.454 Casull is probably powerful enough for any animal on the planet if loaded correctly, correct? Since white tailed deer don't classify as maneaters what would be a good load for the .454 for white tail? Yes, I have more suitable calibers, .44 and .357 magnums but since I have the .454, why not??

31gr H110 under a 300gr WFN-GC

Anything. I've used 300s at 1650, 260s at 1900+, and 285s at 900. The only thing in common was that every one of them never took a step. Just put the bullet in the right place and the rest is easy. A 1100 fps load is just as effective in the heart and lungs as a 1900 fps load and you and the gun appreciate it more

A fast HP is awfully impressive when it hits though!

A consistent performer with a lot of damage and quick stops has been Swift 265 gr. HPs loaded max or Speer 260 gr. HP loaded to 1600 fps. I've taken about 4 dozen turkeys with the Speer. It just punches a hole through them, but in deer it usually causes about 3" of internal damage and a 1 1/2" exit. Swift is about 50% more in deer.

Swift is great. I find a factory hornady 240 is awesome. Shot several deer with these and none have taken a step

A nice light load is a hornady 250xtp loaded over hs6 for about 1350 fps and this works well and is very very mild. Ive also used the beartooth 280 gr bullets over hs6 at anout 1400 fps and this works well but is not quite as explosive a result but, if hogs and something larger may be on the menu then its a great choice

Hornady 250 gr.X.T.P. with 33.9 gr of either W296 or H110 ,I use federal small rifle primers now-because of lighter spring but had always used C.C.I. 400'S before that and this load averages 1520 f.p.s. out of my SRH 7 1/2 barrel but this load makes a mess when hitting bone

Zee, do the Ruger rings hold up well to the .454 recoil? Not sure if I should go with a reticle scope or red dot.

They have so far.

Not Zee, but I can tell you I run the 30mm Ruger rings and Ultradot 30 on my .454 SRH and it works great. Never had any issues with this set up on a number of Super Redhawks. I wouldn't worry about it personally as it's pretty bulletproof.

From a 7.5" SRH, 24gr of 2400 will send either a 250gr XTP or a 280gr WFNGC to around 1400 fps very consistently with mild recoil.

325 gr cast over 25.4 gr of IMR 4227 is good for about 1250 from a 7.5" SRH.

TW, I used the following handload to take 13 whitetail. It uses a 300gr double crimp XTP over 27.4grs of H-4227 for 1400+fps. Like you said, you don`t need all the power a Casull is capable of. As long as I put the bullet in the right place it never failed me... The combination has taken deer from up close to a little over 100 yards. The extra weight allowed penetration from almost any angle.. The buck in the top photo was a 96 yard shot at an extreme quarter away angle. The bullet penetrated from the back of the rib cage to the opposite shoulder and the recoil is nice compared to a full blown 454.......PS- the recoil is not bad either...

Whitworth,
I'm gonna put you on speed dial. Ha.
Thanks. Again!

I use 31 gr. of 2400 under a Hornady 240 g. XTP mag. Got my 5 point with it this yr.

Bingo! A 255gr. Keith hard cast at 1000fps will fully penetrate a whitetail length-wise. The only thing you're gonna do with a 454 is make more noise. Seriously, properly placed, anything will work. Don't overthink it.