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Post by majyang on Nov 26, 2018 13:19:52 GMT -5
Hey all. I'm considering getting a .450 bushmaster to use for my whitetail excursions. Since authorized for deer hunting, I had picked up a couple 44 mag single shots for the fam and I, (which have worked out just fine) but I've been itching for other hunting options (minus going back to the shotgun). I see i can pick up a .450 rifle for about $500 but am kind of considering just getting an upper for my AR (costs about the same). Posting here looking for thoughts on it. BTW, i'm a public land hunter. Thanks.
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Post by oldhoyt on Nov 26, 2018 15:24:31 GMT -5
Nothing wrong with that option.
I'd go with a 308. I've seen quite a few deals lately. Rural King had a Savage bolt action 308 or 243 with a scope on sale for $179 yesterday and today. They are now sold out or so I'm told.
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Post by Squealy on Nov 26, 2018 15:34:59 GMT -5
I too am a public land hunter. A couple of years ago I built a 450 bushmaster bolt gun. I bought a Savage Axis .308 and ordered a 450 barrel and swapped barrels. The 308 and the 450 are the same bolt face. I really like my 450 bolt gun. Although I am considering building a 450 AR now.
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Post by jimstc on Nov 26, 2018 16:42:22 GMT -5
I bought a Bushmaster .450 Bushmaster upper from Walsh guns on Gunbroker. $530 delivered to my door. 20 inch barrel and shoots lights out. Put it on my LMT lower with a 2 pound JP trigger. That is all I have hunted with during gun season although I have other options since I am hunting my own ground. Relative to a slug gun there is no comparison balistically or ammunition cost. Go for it.
Edit to add: Not to mention that is a pleasure to shoot unlike a 12 gauge slug gun
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Post by majyang on Nov 27, 2018 16:14:20 GMT -5
I bought a Bushmaster .450 Bushmaster upper from Walsh guns on Gunbroker. $530 delivered to my door. 20 inch barrel and shoots lights out. Put it on my LMT lower with a 2 pound JP trigger. That is all I have hunted with during gun season although I have other options since I am hunting my own ground. Relative to a slug gun there is no comparison balistically or ammunition cost. Go for it. Edit to add: Not to mention that is a pleasure to shoot unlike a 12 gauge slug gun Hey jimstc, (or anyone) do you know if there is a magazine capacity limit law here in Indiana? Can't seem to find any reasonably priced 5 round mags for the AR 450 BM platform, but did see a conversion kit for 10 bucks (it's basically a mag follower for the .450). Used on a standard 223/556 30 round mag, it not only allows the mag to house the .450 rounds but is then capable of holding up to 9 rounds. *Note, i wouldn't carry that full load for hunting BUT wanted to make sure the mag capacity itself isn't illegal here in IN.
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Post by jimstc on Nov 27, 2018 16:22:59 GMT -5
A five round mag comes with the upper. Otherwise change out the follower in your.223 mag to a single follower instead of a double stack
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Post by jimstc on Nov 27, 2018 16:24:39 GMT -5
I believe you can only have ten cartridges with you while ho
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Post by jimstc on Nov 27, 2018 16:25:31 GMT -5
While hunting that is....
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Post by greghopper on Nov 27, 2018 17:02:32 GMT -5
No mag capticty limits.... just number of rounds is the limit.
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Post by esshup on Nov 27, 2018 17:30:52 GMT -5
I picked up a 20" barreled upper from Buds Gun Shop, and built the lower. It came with a 5 round mag. Using Hornady Black flex tip ammo, off of a front shooting bag on the bench, 100 rd 3 shot group was 3/4" x 1.5" Good enough for me where I am hunting on public ground (and the majority of private ground) where shots will be less than 200 yds. Recoil wasn't bad at all, the brass went less than 24" from the gun. I added a clip on Kick-EEZ recoil pad to the collapsible stock.
I went with the 20" upper vs. the 16.5" one because the ballistic data for the round was developed with a 20" barrel.
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Post by majyang on Nov 27, 2018 19:21:43 GMT -5
Thanks for the feed back hunters. Been looking and came across Midsouth shooter supply who has a complete 18in .450 BM upper made by BCA for $399. I ordered it! But now seeing the note about the 20in, it has me wondering if I did good. Unfortunately it doesn't come with, nor did they have any mags in stock for it.
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Post by scott on Nov 27, 2018 19:37:14 GMT -5
There was another thread about this round, I believe I read someone say something about a Ruger American rifle; and it being a good shooter. I also can also attest to this, I just purchased one for this season and it is quite nice. Groups out of the 16.5” barrel shooting Hornady black 250 grain ftx, are at or very near moa. Sighted in ~2-2.5” high at 100 point of impact is roughly the same at 50 and about an inch high at 150. Last time I shot I had a 9 shot group (3 each @ 50, 100, 150) and the group was just north of 3” which I thought was awfully good especially compared to what I’m used to coming out of a slug gun.
The rifle is pretty affordable I got mine for $399 but have seen it slightly cheaper since then. You could slap on a fairly decent 3-9x40 and be all in for $500-550... basically what you are looking at for just an upper. I also researched that road a little when I was looking at the 450 for a new deer gun, I really liked the look of the RAR and didn’t want to mess around potentially having to do a buffer change so I went with the Ruger. I’m very impressed with this rifle it is light to lug around, has a 3 round detachable magazine (more than enough rounds to put multiple deer down if the opportunity arises), adjustable trigger is factory set right around 4 lbs but can be set down to 3 (I’ve found 4 is good for hunting), recoil is not bad at all for such a light gun, shoots great, round has good terminal performance. However it is quite loud due to the muzzle break.
I’ve taken 2 deer this year with it, one was a large bodied buck that dropped on impact, shot was ~125 yards, other deer was a average sized BB shot at 30-35 yards traveled 40 with a third of a heart missing and buckets of blood everywhere, I think even Ray Charles could have tracked that one.
As far as a round limit this round was legal prior to the HPR rule going into effect and I don’t believe that it would be subject to the same 10 rd limit that the HPRs are. Other deer firearms like slug guns don’t have a round limit at least not that I’ve ever seen and this round should fall into the same category.
Good luck in your search, but don’t overlook this sweet little bolt gun! Either way I think you will be thrilled with this rounds performance.
Scott
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Post by butlerj on Nov 27, 2018 20:23:44 GMT -5
The .450 Ruger American is on my list. Need a replacement muzzleloader first though.
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Post by jajwrigh on Nov 27, 2018 23:53:11 GMT -5
I have been using a Bushmaster with the 16" or 16.5" barrel (whatever it is) for a few seasons now. I have hammered two nice bucks with it and they do not go far at all. My bullets never exit but it turns the heart and lungs into tomato soup. It's a very accurate gun and a joy to shoot. I have a 4lb Timney trigger in mine which really makes it predictable. I am using a fairly low power scope, which works great for the heavy wooded area that I normally hunt. Buy a gun in the .450 BM, you will love it!
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Post by majyang on Dec 4, 2018 10:20:23 GMT -5
I have been using a Bushmaster with the 16" or 16.5" barrel (whatever it is) for a few seasons now. I have hammered two nice bucks with it and they do not go far at all. My bullets never exit but it turns the heart and lungs into tomato soup. It's a very accurate gun and a joy to shoot. I have a 4lb Timney trigger in mine which really makes it predictable. I am using a fairly low power scope, which works great for the heavy wooded area that I normally hunt. Buy a gun in the .450 BM, you will love it! Any thoughts on scope? More specifically, when my upper arrived i mounted a scope that i had laying around on it just so i could put a few rounds through the barrel. Shoots nice BUT, the scope really gets in the way of the charging handle. Getting a good grip on the handle to charge, takes a bit of work. The way i had to mount the scope, it rides just above the charging handle which makes it a pain to get to and, to pull back. I realize it's mainly due to the eye relief afforded with the particular scope i'm currently using but i'm not completely sure if a more generous eye relief scope would be the 100% solution.
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Post by omegahunter on Dec 4, 2018 13:21:50 GMT -5
Thanks for the feed back hunters. Been looking and came across Midsouth shooter supply who has a complete 18in .450 BM upper made by BCA for $399. I ordered it! But now seeing the note about the 20in, it has me wondering if I did good. Unfortunately it doesn't come with, nor did they have any mags in stock for it. Let us know how that BCA upper turns out. I ordered one from them in 6.5 Grendel and ended up going through 4 of them. First three would not chamber factory ammo and the fourth one shot 5" groups at 100 yards. Luckily they refunded my money.
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Post by jimstc on Dec 4, 2018 15:37:13 GMT -5
I have been using a Bushmaster with the 16" or 16.5" barrel (whatever it is) for a few seasons now. I have hammered two nice bucks with it and they do not go far at all. My bullets never exit but it turns the heart and lungs into tomato soup. It's a very accurate gun and a joy to shoot. I have a 4lb Timney trigger in mine which really makes it predictable. I am using a fairly low power scope, which works great for the heavy wooded area that I normally hunt. Buy a gun in the .450 BM, you will love it! Any thoughts on scope? More specifically, when my upper arrived i mounted a scope that i had laying around on it just so i could put a few rounds through the barrel. Shoots nice BUT, the scope really gets in the way of the charging handle. Getting a good grip on the handle to charge, takes a bit of work. The way i had to mount the scope, it rides just above the charging handle which makes it a pain to get to and, to pull back. I realize it's mainly due to the eye relief afforded with the particular scope i'm currently using but i'm not completely sure if a more generous eye relief scope would be the 100% solution. Leupold makes a scope calibrated for the cartridge. Part #176651. I think I paid around $230. Did an internet search to find it. It is the VX-Freedom 3-9x40. The only drawback is there is no lockdown for the elevation and I understand why. Once zeroed I just put electric tape on the turrets..
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Post by jajwrigh on Dec 4, 2018 17:15:50 GMT -5
I have been using a Bushmaster with the 16" or 16.5" barrel (whatever it is) for a few seasons now. I have hammered two nice bucks with it and they do not go far at all. My bullets never exit but it turns the heart and lungs into tomato soup. It's a very accurate gun and a joy to shoot. I have a 4lb Timney trigger in mine which really makes it predictable. I am using a fairly low power scope, which works great for the heavy wooded area that I normally hunt. Buy a gun in the .450 BM, you will love it! Any thoughts on scope? More specifically, when my upper arrived i mounted a scope that i had laying around on it just so i could put a few rounds through the barrel. Shoots nice BUT, the scope really gets in the way of the charging handle. Getting a good grip on the handle to charge, takes a bit of work. The way i had to mount the scope, it rides just above the charging handle which makes it a pain to get to and, to pull back. I realize it's mainly due to the eye relief afforded with the particular scope i'm currently using but i'm not completely sure if a more generous eye relief scope would be the 100% solution. I am running a large bravo company charging handle for that reason. This may be it here: www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCMGUNFIGHTER-Charging-Handle-GFH-Mod-3X3-Ambi-p/bcm-gfh-556-mod-3x3.htm
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Post by arlowe13 on Dec 4, 2018 19:56:31 GMT -5
The 10-round limit would not be in effect for the PCR's, right? I thought it was only for the "HPR's".
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Post by greghopper on Dec 4, 2018 20:27:43 GMT -5
The 10-round limit would not be in effect for the PCR's, right? I thought it was only for the "HPR's". yep....forgot about that part.
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