450 Bushmaster
 

Indiana's turned down proposal of allowing most high powered rifles had me secretly hoping to use my 7mm-08 bolt action for deer hunting. I use it for coyotes but I won't be deer hunting with it. I can understand the decision however I have been wanting a rifle that will shoot to 200 yards with brutal stopping power and is flat shooting, something my 357 or 44 magnum rifles cannot do. So I bought a complete 450 Bushmaster this week, installed a scope on it and swapped my timney drop in trigger from my 5.56 AR to the 450.

This thing is scary accurate and recoil is way tamer than I thought. It has exceeded my initial expectations in terms of shooting. It also appears to have tons of power seeing what it does to water jugs and concrete blocks. I am positive this rifle will do what it is adverised to do. I can't wait to drop the hammer on some deer or hogs.

Has anyone had any hunting experiences with this cartridge. I am dying to hear some stories while I am waiting to make my own.

I know a guy that uses one down in FL for hogs. He told me they usually don't move after being smacked with it.
I don't understand the logic behind some of these hunting restrictions! What is their description of a high powered rifle? Yet still allows the use of a 450 Bushmaster? Stupid politicians at work again.
Another thing I was just looking at is the fact that the 450 used .452" handgun bullets vs the .458" rifle bullets. Actually the article I was reading says they swag down .458" bullets to .452" . That seems like a lot of work when you can just use something like a 300 grain Hornady XTP Magnum bullet already at the .452" diameter.

Or the Hornady 250 grain FTX bullet at .452 diameter. Both are bullets I have used in my inline muzzloaders so reloading will supply me with BP bullets. Also the same powders I reload 357 and 44 mag are used for the 450. It made sense to go this route when I can mix shooting components. Hornady rates both these bullets up to 2200 FPS so they will work at 450 velocities.

The 458 Socom is another popular AR rifle round in Indiana. It uses the heavier .458 rifle bullets but is a short range rifle so it didn't seem a plus. That and cost is way more as a rifle and to shoot than I am comfortable with.

It's not that much work to swage .458" bullets down to .452". To do it right, a guy should swage at least two steps, better 3, only taking 2thou down each step. It goes quickly. Or maybe I'm just used to it. I used to swage down for .450B, and currently swage down some .358" bullets for use in .357" loads. If you ever get into shooting lead, especially casting your own, you'll get used to resizing bullets really quickly.

Indiana's reg's - and I only looked this up recently because of another thread about the .375 Socom - only allow .357" and larger caliber cartridges with a maximum case length of 1.8" or less.

The idea behind their regulations is to limit range. Think about it - .357" cartridges require a pretty heavy bullet due to their large bore, and a short 1.8" or less case doesn't hold enough powder to throw them super fast. There's no combination of those two restrictions that would yield a 100grn bullet running 3000fps.

Not surprisingly, the .450B is a hammer. Great big bullets tend to have that effect. Absolutely pounds pigs, and puts deer down fast.

Yeah it's dang near as mean as my .458 SOCOM. You will like that BM D80. Especially when you smack a deer. Don't fool yourself on one thing though, it's not got any more range really than the .458. I go out to 200 with my .458 on hogs with devastating results. Never hit a deer with it but I've killed a pretty big pile of hogs with that monster.

True that my state is about restricting range. The best I can load the .357 magnum is 1550 FPS with a 180 grain XTP. That bullet has killed many deer but with a 20" drop at 200 yards that caliber is restricted to very close range. I was thrilled today after shooting the 450 when I hit dead center at 150 yards after sighting a little high at 50 yards.....I have a flat enough trajectory to shoot at 200 yards without holdover.

Yep you should be fine both in drop and power out to 200. Another thing I have noticed is you wont have a whole hell of a lot of meat damage either. That's one advantage of big and slow verses small and fast. You want to see a DRT result, go for a high shoulder shot. That big ole bruising bullet will pound the spine like the hammer of Thor! Miss a little low, you get both lungs and decimate both shoulder bones. Win Win!

Dedicated technologies (aka d'tech) builds a indy legal 358 wssm in an AR, ballistic clone of a 358 win.
RR

If ever get around to buying an AR-10 I will be all over it. I never have shot any 35 caliber in true rifle form. That bugs me as a gun nut.

you should definitely post a photo of your new rifle. i'm interested in seeing it!

Don't be mistaken here - the Dedicated Technologies 358 WSSM uppers are AR-15's, not AR-10's. It's a WSSM, not WSM.

Yep, it's super short. I was thinking about one of those but got the proven .338fed instead. Wanted a 10 style platform anyway.

its not an AR-10 but an AR-15
RR

I tried all 3 of the big boomers and came to the conclusion the .458 Socom is the most practical for ME, and sold the 450 Bushmaster & 500 Beowolf. The 458 Socom uses rifle style bullets and is .458 so all 45/70 & .458 win mag bullets will fit, and not as expensive to load for or buy ammo for as the 500 Beowolf. The 450 is a nasty boar/bear gun within it's range though.

It fits an AR-15 lower...good news for me.

Here is a picture of my new fun gun.

Here is another pic.

I should not have read your thread d80hunter, as i started to covet your .450! I went and ordered a .450 Bushmaster upper today!

Ok. This has my full attention. Beautiful gun. It appears you went with the rifle length gas system over the carbine (shorter gas & barrell) length. Any reason?

Southern Michigan now allows straight walled rifle usage in the limited zone (old shotgun only zone). Since straight wall only, the .458 SOCOM is out. I am building a lower for a 450 bushmaster, but have conflicting information on the buffer and spring. Some say heavy to hydraulic buffer, some want the spring upgraded to strong, some say it runs fine on standard everything, etc.... Wanted your experience.

You will not be disappointed.

I bought the complete Bushmaster rifle. It has a fixed A2 stock, so the buffer tube would be a rifle one. I figured I would go this route because I expect the lower would be made to match the .450 upper in terms of operation. Now I did stick the .450 upper on a Del-ton sport lower which has a carbine adjusting stock and carbine parts. Recoil has more noticeable on the carbine lower. Also that lower has movement in the stock so accuracy was affected.

Recoil isn't a problem for me with this gun so you could stick it on any lower and shoot it. I believe there are two builds for this gun and it relates to barrel length.

For me I wanted to get the most accuracy and velocity out of this gun. The 20 inch barrel gives me that. I want to reach out to game out to 200 yards with max ballistics. I have brush guns already but nothing that is legal to hunt deer that will shoot this flat.

If I was more geared to making a brush gun then I would go with the 16 inch barrel. I have no issue handling a 20 inch version in the brush but a 16 inch would be better suited to this role. This would be great if you already had longer shooting rifles for hunting, or if all your shots are close.

Hope that helps.

Well guys the .450 Bushmaster upper got dropped off by the mailman today, I also received my Burris 2x7x35mm fullfield ii scope. I ruff sighted it in at 40 yards this evening, my 1st impressions as i shouldered and shot it, is it should be a good little deer brush gun it's lite, short, quick, powerful, and it hardly kicks. My boy fell in love with it when he took a shot also. Mine is a 16 inch barrel and i put it on a standard Bushmaster.223-5.56 lower.

A 2-7 scope should be great for it.

gjersy, that cartridge is about as perfect for most the places you hunt as can be.

Here is some shooting I did this afternoon. .450 bushmaster and a bolt action Savage 7mm-08. I was surprised that I grouped better with the 450. I shot with bipods on cold dirt and had my scopes dialed down to the lowest settings. I used factory ammo for comparison.

Thinking that Savage doesn't like what you were feeding it too much. Still, not too shabby for 150 yards.

Wow good shooting d80hunter, glad you talked me into getting one lol.

I broke out the chronograph today and checked some velocities today. I brought the muzzleloader too since the .450 bushy and the .50 cal muzzleloader are shooting the same Hornady 250 grain FTX bullet (.452 diameter same B.C. & S.D.)

.450 20" barrel clocked in at 2238 FPS

CVA Optima V2 .50 cal 26" barrel got me 1635 FPS with 100 grains Triple 7 pellets.

I need to try 150 grains next time I break out the chrony.

*the 250 grain Hornady SST 20 gauge slug advertises at 1800 fps*

Totally pleased with the results.

I have this .450 Bushmaster. The 250gr FTX just hammered a decent buck opening day for me.

Nice groups. Are your reloads much better than the Hornady ammo?

I haven't shot my reloads at the longer range yet. The 300yd target was shot with Hornady factory, where the 150yd target was shot with reloads. I am however looking forward to a 300yd session with the reloads.

Please post the 300 yard groups with those reloads whenever it happens.

I've shot my spaghetti Sharps at 300 yards at a 18" gong, and once the vernier long range sight is adjusted dead on for that range, all that's left is to dope the wind. My all time best on that 18" gong at an exact 300 yards is about 7-8 hits out of 10. It is possible and I DO have pics that can easily be signed by a bunch of witnesses if needed.

http://postimg.org/image/k6o96eat3/ Well I bought the .450 B.M. after deer season last year. I finally got to break it in the bush this season with this little fast 6 point, I love it for a deer drive, quick, light, thick cover gun. I'm glad you talked me into it d80hunter :) My 13 year old daughter has claimed it for her gun, I might have to get another lol.

Another option coming soon Ruger American 450 BM. Randy's gun shop in Bad Ax Mi. has talked Ruger into building them. He has already sold at least 1000. There is a waiting list.
He has a YouTube video shooting 100, 200, 300 yards.
Very impressive. Not sure how to post the link.

http://michiganoutofdoorstv.com/shows.cfm?VideoID=431