I've never had much interest in the heavyweight AR thumpers, but recently came across a Ruger American in .450 Bushmaster. Price was right, so I picked it up and added a Nikon Monarch African 1-4x w/ #4A reticle. Now, I just need to decide on which bullet I want to use...as well as find some brass and a set of dies.

Anyone else using the .450 BM?

Make a sweet brush gun.

Nice rifle and a great scope.

I have been using the 450 Bushmaster for three seasons now. I upgraded to it from the .358. It is my go to caliber for South Texas hunting.
38 grains of Lil Gun seems to be the magic load for many shooters with 225-250 grain bullets. Super accurate load in pretty much all rifles. The 225 grain FTX are way to light for deer hunting and the 450 bushmaster but just about perfect for the .45 Long Colt. The 250's are better but I have had them come apart also and not pass through. The 240 grain Bear Creek Ballistics bullet in the HV format and H-110 powder give groups at moa or less and the bullets perform perfectly.

That’s a nice setup. I’ve been debating between a bushmaster and a legend for some Great Lakes straight wall hunting. There are now a bunch of howa mini’s in the legend on gunbroker … but that setup you show would sure work well.

Order some Bear Creek ammo for it. I just got some dialed in this morning for my CVA Scout in 450 Bushmaster. This was my last 2 shots at a steel rocker today @ 200yds after I made some scope adjustments at 100yds. We quit for the day but I still want to stretch it out at 300-400yds … looks very promising though. They say the copper bullet hammers the game.

Mine is one of the limited run M77 carbines in SS/Walnut. Haven't shot anything with it yet, but it is a tack driver.

RK Guns had a great deal on these awhile back, so I picked one up. Target is sight-in with first 6 shots using factory Winchester PowerPoint ammo. Love it so far…

Have a LH twin

If I recall you’re a Kimber fan. Recently took a Kimber hunter 243 and turned it into a 5# Kimber 450 bushmaster. McGowan barrel. Super easy

Yes; and that sounds dang perfect!

Yep, I have a LH Ruger American.

Cerakoted it, had the stock dipped, and put a TAMR compensator on it.

Running 250 gn. Barnes T-EZ bullets with 44.0 gns. Lil Gun.

What's completely coincidental, I've been trying to sell 80pcs of 6.5-284 brass for a couple weeks....but no takers. Turns out, the .284 case is the parent of the .450 Bushmaster, so I can convert these over and use them with the Ruger.

Two 450 Bushmaster rifles attached.

Savage 99 converted to 450 BM and a Mauser 98 converted. The Savage 99 is not finished but totally usable.

How's the recoil?

None of my 450's are lightweight rifles, and I do not notice the recoil like I would with my .375 Ruger. To me it is in the .308 to 30-06 range with 150-180 grain bullets.

The Db level is off the charts though.

It would be a great inside 200 yard deer rifle. I ended up with a 350 Legend because of the recoil difference. Hard kickers give me a headache and makes my arthritic neck hurt these days. A buddy of mine loves his. He calls it the “450 Bush monster” 😂

Ron

Yeah, the brake on this one will be coming off as soon as I take it hunting.

I removed the brake from mine the day I brought it home

I heated up the brake, applied penetrating oil and still couldn't get it to break loose. I was afraid I was going to warp the barrel.
Ruger Ranch 450BM, still haven't fired it- it got packed away for moving but the deal fell through.
Really like the compact little rifle, I have a 4x Weaver slug-gun scope on mine.

I just got some brass and and dies.

The rifle I have not decided upon just yet but I do know it will be a bolt action.

I see "potential data" ... from the usual crowd of .45 acp, .45 colt., and 454 casull as sources.

It would seem workable and being a bolt action it opens up alot of nice possibilities.

Yes, I know about the hot rod 250 gr loads with magnum pistol powders H110, lil gun, W296, AA #9 , etc etc...... but the other end of the spectrum with lead bullets is just to much of an attraction to not try.

My question is if anyone has tried loading with pistol / shotgun powders to just plinking levels for kids to play around with? down around the 1000 fps or so....