I have a 44mag and a 454casull both in the Taurus raging bull. I have done some but very little loading with hard cast bullets in these two pistols. It didn't go so well. Does anybody have any suggestion on where to start? on bullet selection ? I will narrow it down a little. I have been shooting the 300grn serria JSP out of both of them and the groups have been really good, " so why mess with anything?" because I love to reload , I'm looking for a little more I guess . I am not a speed freak but I want real good penatration and good as I can get accuracy
The best accuracy I can get out of the serria clocked at 1500fps.
I have been looking at the 240 on this site for the 44 any comments?

Thanks

I remember the first time I started experimenting with various .44 mag loads,using four different revolvers for the testing......being surprised that not one of the best loads for a specific revolver worked for equally well for the other three. And, I can't tell you how many times I've had someone tell me this load is the most accurate load they've had in the last 25 yrs.....and of course didn't work all that well for me. The obvious point is you've asked a good question and the answers should be a good starting point, but assume that unless you're lucky, additional tweaking will be needed, but I'm sure you know that.

I cast my own .44 but would suggest you peruse the Beartooth bullet descriptions and make a couple selections that Marshall has recommended. I use his 300 gr. LFN GC and 355 WLN GC for my Taurus Raging Bull .454 with excellent accuracy results. I had a Burris scope mounted for the .454 testing but after ruining two Taurus mounts, gave up and stuck with iron sights. For my particular Taurus, the best velocity I could get with the 355 gr. bullet was 1400 fps, and the same load in my Freedom Arms is 150 fps faster (tight tolerance do matter). In any case, got 2" at 50 yd with the 355 gr full loads and that's as good as I can shoot (obviously from bench). If I could do that standing, I wouldn't be here typing this now :D :D

Dan

chpprplt, you should be able to get real good penetration with the 240gr cast bullet in the 44 with less speed. be careful cause shooting cast is addictive. You should be able to load some good midrange loads in the 44. with a cast bullet that will do the majority of what you want to do. Don't know a thing about the 454, but you should be able to shoot 45 lc in it ( I THINK ). It will probably take some shooting to find what works good but it can be a rewarding experience. Hope this helps.

I tell you what I use a 454 casull raging bull and I have found that My gun shoots the 300 gr. WFNGC the best. I use 340 Lfngc for the heavier duties. Now I used to have some inconsistencys and I ask around after I found out that my chambers were eitherr .453 or .4525 so I ask and they suggested going with beartooth bullets sized at .453 and Bing Bang BOOM ALmost instant accuracy . I now shoot consistant bullseyes and al because I was using smaller bullets than my chambers were cut at . It is funny that it all works out like that .Now there is more to that diameter biz but that is how Mine concluded.
Stan H.

I have a 44mag and a 454casull both in the Taurus raging bull. I have done some but very little loading with hard cast bullets in these two pistols. It didn't go so well. Does anybody have any suggestion on where to start? on bullet selection ? I will narrow it down a little. I have been shooting the 300grn serria JSP out of both of them and the groups have been really good, " so why mess with anything?" because I love to reload , I'm looking for a little more I guess . I am not a speed freak but I want real good penatration and good as I can get accuracy
The best accuracy I can get out of the serria clocked at 1500fps.
I have been looking at the 240 on this site for the 44 any comments?

Thanks

The above posters have given you some good info. Take note, as those here have given me endless help in the past. I load for both the 44 Mag and 454 Casull. I have not done any testing with cast lead for the 44 Mag, but I have done some with the 454. My testing was performed with Oregon Trail's Lazer Cast 250 gr. Also, my testing was performed in a TC Encore, so results will be slightly different, being that you are shooting a revolver and some loss is attained in the cylinder/forcing cone gap.

My experience with these bullets out of my Encore has been good and bad. I have not slugged my barrel, but it is apparently a touch larger than the LC bullets because if I got much over 1100 fps, they became lead sleds and spewed lead all over the inside of my barrel. That is until I found a product called PSB (Prescisions Spherical shotshell Buffer) found at the link provided below. Once I started using this buffer it made a dramatic result in velocity and accuracy in my loads. It also reduced my leading problem to absolutely zero! My velocity increased by over 100 fps with the same load that I didn't use the PSB in.

I was using 19.7 grains Hodgdon Lil' Gun with this load test. This load resulted in almost 1400 fps. I plan on doing some testing with H110 and H4227 with the PSB as well, as soon as time permits. I have also used Tightgroup with both the 44 and the 454 with good results. Although if you are looking to hot rod your Bulls, you can't do it with Tightgroup. If you want nice, accurate, low recoiling loads, then I would reccomend you try some.

http://www.precisionreloading.com/buffer.htm

The above posters have given you some good info. Take note, as those here have given me endless help in the past. I load for both the 44 Mag and 454 Casull. I have not done any testing with cast lead for the 44 Mag, but I have done some with the 454. My testing was performed with Oregon Trail's Lazer Cast 250 gr. Also, my testing was performed in a TC Encore, so results will be slightly different, being that you are shooting a revolver and some loss is attained in the cylinder/forcing cone gap.

My experience with these bullets out of my Encore has been good and bad. I have not slugged my barrel, but it is apparently a touch larger than the LC bullets because if I got much over 1100 fps, they became lead sleds and spewed lead all over the inside of my barrel. That is until I found a product called PSB (Prescisions Spherical shotshell Buffer) found at the link provided below. Once I started using this buffer it made a dramatic result in velocity and accuracy in my loads. It also reduced my leading problem to absolutely zero! My velocity increased by over 100 fps with the same load that I didn't use the PSB in.

I was using 19.7 grains Hodgdon Lil' Gun with this load test. This load resulted in almost 1400 fps. I plan on doing some testing with H110 and H4227 with the PSB as well, as soon as time permits. I have also used Tightgroup with both the 44 and the 454 with good results. Although if you are looking to hot rod your Bulls, you can't do it with Tightgroup. If you want nice, accurate, low recoiling loads, then I would reccomend you try some.

http://www.precisionreloading.com/buffer.htm


How do you use the buffer in handgun loads? Do you use it on top of the powder? if so what keeps it from mixing wit h the powder?

I have to endorse DOK's post 100%. I've found that two identical guns will sometimes prefer different loads. To get the best accuracy your going to have to put some time and effert into finding out what your guns prefer.

I have no experience with the 454, but have spent a lot of years stuffing loads down a 44 mag. At this point I use a 255 hardcast grain Kieth style gas check bullet from a Lee mold. I push this at 1350/1400 fps out of a Ruger 7.5 inch Super Redhawk. This load has proven to be very accurate out of this gun and my sons 5.5 inch Redhawk.

I've found that out to a hundred yards or a little longer this load kills deer and bear as well as loads pushing 1500 to 1700 fps and is easy to shoot.

Higher velocity does not always kill any better and loads that kill well that deliver lower recoil forces are attractive to me.

Good luck finding that "just right load" once you do you will really enjoy it. I just bought a Taurus Tracker in 41 mag and am working up loads for it. I've got one of the 210 grain Lee tumble lube bullet molds and it seems to be liking them so far.

How do you use the buffer in handgun loads? Do you use it on top of the powder? if so what keeps it from mixing wit h the powder?

Yes, I have only used the PSB in handgun loads so far. I may venture its use in my 45-70, but haven't yet. I use a Lee Perfect Powder Measure to meter the PSB powder and dump it directly on top of the powder charge and just prior to seating the bullet.
It does not mix because you are creating a compressed / semi-compressed load and the opportunity to mix is not there. I have a thread on my procedure and results that I posted a few weeks ago. That post also lists the web page that goes into the procedure into more detail.
The PSB actually is used similar to a wad in a shotgun shell separating the powder and the bullet. You do need to remember that you will need to add the weight of the PSB to the overall weight of the bullet so that you do not create too much pressure. However, when loading with cast bullets this is really not as fine a point as when loading with jacketed bullets because the cast bullet is more forgiving and will push down the bore easier.

Try it and I think you will like it.

Sorry, I forgot the site that goes into more detail on the use of PSB. I found it and here it is.

http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting/castfiller/index.asp