454 Casull

[Forrest Halley]

My only complaint with the Casull is the volume, mild to wild it is loud. However, it doesn’t stop me from enjoying it.

In my opinion, the .460 is the answer to a question that wasn’t asked. If I want to shoot 200 grain bullets, they’ll be 0.401” or smaller. Small rifle primers are little different than large pistol for loading, at least in my experience.

I agree about the volume of the .454 and thus the .460. Extremely hard to get along with noise wise. I am annoyed with the small primer. There is no difference to loading large pistol and large rifle. I have to change the priming system to load casulls. Everything else is the same on the lower half of the press for Long Colt and .460 so I just use those.
I agree about the question that wasn't asked part. It was a let's find something else to fit in this big revolver cylinder...oh you can shoot two(four if you reload) other cartridges in it too? Yeah let's do that. Originally published loading was 52 grains of 296 under a 200 grain spitzer...the shockwave in broad daylight made the .500 look mild mannered. It has better projectile support now, but it is still a behemoth that needs a built in hanger for earmuffs.

 

[CoElkHunter]

If you're looking for something purely for backup get a Glock 20 and load it with hard cast bullets (better in this case than a Glock 40, in my opinion).

I carry my Glock 40 (w/Trijicon night sights) in the woods with 220gr hardcast, and often carry it for my concealed carry with 180gr Sig V-Crown HP in an Askins style holster. I like the six inch barrel and it stays concealed well even with just a hoodie or oversized shirt. I would eventually like to purchase a .454 Casull though. Never shot one. I have shot a Desert Eagle in .50AE. Fairly stiff recoil, but pretty awesome! I believe a revolver would be better though in DG country? Just my two centavos.

 

[Forrest Halley]

I carry my Glock 40 (w/Trijicon night sights) in the woods with 220gr hardcast, and often carry it for my concealed carry with 180gr Sig V-Crown HP in an Askins style holster. I like the six inch barrel and it stays concealed well even with just a hoodie or oversized shirt. I would eventually like to purchase a .454 Casull though. Never shot one. I have shot a Desert Eagle in .50AE. Fairly stiff recoil, but pretty awesome! I believe a revolver would be better though in DG country? Just my two centavos.

It's hard to beat a Glock in a handgun for the woods.
• It's never too cold to touch barehanded. Try that with a stainless gun and feel it suck the strength out of your hands.
• A coordination challenged monkey can operate it. Ever try to cock a single action revolver with cold tendons?
• It holds twice as much on tap as a revolver. 16 vs. 5-6
• You won't cry if you screw it up or lose it. $600 vs $1600
• What little maintenance required to keep it running can be simply accomplished with minimal effort. Wipe down with a T shirt?
• With a TLR-2 laser/light mounted you almost own the night. The light is awesome. The laser and the light is incredible because you don't have to align any sights and bring to conventional firing position.
• It's lightweight and you can carry it easily and even sleep with it on your chest in a sleeping bag. Never underestimate the value of being able to shoot from inside the sleeping bag.
Just some thoughts...

 

[CoElkHunter]

It's hard to beat a Glock in a handgun for the woods.
• It's never too cold to touch barehanded. Try that with a stainless gun and feel it suck the strength out of your hands.
• A coordination challenged monkey can operate it. Ever try to cock a single action revolver with cold tendons?
• It holds twice as much on tap as a revolver. 16 vs. 5-6
• You won't cry if you screw it up or lose it. $600 vs $1600
• What little maintenance required to keep it running can be simply accomplished with minimal effort. Wipe down with a T shirt?
• With a TLR-2 laser/light mounted you almost own the night. The light is awesome. The laser and the light is incredible because you don't have to align any sights and bring to conventional firing position.
• It's lightweight and you can carry it easily and even sleep with it on your chest in a sleeping bag. Never underestimate the value of being able to shoot from inside the sleeping bag.
Just some thoughts...

Excellent points! Probably off thread here, but I own four of them and I feel they are one of the finest combat handguns ever produced and are great for carrying in the forest/woods for protection against black bears, mountain lions or more likely, some two legged psycho! I do want to purchase a Glock 29 10mm for concealed carry though. I don’t want to open up Pandora’s box here, but I’ve been having some hollow point bullet penetration doubts carrying my Glock 27 (short barrel) .40 and having to use it against a heavily clothed (in winter) attacker. Just have read some stuff about that recently? But, there’s always the old reliable head shot! I’m still thinking the Casull though for DG country?

 

[edward]

Personal opinion I would go with a Redhawk. I have one in .44 mag and while the grips are smaller than I think that they should be they work with the pistol rolling in the hand under recoil.

I also like the FA if you are going to go with a SA. It is built like a tank.

i have 454casulls in 2 freedom arms,2 raging bulls,the bulls are pussy cats,freedom arms not much worst.both great guns,REALLY,FA"S NOT WORTH THE EXTRA MONEY,if you care about money,i dont.

 

[larry4831]

i have 454casulls in 2 freedom arms,2 raging bulls,the bulls are pussy cats,freedom arms not much worst.both great guns,REALLY,FA"S NOT WORTH THE EXTRA MONEY,if you care about money,i dont.

I have a 454 in a Ruger super Blackhawk Bisley. They are nice revolvers.

 

[perttime]

Looks like the nicest Bisleys are Ruger's "distributor specials". Makes them even harder to get in countries where there's a small market for powerful revolvers.

 

[Deleted member 13924]

My 454 Casull is a Raging Bull, the one with the looooong barrel .
With a 375gr bullet and iron sights I get one hole groups at 25m. (Beyond that the target gets hard to see... )
Scoped, I can produce one hole groups out to 70m. Thats accurate enough for me!
I have no experience with Rugers or FA's, but I do love my little Raging bull.
For what you want/need it for, I'm sure the Raging Bull will be more then adequate.

HB

 

[edward]

My 454 Casull is a Raging Bull, the one with the looooong barrel .
With a 375gr bullet and iron sights I get one hole groups at 25m. (Beyond that the target gets hard to see... )
Scoped, I can produce one hole groups out to 70m. Thats accurate enough for me!
I have no experience with Rugers or FA's, but I do love my little Raging bull.
For what you want/need it for, I'm sure the Raging Bull will be more then adequate.

HB

my scope sighted raging bull is deadly accurate,this was a 114 yard shot on a ground squirrel off the seat of my atv.

114 yard shot.

• edward
• Feb 15, 2012

if anything proves that this gun,ammo and shooter and scope are zeroed in perfectly,this 114...

 

[Edster]

+1 for the Raging Bull. I’ll grab a photo next time I head up the stairs. Was loading 45-70
today and while searching the cabinets for the bullets I came across the Beartooth pills for the 454. Hmmm maybe I should load some of em up.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Well, I just bought a Ruger Super Redhawk .454 Casull with a ported 9” barrel off Gun Broker. I have always wanted one, but would have preferred a 6-7” barrel, but the price was right for me, and I do like long barrels. I have shot my buddy’s .44 Desert Eagle and a friend’s .50 AE Desert Eagle, but I didn’t want to spend the money for those, although they are GREAT to shoot! I prefer a revolver in a large bore handgun. I just need to get some loading data for the Casull? What I didn’t know, until I just Googled it, was that the Casull was a wildcat cartridge developed in 1957! I love wildcats! It hasn’t shipped yet, but am looking for practice ammo now. Can’t wait.

 

[Edster]

Power finally came back on and I made it upstairs.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Power finally came back on and I made it upstairs. View attachment 341765

I really like the Taurus’ quality for the money! I was looking at one on GB before I found a well priced Ruger. I like the looks of their “Hunter” model.

 

[Edster]

Well, I just bought a Ruger Super Redhawk .454 Casull with a ported 9” barrel off Gun Broker. I have always wanted one, but would have preferred a 6-7” barrel, but the price was right for me, and I do like long barrels. I have shot my buddy’s .44 Desert Eagle and a friend’s .50 AE Desert Eagle, but I didn’t want to spend the money for those, although they are GREAT to shoot! I prefer a revolver in a large bore handgun. I just need to get some loading data for the Casull? What I didn’t know, until I just Googled it, was that the Casull was a wildcat cartridge developed in 1957! I love wildcats! It hasn’t shipped yet, but am looking for practice ammo now. Can’t wait.

Hornady has a couple of loads. Just make sure you get the right bullet. You want the XTP Mags. The regular XTP’s will not hold up under the pressure and FPS of the 454 Casull. This is direct from Hornady, I got a mess of the XTP’s and found that cannelure wasn’t right. Sent off an email and got the response about the XTP Mags. I’ve got some 280gr WFNGC’s from Beartooth that somewhere around here I have data for. Just can’t put my hands on it.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Hornady has a couple of loads. Just make sure you get the right bullet. You want the XTP Mags. The regular XTP’s will not hold up under the pressure and FPS of the 454 Casull. This is direct from Hornady, I got a mess of the XTP’s and found that cannelure wasn’t right. Sent off an email and got the response about the XTP Mags. I’ve got some 280gr WFNGC’s from Beartooth that somewhere around here I have data for. Just can’t put my hands on it. View attachment 341766

Thanks for the info! I was looking at the XTPs last night on Midway USA and then saw the “XTP MAGS” . The info on the MAG bullet description didn’t say why? What about the cheaper XTPs loaded down a little for practice? Or better yet, some inexpensive FMJ bullets?

 

[Edster]

Thanks for the info! I was looking at the XTPs last night on Midway USA and then saw the “XTP MAGS” . The info on the MAG bullet description didn’t say why? What about the cheaper XTPs loaded down a little for practice? Or better yet, some inexpensive FMJ bullets?

You could probably load them down and be ok. Just be aware that the cannelure won’t be where you want it.
Not sure if you have ever shot a big bore handgun before or not just throwing this out there. If you have never shot one before start with one round in the cylinder. Have found that people who are not used to the recoil of these monsters tend to double tap. One in the cylinder at a time will prevent any accidents.

 

[CoElkHunter]

You could probably load them down and be ok. Just be aware that the cannelure won’t be where you want it.
Not sure if you have ever shot a big bore handgun before or not just throwing this out there. If you have never shot one before start with one round in the cylinder. Have found that people who are not used to the recoil of these monsters tend to double tap. One in the cylinder at a time will prevent any accidents.

I’ve only ever shot larger bore revolvers in a Ruger Blackhawk .44 mag and Smith 29 in .44 mag and semi-autos in a Desert Eagle in .44 mag and .50 AE. I REALLY liked the .50 AE, but not some $1,600.00 worth of fun?

 

[CoElkHunter]

Ok. So , what bullet weight and brand does everyone here prefer for a hunting round in the .454 Casull? I’ve seen everything from 240-400gr in this cartridge? For hunting, I’m considering it for deer, maybe elk. Thanks!

 

[edward]

Ok. So , what bullet weight and brand does everyone here prefer for a hunting round in the .454 Casull? I’ve seen everything from 240-400gr in this cartridge? For hunting, I’m considering it for deer, maybe elk. Thanks!

320 gr punch bullet!!!!

 

[Edster]

Was searching for some more 45/70 bullets in the cabinet. Came across some 290g Ranch Dogs I have for the 454. Thea guys are some hard hitters. 290 on left 280 on right