anyone load 450 bushmaster?

[IMR4064]

i have never loaded a straight wall case (only bottle necks like 243 and 3006) but i want to get started with 450 bushmaster.

you guys got any tips? is the sequence of operations the same? whats with the 4th die in the lee sets? i think its an expander, whats that about? is case length as critical as it seems its gonna be? with no shoulders im thinking the case seats against the rim of the neck. idk tho

 

[Dan-Schenk]

It’s an easy case to run with. I used 250gn hardcast over a starting charge of 33gn lilgun. Order was: fl size, bump the neck, trim if needed, then seat bullets. The odd part for me was that most of my brass never needed trimming. In fact it kind of got shorter. Also check this forum for more info.. http://www.450bushmaster.net/index.php

 

[IMR4064]

It’s an easy case to run with. I used 250gn hardcast over a starting charge of 33gn lilgun. Order was: fl size, bump the neck, trim if needed, then seat bullets. The odd part for me was that most of my brass never needed trimming. In fact it kind of got shorter. Also check this forum for more info.. http://www.450bushmaster.net/index.php

thanks. what do you mean bump the neck? is that what the expander is for?

so you can use other 45 cal bullets and not just the ones labelled bushmaster? theres a big price difference between. it would be nice to make some cheap plinking rounds.

 

[karrarararararar]

I actually just bought one last week so I'll be loading for it soon too. It's basically a big pistol cartridge. The expander is to open the mouth a little so you don't shave bullets while seating. Then after seating you use the crimp die to bring the diameter back down for feeding and bullet retention.

The Bushmaster is designed for .452 diameter bullets, the same as 45acp.

My plan is to load subsonic with cast bullets ~400gr by sizing down .458 bullets

 

[IMR4064]

I actually just bought one last week so I'll be loading for it soon too. It's basically a big pistol cartridge. The expander is to open the mouth a little so you don't shave bullets while seating. Then after seating you use the crimp die to bring the diameter back down for feeding and bullet retention.

The Bushmaster is designed for .452 diameter bullets, the same as 45acp.

My plan is to load subsonic with cast bullets ~400gr by sizing down .458 bullets

thanks. that makes sense.
im not really sure what ill load yet. probably just soft points or something.

 

[Dan-Schenk]

thanks. what do you mean bump the neck? is that what the expander is for?

so you can use other 45 cal bullets and not just the ones labelled bushmaster? theres a big price difference between. it would be nice to make some cheap plinking rounds.

Yes, you have to expand the neck just a hair. You can use any .452 bullet up to around 300 gns.

 

[Hoot]

I've been reloading my 450b since 2010. I've only ever used copper jacketed or monolithic bullets in my 1:24 twist AR upper. The biggest challenge is getting sufficient neck tension. I used the expander once out of ignorance, the first batch I made back then and never used it again. You'll get better neck tension if you don't disturb the case mouths after sizing. I highly recommend the Hornady die set. Their seating die aligns the bullet with the case mouth, so the expander is not needed. If you intend to shoot cast boolits, I can't speak to them from experience.

If you want to boost your confidence the first time out, begin with the Hornady 225gr FTX bullet over 38gr of Lil Gun. Seat the bullet until there is a little bit of the cannelure still showing outside the case mouth, approximately 2.12 COL and taper crimp the mouth down into the cannelure. Adjust your taper crimp die to leave the resulting mouth diameter of .475-.476. That gives it the best purchase upon the bullet. Best primers are either Rem 7 1/2 or CCI 450. IE Small Rifle Magnums.

With good bench technique, you should be able to put 5 rounds into a .5 group at 100 yds, as seen in this Thread over on the 450 Bushmaster forum. If you want pinpoint accuracy, you can't beat the brass 245gr Lehigh Defense Xtreme Penetrators over 36-37gr Lil Gun. Seat to 2.27 COL and that will allow you to drive the taper crimp down into the driving band groove with the seating die set to yield a .475 mouth diameter. They shoot a ragged hole 5-shot group at 100 yds, as seen in This Range Report, over on the 450 Bushmaster forum.

(I'm Hoot there as well)

 

[expiper]

I have tried 'other' powders but lil-gun is the bees knees--stay around 37 gr with a 245-250 gr jacketed bullet,,keep powder charges near max so the action (I am shooting a rattle gun) will cycle reliably --I bought some starline brass and am happy with it,,I full length sized it before loading the first time--I like the plastic tiped bullets to avoid shaving lead and to gain reliable feeding in a semi-auto ....my groups are ~1"+/- mostly plus ,wink....Roger
PS--get a Lyman ammo checker to assure that all the rounds will function in an auto-loader--this is a ctg. that is used in a hunting situation (you won't be plinking with it like a .223) and you dont want it jamming while in the field---the orange gizmo in the middle is the Lyman ammo checker--quick and EZ to use

 

[rockhound78]

I have used the 45 cal bullets designed to be used in muzzleloaders using a sabot. I use a Lee case mouth expander to put a little flare on the case mouth to help seating the jacketed bullets without shaving some of the bullet jacket off. I use the expander for cast bullets as I use a .453" dia. bullet. I have sized down .458" bullets, cast and jacketed, for the 450 BM, but I do it in steps, .456", down to .454", then final pass, using Lee cast bullet sizing dies. Jacketed were a pain, thats why I went with the 45cal sabot slugs. The ones I bought were .452". If cast in an AR15, I use either powder coated or a bullet design with a gas check. I get roughly
1-1.5" groups @100 yds

 

[CADDIE5]

I load for 3 CVA CASCADE XT hillside camo 450BM bolt action rifles with BearCreekBallistics.com 240HV bullets and H110. Muzzle 2550fps from 22" bbl. Groups 3 shot are .75 to .5 moa at 100yds. Group at 300yds under 2 inches.

 

[CADDIE5]

Redding dies. Forster will start making 450bm die set shortly. I gave Bob Ruch a dummy round with BCB 240HV bullet at 2.57" oal