Range time with the .450 Bushmaster

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2ndovc
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Range time with the .450 Bushmaster

Post by 2ndovc »

First time in awhile I've been this impressed with a new rifle and a cartridge that's new to me. Windham calls their rifle the .450 Thumper but it is a .450 Bushmaster. There's still some animosity between Windham and the ever changing ownership of Bushmaster, I think.

I started at 25 yds to get the scope on paper for the first three shots. I moved back to 50 yds, one shot a little high and the next eight into one big hole. The ammo was Hornady 395 gr Sub Sonic that didn't always cycle the action, but I wasn't expecting it to. More of a bolt/ single shot loading.

Next up were my handloads: 225 gr Hornady FTX over 41 grains of IMR 4227. Brought it down after the first shot and 4 rounds into a 1 1/8" group.
Image
Shooting was done sitting at a pretty solid bench resting on my range bag.

Little bugger kicks pretty good with the FTX load, going to try a fixed stock next time out and see where it goes at 100 yds.
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jb 8)
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Grizz
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Re: Range time with the .450 Bushmaster

Post by Grizz »

looks like a meat-maker to me. bet it's a fun and productive field gun
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Re: Range time with the .450 Bushmaster

Post by GunnyMack »

JB, I've found that no matter what powder/ bullet combo the 450 shoots em all about the same. Its a very accurate combo for sure!
A buddy wanted to shoot mine and he snuggled into the stock (off the bench) and squeezed off a couple, 3rd shot the hot brass bounced off my range box and wedged itself under his forearm, bench top. He now has a 450 sized scar from the burn!
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Scott Tschirhart
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Re: Range time with the .450 Bushmaster

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

Looks like a useful gun/cartridge combination
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2ndovc
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Re: Range time with the .450 Bushmaster

Post by 2ndovc »

I'm thinking it's going on the next boar hunt. If I ever get around to it. Going to make a good cabin gun this summer though. Going up there soon. Didn't get enough time in the woods last year.

jb 8)
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Re: Range time with the .450 Bushmaster

Post by AJMD429 »

Better go on that Bear Hunt before Uncle Joe gets ahold of it.... :|
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Bill in Oregon
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Re: Range time with the .450 Bushmaster

Post by Bill in Oregon »

My .458 SOCOM runs in the same pack ... 8)
I need to try handloading some of those FTX bullets.
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2ndovc
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Re: Range time with the .450 Bushmaster

Post by 2ndovc »

Bill in Oregon wrote: Tue Mar 23, 2021 5:32 pm My .458 SOCOM runs in the same pack ... 8)
I need to try handloading some of those FTX bullets.
I was looking at the SOCOM, but it seemed to be a little easier and less expensive to find .450 ammo and components. At least when I started with this one. I was lucky and bought up quite a bit of it when this thing was getting started. I did have to wait about eight weeks for the thing to be made, so I bought what I could when I saw it.

jb 8)
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Re: Range time with the .450 Bushmaster

Post by JOG »

That's some fine shooting! Congratulation's!
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Re: Range time with the .450 Bushmaster

Post by piller »

Looks fun. I went with the .458 SoCom for it using the same bullets as the .45-70 does. At the time, I could find the .458 Hornady 325 grain FTX bullets. So far, using those with H110 gunpowder seems to work.
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2ndovc
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Re: Range time with the .450 Bushmaster

Post by 2ndovc »

I have a big jug of H110 that I was going to try next. I haven't used that powder before but I'm pretty familiar with IMR 4227 so that's where I started. Needed to empty some brass to experiment with the H110. :D

jb 8)
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Re: Range time with the .450 Bushmaster

Post by Bill in Oregon »

Jason, I went with the SOCOM after a long talk about it with a grizzled old Army master sergeant who had seen it first deployed against a minaret in Afghanistan, from which this GI's unit was taking heavy fire. Under the rules of engagement at that time, fire could be returned against a mosque if it was from a shoulder-fired weapon. The heavy SOCOM slugs were used to batter holes in the clay and brick of the minaret, and then the boys could bounce some 5.56 around in there.
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2ndovc
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Re: Range time with the .450 Bushmaster

Post by 2ndovc »

Cool story but just about any heavy bullet will do the same thing. I used to take left over concrete blocks out to my cousin's farm and deconstruct them with my 03A3 and 220 grain bullets.

jb 8)
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