Author Topic: Reduced loads on 454 Ruger SBH (Read 1025 times)

riddleofsteel · « **on:** February 25, 2006, 02:14:18 PM »

I have just purchased a 7.5" Ruger SBH in .45 Colt/454 Casull. I have a Wegand scope base and three ring set on order. I also changed my grip over to a Hogue rubber grip today. When the base and rings come in I plan to purchase a Leupold 2X EER scope and install it.
I have a several boxes of 300 grain Hornady XTP HP's and some H110 powder on the shelf already. I ordered some 454 Starline cases today and I was wondering. What is a good starting point with this combo using small rifle primers? I was planning on starting out with a minimum load of H110 and working up to around 30 grains. I don't hunt anything that requires elephant loads. My biggest game animal would be a 200 to 300 lb feral hog. With this in mind I would probably rather save my wrist from recoil and develop an accurate load somewhere between a stout .45 Colt load and the full house 454's.

comments

suggestions

MS Hitman · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2006, 02:29:11 PM »

If you do already own a Hornady loading manual, I suggest you obtain one prior to loading any ammounition. H-110 usually works best at or near maximum loads. Powders such as Blue Dot or 2400 are more suited to the power level you seek.

Freedom Arms website has a great deal of load data for the .454 Casull. I recommend staying away from the upper level loads, but the milder stuff should be just fine for your purposes.

Hope this helps.

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2006, 02:54:00 PM »

You might want to look up some loads for AA9, that's a safer powder to use for light loads.

riddleofsteel · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2006, 03:55:41 PM »

I have been using Unique in the .45 Colt for my Blackhawks for years. One of my pet loads has been 10 grains of Unique under a hard cast 270 grain Keith style SWC. I guess I could gradually increase that load. It looks like around 14 grains of Unique may be in the range I want. Of course the gun will look like it was dipped in soot after a few rounds.
LOL
I have some 2400 on the shelf but I think it is pretty old. AA No9 seems to have possibilities starting at 1177 FPS with 20 grains.
I am the kind of guy that doesn't like a lot of powder types in stock. I load for three rifles and they all burn the same powder. My Savage muzzle loader burns AA 5744 so i have some of it on the shelf fresh. Seeing how I burn Unique in my .45 Colt loads it would be nice to use it in the SRH 454 as well.

HUMM

What do you think the best combo of powder and bullet would be to push a 300 grain XTP HP at about 1300 to 1400 FPS from a 454 case?

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 26, 2006, 01:14:32 AM »

Just make sure you are using the "XTP. Mag" bullets. The XTP has a thinner walled jacket and is not for the higher speeds.

riddleofsteel · « **Reply #5 on:** February 26, 2006, 03:10:51 AM »

Probably good advice on heavy boned or thick skinned animals. However, my personal experience and the experiences of many others does not bear that advice out, on deer at least.
Over the past decade the standard .45 300 grain XTP HP has been used in smokeless muzzleloaders by Henry Ball and friends to kill over 1500 deer at muzzle velocities of up to 2100 FPS at distances of from 10 to 300 yards with excellent accuracy and terminal performance results. Myself, I have used the standard .429 200 grain XTP HP to kill deer at muzzle velocities of up to 1700 FPS from a TC Renegade for over 15 years with zero deer lost.
According to Hornady the 300 grain standard XTP HP is rated to 1700 FPS. In our experience it works great well beyond that point. On the other hand we have found the 300 grain XTP-Mag HP is very difficult to get decent accuracy from.
Since my stated range is under 1500 FPS I think the standard 300 grain XTP HP will do the job very well. If I go much higher I may use a hard cast SWC or a premium partition or solid of some type.

swampthing · « **Reply #6 on:** February 26, 2006, 03:31:07 AM »

I'm with you on this one. Unecessary recoil catches up to you in time.
With the amount of fast burn pistol powder you would need to get where you want to be, your recoil probably will not feel "reduced". That stuff tends to snap when it goes off in large quantities.
You would be much better off using quality .45 Colt brass for your Casull. This would allow you to use the H110 and take you were you want to go, even better would be H4227 or AA#9 to get you more in the 1300 fps range than 1400 from the latter. Compare this to the minimum listed charge of 27g of H110 for 1650fps and you will definately feel the reduction in recoil.
I also would't over look a good LBT hardcast.
I would save the .454 brass for your 360g LFN hardcast @ 1600fps firework displays and when you are after Moose and Bison.
You must be using the older Unique, the new stuff is much cleaner.

riddleofsteel · « **Reply #7 on:** February 26, 2006, 03:38:36 AM »

I am really leaning toward AA No 9 under a 300 grain XTP or a Leadhead 270 grain hardcast Keith style SWC.

1300 to 1400 FPS from a 7.5" barrel seems to be near the middle of its range and volume. That way I can use 454 cases and avoid the dreaded crud ring.

A load like that would wax most critters with hooves and no kill me to shoot it.

tanoose · « **Reply #8 on:** March 01, 2006, 10:37:03 AM »

Riddle is that a super blackhawk or did you mean a super red hawk?

riddleofsteel · « **Reply #9 on:** March 01, 2006, 01:40:02 PM »

super red hawk
:oops:

good eye

Dr. A · « **Reply #10 on:** March 02, 2006, 10:15:07 AM »

I've been playing with load after load with my gun. So far I've found its a bit finicky. Freedom Arms has very interesting load data on their sight. They cover all possibilities from full blast loads down to 45 colt level. I so far prefer a Brian Pierce load of 12.2gr.of HS-6 under a RCBS-270-SAA for my plinking. Its definitely been plenty for hogs, and is mild to shoot as well. There are many other powders of the medium burning range represented in this 454 data. Better take a look.

http://freedomarms.com/