After many years was able to buy my first .454 today (Never found the right used one when I had the money). A 7 1/2 inch Freedom Arms field grade with wood grips. Was planning on using one of my Contenders this year to hunt but will now have to rethink this. I had a great year for drawing tags and have two elk, three antelope and one deer tag to fill. Also black bear if I buy a fall tag over the counter. Any reccomended loads out there for this gun I would be glad to listen.

I have a Ruger 454 but still want a FA. I've shot several and all have been accurate. For elk I would use either the FA 45 Cal 260 JFP or Nosler Nosler-HG Partition.

Tell you what, I live in the Springs you can drop it off at my house and I'll work work up a load for you. You buy components of course...

I second the recommendation for the 260 gr. FA (Cor-Bon?) bullet. Load it up to 1800+fps with H110 and be happy, happy, happy.

Or, you could go for the 335 gr. hard cast gas checked WFN. I got mine from Cast Performance, but thought I read where they changed hands somewhere along the line. More H110 here.

For deer, I like the Barnes 250-gr XPB with a stiff load of Blue Dot.

Congratulations! You will not be sorry. Your gun will tell you what it likes to shoot. I have had excellent results with the 260 FA bullet (Cor-Bon no longer sells components)and a very stiff charge of H110 with a FED benchrest primer. Same goes for the FA 300 or Hornaday 300gr pill. I have just started playing with the 335 hard cast and they show good potential as well. All of the loads that I am currently using are compressed so work your way up and listen to the gun!

You'll like it.Here's my Raging Bull 454 Casull.