Anyone have a 450 Bushmaster?

[1911Fan]

I thought I'd give an update since shooting the .450 pictured above. So far I've only put about 40 rounds through it, but it has fed perfectly with no malfunctions. I was pleasantly surprised at the felt recoil, although one range session moved the scope about 3mm forward in its rings. (I think that says more about my poor scope mounting skills than the .450's recoil!)

 

[FrontLines]

I have a Christensen Arms Mesa in 450 Bushmaster for that very thing. If i was to spend a little bit more I’d get thier Ridgeline rifle with a carbon barrel. I believe that comes in under the 2K budget. My Mesa shoots lights out. I sold the factory stock have it dropped in a KRG Bravo chassis. Harvested my first deer with it this year as well.

 

[michael458]

I finished my research project with 450 Bushmaster yesterday with extreme success with these three bullets from Cutting Edge........ Today I am loading.............

And at 25 yards POI is excellent, good enough at least to not have to do sight adjustment, with the 160 Raptors falling right in with the 250s.......... I will try 50 yards next, but I suspect all will be good enough for my purposes.......

 

[CADDIE5]

Have CVA CASCADE XT Hillside 450bm bolt action rifle. Rifle 3 shot groups @ 100yds with BearCreekBallistics.com 240HV ammo is .5-.75". At 200yds 1.25" group. At 300yds 1.75-2.0" group. With 22" bbl ammo is 2560fps at muzzle. Trigger at 2#. 100yd zero, 200yds +2.5moa, at 300yds +7 moa temp 60*F. 240HV cnc all copper bullet and cnc polymer tip. Plan to bring this setup to S Africa Safari in 2024.

 

[michael458]

We got around to doing some terminal tests here in October 2023............ Here are the results of those tests..............These are not tested from a bolt gun that will handle far more pressures than a semi gun............... FYI..............

 

[Mother Plucker]

Just came across this thread. Has anyone used a 450 bushmaster in Africa yet, specifically for buffalo?

 

[Altitude sickness]

My Bergara in .450 BM is very accurate. But I’ve got better medicine for Buffalo.

@michael458, how did the final results come in on the Raptor out of the .450? Seems like match made in heaven

 

[Mother Plucker]

Ya, I have a couple rifles, an AR and a bolt gun in 450 BM... was debating about building a 375 Ruger for my trip when I can afford a Cape Buffalo and thought about the 450 as an option...

 

[Flbt]

A buddy got one of the r-15 when they first came out in 450bm
It’s worked grate on deer and hog.
I remember back then some were saying it was a 45 acp bullet that was used in it at that time.
Idk but it did shoot good and work on what was here. I didn’t bother with it because I had a 45-70

 

[1:66 twiste@d]

I have 2, AR 15 side charging bolt. And a AR 15 bolt action. Both very accurate.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

Ya, I have a couple rifles, an AR and a bolt gun in 450 BM... was debating about building a 375 Ruger for my trip when I can afford a Cape Buffalo and thought about the 450 as an option...

I feel for you wanting to use "your" rifle for cape buffalo. Unfortunately most African countries have minimum caliber/cartridge or muzzle energy baselines.

For example;
.375 H&H is the minimum in many countries. It produces 4100 ft lbs of muzzle energy with a 300 gr bullet at 2500 fps. The average client hunter/marksman with a PH backing them up can kill dangerous game with a .375.

Comparing the above as the minimum cartridge/energy for cape buffalo, the 450 BM falls a little short at 3053 ft lbs of muzzle energy. Please see the online free Shooters Calculator,

ShootersCalculator.com | Bullet Energy Calculator

Calculates the kinetic energy of a bullet. May also be used to calculate the muzzle energy of a rifle or handgun cartridge and compare it to other cartridges.

shooterscalculator.com

The 450 BM with a 250 gr bullet at 2345 fps produces 3053 ft lbs of energy. This is likely a pissed off cape buffalo waiting to happen. Oh, many buffalo have fallen in their tracks with a very well placed .30 caliber bullet producing similar muzzle energy. And then again, probably many more shot with bullets producing average 3000 ft lbs energy survived long enough to charge the shooter or escape. Neither is a good situation.

For me, I would consider that if there were NOT a PH backing me up with a .375 or larger/more powerful rifle, would I be so cavalier with my life or that of the trackers as to use a 450 BM to slay dangerous game?

Personally, I take pleasure in dropping game in their tracks. A well placed shot with a .375 can do that. This is proven by many AH members every year. An equally well placed shot with a .416, .458. .470 and so on can do the same or better.

Note: I am restricted in southern Michigan to use a 1.8" or less length straight wall cartridge case round for whitetail deer. I load for 450 BM and .45 Raptor (rimless 460 S&W) with Barnes TSX and CEB Raptor bullets. I've also loaded the CEB Maximus but prefer the latter choices for dropping deer in their tracks. I would NOT attempt to use these cartridges for deer if I could use my old .30-06! I would also not use a 450 BM, .30-06 or similar on a cape buffalo, not if I had a .375 or more powerful available.

 

[michael458]

My Bergara in .450 BM is very accurate. But I’ve got better medicine for Buffalo.

@michael458, how did the final results come in on the Raptor out of the .450? Seems like match made in heaven

I concur, this is not really a buffalo cartridge. It could be done, but there are better choices by far. I don't view the 450 in that arena.

All my experience is with semi guns. Not too long ago Bear Creek had some incredible deals on 10.5 inch uppers, I did an SBR. And I do love that thing. Along the way I discovered Dura Mag, magazines. This solved all issues with any feed function, even with CEB 300 gr Solids! Substantial capability.

How do we Enhance Any Cartridge? Please, this might be the most important question any of you may be asked, so pay close attention.

THE BULLET. The bullet does all the Heavy Lifting. Period, end of Story. Very Simple, but very important.

The various CEB bullets turn the 450 BM into another creature. Depending on your mission for the rifle/cartridge. The bolt gun is obviously more potent. We have to limit pressures in the semi guns substantially. So bullet selection is even more vital. This 160 gr Raptor in the 10.5 gun is over 2500 fps. It is better suited for smaller thin skinned animals, deer size, probably pigs and such. Moving up the scale to the 250 Raptor or 250 Maximus you can pick up larger animals with ease, bear, plains game such as wildebeest or what have you. The 10.5 inch gun starts to lose velocity here, at 2150 fps vs 2320 fps in 16 inches. And then those 300 gr CEB Solids........ 1860 fps in 10.5 inches and around 2000 fps in 16 inches. In semi guns, at limited pressures.

With these type bullets, and I am sure there are some more out there that I have not paid attention to, I have no need currently, but the 450 Bushmaster can be extremely effective.

 

[Sarg]

I just bought one today, a Ruger American with a nice big suppressor fitted.

Also have a Howa mini but haven’t had it in my hands yet, have it in a couple of weeks.

One of my buddies was selling his, shoots 500gr casts into 1in at a 100, had to take that !!

The other group is factory 390gr Subx.

If I could get a bigger flat Meplat, would save trying to find expensive, rare here Maker or Lehigh slugs.

 

[michael458]

If I could get a bigger flat Meplat, would save trying to find expensive, rare here Maker or Lehigh slugs.

I like the Lehigh Extremes..................

This was an interesting bullet, but that is all, interesting. I would not use it for anything except maybe naked Zombies........... ..................

I saw this mentioned as well................