Any good loads for 454

[brasshead]

Anybody have a favorite load for the 454? I am thinking on trying some trailboss with some 230 grain lead. I would like to try some 250 XTP and some 300 grain lead hard cast. Still need to get some brass and primers. On another note 45LC seem to hang about 1 out of 4 cycled. They catch and stop the lever,I can lower the lever and they will slip in with my finger. I assume I just need to smooth the chamber edge.

[454Puma]

Go here: http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

Look under pistol loads as they still don't show rifle loads!

[Terbltim]

I use 45 Colt brass for this load in my Legacy International 454 Puma rifle.
Feeds well, is very accurate and hammers the deer in Virginia:
230gr Gold Dot with all the IMR4198 I can get in it with an over-all-length of 1.795.
This load that gives around 930-fps from 5.5" [Ruger] revolvers but is made & intended for use in rifles and gives a solid 1400-fps from the 20" 454 Puma and is very accurate to 100 yds in my gunz. (1400-fps is about all this type of bullet can take.)
These images show before & after views of the 230gr Gold Dot recovered from a doe that was about 45 steps distant. About 16" to 18" penetration and the bullet was "dangling" in the flesh & gut that was protruding from the wound (which was about a 1" ragged hole.)
We normally only shoot these at clear views of the ribcage and they always exit from that kind of a hit. This was what we would normally call a "bad shot" but the result was the same as all the others...except we got to recover the bullet.
The doe was knocked down and nearly rolled uphill from the impact of this hit.
We never guessed a 230 Gold Dot would penetrate this deep but...


Another view:



Hope this comes through.

[Graybeard]

Nope there are no good loads for that round. Might as well trade it off as it's useless. 

I kinda sorta settled on one load for the round using bullets I cast up in Lyman 454651 (I think that's the right mold number at least) mould. They are supposed to drop at 325 grains from Lyman #2 alloy but mine dropped at 318 with my alloy and that's with GC and lube on them.

I pushed them to around 1550 fps from both my FA83 and RB454 using H110/W296. I seem to recall I used around 28 grains but that's not a load recommendation and I didn't check my old load data to be sure so look it up don't just take it as a load suggestion.

[dpe.ahoy]

Hornady 300 gr XTP-MAG settin on top of 31.0 gr of H-110 fired by a CCI Lg Pistol Mag primer.   Can you say "45-70 factory 300 gr loads?", you'll be getting the same speed out of your 20" Puma as they get.  It can be "lively" in the light Puma.   DP

[brasshead]

 Thanks guys I am wanting to use this gun for some Indiana whitetails this fall . I have a redfield peep sight thats going to be put on soon

I use 45 Colt brass for this load in my Legacy International 454 Puma rifle.
Feeds well, is very accurate and hammers the deer in Virginia:
230gr Gold Dot with all the IMR4198 I can get in it with an over-all-length of 1.795.
This load that gives around 930-fps from 5.5" [Ruger] revolvers but is made & intended for use in rifles and gives a solid 1400-fps from the 20" 454 Puma and is very accurate to 100 yds in my gunz. (1400-fps is about all this type of bullet can take.)
These images show before & after views of the 230gr Gold Dot recovered from a doe that was about 45 steps distant. About 16" to 18" penetration and the bullet was "dangling" in the flesh & gut that was protruding from the wound (which was about a 1" ragged hole.)
We normally only shoot these at clear views of the ribcage and they always exit from that kind of a hit. This was what we would normally call a "bad shot" but the result was the same as all the others...except we got to recover the bullet.
The doe was knocked down and nearly rolled uphill from the impact of this hit.
We never guessed a 230 Gold Dot would penetrate this deep but...


Another view:



Hope this comes through.

Did you do any work to your action to get it cycle 45LC smoothly? Mine want's to catch on what appears to be the brass edge and the reciever. Only had one chance to shoot the rifle so more testing is needed.

[dpe.ahoy]

Both my 454's run the 45 colts smoothly.  If it's catching on the brass, do you mean the mouth of the case?  If so put a bit more crimp on it.  DP

[brasshead]

I'll give that a try they were hand laods for my ruger. May try some hotter 45LC loads this weekend.

[Terbltim]

[/quote]Did you do any work to your action to get it cycle 45LC smoothly? Mine want's to catch on what appears to be the brass edge and the reciever. Only had one chance to shoot the rifle so more testing is needed.
[/quote]

Brasshead,
Sorry to take so long. Been busy.
My LI 454 Puma wouldn't cycle (feed) 454 ammo at all when first purchased. 45 Colt slightly better.
I sent it back within 72 hrs of the purchase.
Got it back in about 2 weeks and it has fuctioned flawlessly with any ammo since then.
I've heard this was a common experience.
I suspect the gunsmith just did an action "slick-up" job on the gun but don't know.
The load I posted hits deer like a lightening-strike within 100-yds and is gentle on the shoulder, (if that matters.)
I've never shot it at anything beyond that.
Most of the deer I shoot are well within 100 yds.
Caution: if you are going to use a higher performance powder (more velocity) I strongly suggest using bullets made for use in magnum cartridges. I impose a 1400-fps speed limit when using bullets that were actually made for the 45-ACP.
This load is definitely on the edge for Gold Dots and similar bullets.
Be sure to let us know what you settle on and how it works [for you] on deer, (the real test.)

[Halwg]

300 gr XTP over 27.0 gr of 2400.  Shot out of the Puma.

[kynardsj]

My 454 Puma likes the Hornady 300 gr XTP Magnums over 31 grains of Lilgun. Hogdgon data lists them as 1746 out of a pistol length barrel so I'm guessing from a rifle they're around 2000 fps. Haven't taken a hog with them yet but they're very accurate and if what they do to a water jug at 100 yards is any indication, very devastating.