Author Topic: The 454 Casull and Whittail deer. (Read 2311 times)

Smokem · « **on:** September 09, 2003, 04:59:29 AM »

This will be my first year using a handgun for deer hunting in Maine. I have been shooting 260 grain JHP thru it at the range. I have been reading and I was going to swith to the 300 grain Federal bear claw. Then I was told to use the 250 grain Winchester JHP, perfect for deer size game. What do you suggest, recomend, like, and dislike? Looking for input.

Questor · « **Reply #1 on:** September 09, 2003, 07:59:35 AM »

My own preference would be a 260 grainer that's designed to expand, and flying as fast as possible. My second choice would be the same kind of bullet, but downloaded to velocities about the same as 44 magnum.

Smokem · « **Reply #2 on:** September 09, 2003, 08:10:03 AM »

I found that Winchester's 250 grain JHP and CorBon's 240 grain JHP are a very nice load for whitetail. Thanks for the help.

Gregory · « **Reply #3 on:** September 09, 2003, 01:06:07 PM »

Can 45 Colts be safely fired from a 454? I think a "warm" 45 colt would make a fantastic deer round.

Graybeard · « **Reply #4 on:** September 09, 2003, 03:52:25 PM »

There really are no bad choices since the .454 Casull is way more than needed for any deer. I prefer JHPs for deer myself altho hard casts worl well for everything to include deer.

I shot a deer with a 300 Sierra JSP and it acted just like a hard cast. No sign of expansion but it still did a good job and left a massive blood trail. The Freedom Arms 260 and 300s would be the same. The Hornady XTPS or the Nosler HGPT would be good choices. For smaller white tails I'd go with the lighter 240-260 grain but for larger northern deer or muleys probably the 300s.

GB

willis5 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 10, 2003, 02:23:09 AM »

I have used the winchester partition gold 260gr on hogs and deer. got plenty of expantion and full penetration every time.

xphunter · « **Reply #6 on:** September 10, 2003, 02:25:44 AM »

The only ones I ever used on deer were the 300 grain Hornady XTP's exiting the muzzle @ 1775 fps (7 1/2 inch FA). They always worked good for me.
Ernie

Smokem · « **Reply #7 on:** September 10, 2003, 02:26:54 AM »

I found CorBon has a .45+p 300 grain JSP. People seem to have different opinons as to weather you can safely fire .45 long colt in the .454 Casull.
I say yes and my reason is this. A .357 magnum round is about .100 longer than a .38 special round and millions of .38 special rounds are fired thru .357 magnum caliber guns safely every year. Now the .454 Casull is is .125 loner than the .45 long colt. So the same theory shoul apply to the .454 Casull. The major complaint I hear about firing .45 long colts thru a .454 Casull chamberd gun is the build up in the cylinder. I have not hear of this happening with .357 magnum firearms. Also I have never had that happen to me with my .357 magnum revolver. My opinion of the situation is "IF YOU CLEAN YOUR GUN PROPERLY AND THOUROGHLY" a problem SHOULD not happen. I have put over 500 rounds thru my SuperRed Hawk .454 Casull and no problems yet. I am very fussy about cleaning all my firearms.

454Puma · « **Reply #8 on:** September 10, 2003, 05:59:46 PM »

The question is do you have an FA or SRH? If you have a FA then don't shoot 45's in it-chambers are to tight! The SRH is made to shoot either or. The 240-300 gr bullets should do any Whitetail you'll see with ease! And the beauty is you don't have the shoot full bore loads to do it! :grin:

Smokem · « **Reply #9 on:** September 11, 2003, 01:27:12 AM »

I have a SRH and the cylinder is marked with "45 COLT". Wow the FA is not recomended to shoot 45 LC thru it! WHat about the Taurus Raging Bull? Thanks for the info.

subfan · « **Reply #10 on:** September 11, 2003, 05:14:08 AM »

I have a Raging Bull that I like quite a bit... I did not see the 45 LC mentioned anywhere in the supplied paperwork. I have yet to try it with LC ammo but will in the future.

Smokem · « **Reply #11 on:** September 11, 2003, 05:52:04 AM »

I was just wondering if it was specified by the manufactured for the 45 LC caliber to be fired thru the gun.

454Puma · « **Reply #12 on:** September 11, 2003, 04:53:49 PM »

Smokem
I think Taurus Raging Bull is very much like FA they don't recommend-voids warrantee -45 LC use as well. They are affraid of the so called build-up with 45 LC use increasing pressures with 454 rounds :?

Smokem · « **Reply #13 on:** September 12, 2003, 01:09:15 AM »

I'm glad I made the choice to buy the Ruger over the Taurus. Actually there really was no choice I was going to buy the Ruger or none at all. Well I was going to guy a firearm of some kind just not the .454 if I had to buy the Taurus. Not that the Taurus is a bad firearm I just don't care for them.

454Puma · « **Reply #14 on:** September 12, 2003, 12:26:55 PM »

Ther is also some question of if the tarous can handle the 454 as long as the Ruger or FA. I guest there cylinder lock-up is not as stout as either of the others.

myronman3 · « **Reply #15 on:** September 12, 2003, 05:06:12 PM »

pure hearsay.

subfan · « **Reply #16 on:** September 13, 2003, 06:36:07 AM »

How many 454 rounds can one shoot a year to determine durability of a gun? On the high end, I may shoot 300, this ain't my plinkin 9mm... So lets see, 300 @ 20 yrs ( bones will be fragile then) =6,000.

ConradCA · « **Reply #17 on:** September 13, 2003, 12:02:58 PM »

The advantage of 454 over 44mag an 45 colt is that it has a longer effective range. You don't want to sacrifice this by using 45 colt ammo in your 454 for deer hunting.

Smokem · « **Reply #18 on:** September 15, 2003, 01:33:45 AM »

I like the 260 grain for Deer and the 300 grain for Bear.

ddivers · « **Reply #19 on:** September 15, 2003, 02:15:10 PM »

http://www.taurususa.com/pdf/revolver_manual.pdf

You can use .38 Special ammunition in all Taurus revolvers chambered for .357 Magnum; .44 Special ammunition in Taurus revolvers chambered for .44 Magnum; and .45 Long Colt in Taurus revolvers chambered for 454 Casull. It is important to note that these are the only caliber substitutions that will function.

I have both a RB and SRH in .454. I prefer the Redhawk.

v-man · « **Reply #20 on:** September 16, 2003, 12:22:42 PM »

I've read some articles about the use of .45LC in the .454 being much more problematic regarding the erosion of the forcing cone than using the shorter shells in the .357 and .44. Can anyone elaborate because it didn't really make sense to me.

Smokem · « **Reply #21 on:** September 17, 2003, 08:18:58 AM »

Evidently the chambers in the SRH and the Taurus are meant to fire 45 lc cartridges. I have a SRH 4554 and I have fired over 500 rds of 45 lc ammo both mild and +p and I have not noticed a build up of any kind in the cylinders. I am a fanatic for a clean gun so I spen alot of time brushing and scrubing. A clean gun is a happy gun :grin:

454Puma · « **Reply #22 on:** September 20, 2003, 09:37:53 AM »

Personally my load for my SRH is going to be 300 WFNGC over 30.5 gr W296 -since I'm hunting Muley's and Elk with it and my Rossi Puma this year.
I have messed with the 240 XTP's but haven't got them to group good enough to use. Now the 300 XTp's group very nice in both guns. :grin:

El Hombre · « **Reply #23 on:** September 22, 2003, 10:31:07 AM »

Hello,
While I am certainly not authorized to speak for the manufactures, my understanding is there are three reasons the manufactures do not recommend shooting the shorter "sister" cartridges in the longer chambers. (this also applies for other calibers such as 38 special & 357 mag in the 357 maximum, 44 special & 44 mag in the 445 Supermag, 41 magnum in the 414 supermag, ect)

1) As mentioned in the other posts, chamber residue buildup from shooting the shorter cartridges can cause high pressures if the residue is not removed before shooting the longer cartrdges. (Easily fixed- clean your gun!)

2) Increased lead spitting from the barrel cylinder gap due to a greater possibility of the bullet not being lined up properly with the forcing cone due to the longer "jump" the bullet has to take through the cylinder.

3) The danger of handloaders trying to load 45 LC brass to 454 levels (or 44 special or 44 mag to 445 supermag levels, ect. ) because the gun can "handle it" - (Yes but the brass can't)- This is the main reason they don't recommend it. If you keep your 45 LC loads at 45 LC levels, you shouldn't have a problem.

As you can see, all these reasons are to protect the manufacture from liability, they have nothing to do with the capabilities of the gun. If you use 45 lC loads, clean your cylinders before shooting 454 cartridges, & observe proper shooting safety (glasses, gloves, ect.) You should be fine.

myronman3 · « **Reply #24 on:** September 26, 2003, 02:16:18 AM »

ddivers- no argueing with that! looks like i stand corrected. excellent post! :agree:

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #25 on:** September 26, 2003, 06:15:41 PM »

Hey there Handgunners,

As per the shooting of .38s through a .357, been there and done that.

Between my boys and I we have put some ? thousands of the shorter shell through a stainless Security Six. All cast loads ahead of 2.5grs of Bullseye.

In short, THEY DO leave a ring of fouling ahead of the case which can after extended shooting prevent the longer 357 case from entering the cylinder. In this case, the fouling could be worse because of the lead and lube, then if only jacketed and expensive bullets were used.

However, this is no real problem as the Ruger is quickly broken down into basic pieces. Simply soak the cylinder assembly in a good solvent for a few hours - pass a BRASS brush through each chamber a few times followed by clean patches - wipe things clean - lube and reassemble.

I would expect the same problem with the larger cases, and the same simple, (even simpler w/the single actions) solution.

Shoot those shorties and enjoy.

Keep em coming! :wink:

WildBill · « **Reply #26 on:** October 02, 2003, 01:14:58 AM »

I used 300 XTP Mags last year and was dissapointed with the performance,they just seem to blow threw and not open up.I am going to try some Barnes XPB 250 grain this year which by the way shoot great in my Raging Bull.I use 300 Barnes Expanders in my muzzleloader and they are devaststating ,they look almost identical except for the cannelure. I make a post after I use them to let everybody know how they work. Enjoy your 454 its a awesome gun.

Varmint Hunter · « **Reply #27 on:** October 02, 2003, 12:12:10 PM »

I just tried the Barnes 250gr XPB in my SRH. With a full load of H110 they will shoot tighter groups at 50yds than any of the Hornady XTP bullets that I've been shooting.
I have only shot paper with this bullet but will, hopefully, have some terminal performance info after the whitetail season.
VH

Smokem · « **Reply #28 on:** October 03, 2003, 01:24:34 AM »

I am getting into reloading the 454 casull. I am looking for info or results so I can choose a bullet for deer / bear in Maine.