Ive been out to the range with my FA83 .454, and I'm getting 4" groups at 50 yards with open sights. Not the greatest, but I'm seeing improvement as I practice.

Right now I'm shooting factory rolled Hornady XTP 240grn. (My life is just too transient to set up for re-loading right now) In getting good accuracy from this round,and its less expensive than a lot of other rounds, but...

I want to find one round that I can shoot from this firearm and hunt deer, hogs, elk, moose and bear with. I doubt the 240grn is that round. Besides, at 1900 fps it has a wicked snap that I really dont like too much. Hornady also makes a 300grn XTP at 1550fps, and of course there is Buffalo Bore, Cor-Bon etc.

Is there any experience / recommendation for a particular factory .454 ammo that will cover everything from deer to Grizz? I'm a proponent of big and slow, as opposed to small and fast, and do not need fast, flat trajectories, as I only shoot within my comfortable, confident range. Right now, that's 50 yards.

When I was shooting a 454 I tried the same Hornady load and did not like it for the same reasons. At that time Winchester was making a 300 gr load that I liked much better.

I've never bought any factory .454 ammo. In fact, the only factory .454 ammo I've shot (it was a gift) was Winchester, loaded with 250 gr JHP's, which was accurate and seemed quite mild.

However, my 2 standard .454 loads for several years have been the Hornady 300 gr. Magnum XTP loaded @ 1380 fps for deer and such, and @ 1550 fps for larger game. Both these loads were accurate and worked well in my 3 FA .454's. Although I haven't bought any, and thus can't prove it, I expect that the Hornady factory ammo using that same bullet should also do just as well.

In past years, I also shot the regular 300 gr. (pre-Magnum) XTP, the Sierra 300 gr. JSP, the FA 260 and 300 gr. bullets, and killed big game with each, but ended up selecting the 300 gr. Magnum XTP.

FWIW.

I have tested a boatload of different .454 factory loads, and one of my favorites that delivered fantastic accuracy was Federal's 300 grain Swift A-frame load. It's a tough bullet and I managed to squeeze a few sub-two inch groups at 100 yards with that load.

The Hornady 300XTP (not the Magnum) is the one I want to try next. Was in the gun store a couple of days ago to get some, but they were out. If I make it back up to Alaska this fall to hunt with my son, any question as to if that would be sufficient for a grizzly (if I do my part)?

Whit, thanks for the heads up. I'll gather some up and try them.

Whitworth X2. Swifts are head and shoulders above the rest for a all around load for the animals you mentioned. Far better than XTPs.

This kind of accuracy at 100 yards with a red dot-type sight. I love this load!

I would be very tempted to try that Federal Swift load! that is some fine accuracy Whit

Thanks! I have tried that load in several revolvers and it just delivers.

I know I'm certainly going to try it

Kills well, too!

Briarhopper,
At .454 velocities, I would select the Magnum version rather than the original XTP for animals like brown bear / inland grizzly.

I would not use any hollow point on the big bears.For me anyway stopping is number one and making sure he is dead comes next and next.You can make your killing shot through the lungs with your hollow point but after your shot your guide will be stopping him,its his job.

I am a fan to the swift 265 bullet thouugh I have no experience of any factory loads with it but my hand loads in my FAs are scary accurate

If you like big and slow take a look at Buffalo Bore Bullets. You can order online and they'll send it right to you. I've had good experience with their bullets.

Absolutely!

What is the difference between the original XTP and the magnum version??

About 400 feet per second. That is how much quicker the mag can be pushed. But, the minimum velocity requirement is also about a 400 fps more.

I used a rough equivalent of the federal factory swift load on cape buffalo so itll
Cover all ya asked for in the original post

I recently took delivery of a Ruger Toklat in .454 but, the only factory ammo I was able to find was Federal 250 grain Barnes Expander down at Gander Mountain(ammo shortage sucks). Did a few the other day(just paper punching). Hopefully, I can find some others eventually? It certainly evoke my curiosity about this cartridge.
Steve

I like the Hornady 300gr magnum factory loads for the .454. I have played with the 240gr magnum factory loads and did not like them, not as accurate, and after passing through my old tractor tire backstop I recovered several bullets that had pealed the jackets off at 30 yards. I have run across some Sierra 260gr loads in a jackets soft point that shoot very well, but have no experience on game performance.

That federal barnes load penetrated into the offside shoulder of a 2000lb capebuff. Ive use into on dozens of game animals and it has done well on all. One of my fav factory loads along with the federal 300 grain aframe.