450 bushmaster cast bullets.

[lh leggtowner]

I am wanting to cast some bullets for a bushmaster I am acquiring. I am only wanting to shoot subs in it. So I enjoy casting and was thinking is anyone else out there doing it and what bullets are they running thru a bolt action rifle. I would like a pointed bullet but I am not finding any 452 pointed bullets. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[dantiff2]

I am wanting to cast some bullets for a bushmaster I am acquiring. I am only wanting to shoot subs in it. So I enjoy casting and was thinking is anyone else out there doing it and what bullets are they running thru a bolt action rifle. I would like a pointed bullet but I am not finding any 452 pointed bullets. Any help would be appreciated.

I run 405 gn RNFP bullets from a 458 diameter mold. Range scrap mixed with wheel weight alloy makes these drop out of the the mold at around 414 gn after powder coating them. I then run them through my Lee push through sizer die which I have honed out to .4535. They go through in one pass with very little effort. These run right at 1050-1060 FPS from my 16" Ruger while being pushed by 10.8-11 grains of Unique powder (no fillers needed) and shoot right at 1-1/2 inch groups at 100 yards. These big ole' slow movers still push ya and If you've never shot a big, heavy, subsonic slug, I like to say that you can feel it going down the barrel when you shoot'em! Enjoy the fun! Really, really quiet when suppressed! Sounds similar to uncoupling an shop air line if you can picture that.
Dan

 

[lh leggtowner]

I run 405 gn RNFP bullets from a 458 diameter mold. Range scrap mixed with wheel weight allow makes these drop out of the the mold at around 414 gn after powder coating them. I then run them through my Lee push through sizer die which I have honed out to .4535. They go through in one pass with very little effort. These run right at 1050-1060 FPS from my 16" Ruger while being pushed by 10.8-11 grains of Unique powder (no fillers needed) and shoot right at 1-1/2 inch groups at 100 yards. These big ole' slow movers still push ya and If you've never shot a big, heavy, subsonic slug, I like to say that you can feel it going down the barrel when you shoot'em! Enjoy the fun! Really, really quiet when suppressed! Sounds similar to uncoupling an shop air line if you can picture that.
Dan

Ok. That is solid info. I need to find me a sizer die it sounds like. Thanks a bunch for the info.

 

[BuffaloBill]

10.8-11 grains of Unique powder (no fillers needed)

Dan,

I’ve always understood that using a small charge in a straight-ish walled case can detonate. Is Unique powder not susceptible to this as other powders are? I’m glad it’s been working for you and the heavy cast bullets sound like fun. I’ve got 16” Bushmaster but have only been shooting jacketed bullets.

 

[243winxb]

LEE DOUBLE CAVITY MOLD .459-500-3R W/HANDLES
Have to size them down a lot.

Lyman makes one also, but same diameter.

Lyman will produce the smaller diameter over Lee.
Cast bullet molds alloys are regulated differently between manufacture.
Antimony makes diameter larger.

 

[243winxb]

. I need to find me a sizer die it sounds like

Size a little at a time. Lyman has said .003" total is maximum. But others have sized more in 2 steps.

Size of lube grooves will change. Soft alloys of long bullets may bend bullet, while sizing down .006" or more, in one step.

 

[dantiff2]

Size a little at a time. Lyman has said .003" total is maximum. But others have sized more in 2 steps.

Size of lube grooves will change. Soft alloys of long bullets may bend bullet, while sizing down .006" or more, in one step.

It's not an issue at all. I go from .461 (powder coated bullet from my 458 mold) to .4535 in one pass and it just evens out the drive band rings. It does not make big tails or anything bad. It's just not the issue that some people make it out to be. I originally went to 452 from 461 with no issue at all but my rifle shoots better with a slightly larger bullet over bore fit. Guys are sizing down jacketed 458 bullets to run in the 450 and some of them like to size in steps just to ease the stress at the press and on the jackets.
Dan

 

[dantiff2]

Dan,

I’ve always understood that using a small charge in a straight-ish walled case can detonate. Is Unique powder not susceptible to this as other powders are? I’m glad it’s been working for you and the heavy cast bullets sound like fun. I’ve got 16” Bushmaster but have only been shooting jacketed bullets.

Unique powder is not position sensitive and it's been used like this (in small amounts) in large cases such as the standard load of 12 gns in 45-70 with no fillers for 100 years. I have run as low as 6 grains in a 30-06 case with great success! Unique is a very popular powder for this type of loads for this very reason. The old stand by is 10.0 grains of unique shoots good in all the old calibers. Join the cast bullets website or even the 450 bushmaster.net web page and read away!

My most accurate bolt gun, sub load is 300 blackout with 4 grains of Unique with a 138 gn hunter supply slick coated cast bullet. It will stack them at 2" or under at 150 yards from my back yard range consistently and sounds like a bb gun :O
Dan

 

[JSH]

Hodgdons new manual actually has some subsonic data init this year. About time since easy peasy trail boss is as obtainable as fairy dust.

 

[Fire Dog]

Hodgdons new manual actually has some subsonic data init this year. About time since easy peasy trail boss is as obtainable as fairy dust.

I’ve noticed that Fairy Dust is available if you are willing to go into certain areas of town after hours….
Joking aside, Powder Valley has stock of Trail Boss…

 

[dk17hmr]

I size 459-460 down to .452 in one step often.

I have a slick side 525gr .452 bullet mold used for paper patching. A guy could powder coat them and use it in 450 bushmaster....I'm not trying to get rid of it just saying options are out there in the custom mold world