450Bushmaster.net

Started with a Savage Axis in 223, swapped the bolt head and obviously the barrel.

Went with a 1:16 barrel as I want to work with heavy for caliber cast bullets sub and supersonic.

Plan to run a box or two of factory stuff through to check function, break it in a little, get scope zeroed etc.

Will probably purchase a few different styles/weights of cast bullets to get in the ballpark before I invest in moulds.

who's barrel did you get?

Rineland Arms, seems to shoot and clean up pretty well.

Finally got to go shoot a little more today had 3 loads of IMR4227 with the Hornady 300gr XTP and one load of Trailboss.

The XTP shot really well, the most accurate was a little slow, right around 1650 according to load data, not run over a chrony. Accuracy was aapr .75" at 50. Not benchrest accuracy but not bad shooting off a curled up softcase in a field and more than accurate enough for deer.

The TB load was a hoot, didn't even need ears but was closer to 2" @ 50. Still not terrible and may be fun to play with in the future.

Have a box of Speer Jacketed SP to try, depending on how they turn out may just use the XTPs as my go-to so I can start experimenting with cast.

07Kingpin wrote:Finally got to go shoot a little more today had 3 loads of IMR4227 with the Hornady 300gr XTP and one load of Trailboss.

The XTP shot really well, the most accurate was a little slow, right around 1650 according to load data, not run over a chrony. Accuracy was aapr .75" at 50. Not benchrest accuracy but not bad shooting off a curled up softcase in a field and more than accurate enough for deer.

The TB load was a hoot, didn't even need ears but was closer to 2" @ 50. Still not terrible and may be fun to play with in the future.

Have a box of Speer Jacketed SP to try, depending on how they turn out may just use the XTPs as my go-to so I can start experimenting with cast.

Are the XTP 300 the Mags? They shoot [group] better than the regular out of mine and my son's guns.

Did you use the factory plastic stock? I built my Bushmaster on a 243 Axis action and had to open up the barrel channel as much as I could and the barrel is still a little tight.
Can't shoot the rifle yet, still waiting for GO gauge. A friend who does casting is running me off some 275 grain cast gas check bullets to try in it when it's up and running.

Yes, these are the bullets I used:

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/101086470?pid=788140

I accidentally grabbed a box of the 45230s today, may just wait to trade them for the mags.

Yes I am running the factory stock, and I can tell you it took quite a bit of work to open up from that little .223 barrel channel!

GaCop, my goal all along with this project has been to run heavy cast bullets- will be very interested in how that works for you.

07Kingpin wrote:Yes, these are the bullets I used:

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/101086470?pid=788140

I accidentally grabbed a box of the 45230s today, may just wait to trade them for the mags.

Yes I am running the factory stock, and I can tell you it took quite a bit of work to open up from that little .223 barrel channel!

GaCop, my goal all along with this project has been to run heavy cast bullets- will be very interested in how that works for you.

Yes, barrel channel in the factory axis stock has hardly any channel edge left towards the tip of the stock. I've got some 250 grain Flat Nose TMJ bullets coming from NeReloading. Got some once fired brass in, Hornady brand. I sized a piece of that and trimmed to 1.695". Two pieces of Scotch brand tape mikes at 0.004", I'll apply that to the sized case to use as a NO GO gauge.

You want to avoid plated bullets. The foil thin plating it too soft for the crimp to hang on as well as cup and core jacketed bullets. The crimp relies upon the jacket resisting compression. I tried them and they were a nightmare. They sometimes shed their jacket at 450b speeds, sending pieces downrange. My optical chrony has two shards permanently embedded in the display. Wound up using the remaining ones as slingshot ammo. This has been covered in the Reloading for the 450b sub-forum. Hint: Use Google's forum search as explained here

Hoot

GaCop wrote:Did you use the factory plastic stock? I built my Bushmaster on a 243 Axis action and had to open up the barrel channel as much as I could and the barrel is still a little tight.
Can't shoot the rifle yet, still waiting for GO gauge. A friend who does casting is running me off some 275 grain cast gas check bullets to try in it when it's up and running.

I was lucky enough to buy Heavy barrels. Have not done anything to the stocks. I have them on some hard kickers with no problems.