RELOADING DATA .45 Win Magnum and 454 Casull.

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Jack Sardo

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Hey Everyone

For the last year I have been reloading for the fantastic cartridge know as the .45 WinMag with alot of success using CopperWashed 230 gr bullets.

16.5 gr of Blue Dot has given me terrific results as well as

22.5 gr of H110

both buzz past the chronograph at 1350 fps or so.

Im starting to branch out a bit and would love to know what people might be using with 250gr XTP bullets from Hornady

as I am going to start some long range metal plate target shooting.

as a side issue.....I've begun loading .454 casulll in my Raging Bull by Taurus

I have the same 250 gr bullets but I have heard that they are not ideal given the thinner nature of the jackets *Im told they are more for 45 long colt.

I would love to know if anyone is using hard cast lead for this one or the win mag

**any loading data used by myself or anyone else reading this should do so with the understanding that they accept all responsibility for its use, and should always perform further reference with proven loading manuals.

Just throwing the disclaimer out there because I know some people just blindly use whatever people put out there sometimes.

My loads are are on the milder side of the spectrum and have been used for a full year without any signs of over pressures.

thankyou in advance for any suggestions that you all might offer and looking forward to reading the responses when I get home from work and hit the reloading room.
 
Hi. A copper washed bullet has no jacket. It's a cast bullet.
There's one 250 grain 454 cast load on Hodgdon's site using Trail Boss. LRNFP is a lead round nose flat point. Who made the bullet doesn't matter. Only the weight matters.
H110 seems to be the choice for a 240(close enough) cast bullet on Reloader's Nest. XTP's jacketed bullets though.
 
I suspect you mean copper plated such as Berry's and Campro sells? Copper washed is a treatment which is just barely there like on the Soviet milsurp ammo and on some .22LR ammo.

I know Berry's has a speed limit on their copper plated bullets. And it sounds like you're up to or even past it already.

I suspect that most of the cast bullets are an alloy intended for less energetic loads. So you'd likely need to work out your own cast alloy and water drop it to get the hard cast nature that a truly high peak pressure and muzzle velocity will require. Most casters won't expect their product to be used the way you're considering. So if you try some over the counter cast bullets don't be surprised if they lead up the bore.
 
I've always referred to them as copper washed but yes plated is probably the correct term.

The plated ones that I have been running don't appear to be flying apart or shedding the plating upon their recovery

The accuracy achieved with them has been pretty consistent and more than acceptable so far at reasonable ranges of less than 50 yards.

I do imagine that leading of the bore would become more of an issue with cast lead....but had heard from a reliable source that their use can offer very good results in the accuracy department.

So if I can get my hands on cast lead of the correct hardness....I was just curious to know what people might be using out there

I always like to find myself 2-5 loadings of each caliber using different powder types, charges, and bullet weights. *For my Grizzlies and Wildey.

On a slightly different note; the 250 gr XTP bullets I have purchased were for my .454 casull but Im being told that they weren't really designed for the high energy released in my Raging Bull.

So I was curious to know if anyone had been loading this weight and bullet type into .45 WinMag .....

I bought a couple hundred and thought that they might see some use in my Griz/Wildey instead.

As well.....I was interested in knowing if anyone had been successful with their loadings of lead bullets in the .454

I've been loading for a while now and Im just seeking some direction.

Thankyou for the responses guys. Keep them coming.
 
I use cast boolit's that are tumble lubed with LEE type lube. I use 16-17 grain's of Accurrate #7 out of my M1 Carbine conversion
 
Maybe Im just reading that wrong....but are you saying that there is an M1 Carbine that shoots .45 WinMag???

or that you use cast bullets in 30 carbine loading of 16-17 grains of #7 ?

Im really just interested in knowing what people have been using and what works in .45 WinMag and .454 Casull
 
I have a LeMag conversion of an M1 Carbine to 45 Win Mag.
I have used cast boolit's only, around 1000 now.
I use the LEE TL452-230-TC, double tumbled lube so it's on thick. The 19 inch barrel has never leaded that way.
16-17gr of Accurate #7 loaded on my Loadmaster and factoery crimped.
 
Since you're only target shooting those XTP bullets will work fine. As the 454 is a hunting cartridge, and that's what most 'Muricans use it for, that's why the regular XTP is frownd upon in the 454 Casull. It's performance on game is somewhat akin to a varmint bullet in a rifle. Very explosive with core separation. I shoot a 454 Casull Rossi R92 and have used the Lee C452-300-RF cast from water dropped wheel weight lead and Gator checks with great success at full power loads levels out of a 20" barrel with "Speed Green." Double tumbling of Lee LLA (Lee Liquid Alox, alsoknown as mule snot) resulted in leading in the last 3" of the barrel for me. Recluse lube (45-45-10) was no better.
I've also shot a Lyman truncated cone cas check bullet out of my R92 45 Colt at almost 1800FPS tumbled with LLA and also Recluse with no leading. So I'm pretty sure it would work for your 45 Win Mag but I just don't think it can stand up to the pressure of full house 454 Casull loads. One thing, I never get a lube star with Lee Liquid Alox but do with conventional wax based lubes.
 
THANKYOU This is all fantastic advice and I really appreciate it.

One thing I have learned about the art of reloading is that you can spare yourself alot of time and frustration if you consult people who have the 1st hand experience.

Many thanks to everyone that responded. :)
 
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