Dano4734, this may be a bit late but a thought about your question regarding a load for deer in the 454 Casull. I used the latest Lyman manual for the data below and calculated ft-lb of energy with this formula: E= mass in grains x velocity squared divided by 450240.
I used their report of the most potentially accurate maximum load.
You used your .44 MAg successfully; if you used a 240gr bullet at 1177fps you'd have 738 ft-lbs of energy; a 300gr bullet at 1046 fps = 729 ft-lb. The pressures are essentially the same (36800 vs 36100). That looks like a wash.
In the .454, using the same procedure:
Hornady XTP MAG 240gr = 1732 fps = 1599 ft-lb = 46900 CUP
Barnes XPBHP 250gr = 1650fps = 1512 ft-lb = 53,200 CUP
Hornady XTP MAG 300gr = 1520 fps = 1539 ft-lb = 53,800 CUP
I would probably choose the 240gr bullet. You're getting virtually twice the energy as your successful .44 Mag, and more energy than you would with either a 250gr or 300gr in the Casull with less pressure (recoil).
As you increase bullet weight, velocity drops,and V squared is the key to energy production. I couldn't find data on the two you were considering but one was 300gr and the other 340, so the calculations would probably pan out the same way.
I used their report of the most potentially accurate maximum load.
You used your .44 MAg successfully; if you used a 240gr bullet at 1177fps you'd have 738 ft-lbs of energy; a 300gr bullet at 1046 fps = 729 ft-lb. The pressures are essentially the same (36800 vs 36100). That looks like a wash.
In the .454, using the same procedure:
Hornady XTP MAG 240gr = 1732 fps = 1599 ft-lb = 46900 CUP
Barnes XPBHP 250gr = 1650fps = 1512 ft-lb = 53,200 CUP
Hornady XTP MAG 300gr = 1520 fps = 1539 ft-lb = 53,800 CUP
I would probably choose the 240gr bullet. You're getting virtually twice the energy as your successful .44 Mag, and more energy than you would with either a 250gr or 300gr in the Casull with less pressure (recoil).
As you increase bullet weight, velocity drops,and V squared is the key to energy production. I couldn't find data on the two you were considering but one was 300gr and the other 340, so the calculations would probably pan out the same way.