.450 Bushmaster on a M98 action

[badge176]

Just closed a 'win' on eBay for a PacNor barrel blank in .45 1:22 28". 1.25" diameter gonna get turned down a bit and clipped to 16.25-18", fitted to a Mauser 98 action and chambered to .450 Bushmaster! Had considered doing the 45Raptor but got leery of the brass (non)availability and self-abuse I'd suffer...

I may set this up with an XS scout rail (or more likely just D&T the front ring and barrel for a segment of scope rail(?). Likely put a receiver Peep at the back and a fiber optic dot at the front sight. I plan in a Boyd's laminated stock, but am concerned about having enough for end width for the larger barrel (?). Thought I'd to keep weight up front in diameter not length (short, stiff & stout)

This will be a dedicated CB-only rifle
(scheming to find .450BM data for a 300g CB -my Gould HP in .458 sized down to .452?!)

While I have posted several planned projects lately, I am shifting work schedules next week and expect to have more 'project' time through till June...

[IraqVet1982]

I can't wait to see this

[badge176]

Once I get a dummy round I'm gonna consider fitting an 10 rnd AR magazine in the Mauser well since the .450BM was designed to feed from the mag...

[Maximumbob54]

This may be a dumb question so please correct me if this can't be done... BUT... If it's a controlled round feed then why not a .460 that could also feed .454 and .45?

[longbow]

My understanding of the .45 Raptor is that it uses blown out .308 brass so brass availability should never be a problem.Having said that, I was toying with much the same idea for .450 Bushmaster some time ago. Now I would likely go with the .45 Raptor or maybe .444 rimless but whatever it is all dreaming for now.I'll be interested to see where you get to with this so will follow along.Good luck and enjoy.Longbow

[badge176]

As I considered this I did think about the .45Raptor but it appears that while the raptor does have the same bolt face- rim diameter and thickness, and extractor groove; the case diameter at the web is larger than that of a .308. I'll find that reference and add it here

[Maximumbob54]

http://www.45raptor.com/45RAPTOR/

[BK7saum]

Since the raptor was based on a shortened 308 how can the diameter at the Web be wider than a 308? Reamer prints will be larger than measured brass dimensions sometimes by several thousandths.

Sounds like the raptor would be the way to go. I

[badge176]

"it became apparent that matching the case length and body dimensions of the 460 SMITH & WESSON MAGNUM would provide significant benefits"

http://www.45raptor.com/45RAPTOR/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/45RaptorCase.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Cartridge_308.PNG

https://www.loaddata.com/images/database/.460%20S&W%20Mag10.gif

SO, its a .460 S&W Rimless... feels a little like mis-marketing to get you invested, then you gotta buy their brass... .308 bolt face to permit use in .308 ARs, but case dimensions from .460 S&W.

http://www.loaddata.com/images/database/450%20Bushmaster.gif

[nekshot]

we all have our limitations and I found mine in trying to get these creations to feed properly with exotic cartridges. How these fellas can run those 45acp conversions is beyond me. I have found the mauser loves long slender bullets and despises the real fat blunt cast boolits that I like. If we could change the extracter to a savage/rem type then I could have alot of fun. That would allow alittle wiggle room when bolting a cartridge into action that a mauser solid claw won't give you. I know when I am beat, but I am sure others with more creativity can do it!

[L3Rocketman]

Hey there Badge,

Many years ago I converted a 45 Win Mag Barrel in the Contender to use a 284 Win case that was chopped off at the neck. The resulting case was (And still is) dimensionally very (Read: almost exact) similar to the “New” 450 Bushmaster. While I can use .452” handgun projectiles for spectacular effects on water filled milk jugs, I have also had excellent results in sizing down numerous .458 projectiles to run nicely in this “Hand Cannon”! My favorite projectile was the 500gr cast & GC from a Lee mold which was run through a .452” sizer, it worked very well. I use the Lee liquid Alox lube to size cast AND jacketed projectiles. My favorite jacketed projectile is the Speer 405 gr FN. This projectile expands nicely at an estimated 16-1700fps out of this 14” barrel.

FWIW, I have done something somewhat similar to what you are doing. I did a 450 Marlin (Throated for extra length) on an M48 Mauser action. I started with a very heavy barrel blank that I contoured down from 1.25” at the breach then back up to almost that at the muzzle. I put a shotgun bead sight on the front and a Contender sight at the rear which makes for very fast sight acquisition. Then I finished this setup with a Thumbhole stock from Boyds. I shoot a 500gr cast bullet almost exclusively and I can say it shoots very well to almost 458 Win mag velocities.

Your 450 Bushmaster will not lag far behind if you throat the barrel and load the projectile long as you reasonably can. You will want to do this anyway in order to get this thing to feed in the longer M98 action.

Hope this helps!
Please keep us posted!

[Moonie]

Is that barrel .451 or .458? The 450 Bushmaster is a .451 cartridge. The 458 So-Com is a .458 cartridge.

[badge176]

My barrel is listed as .451 and I will slug it to be sure