.  Mutton chops anyone???  And 47 out of 47 is a real good score.   jmtcw.

[Terbltim]

I, too [would] use the 300gr XTP (Non-Mag) bullet if/when I use jacketed bullets at all. My experience shows that the non-mag bullet begins to loose integrity at velocities over 1500-fps, but does quite well at around 1300-fps. Not a problem since I dialed-down the power of my loading/shooting.
I "turned" to cast bullets a couple years ago and can't find a reason to go back to jacketed.
As far as performance, I've only "tested" any of my loads on deer. To date I still haven't found a deer that can stop a 300gr bullet of any configuration or at any speed and doubt if I will. Its been one shot/one kill all along so I guess they're getting 'er done.
I'm really too cheap to be willing to pay for XTP bullets so if I were to "go back" I'd look real hard at the Remington 300gr JHPs intended for the 45/70 ctg. I've sized them down to .454 and let 'er rip with very satisfying results but confess that I've not tried them at much more than 1500-fps.

Since I re-embraced the concept of good shot placement I've also re-discovered that when a bullet passes through the 10-ring, (heart/lung intersection) the caliber and power involved become moot.

[Hairtrigger]

I have good luck using a cast bullet (308gr) with a gas check

[Ken ONeill]

I like the standard XTP for muzzle velocities below 1380 fps, and the Magnum version above that. I like the Sierra JFP at any velocity. Which I pick will depend upon the game being hunted.

[Graybeard]

I've discussed the bullets for .454 Casull issue at length with Bob Baker of FA and he says using a too soft jacketed bullet at max velocity/pressure can actually cause the forcing cone area of barrel to split. He mentioned to me that several of their revolvers have been returned damaged due to that.

I'm not convinced based on his comments that the Hornady bullets are strong enough to be run at max velocity in an FA83 at least. He didn't even recommend the Sierra 300 to me tho from all appearances in my firing it seemed to me as tough as the FA300FP bullets.

Still I have used the Hornady 240 and 300 XTP-Mag bullets extensively in both FA83 and RB454 with no obvious damage. I did not and normally do not however run them to max velocity/pressure. For a tough non JHP I really like the Sierra and to me it acts like a hard cast or solid in deer. My all time favorite tho for the .454 is Lyman's 452651 which from my alloy drops at 318 grains.

[Redhawk1]

If I used a jacketed bullet it would be the XTP Mag. But I will stick with the hard case in all my handguns.

[Ak.Hiker]

The 300 grain standard XTP is fine in the 454 if you load it like a hot 45 Colt. The Mag Tip is designed for full velocity. I really like the Sierra 300 grain. It is a very tough bullet but should be kept below 1500. I like it at about 1400. For a serious field load for protection from big animals I really do not like to carry handloads. My number one all time favorite field protection load is the original Freedom Arms load that Winchester puts out. This  bullet is very tough and no worries that the bullet will jump and tie up the gun under recoil. I have done all kinds of penetration testing with this bullet and the Sierra as well and boy they sure will go through a lot of wood. 

[stubshaft]

stubshaft:  Feral Sheep??  What, Bull Merinos gone bad??  Hogs I can definately understand but sheep??  That's a new one on me but ya learn something new every day.  Mutton chops anyone???  And 47 out of 47 is a real good score.   jmtcw.

Believe it or not they are wild!  The State transplanted them to the "Bid Island" and there are also some on Niihau.  They (the State) also tried Pronghorns and Elk.  But they didn't take to the climate/environment.

[HHI 812]

stubshaft,
Did you mean "Big Island" not "Bid Island"? You in Hawaii somewhere? Born and raised in Honolulu, but now in Alaska, but Big Island and Niihau brings back memories.
Dennis