450 Bushmaster in a bolt gun

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Ridersfan

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Does anyone use 450 bushmaster? I don't want the AR style of bushmaster... I'm interested in a bolt gun like a Ruger American Ranch
https://www.cabelas.ca/product/97356/ruger-american-rifle-ranch-bolt-action-rifle

But... I've never fired a 450 bushmaster before. How flat does it shoot? Is it an acceptable 250-300 yard deer rifle?

I'm keen on the bushmaster 450 because it uses .452 bullets and I keep .452 bullets on hand for reloading by the thousands
 
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I've had my eye on one for a while now as well, but I think she would run out of snot at 250-300 to be an effective rifle for big game. If it were me, I'd probably set my max distance at 150.
 
If you know your drops I'm sure it's possible, but it's not exactly a flat shooting cartridge, it starts relatively slow and the large diameter bullets don't exactly hold their velocity the best either. Factory ammo seems to focus on 250gr pills at around 2200fps, and by 300yds they have under 900ftlbs of energy. Don't get me wrong, hit a deer and it's going down but my 270 has close to twice that energy at that range.

Personally I'd want to limit myself to 200yds or less. Zero at 150, slap a small fixed power scope on it and giver. If you are handloading heavier bullets with even less muzzle velocity 150 might be a better limit. With a slightly heavier bullet inside 150 yds I bet it would be a fantastic deer gun. (I'm not a huge fan of really light for caliber bullets, and the 250 used in factory ammo is pretty darn light for caliber IMO)
 
I have a Ruger American 450 Bushmaster.....I zeroed at 100 yds due to the area I am hunting whitetails at...3X9 Bushnell and I'm good to go. But as Suther said " I try to limit myself to 200 yds or less with 150 yds as a better limit".
 
I have the American ranch in 450 as well, just finished getting it into the new stock, still have to get to range to zero it

when I was looking at it the recommendations seemed to be that it topped out at 200 yards; by design they wanted hard hitting close range (for pigs initially I think)

I am a new hunter though so my shots are going to be under 200m anyways, and living in BC, you only see farther than that if you are looking at the hill across the way, most places I end up have to much brush and understory to see long distances
I liked the large bullet, because at the range I hunt it is going to good for anything in the province.
 
I own the Ruger Gunsite Scout in 450 Bushmaster (glorified M77 Mk II) and it's a great rifle and outstanding out to 100 yards, maybe 150 yards. Beyond that, I would suggest a different chambering. If you reload they are cheap to shoot, but if you're buying factory ammo you may want to rethink the matter. Rifleman338 summed it up...
 
And in all likelihood, me thinking I can tag a deer at 250-300 is a pipe dream... I've never taken a shot over 200 before. I appreciate the replies so far.
Any loaders out there that have reloaded for 450 bushmaster? The factory rounds are the FTX flex tip type things in 250 grain... I want to use round nose flat point jacketed 250 grains
 
Hollow Point said:
how does this caliber compare to the 45-70 or .44 mag for hunting?
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Its well behind modern 45-70 loads for the Marlin lever guns. Those push a 350gr at 2150fps, almost the same speed as the 250gr bushmaster load.

Mr. Friendly said:
the thing that bugs me about the 450 Bushmaster is that it uses a .452 diameter bullet...not the usual .458.
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That's kinda annoying, but it's the same as the 454 casull (and 460s&w) so there is a good variety of bullets for the hand loader. They're just not listed under rifle bullets.

Ridersfan said:
And in all likelihood, me thinking I can tag a deer at 250-300 is a pipe dream... I've never taken a shot over 200 before. I appreciate the replies so far.
Any loaders out there that have reloaded for 450 bushmaster? The factory rounds are the FTX flex tip type things in 250 grain... I want to use round nose flat point jacketed 250 grains
Click to expand...

Do you have a range finder? A cartridge like this with substantial drop at range is unforgiving if you rely on estimating range.
 
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Ridersfan said:
And in all likelihood, me thinking I can tag a deer at 250-300 is a pipe dream... I've never taken a shot over 200 before. I appreciate the replies so far.
Any loaders out there that have reloaded for 450 bushmaster? The factory rounds are the FTX flex tip type things in 250 grain... I want to use round nose flat point jacketed 250 grains
Click to expand...

No worries on poking deer & such out to 100 yds or so with the 450 BM using a jacketed round nose flat point as long as it be one of good construction to handle the increased velocities of the 450. If yer bullets are meant for .45 Colt, then you may need to ease off on velocity a tad to ensure decent penetration on game. Bullets meant for the 454 Casull would be better for the beasty as they are built to handle the stress better.

Hardcast 300 gr RNFP would be my 1st pick.;)
 
I would pick up a 450BM if Ruger made a left hand Scout. I love the m77 Scout rifles and the 450 is very interesting.

300gr XTP @ 1900 fps
+2" @ 100y
-1" @ 150y
-8" @ 200y
-39" @ 300y
 
Mr. Friendly said:
the thing that bugs me about the 450 Bushmaster is that it uses a .452 diameter bullet...not the usual .458.
Click to expand...

And that is exactly why I am considering a 450 bushmaster... because it's a .452 bullet and not a .458. A 45-70 is probably a better gun... but because I'm a hoarder when it comes to .452 bullets, that's why I'm interested in the 450 bushmaster more so than any others. I'm sure that if I focused on a .308 or a 30.06, I'd have a way better rifle too... there are a million better choices I'm sure, but then I won't be able to multi-task my .452 bullet stash.
 
THe 450 in the american will send the 250gr out at 2300-2400, as the bullet can be seated out with mag length. great rifle within 150yds.
 
I have to work really hard to convince myself I don't need the 7.62x39 as well

maybe when my daughter gets older an needs a hunting rifle :p
 
300gr XTP @ 1900 fps
+2" @ 100y
-1" @ 150y
-8" @ 200y
-39" @ 300y
Click to expand...

I have to get a chronograph, my .454 casull rifle loads have a similar trajectory.

I like that bolts are getting chambered in this caliber, but can't justify it with a lever in such a similar caliber...

Probably take the .454 moose hunting a bit this year.

Awesome rifle Hylar
 
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