.454 Loading Data
FREEDOM ARMS LOADING DATA:
LOADING RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR REVOLVERS MANUFACTURED BY FREEDOM ARMS CHAMBERED
FOR 454 CASULL ONLY!
WARNING:
THIS RELOADING INFORMATION IS PROVIDED AS A SUPPLEMENT TO ASSIST PROFICIENT HANDLOADERS IN FINDING SOME SUITABLE LOADS FOR THEIR NEEDS. THERE ARE MANY GOOD HANDBOOKS AVAILABLE FOR THE BEGINNING HANDLOADERS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT SOMEONE STARTING OUT, OBTAIN AND STUDY ONE OF THESE MANUALS. MOST FIREARMS DEALERS CAN PROVIDE THE MANUALS AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO ASSIST THE BEGINNING HANDLOADERS.
PLEASE PROCEED WITH CAUTION. MAKE THE SHOOTING SPORTS SAFE AND ENJOYABLE FOR ALL OF THOSE THAT CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS FASCINATING AND EXCITING SPORT.
DUE TO THE INABILITY OF FREEDOM ARMS TO CONTROL RELOADING PROCEDURES, USE THE RECOMMENDATIONS ONLY IN FIREARMS THAT ARE IN GOOD, AND SAFE MECHANICAL CONDITION. THE INDIVIDUAL ASSUMES THE RISK OF SAFE LOADING PRACTICES. FAILURE TO DO SO MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY AND/OR DEATH TO THE INDIVIDUAL OR BYSTANDERS.
FREEDOM ARMS ACCEPTS NO LIABILITY FOR THE USE OF THIS DATA.
PRESSURE DATA WAS DEVELOPED AND SUBMITTED BY THE BALLISTICS LABS OF THE ACCURATE ARMS COMPANY INC., HODGDON POWDER COMPANY, AND HORNADAY MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
BALLISTICS’ COMPARISON CHART. FOR REFERENCE ONLY!
| CALIBER TRAJECTORY |
BULLET SPECS. |
MUZZLE VELOCITY |
MUZZLE ENERGY |
MID RNG 100 YD’S |
| 357 MAGNUM | 158 JHP | 1235 F.P.S. | 535 FT-LBS. | 3.5″ |
| 44 MAGNUM | 240 JHP | 1180 F.P.S. | 741 FT-LBS. | 3.7″ |
| 45 LONG COLT | 255LRN | 860 F.P.S. | 420 FT-LBS. | 6.1″ |
| 454 CASULL | 240 JHP | 1875 F.P.S. | 1884 FT-LBS. | 1.3″ |
LOADING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REVOLVERS MANUFACURED BY FREEDOM ARMS CHAMBERED FOR 454 CASULL ONLY!
ALL VELOCITIES ARE FOR : 7.5″ PRESSURE BARREL.*
BULLET DIAMETERS ARE : .451 / .452
PRIMER SIZE : SMALL RIFLE REM. # 7 1/2
CASE TRIM LENGTH : 1.380″
MAXIMUM CASE LENGTH : 1.385″
MAXIMUM O.A.L. LENGTH: 1.765″
*Note:
Data work up done in a Standard Receiver Pressure Barrel unless otherwise noted. Revolver velocities will be different depending on barrel length.
A good rule of thumb to go by is: Expect a 50 to 75 f.p.s velocity difference, per barrel length.
Example:
A 6″ barrel would be approximately 50 to 75 f.p.s. slower than listed below.
A 10″ barrel would be approximately 50 to 75 f.p.s. faster than listed below.
| STARTING LOADS | MAXIMUM RECOMMENDED LOADS | ||||||
| BULLET | MUZZLE POWDER | WT.IN GRAINS | MUZZLE VELOCITY | C.U.P. | WT.IN GRAINS | MUZZLE VELOCITY | C.U.P. |
| FREEDOM ARMS | |||||||
| FA240JHP | H4227 | 29.0 | 1421 | 33,800 | 34.0 | 1815 | 41,400 |
| FA240JHP | H110 | 36.0 | 1889 | 44,700 | 39.0 | 2090 | 54,100 |
| +FA240JHP | H110 | 36.0 | 1889 | 44,700 | |||
| FA240JHP | HS7 | 19.0 | 1352 | 38,400 | 25.5 | 1746 | 50,100 |
| FA240JHP | HS6 | 17.0 | 1277 | 34,600 | 21.5 | 1641 | 44,600 |
| FA240JHP | HP38 | 9.0 | 852 | 26,600 | 13.5 | 1421 | 38,400 |
| FA240JHP | W296 | 36.0 | 1875 | 45,200 | 38.0 | 2004 | 53,400 |
| FA240JHP | W571 | 19.0 | 1395 | 38,800 | 25.5 | 1740 | 50,600 |
| FA240JHP | W540 | 17.0 | 1274 | 34,600 | 21.5 | 1629 | 44,200 |
| FA240JHP | W231 | 9.0 | 844 | 25,200 | 13.5 | 1399 | 37,600 |
| FA240JHP | 2400 | 26.0 | 1639 | 38,000 | 30.0 | 1886 | 53,700 |
| FA240JHP | BLUE DOT | 21.0 | 1588 | 37,400 | 25.0 | 1896 | 55,100 |
| FA240JHP | UNIQUE | 14.0 | 1367 | 33,900 | 16.5 | 1580 | 49,700 |
| FA240JHP | BULLSEYE | 7.0 | 842 | 15,700 | 11.0 | 1334 | 32,300 |
| FA240JHP | A.A. NO. 9 | 23.5 | 1439 | 21,500 | +33.8 | 1875 | 56,800 |
| FA240JHP | A.A. 1680 | 34.0 | 1349 | 17,100 | 38.0 | 1769 | 46,500 |
| FA240JHP | N350 | 13.0 | 1280 | 25,000 | 17.2 | 1564 | 48,660 |
| FA240JHP | N110 | 27.0 | 1655 | 27,000 | 31.0 | 1877 | 48,040 |
| STARTING LOADS | MAXIMUM RECOMMENDED LOADS | ||||||
| BULLET | MUZZLE POWDER |
WT.IN GRAINS |
MUZZLE VELOCITY |
C.U.P. | WT.IN GRAINS |
MUZZLE VELOCITY |
C.U.P. |
| FREEDOM ARMS | |||||||
| FA260JFP | H4227 | 28.0 | 1309 | 34,000 | 33.0 | 1759 | 46,000 |
| FA260JFP | H110 | 34.0 | 1790 | 44,600 | 37.0 | 2005 | 53,800 |
| +FA260JFP | H110 | 35.0 | 1825 | ||||
| FA260JFP | HS7 | 17.0 | 1228 | 36,000 | 24.0 | 1701 | 51,700 |
| FA260JFP | HS6 | 16.0 | 1181 | 33,800 | 20.5 | 1562 | 44,200 |
| FA260JFP | HP38 | 8.5 | 811 | 27,700 | 12.5 | 1248 | 36,600 |
| FA260JFP | W296 | 34.0 | 1789 | 44,400 | 37.0 | 1977 | 53,100 |
| FA260JFP | W571 | 17.0 | 1234 | 36,000 | 24.0 | 1689 | 51,400 |
| FA260JFP | W540 | 16.0 | 1188 | 34,000 | 20.0 | 1522 | 43,400 |
| FA260JFP | W231 | 8.5 | 815 | 27,400 | 12.5 | 1244 | 36,700 |
| FA260JFP | 2400 | 25.0 | 1538 | 35,000 | 29.0 | 1780 | 51,800 |
| FA260JFP | BLUE DOT | 18.0 | 1429 | 38,800 | 22.0 | 1704 | 53,700 |
| FA260JFP | UNIQUE | 12.0 | 1220 | 33,600 | 15.0 | 1452 | 46,600 |
| FA260JFP | BULLSEYE | 7.0 | 829 | 16,100 | 11.0 | 1302 | 34,100 |
| FA260JFP | A.A NO. 9 | 22.5 | 1433 | 25,000 | +32.0 | 1800 | 57,800 |
| FA260JFP | A.A 1680 | 34.0 | 1376 | 18,600 | 38.5 | 1780 | 50,800 |
| FA260JFP | N110 | 26.0 | 1575 | 25,300 | 30.4 | 1816 | 48,820 |
| STARTING LOADS | MAXIMUM RECOMMENDED LOADS | ||||||
| BULLET | MUZZLE POWDER |
WT.IN GRAINS |
MUZZLE VELOCITY |
C.U.P. | WT.IN GRAINS |
MUZZLE VELOCITY |
C.U.P. |
| FREEDOM ARMS | |||||||
| FA300JFP | H4227 27.0 | 1494 | 41,400 | 30.0 | 1634 | 53,700 | |
| FA300JFP | H110 | 28.5 | 1589 | 44,400 | 31.5 | 1780 | 55,000 |
| +FA300JFP | H110 | 31.0 | 1625 | ||||
| FA300JFP | HS7 | 16.0 | 1111 | 33,400 | 22.0 | 1501 | 50,200 |
| FA300JFP | HS6 | 15.0 | 1084 | 31,100 | 19.0 | 1450 | 46,200 |
| FA300JFP | HP38 | 8.5 | 820 | 32,000 | 11.5 | 1076 | 43,200 |
| FA300JFP | W296 | 28.0 | 1537 | 41,000 | 31.0 | 1750 | 54,800 |
| FA300JFP | W571 | 16.0 | 1107 | 33,000 | 22.0 | 1494 | 50,700 |
| FA300JFP | W540 | 15.0 | 1100 | 32,600 | 19.0 | 1440 | 46,000 |
| FA300JFP | W231 | 8.5 | 824 | 31,800 | 11.5 | 1062 | 42,400 |
| FA300JFP | 2400 | 24.0 | 1461 | 42,000 | 27.0 | 1656 | 55,000 |
| FA300JFP | BLUE DOT | 16.0 | 1240 | 39,100 | 19.0 | 1534 | 54,000 |
| FA300JFP | UNIQUE | 10.0 | 1049 | 30,600 | 14.0 | 1275 | 38,600 |
| FA300JFP | BULLSEYE | 6.5 | 804 | 20,100 | 9.5 | 1026 | 33,400 |
| FA300JFP | A.A. NO. 9 | 20.0 | 1177 | 17,100 | +27.5 | 1625 | 51,900 |
| FA300JFP | A.A. 1680 | 31.1 | 1346 | 27,300 | 34.5 | 1622 | 54,500 |
| FA300JFP | N110 | 24.0 | 1505 | 34,500 | 26.6 | 1634 | 49,380 |
| FA300JFP | N120 | 27.0 | 1290 | 29,300 | 31.0 | 1491 | 43,760 |
+ Factory Equivalent loads. Testing done in 7 1/2″ Revolver & 7 1/2″ Pressure barrel where indicated.
TECHNICAL TIPS FOR RELOADING THE 454 CASULL
TIP #1: Magnum primers are recommended for reloading for the 454 Casull.TM
Magnum primers perform more reliably at temperatures below zero degrees F.. Magnum primers will most often give more uniform velocities in magnum pistol loads using slow powders, and heavy bullets. More importantly the heavier construction of the primer cup prevents metal flow back, and provides a more positive ignition. Remember to always seat the primer below the case head to prevent recoil from firing the cartridge while not aligned with the barrel.
TIP #2: An important SAFETY FACT to remember:
When loading slow burning ball powders in reduced loads, NEVER load cases below 90% of capacity. Powders like H110 or W296 are prime examples of this condition. The reduced loads are harder to ignite by the primer, and sometimes NEVER ignite at all. This creates a DANGEROUS condition. What happens next, is that after the gun is fired and no report is heard, the primer pushes the bullet part way into the barrel. Another round is rotated into position after the first round. When the firearm is fired again with the barrel obstructed by the first round’s bullet, damage to the firearm and injury to the user generally results.
TIP #3: Reloading dies?
The use of dies other than specified for the 454 CASULL IS NOT RECOMMENDED! Reloading dies manufactured for the 454 CASULL have different internal dimensions than 45 Long Colt dies. The two main differences are: 1.> The crimp die is different than the standard crimp die in a way that allows a tapered roll crimp to retain the heavier bullets at the higher velocities. 2.> The sizing die is smaller in diameter to help in the retention of the heavier bullets. Also the longer length allows full length sizing of the longer 454 case.
NOTE: ALWAYS DO THE BULLET SEATING AND CRIMPING IN TWO STEPS. THIS REDUCES THE CHANCE OF THE CASE SIDE WALLS COLLAPSING WHEN APPLYING THE HEAVY CRIMPS
TIP #4: AFTER REFERRING TO YOUR FAVORITE RELOADING MANUAL.
An important fact to remember while loading above 1400 F.P.S.. The construction of the bullet is very important. The intent of the final loaded round is also important, and needs to be considered also. Most commercially made pistol bullets available today are designed for expansion at velocities below 1400 F.P.S. Using bullets above this velocity results in poor accuracy, because the bullets can not withstand the higher pressures generated at these higher velocities. The deformation of the bullets base when fired results in poor accuracy. The higher velocities also cause bullet jacket separation and bullet weight loss, during uncontrolled expansion. When the pressure is high enough the jacket could separate from the bullet in the cylinder, or in flight.
ALSO ANOTHER IMPORTANT FACT IS, THE FASTER THE VELOCITY AND THE SOFTER THE BULLET, THE QUICKER THE FORCING CONE AREA IN THE BARREL WILL WEAR OUT.
NEVER EXCEED THE MANUFACTURER’S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR VELOCITY MAXIMUMS!
WARNING!
Discharging firearms in poorly ventilated areas, cleaning firearms, or handling ammunition may result in exposure to lead and other substances known to cause birth defects, reproductive harm, and other serious physical injury. Have adequate ventilation at all times. Wash hands thoroughly after exposure.
KEEP ALL RELOADING COMPONENTS, AMMUNITION AND FIREARMS OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN AT ALL TIMES!
