Bear Handgun Loads (454)?

[Matt in AK]

I bought my dream gun Saturday for a good price; Freedom Arms 454 with the 4.75" barrel.  I sold one gun and am selling two more just to pay for it.  

I shot it yesterday with 240 grain factory loads and was surprised that the recoil wasn't any more than my 44 mag with 320 hard cast loads.  I was braced for some arm-punishing recoil with the short barrel and it just wasn't there.

The 454 will be my fishing/camping/hunting gun.  I've seen some Cor-Bon 360 grain loads for the 454 -- whaddya think?

[Moose-Hunter]

I believe my friend has the identical gun; his barrel might be an inch bigger though. I shot his a few times and I was impressed! I'm looking into getting the Dan Wesson 445 sometime later this year myself.

[Del]

Matt in AK,
I now have two .454's and I've shot 260 grn up through 335 grn full power loads.  I'd suggest that you work your way up - since you've shot the 240's, go 260's, 300's, 325-340's, then the 360's.  There is a noticable difference in "felt" recoil as you move up in bullet weight!  

Or you could get some big bullets and reloading data for them, then begin at the min. load and work your way up towards the max loads - stopping when you've had all the fun & recoil that you want or when you get to the MAX load.

For me, I like a couple in the middle - good full power 260 & 300 grn loads.  It depends on where I'm going and what I'm hunting, as to what load I drop in the gun.  You have a great gun, Freedom Arms are the best!

Have fun w/your new gun, Del