If mine was a hunting gun I'd qualify that load as "carry a lot and shoot a little". I shot about 50 rounds(IIRC) and the forward magazine/barrel clamp screw worked loose without my noticing. The magazine started moving at each shot, eventually shearing the screw that goes up through the magazine end plug and burring over the groove on the magazine tube. This cost me a new magazine tube and screw; not a lot of money I know but it was inconvenient. I'm quite happy to shoulder the responsibility for not keeping the screws tight but the heavy recoil certainly didn't help. Pressure wise, there appeared to be no problems and I've seen hotter loads suggested but there's just no reason for me to accelerate wear on the gun.

300 grain bullets over a modest charge of Unique at about 900 fps are great fun to shoot as they give you a meaningful shove in the shoulder without being hard on the gun or shooter. The 185 gr bullet I mentioned before is probably the one I shoot most as recoil is slight and accuracy very good. As most of my shooting with this gun is over not more than 50 yards, trajectory isn't a real problem.

Whilst cases have a slight but noticeable bulge just ahead of the case web, due to the rather sloppy rear end of the chamber on the Winchester (I've seen this written up in reviews of the rifle), case life is very good. This is despite the fact that I size cases with a 45 ACP sizer and use a corresponding neck expander. Cast bullets are sized .454" although I have quite happily shot commercial bullets at .451" (I once picked up a sizeable number of the 185 gr jacketed SWC target bullets for the 45 ACP at a very reasonable price). This is simply due to the fact that I have a morbid fear of bullets being pushed back into the case during feeding, a throwback to my IPSC days shooting 45 ACP. It's probably not justified, particulalry as I crimp with one of the Lee Factory Crimp Dies, but it makes me feel better.