450 bushmaster

[snipecatcher]

Seems like it packs a lot of punch in a small package. It should work in a standard short action with a 308 bolt face. It would be dirt cheap to shoot with 230 FMJ's, and you should be able to push those and other bullets to a pretty good velocity in a bolt gun. I just started reloading 45 acp and realized how much I like loading straight wall cases; no lube, no trimming. I don't have the money for a barrel right now, but it's something I'd like to do in the future in a lightweight set-up. Has anyone done it?
-Dan

[GaCop]

I don't know of a forum member who has built a bolt action 450. I may be wrong but feeding from the magazine may be the biggest problem to over come. If it's been done, rest assured a forum member will chime in and correct me if I'm wrong.

[spook1]

I am interested in this as well. I have a spare long action that I would like to do something like this with.

[EricCartmann]

Dry firing is the cheapest training.

[Varget 7-08]

I'd really like to do this too, it would be great for a hog gun I think. Short 16.5" barrel with 4X mag. scope and shortened stock.

[snipecatcher]

I'd really like to do this too, it would be great for a hog gun I think. Short 16.5" barrel with 4X mag. scope and shortened stock.


That is exactly what I had in mind. Like what I did for this rifle:

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f159/ddsr5/DSC03232.jpg

I would basically just take the 308 barrel off of that rifle and screw on the 450 Bushmaster. The 308 can do everything that the 450 could do, but then that's not the point is it?

Sinman, I'll send you the current 308 barrel if you send me one in 450. I'll even pay the shipping. ;D

-Dan

[Varget 7-08]

Haha that's a really short stock, shorter then what I was talking about!

[dolomite_supafly]

I have a Savage I built for my wife. It is chambered in 45 ACP and makes for a nice easy shooting gun for her. It has ghost rings and a AR 15 style front sight. In the morning, if I remember, I'll post pictures.

You can do a search and easily find my postings about it.

I told myself if the 45 ACP didn't work out I would rechamber it in 450 Bushmaster.

Dolomite

[sinman]

Dan, I'll take it on trade but you might need to boot some haha. I don't have a 450 reamer yet, I have a 458 socom reamer though.

[snowgetter1]

I have been thinking about this also. I now want a 50 Beuwulf in a striker. The only reason for the 50 is because it is a 50 not a 45. I am about ready to sell some guns to fund this so maybe I will have one by this time next year. The only bad thing I see is that it has a 7.62x39 head on it.

[tammons]

I have been thinking about this also. I now want a 50 Beuwulf in a striker. The only reason for the 50 is because it is a 50 not a 45. I am about ready to sell some guns to fund this so maybe I will have one by this time next year. The only bad thing I see is that it has a 7.62x39 head on it.


Snowgetter,

50 beo is a good round but brass is non existant. Very hard to find.
If you want about 10-12 pieces of brass you can have them if you want to pay for shipping.

The 458 socom is better although the brass is hard to find for that too.

The 450 BM is more than enough for most any american game and an overkill for most hogs.

The 458 BM and 50 beo both use pistol bullets.

The 458 socom uses 458 rifle bullets, and there are a lot of them.
The best for normal hunting being the 300 gr TTSX barnes bullet.

If you want a heavy hitter PDQ, just get a 458 winmag barrel from brownells. You can download it and you can also shoot
458x2 American which is basically a shortened 458 WM cartridge.

The 458x2 will feed through a short action and is about like the 450 marlin.

[Hammer]

.

I agree that 50 calibers are better than 45 calibers.

But 45 calibers are not a total failure.

45's certainly beat small bore 375's.

.

[big honkin jeep]

The 308 can do everything that the 450 could do, but then that's not the point is it?


-Dan
[/quote]

????? When you find a .308 that'll push a handloaded .45 cal 230 gr bullet at 2700+ fps please let me know.

Thanks BHJ

[snowgetter1]

Tammons
The main problem I have is Illinois hunting laws. It requires any straight walled round or a bottleneck no longer than 1.4". I thought Midway had brass for the 50 beowolf? I am still undecided and have narrowed it down to the 50, 450 bushmaster, or 450 marlin. I think the Marlin and Bushmaster are about the same and I would guess marlin brass is easier to get. I will keep the brass offer in mind if I go that route.
Thanks for the info.

[snipecatcher]

The 308 can do everything that the 450 could do, but then that's not the point is it?


-Dan


????? When you find a .308 that'll push a handloaded .45 cal 230 gr bullet at 2700+ fps please let me know.

Thanks BHJ
[/quote]

I guess I should have worded that differently:
For MY hunting needs (deer, pigs) 308 Win. is an excellent cartridge, and a 45 cal slug wouldn't make them any more dead. I just like the "different" factor of it. One of these days when I have money burning a hole in my pocket...

[tammons]

Tammons
The main problem I have is Illinois hunting laws. It requires any straight walled round or a bottleneck no longer than 1.4". I thought Midway had brass for the 50 beowolf? I am still undecided and have narrowed it down to the 50, 450 bushmaster, or 450 marlin. I think the Marlin and Bushmaster are about the same and I would guess marlin brass is easier to get. I will keep the brass offer in mind if I go that route.
Thanks for the info.


Edit, I found it. No limit on straight wall case length and it has to be a factory load.
Thats really screwed up.

>>>>>>

All of those cases are over 1.4" or can a straight walled case be any length ??

At 1.4" you are talking basically pistol cartridges.

A 454 casull is about as good as it will get for a factory cartridge,
but its a rimmed cartridge

There is a 458 x 1.5 barnes wildcat round, so you would just trim it another .1"

With a 300 gr bullet you can get about 1800 FPS with a 24" barrel.

That said the factory 458 WM barrels have a huge freebore, so it might be best to
have a barrel chambered for a 458x1.5 with a shorter freebore.

[tammons]

I think I would go for a 450 bushmaster.
More common and a factory round, parent 284 brass and a 473 head.


The 458 winmag is still an option then ??
I just sold a barrel and I ran some light loads
with the 300 gr barnes TTSX bullet that were pretty mild
recoil wise.

Brownells sells 458 WM barrel kits for $200.

[snowgetter1]

A straight walled case can be any lenght in a handgun in Illinois.

Thanks for the info Tammons. The debate goes on in my mind.