Ready to take the plunge. 450 bm

[Mitty38]

Well promised my wife we would each get 300 fun money from taxes. Well did not have quite that much. But since they are working me to death right now.I managed to get the kid and the wife theirs. Saved up mine and had to spend it on necessities.
Well finally again, saved up mine.

Been wanting a 450 for a while. BCA is offering an AR upper in 16,18 and 20 1-24 twist, all well within my budget. Kinda leaning toward the 16 inch side charging. Just for the freedom of movement the 16 inch allows.

The sole purpose of this buy, will be hunting Ohio deer with cast bullets.
My necessary range needed will be 50 to150 meters. Will never vary from this.

Will be using in brush, wooded areas, bracing on trees. and out of a blind, all three. Mostly standing, walking.

I have shot a friend's 20 inch at 200 yards. Was impressed for such a heavy slow bullet. But it is a bit cumbersome.

Thoughts on which length would serve me better, Is there even any appreciably difference at 150 meters.
What weight of cast, what mould, alloy to use? Hp Fp Rn?

 

[358156 hp]

A lot will depend on what your rifle will feed reliably.

 

[Mitty38]

I am working on getting a few bullet samples.
Before I go whole hog on casting my own.
I may even buy the recommended jacketed soft point, for break in. And initial hunt.Till I figure out the cast specifics.



The main thing I am after at the moment, is how much barrel length is going to mater.
When it comes to puting one somewhere in the boiler room of a big buck, standing at 50 to 150 yards.
So I can push the buy button in the shopping cart.



Hopefully someone here can give me a base line starting point, as to feeding, casting and other issues.

You can read anything on the net but I trust what the band of fellows have to say here, first.

 

[BBerguson]

I have a 450BM in the CVA Cascade. I’ve shot quite a few different cast bullets in it from 200 gr semi wadcutter to a Lee 457-340 for the 45-70, sized down to .452. So far the bullet it likes the best is the Lee 452-230-TC, which is a 45 ACP bullet. And, this is really crazy, this bullet will accept and hold a gas check, which cut the group sizes in half. I loaded up a few of them with a stiff charge of lilgun and if I remember correctly, the group was about 2 inches at 100 yards. This bullet feeds really well too and I suspect it would work fine in an AR rifle.

I bought some jacketed bullets (225 & 250gr) just to have on hand and see what the gun will do but I have only shot a few of them.

Pictures are a bit of pain for me to post, I have to resize them, but I’ll try to get one later on of the “acp” bullets with gas checks.

 

[Mitty38]

Thank you for the info.

 

[Ian]

I like 18" for compromise. Use a muzzle thread protector instead of a flash hider and save about an inch and a half length.

 

[Mitty38]

Great idea. No Muzzle device.Deer hunting is done in the daylight, anyway. Never thought of it but ye, my 16 inch upper is actually a 17 1/4 inch with extra holes in the end to snag things on.
Ok I am swaying toward 18 inches. But going to wait a day or so before I make my final decision.

 

[fiver]

i bet the 452664 [250gr RNFP] will go along at about 1600 fps just fine.
i'll also bet a deer out to 125yds . won't slow it down too much, that last 50 is kinda too much rainbow without putting a bit of time in at the range.

and yeah i recommended a RNFP design, put away your shocked face... LOL

 

[Mitty38]

If I use my m4 ramped lower with a proprietor 450bm magazine. I should at least minamize feeding issues.

H110?

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Morning Emmitt

I have two 450's one is a Ruger American Bolt and the other is a BC barrel but my cobbled together upper. I opened the ejection port on a std 223/556 upper. Mine is a 18" bbl with a Oh Hunt 17" hand guard and a short linear Comp on the muzzle.

I shoot 98% cast theu the bolt and 75% Jacketed in the M$R.

100% a real honest 458/450 magazine over follower changes to a 223/556 magazine!!!!!!!!! Been there done that (HEAD ACHES)

Im astonished how well this BC bbl can shoot!!!

My preferred cast hunting bullet is the Lyman 457122 cast in COWW @ 1550 fps with 5744 powder.



One of my jacketed loads in a Barnes 260g bullet. This one shoots great too!




My second Jacketed load I have stopped using. The #9 powder started a very slight hangfire. Barely precept able but there. Accuracy was awesome.



My load Im using now is W/300 g FTX made for muzzle
Loaders with Vita N120 @ 1800 fps. Accuracy is not as good but about 1.75 -2.0" @ 100. So perfectly fine for my use.

I have many loads tested with other cast as well.

 

[Mitty38]

Morning Emmitt

I have two 450's one is a Ruger American Bolt and the other is a BC barrel but my cobbled together upper. I opened the ejection port on a std 223/556 upper. Mine is a 18" bbl with a Oh Hunt 17" hand guard and a short linear Comp on the muzzle.

I shoot 98% cast theu the bolt and 75% Jacketed in the M$R.

100% a real honest 458/450 magazine over follower changes to a 223/556 magazine!!!!!!!!! Been there done that (HEAD ACHES)

Im astonished how well this BC bbl can shoot!!!

My preferred cast hunting bullet is the Lyman 457122 cast in COWW @ 1550 fps with 5744 powder.

View attachment 27025
View attachment 27030
One of my jacketed loads in a Barnes 260g bullet. This one shoots great too!

View attachment 27028
View attachment 27026

My second Jacketed load I have stopped using. The #9 powder started a very slight hangfire. Barely precept able but there. Accuracy was awesome.

View attachment 27029

My load Im using now is W/300 g FTX made for muzzle
Loaders with Vita N120 @ 1800 fps. Accuracy is not as good but about 1.75 -2.0" @ 100. So perfectly fine for my use.

I have many loads tested with other cast as well.

Thanks cw You just helped me realize that my expectations are not that far fetched in an 18 inch Barrel. I think I could just go with a Simple 4x fixed dot optic and aquire the accurate needed for hunting out to 150 meters with a little Kentucky windage and some practice.
I figure the magazine they suggest is less then 20 bucks, So just going to order 2 off the bat. Why even fool around with msg mods?

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I HAD a bunch of videos...

My Bolt has a fixed 3x M8 Leupold with a Heavy German post reticule.
The M$R wears a 3x9 but just to prove accuracy Im gonna put a excellent Leupold RDS Freedom red dot. Awesome crystal clear 1moa dot. Easy to make accurate 200 yard shots (scope capable)

CW

 

[Mitty38]

Well pulled the trigger. I just pushed the pay button on my upper.
Had a discount, so got the complete upper with BCG, Charging handle and 5 round Magazine. $309 tax and shipping included. Way cheaper then I could have built it myself on the stripped reciever I have.
450 BM, 18 inch barrel, black melonite 1/24 twist. Marked rails.

Kinda feal guilty, I have never spent that much money on a totally selfish purchase without asking the wife, in a while

Now it's time too look at optics and find ammo some break in ammo, while waiting.

Come to think of it I need to check my excess brass pile.

 

[Mitty38]

My Wingmaster weighs 8. 5 lbs when decked out for deer. Unloaded.
This upper weighs 6.4 lbs complete. My lower weighs 1.5 lbs. So with optics I should be cutting close to the same weight. One of my goals was to cut weight. Was hoping for more then just a quarter pound reduction, but guess can't have it all.

 

[fiver]

you can cut weight by scope choice.
unfortunately something like a good 1x4 leupold will make you suck in a breath.
i put a leupold freedom series on one of my AR uppers and it's okay for the price, it's some darker than the new one i put on my Bergara, but good enough for day time short yardage [<200~yd.] varminting.

 

[Mitty38]

Was thinking of this.

 

[fiver]

i got nuthin.
well i do have a shoe box 3/4's full of broke cheap scopes,,, i just [shrug] i dunno,, i don't trust anything under 299$ anymore.
but i'd rather have a tasco than a burris.

 

[Mitty38]

Monstrum seams to shine as far as the price for the glass. Ease of use and good recitals.
But is known for not being drop off a cliff Tough. And they do not warranty user damage. So if you buy one and break it, it is on you. They do warranty and honor manufacture issues.
I have one of their cheap paintball 1.5x 4 moa red dots that has just been beat to death after about 20 paint ball battles. Still works fine just ugly as sin.

Course I can always just throw a set of flip up standard m4 iron sights on it, till I figure the gun out.

 

[358156 hp]

Look at Vortex closeouts at Euro Optic
https://www.eurooptic.com/Vortex-Viper-PST-Closeouts.aspx

The Sparc II has an almost legendary reputation. The Spitfire is a really good value for the money. I have a closeout 1-4 LPVO on one of my social guns.

 

[Mitty38]

Think I am just going to put irons on it for now. I can see to make a good, solid kill shot at 75 yards with good irons And I have a set.

Then just wait, after I see it functions ok, Till I can get the cash saved for a proper scope. Or get a great deal on one. What I really want is a Vortex Crossfire 2. 4-12x44 with the dead ringer cross hairs.