45 colt in 454 casull rossi

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heronfish

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Disclaimer :
I'm a complete newbie when it comes to reloading.
I got the Lee 50th kit for Christmas, and have since read the abc of reloading book, bought the nosler and keep handbooks and watched youtube videos. I also have purchased rcbs and lee dies for he calibers I hope to reload.
Now for my question.
where do I start on reloading plinking loads for my 454. I have the Lee pistol 45 colt die set and want to create a plinking round I can actually afford to shoot.
Few questions I have.
Do I buy 45 colt or 454 brass? Does it matter for this load?
Which primers?
What powder and which bullets would you suggest for 45 colt in a rifle.
I have read that if I do this incorrectly I will lead the barrel and possibly wreck my throat so any help would be tremendous.
 
Isn't the .45 Colt and 454 Cassul the same projectile? Similar to the .38/.357 and the .41/44 magnum?

For plinking, I'd imagine 45LC brass would be easier to find. Hunting or wilderness defense is where the .454 would be better to use, IMO.
Primers: (45LC) uses Large Pistol. Brand doesn't really matter for plinking to me. I use CCI and Winchester and Federals and they all work well.
Powder: (45LC) For my Lever Action, I l like CFE Pistol and Titegroup, but in this day and age, I'd first see what is possible to get versus what I'd like to get. Consult your reloading manuals and have a look at what powder attains what sort of velocity at what kind of pressure and go from there.
For bullets, I use Berry's 250gr and Zero 230gr FMJ (from my 1911 reloading supplies)
 
Buy some Starline 45 Colt brass, Unique powder and 250gr cast boolits from MT Chambers (PM me for details on where to get the cast bullets from) and have some fun. Very easy caliber to reload for and lots of options.
 
My brother has a Rossi in .454 Casull that I worked up a couple of handloads for. I use the Lee .454 Casull die set to load for it, if memory serves there is one part different vs the .45 Colt set. I think it might be the expander die? Regardless I have successfully used my set to load both calibers for his rifle.

For fun loads I use .45 Colt brass and a ~260gr cast lead SWC bullet. Powder is some kind of fast pistol powder to give velocity around 1000fps, I don't recall what I used off the top of my head but Red Dot, W231 and Unique are ones I have commonly used for such things in the past.

For heavy loads I have used the Hornady MAG XTP, which is 300 or 325 grains; and a heavy cast wide flat nose with gas check that weighed about 340gr and is pushed with W296 to an honest 2000fps. The latter of these is brutal to shoot, and my brother admits he doesn't enjoy them at all. Additionally these have damaged the gun somewhat, causing the mag tube to pull out of the receiver. If/when he gets it fixed I will likely take the gun back and work up something not quite so heavy.
 
I have a pre safety Amadeo Rossi M92 carbine in 454 Casull which is a up to 150 yard knock'em dead deer gun with my hand load pushing 335 grain hard cast lead flat point bullets.
I shoot 45 LC (255 grain cast) in it to knock the heads off grouse for the camp frying pan.
The 45 LC is of course the parent cartridge of the 454 Casull.
The 454 Casull cases take the small rifle primer and the 45 LC cases take the large pistol primer.
 
On a somewhat related note...does anyone know where a Rossi 1892 Puma Stainless in 454 Casull can be found in Canada these days? It looks like Wanstalls had some about a year ago but they're all gone and I haven't seen any since.
 
freddyfour said:
Buy some Starline 45 Colt brass, Unique powder and 250gr cast boolits from MT Chambers (PM me for details on where to get the cast bullets from) and have some fun. Very easy caliber to reload for and lots of options.
Click to expand...

Haha... good luck on that one!
 
The 454 rossi is actually a great firearm once you get past the disaster that is the stock set. The fit and finish on the forearm is worse than a norinco.
 
heronfish said:
The 454 rossi is actually a great firearm once you get past the disaster that is the stock set. The fit and finish on the forearm is worse than a norinco.
Click to expand...

I've fixed up a few and it seems the forearms were forced and torqued on without proper fitting,
They're not that hard to get off but make sure you take all the hanging pictures down off the walls before wrestling the forearms back on again if you don't take the trouble to properly fit them.
If you try and force the forearm back on you'll probably split the wood.
You need to use sand paper and files to properly relieve the forearm.
Glass bedding works good to ensure repeatability and thus preserve accuracy when stripping and reassembling the rifle.
You might have to really mangle the band screw and Br#####h Rossi will not sell anyone spare parts.
 
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heronfish said:
The 454 rossi is actually a great firearm once you get past the disaster that is the stock set. The fit and finish on the forearm is worse than a norinco.
Click to expand...

I have one of the pre Br#####h, pre safety Amadeo Rossi M92.
There is no safety switch on top of the bolt and no hammer lock like the newer R92s.
The wood was passable and after a couple of coats of Tru-oil looked pretty nice.
I applied the Tru-oil right on top of the "shoe polish" factory finish.
When that big 335 grain hard cast lead flat point hits the deer drop right in their tracks.
 
If you are going to really utilize the 454 to it's fullest extent, you need premium bullets. I don't have either 45 LC or 454 C but I've read enough about the 454 C's need for premium bullets.
If you want, I've a small plethora of good 454 C projectiles. Tried to sell them on the EE, but too many 45 LC handgunners lowballed me so I said to heck with it.
Most are Freedom Arms and also I've got a bag of no-name bullets; make an offer that isn't insulting and I'll help you out
 
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