450 Bushmaster

[DSB OUTDOORS]

Looking to build another AR, Any one shoot the 450 Bushmaster, Likes and dislikes.
Thanks

[meatman]

I bought a 20" upper last year directly from BM when they were on sale. I've only shot the Hornady FTX 250 gr. factory ammo, I've never reloaded. I have it mounted with the Leupold Ultimate Slam 2-7x33 scope with the Burris PEPR mount. When the magnification is set at the 7x, the markings on the reticle are accurate for the drop bullet drop (crosshairs zeroed at 100 yds, the first dot below shoots 200yds).
I've only shot it at the range so far and I've been very pleased with it, easily shooting groups touching at 100 yds (it makes big holes!). 200 yds is great too. Haven't shot further out than that, but it looks like the bullet has a significant drop past 250yds. I have yet to take a kill shot :(.

Check out http://www.450bushmaster.net they're pretty informative over there.

[DSB OUTDOORS]

I bought a 20" upper last year directly from BM when they were on sale. I've only shot the Hornady FTX 250 gr. factory ammo, I've never reloaded. I have it mounted with the Leupold Ultimate Slam 2-7x33 scope with the Burris PEPR mount. When the magnification is set at the 7x, the markings on the reticle are accurate for the drop bullet drop (crosshairs zeroed at 100 yds, the first dot below shoots 200yds).
I've only shot it at the range so far and I've been very pleased with it, easily shooting groups touching at 100 yds (it makes big holes!). 200 yds is great too. Haven't shot further out than that, but it looks like the bullet has a significant drop past 250yds. I have yet to take a kill shot :(.

Check out http://www.450bushmaster.net they're pretty informative over there.
Thanks Meatman!! I talked myself in to doing it since Cabelas has a sale on their 16" upper at $250 off of the regular $! [Tooth]
I do reload if you want to get rid of you're brass I would buy some beers or something??
Thanks!!

[meatman]

I'm sure you'll enjoy the 16"!



I do reload if you want to get rid of you're brass I would buy some beers or something??


I'm am hoping to get into reloading soon, especially since there is more data on reloading the 450 BM. They say that Lil' Gun powder gives reloads similar ballistics to the proprietrary Hornady blend they use. So, for now, I'm hanging on to the brass, but I'll let you know if my wife says there is no way in hell that I can get into reloading... [Rant2]

[Tooth]

[DSB OUTDOORS]

I'm sure you'll enjoy the 16"!




I'm am hoping to get into reloading soon, especially since there is more data on reloading the 450 BM. They say that Lil' Gun powder gives reloads similar ballistics to the proprietrary Hornady blend they use. So, for now, I'm hanging on to the brass, but I'll let you know if my wife says there is no way in hell that I can get into reloading... [Rant2]

[Tooth]
Thanks again!! And no problem. It can get a little expensive! Especily for me I'm single and reload almost anything from .380 to 300 RUM. [Beer]

[Gunner]

How much was it

[DSB OUTDOORS]

How much was it
I ordered my upper from Cabelas! There on sale right now normaly $800 now $550.00 on back order. But who cares right? You save $250 there you're Lower right there!!! [Beer]

[Gunner]

Got a link for that might have to pick one up. Will a 556 lower work?

[Gunner]

Shit that ammo is expensive

[DSB OUTDOORS]

Got a link for that might have to pick one up. Will a 556 lower work?
Damn Skippy! Thats why I like / love the AR platform!! [Tooth]

[DSB OUTDOORS]

Shit that ammo is expensive
Ya but it's a hell of a lot better than the 50 beowulf ammo, or the 458 SOCOM. For such a knock down round!!

[meatman]

Ya but it's a hell of a lot better than the 50 beowulf ammo, or the 458 SOCOM. For such a knock down round!!


I hear it's a lot easier to find ammo than those two calibers as well, though there isn't much variety in what's available in factory loads.

[DSB OUTDOORS]

I hear it's a lot easier to find ammo than those two calibers as well, though there isn't much variety in what's available in factory loads.
Ya it's easier to find and I think it has a better range and accuracy from what I hear to. But like ya say, factory loads. Hornaday and Remington and mabey one other make it. Not sure how much cheaper I can reload it vs buing it?? [Coffee]

[Troublco]

I have a 458 SOCOM, and I haven't had any issue finding ammo. I reload too, and the nice thing is you can use any .458 caliber bullets and there are a ton of them out there in weights from 250 to 600 grains. Brass is easy to come by as well. 450 Bushy and 50 Beowulf use pistol bullets, SOCOM uses rifle bullets. All work well. I bought mine for pig hunting, and because I also have a 45-70 and I can use the same bullets for both. Good luck with your bushys!

[DSB OUTDOORS]

I have a 458 SOCOM, and I haven't had any issue finding ammo. I reload too, and the nice thing is you can use any .458 caliber bullets and there are a ton of them out there in weights from 250 to 600 grains. Brass is easy to come by as well. 450 Bushy and 50 Beowulf use pistol bullets, SOCOM uses rifle bullets. All work well. I bought mine for pig hunting, and because I also have a 45-70 and I can use the same bullets for both. Good luck with your bushys!
Hey Troubleco.

I was thinking of the .458 for my next build. Get the .450 Bushy out the way. And move on to the next. Just takes time and money and I don't have alot of either.

The Damn cold this week set me back $380 for my water tank in my pump house to get it replaced because it froze and started leaking. [Bang]
Oh well Mountain living, I still love it!!

[SideShow Bob]

I have a 458 SOCOM, and I haven't had any issue finding ammo. I reload too,

Where did you get SOCOM dies from, I can't seem to find them.
I am also looking for 300 gn. Spitzer bullets like SBR sells in their loaded ammo.
Care to share load recipes ?

[DSB OUTDOORS]

Where did you get SOCOM dies from, I can't seem to find them.
I am also looking for 300 gn. Spitzer bullets like SBR sells in their loaded ammo.
Care to share load recipes ?
I second that! ^^^^^^ let me know!
Thanks DSB

[Troublco]

MidwayUSA has Lee, Redding, and Hornady dies right now. I have Hornady dies, and like them. Ordinarily I prefer Redding, but when I got these Redding weren't available. The Hornady dies are good quality, and I'm favorably impressed with them.

The only 300 grain spitzer bullet I have found lately is this one:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=544442

I have a fair amount of load data; I've only used a couple of them so far and I haven't experimented from the given data. I'll have to find it; I'm not sure where I put it as I can't find the SOCOM folder in my reload stuff. I probably printed it out and stuck it in my AR binder. Let me know what you're looking for, and I'll see what I've got.

[SideShow Bob]

Thanks for the info. [Beer]

[DSB OUTDOORS]

Ya thanks x 2!!! [Coffee]

[Troublco]

No problem. Let me know what you're looking for in the way of load data, and I'll see what I've got.

[DSB OUTDOORS]

Thanks!! I'll hit you up when I get my .458 build started! I have to finish the .450 Bushy first. [Alrigh]

[ShooterJM]

Does the .450 require a new bolt carrier group? From what I've read (albeit not much) it almost sounds like all that's needed is the barrel.

[DSB OUTDOORS]

Does the .450 require a new bolt carrier group? From what I've read (albeit not much) it almost sounds like all that's needed is the barrel.
Hey ShooterJM.
I mainly built the lowers and a couple uppers, but I beleave thats correct!! They use the same upper receiver components for the standard .556 you just add what ever caliber barrel you wan't. Be sure to check the head spacing!! When you get it all together to save some headache. [Bang] and to be on the safe side!! They do require special mags or if you have some xtra 223 mags lying around, you can get the mag followers, gut out the 223 mag and make you're own. [Tooth]

[ShooterJM]

Well, looks like I need to find a .450 barrel now....

[SideShow Bob]

I don't know about the .450 BM, but with the .458 SOCOM plastic mags don't work, there is a plastic tit on the inside of the plastic mags that hang up on the .458 round.

[meatman]

I don't know about the .450 BM, but with the .458 SOCOM plastic mags don't work, there is a plastic tit on the inside of the plastic mags that hang up on the .458 round.

FWIW, I think it's typically the Pmags with the anti-tilt rib down the front of the magazine that won't work w/o modification. You can actually shave the rib down, but it's a PITA. The SIG556 plastic magazines actually work pretty well w/o modification for the 450BM, plus you can stuff 10-12 rounds in there.

[Troublco]

Does the .450 require a new bolt carrier group? From what I've read (albeit not much) it almost sounds like all that's needed is the barrel.

In addition to the barrel, you will need a bolt for the .450 that fits the cartridge head. It's considerably larger than a 5.56 cartridge case head. My .458 SOCOM bolt looks like it has tinfoil around the outside due to the size of the case head. Best to get a barrel/bolt that have been headspaced to each other if you want to build your own. The .450 Bushy, as pointed out by DSB, does require proprietary mags; something the .458 does not (another factor in my decision to get a SOCOM). Sideshow Bob has a valid point about the PMAGs, these big rounds don't fit well with that plastic rib up front. But any metal mag, like GI, Brownells, C Products, and so on, will take SOCOM rounds just fine. If I remember correctly, you can get 7 SOCOM rounds into a 20 round mag and 10 into a 30 round mag.

[DSB OUTDOORS]

In addition to the barrel, you will need a bolt for the .450 that fits the cartridge head. It's considerably larger than a 5.56 cartridge case head. My .458 SOCOM bolt looks like it has tinfoil around the outside due to the size of the case head. Best to get a barrel/bolt that have been headspaced to each other if you want to build your own. The .450 Busy, as pointed out by DSB, does require proprietary mags; something the .458 does not (another factor in my decision to get a SOCOM). Sideshow Bob has a valid point about the PMAGs, these big rounds don't fit well with that plastic rib up front. But any metal mag, like GI, Brownells, C Products, and so on, will take SOCOM rounds just fine. If I remember correctly, you can get 7 SOCOM rounds into a 20 round mag and 10 into a 30 round mag.
Thanks Troublco!! Not sure how I over looked that one!! [Bang] Too many [Beer]

[SideShow Bob]

If I remember correctly, you can get 7 SOCOM rounds into a 20 round mag and 10 into a 30 round mag.

And 3 rounds into a 10 round magazine, 4 if you force it.

[DSB OUTDOORS]

And 3 rounds into a 10 round magazine, 4 if you force it.
Just an FYI if you pack em in there they will have trouble feeding. Personal X-perance. [Coffee]

[Troublco]

And 3 rounds into a 10 round magazine, 4 if you force it.

I don't think I even own a 10 round AR mag...I have a couple of 5 rounders for hunting, and one modified with a single round follower for bench use but that's it.

Why would you own a 10?[ROFL1]

[SideShow Bob]

I don't think I even own a 10 round AR mag...I have a couple of 5 rounders for hunting, and one modified with a single round follower for bench use but that's it.

Why would you own a 10?[ROFL1]

Kaliforia ?

[Troublco]

Kalifornia ?

Yeah, I suppose if you're being held in the People's Republic of Kalifornia and you had the temerity to own an Evil Black Rifle, that would be the only way, other than 5 rounders, to feed it.

I liked it when I lived there. Now the thought of living there gives me goosebumps...[Shake]

[DSB OUTDOORS]

I have them because I can and I have the right! And not to mention they are a HELL of alot of fun!! [Tooth] [AR15]