What did you reload today?

[cmk]

Not really "reloaded" - that comes next - but I finished a small batch of practice bullets for the 404.

40 S&W cases, annealed dead soft and sized to .423. Then added enough lead (approx 150gn) to give a total weight of 400gn, when finished.

Propane torch to melt the lead in each case. When cooled off, add a 40 cal 180 bullet on top of the lead 'charge'. Seat firmly as far down as it goes. Add a crimp. Run through the 423 sizer again.

Is this meaningful? - Maybe
Sub-optimal use of time? - Most likely
Fun/interesting project - You bet.

 

[Tintin]

Cool DIY project @cmk

I’ve just done a batch of .275 Rigby and some .450 BPE plinking /target loads.

 

[Ray B]

@cmk - That's quite clever. it never occurred to me to use a case that is .424" diameter to be used as a jacketed bullet for a .404 Jeff. My son has a 40 Smith- I think I'll scavenge some of his old brass. Would there be any advantage to grinding the base off?

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

and some .450 BPE plinking /target loads.

Gumpy

 

[cmk]

@cmk - That's quite clever. it never occurred to me to use a case that is .424" diameter to be used as a jacketed bullet for a .404 Jeff. My son has a 40 Smith- I think I'll scavenge some of his old brass. Would there be any advantage to grinding the base off?

Not any reason I can think of. Maybe that would give slightly better aerodynamics, i.e. making sort of a boat tail. But I think that this type of bullet may have bigger problems than poor BC, since the core is not bonded to the jacket, and the pistol bullet is only held in place through crimping/neck tension.

When fired, inertia may overcome the crimping - and possibly also the core-jacket connection - leading to poor spin stabilization and an unpredictable flight path. I guess I'll find out what the accuracy is.

 

[Longwalker]

That pistol .404 bullet might just work OK. Kinda strange but I like it!

 

[cmk]

That pistol .404 bullet might just work OK. Kinda strange but I like it!

I've tried someting similar a couple of years ago, when a member on another forum made a bunch for me with some home made dies and a hydraulic press.

These were also 40S&W cases, but soft lead was cold-pressed into shape, and a nose formed. They came in at approx 320gn, and worked quite OK, with a 3 shot group at ~35mm (1.5").

But this time I wanted to make them myself, and also get up to the 'correct' weight.

 

[yamoon]

Starting load, 9.3x57r/360 BPE, 250gr lead cast 20-1, 16.7gr of IMR4227, Remington LR primers. The brass is made from 9.3x72r Norma. The rifle is an Emil Kerner falling block pre WWI.
Mike

 

[MacJenkins]

Starting load, 9.3x57r/360 BPE, 250gr lead cast 20-1, 16.7gr of IMR4227, Remington LR primers. The brass is made from 9.3x72r Norma. The rifle is an Emil Kerner falling block pre WWI.
MikeView attachment 763038

Love it. Can you post a pic of the cartridge? I love all these 9.3 variants.

 

[michael458]

Here we enjoy hand loading not to be confused with "reloading"......... which both have value, hand loading to me is just a step beyond. I do both, make no mistake, but soon get bored with the "reloading". I have had several projects on going for the last few weeks, from 223 to 500 MDM. I have already posted some of the 500 MDM photos, so we won't visit that on this post.

I have to run 223 in doses, as I get somewhat bored with it as well, even though I am loading serious bullets and excellent loads. Our #1 223 Load here is a 50 Raptor on top of 24/RL 10X. I load for a large variety of 223 platforms, from semi to bolt. I needed a load that stayed under 55000 PSI, and shot well in all the platforms. RL 10X would not have been my top powder for some individual rifles, however it did work out to be the best all around, shoot well, feed/function in all the various platforms. So for many years, that has been the go to powder and load for the 223s I have on hand....... I loaded a few up the last week or so............

I have become a huge fan of 450 Bushmaster the last few years as well. All mine are semi platforms, one SBR at 10.5 inches and the others 16 inch guns. I am all in with these platforms and this cartridge. Yes, in the beginning I did not think much of it at .452 caliber, instead of .458. However, with the incredibly serious bullet choices we have today in .452, it has changed the game completely for the 450 BM.

We have available to us as shooters the 160 gr Raptor, 250 gr Raptor, 300 CEB #13 Solid, 250 Maximus from Cutting Edge. From Lehigh we have the 205 Lehigh Extreme and the 220 Lehigh Extreme that I am most fond of. In all my firearms, most of these bullets are same or close POI at 50 yards.... which is insane..... pick and choose the bullet for the mission..... don't worry about the sights, at least to 50 yards and I can't see past that anyway........

I am very serious about loading proper bullets for this cartridge and having them on hand......

I had the wrong bullet for he Maximus to begin with, the Muzzle Loading bullet above, that was corrected with the banded version, and accuracy showed it........

This week however I loaded up a few 300 gr Solids for sight in and test work................

Yes, feed and function is 100%........... using Duramag magazines.

And one must not load dirty brass, if you are going to hand load, go to the trouble of having properly cleaned brass...........Which I have a load in the wash I must go attend to as soon as I get this posted............

Enjoy your day, and hopefully you can get some loading in as well.....................

 

[AZDAVE]

@michael458 how do you compare the 450 BM to the 458 Socom?

 

[michael458]

@michael458 how do you compare the 450 BM to the 458 Socom?

Right off top of my head, there is not even a close comparison between the two, considering the bullets available.......

In .458 caliber from CEB you have the 250 Socom Raptor, and from Lehigh there is 225 and 250 Extremes. I don't know what you could run the 225s in a 458 Socom at, but on the top end I am seeing for the various 250s around 2000 fps in 16 inch gun. No reason to even consider heavier in the 458 Socom.........most 300s are from 1700 to pushing 2000 fps.

450 Bushmaster we have the 160 Raptors, that I am running 2800 fps in 16 inches of gun..... 200-205 is running around 2550 fps, 250 Raptors & 250 Maximus at 2330 fps, and 300 #13 Solids at 1978 fps all 16 inch guns. Brass is readily available from Starline, I recently bought a 1000 pieces. DuraMag makes a big difference in feed/function, I had 14 7rd magazines, felt like I needed a few more, so I have 12 coming in tomorrow. That should do. Cheaper bullets from Hornady are available from 200, 225 and 250........ With the bullets from CEB and Lehigh, they turn the 450 BM into another animal, greatly enhanced...... just like any cartridge is.

I did a 458 B&M Super Short on a 16 inch semi gun. It is quite a bit more than a 458 Socom as you know. But, I felt like we needed to keep pressures to no more than 55000 PSI in the semi platform, which reduced the 458 B&M SS to around 2350 fps with the 250 Socom Raptor. While this is good, when compared to 450 Bushmaster it is just common. The 450 Bushmaster is just easy compared to either my cartridge, or the 458 Socom. In my 458 B&M SS the magazines available are a little crappy as well, and it will not feed and function as well as the Bushmaster with Duramags. I would much rather have the Bushmaster than my own 458 SS on the semi platform... Now, bolt gun, different story........ But semi, the 450 BM wins hands down.

I am beating the 458 Socom at 16 inches with a 10.5 inch 450 Bushmaster.......... in all aspects.

I have also conducted terminal tests on all these bullet available for the Bushmaster and they are impressive.

 

[Tintin]

Loaded for the CZ's today

.450 Rigby
.375 Holland
.404 Jeffery

Then took them out to Czech zero.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

The .450 Rigby did OK with 500 gn Woodleigh softs.

 

[David jr]

450 Bushmaster 529.5 grain 1518 fps 2711 ft lbs and 348 grain 2196 fps 3729 ft lbs
both bullets are lead bullet with gas check and used in bolt gun only

 

[coyote wacker]

@michael458 how do you compare the 450 BM to the 458 Socom?

Safe pressure in a 450 Bushmaster in a semi-auto gun is 38'500 psi in a bolt acton you can go 60'000 psi with factory built guns. And really see what the cartridge can do. With a Cutting Edge Bullets 160 gr. Raptor loaded to 2.38" shot in a Ruger 77 with a 18" barrel 3160 fps pushed by a case full of Enforcer.
450 Bushmaster run at the rated pressure of 38'000 psi and very good bullets it can do some heavy lifting and is a empresive cartridge. Put it in a bolt action and raise the pressure to 60'000 psi add some of the best bullets made today and it will take every animal except the very largest with ease.

 

[AZDAVE]

@michael458 Thank you for the information. I have shot a decent ammount of 458 Socom but never had the opportunity to shoot a 450 BM. In a bolt gun the 458 B&M SS is just way to much fun to shoot.

 

[michael458]

I have shot a decent ammount of 458 Socom

It all comes down to "The Bullet"............. like most cartridges. I don't have a need, but if I did have a need, I would be looking for someone to make a 180-200 gr .458 Caliber Raptor, or Lehigh or even a Gen 1 copper, like Hammer or Maximus......... This would enhance the little 458 Socom to new levels of performance.

afe pressure in a 450 Bushmaster in a semi-auto gun is 38'500 psi in a bolt acton you can go 60'000 psi with factory built guns

100% Correct, all my data is for the semi guns..... I have not bitten the "Bullet" yet on a bolt gun.. so to speak........ I am very happy, in fact to the extreme happy with the 450 BM in the semi guns, probably why I have not looked much at the bolt guns............ About the only reason I would consider a bolt gun for me, would be to hook up a gage and run some pressure data.......

In a bolt gun the 458 B&M SS is just way to much fun to shoot.

Yep, no comparisons in the bolt guns.......... I chose my Earth tone 458 SS to set up as one of my rifles set up specifically for me and my left eye. Have to jump through some hoops these days to be able to shoot. Something set up so I can do right hand, and left eye.......... Yeah, kinda screwed, but I got a system working now......... And the 458 SS was top of the list to get going......... Can do a lot with that little gun.

 

[James Adamson]

6.5x55 on the bench tonight, loading up some 100gr fox classic hunters.

 

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Currently recovering from knee replacement surgery.......been reloading .357 magnum all week. Today I finished off a batch of 125 grain Sierra JSP over 19.0 grain of H110. Finishing off the day with some Speer 146 grain JHP over 16 grains of IMR 4227.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Currently recovering from knee replacement surgery.......been reloading .357 magnum all week. Today I finished off a batch of 125 grain Sierra JSP over 19.0 grain of H110. Finishing off the day with some Speer 146 grain JHP over 16 grains of IMR 4227.

@Mr. 16 gauge
I feel your pain with a knee replacement. Had mine five weeks ago.
Did your get done the old way or with Mako robot assistance. That makes recovery a lot faster and less painful.
Bob