Berrys bullets for my 454 freedom arms

N

NUKE HUNTER

New member
I’m finally getting around to reloading again, kids have been consuming all my time, and I’m having issues with soot on my brass. I know I can’t push them fast and I can’t crimp them too much but can I ruin my gun with the gas leaking by?
I started at 10.5 grains of unique then bumped it up to 11 and kept bumping it up to 12 grains and still getting soot. There’s a Lite crimp on them. The bullets are berrys 250 gr .452 flat point. Any input would be appreciated
Thanks
 
one thought that comes to mind is an under-powered primer - you might not be fully igniting the powder charge which can result in soot/gsr residue.

What primer are you using?

Also - what powder are you using? - Typically a powder manufacturer suggests what strength of primer to get the best clean burn of their powder.

I've had a batch of contaminated powder in the past that smoked terribly and sparked more than I thought normal - it fouled my gear and I felt like a chimney sweep more than a gun owner working through that pound of powder......
 
It’s a small rifle mag primer in 454 brass, the powder is unique and not old, never had a problem with it yet. Im shooting lite loads cause I just want to punch hole in paper, I’m just curious if this is corrosive to the gun and would erode any parts like chamber, throat etc ?
I don’t care about the soot, just want to be safe
Thanks for the responses
 
I was trying to avoid the carbon ring with the 45 lc brass, looks like I can’t win with this combo.
Thank you all for your input
 
You might try switching to a different powder. For a light load in a large case, I’d look at Trailboss.

Hodgdon lists loads with bullet weights from 250 gr. and up.
 
I just got back from the range, I tried 10 gr of universal with a better crimp and it was better. I was thinking that exactly garretj, got to pick up trailboss
Thanks
 
I've tried only cannelured bullets in the Casull since I was concerned about bullet creep from recoil. Some of the Casull brass (such as Winchester) is on the hard side, and isn't well suited to low pressure loads and is more likely soot cases.

I've loaded some 240/250/260 grain bullets in Starline cases at lower levels using Titegroup and True Blue with decent results. But Trail Boss is probably a very good choice for your application if you are going to buy powder anyway.
 
Sooty cases will not affect anything. While Trailboss will fill the case more, it will not reduce sootiness unless you raise the chamber pressure over what you are getting with the Unique. Unique is easy to ignite, standard primers are fine. I don't see an issue. For the cost of Berry's without a cannelure, you should be able to get powder coated lead with a cannelure, which would work better with your roll crimp die.
 
To avoid the sooty cases in light cast bullet 41 magnum loads in 41 magnum brass I simply annealed (softened) a box of brass , labeled them light loads only , the softer brass would then expand and seal properly with the light loads.

Hint...simply clean the chambers with a brass brush and amazingly...NO carbon build up ring....I have been shooting 38 specials in a 357 Magnum since 1971 (47 years) and guess what...no ring around the cylinder.
I would use 45 Colt cases and simply clean the cylinder....No Problemo !
Gary
 
I’ve shot a few hundred Berry’s plated flat points through my Alaskan. I have minimal reloading experience, only used Tight Group & H110 for 45 Colt & 454 reloads with minimal soot & Tight Group being the cleaner of the two.
 
I don’t reload for 45 long colt in my casull but now my casull loads are strictly viht n110. It’s the absolute cleaniest powder I ever used and way accurate with my 340 grain harddcast from penn bullets
 
In large sized cartridges such as the 454 casull... I believe that unique will burn better at full charges.

I load for the 454 with h110 and small rifle magnum primers my loads are compressed and had trouble with just a regular small rifle primer. Switched to small rifle magnum primer and it was all good
Also you might try some 2400 powder... it's good stuff
I also used 240 grain XTP Mag bullets
 
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