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Post by isparky44 on Feb 11, 2016 21:42:45 GMT -5
This is a question that Hacker will most likely answer right off, but all who may have knowledge are welcome to chime in (please). My Uncle just got a Ruger Alaskan in .454 Casuill and it also shoots .45 Colt. At a $1.45/Rd. for the cheap ammo for .454, I told him I already have the dies so lets get loading, and save all your Brass! I am looking at my books and see the Colt bullet diameter is .456, and the Casull is .451, also my Lee second edition shows the colt @ .454 and the Casull @ .452. My Question is what diameter bullets should I be leaning towards? Midway's reviews are almost all positive for 240 & 300 Grains @ .452, for the Hornady XTP but that doesn't mean they aren't flirting with disaster. Gary, you found a link for my Mini-Thirty bore size question a short while back, maybe you can point me the right way on this as well.  The first year for production on this gun is 2005 and I dont have it here to run it by serial number to find the exact year its was built, worst case scenario its 11 years old, so I don,t believe age/vintage will be an issue. Lees guide also shows "warmer" loads for the Colt, for Ruger, and T/C only, I am curious if anybody has a pet load they like in either caliber, that they might want to share? He and I shot it, and my "new to me" Ruger SBH 10.5" barrel Saturday, felt recoil, and muzzle report were about the same, but the 10.5" Barrel was just a tiny bit more accurate, wonder why that would be.  |
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Post by hacker54 on Feb 12, 2016 0:02:26 GMT -5
Sparky,
Gun manufactured prior to WWII were of the 456 diameter as cylinder throats were running around 457-458 since WWII they brought that down to 451-452. Your mentioned Ruger will have the by today's standard the 451 dia. This dia. is also for the 45ACP and 45 Auto Rim also 45 GAP. You will find numerous jacket bullets in 451 dia. that should fill your needs and using cast bullets at 452 dia. On a side note RCBS does make bullet molds for the 45 LC in the 454 dia for use in older Colt Single Action Army revolvers and others made prior to WWII. Hope this shed a little light on the subject for ya.
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SnapShot
Member
Jeep & Mocha "Remembering Patches, always"
Posts: 699 
Location: Finally free from the Republic of Kalifornia!
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Post by SnapShot on Feb 12, 2016 12:09:23 GMT -5
As always, Gary's info is right on. My Alaskan has the 2.5" Barrel. I carry it while doing my wildlife photography in bear country. It's not a fun gun to shoot as far as recoil etc goes. The muzzle-flash is something you need to see to believe; much more than my 2.5" Backpacker in 44 Mag. The only target I have shot with the 454 was at 7 yards and off-hand; it produced 4 shots touching and two in close for an overall group of about 4 inches. I have mentioned before that I enjoy big bore handguns. This one seems a little more punishing than even my S&W 500 Magnum but I think it's because it's so small. The most uncomfortable big bore still goes to my Bond Arms 45 Long Colt Over/Under Derringer and the most comfortable big bore has to be the S&W Model-29 in 44 Magnum (Dirty Harry). Hope you enjoy your Alaskan and remember it's easier to clean a gun when you can reach down the barrel  |
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Post by isparky44 on Feb 12, 2016 13:25:40 GMT -5
Gary in Lee's second edition manual they show the Diameter @.452, again the the good reviews on midway are for the .452 XTP. Are you thinking I should refrain from .452 and stay with .451?
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Post by isparky44 on Feb 12, 2016 13:40:04 GMT -5
Snapshot, I wish it were mine, its my uncles, he has the rheumatoid arthritis, so I am sure he already doesn't enjoy it as much as I would! His son got it for him, so I wont even ask him to part with it. I will just have to get one of my own! I too, so enjoy my "hand cannons", and over the years have become accustom to shooting them with dead on accuracy. I have taken a few white tails right out back, every time, one shot kills. I am very fond of the XTP for that reason alone. I am picking up a Ruger Redhawk 7.5" in .44Mag this weekend, from a friend he too has the arthritis and can no longer tolerate the recoil. My gain... |
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gws
Member
Posts: 969
Location: NW New Mexico
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Post by gws on Feb 12, 2016 19:43:00 GMT -5
You guys are tougher than me. I used to have a Ruger 7.5" barrel .45 Blackhawk convertible (stolen unfortunately). I had planned to load the .45 colt cylinder to near .44 mag specs. Then I shot a friend's 44 mag Super Blackhawk......after 4 shots I handed it back to him..........I thought shooting was supposed to be fun, not painful........that cured me of wanting to "load up" my .45 Colt cylinder. Course never got the chance even....stupid thieves....
Anyway, that also cured me of wanting a bigger .45, .44 mag, or .50. I'd probably change my mind if I lived in Grizzly country, but the last Grizzly seen and killed in N. New Mexico/S. Colorado was in 1972 near Cumbres/La Manga Pass. The shooter was attacked and shot in s.d., but he was fined a fortune anyway.
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Post by hacker54 on Feb 12, 2016 23:03:57 GMT -5
Sparky,
The Hornady's at .452 will be fine in the Ruger. Load'em up and have fun.
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The first year for production on this gun is 2005 and I dont have it here to run it by serial number to find the exact year its was built, worst case scenario its 11 years old, so I don,t believe age/vintage will be an issue. Lees guide also shows "warmer" loads for the Colt, for Ruger, and T/C only, I am curious if anybody has a pet load they like in either caliber, that they might want to share?
Pooh I hope you find to right house . 
