Ruger American 450 Bushmaster review of loads, rifle and first kill

Not sure if this helps or not.
Here is an email from Chase Young at Barnes for reference. I asked about maximum velocity in the 460 XPB bullets. Email was from 4/22/2018

460 S&W -275 XPB (30548)
What is the max velocity these can be shot at? I would like to use them for deer and possibly moose in a 450 Bushmaster. These are available at a local dealer. I don't seem to be able to find the 450 Bushmaster TSX anywhere in Canada.
Thanks for your help, love the bullets I have tried so far.

Scott,
Due to the construction of the all copper Barnes bullet you can shoot them as fast as possible yet retain near 100 percent weight retention. The six petals that expand out and back are very strong on our pistols bullets. As for the 275 gr TSX bullet for the Bushmaster the dealers up there must not be ordering them. You should let them know that they need to order some.
Thanks, Chase

Chase Young | Consumer Service

The 460 S&W 275 gn XPB bullets work just fine and are accurate. Haven't shot game with them yet.They are pretty close to the 450 Bushmaster TSX . I believe they will expand at lower velocities than the TSX bullets do. I have reloaded them to the factory ammo length so far. I shot a few at an AR 400 plate and they left an impression of the center hole in the steel. The 250 gn FTX I shot just splatter

Here is the response to my email I then followed up with a phonecall

These bullets are proprietary to the Hog Hammer ammunition line. There are no plans to provide this as a hand loading component at this time.



Thanks



--

Ryan Banks | Tech Support/Consumer Service
Barnes Bullets, LLC


Which was the response to this email:

Hi

I see Remington is selling some 450 Bushmaster ammunition in their Hog Hammer line which uses one of your TSX bullets in 275gr. I looked on your website and did not see a listing for just the bullets? Is this something that is available and what information do I need to be able to order them from my local Barnes Dealer?
 
Here is the response to my email I then followed up with a phonecall

These bullets are proprietary to the Hog Hammer ammunition line. There are no plans to provide this as a hand loading component at this time.



Thanks



--

Ryan Banks | Tech Support/Consumer Service
Barnes Bullets, LLC


Which was the response to this email:

Hi

I see Remington is selling some 450 Bushmaster ammunition in their Hog Hammer line which uses one of your TSX bullets in 275gr. I looked on your website and did not see a listing for just the bullets? Is this something that is available and what information do I need to be able to order them from my local Barnes Dealer?

Isn't that strange. I can't remember when I first saw them listed on Barnes site. I bought my 450 back in the first week of October last year but didn't start looking for reloading items until around January. With the limited factory ammo available they must have had a lot of interest in the reloading end to put them in their line. When I tried to order the 450 TSX they just told me the Canadian supplier didn't have them. This is why I moved on to the 275gn 460 S&W XPB's.
I know from what I have been reloading this cartridge is capable of substantial increases in velocity in a bolt gun.
 
Isn't that strange. I can't remember when I first saw them listed on Barnes site. I bought my 450 back in the first week of October last year but didn't start looking for reloading items until around January. With the limited factory ammo available they must have had a lot of interest in the reloading end to put them in their line. When I tried to order the 450 TSX they just told me the Canadian supplier didn't have them. This is why I moved on to the 275gn 460 S&W XPB's.
I know from what I have been reloading this cartridge is capable of substantial increases in velocity in a bolt gun.

Remington never produced the loaded ammunition, so likely gave away the propriety of the bullet for their loading at some point. I will order a bunch now that they appear to be available.

I don't see why the same velocity increase would not be possible out of my semi auto as it would out of my bolt gun.

The AICS 308 mags would allow me to seat the bullet further out provided the chamber will allow it in the bolt gun.

But as far as holding the increased pressure in the semi, that is a non issue with my custom bolt that stands up to Rem 30 AR pressures when I swap barrels

For factory loadings, I prefer the 260gr rem accutips over the Hornady 250gr rubber tips
 
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Congrats to all the lucky owners! Been sorely tempted but now must push away from this thread as my firearm budget has been blown this quarter lol.... Looking forward to hunting pics from these handy little carbines!

Dirk
 
RemingtoN never produced the loaded ammunition, so likely gave away the propriety of the bullet for their loading at some point. I will order a bunch now that they appear to be available.

I don't see why the same velocity increase would not be possible out of my semi auto as it would out of my bolt gun.

The AICS 308 mags would allow me to seat the bullet further outprovided the chamber will allow it in the bolt gun.

But as far as holding the increased pressure in the semi, that is a non issue with my custom bolt that stands up to Rem 30 AR pressures when I swap barrels

That would be awesome if you can get them up in a semi. My buddy and I were actually talking about that today. He wants to take a Winchester 100 or 88 with a crapped out barrel and convert it to 450 Bushmaster. We were figuring the rifles were built for 284 Win so should work fine as long as we get good feeding. He said he may have a gun lined up already. Said we should chat with a gunsmith and get their take on the idea.
If you don't have any luck getting the TSX's give the XPB's a try. Now that I have used the XPB's I don't even care if the TSX's are available. Will buy them if i can find thou.
I read somewhere the TSX will open up down to 1700 FPS and the XPB's will open up down to around 12-1300 fps. So the XPB's must be slightly softer or thinner copper where the petals expand. I plan on doing some wet paper testing once I get done my load testing.
 
I believe the velocity issue is why Remington never produced the ammunition.

You will for sure have to deal with feeding issues if the action was designed for a cartridge the length of the 284win
 
Has anyone done any testing on the 275 Barnes with hot loads yet. Curious how this bullet will hold together in the real world.
 
I finally had a chance to take an animal with the 450 Bushmaster I used my 355gr WFNGC hard cast at @ 1850fps load = I just didn't break the rifle/load combo in the way I thought I would though.

I received a panicked call Saturday around noon from my friends that own a cattle ranch up the Fraser Canyon they asked me if I could come up and help them out one of their certified organic grass fed heifers appr weight was 1400 - 1500lbs had gotten out and had a broken front leg they assumed a vehicle had hit it.

I quickly loaded up my gear in the camper/pickup and cargo trailer grabbed my Ruger American in 450 Bushmaster and headed up to the ranch on the way I called my 84 year old dad told him what was going on and that I needed his help minutes later he was also on his way.

The ranch is not set up to take care of something like this which is why they called me.

When I arrived we had a quick conversation they told me the heifer had been charging people and just about trampled them so a few minutes later from 40 yards away because she would charge if we got any closer we were set up and I took care of what needed to be done by putting the 355gr bullet 1" above and between her eyes she dropped like a sack the bullet traveled thru her skull and neck and exited I saw it hit the dirt behind her, as I was cutting the head off I found the gas check 1/2 thru her neck.

To say I'm impressed with this short - light rifle/cartridge combo is an understatement.

My dad arrived shortly after the deed and helped with the work it was good to have his experience there.

The four quarters are now hanging in a cooler at a friends place we will have it all cut and wrapped in about two weeks.

I'll have to post the pics later this evening.



 
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