I've been barrel shopping for my Encore, and found a nice 454 Casull bull barrel, at a good price. I was looking for 45 L.C. for whitetails in MI. But I do have alot of .45 bullets and small rifle primers. I know I can shoot Colts threw it, but dont want to compromise accurracy. Anybody have deer loads for a 454? Or do you think I should hold out for the 45 LC barrel? Im trying to get something in the next week or 2 as deer season is just around the corner.
Maybe packing the Bisley again this year?:)

I think the 454 would be a good choice in barrels. I do not have one, but if I did I would probably go with a 300 grain Bullet. For a reduced power loading I would start with 12.5 grains of Unique for 1,086 fps. You can go to 14.0 (MAX LOAD) of Unique for 1277 fps. Unique should be a good place to start reloading and getting familiar with the barrel and recoil.
H110 has a starting load of 26.5 grains for 1482 fps. This should have plenty of punch for a Deer Load.

I am sure somone who shoots one will jump in with some good loading information shortly.

NO, a starting load is 28.5 gr and THAT is not enough with a SR mag primer. They will fail to ignite until you get near max. You will blow a bullet and the unburned powder into the barrel fooling with that primer and starting loads.
They only way we cured the problem is to use cut down .460 brass or drilling out .454 brass to take a LP mag primer. With this, all listed loads can be worked. DO NOT GO BELOW LISTED STARTING LOADS! If you use .454 brass with a SR primer, don't use H110 or 296 unless you load to max. Use another powder for lighter loads.
Here is the tool I made, drilled .454 brass and a .460 case with a Fed 155 primer tested to 55,000 PSI.

Thanks for the info fellas. After reading TCMans response, I think I will pass on the 454 barrel for my first Encore barrel. I have arthritis in my hands, right now its not bothering me too bad, but I don"t need a big boomer that is hard reduce loads. I will keep looking for my 45 LC or a 41 Mag.
Thanks for saving me some headaches.
-dan

I don't know what I did but "I have gone and done it..." LOL

Here's my favorite "light" load for my 454. Hornady 250XTP over 11.2gr Hodgedon titegroup. From what Hodgedon web site says it's moving about 1,298 fps. It doesn't kick much and at 25yds, it's literally one ragged hole!

haha... sorry about that TC, ... I mean't 430Man. I just plan on killing Whitetails... going to hold out for something a little more tame. Thanks again everyone.

240gr,

I use Trail Boss powder and an 250 gr jacketed or an 255 grain cast 45 colt bullet in my 460s for a reduced load. Velocity is in the 1100s and accuracy is excellent. I used TB because it adequately fills the case and I don't have to be concerned about the charge shifting in the case. I'm sure this load could be used in the 454 Casull as well. 1100 fps with a 250 gr bullet is all you need for most whitetail at an acceptable range. Hope this helps.

Doc

I have had both the 454 and the 45 colt in the Encore-- I prefer the 45 Colt-- the 454 would rattle the front sight off with heavy loads and would hammer your hand.

I bought a45 Colt 15" T/C factory barrel- used- and had MGM cut it to 12" and do a matte blue -- made a nice barrel

If you can stand the cost have MGM build you a custom one--you can have the freebore set custon so you can shoot the larger 45 cal. bullets seated out

my issue was it overlaped with most of my wheel guns--so it did not get shot much-- it was a fun project though

wow, don't miss out on that barrel. the 454 is EASY to load reduced loads for. YOU do not have to load max with the H110 loads, don't go for the lowest, just use hs-6, very very easy to load with gives 300-340 grains at 1200-1300 fps. when i'm home i'll give you the particulars on the loads. and with my midrange H110 loads i've never had a problem and just loaded some 340 grain bullets to 1500 fps, with a deviation of 22fps max with 20 shots. all but 2 bullets shot through the chrony were within 12 fps of eachother, no probs with consistent ignition there. got some great smaller bullet loads as well which are good for deer.

You can shoot reduced loads out of the .454 barrel using an appropriate powder.Winchester has a factory load using a hornady 250 X.T.P. shooting over 1200 f.p.s., for me I compared it to a mild .44 mag. load

HS-6 is GREAT powder.
Now I don't know about a .454 in a single shot where the boolit is at the rifling. The gap and forcing cone in the revolver reacts different to the primer pressure so you might not have the problem.
Too much airspace from a reduced load and boolit movement from primer pressure that increases the air space is more pronounced in the revolver.
I will never say anyone is wrong and only state our findings so you have to try things yourself but if you have a problem, you can figure out what I have said and see if it applies.

for what it is worth I loaded some 250XTP's on the low end using 2400 and mag primers and found recoil very mild--much like a hot 45 colt load

Check out the alliant manual for the data