Low power 454 Casull loads and primers

[Cal44]

I just scored a box of 1000 Winchester small pistol magnum primers -- first time in months that my local gun store had any primers of any type.
I want to load some 454 Casull rounds for the M83 for practice.
Plan to use Trail Boss powder for these "powder puff" loads.
Is it reasonable to use these small pistol magnum primers instead of small rifle for these low pressure loads?
The Trail Boss says they would generate about 20,000 cup and push a 250 grain bullet at about 900 fps.
Has anyone tried small pistol primers in place of the small rifle primers usually used?

Dave

[Graybeard]

I don't recall ever putting SPM primers in the Casull but with the load level you are planning to use with them I don't see why it should be a problem. Just make darn sure you do stay at pressure levels for which SPM primers are meant for.

Even for lighter loads I always used CCI SR BR primers. I no longer have my FA83 or my Raging Bull either and am pretty low on the BR primers. These days even if found they seem way too much more expensive than standard SR primers.

[SHOOTALL]

if kept to Ruger 45 Colt loads or less pressure why not ? Check the first few spent primers to see if the primer is being pierced since it takes a stronger strike to ignite rifle primes

[doghawg]

Cal44
 I've never loaded small pistol primers in my .454's but agree with the others. These primers are used in .357's which  are high pressure loads and they should be fine for your purposes. I don't think I'd limit them to just trail boss either. As SHOOTALL pointed out the thing to watch for would be pierced primers.

[monkeyhanger]

just my 0.2 cents here buddy, i have used  standard small remington pistol primers in a .454 case and a charge of Hogdon HP38 powder, topped off with a home cast LEE 185 grain .45 swc bullet, small roll crimp on the shoulder of the bullet. Make a nice light accurate plinking/ target load.

[gcrank1]

I dont have the 454 but have been using Trail Boss in everything, straight case revolver 38/357Mag, 44Mag, 45ACP and LC with std. pistol primers as well as in my rifle calibers inc. 357Mag,, 38-55 and 45-70.
No primer issues in my guns and the loads work just fine, and thats at more than the 70% 'start load' density that Hodgdon recommends.

[Lloyd Smale]

very little differnce if any in a mag small pistol or a standard small rifle. You should be fine.

[Lumpy Grits]

My .454 Casull, plink'n/target load is 9gn of Unique, with a 255plated SWC bullet
I use a small pistol primer(Fed)for this.
I will use a SR primer for the high end rounds.
LG

[gcrank1]

I like yer handle!
Sounds like a nice load, Im a bit surprised that we dont have more cases with the option of large or small primers. Sad thing is it can be hard getting any kind of brass these days though. I know Id be game to try small primer cases for my mostly cast bullet handgun cartridges.
So, are you going to make some snotty loads and -0- them for X distance on out there, then see where this load hits closer without changing the sight adjustment? That has worked pretty well for me with a number of cartridges/platforms, but I dont have a 454.

[Lumpy Grits]

There is no need for a large primer here. I don't know of any .454 Casull case made with a large primer pocket. I shoot only .454 cased loads in my FA
I am a member of SASS, and this is my alias....
Just had FA do the new firing pin mod with the screw in bushing on my 1997 build .454, after the OEM, FP broke.
LG

[Blackhawker]

Why not just use 45 Colt loads and save the small pistol primers for 357 mags or something.

[gcrank1]

My experience has been that I get better accuracy (if I do my part  ) by filling as much of the chamber with brass as possible and get that front driving band, of the same dia. as the cyl. throat, right on up into it. I do use the 38 equiv. load in 357 cases and 44Spl. in 44Mag so I would do the same in a 454. Ive read a good number of articles by respected writers who have found the same, though an occasional revolver does seem to shoot the shorter case 'as well', never better.
I know for 'just plinkin' that 38 Spl. will work OK in a 357, etc., but if Im loading I see no value in using the short case.

[RPRNY]

Yes SPM will work but make sure there is no compression of the TB. It does weird stuff when compressed and in addition to poor accuracy, may exceed pressures suitable for the primers. Uncompressed, a full load of TB is quite nice in the Casull, and avoids the 45lc sooty mouth.

[Lumpy Grits]

Why not just use 45 Colt loads and save the small pistol primers for 357 mags or something.

I do not load .45 Colt cases for my FA.
Only use the .454. Casull cases in my FA .454.
When I bought my FA in 1997. I also bought 1500 WW .454 cases.
LG

[Blackhawker]

My experience has been that I get better accuracy (if I do my part  ) by filling as much of the chamber with brass as possible and get that front driving band, of the same dia. as the cyl. throat, right on up into it. I do use the 38 equiv. load in 357 cases and 44Spl. in 44Mag so I would do the same in a 454. Ive read a good number of articles by respected writers who have found the same, though an occasional revolver does seem to shoot the shorter case 'as well', never better.
I know for 'just plinkin' that 38 Spl. will work OK in a 357, etc., but if Im loading I see no value in using the short case.

I agree fully; the best accuracy can be found by filling the entire chamber. 
I had only mentioned it because my 45 Colts shoot extremely well in my 454.  They sometimes shoot better than my 454 loads.  I guess perhaps I haven't found that perfect .454 load yet. 
In a pinch, the .45 Colt will work.  However, if like Lumpy Grits, and you have 1500 .454 cases on hand, there is no need to use .45 Colt cases.

[Lumpy Grits]

Unique Powder was the first smokeless powder to ever hit the reloading market. It was developed for use in the large BP cases of the day.
Try it-You'll like it.
My plink'n load(listed above)is a LASER in every .454 it has been tried in.
LG


 

[Ranch13]

 Lumpy , you ever load any black powder in that 454?

[RPRNY]

I load 454 with BP.Fill the case and lightly compress. I find they shoot better with heavyweight bullets, soft cast at 285 gr and more. I have had split cases with over compression and 350 gr bullets. 38 grs of BP and 1/8"  of compression seems to work quite well.

[Lumpy Grits]

Lumpy , you ever load any black powder in that 454?

How'd ya know 
.454 case full of 3F Goex and a plated 255 swc is FUN..........
LG

[Lloyd Smale]

you can also take 460 s&w cases and cut them to 454 lenght. I did a couple hundred of them a couple years back. Some guys claim much better accurcy using large primers but i never saw it. They probably would work better for something like a reduced load with a std pistol primer though or even trail boss.

Why not just use 45 Colt loads and save the small pistol primers for 357 mags or something.

[gcrank1]

Thats kinda funny about small or large primers being more accurate. For a while there were some rifle cases made with small rifle primer pockets because there are 'supposed to be' more accurate. I guess if a guy is a top bench rest shooter he might see a difference in shaving a a fraction, but in my real world the primer size is the least of my worries, Im still the weakest link in the whole thing  .

[Lumpy Grits]

"Im still the weakest link in the whole thing  ."

Your not the only one..........
LG