I found this load data from handloads.com it states to use a
Hornady 240 xtp mag with 16.5 grains of unique for about 1550 FPS

had anyone tried this load? I made 20 rounds, so if anyone has tried please before i blow my hand of at the range

I use a 255 cast with about 11-11.5 and get 1140-1150 from a 7.5" FA. You may want to check the old FA data on Freedom's website. It used to have some unique data on it also....

GS

From their site
LOADING RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR ONLY THE FREEDOM ARMS 454 CASULL.TM
ALL VELOCITIES ARE FOR : 7.5" PRESSURE BARREL.~
BULLET DIAMETERS ARE : .451 / .452
PRIMER SIZE : SMALL RIFLE REM. # 7 1/2TM
CASE TRIM LENGTH : 1.380"
MAXIMUM CASE LENGTH : 1.385"
MAXIMUM O.A.L. LENGTH : 1.765"

FA240JHP UNIQUE 14.0 1367 33,900 16.5 1580 49,700

sounds legit then.. I will be shooting it from a 6.5 Raging Judge Magnum

I would never start with a max load in any gun.

A Taurus Raging Judge is a LONG LONG way from being FA Mdl.83. Back the starting load down.

So let me understand this, this cartridge im loading

240 xtp mag with 16.5 grains of unique traveling at 1500 fps has less pressure than the factory Hornady xtp mag 240g traveling at 1900 FPS, wich I can shoot fine from my gun but I cant shoot my load? what am i missing here.

because I assume if Taurus manufactured a Gun chambered in 454 casull they did not say only Light loads of 454 casull..

What is the chamber pressure on the 240/1900 fps load? I don't know that I've ever seen it posted but I've also never looked for it. If you are going strictly off of the muzzle velocity and bullet weight, you are way off in that assumption just as a broad statement. Each powder is different and causes different pressures. Case in point is the two loads you are mentioning. The load data above from FA, if you look at it shows a pressure of 49,700 CUP with the unique load.

If you go and look at their website, the load that would be equivalent to your mentioned load of 1900 fps would be the Factory load they used to make and it was roughly 1900 fps with the FA 240 bullet. It used a max load of H110 and the pressure was measured at 44,700 CUP. As I said, just because it seems mild, doesn't mean that the pressures are also.......

thank you for an excellent answer, now my other part of the question. 454 casull can create pressures up to 65,000 cup. so does any Either Handgun or Rifle manufactured are rated for up to 65,000? or are some like some mmake it seem, only use mild load 454 cause your gun is not a FA model 83.


so in simpler form

Does the Taurus Judge Magnum not capable of shooting the same pressure bullets as the FA Mdl 83? even tho they are both chambered for 454 casull?

Yes and possibly no if that makes sense. Technically, I would say yes but to me, I wouldn't batter the gun. The tolerances on the Taurus are not anywhere near as tight as the FA and can possibly lead to beating the gun up over time if fed a steady diet of full house 454 loads. I have a lot of Smiths that are 44 magnum and personally, I don't run them anywhere near as hard as I will a Ruger SuperBlackhawk. Just a difference in the overall design of the single action versus the double action. NOW...having said that.....Ruger's double actions are tanks so that isn't a hard and fast rule but the Rugers are built nothing like the Smith/Taurus designs. My hands and the fact that they are still attached to my body is a testament to the strength of Ruger sixguns. In my early days, I tried to get everything that could possibly be mustered from them borderig on the line of nuclear loads most likely. Thankfully, that didn't last long and when I did, I had the big ol' Super Red in my hands. Start lower and work up would be my advice and find a load that you and the gun both like.

Thank you sir very well put

Rmag,

Here is a link to John Linebaugh's website, and his writings on high pressure loads. You might find it interesting.

http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/high_pressure_loads.htm

I sort of ran into this myself with my 454, using 300 grain bullets and a faster powder, like you are trying. In my gun, I had previously fiddled with 330 and 360 grain bullets when they first hit the scene, using a powder for which I had no data. I worked up loads that seemed fine. When the pressure data finally materialized, I realized I was probably shooting "proof" loads as my general load. I had a serious come to Jesus moment over that one. Primers were great, cases fell out, zero bad pressure signs.

Fast forward a few years, and I was working with 260 and 300 grain bullets, with a faster powder, like you are doing. Just looking for a medium velocity load. I actually thought things were going well, until I started seeing sticky extraction. Back when I was shooting my "proof" loads, extraction was always perfect. But here I was with lighter loads, with sticky extraction. Maybe something else was causing this, but more likely it was pressure, the wrong powder for what I was trying to do.

I am no expert on pressure, but I do know that it's the total area under the pressure curve that gets you your velocity. If the peak is "bad", you might be subjecting the gun to some bad things. I think the slower powders tend to be more forgiving, if that makes any sense.

Craig

I believe an FA 454 is a 5 shot unfluted cylinder and your Raging judge is a six shot fluted cylinder. That means a lot less material to contain the pressure. So it may be that loads that are safe in the FA aren't for the Judge. I would want a reliable load source that didn't say x gun only unless x = your gun. Even if you have the gun the load was designed for, I would not start at a maximum load. Too many variables and each gun handles things differently.

so i read this

" fluting was originally done to give fouling with black powder firearms someplace to go other than the face of the cylinder which could interfere with it turning. It was considered an indication of a quality revolver. It was carried over to smokeless powder revolvers mostly for aesthetics. Unfluted cylinders were considered stronger and they were in black powder days. This isn't an issue with modern metallurgy.

Rmag,

If you look at your 6 shot gun, you will see that the flutes are in the "meaty" part of the cylinder, between the cylinders. And the stop/locking notches are in the top of the cylinder. On a five shot cylinder, the notches fall in this "meaty" part.

I would worry less about fluting, and more about the amount of material between the bottom of the notch, and the inside of the chamber wall. If you look at a lot of pictures of grenaded revolvers, they seem to let go at the notches to the left and right of the back strap. I know I have seen a lot of blown cylinders where the top round is sharpnel, and you can see the two on either side of the top round.

Craig

If one is looking for a reduced recoil load, a'la Unique, why so obsessed with it being the fastest reduced recoil load? If performance is the target then why not load with H110, 4227, lil' gun, Enforcer, 2400, etc? Fast powders reach their pressure peak more quickly than slower powders and the line between safe and not so safe is a fine one indeed. One should never begin at the end when it comes to loading, regardless of the firearm.

That about sums it up.

I have a FA and decided that full factory loads were more than I can handle with my arthritis so I plan I use some 255 - 260 at 1150 ish. Being from Indiana it should do a job on deer at my range of no more than 50 to 60 yards

I use 12 gr. of Unique with the Hornady 250 gr. XTP for a nice shooting target load. It goes at about 1150 f.p.s.