Need help with 450 Bushmaster loads.

[Wildcatter]

I reconfigured the crimp so that it only crimped into the cannelure. This is a 200gr Barnes bullet that has been crimped and pulled. 2 strong whacks with the puller to get it out. All rounds feed flawlessly.



I'll post the actual numbers from my last range visit later, but here's the short version.

The crimp increased the velocity by about 100fps and improved the accuracy, these 200gr bullets were giving me ragged holes at 100yds.

The 275gr bullets with 42.8grs of Lil'Gun also improved. Running around 2070fps and 1.5" groups.

The spread I loaded with AA1680 was a major surprise with the velocities running a little over 1600fps to 1800fps, the last 3 loaded to 100% case capacity.

No signs of pressure on any of the loads.

That crimp looks so much better and two strong whacks means "NO" bullet travel in feeding or during recoil. I noticed that the groups did not suffer, one little bit! How was extraction with the MAX "NO PRESSURE" loads? I assume you were single feeding the cartridges with the mag in, so did the bolt hold open after the shot as advertised, meaning, was the action working as normal?

Safety First..t

[Wildcatter]

Lil'gun seems to be the best powder when used with SR primers. I wonder if anyone has experimented with SR Mag primers?

Yes, and the mag primers ignite 1680 much better, for all loads, Mag Primers are the only ones I'll use, of course, if bench rest competition is the goal then maybe something else would be better. I want ignition at 90 below zero is my motto, as I sit here in Michigan watching a winter storm all day long, hunting in near white-outs, as we did today, tends to put a different prospective on things, but I digress. As 269/H110 (yep their data is interchangeable) is a little slower than lil gun, the speeds should run higher. AA1680 and fed-215 mag primers, which are hotter than any other mag primer, was the power of choice in the 45 Professional. Although we do have some limitations here, as the pro was .071 longer it has more case capacity and the 450b can't take a large rifle primer. So, use sr mag primers and have a go at it. I'm sure that lil gun is just a bit fast, but if you've got a ton of it, then better to us it at some time or other. You've got a ways to go yet, because that two hundred grainer should start to approach 3000fps + or - some, in my mind, just watch the pressure signs.

Safety First..t

[Slash2]

That crimp looks so much better and two strong whacks means "NO" bullet travel in feeding or during recoil. I noticed that the groups did not suffer, one little bit! How was extraction with the MAX "NO PRESSURE" loads? I assume you were single feeding the cartridges with the mag in, so did the bolt hold open after the shot as advertised, meaning, was the action working as normal?

Safety First..t

Yup, single feeding the cartridges with the mag in, and the bolt held open each and every time.

Also, considering the crowd pleasing fire ball that comes out of the end of the barrel with the AA1680 powder, and the low velocities, I'd have to agree that the small rifle primers are not igniting that powder completely in the gun.

[jagermaster]

I also purchased the Lee Factory crimp die for the 45-70. I also an using a post from my .452 Lee Bullet Sizing kit to insert the cartridge into the crimping die, because the 450 is .4 inches shorter than the 45-70. Using spacers on the post, I can regulate how far the cartridge enters the die before the crimping occurs. I have it set so I can put a factory style crimp on the case mouth at the crimp groove. The crimp is pretty close to the width of the crimp groove. The OD of the crimp is .470 inches. OD behind the crimp is.477 inches. These diminsions are with the 250 gr. Montana bullet. This crimp holds the bullet more securely than the taper crimp, mostly because the bullets at .4505 rather than .452.

I found the lee factory crimp die you all are using but what is the post or the spacers you all are using to make it work with the 450?

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=747243

[jagermaster]

If there was enough interest, I would purchase the reamer and headspace gauges to be able to make some chamber gauges for you guys.
I need to know that all the tooling costs are covered before I would commit to ordering the tooling though.

How many gauges at what price would justify the cost of tooling for you?

[ar15barrels]

How many gauges at what price would justify the cost of tooling for you?

I figure 6 gauges at $40 a piece ought to cover it.

[Siringo]

I found the lee factory crimp die you all are using but what is the post or the spacers you all are using to make it work with the 450?

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=747243

I had purchased a Lee cast bullet sizing die (.452) that comes with the die and a post that is used to push the bullet through the die. This post goes into the ram on the loading press. I used that to position the cartridge within the crimp die. I used washers of varing thicknesses to control have far the bullet enters the crimp die. Also, you can use the .452 sizer to resize 45-70 bullets from .458 to .452! Dies is very inexpensive.

[7222 Hawker]

Ammo is certainly hard to find. Cabela's is out every time I look and the only place I've found to have it consitantely is Midway USA. Will be looking forward to the new charts on it.

[Wildcatter]

Ammo is certainly hard to find. Cabala's is out every time I look and the only place I've found to have it consistently is Midway USA. Will be looking forward to the new charts on it.

Hi ya doing Hawker, catch any chickens lately, the Hawks around here just loves the chickens they do..wink. Can't be too hard if you always find some at midway. I saw six boxes ($29.95 - and run of the mill 30-06 stuff is $34.95 and premium 325wsm $69.95) at the local Gander Mountain tonight. The truth is, the 450b is so hot, the various outlets are having a fit keeping it their pipeline. You guys just keep burning it up, amain that? Hey, keep it up! I was told by Peter Pi of Corbon, that they did a million rds, in the last year, of the 458 socom and how many years have they been loading that wildcat cartridge ( Yep, if'n it ain't SAAMI, it is a wildcat and I don't care how many outfits are loading or selling it..), bunches I tell ya? Ammo for the 450 Bushmaster has only been out, something slightly over a year (came out late Oct 07), and they have already produced something more than 2 million rds and are in the process of rolling some up as I write. Truth is, you may have to search the net, but, the good news is, it is all over the net. And next year, Hornady is coming out with the bullets and brass, YEAH!!

Safety First..t

[MudBug]

Never having reloaded straight wall stuff before I'm a little confused about this crimp situation.

The Hornady dies have a crimp built into the bullet seating die, but it also came with what I believe is another seperate crimp die that I'm not sure about.

OK, this kind of answers my question, but not really.

The description of the 4th die from midway.

The fourth die is a separate crimp die and is intended for a deep crimp which may be required with heavy cast bullet loads.

[Siringo]

Hornady Dies

The 4th die is a taper crimp die -- not heavy roll crimp. That is done in the bullet seating die. With this cartridge it is not used.

[Siringo]

Hornady Website

Hornady's Website is updated and shows FTX 250 grain bullets and brass available for sale in 2009. Lists a FTX 200 GR. bullet for the 460 S&W. There ya go Slash!

[GunNut]

I've been lurking for awhile and had to jump in. My new 450 Bushie ,16" flat top, works great! New complete gun not just upper. I have reloaded in the past, 45ACP & .223. Now I would like to load for the 450. I'm making a few assumptions here. I would like to use the same bullets as my 1911. 230grn FMJ ball. I assume that "slash's" load for a 240grn. would be safe with the 230grn FMJ ball. 45grn of H110.=2550fps. I guess my win. small rifle primers will work. I hope to push them to 2750fps. Your opinions would be greatly apreciated!!

p.s. I cant spell "shet"

[Siringo]

230 gr loads

I tried that load in my rifle with the Hornady 230 gr. TC bullet. I got more of a pattern and erractic ejection than anything else. I too am going to try the RN just for a plinking load, but will use Lil'gun. My opinion is that it has been more consistant in my gun than H110. I had a good load with the 240 gr. using 36.2 grains, so maybe with the 230 grain, I would start with that charge and work up.

[Slash2]

I've been lurking for awhile and had to jump in. My new 450 Bushie ,16" flat top, works great! New complete gun not just upper. I have reloaded in the past, 45ACP & .223. Now I would like to load for the 450. I'm making a few assumptions here. I would like to use the same bullets as my 1911. 230grn FMJ ball. I assume that "slash's" load for a 240grn. would be safe with the 230grn FMJ ball. 45grn of H110.=2550fps. I guess my win. small rifle primers will work. I hope to push them to 2750fps. Your opinions would be greatly apreciated!!

p.s. I cant spell "shet"

So far some of my best results have been with 45grs of Lil'gun behind a 230 gr FMJ. 2539 fps. Sorta like a 1911 on massive steroids.