450Bushmaster.net

Just a thought here, considering how difficult theses particular bullets are to resize (pretty tough they are) and considering how lazy I am, that I really don't want to take the step of resizing at all (which is why I designed the pro to shoot any 45 cal bullet) in the first place, at what point does resizing a 458 bullet pass the thunk test? If it's, say .454", why not let the bore resize the rest of the way. Only have too resize once! Again starting low on the pressures and then working up.

I have refreshed chambers right now, in the shop, that allow me to shoot any 45cal out of a .4515 bore and I personally see no increase in pressures/bolt thrust. I have done this bore resizing since I was a single digit kid, did it with the 9mm too, shooting the .357/.358 bullets out of a 9mm bore barrel.

This is not my idea, I must admit. As a mere child I read every wildcatters hero, P.O. Ackley and in his books he was doing all this bore sizing, reporting no discernable pressure increase and he was doing it like us, reading the tea leaves signs on the case/primer.

I shot 5 rounds of the 325's over 29.1 grs. of Lil'Gun. Velocities as follows:

1864
1811
1846
1877
1836

Av -- 1844
ES -- 66
Sd -- 24

I only had a 60 yard range and the group size was around 1 inch. No pressure signs. No extractor or eject marks as with the higher charges I had used earlier.

I purchased some new Hornady 45-70 325 gr. FXT ammo. The tag on the box says 1836 fps. I shot these thru my 1886 carbine w/a 20 inch barrel and got 1800 fps. I can do the same thing out of my 450. I am going to load up some and try them again, but will stick with the 29.1 to 29.3 grain load area.

Been awhile, but I tried these again with 29.1 grains of LG and shot over the Chrono. Average velocity was 1747 fps. I got different results than I did before -- maybe because I had the Chrono in the sun and not the shade. They seemed to be faster before. Groups at 100 yards were all touching (1 inch or less).

Siringo wrote:Been awhile, but I tried these again with 29.1 grains of LG and shot over the Chrono. Average velocity was 1747 fps. I got different results than I did before -- maybe because I had the Chrono in the sun and not the shade. They seemed to be faster before. Groups at 100 yards were all touching (1 inch or less).

That's what I like to hear.

Siringo wrote:Been awhile, but I tried these again with 29.1 grains of LG and shot over the Chrono. Average velocity was 1747 fps. I got different results than I did before -- maybe because I had the Chrono in the sun and not the shade. They seemed to be faster before. Groups at 100 yards were all touching (1 inch or less).

Way to go Siringo, pretty accurate for something that won't work, that will shed jackets in-flight, and is unsafe or at least that is what our detractors have to say. Looks like we have the corner of the market, for our weapon being the MOST Versatile, being able to shoot just about all the 45cal bullets. So, much for the.."ain't no good cause it only shoots pistol bullets" crowd.. As soon as I get my new pressure equipment we'll work up a load for this and other 458's. Now shout your success at those other boards and title them, something like.."450 Bushy & 458 RIFLE bullets, they work great!''