Loads and velocities for Ruger American in 450 Bushmaster

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Loads and velocities for Ruger American in 450 Bushmaster

Postby Camp Cook » Sun Feb 04, 2018 8:54 pm

Ruger American 450 Bushmaster review of loads and rifle

I was able to put some loads with 225gr - 240gr - 300gr - 355gr bullets with AA#9, Lilgun and AA1680 powder together and get out and shoot them today was raining when I headed out with my dogs but it started to clear up when I headed up into the mountains.

I recently purchased a 16" barreled Ruger American in 450 Bushmaster installed a Leupold VX2 2-7x33mm long range reticle scope with Leupold PRW rings.

I wasn't shooting for accuracy more to check velocities but I have to say I am very happy with the grouping I was getting with the different loads and bullet weights I used Win small rifle primers.

I set up my LabRadar doppler radar unit to read ranges at muzzle - 25 yards and 50 yards I set up my target @ 60 yards .

225gr Hornady FTX with 41grs Lilgun
2453 2303 2160fps
2451 2301 2160fps
2441 2293 2151fps

I put together a reduced recoil load for my wife to shoot

225gr Hornady FTX with 34grs AA#9
2123 1984 1857fps
2029 1894 1770fps
2090 1955 1827fps

240gr XTP-Mag 40grs Lilgun
2396 2224 2064fps
2462 2283 2123fps
2373 2203 2051fps

300gr XTP-Mag 41grs AA1680 I really don;t know what to say about this load....
1670 1580 1504fps
1745 1649 1561fps
2295 2130 1995fps wow what happened?
1789 1689 1605fps

355gr WLNGC's 31grs Lilgun
1852 1738 1638fps
1844 1740 1648fps
1827 1723 1626fps

I still have 405gr WLNGC's and 535gr Ranger Rick WLNGC's to work up loads for this rifle/cartridge combo just need to decide on starting loads for each before I attempt it.

As to accuracy like I said I was not shooting for accuracy I had set up my LabRadar on the hood of my pickup and just rested my elbows on the hood so the muzzle was high enough to register on the LabRadar with that said I have to say I'm very happy with the accuracy I was getting the 225 - 240gr bullets went mostly into one ragged hole the 300gr due to their reduced velocity had close to the same impact as the 355gr loads which was appr 5" lower than the 225gr loads.

Coming out of the mountains I saw at 190 yards ahead of me out on a logging road landing a stump appr 1' in diameter I was shooting downhill so put the first LR reticle dot on the spot on the log I was aiming at the 225gr FTX bullet hit within 1" max of my aiming point to say I am starting to like this light weight thumper combo is an understatement.

I do have one issue that is the mags and the feeding I had maJor issues trying to feed the 240gr XTP-Mag loads they jammed the top round making it difficult to even get the mag out to clear the jam I feel these mags should have a spacer at the back of the mag that will hold the bullets further forward as well as they need a heavier spring.
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Re: Loads and velocities for Ruger American in 450 Bushmaste

Postby Hoot » Sun Feb 04, 2018 10:06 pm

All in all, it looks like a good outing Cooky!

This caliber was my first serious effort with an AR platform. I had a bull barreled 223 setup but laughingly referred to it as my Poodle Shooter. The 450b gave me a whole new outlook on the AR platform, as did my ventures into the 300 WSSM, 6.5 Grendel (incredibly accurate), 7.62x40WT and lastly the 30 Remington AR, which is still a stunning example of Remington's ability to short shrift a really good caliber. (They're pros at it). :roll: The only one I got rid of was the 300 WSSM. Impressive power but could not put a 5-shot group at 100 yds off of a BR setup, into 1 MOA. Lord knows, I tried my heart out to find a 150gr load it liked.

Anyway, glad to see you were impressed with it, though I did not doubt you would be. Image

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Re: Loads and velocities for Ruger American in 450 Bushmaste

Postby Camp Cook » Mon Feb 05, 2018 3:46 am

AR's are restricted here in Canada means we can only take them to the gun club only reason I do not have one.

I had a non-restricted (take it anywhere I take a long gun) Robinson Arms XCR-L for a few years with uppers in 223 & 6.8SPC would have had an upper for it in either 450 BM or 458 SOCOM but the ejection port is to small so they are not available I sold it right after the Trudeau liberal government was elected bought a couple bolt rifles in 223 & 6.8SPC to replace it.

I'll figure out the feeding and mag issues with the Ruger American but as of now its zeroed for bear just need to get to the gun club or laser off yardage out in the hills and figure out the best 100 yard zero with the 225gr FTX so the first LR reticle dot down is dead on at 100 with the 355gr loads.

I have a 20" barreled LSI Puma M92 lever in 454 Casull need to dig out my range book and compare velocities to the 450BM.
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Re: Loads and velocities for Ruger American in 450 Bushmaste

Postby Hoot » Mon Feb 05, 2018 6:07 am

Camp Cook wrote:...snip...

I have a 20" barreled LSI Puma M92 lever in 454 Casull need to dig out my range book and compare velocities to the 450BM.


The 454 holds 3/4 the powder that 450b holds, so I'd guess its a little lower velocity for the same bullet weight. Speaking of lever actions. I was at the club once when a member showed up with a lever action in 450 Marlin with no recoil pad! Fresh box of ammo too. Not only was it incredibly loud but it wracked his tee-shirted body pretty good. He only shot it twice, packed it up and left. He had brought other rifles to shoot, but I think he was done for the day. :|

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