I made it to the range today to test the 435gr Heavies in the 4" 454 Redhawk.
My hope was to get these suckers to group decent at about 1000-1100fps. Here's the stats. Cold day, 5 below, sunshine. I kept the ammo in my car. I'd load and shoot six at a time.
The 454 SRH barrels have a 1/24 twist. The RH 45 Colts; which is what this gun was, has a 1/16 twist. It proved to do the job nicely stabilizing these big long boolits! This 454 cylinder has .454 throats, at least I can shove these .454 boolits through with a pencil. .452's drop right through. The chambers are tighter than the 45 Colt cylinder as well. The bore is .451. I sized the boolits for the throat size, .454.
RCBS 45-405-fn .458 mould cast with 5/1 ww/lino, air cooled at 0 degrees. Sized down to .454. 433gr lubed/gas check. Close enough to call it 435gr! BHN was about 19 last time I checked this batch.
Starline Brass, H110, CCI 450 primers.
25yds
19gr - 995 avg
971
1017
1012
1003
990
981
I will need a taller front sight for sure. It shoots about 8 inches high at 25yds with these big heavies. After the first three shots I moved my POA down so I could keep it on paper. I almost packed up and went home after this! This'll do! But I had 2 more loads to shoot.
20gr - 1072 avg
1088
1072
1064
1073
1045
1092
First two are in the same hole! I thought I shot it over the top. 3rd shot was up high. This is looking better all the time.
21gr - 1128 avg
1133
1132
1130
1111
1138
1126
I think I can shoot this load better. Because of the way my targets were and how I was aiming to keep the load on the target, I don't think I was very consistent in my POA. But, the 20gr load will work.
Bottom line is mission accomplished. I've got a 1072fps 435gr 454 load that groups as good or better than I can shoot I think. No pressure signs at all. Brass dropped right out. I could go hotter but see no need too. Recoil is not an issue but the snap/torque of the muzzle flip gets your attention. It's headed to magnaport tomorrow along with a buddies 480 SRH. He's getting the chopped 480 package done. I'll just get it magnaported like my Kimber MT. Next will have to be a penetraton test.
My hope was to get these suckers to group decent at about 1000-1100fps. Here's the stats. Cold day, 5 below, sunshine. I kept the ammo in my car. I'd load and shoot six at a time.
The 454 SRH barrels have a 1/24 twist. The RH 45 Colts; which is what this gun was, has a 1/16 twist. It proved to do the job nicely stabilizing these big long boolits! This 454 cylinder has .454 throats, at least I can shove these .454 boolits through with a pencil. .452's drop right through. The chambers are tighter than the 45 Colt cylinder as well. The bore is .451. I sized the boolits for the throat size, .454.
RCBS 45-405-fn .458 mould cast with 5/1 ww/lino, air cooled at 0 degrees. Sized down to .454. 433gr lubed/gas check. Close enough to call it 435gr! BHN was about 19 last time I checked this batch.
Starline Brass, H110, CCI 450 primers.
25yds
19gr - 995 avg
971
1017
1012
1003
990
981
I will need a taller front sight for sure. It shoots about 8 inches high at 25yds with these big heavies. After the first three shots I moved my POA down so I could keep it on paper. I almost packed up and went home after this! This'll do! But I had 2 more loads to shoot.
20gr - 1072 avg
1088
1072
1064
1073
1045
1092
First two are in the same hole! I thought I shot it over the top. 3rd shot was up high. This is looking better all the time.
21gr - 1128 avg
1133
1132
1130
1111
1138
1126
I think I can shoot this load better. Because of the way my targets were and how I was aiming to keep the load on the target, I don't think I was very consistent in my POA. But, the 20gr load will work.
Bottom line is mission accomplished. I've got a 1072fps 435gr 454 load that groups as good or better than I can shoot I think. No pressure signs at all. Brass dropped right out. I could go hotter but see no need too. Recoil is not an issue but the snap/torque of the muzzle flip gets your attention. It's headed to magnaport tomorrow along with a buddies 480 SRH. He's getting the chopped 480 package done. I'll just get it magnaported like my Kimber MT. Next will have to be a penetraton test.