Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Pet load, 450 Bushmaster

I have been messing with the 450 Bushmaster for 3 years now with different loads and bullets. My go-to pet load is 44 grains of H110 in 450 BM Starline brass, CCI primers, Bear Creek Ballistics 240 grain HV bullets, and a 2.6" COL. Feeds great in 2 rebarreled Mausers and 2 Savage 99's rebarreled to 450 BM, one in 16", the other in 20". Consistent 1 ragged hole groups between rifles. Tested on 3 deer this season, all dead right there out to 200 yards. This is a viable option. Around 2,500 FPS and 3400 ft lbs.

My prior go-to was 38 grains of lil-gun, book COL, and the HDY 250 FTX same accuracy but the bullets can come apart and sometimes not exit.

Mine is bonded 250 shockwaves with 41 gr lil gun. Out of my 26” MGM encore barrel I’m running 2580 fps. It’s a hammer and the bullet stays together

I'll be the wimp here...

450BM bolty w/22 in bbl-

300g Sierra JFP (#8830)
36.5g Lit'l Gun
Mag primer
COL 2.065"
~ 2000 FPS

For plinking:

Any round nosed 230g FMJ (not plated)
27.8g Bludot
Mag primer
COL 2.095"
~2000 FPS

FTX bullets are junk.

I shoot the 250 gn. Barnes T-EZ or Remington Accutip muzzleloader bullets (same bullet) over 44.0 grains of Lil' Gun. Starline brass. Rem 7.5 primers. Bolt action only.

I tried the Barnes TTSX 450 Bushmaster bullets but wasn't impressed, and I like the muzzleloader bullets better. Barely any copper fouling and no pressure signs.