Ruger Gunsite .450 Bushmaster

[scubohuntr]

Anybody shot one of these yet? Just from the marketing blurbs, it appears to be at least somewhat comparable to a .45-70 (I'm curious how Hornady gets over 3,000 ft. lbs. out of a 250 gr. at 2,025 fps in a .45-70, and only 2,686 out of a 250 gr. at 2,200 in a .450. Must have taken a different physics class than I did) in a very handy, stubby little scout rifle. I'm not crazy about the howitzer-style muzzle brake or the plastic magazine, but I can put up with them. I'm thinking it would be a great camp rifle in grizzly country, a nearly perfect truck gun, and good for game up to elk at limited ranges.

Yeah, I know, there's an AR upper in .450 BM, and it would build out to a very similar size, but I've never been a fan of black rifles.

A Marlin Guide Gun would do the same jobs for less money, but I don't like the exposed hammer and I don't shoot lever actions, so less instinctive with that mechanism.

Carrying a Smith 29 or a Redhawk in .44 is the classic bear country option, but really, there's no comparison in terms of power and accuracy, and the rifle is not much heavier.

A Benelli M2 loaded with Brenneke or copper sabot slugs is potent bear medicine, but not nearly as versatile.

Just idle musings on a Friday morning.

 

[Bully]

I built a Savage into a 450BM. I never hunted it as I couldn't get it to feed well at all. It was a hoot to shoot and I still have the left over ammo. Ruger is also making the rifle in a Gunsite Scout however I'd personally be more interested in the American as it would be a rarely shot little carbine to do all that you already mentioned. Good stuff.

If you grab one please post your review on it.

 

[Knotwild]

Sometimes you see and experience things that you can't get past. Years ago I had a Ruger 77 in .243. I didn't reload then, but it just wasn't very accurate. This week I saw a TV show that showed how cast and forged actions were manufactured. Pine Tree Castings, owned by Ruger, has a guy who's job is to straighten Ruger cast actions. They stated that the casting process usually produced actions that were warped and they pressed them into spec. I didn't really feel good about buying a Ruger after that.

 

[284winner]

Anybody shot one of these yet? Just from the marketing blurbs, it appears to be at least somewhat comparable to a .45-70 (I'm curious how Hornady gets over 3,000 ft. lbs. out of a 250 gr. at 2,025 fps in a .45-70, and only 2,686 out of a 250 gr. at 2,200 in a .450. Must have taken a different physics class than I did) in a very handy, stubby little scout rifle. I'm not crazy about the howitzer-style muzzle brake or the plastic magazine, but I can put up with them. I'm thinking it would be a great camp rifle in grizzly country, a nearly perfect truck gun, and good for game up to elk at limited ranges.

Yeah, I know, there's an AR upper in .450 BM, and it would build out to a very similar size, but I've never been a fan of black rifles.

A Marlin Guide Gun would do the same jobs for less money, but I don't like the exposed hammer and I don't shoot lever actions, so less instinctive with that mechanism.

Carrying a Smith 29 or a Redhawk in .44 is the classic bear country option, but really, there's no comparison in terms of power and accuracy, and the rifle is not much heavier.

A Benelli M2 loaded with Brenneke or copper sabot slugs is potent bear medicine, but not nearly as versatile.

Just idle musings on a Friday morning.

As Topher stated, Ruger offers an American model in the 450 bushmaster that's truly the best option. At around 450.00, it's tough to beat. There's a sport shop owner here in michigan( thumb area) that I believe was the idea behind that rifle built by Ruger. That area of Michigan is shotgun only for deer. Michigan legalized straight wall rifle cartridges 1.8 max/1.16 min. This new law allowed many new choices. The 450 bushmaster made the cut. I've seen a few and they are a better option than muzzleloaders or shotguns. Accurate and lethal out to 250-300 yards. Easy ranges to find deer at in the farmlands of southern Michigan. I began a build or at least started contemplating one on a 460 S&W mag. Basically currently called the 45 raptor. Would need to be built or purchased as an AR 10 upper. Cost is much higher than the 450 bushmaster in the AR upper or as a bolt gun. Just figured on another interesting build idea. I did find a barrel maker that sells finished barrels made for savage actions. That is the route I would go if I rekindled that in the future. I think it's smarter and cheaper to go the Ruger American route but I've never been called Smart !!!

 

[XTR]

The problem I have with the 450BM is that it shoots .452 pistol bullets, not .458 rifle bullets, where there are a lot more offerings. Now I'm sure you could get a swaging die made and swage 458s down to 452; but I've sized enough cast bullets for my 45-70 to know that is going to be leaning hard on the handle, or doing it in two or three steps.

If I were building a short bullet thumper I'd do it in 458SOCOM, then again I'd also put it in an AR upper. For a big bore in an any other configuration I'd use a 45-70 (own two)

 

[scubohuntr]

The problem I have with the 450BM is that it shoots .452 pistol bullets, not .458 rifle bullets, where there are a lot more offerings. Now I'm sure you could get a swaging die made and swage 458s down to 452; but I've sized enough cast bullets for my 45-70 to know that is going to be leaning hard on the handle, or doing it in two or three steps.

If I were building a short bullet thumper I'd do it in 458SOCOM, then again I'd also put it in an AR upper. For a big bore in an any other configuration I'd use a 45-70 (own two)

Yeah, if it were .458 it would be a no brainer. However, Lyman does make a 300 gr. flat nose GC mold in .452, which is not bad. It's kind of a little case to be launching 500's anyway. I like .45-70s, usually. I had a Ruger #3 in .45-70 that had catastrophic recoil issues; much worse than a Contender in the same caliber. If I was a lever kinda guy, I'd go with a Marlin Guide Gun, problem solved. If I was really into fighting with feeding problems, I'd build a Siamese Mauser in .45-70. I played with an American a bit at a gun show over the weekend. I like the length and the weight, but I really prefer wood stocks, and I like the forward rail and the open sights on the Scout. I am not at all sure I like them enough to pay double for them though. Maybe I'll have to revisit the M2 option, or see if I can find one of those .45-70 doubles that Cabela's had a few years back.

 

[XTR]

If you are going to cast then the whole world is open to you... (Funny, I never thought of that, and the following will highlight that). Get custom molds. DUH!

Go here... http://www.accuratemolds.com/index.php

Order the mold(s) you want. I have 2 of his molds for my C. Sharps 45-70.

 

[Jonathan Zimmerman]

What about running Parker Ballistic Extreme bullets 0.451"... that could be a good option. They have a really high BC, I run them in my muzzleloader. Just something to try anyway.

 

[Jesse Gietzen]

The problem I have with the 450BM is that it shoots .452 pistol bullets, not .458 rifle bullets

some people like myself find this preferable. the difference is that some bullets will expand at high velocities only. and some will expand at very low velocities. it's good to have both options with the 450 bushmaster and 458 socom.

 

[scubohuntr]

I'm leaning away from the Scout. It's just too much money for what is, in the final accounting, a pretty limited gun. Sure, I could hunt with it, but it really doesn't do anything my .375 H&H doesn't do better. For a camp gun, a 1911 in .460 Rowland or even 10mm is probably a better choice. If I really need a .450, I can get a Ruger American for a third of the money, giving up open sights, a forward sight rail and some magazine capacity.

 

[H2OBUG]

I have the new Ruger American in the 450 BM has the 16" barrel break and FDE stock. Came with a nice scope base.
I fitted it with a 3-9 Redfield Revolution and Weaver Tac Rings.

Will let you know how it shoots

http://ruger.com/products/americanRifleRanch/specSheets/16950.html

BTW picked it up new for just $375

 

[H2OBUG]

Update
I shot my Ruger Ranch in 450 Bushmaster today. I was shooting the Hornady 250 gr FTX Black ammo.

The gun basically shoots one hole at 100yds. My three best 3 shot groups were under 1/2" at 100yds.

I was really shocked this gun shot this good.

It is incredibly loud with the break and recoil is pretty sharp for this little rifle.

Overall I am very happy.

Should make a great 4 wheeler gun

 

[284winner]

I think a shotgun or muzzleloader is extremely practical at up to 200 yards if range work gets accuracy. The 450 for many people they would or may need to see better accuracy and at another 50-100 yards. Personally I would stick with a 212 or 220 savage bolt shotgun or my White muzzleloader for ranges out to 200 yards before buying a rifle that does the same. Getting another 50-100 yards would seal the deal if having to let deer walk was a problem.