45 Colt? Why not just get the 454 Casull?

[Ullr]

I have a Contender single shot in the 45 Colt and this is one of my favorite rounds.  I am looking to get a revolver in a 45 Colt and am thinking of getting a Ruger for the simple fact that with it there is the option of hotter loads.  However, it occurred to me why not just get something in a 454 Casull?  I’m not really a big fan of the 454 but there’s nothing saying I have to shoot anything more then the hot 45’s in it and there the option for the 454 if I want it.

My main question for you 454 owners is how well will your 454 shoot the 45’s?  Do you notice any lose of accuracy?  My thought was that with the added cylinder length that the 45 has to travel through before reaching the barrel there may be an issue with the accuracy.

Is there something I’m overlooking here?  If there is no accuracy loss why not get the 454?

[Zachary]

I have the Taurus RBs in 454 and 480.  The 45 loads that I used were not as accurate, but that's not to say that it's true in all guns.

From what I have been told, the problem is that, since the 45 colt is a shorter case, the bullet has more room to "jump" and, for some reason or another, the initial portion of the barrel fouls up quicker.

Then again, the best thing to do is just get a 454 and download it to 44 Mag pressures (Winchester has a 250 grain bullet with downloaded powder.)

Zachary

[BER007]

Zachary,

I have as you a Taurus RB in .454 Casull, I fully agree with you for all you written.

I used to shoot full loads and mild "heavy" load in my 2 .454 (Taurus RB and FA).

I have tried 2 times 50 cartridges made by PMC .45 Colt (as test) 250 gr bullet (cowboy load) out my Taurus RB as FA requires an extra cylinder in .45 Colt.  The accuracy was great at 15 meters(13 Yards) and at 25 meters (23 Yards), I can tell you same as with my .454 Casull loads.

My Taurus has an action job so my trigger pull is under 3 lbs.

Never tried other .45 Colt loads out my Taurus.

[wallynut]

Ullr,

  Shooting the 45colt out of a 454 casull is okay, but extensive usage that way might cause erosion in the throat, it happens here and there with .38's used in .357's.  Human nature what it is, 454 is expensive and you may find yourself shooting more 45colt instead.  If you are looking for power, get the 454.  Don't bother trying to hot load the 45colt, the brass can't take it very long.  On the other hand, the 45colt is a very good round.  There are more different loads available for it now due to SASS shooting and if you do any reloading or casting, there are a lot of options especially with cast bullets.

Wallynut

[ScottB]

I shoot mild target loads in my bull, and it works well. I do not shoot 45 colt brass, because the cylinder throats are sharp, not beveled. My long distance round is a 250 @ 1450 or thereabouts, medium for the 454, pretty hot for the colt. My lighter rounds are either 250 or 325 @ 900 or thereabouts, and very consistent. I can load hotter for hunting if I need to.

I would say that if you are fine with using 454 brass, then the 454 will do everything the colt will without even approaching proof loads. If you are going to shoot mostly 45 colt, then get a 45 colt. The best way to compromise is with different cylinders.

[osceola]

I shoot a Raging Bull in 454.  Here is my plinker round; Have had best results using the 454 brass loaded w/ 10 grains of Universal while using a .45 cal felt wad that I punch out of Frost King weather stripping to contain the powder charge over a Federal primer.  This is topped off with a copper clad 200 gr Rainier round nose flat point with a very light crimp.  Cost is easily under .20 a round and consistantly holds a 2" group at 25 yards.  It gives solid ignition so I don't have a dirty gun like I did without the wad.