Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns newbie handgun hunter and the 454 casull

I just traded into a 7.5" SRH and I figured I will try and knock a bear over with a handgun this spring.

Those of you who have been using handguns, whats a good knock down and yet a deep penetrating load for the 454?

I'm not worried about recoil, I have my 3" 44mags shooting 320grainers. I just dont know about the 454.

Thanks

Oh and I have a burris 2x scope coming for it.

Find some heavy hard cast. I have been shootiing Oregon Trail 310 WFNGC from my .44 in 629. Accuracy has been good, for me shooting, and no leading. I have yet to kill anything with them yet though.

I have a Freedom Arms that I got from a guy that had been using it for grizzly defense. After a bunch of penetration/wound channel testing he settled on the 300gr Hornady HP XTP.

If it's black bear, then a I would recommend a 300 grain JHP. If it's a brown bear, then one of the factory jackedted "soft points" (that aren't soft at all) from Freedom Arms, or a good quality cast bullet.

If its going to be used on the bigger bears stay away from HP anything! The very heavy jacketed slugs should work, something like the Belt Mountain Punch bullet or the heavy FA slugs. The best would be a heavy hard cast slug with wide meplat.

Dick

The Cast Performance 360 grain WLFN hammers game and is extremely effective.

Yes I have shot Bears with wide flat point hard cast

I mostly use Freedom Arms ammo, loaded with their JFP 260 gr. and 300 gr. bullets. Either will provide great knockdown power and penetration.

If hunting blackies, I would lean toward the 260 gr., anything bigger (brownies) would get the 300 gr.

Now is the time to start practicing with that handgun- recoil energy with full-power loads is nearly 2x what you are accustomed to in .44 mag.

My own .454 is a FA custom, with 10" MagNaPorted barrel. Sight is Leupold 4x, in TSOB mounts.

I use this JB Youngs 360 grain in my 454 I also like the 300 XTP Mag for heavy loads and the regular XTP loaded down to about 1250 fps for play and most critters..



Jayco

That's an excellent hard cast bullet there Logcutter and an excellent wieght for the 45

Thanks guys. I have about 5 months to find a load and get comfortable with it. I hope to use it on bigger bears also.

I use 300 grain hard cast w/gas checks for hunting with my 454.

I tend to side with hornady xtp's around the 300gr variety in my .44 mag and my .454, 400gr sierra JHP in my .500. The guys using hard cast do very well with them also. I have had trouble with lead fouling even with gas checks. Maybe someone could chime in with some recommendations to help this. I know the cast bullets are really good and I would like to use them more myself.

I carry Buffalo Bore in mine. Try Cast Performance Bullets if you are going to reload. Good old heavy hard cast.