Just got back from testing out several loadings with Accurate 11FS in the Ruger Super Redhawk 454. I start with that revolver because it's the strongest thing I've got in any handgun chambering, and thus it's the safest test bed for any .45 Colt load.
All loadings were with a 255gr LRNFP of BHN 12. They are as follows.
- 23.2gr (this was by accident, misreading the scale as 24.2, which is what I meant--I decided to try it anyway)
24.2gr
25.2gr
26.2gr
27.2gr
The primers were Murom (Tulammo) large pistol, standard (not magnum). I'd read that the brisance of the Murom standard primers tended to be more like the Remington and Winchester LPP's, even though Murom makes a LPPM, which I also happen to have. Next load testing will be with the LPPM's to see how much of a difference, if any, there will be.
All loads fired decently. I was a little surprised that the 23.2gr load did as well as it did. However, I did see a few unburned powder flakes at the beginning of the barrel with the 23.2gr and 24.2gr loads. This decreased some once we got to 25.2gr, and it was almost gone by the time we got to 26.2 and 27.2gr. At 26.2gr, the barrel seemed to get swept rather clean by the bullet of anything that was in there. That tells me that bullet obturation was happening best at that powder loading.
Best precision appears to be anywhere between 25.2gr and 26.2gr in this Super Redhawk, with the best overall performance appearing to lean more closely in the 26.2gr direction, inclusive. At 27.2gr, the load of course got a bit stiffer, but I didn't see any increase in precision or a decrease in unburnt powder. We may be at the point of diminishing returns at that powder charge . That may change when I try the loads in the levergun.
Note that the LPP's seemed to hold up well...though the R-P cases showed some burnt powder leakage around the primer pocket. The other cases did not. It appears that Accurate 11FS may be a bit easier to ignite than its H110/W296 parent, because the Murom LPP's ignited every charge that I tried. Even the 23.2gr load did reasonably well, as far as shot precision went.
I realize fully that the LPPM's likely will make a difference as well. LPPM loadings will get tried next, between 24.5gr and 26.0gr...and I will be saving the R-P cases for the standard, SAAMI-spec .45 Colt loads after tonight's results.