Looking for a 450 Bushmaster load using Lee 340gr

[brstevns]

Is anyone using the Lee 340gr bullet sized down to .452? Want to try it in a 450 bushmaster build on a 93 Mauser Action.
does anyone have anyloads. Have Lilgun, Imr 4198, H110, and Unique powders.

[lawdog941]

Don't have any data, nor can I find any. From what I've seen, use a gas check if going over 1200. If I were just plinking, and under 1200, (side note) I used to use 13 gr of Unique in my 45-70 with a 405 lead. It was pretty accurate to 100. Prob have to experiment with starting load, 10 gr always comes up, and it will clear the barrel at least.

[brstevns]

I have thought of the 10gr load, wonder if anyone has tired it. Still looking for a heavier load as well. I have looked everywhere as well and have found nothing.

[cwlongshot]

Is anyone using the Lee 340gr bullet sized down to .452? Want to try it in a 450 bushmaster build on a 93 Mauser Action.
does anyone have anyloads. Have Lilgun, Imr 4198, H110, and Unique powders.


I use the 350g Ranch Dog in mine! One of my favorites in the 45/70 so I tried it in the bushy. Sizes down easy. I run mine at .454.

[brstevns]

I use the 350g Ranch Dog in mine! One of my favorites in the 45/70 so I tried it in the bushy. Sizes down easy. I run mine at .454.

Nice to hear, do you have a starting load you care to share.

[brstevns]

Looks as if loads for bullets over 300gr are hard to find. Was wanting to try the 340gr Lee and there 405 gr bullet as well. something in the 1200 to 1400 fps range. Would think 4198 or H110 and Unique would work? Also have a pound of Lilgun.

[lawdog941]

Somebody with quickload could prob give a safe estimate to start with.

[brstevns]

Somebody with quickload could prob give a safe estimate to start with.

That would be nice.

[brstevns]

No one uses these bullets?

[brstevns]

After researching and researching it seems as if the 458 Socom always uses less powder for any bullet weight (starting Loads)then the 450 Bushmaster. This being the case could one not use 458 Socom starting load data for starting loads in the 450 Bushmaster?

[TurnipEaterDown]

"brstevns":this one (GRT) is free: https://grtools.de/doku.php?id=start
It does have the 450 bushmaster, but might not have your bullet. You can toy with other bullets and look at charge progression perhaps from what is available, and see what you can learn.
Be careful, you know models and all that.

[XTR]

The problem is the 450 typically shoots pistol bullets so your outside the weight range most peeps use and getting into 458 SOCOM territory.

I’ve never looked at the 450 case volumes compared to the 458 case? If this is a yet to be built rifle you might consider the 458. Lots more bullets in the weight range you are considering. That’s why I went that way.

I like my 458 with 405s, it’s like a 45-70 in an AR.

[brstevns]

"brstevns":this one (GRT) is free: https://grtools.de/doku.php?id=start
It does have the 450 bushmaster, but might not have your bullet. You can toy with other bullets and look at charge progression perhaps from what is available, and see what you can learn.
Be careful, you know models and all that.

So far have not been able to get the program to work on my computer. I am not going to give up.
Want to thank you for the link.

[brstevns]

The problem is the 450 typically shoots pistol bullets so your outside the weight range most peeps use and getting into 458 SOCOM territory.

I’ve never looked at the 450 case volumes compared to the 458 case? If this is a yet to be built rifle you might consider the 458. Lots more bullets in the weight range you are considering. That’s why I went that way.

I like my 458 with 405s, it’s like a 45-70 in an AR.

It looks as if the 458 socom holds between 2.1 to 3 gr over the 450 Bushmaster. So I would think the starting loads would be a safe place, since the starting loads for the 450 is always over those of the 458.

[brstevns]

Any other thoughts on the matter? If all else fells I do have a 230gr Lee pistol mold I could use.

[brstevns]

Still could use some loads

[brstevns]

Sometimes I feel as if I must have Leprosy or something just as bad. LOL Seems as if there is no answer to my question . Maybe it is just me.

[murf205]

Is anyone using the Lee 340gr bullet sized down to .452? Want to try it in a 450 bushmaster build on a 93 Mauser Action.
does anyone have anyloads. Have Lilgun, Imr 4198, H110, and Unique powders.

Good luck, I had 1 range session with cast that made me think it was going to work but that's the only one. It was a NOE 290 gr round flat. It is a Ruger American and I never got it to come around until I tried Shooters World Buffalo Rifle and Hornady 250gr FTX. As far as a starting load, the FTX 250gr likes 37 grs of the above powder and a CCI std primer with a Lee FCD used gently.298290

[TurnipEaterDown]

brstevns: Call Hodgdon and ask for a ballistician. They used to be very helpful.

There are a number of people here who would go figure it out for themselves, and I am sure would be perfectly safe doing it, but like me would be reluctant to provide guesstimation data as there are some things that depend on experience and judgement as to knowing if a person has started out safely or not, and where to stop.

Me, I would go "off the grid" on something like this w/o hesitation, but I'm not going to suggest that you do so by following my advice/judgement when there is a resource like Hodgdon available.

[gregg877]

I just got into .450BM and came across this thread, BRSTEVENS dis you ever find data? There seems to be an abundance as you’d mentioned for the mid 200gr weights up to low 300, but not much else. I’ve got some Hornady 395gr flex tips that I’ve been able to push to 980fps with trailboss, but that seems to be max for that powder. I’d like to push em to 1050 for suppressor use. Any thoughts?

[brstevns]

No not yet. I haven't given up. At least once a week I spend a few hours looking for information at other sites.
Have seen a few loads listed using Unique but not much else. Wish I had something better to report.

[reddog81]

I have a 350 grain WFN from NOE.
9.5 grains Unique got 1033 FPS
11.1 grains Trail Boss got 1019 FPS
21 grains AA#9 clocked in at 1441 FPS
28 grains IMR4227 was running 1547 FPS

All loads were through a Ruger bolt action other than the AA#9, which was through a AR-15 16" rifle. The Trail Boss and Unique loads obviously won't cycle an AR-15. All loads were researched from various online sources and I do not believe any come from published load data so any applicable warnings apply. Do no use this data without verifying it yourself.

For Unique I used .45-70 data and the 450 BM was running about 100 FPS faster. 450 BM being a smaller case means more pressure and higher velocity everything else being equal.

[WinchesterM1]

I had shot the 340 out of my Ruger Ranch and my AR and I had terrible accuracy, I’ll see if I can remember what I was using or see if I can find it in my notes

I finally went to the Hornady 255 hP and I started getting one hole groups at 50 and 1.3” at 100

[brstevns]

Thanks everyone for the help.

[Gun-adian]

Kind of late to the party but here’s my experiences with the .450BM in a Ruger GSR....

I’ve run a 300gr boolit from an MP Mold for Ruger single actions and a 400gr from a Lee group buy mold from some years back. With Unique, they were fun plinker loads but I wanted heavier.

I’ve tinkered up loads for the RCBS 45-405, powder coated with both gas checked and plain base (modified mold). Sized them to .452 in a couple of steps and then seating to an OAL of 2.295”. Any longer and they won’t chamber.

Powder choice was 10gr of Unique for the plain base and IMR4198 for the gas checked ones. I used .460S&W data to find a start load for the IMR4198 propellant. I’ll confirm the exact tested charge ranges after I recheck my notes. I do remember topping out with this powder because there was no way to get any more of it into the case. Loads with both powders worked very well with great accuracy and no pressure issues. Unfortunately no chrono work was done. The range I use now is super busy and setting one up is difficult. When I can get back to my old range I will remedy that problem. I really really want to know how fast these things are going!!!

Currently, I’m working on a 500gr load. It took awhile to find a mold with the right nose design that would seat out of the case far enough and still chamber. I found an old Lyman 457235 that fit the bill. After powder coating and sizing at .452, I was able to seat to an OAL of 2.63” and still close the bolt. Definitely no danger of these inadvertently slipping into an AR magazine!! I have starting loads made up using light .45/70 data but finding the time to try them has been a challenge.

Stay tuned.....

Mike

[brstevns]

Kind of late to the party but here’s my experiences with the .450BM in a Ruger GSR....

I’ve run a 300gr boolit from an MP Mold for Ruger single actions and a 400gr from a Lee group buy mold from some years back. With Unique, they were fun plinker loads but I wanted heavier.

I’ve tinkered up loads for the RCBS 45-405, powder coated with both gas checked and plain base (modified mold). Sized them to .452 in a couple of steps and then seating to an OAL of 2.295”. Any longer and they won’t chamber.

Powder choice was 10gr of Unique for the plain base and IMR4198 for the gas checked ones. I used .460S&W data to find a start load for the IMR4198 propellant. I’ll confirm the exact tested charge ranges after I recheck my notes. I do remember topping out with this powder because there was no way to get any more of it into the case. Loads with both powders worked very well with great accuracy and no pressure issues. Unfortunately no chrono work was done. The range I use now is super busy and setting one up is difficult. When I can get back to my old range I will remedy that problem. I really really want to know how fast these things are going!!!

Currently, I’m working on a 500gr load. It took awhile to find a mold with the right nose design that would seat out of the case far enough and still chamber. I found an old Lyman 457235 that fit the bill. After powder coating and sizing at .452, I was able to seat to an OAL of 2.63” and still close the bolt. Definitely no danger of these inadvertently slipping into an AR magazine!! I have starting loads made up using light .45/70 data but finding the time to try them has been a challenge.

Stay tuned.....

Mike

Anything new to report?

[lawdog941]

I found this https://shootersreference.com/reloadingdata/450-bushmaster/

I usually use Enforcer, 4227, or Lil Gun, but bullets are 250-275. Best results for that heavy of a bullet would be a slow enough powder to get a complete burn through the barrel.

[Old Two Wars]

320870

[michael.birdsley]

check out the hodgon load data web site. it is all jacketed data but, that is where i got my load of 5744 for my noe 452-300-rf bullet. i’m sure they have a load for 5744 of you wanted use that powder. hodgon actually had 5-6 data for powders that are usually not in the normal bullet mfg reloading books


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[brstevns]

check out the hodgon load data web site. it is all jacketed data but, that is where i got my load of 5744 for my noe 452-300-rf bullet. i’m sure they have a load for 5744 of you wanted use that powder. hodgon actually had 5-6 data for powders that are usually not in the normal bullet mfg reloading books


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Thanks for the update