475 loads

[Crazy Horse]

I wanted to load some reduced loads in my 475 FA and I had planned on using HS6 but I was out of it. I found a load on the Speer website for their 400 gr with Unique. I loaded  11.6 gr of the Unigue  with CCI 350 primers. This is suppose to give my around  the mid 900's in speed. Even with the reduced load it still kicked a good bit but is was much easier to shoot than the full house loads. Have any of you ever loaded the 475 with Unique? Is there a better powder that would have less recoil that unique? On my full power loads I will use H110 like I do in most all of my Magnums.

[MS Hitman]

400 grain bullets give some recoil regardless of how you load them.  Do you have any cast bullets, or are you shooting just jacketed?  Reason I'm asking is that if you have some cast bullets around 400 grains, I have loaded 8.0 of WW231, which is very close to Unique, for velocities of around 825 fps.  This load is much more pleasant to shoot.

[Crazy Horse]

I don't have any cast bullets yet. I want to make sure I get what is best for the cylinder length of the Freedom Arms 83. Should I bother getting gas checks if I load them to lower velocities? I would like to load some down to the velocity you listed but I will have to look for some of that powder.

[SJPrice]

Tite Group works well for reduced loads in the 475 as well.

[Dusty Miller]

Based on my limited experience I'd say any bullet with a BHN of at least 15, moving at less than 1400 fps/mv, should alleviate the need for gas checks. 

[Graybeard]

I have some Hornady 325 and 400 XTP bullets for sale in the Classifieds and have a bunch of cast bullets as well but I've not rounded them up and inventoried them. I will if someone wants them but am not gonna until someone asks. They should be in the 400-430 grain weight range I think. Might have some lighter but am not sure until I take an inventory.

[Crazy Horse]

Hey Greybeard, I looked at your add. I would like to have the Hornadys but I just ordered 5 boxes of the speer 400 gr. bullets. I might be able to get them later if you still have them.  I want some cast bullets but I want to get the best one that will work in the FA pistol. I am looking at the Cast Performance 410 gr wn gc but they would cost me $50 a 100 with shipping. What do you think is the best cast bullet that will work in the FA length cylinder? I like the looks of the wide nose bullets and want a 400 gr or larger bullet.  I plan on these being light loads so they don't have to be gas checked but I do like the idea of the gas checked bullets in such a high dollar pistol. :>) 

[Graybeard]

If no one buys them before then you'll be welcome to them. I've never owned an FA83 in .475 I've been using an RB480 and all the bullets I have are fine in it, that's really all I know. BUT most if not all of the cast bullets I have here were cast by a fellow who does own an FA83 in .475 so it might be that the cast bullets I have would be fine for you. If you can tell me for sure how long a nose it can have in front of the crimp groove I can look and see what I have. For darn sure I'd not have to have as much for them as you mention. They are super accurate bullets in my RB.

[Crazy Horse]

Graybeard, It looks like the Speer 400 gr is about .380 from the top of the crimping groove to the end of the bullet. See if your cast are close to this. They could be slightly longer but not much.

[Magnolia Slim]

Crazy Horse, I shoot 8.0 grs. of Unique with 400 gr. cast bullets from Mt. Bullet Works using Starline brass and Winchester Large Pistol primers for about 810 fps.. 

[Graybeard]

Graybeard, It looks like the Speer 400 gr is about .380 from the top of the crimping groove to the end of the bullet. See if your cast are close to this. They could be slightly longer but not much.

Sorry just now noticed your question. The box I have the most bullets in seems to be about .350" to .360" as best as I can measure them. Clearly under the .380" you mention. I know I have other cast bullets in other boxes but haven't rounded all of them up. If you are interested I'll see if I can round them all up and get a decent count on those at or around your .380" measurement.

[Crazy Horse]

Graybeard, When you round them all up let me know what you want for them...

Magnolia Slim, Thanks for the info. I will try that load...

[Graybeard]

OK I'll put on a search tomorrow to see just what all I do have. I'm assuming you're only talking the cast bullets? The Hornady's are already listed. I'll try to get the cast sorted out tomorrow.