If you use cast bullets, keep them to 1,000-1,200fps to avoid bad leading.
Hogwash, I'm shooting mine at 1550fps, yes they are GC'ed, but I have also run them up to 1750fps but I really don't like the added recoil and blast. Yes it can be done and even with plain base, if your alloy along with the fit and lube are up to it. I can easily run the Accurate 454 280C up into the 1500+ velocity range with no ill effects either, it simply doesn't have the accuracy I want from this revolver. Shoots great in my Redhawk in 45 Colt with top end Ruger Only loads though.
I was gifted a Raging Bull 8.375" 454 by a close friend. With it came two boxes of factory Winchester ammo. We had a hoot with it that first day out, but I knew right away those loads weren't what I would want to shoot through it.
It only took looking around at what was offered for me to purchase brass, dies, and bullets. I first started off with some 240gr magnum JHP's I had gotten as factory blems. They shot very well and killed a couple of hogs but they didn't last long. So I moved on to the Cast Performance 260gr WFN's and juiced them up. After taking several decent hogs with those I never looked back at jacketed. I however simply could not bring myself to dish out what they were being offered for, so I purchased a Lee 452300RF mold and started pouring my own. It took a while to get the loads just where I wanted them, but the bullets shot well from day one. I poured them with straight clip on wheel weight alloy air cooled, and lube them with straight Alox or even better the White Label Lubes version of 45/45/10.
I hunt with mine quite a bit so I don't really shoot anything in the 45 Colt realm. If I want to shoot those I use that revolver. Then again I am not looking for a T Rex to show up in any of the woods I tromp around in, but I do find an occasional 300+ pound hog. Sometimes they themselves can get a bit unruly. So I load for lack of a better term just a touch over mid range loads. My home case 300's are clocking just over 1550fps at 10'. They hit like the Hammer of Thor and usually knock whatever is in their path sideways a few feet if not roll it completely over.
Accuracy has been from I won't even show the targets to ragged hole groups. I am confident with it out to 100yds easily keeping 4 out of the 5 shots withing 6" when I am having a decent day. These groups were shot at 25yds standing with a two hand hold.
One uses AA-9 and the other is loaded with 296. Either one however will certainly take care of anything I am likely to come across in my neck of the woods or probably anywhere else I might wonder off into.
This is a shot of an impact on a 6 gallon bucket full of water at 50yds.
The best advice I can give is to not get caught up in trying to work up the hottest loads you can simply because you have a 454. Work up for accuracy with a good bullet, and decent load of powder, then let the velocity take care of the rest. If your flinching due to anticipated recoil or muzzle blast your not going to accomplish anything but wasted powder and bullets. Yea it will make a huge boom and nice fireball, but if your not hitting what your aiming at whats the point?
