Today I discovered that my Rossi .454 is significantly more accurate if I use .454 cases. The .454 Casull seems to fit the description of Pistol cartridge, but I'd like to know for sure before spending a lot of time, and money, in load development.

May I legally use a .454 Casull in Pistol Cartridge Lever Action Silhouette matches?

As long as you can load it down enough to not damage targets. I am not sure I would want to put up with that much recoil all day. Just my oppinion.

Way I understand your post is Casull brass works best you want to use it down loaded.

Our club the match director would set up a few targets see what it sounds like observe the effect on target then rule yes or no. Problem from the Match Directors viewpoint is if it says hot load on the case it may be a hot load no matter what the competitor says. Even after the match director rules if it blast loud competitors may protest the rifle.

Boats

I really don't intend to use a .454 at full power - I fired a factory load yesterday and scraped my elbow on the shooting bench. No, I'll use it at .45 Colt power levels - just worried that it might not be "legal" for Pistol Cartridge matches.

Michael

Went to the LGS to buy 100 .454 cases today.
I never bought empty .454 Casull cases before.
There were many on the shelf.
I put two bags into my cart and started for the check-out line.
Then I saw the price! No wonder there were so many available!
Is $2 per case the normal price for .454? Or, is this panic pricing?
I put 'em back.
I need to work on my small-bore skills anyway.

$2 buck a case - really?

Factory loads were selling for $35 for a box of 20 at the same store.

M

I believe that PCCR was to use hunter pistol ammo restrictions meaning the trim lenght can be no longer than 1.290" with exception for the 32-20. now it could be used for CLA. a sorbathane recoil pad should protect you shoulder from bruising and slipping out of its placement in your shoulder.
Steve Tapp

Since there is nothing in any of the PCCLA rules that mentions cartridge length that would not be an issue. As long as I'm talking about the rules, there is also nothing in the PCCLA rules that restricts Pistol Cartridges to straight walled cases (with a few named exceptions). I hear that from guys all the time and it just ain't so.

The only restriction for the .454 would be regarding the possibility of damaging the targets and since you plan on downloading the cartridges that shouldn't be an issue. When you say .45 Colt loads you've still got to be careful. I've watched fairly hot .45 Colt loads snap the feet off both turkeys and rams. I personally shoot a .44 Mag in PCCLA but it's a 180gr JHP @ 950fps. Very nice, very soft load but anything much faster and I'd start to worry about target damage.