454 Casull

[longcolt45]

I'm not new to reloading, but I am new to the 454. I hope I'm doing this posting stuff right cause I'm new here to. I'm using Hodgdon H110 powder at 37 grain for a medium load with a Sierra "Sports Master" bullet 240 grain JHP.
My question is, the case is so full that it is deforming the bullet when seated. Can anyone suggest either a different bullet or powder to solve this problem?

[Franchi20/28]

I've been loading for 454 ever since the Raging Bull came out, with 200, 250 and 300 gr pills, using H110 exclusively.

Your listed load is within Hodgdon's load range for a 240gr with H110. (36.0 - 39.0 gr).

If your cases are overfilled with powder, I would suggest you have a problem somewhere. Make sure you have 454 brass and not 45 colt. Double and triple check both your powder measure and powder scale. Borrow a scale from a friend and check your powder charge again.

Any load with H110 is a hot load (but that's what the 454 is about. If you're going to load it down you might as well load 45lc's).

After you do all that, check and make sure you're not throwing too much powder again. better safe than sorry.

W296 supposedly gives similar performance in the 454, but I've never used it.

[longcolt45]

I've been loading 45 Longcolt for several years. So I do know how to check the cases all you have to do is look at the bottom of the brass. My Chrono says I'm traveling average 1850 fps so their can't be an overload.
The brass is still so full that it flattens the lead tip of the bullet.

[Franchi20/28]

The brass is still so full that it flattens the lead tip of the bullet.

Ahh. that helps. Maybe not.
It sounds like you may have the wrong seating plug installed. Maybe not.

Depending on the make of your dies there may be two or three different seating plugs to match the profiles of different bullets.

Just looked at my equip. My RCBS .45lc/.454 dies only have one seater plug.

All my pills (speer 200hp, 260hp, Hornady 250xtp, 300xtp) all seem to have the same tip profile which roughly matches the profile of the seater plug.

My .40sw/10mm dies on the other hand has two seating plugs. One for a flat point/SWC design and one for a round nose design

What is the make/model of the bullet you are trying to load? I'm starting to think you are trying to load a bullet with some type of spire point whereas the seating plug is definitely designed for a flat/hollow point design bullet.

[Franchi20/28]

What is the make/model of the bullet you are trying to load?

Duh...Sierra sportsmaster...flat/hollow point.

hmmm....

Are you maybe being overly critical of what you're seeing?

Velocity seems right for the load.

Are you seeing any signs of high pressure? How does the load shoot accuracy wise?

I can't imagine you seeing the bullets being flattened from excessive seating pressure before you would start buckling the brass.

I assume you are seating to the cannelure and not crimping too tight. Only one cannelure in that bullet, so you can't be using the wrong one. If you were crimping too tight, I'd still think you would see it in the brass first.

I'm stumped.
Anybody else?

[longcolt45]

I guess I'll have to try bullet shopping. I'll try Speer & Hornady. I don't know maybe Sierra is longer behind the cannelure. BEATS ME ???????

[Franchi20/28]

How about a before and after pic of the slugs you're loading.
Maybe one of the brass with the powder in it before seating the bullet if it's not too inconvenient.

[longcolt45]

Here is the pictures. Sorry it took so long. I been hunting

[longcolt45]

here is a couple more top mark is powder bottom is how deep the bullet seats