I finally got my new mold for my 480 ruger, its a balisticast WFN, that drops a ~450 gr gas checked bullet. I just shot a few at lunch, clocked 1040 fps and went into 1 hole at 25 yds. Recoil was suprisingly mild. I'll have to see if I can hit 1100 fps with them. What I really need now is a lever gun in .475 to take full advantage of the bullets. Either that or maybe a Ruger #1 45-70 with a re-barrel to a 475/70, would be a neat carbine.
Posts: 7213 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 27 February 2001
I talked to my buddy Dennis who's owned nearly 2 dozen 454's, mostly freedoms. He said he'd tried some 400's way back when, but he stuck the cases in the cylinder, and this was a FA, not a Ruger. FA used to offer 400 gr bullets for awhile, but discontinued them, the velocity justs falls on its face past 360 gr in the 454.
I would be very, very leary of shooting 400 gr jacketed bullets in a 454, especially with Hawks reputation of causing high pressures in rifles. You could get some 400 gr 45-70 cast bullets and run them through a lee .451" push through sizer.
I've heard you can't fit enough H110 in the 454 to hurt it, but thats in an FA.
Posts: 7213 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 27 February 2001
The velocity doesn't fall on its face in the 454. A 415 gr bullet I have will get 1300 easy from my 43/4 inch FA. You can get more but the pressure does cause case sticking. Now if a person really needs it is another question. I have come to the conclusion after long and hard deliberation if one is going "just for power" he need to bite the bullet and get an Encore in a monster masher caliber. Sure they are a singleshot but even a 12 inch Encore in 454 will beat a revolver easily because the bullet can be seated out for slightly improved performance with probably slightly less pressure. Also there is no flash gap too. A custom 480 barrel would also be good if it had a long throat. A 475 JDJ would be even better. I love revolvers better than singleshots but the truth hurt as I have been told many times.
Correction, my buddy weighed the sample bullet I gave him, came out 459 grs, so I guess they are 460 gr bullets. I'll see if I can push them 1100 fps today. Temps are pretty chilly, so I won't post powder charges, as I'm sure they'd be too high at reasonable temperatures.
Posts: 7213 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 27 February 2001
Here is copy of reloading data for .454 casull collected by Big Bore from beartoothbullets forum . . .
I have been saving all the data I have found for 454 on the net. I am not shire that all charges are safe and many of them are FA loads only. You got allot of crazy people out there that are bragging about their max loads but it is interesting to have as a guideline. I am using 24grs of N110 behind a 350grs cast and 27,5grs N110 with a 300grs XTP/MAG in my RB.
I just got back from the range, managed to push the 460's 1110 fps, and shot into 1" at 50 yds. No, the 480 isn't an equal or contender to what the 454 can do, but it is a serious sixgun in its own right.
Posts: 7213 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 27 February 2001
