FA 454 heavy bullets and twist rate

[STJ]

One of my main loads I shoot is the 360grain CP over 29gr of H110 @ 1550fps.  It is a definite big boomer.  All my shooting with this load has been informal at targets out to 100yards (no chances of running into a griz of buff in Michigan  ).  I have never noticed it to be an inaccurate load, but I never really bench shoot guns I hunt with (whats the point? I never have a bench with me when hunting)  I have been reading how 'people' say that the 360 grain bullet is too heavy for the 1:24" twist and that 320 grains is tops.  I was wondering what the consensus is in this?

The reason for this 'wondering' is that I have been thinking of going to 325gr WFN LBTs...(Do I really need the 360gr...NO) and my mild load is a 335CP @1250fps.  I figure I can cut down on bullet inventory and use one bullet for two loadings. Also I have become fond of true LBT bullets after using them in my 44, and LBTs heavyest 45cal WFN bullet is 325...

Thanks

[EdK]

I'd like to know more on this. I've never used anything myself over 300gr. It would interesting to have an understanding of bullet weight vs velocity and how accuracy might taper off as weight goes up and velocity goes down (or remains constant). The folks at FA have relayed to me that there is good data to support accuracy is good up to 320-325 gr but then after that apparently little information to be had.

Differences in bullets of course should affect accuracy as well. Does the WFN profile fail first vs a LFN or Keith?

Sometimes I get a bit of 475 envy when I hear of 400+ gr slugs lumbering along at under 1000fps with top accuracy.

[454PB]

The two most used bullets in my .454's are the Lee 320 grain GC (sold as a 300 grain, but casts 320 in wheelweights), and the Lyman 452651 CG, which weighs 330 gr. ready to load. Both are very accurate in all my .454's (Taurus RB, Ruger SRH, and F.A. 83 field grade). However, I lean towards the Lee more, since it has a larger meplat and shorter O.L. These same loads are used in my Puma model 92, which is very picky about cartridge length for proper feeding. Both of the bullets have two crimp grooves, and I have to use the front groove to make them feed in the rifle.

Though I haven't used anything heavier (and longer), I would be a little concerned about their fit in the F.A. cylinder. As it is, the Lyman 452651 is nearly even with the front of the cylinder. Deeper seating really robs this round of it's velocity advantages within acceptable pressures.

[MarkH]

I have piddling with the 395 grain Cast Performance with good results so far ... though have not done much long range work with it yet, which is of course the real test.

[stuffit]

In Sept of 1990 I  tried some classic type 45-70 bullets cast with pure linnotype that dropped from my mould at 373grs, sized in steps down to 0.452".  At the time I'd just purchased two FA revolvers, one 4 1/2" and a scoped 10".  Mr Bob Baker was kindly advising  me by phone on most of my new loads including this one.  I had no chrono at the time but got the mvl data from him.  My first load with this bullet was with 14 grs of Unique and it gave me some slight stickyness of case extraction.  I can't seem to locate the mvl for that load but felt it was too much for Unique.  I then went to 23 grs H110, the mvl of which FA estimated at 1350 fps from a 7 1/2" barrel.  It was not an unpleasant load to shoot and was very accurate in both the 4 1/2" and the 10" FA revolvers.  There were no over-pressure signs.  I do have it in my notes that Mr Baker felt the load could be safely reduced to 21 grs of H110 for an est mvl of 1100 in a 7 1/2" barrel.  Though I never hunted with the load, these bullets did have a consistantly "flat" meplat" as a result of the progressive size down operation.  I was using the spare in the back of my pickup for a "bench" and I did shoot this load with the scoped pistol out to 100 yards with good results though I no longer have the targets.  So whatever twist was  used in these revolvers back then was evidently adequate to stabilize this longer heavier bullet.
 
stuffit

[Sverre A.]

I have tried different bullets within 350-390 gr. - but I can`t get any better average accuracy (5 shot) than 2,5" at 60 yds.

But in most hunting situations - the accuracy is "plenty".

When I decided my buffalo-hunt in August - I also decided that I should not shoot beyond 60 yds - so why do more "brainwork" concerning bullets!

In May - I hunted antilopes and pigs in South Africa - and the accuracy was also "plenty" for the "small animals".

 

[palgeno]

I have only recently gone to 360gr loads---bought the Buffalo Bore 360 hardcast gas check factory load to try---very good in my 7 1/2 inch FA mod 83 with express sights. Have since reproduced that same load with the same bullet and H110 at around 1425 fps just as the factory load is rated. This is not a full house load and is shootable for me---2 to 3 inchs at 75 yds with my forearms rested. Can't do that well free hand---but that's me and the express sights---not the gun. Still have not tried the Corbon 360 FP Penetrator which should be better for those Cape Buffalo which Severre A. shoots. I hope he leaves a few for the rest of us who have not made that Africa trip just yet! Provided we have the cajones to stand there and shoot a cylinder full of rounds and not RUN!!!!   Gene

[Sverre A.]

Be sure!  There will be a lot of buffs left!

Now I have convienced myself that my 454 - can take big game.

If I get the opportunity - I will try an elephant - but my economy don`t allow me to do that (not before year 2057).
Then I am 100 years of age 

So my next travel will be my yearly South Africanhunt for antilopes.

I also have express-sights - but because of my age (become longsighted)  - a docter-sight is the REAL thing for me.

2-3" at 75 yd with express?

You don`t need a Docter 

[EdK]

This topic has been on my mind (albeit on the back burner so to speak) ever since Sverre first brought it up a year or more ago. Just today I was looking at the FA spec sheet and noticed the model 97 also shares the 1-24" twist.

It immediately brought to mind how velocity also has a bearing on bullet stability and while perhaps no one is shooting real heavies in this revolver, certainly someone must be shooting 275s, 300s or so at very low velocities. Was wondering about accuracy... anyone ever consider this?

[dubber123]

While it's not a 454, I have a .475 that I had a 440 gr. WFN mold made for.  (real LBT mold).  This has been my most accurate bullet, at full power(1300+ fps), but when I tried slowing them down to 8-900 fps., my sub one inch 50 yard groups went to 2+ FEET!  So in this instance, it shows too heavy may not like going slow.  I have a 400 gr LFN style that shoots great at slower speeds.

[fowler]

One small thing I will add that says more than one bullet may be worth the trouble. If you load multiple loads with the same bullets all the cases look the same. I mean you can not look at one and say that is a 1200fpr load and that one is a 1550fps load. I have 3 45colts and have done a lot of load tinkering and likely will continue to do so but It gets combersome not to mix loads by accedent. So I am settling (or trying to) on one load for each gun that is obvious to look at so I don't cross them up. It would be a shame to put a Ruger max 335gr load into my Smith Mtn gun (I know it would break the gun but would be pleanty unpleasant for the shooter) thinking it was a 850fps load....

P.S. I know Veral made a increadibly accurate LBT 360 grain bullet for Ross Seyfreid years ago so I know he can make heaver bullets just email him if he would do it again.