"Cowboy" low-power 454 Casull/ 45 "Extra Long" Colt loads for R92?

[Begle1]

I've been working on getting a 454 Rossi R92 to feed 45 Colt reliably and it certainly seems (non-surprisingly I guess) that longer cartridges work better.

Max 45 Colt length spec is 1.600". Max 454 Casull length spec is 1.77". I can get 10 into the magazine as long as they're around 1.75". So I'd like to load some Cowboy-powered loads to a COAL of around 1.75".

I made some 1.75" dummy rounds with 45 Colt brass and they did seem to feed pretty good, but I was having problems getting my 250 grain bullets to stay seated with so much of the bullet sticking out of the case.

So I had the thought to use Casull brass, but at that point I'd be using an even more cavernous chamber, and also a small rifle primer, so it'd leave me in a total desert as far as published load data goes. (As far as I know.)



Does anybody have any insight on a jumping off point for a Casull Cowboy load?

I've been loading 1.6" 45 Colt with a 250 grain bullet over 6.0 grains of Green Dot, which gives me a consistent 1000 fps out of the 20" R92 barrel. I'd like to stay around that level or a bit slower, but with a Casull case at 1.75". And I'd love to use my same 250 grain bullets.

Or I guess another approach would be to use a longer (and heavier) than usual bullet in a 45 Colt case?

(I'm quite inexperienced at all of this so apologies if I'm not making any sense at all.)

[matt45]

Is your Rossi chambered for 454?  If it is chambered for 45 Colt, the 454 brass should not fit (chamber will be too short).

[Hair Trigger Jim]

Sounds like it's the one chambered for .454, which Rossi does make.

[Coffinmaker]

  Begle1

I have to ask, what is your intended use of this rifle.  If your intent is to use it for CAS, you have the wrong rifle.  Also, down-loading a large capacity case is a Krap Shoot.  The reason you don't see any loading data in that direction, nobody that will admit to it is doing it. 

Oft times, the end result you seek just isn't practical with the equipment and sundries you have.

[Begle1]

It is the R92 chambered in 454.
I read some mixed reviews before I bought it regarding how they fed 45 Colt. I was perhaps a tad optimistic.

I wanted to use it for CAS as well as a short range deer rifle. I live in Hawaii, we have a lot of rain and axis deer that hide in grass taller than you are. A stainless, lightweight, heavy caliber rifle is near perfect for wading through wet brush.

I knew it wouldn't be the most competitive CAS rifle but I was hoping it would at least feed consistently. I'm okay giving up a few seconds to a short-stroked toggle gun, but sometimes that turns into over 10 seconds as I need to manually guide rounds, work the lever back and forth extra times to get rounds seated, or (the worst) have rounds pop up too far and stovepipe as the lever goes forward. I'm sure some of that is the gun and some is me, but it does seem like it can all be mitigated with the right bullets at a 1.75" COAL.

[Sagebrush Burns]

Check some loading manuals.  As long as it's a lead bullet at less than 1400fps muzzle velocity it is legal.

[wildman1]

A few years back I had a Rossi '92 that was stamped 45 colt, but it would chamber the 454. I never shot one in it but they chambered and fed easily.
wM1