Hard Cast and CEB for Handgun Field Loading

I predominantly carry either a S&W M610 10mm or a Ruger Super Blackhawk .480 Ruger when in the field/back country. My handloads have been hard cast 225 gr for the 10 and 420 gr for the .480. I’m considering CEB handgun bullets in lieu of hard cast going with 10mm 150 gr Raptor and .480 280 gr Raptor. I would appreciate reading your experience with CEB handgun bullets.

Many thanks.

Following with interest

I have loaded a few of their 300g handgun solids for the 454 Casull. I've haven't taken any game with it as yet. However it has shown itself to be quite accurate at the range. Be aware that the added projectile length, compared to hard cast, means less room in the case for powder. As a consequence you may need to settle for lower velocities. If you email CEB they will supply load data for the cartridge you're interested in.

beautiful bisley

I know I am late but have been busy. The CEB Raptors have been very accurate. 10mm 45, and 500JRH. Haven't loaded them in the 500S&W yet.
A couple things to note; Try to match the bullets to game. In other words you could hunt Texas Hill country deer, (they are small ) or hogs, under 100Lbs with the 10mm But, if you go to larger game, grab the 480. +1 on the beautiful Bisley.
2nd note is Do not expect the bullet to react like it is quoted as doing. The petals break off but they don't always go four different directions. I have had them stay close together, creating a separate wound from the lower portion of the bullet. On a small hog the petals penetrated and excited, all the while staying close together. Giving the appearance of four small knife wounds. This was not a problem nor a complaint.
Simply different. Pig was DRT. The pig was running towards me and I spined it. Back bone completely broke in half and petals did as was stated.
Bones,,,, The Raptors will destroy bones just like a Barnes XPB. They will do the job.
I have 50rds of the solids loaded for the 500 JRH, but have not had a chance to test them.
CEB can give load data, Hodgdon has a few calibers, and then there is quick load or other software.
Measure the seating depth compared to a Barnes. Drop 5% and work up a ladder load. Kinda pricey to load several at a time.
Good luck with this. I think you will enjoy them.

Shuler Jumbo
Is the Bisley a 5 shot?

@Cherokeetracker Yes, the Bisley chambered .480 Ruger is a 5-shot. I wanted the largest possible caliber in the smallest packable frame size and did not want the wait time for a wonderful John Linebaugh or Hamilton Bowen or other top gunmaker build. I was fortunate to find the Bisley and I specifically wanted the 4 5/8” barrel. The Bisley is physically smaller than a L-Frame Smith. Thank you for taking time to comment; I will pick up CEB pills. I really like the .480 Ruger cartridge, it is well designed and well balanced and with full power loads at my limit for controlling handgun power.

The 480 is a balanced cartridge. I am not an influencer but, I would be hard pressed to leave that revolver when heading to hunt.

Schüler Jumbo said:

I’m considering CEB handgun bullets in lieu of hard cast going with 10mm 150 gr Raptor and .480 280 gr Raptor. I would appreciate reading your experience with CEB handgun bullets.

Click to expand...

First let me qualify that I am not a handgun hunter by any stretch, although have taken a few species with a handgun in my earlier days. Nor am I a serious big bore handgun shooter, at least not in the last 15 years. I tore a tendon in my right hand with a 4 inch 500 S&W that never healed properly, these days a 250 gr bullet at 1000 fps is about my limit. The load was a 400 gr CEB Solid at 1400 fps in a 4 inch gun, 3 was all I got to. Now, another point is this, I have never fired a 10mm anything, nor a 475/480 anything, so no expert on that either.

What I have done is some test work in 45 Colt/454 and 44 Caliber with the CEB bullets. And I have extensive knowledge and work done in rifle cartridges with these bullets as well.

Direct to your question, my opinion, comparing the Raptors to the Hard Cast, considering tissue destruction the Raptors win hands down easy. Raptors will not penetrate as deep as the Hard Cast, but will cause far more tissue damage. And depending upon species hunted as well. If you are after thinner skinned species, hands down go to the Raptors. If you are after heavy thick skinned, go to the CEB Solids! The CEB Solids out perform the hard cast by leaps and bounds, the Copper Solids are not subject to the bullet being distorted or damaged by contact with bone, and drive deeper and straighter, more consistent than Hard Cast can. In softer tissue, no bone contact, the hard cast do well, but even then the CEB Copper Solids has the edge. Even hard cast in soft tissue can distort, which causes inconsistency in penetration. Deep Diving, CEB Solids win the day.

A few years ago I was asked to do some penetration tests for a friend that wrote a book Hunting Revolvers. This involved a lot of test work in both 44 Mag and 45 Colt. These of course were heavy loads, and not being able to do that by hand, I used my Ransom Rest to accomplish this work.





Raptors respond very well to velocity. More velocity, more everything.........





A few of the very best tested Cast Bullets;







The CEB Solids also react well to velocity, unlike many cast bullets in which the nose can deform, even in softer tissue, as you see above.

This really does not qualify for big bore revolver, this CEB 200 gr bullet is designed for 45 ACP, but the test shows some interesting things;





In .452 caliber the 300 CEB Solid is King for Revolvers, and or various lever guns in 45 Colt.





Hope that helps a bit?

Hunter4752001 said:

I have loaded a few of their 300g handgun solids for the 454 Casull. I've haven't taken any game with it as yet. However it has shown itself to be quite accurate at the range. Be aware that the added projectile length, compared to hard cast, means less room in the case for powder. As a consequence you may need to settle for lower velocities. If you email CEB they will supply load data for the cartridge you're interested in.

Click to expand...

I am not quite sure of what velocity you might be looking for. I have heard this before, but personally did not find that being any sort of issue, at least to this point;


That was done in that 7.5 inch Ruger 454. Are you looking for more velocity than 1600+ with a 300?
I had to shoot those in the Ransom.