I was wondering if I could use pistol load data in a .454 puma 20" carbine?, or must I load down? I want to work up a load of - starline brass - cci450mag.primers - 300gr.hornadymagxtp - (31.0 lilgun) or (30.5 of 296). Would this be to much presure in a 20" barrel? Thanks for any advice on this subject. Don

I was wondering if I could use pistol load data in a .454 puma 20" carbine?, or must I load down? I want to work up a load of - starline brass - cci450mag.primers - 300gr.hornadymagxtp - (31.0 lilgun) or (30.5 of 296). Would this be to much presure in a 20" barrel? Thanks for any advice on this subject. Don


I use loads that are published and within pressure specs for the 454 in my Puma and have not had any problems. You probably won't want to shoot those loads all day long, just because they thump pretty well in that carbine, but they work great. I reload and shoot more loads that fall into the warm 45 Colt range than any other load. Good Luck

Upnatom4
That 30.5 gr of W296 (300 XTPMAG/ WFN Cast) is my load I use to hunt with- and I get 1995 FPS !! A real accurate load in my Puma. LostinVt - he's right unless you love getting pummeled you don't shoot a whole bunch of these- 10 rounds is about my max! Makes shooting my '06 like shooting a .22!

Sorry I am late in replying. I was wonder if you guys us regular, or mag. primers as Freedom Arms recomends. I also noticed that Hodgdon H110 recomends reducing loads no less than 3% for starting loads because of inconsistant ignation (a bullet may lodge in barrel). I wonder if this is one of the reasons why Freedom Arms suggests mag. primers. It sounds like H110 is not good for reduced loads. I reload the .223, 7-08, 338-06, 45colt, but the .454 casull is by far the hardest for me to find safe reloading data. Most data is for pistols and like the speer manual .44mag. (300gr.) loads are loaded with (2gr.) more powder in the pistol then in the rifle. It makes me wonder how much more presure the .454 is in the puma then in a pistol if everyones using pistol data? And if I do use mag. primers I am sure pressure will rise also. Maybe I am being overly carefull, but I don't want to make a mistake. Don

Upnatom4
Some of those FA loads were/are to much for anything but FA's! Try some in my SRH and thought they were just alittle to much- backed offm a grain or two and they shoot just fine with out sticking cases. So you can use there data but start at the Min and work up! As with any load. Most of the other data Speer and such is just as good in the Pistol as it it is in the rifle. I don't know of any manual with Rifle data as of yet? And each firearm is different . Shoot safe and enjoy that 454.