454 vs 460

[ratgunner]

Has anyone ever loaded those pointed bullets like the 200grn Hornadys in a 454 and checked the mv?I wonder how close you would come to the 460 S&W.I'm sure the pressures will be higher,but if a 454 can throw a 240grn. at 1900fps then a 200grn.pointed should be really ripping along.I don't reload but I would like to see the results. :?

[palgeno]

I posed the same question a year or so ago and got no responses, probably because the bullets to load were not available. I'd guess that 200 gr bullet in the .454 Casull would likely hit well over 2000fps. Probably best to try it in an Encore barrel. I would not use my FA model 83 to experiment because of the forcing cone issue---unless FA had done the tests themselves and put their blessing on it. :shock: Gene

[Redhawk1]

I have not loaded any of the 200 gr. in a 454 Casull, I am to busy shooting my 460 Mag. Personally I don't like the 200 gr. bullets, I much more prefer the 240 to 300 gr. bullets in the 460 Mag. Also there is no load data for the 200 gr. bullets for the 454 Casull, and I would not want to be the one playing with high pressure loads just to find out.  

[ratgunner]

Thanks for the input guys.I wonder if accuracy would be as good too without the rifeling of the 460, that progressive rifleing or whatever its called.Just cabin fever is all.

[Redhawk1]

Thanks for the input guys.I wonder if accuracy would be as good too without the rifeling of the 460, that progressive rifleing or whatever its called.Just cabin fever is all.

In my Encore the rifling is the standard twist. I have not shot any of the 200 gr. high velocity bullets in it, but with the 240 gr. Hot loads, I got great accuracy with the 460 Mags. The type of twist in the S&W's is the gain twist.

[Biscuits]

I got some load info from Freedom arms that lists a max load of a 240gr @ 2090fps! It says only to load in the FA 83. I don't load those light bullets in my 83 .454 because I am afraid of flame cutting and all I load is 300+ grainers because I feel that this big thumper ought to be shootin a big thumpin bullet. Other than a lot lower pressures I don't see what the big drive to the big X frame .460 is. I Don't care for the size of these guns and I prefer a single action. Might as well use a rifle. This is ONLY MY opinion I am glad other people are enjoying the gun it is just not for me.

[Redhawk1]

I got some load info from Freedom arms that lists a max load of a 240gr @ 2090fps! It says only to load in the FA 83. I don't load those light bullets in my 83 .454 because I am afraid of flame cutting and all I load is 300+ grainers because I feel that this big thumper ought to be shootin a big thumpin bullet. Other than a lot lower pressures I don't see what the big drive to the big X frame .460 is. I Don't care for the size of these guns and I prefer a single action. Might as well use a rifle. This is ONLY MY opinion I am glad other people are enjoying the gun it is just not for me.

Good,  more for us.   :grin:  I sold my FA 454 Casull when I got my 460 Mags.

[slave]

The 275 gr Barnes works great in the 460. Should do as well in the 454.

[all4abuck]

Shot a bunch of 200gr SST Hornady's with the 8 3/8" 460XVR last weekend.  I was surprized the recoil was more managable than I thought.  Perhaps its all the weight from the gun plus scope, and wiegand base and rings.  Shooting 8" groups at 100yrds from a shooting stick.  Still need more practice, but not with the Hornady factory ammo.  Need to start reloading.

[Redhawk1]

Shot a bunch of 200gr SST Hornady's with the 8 3/8" 460XVR last weekend.  I was surprized the recoil was more managable than I thought.  Perhaps its all the weight from the gun plus scope, and wiegand base and rings.  Shooting 8" groups at 100yrds from a shooting stick.  Still need more practice, but not with the Hornady factory ammo.  Need to start reloading.

My best accuracy in all three of my 460's come from reloads. I don't care for the Hornady factory loads either.  

[doncisler]

please, redhawk.
what load are you using in the 460?  the factory loads (both hornady and cor-bon) are incredible in my 8 3/8 inch s&w but the re-loads don't fare as well.
i have tried light .45 colt (255-gr with 19 gr lil' gun = keyholing at 100 yards), heavy .45 colt (230 gr golden sabre with 16 gr blue dot = 6 inch at 100 yd),  several 454 loads (most in the 4 to 8 inch at 100yd - a couple can't group inside a foot), and a few 460 loads with mostly 200gr barnes xpb bullets ( too expensive to load too many - 13 10-shot loads have about exhausted my supply of those) and 230 gr golden sabre, 300gr speer soft point, 250gr nosler hollow point, and 300gr sierra jsp. powders have been lil' gun, h110, and h-4227. verocities have been 1600 to 2100fps.
none of these loads have given me any near the accuracy of the factory loads.
i have fired well over 600 handloads with little progress to show for it.
what is the magic load i am looking for?

[Redhawk1]

please, redhawk.
what load are you using in the 460?  the factory loads (both hornady and cor-bon) are incredible in my 8 3/8 inch s&w but the re-loads don't fare as well.
i have tried light .45 colt (255-gr with 19 gr lil' gun = keyholing at 100 yards), heavy .45 colt (230 gr golden sabre with 16 gr blue dot = 6 inch at 100 yd),  several 454 loads (most in the 4 to 8 inch at 100yd - a couple can't group inside a foot), and a few 460 loads with mostly 200gr barnes xpb bullets ( too expensive to load too many - 13 10-shot loads have about exhausted my supply of those) and 230 gr golden sabre, 300gr speer soft point, 250gr nosler hollow point, and 300gr sierra jsp. powders have been lil' gun, h110, and h-4227. verocities have been 1600 to 2100fps.
none of these loads have given me any near the accuracy of the factory loads.
i have fired well over 600 handloads with little progress to show for it.
what is the magic load i am looking for?

 

I have found 3 different bullet weights and 3 different loads that work great in my three 460 Mags. I don't shoot the 454 Casull or 45L/C's in my 460 Mags. All my loads are using 460 Mag brass.

I am using Hornady 240 gr. XTP Mag's with 48.0 gr. of H 110 in Hornady brass with Winchester LR primers.  My second load is 260 gr. Nosler Partitions with 45.5 gr of H 110 in Hornady brass with Winchester LR primers. My third load is 300 gr. Cast gas check bullets from Range Rick with 40 gr. of H 110 in Hornady brass with Winchester LR primers. All of these loads fall in the specs of the Hodgdon load data. I accuracy is extremely good with a three of these loads in my guns.  

[doncisler]

thanks redhawk, i'll give those a try.

[Redhawk1]

thanks redhawk, i'll give those a try.

Let me know how they work for you.

[curdog]

i use the 45lc right now for hogs up close, but would love to have the 454