True or false or otherwise
Feel free to jump in anyone.

1.The 454 can handle 45 colt ammo.

2.The 454 is still the most powerful factory loading for which a major manufacturer sells ammo.
(or has someone snuck one of those even bigger giants into a factory line at some stage?)

3.It is generally more powerful than the 480 ruger and 50 AE.

4.Q- What are the factory loads available? (Please disregard if too numerous to list)

5.Do any of these loads approach maximum -like say weatherby ammo does in rifles.

6.Is there a vermin shotload available?

7.Whilst not getting too carried away , the Ruger is capable of loads at least close to the freedom arms revolvers.

8.I have a very big hand.Ill suited to this gun?

9. maximum barrel length available?

Thanks for any answers

Karl.

2 Depends on what you consider major ammo makers, you can get 475 and 500 Linebaugh from Buffaloe bore, but generally yes, the 454 is a powerful round.

3. Yes, though I'm very partial to the 480, with the caveat that you must handload to realize it's potential.

4. Many, from 260 gr through 360, Winchester, Corbon, Buffaloe bore, and I'm sure others.

5. Some of the loads are pretty hot, but I've never heard of a SRH failing.

6. Perhaps in 45 colt, I don't think in 454.

7. If loaded to published pressure limits, the SRH is fine, if you just have to redline your loads, which is strongly advised against, then you need the FA.

8. You might want to put packmeyr decelator grips on, as there are two things to bite you, the top of the frame extends above the grip, and on my 480, has drawn blood. There is also the trigger guard which can and will smash your second finger. The Hogue covers behind the trigger guard, but by lowering your hand, muzzle flip is greatly enhanced, and personally, I didn't like the way the gun whipped back in recoil.

9. I believe there are just two options 7 1/2" and 9 1/2"

I am also considering going for some serious trouble in a Magnum research BFR in 450 or 45-70(hence my other thread).

Obviously they are stepping over the line into novelty pieces, which does not bother me unduly since I own a 585 rifle and hunting with a handgun is 99% impossible over here anyway.
More of a 'range toy' is what I am after.

I have heard the BFR got good reviews but then typically bad reports from the first buyers regarding service and quality.

Do you guys have any opinions on the above?

Regards
Karl.

1.Yes for SRH and Taurus but not for FA you nee to have 2 cylinders one in .454 Casull and one in .45 Colt

2.No Honardy made .475 Linebaugh factory ammo

3.Yes for the .480 Ruger
No for .50 AE in a FA revolver a 385 gr bullet at 1550 fps.
Yes for a .50 AE in a Desert Eagle

4.Too numerous

5.In presuure yes

6.No but only for personnel defense loads

7.Is up to you but I'll be more confident with very hot loads in my FA.

8.Ruger grip is one of worst for .454 Casull

9. 9 1/2"

10. Stay away from any BFR products

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BER007
Keep the faith in any circumstances
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BBER007@HOTMAIL.COM

Hornady Custom makes some really hot ammo for it, as does Cor-Bon. The Winchester stuff is decent also, and ranges from medium to stout. I've decided that normal jacketed 45LC bullets are not well suited for the velocities though, and stick with hard cast. I like the 325gr Lyman. I may be basing that on the wrong perceptions.

I'm sure you could put together a shotload, but not on the Taurus due to the porting chamber.

I'm going to try some 45LC Brass with 340gr bullets and seat them long. I can't do it with 454 brass because the cylinder mouth is too tight and too close.

I've experienced some topstrap gas cutting. Might be a concern.

One advantage the 454 has over the 480 and the 50 is you can load light bullets that are readily available, using light charges. You have a whole world to experiment with, even if you stick with cast bullets only.

These are answers in a roundabout way, because all the above is good and comes from people who know more about it than myself. Just adding some things you may not have considered.

Yes. 45 Colt is mild compared to 454 ammo and fits fine in most cases. Some brands of 45 Colt don��t fit in FA 454 chambers because the 454 chambers are cut very tight to support the brass better and for better accuracy. The cheap stuff doesn��t always fit.
The problem comes in when you shoot 45 Colt +P loads. That��s anything at or above the 45 colt loads listed in the loading manuals as for Ruger and Contender only. The loads in and above that range cause slight erosion just in front of the case mouth. It��s nothing more than a loss of that smooth surface that should be there. However, If you subsequently fire full power, especially some of the loads from before it was standardized, the extreme high pressure can press the brass of the longer 454 case into the surface texture of the chamber in that small area that the 454 case uses and the 45 colt does not.
A more minor version of the problem occurs when you shoot 45 colt loads that use soft oversized bullets in the FA 454 chamber. The FA chamber lacks the large chamfer of most 45 Colt chambers and some lead gets shaved off and deposited under heat and pressure as a ring in front of the case. That can keep a 454 cartridge from chambering or sticking if it does fit.
Ruger and Taurus have slightly larger chambers and a healthy chamfer in the front of the chambers so the leading version of the problem doesn��t often occur. The erosion problem is also less common in the Ruger and Taurus due to the larger chamber. The Brass expands and contracts more, shortening case life and limiting accuracy a bit, but it doesn��t stick to an eroded chamber as easily.

2.The 454 is still the most powerful factory loading for which a major manufacturer sells ammo.
(or has someone snuck one of those even bigger giants into a factory line at some stage?)

Define powerful. Some rounds exceed the total energy of the 454. Other rounds exceed the penetration. Yet others exceed the velocity. The 454 was designed to be powerful enough to kill anything that walks the earth, yet fit in a gun no larger than a 44 Mag. That��s it��s whole reason to exist. Simply to be the most useful power possible in the smallest package.

3.It is generally more powerful than the 480 ruger and 50 AE.

Again, define powerful. It feels more powerful than both as the 480 and 50AE are lower pressure rounds with less blast. It all depends on your application. Up close, the bigger hole of the 480 and 50 make them more effective.

4.Q- What are the factory loads available? (Please disregard if too numerous to list)

There are nowhere near as many as for a 44 Mag, but more than enough to cover every thing you might want to try.

5.Do any of these loads approach maximum -like say weatherby ammo does in rifles.

All are below the SAMMI specs for the cartridge; some come closer than others do to Max.

6.Is there a vermin shotload available?

Use the 45 Colt shot loads. Increasing the velocity of small shot loads increases the spin rate and dispersion as it leaves the barrel. In effect you shoot a doughnut pattern. All the shot goes outward with nothing in the middle where you aim. Less is more in revolver shot loads.

7.Whilst not getting too carried away , the Ruger is capable of loads at least close to the freedom arms revolvers.

The FA was designed to shoot Max (pre SAMMI high-pressure loads) in large amounts. The Ruger is designed to shoot SAMMI spec loads in normal quantities. For 99% of the shooters out there it makes no difference. Those early loads are painful to shoot and only needed for things like elephant and pissed-off Cape buffalo in dense brush. Both will handle rounds that can embed the hammer in a beginners forehead.

8.I have a very big hand.Ill suited to this gun?

That��s what custom and aftermarket grips are for.

9. maximum barrel length available?

Ruger lists the options in their catalogue. FA will make just about any length you want. You decide.

My recommendations are

If you like the Ruger SRH get it in 480. The round was invented for that gun. It��s a good gun for intermediate level shooters. It��s low enough pressure not to beat up the gun or shooter. The large diameter bullet justifies the big gun. You won��t outgrow it unless you are going to Africa where the game is a bit tougher and has a generally bad attitude or Alaska for grizzlies.

If you really like the 454 get a FA. The gun and round were designed together for the maximum power and accuracy possible in a handy sized gun. Everything else, chambered in 454, is heavier, less accurate or less reliable than the FA. Less expensive too ��

You call yourself a beginner. As a beginner, I would suggest the Ruger SRH in 480 with a 5.5 inch barrel and 1X Burris scope or Aimpoint 5000 in 30mm Ruger rings.

Also get a Ruger GP 100 4 inch heavy underlug barrel chambered in .357/38 the Grips for the GP and SRH are interchangeable so you will have the same grip and balance for both guns. The optimum optics for the short bbl GP is the Aimpoint comp as it can be mounted back far enough to avoid getting crud on the front lens from being too close to the muzzle.

quote:

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Originally posted by Constance:

(sic)
You call yourself a beginner. As a beginner, I would suggest the Ruger SRH in 480 with a 5.5 inch barrel and 1X Burris scope or Aimpoint 5000 in 30mm Ruger rings.

(sic)

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Ruger is now offering a 5 1/2" SRH 480? I gotta get one of those, I'd been planning on having my 7 1/2" cut down to 5", but a factory 5 1/2" would be very nice.

Also, note, here is why I backed off. I said I couldn't see any pressure signs. However, the Casull uses small rifle primers, and I've read that they don't show pressure signs fast enough to be in the safe range for this pistol.

One thing about the casull is it runs in high pressure levels. I think 60,000 cpu, or so.
The 475, 50 ae, 480, they all run on much lower cpu.
I'd get a ruger, Ruger superredhawks will be around for a long time. Magnum research bfr's might not be.
Try finding a part like that in austrailia, I'd imagine it'd be rather hard.
Too bad you can't hunt with it. It'd knock over anything you wanted it to.

I also never thought about the donut effect in pistol shotshells. Cool info! Thanks!

quote:

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Originally posted by Karl:
Thanks Tombo( ) and Paul for your answers. Looks like I just about had it right in my head.

I am also considering going for some serious trouble in a Magnum research BFR in 450 or 45-70(hence my other thread).

Obviously they are stepping over the line into novelty pieces, which does not bother me unduly since I own a 585 rifle and hunting with a handgun is 99% impossible over here anyway.
More of a 'range toy' is what I am after.

I have heard the BFR got good reviews but then typically bad reports from the first buyers regarding service and quality.

Do you guys have any opinions on the above?

Regards
Karl.

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On the other hand, a nice Ruger is a quality piece you can keep shooting until you die. A .44 Magnum is not exotic, but will do just about everything- and it's got all kinds of factory loads.

Pete
I'm saying you might want to consider reloading before considering a .45/70 revolver. Sorry if this seems a little elitist- but it's easy and makes all the difference.

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Gunnut 45/454
One shot,One Kill