450 Bushmaster fot Hunting -- AR or Bolt Action?

[MMH]

I need to get a 450 Bushmaster for deer hunting in Ohio. I am leaning towards a Ruger AR but is there any reason that a bolt rifle would serve me better? And if so, which one? I would put a 1X-6X FFP scope on it.

My max range would be limited to 250 yards. At that distance the bullet is dropping 2.4" every 10 yards. In addition, I am not expecting the rifle to be better than 2 moa. So between ranging accurately (and deer moving a little after ranging) and rifle accuracy I would expect 250 yards to be the limit for reliable (95%) cold bore shots within a 6" circle.

 

[Orr89rocz]

Some of the bolt guns i have seen shoot very tight groups and you can run them at higher pressure and really get some velocity out of them

 

[Mauser06]

I built one on a m700 action I had laying around.

Got a smoking deal on a Browns Precision Pound'r and refinished it. Had McGowen spin me up a "Remage" barrel. Hardest part was getting the cooked m700 barrel off...whew. that was fun lol.


Like was said, you can get a good bit more velocity from bolt guns and handloading.

I'm running a 250gr TTSX at 2350 and it'll shoot silly groups for a rifle that's just over 6lbs.


One of my favorite hunting rifles.

 

[strut64]

It is always the first shot placement that counts. a bolt gun is superior in that regard. My $0.02

 

[ebb]

A very nice looking rifle 06.

 

[mattri]

Definitely a bolt. Likely to be more accurate, fewer feeding/cycling variables and a better carry in the woods.

 

[Mark W]

I built one on a m700 action I had laying around.

Got a smoking deal on a Browns Precision Pound'r and refinished it. Had McGowen spin me up a "Remage" barrel. Hardest part was getting the cooked m700 barrel off...whew. that was fun lol.


Like was said, you can get a good bit more velocity from bolt guns and handloading.

I'm running a 250gr TTSX at 2350 and it'll shoot silly groups for a rifle that's just over 6lbs.


One of my favorite hunting rifles.

That’s good to know! I talked to McGowen about a barrel last year, but I never pulled the trigger. Are you feeding from a magazine or single loading?

 

[Mauser06]

That’s good to know! I talked to McGowen about a barrel last year, but I never pulled the trigger. Are you feeding from a magazine or single loading?

Feeds right out of the bdl box mag. I was pretty surprised it feeds and ejects with no issues at all.

That barrel looks thick but it's really not. It was basically as thin as they would go. I can send you the barrel specs if you're interested. I think I went with 18" and a pretty fast twist...I don't know that barrel length makes a ton of difference in that case....I do know from others have fojnd that fast twists build pressure and can hinder speed...I've went higher with my powder charge and never saw much difference in speed bjt never saw pressure...and being just over 6lbs, I don't really want any more recoil lol. It's not BAD. But I wouldn't want a lot more. A 250gr bullet at 2350fps is plenty for most anything.


I had the action with a dead barrel on it....otherwise I may not have done what I did. But, I love how it turned out and it's a killer...I was very surprised at how accurate it is.

The 250gr TTSX pushed 2100+ is absolutely awesome. I love the performance I've seen thus far.



That was after blowing through a buck and dropping him where he stood lol.

 

[ZenArchery]

I pondered a gas gun. Didn’t want to fiddle with feed issue or limited 2.260 OAL when loading. Found an American Ruger. Running 221gr Hammer at 2500 FPS no pressure. Loving this combo!

 

[expiper]

I live near Ohio and assembled a rattle gun that meets the regulations for that states deer hunting laws,,,I use hornaday 250 grain bullets ,,,starline brass,,,win primers ,,,and lots of Lil'Gun,,,velocity ~2400 fps,,,accuracy best near 1 inch worst near 2 inch at 100 yds....my Leupold scope is a muzzle loader variant with dots/ladder rungs on the reticle that are helpful for aim points at 50-100-150 yds,,,after that it falls like a rock,,,max capacity of 3 rounds is available immediately (like a 45-70 semi auto) ,,,Roger

PS,,,Here is a little history about the 450 bushmaster.... There are several states that require shotgun slug hunting for deer with the exception of muzzle loader and pistol being allowed in some cases so there was a man in Missouri where they require slug hunting realized there was an exception to the rule, allowing the use of any cartridge with a brass length of no greater than 1.8 inches which is the length of a 460 Smith & Wesson so he thought what kind of rifle cartridge can I use that meets these criteria .... So he put on his thinking Cap and knew that to work in an AR. It had to have a 308 rim size to work in bolts that were available for the AR's and wanted maximum case capacity so he thought of the 284 Winchester, which is a rebated cartridge, having the body larger than a rim diameter for powder capacity so he just sawed the front end off of the cartridge and cut it to 1.7 inches so that the overall cartridge length could fit in a magazine and function in the action of an AR style rifle this cartridge according to state regulations has to fire a pistol bullet of .452 diameter not the .458 rifle size Bullets and he came up with the 450 bushmaster

 

[Mark W]

Feeds right out of the bdl box mag. I was pretty surprised it feeds and ejects with no issues at all.

That barrel looks thick but it's really not. It was basically as thin as they would go. I can send you the barrel specs if you're interested. I think I went with 18" and a pretty fast twist...I don't know that barrel length makes a ton of difference in that case....I do know from others have fojnd that fast twists build pressure and can hinder speed...I've went higher with my powder charge and never saw much difference in speed bjt never saw pressure...and being just over 6lbs, I don't really want any more recoil lol. It's not BAD. But I wouldn't want a lot more. A 250gr bullet at 2350fps is plenty for most anything.


I had the action with a dead barrel on it....otherwise I may not have done what I did. But, I love how it turned out and it's a killer...I was very surprised at how accurate it is.

The 250gr TTSX pushed 2100+ is absolutely awesome. I love the performance I've seen thus far.



That was after blowing through a buck and dropping him where he stood lol.

Yes, I would be interested in the barrel specs, but unfortunately it will be a little while before I take on any new projects due to a recent job change.

 

[mullmann]

I got a prefit barrel from preferred barrel blanks for my terminus Zeus LA. It does not feed great from the Hawkins Hunter LA mags, but it shoots very well with hornady black ammunition. Definitely a round that needs to be fed from a short action.

 

[LiveFire]

Ive had both of what you listed plus a CVA single shot 450. I preferred the CVA. They come with a 25" barrel. Velocity can be your friend when launching heavy low BC bullets. Accuracy with factory ammo was excellent. Triggers on the cva scouts are excellent for a hunting rig. If you want to reload theres no magazine to worry about. OAL can be set to whatever within safety limits of course. Follow up shots with a break open are slower than the others of course but I never really needed them. That being said I sold my 450s and switched over to a pair of CVA 44 mags for the wife and I in Michigan. Recoil, (shoulder surgery) muzzle blast and report all got to me. Good luck whichever way you go.

 

[BuffaloBill]

I’m more of a bolt action guy but bought a couple ARs years ago. When the 450 Bushmaster was released, I bought a 450 upper. For me it made the AR finally feel like something. With factory Hornady ammunition, it grouped near an inch at 100yds. I reload for it also using Lil’Gun as expiper mentioned. It makes an AR fun to shoot gallon water jugs, and the gas gun tames the recoil.

I had plans to hunt whitetail with it but have yet to do so. I’m sure it would work well for that.

 

[expiper]

I’m more of a bolt action guy but bought a couple ARs years ago. When the 450 Bushmaster was released, I bought a 450 upper. For me it made the AR finally feel like something. With factory Hornady ammunition, it grouped near an inch at 100yds. I reload for it also using Lil’Gun as expiper mentioned. It makes an AR fun to shoot gallon water jugs, and the gas gun tames the recoil.

I had plans to hunt whitetail with it but have yet to do so. I’m sure it would work well for that.

Bill is right,,,the gas gun takes a lot of the recoil out of the ctg. and makes it fun to shoot ,,,,and it becomes a real hunting rig with the big ole' bullets,,,,Roger

 

[Mauser06]

Yes, I would be interested in the barrel specs, but unfortunately it will be a little while before I take on any new projects due to a recent job change.

450 Bushmaster, 1-16" Twist, Stainless, REMAGE Threads,
McGowen #3 Contour (approximately .705" at muzzle), Recessed
Crown, 18" Long


I thought I had more specs but I don't. I called them and talked to them about it and wanting the lightest 450 bushmaster barrel they'd be able to do.


Hindsight, I'd have had them thread the muzzle....a suppressed subsonic 450 bushmaster would be plain ole fun....and unfortunately, I don't think there's enough meat left to do it now. I'd had loved to have that option available.

 

[MMH]

I plan on using a suppressor to tame recoil. HATE muzzle brakes...

 

[Dale264]

If you reload at all, get a bolt action. Far fewer variables to deal with in that route. If multiple follow-up shots/multiple deer are a concern, then an AR makes more sense.

That being said, I dropped 2 does with a 350L in quick succession last fall. So some practice working the bolt can get you good follow up shot opportunities.

 

[lb-ft]

Ruger American bolt stainless is my favorite. It’s fantastic.

If you were hog hunting, I’d say AR all the way. But for deer, I think you’d be better served with a bolt gun.

 

[rayporter]

i built a 450 on a black platform. it shoots as well as necessary for the range it has. maybe 2.5 in or so at 100. but it does not carry well. i may never use it because i have a marlin that carries nicely.
my nephew got a mossberg in 450 and it made a real mess of a deer last year using 250gr hornady ammo.