450 Bushmaster

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pahntr760

Active member
I am soliciting feedback and opinions of the 450 Bushmaster, particularly in a bolt action rifle.

We are moving in the near future to Alaska. I would like to build a lighter recoiling heavy hitting rifle for my wife. I have a .473 bolt face Savage action on which to build. I was thinking a heavy sorter contour, Boyd's stock with CDI BM for AI type mags.

It seems a 250 Gr FTX in this at 2200 FPS would be decent medicine for most anything without a great deal of snappy recoil.

Thoughts?
 
I bought a Ruger American last year. Only have ran 300 Lee flat nose bullets I casted up for it. I powder coated and gas checked them. Best groups with the non aerodynamic "beer barrels" shot MOA. I ran it all the way up to max 460 S&W loads with no pressure signs... although the magazine dropped out from the massive recoil from I would assume the stock flexing and the scope came loose and broke. The same action is used for the 300 WMM so it can withstand a lot more pressure than the AR platforms. Jeff from gun blast ran 250 gr Barnes up to 2600 fps with no pressure signs as well. Haven't killed anything with it accept for a scope, magazine, and paper.

I found that tapper crimp only at .474" will make it feed and function flawless. Hornady recommend applying both roll and tapper crimps together. I did and it would not cycle and jam. My chamber must be too tight because a roll crimped cartridge will not function in my rifle. Seating the bullet Any longer than 2.055" and it will jam as well. They are kinda finicky to get a huge cast wide met plate bullet to function.
 
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Seems odd that the 450 BM would be that violent in a bolt gun. I have a 458 SOCOM, in an AR-15, and it lets you know you just pulled the trigger on a punkin ball launcher, but the scope/mounts/bolt has held up to the big push style recoil. It feels like my 20 ga. shotguns, recoil wise. About the only complaint is this rifle doesn't feed 45/70 style bullets, with big flat noses. If I stick with the precious Barnes TTSX bullets, it runs good, from Lancer mags, but put anything in there with hardcast bullets, and miss-feeds start happening. Oh one other FYI, make sure the scope has generous eye relief...You will need it. I once forgot to extend the Magpul ACS stock on my rifle, and bounced the scope off my shooting glasses...hard!

These big bores are a hoot to shoot! I pulled mine out a deer camp, and every one started with the "mouse gun" crap, until I pulled out a magazine, and showed them the round...That ended the "mouse gun" crap comments right there! Now there is interest at the deer camp to get into an "elephant" version of the "mouse gun".

Squeeze
 
Originally Posted By: 6724Doesn't that cartridge headspace on the case mouth? How does it headspace properly with a roll crimp?

you dont roll crimp a straight walled rebated rim cartridge. the proper method - if you were to crimp - is a taper crimp.

i do taper crimp mine, and usually go for a OD at the case mouth of .474-.475, which seems to be the go-to for it. gives me good neck tension, removes the gentle flare i use to make seating easier (225 ftx need a touch of it to seat well) and gives me a nice consistent burn.

hth
 
Originally Posted By: SqueezeSeems odd that the 450 BM would be that violent in a bolt gun. I have a 458 SOCOM, in an AR-15, and it lets you know you just pulled the trigger on a punkin ball launcher, but the scope/mounts/bolt has held up to the big push style recoil. It feels like my 20 ga. shotguns, recoil wise. About the only complaint is this rifle doesn't feed 45/70 style bullets, with big flat noses. If I stick with the precious Barnes TTSX bullets, it runs good, from Lancer mags, but put anything in there with hardcast bullets, and miss-feeds start happening. Oh one other FYI, make sure the scope has generous eye relief...You will need it. I once forgot to extend the Magpul ACS stock on my rifle, and bounced the scope off my shooting glasses...hard!

These big bores are a hoot to shoot! I pulled mine out a deer camp, and every one started with the "mouse gun" crap, until I pulled out a magazine, and showed them the round...That ended the "mouse gun" crap comments right there! Now there is interest at the deer camp to get into an "elephant" version of the "mouse gun".

Squeeze

My uncle lives in Ohio, so I am building him a .450BM to use for deer hunting. I am really excited about the project and I look forward to sending the first howitzer slug down range.
 
I think big bores are fun, but I just don't see the advantage in the .450 Bushmaster unless you're limited to an AR15's magazine well.

If you're building on a Savage with a .473" bolt face, why not just go with .308, which is ballistically superior? At the muzzle, the .450 has a slight edge on a 150gr .308, but it is lost by 25 yards. There are a lot of ways to close that gap with better bullets than a 150gr .308, too, but there aren't many better .450 bullets, that I'm aware of. The .308 even has superior SD for penetration.

.450 Bushmaster Hornady Black 250gr FTX:
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.308 Federal Power Shok 150gr:
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I forgot to add:

It may be more recoil than you want for her, but if it were me, I'd go .338 Federal or .358 Winchester for close range against big animals. They aren't sexy, but they do put some energy on target without excessive blast/recoil.
 
Why go with a 450 over a 308??? Simple answer I can use my 450BS in Iowa for deer hunting instead of a shotgun because it's considered a straight wall pistol caliber. It's not legal to deer hunt there with any bottleneck cartridge including the 308. Also with a bolt action I'm not limited to factory 2200fps ammo. I can also load 250 gr bullets up to 2600 fps in my Ruger American being its the same action used for the 300 WSM that can handle 60,000psi...which I've done with no pressure signs which is about as fast as a 180 gr bullet in a 308. You Can't load them hot in an AR. The platform isn't made to take the pressures a stout bolt action can and I only need one shot for deer hunting. I have no need for a firearm that can't be loaded to its full potential. AR's have there place just not for me while I hunt. I've shot a few coyotes with my POF and sure it's fun but most shooters use them to compensate for poor shooting and use them to spray bullets and not waiting for a perfect and/or correct shot placement hoping to eventually land one somewhere in the animal to put it down IMO. It's mostly your gen X video gamers that seem to use them.
 
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Originally Posted By: DultimatpredatorWhy go with a 450 over a 308??? Simple answer I can use my 450BS in Iowa for deer hunting instead of a shotgun because it's a straight wall caliber. It's not legal with any bottleneck cartridge including the 308. I can also load 250 gr bullets up to 2600 fps in my Ruger American being its the same action used for the 300 WSM that can handle 60,000psi...which I've done with no pressure signs which is about as fast as a 180 gr bullet in a 308. You Can't load them hot in an AR. The platform isn't made to take the pressures a stout bolt action can and I only need one shot for deer hunting. I have no need for a firearm that can't be loaded to its full potential. AR's have there place just not for me while I hunt. I've shot a few coyotes with my POF and sure it's fun but most shooters use them to compensate for poor shooting and use them to spray bullets and not waiting for a perfect and/or correct shot placement hoping to eventually land one somewhere in the animal to put it down IMO. It's mostly your gen X video gamers that seem to use them.

I understand Iowa's, and a number of other State's rules change the argument, but I thought we were talking Alaska without a legal handicap? If a straight-wall cartridge is the limitation by law, then I would make a different argument, as not too many .308 Win cases are straight-walled when a professional chambers the barrel. Personally, I love the .444 Marlin for a straight wall cartridge, with the .45-70 a close second (again, Alaska changes things and I'd flip that order for dangerous game).
 
If I was in Alaska I'd just blow the dust off my safe queen 375 RUM along with 260 gr partitions and use my 300 RUM with 200 gr partitions for a back up.
 
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Originally Posted By: DultimatpredatorIf I was in Alaska I'd just blow the dust off my safe queen 375 RUM.

I believe the OP is going to be in Alaska, and also didn't want too much recoil for his wife.
 
Originally Posted By: Dultimatpredator
I've shot a few coyotes with my POF and sure it's fun but most shooters use them to compensate for poor shooting and use them to spray bullets and not waiting for a perfect and/or correct shot placement hoping to eventually land one somewhere in the animal to put it down IMO. It's mostly your gen X video gamers that seem to use them.

That's hilarious and quite ASSumptions of you. But opinions are like A-hole. Everyone has one, some are just bigger than others.

And no, I'm not a gen x'er or gamer.
 
Originally Posted By: crapshootOriginally Posted By: Dultimatpredator
I've shot a few coyotes with my POF and sure it's fun but most shooters use them to compensate for poor shooting and use them to spray bullets and not waiting for a perfect and/or correct shot placement hoping to eventually land one somewhere in the animal to put it down IMO. It's mostly your gen X video gamers that seem to use them.

That's hilarious and quite ASSumptions of you. But opinions are like A-hole. Everyone has one, some are just bigger than others.

And no, I'm not a gen x'er or gamer.

I'm no genx'er either. Pretty much all I use for daytime coyotes is an AR with an 8 round mag. Pretty handy for doubles, or even triples.
 
The truth hurts...and the whining starts!

But seriously I used the term "most" not ALL. You can call me me names all day long crapshoot and I won't take affense to it. That's why this is a forum and we all have opinions. I'm not a liberal trying to take you AR away. I own quite a few myself I just find myself drawn to bolt actions when calling.

I agree that ARs can be and are useful on doubles and triples as stated but 99.9% of the time that involes the pray and spray approach by most users you would have to agree whether you admit it or not. You can take affense to it if you wish but all the years you've been on here giving me advise here I'm sure your not the norm and don't dump magazines at running coyotes.

BTW I use original military issue metal 20 round mags given to me from my uncle that served. They're awesome, the mags aren't any longer than a 5/10 rounder. They stick out an inch or two from the the mag well so they don't get in the way.
 
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I use both as well. Just rubs me raw when people claim their opinion as fact and start lumping groups of people into it. The liberals have been doing it for years.
 
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