450 Bushmaster

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I was pretty sure I had a thread about this caliber... But couldnt see it.
I have been working up some sub loads for almost two years. Not steady as I arrived at 10.7g Unique and a Lyman 470g bullet (457121 maybe?)

Well it finally "failed" me!

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I have shot hu dreds of these and usually got touching holes! Gun regularly cleaned and dedicated to 99% cast. Some glorious full profile impacts! :embarrassed:

Last spring I switched to a LEE RD of 420g. It is GC which is a bit of a waste but it shot so well!! I needed to up the charge to 11.7 to get 1050 fps. BUT...

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I have a 5744 load with the 330g Gould express & 1600 fps thats almost as accurate.

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I also just tried some V120 and the 454-297 HP's with 30 & 31g for 1200 & 1280 fps. Groups hovering at 1.5" @ 50 yards. Not as good as the gould bullet.

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Any one else shooting the 450Bushmaster?
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I also have a MSR in 450 but that was easy and shoots jacketed even better then this bolt!!
Any one else shooting the 450?

CW
 

Bliksem

Active Member
CW,

I cast and shoot the 450BM in both a bolt gun and MSR. Looking at my notes I see that the Accurate 45-280D & the 45-300J along with the Lee 300gn delivers good accuracy.

I don’t yet have pet loads but have had good results in the bolt gun with SR4759, 2400, SBR-Socom. This is still work in progress.

my bolt gun is a Mossberg predator with a 20” barrel and wood furniture. Nice but light rifle so hold on tight when shooting hot and heavy!
 

Bliksem

Active Member
Clarification, the Accurate Molds are cut without the GC shank and I use PB GC’s when pushing hard. The bullets are powder coated and sized to .452”

This is how I keep track of my loads using a Sharpie:
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STIHL

Well-Known Member
@CWLONGSHOT i have been torn between a 450BM and a 458SoCOM I’m interested in this. I think I have read your 450BM post. The 450 BM seems to be a solid cartridge and an accurate one as well I think your results are great. Keep up the work sir. I appreciate posts like this.
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
The best powders I have found would have to be AA #9 and 5744. First one for a jacket at the second one for cast.

My MSR Screams 200 FTX into MOA groups @ about 2600 fps W/#9.
I also worked a Barnes 260 Copper HP made for the 454 @ 2350 that shoots tight 100y groups & expands perfectly in wet newsprint.
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But frankly Im not a huge fan of solid copper bullets.
 

Ian

Notorious member
Pretty hard to beat the Socom in an AR, but in a bolt the BM probably has the overall edge. I went with the Socom because the cartridges stack and feed better from an AR magazine, and I was only interested in subsonic loads and the BM typically has a 20" rate of twist.

I had some 500s print sideways at 25 yards but recovered bullets had the base band washed out. Sizing half a thousandth larger cured that issue.
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I size my Bushmaster bullets to 454. 452 didnt produce this level Of accuracy for me.

The Bushmaster actually has the nod for powder. It diff is fat 45 to regular 45. The Bushy is far better suited to lighter 45's then the Socomb. The Socomb is better suited to Subsonics. I have more molds for the small 45 then for the fat 45. :p :oops::p
 

Ian

Notorious member
You can also load the BM a lot hotter in a bolt-action to get that top-end with lighter bullets as long as one considers proper bullets. Those Hornady 230 HPs performed perfectly! Hard to imagine basically a .45 ACP bullet doing 2350 fps, but there it is.
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
You can also load the BM a lot hotter in a bolt-action to get that top-end with lighter bullets as long as one considers proper bullets. Those Hornady 230 HPs performed perfectly! Hard to imagine basically a .45 ACP bullet doing 2350 fps, but there it is.
OOH ABSOLUTELY!!!!

i dont post how fast I have gotten 250 g FTX!!! :rofl: :embarrassed: :embarrassed::rofl:
 

BBerguson

Official Pennsyltuckian
I’ve been playing with my 450bm. 200gr pc cast with bullseye. CCI Small pistol primer.
average velocity for 10 shots
6gr 2.19, 1.27 897
7gr 1.77, 1.47 1065
8gr 3.45, 4.19 1153
50yd groups

trying my 260gr pc cast next with bullseye. 10 rounds with 7gr and 10 with 8gr. Hope to shoot them this weekend.
This is plain base bullet. Been trying to get some plain base aluminum gc’s from sages but haven‘t scored any yet.
 

Bliksem

Active Member
You can also load the BM a lot hotter in a bolt-action to get that top-end with lighter bullets as long as one considers proper bullets. Those Hornady 230 HPs performed perfectly! Hard to imagine basically a .45 ACP bullet doing 2350 fps, but there it is.
Exactly right. I have loads using the Speer 3974 Gold Dot 300gn that probably would damage a MSR due to pressure. These loads are a handful in my bolt gun but are very accurate even off-hand.

At my ranch there is a boar of probably 450# regularly visiting one of the feeders and I’ll be using the 450BM to put him down soon. Hopefully we will have some below 95* weather soon! I love Texas but the 100 days of 100* is a bear.
 

BBerguson

Official Pennsyltuckian
Shot the 260gr loads with 7 and 8 gr of bullseye today. Whew, it was pretty ugly at 50 yds…

7gr 5.2” 6.5” 1046 avg vel
8g 3.67 3.98 1126 avg vel

I’m going the right direction, higher vel = tighter groups but I’m not sure how far I dare to go with Bullseye. Might try Unique and/or 2400 and see what happens.
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
Worked on my M$R 450 today.
Shot it yesterday with 1.5g above start load W/Vith 120 and a 300ftx. Just shy of 1700, but 100% cycle!! COUPLE miss feeds but always last round in mag. Many failures to hold bolt.
Looking on the bench... Found feed lips out of shape, follower burred.
polished feed lips, adjust shape and tension. Sanded follower smooth. Now cartritages feed very smooth with thumb pressure. No notchy/jerky feel as I had before polish/adjust.
Hold open issue was follower burr. It didnt allow complete travel so when it hung 2/3's of travel was restricted. Now its 100% so I believe I have this issue licked!! Its been over a year!!!
Very happy
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I have 50 cases prepped and Thats what Im thinking. Start load was said to be 1750 top
Load was 1925...

Start for me was mid 15's 1.3g + wasnt 1700. Gonna load another 1/2g and maybe 1/2 again. Im happy 1850.

Was CRAZY gusty windy. So much TWICE targets was repped off board. As matter of fact... that was yeaterday, Might see them
In Tex tomorrow.... But I could hit 4" steel & 100 pretty easily.

I brought my pop. He was impressed and twice knocked dueling tree over @ 50 yards. He got biggest kick outta sub lead 465g @ 1000. Smacked the 8" plates with authority. I explained even tho they are quiet and no recoil they are developing 1000fpe more then most all 44 Mag in a revolver. Pops a gun guy, (82 Last Saturday) Just outta touch. He basically shoots what I load for him and tell him is good.

CW
 

Ian

Notorious member
It's March, gusty wind most days 30 mph+ with calm luffs between here in the hills. You can shoot groups but it might take a while! Been futzing with another LR-308, hoping to test it tomorrow or Friday.
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
Gusts yesterday where 50+ This range is tucked against a sheer wall 100' tall. PLUS, its segragated into four ranges, with 20' concrete walls between Pistol, intermediate, action & Rifle. Usually no wind and when there is its zero value. Yesterday it was right in our faces. This is a reaction range. Not where I go for accuracy. Its a fun range but they have some foam butts. All I had was staples and they dont hold well in foam. Pop put out targets so I didnt have to walk out there.

I didnt expect to shoot great. Mostly wanted to see if those 80 223's was stabile.

Vitavo 120 has shot pretty well for me in the 450 before. Pop got ta see some accuracy with those subs and 300 rounds. I sat down to shoot... There was one single spot W/O holes! I turned to him and said "you shot holes in 7 different target bulls!!" He smiled and said YEA!! ♥️♥️
 
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CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
Out again today with M$R 450. Still using vv120. This is working just like it should now. 300g/38.5g shoots @ 1800+ & about touching holes @ 50 cycles very well occasional last round feed issue.
39g dumps brass 15' over right shoulder almost into 5 gal pail. Shoots touching holes & 1860 avg.

Also shot a ladder with 225g FYX & Enforcer powder. A SUPER fine ball powder. Started 37g no cycle or lock. 37.5 feed but didnt lock back. 38 worked well shot 2" @ 50. 38.5 was ragged hole @ 2180 fps. 39g was much looser 1.5" group. 39.5 was single bullet clocking 2215 & hit 1.5" spot @ 100 yards.

This bullet made for 45 Colt. So worried about use on game @ almost 3x velocity.

Gun is a thumper but working great. Love love the Leupold RDS dot!! NO issuge on 200 Y game too! Pics later.

CW

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BBerguson

Official Pennsyltuckian
I’ve been shooting everything sized .452. Just ordered a .454 die after reading this, maybe that will tighten groups up.
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I have been running 454. Only issues is with reloading dies. They dont like these fat bullets but I Persuaded them to see things my way. (I have a dremil and aint afraid ta use it! ;) )