Need help with 450 Bushmaster Build

[spook1]

Ohio is looking pretty hard to allow straight walled cartridges to be used for deer hunting. I am wanting to build a 450 Bushmaster just for this reason. I was wondering if anyone has built a repeater bolt action in 450 Bushmaster. I see that one guy is building some on the Savage Hog Hunter rifles.

Would this build require a staggered or centerfeed action? I have an old staggered feed short action with the proper bolt head, but I am thinking the 450 Bushmaster would require a centerfeed as I am pretty sure that is what the Hog Hunter rifles are. Some searching of old post relating to the 458 Socom was referenced to us a staggered feed action. I know the cartridges are different, but I was just looking for any input from anyone who has maybe built a 450 Bushmaster. I am definately wanting a repeater. Any help is appreciated.

[tammons]

It might feed out of a stagger feed so you might try it first but then again its a short shell so maybe centerfeed might be better.
In a staggerfeed the shell could pop out early before the nose of the bullet is headed into the chamber.

You could try a few dummy rounds though a SF action.

Way back, I was able to get a centerfeed mag to work on a stagger feed action, it just took some work with a dremel and a lot of stock work and a lot of fiddling. Cant remember exactly how I did it though but it worked. I do remember that it reduced the COL I could run but with a shell that short you shouldnt have any problems.

[squirrel_slayer]

if you have any old 284 brass laying around cut it to 450b length. neck size it in a 45 colt or possibly acp die, slap in a bullet and test feeding.

[bootsmcguire]

I too am looking at doing a 450BM. I have a blank on hand ready to send off and have made into my barrel, was going to do a 45ACP as a single shot plinker, but the 450BM looks like a lot more fun. I was thinking I'd use a centerfeed, I have just had so much better luck with feeding from a centerfeed.

I am waiting to locate dies and brass before sending my blank off to be done. Should be a real nice short/mid range thumper.

I would do as the other gents are saying and test your SF action. I had a LA setup for the 30-06 that I put a 308 barrel on and it suprised me and fed 308 beautifully, so your SF-SA might do the 450BM well. Don't know til you try.

[handirifle]

My short action feeds 243, 308 or 223 equally well. All are stagger feed.

[snowgetter1]

I have a 450B on a Striker, single shot, and it is a great shooter. I just changed barrels out and after I get some chrono work on one rifle I am going to put the 450B on it. It will be next week before I can do this, but the rifle is a centerfeed. I was just playing around with the magazine the other night. It appears the mag will hold three rounds and should feed well. But, I will let you know for sure next week. I also just shot some good 250gr lead cast bullets that group very well with reduce loads of around 1300fps.

[spook1]

If you could let me know, it would be great. I need to find some 450BM brass or ammo to try in my stagger feed action. I don't have my barrel yet though.

[snowgetter1]

Grafs reloading has some brass but I got mine from natches shooters supply. I will let you know how it works.

[tammons]

I have a some 284 cases and some 451 pistol bullets if you want a few.

[spook1]

Thanks for the offers guys. I am going to try to find a box of 450BM ammo to try in my action. I currently have a 6.8spc on my staggered feed that feeds perfectly. I am just hoping to keep from having to try and find another action.

[ellobo]

For a straight wall case the old .38-55 might be an option. The original load was a 255 gr. lead bullet but with lighter bullets you should get better velocity. It is an accurate old round and a killer at 150+ yds. I have a 125 yr old high wall with a heavy target barrel that will shoot one hole 5 shot groups at 100 yds with 4895 and a lyman 255 gr. bullet. And that is with a peep sight. I tried paper patch bullets but th hard cast Lymans with gas check worked best.

El Lobo

[ellobo]

PS to my last post. the .38-55 can be made from 30-30 brass as the 30-30 is nothing more than the 38-55 necked to a 30 cal. bullet. I have load data if anyone is interested. It is a rimmed cartridge. The 38-55 is an ideal woods cartridge.

El Lobo

[snowgetter1]

Changed out the 243 centerfeed for the 450B today. It would not feed lead 250gr flat nose or 240gr Hornady HTP-mag. But, loading three rounds of 250gr FTX Hornady into the magazine it would feed the first two rounds without an issue. With one in the chamber this would give you three reliable shots. The last one in the mag would just push forward into the front of the mag like the other bullet types. I do not have a stagger feed set up to test feeding on though.

[spook1]

Thanks for the info snowgetter1. So you was using the 243 sized centerfeed mag box when doing your testing? I am going to try to find out who can chamber me a barrel. I will try it on my staggered feed action, and if it won't work, I will then begin the search for a centerfeed. What kind of barrel do you have and where did you get it from?

[snowgetter1]

Check pms spook.

[Pharmboy]

I just ordered a barrel for Bryan at BFG Designs LLC. He said he only had 2 left so now he might have 1 left. I have a SF and a CF short actions with the .473 bolt face. I have read that the staggerfeed with the .223 mag box would work but I won't know that till after I get the barrel. This seems like an interesting project and am hoping to shoot some cast bullets. I won't have to worry about the gas port issues like they do running cast out of an AR type carbine.

Pharmboy

[squirrel_slayer]

cast should work fine. I've read others who resize both lead and jacketed .458 bullets for the 450b. they resize the jacketd in two steps with one shot/lanolin-alky mix. opens a whole world of options