problems with reloading 454

bandcollector

I loaded some 454 shells today in new cases with new h110 powder and I am using CCI small pistol magnum primers. When I tried to fire them they just made a small pop and lodged the 230 gr fmj in my barrel repeatedly. I thought my primers might be bad so I loaded some more with benchrest small rifle magnums with exactly the same result. The only thing I can think it may be is bad powder, but I just bought it yesterday and the seal was intact. Any ideas ?

rpo242

230 grain is fairly light for the 454. I never tried them in mine.
Freedom arms recomends small rifle primers. Try 260-300 grain bullets with a heavy crimp. You need a tight fit with the bullet
to build pressure to get the slower powder to burn properly.
I downloaded load info from Freedom Arms website, used it and had no trouble. The gun is a real blast.

You can't miss fast enough.

rpo242

230 grain is fairly light for the 454. I never tried them in mine.
Freedom arms recomends small rifle primers. Try 260-300 grain bullets with a heavy crimp. You need a tight fit with the bullet
to build pressure to get the slower powder to burn properly.
I downloaded load info from Freedom Arms website, used it and had no trouble. The gun is a real blast.

You can't miss fast enough.

loader44

According to my reloaing information, you should be using:
36grs of H110 ( this is a max load start with 10% less ).
Small Rifle Primers. ( Winchester ).
C.O.L. 1.765
260gr JFP or JHP
1954FPS

From your discription, you used to little powder.
How much powder did you put in?
I know the bullett weight is different from the one you are using, But like I said, use 10% less powder to start.

Hope this helps.

loader44.

bandcollector

I am using 34 gr of H110

rick_reno

That load should have produced more than a "pop". Is it possible you're putting a .451 bullet into the case and not crimping it? If the bullet is really loose I suppose it could burn the powder and have the gas escape around the bullet rather than pushing it out the barrel. I've never seen this happen but I can't imagine what else could be causing this. I shoot .454's a lot and they need a good crimp that is done seperate from the seating operation.
When you get the bullet out of the barrel, has the powder in the case
burned? Are you getting a lot of flash from the cylinder when these things go pop?