FTX Bullets Comparison

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Re: FTX Bullets Comparison

Postby Camp Cook » Sun Jan 28, 2018 2:58 pm

Was raining crazy hard today so did not go to gun club I did drive up my local mtn and ran my dogs though so I took the 450 BM with me.

I had installed a Leupold VX2 2-7x33 LR reticle scope so my main desire today was to sight in the scope used my 240gr XTP-Mag LilGun loads.

I have removed the muzzle brake this little cannon has a bit of recoil no I'm not recoil shy I shoot a 300RUM & 375RUM and 4 different 45-70's scope is now zero'ed at 50 yards but plan is to use the 225gr FTX and 250gr FTX out to 250 yards.

I just loaded 10 225gr FTX with 34grs AA#9 looking at a reduced recoil load for my wife to shoot I'll try them out this afternoon if it stops raining.

My club has 4 40' shipping containers side by side and two deep when they first put them in muzzle blast was crazy loud they have now installed thick insulation so no more issues.

I live in British Columbia, Canada so may encounter T Rex well bears anyway we have lots of black bears appr 320,000 this is appr 1/2 of Canada's entire black bear population we also have a lot of grizzlies the anti's won't admit it they emotionally spew less than 10,000 but those in the know know there are over 30,000 we just had a change of government that emotionally to give back to their socialist voters agenda banned grizzly hunting so there will be far more in a couple years.

:mrgreen:
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Re: FTX Bullets Comparison

Postby cwlongshot » Tue May 01, 2018 12:23 pm

Great info thank you for posting.

I have used the 200 and 225G and the 250g Once on deer. But never in the 450BM. I have been shooting them in my 454 rifle.

The 200 is FRAGILE!! I had one blow up on a 50# coyote!

Image
Image

Entered broadside right on the shoulder at about 1850 ish FPS turned inside the body and exited the sternum. I have sworn off these on big Game. I do not know how on earth this is built for the 460 S&W!

The 225 is a darn nice bullet in the 45LColt and at moderate 454 velocities of say 1600 ish fps. Penetrates well, expands as you expect and simply works well. Its a favorite.

The 250 was not used much as I had to roll a cannalure in them so I could get a firm crimp in the 454. But I did shoot one good sized buck 180 ish # and did not recover the bullet thru the front shoulders.

I also used the old PTX 250g bullets in the 454 with success.
I am interested in some of the muzzle loader bullets in 451/2 that can be used in the 450.

CW
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Re: FTX Bullets Comparison

Postby cwlongshot » Mon May 14, 2018 12:33 pm

Just a FYI, Those 300g FTX on sale again at Midway!

CW
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Re: FTX Bullets Comparison

Postby Hoot » Mon May 14, 2018 8:46 pm

cwlongshot wrote:Just a FYI, Those 300g FTX on sale again at Midway!

CW


Bide your time on those. That's not much better than regular price. Lately, they have been starting their "factory seconds" off high, to get the eager beavers. Once they don't move, they cut the price each week until they do. Didn't use to be that way but they got wise to another profit center.

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Re: FTX Bullets Comparison

Postby cwlongshot » Tue May 15, 2018 6:32 am

Hoot wrote:
cwlongshot wrote:Just a FYI, Those 300g FTX on sale again at Midway!

CW


Bide your time on those. That's not much better than regular price. Lately, they have been starting their "factory seconds" off high, to get the eager beavers. Once they don't move, they cut the price each week until they do. Didn't use to be that way but they got wise to another profit center.

Hoot

Thank you... I had a couple other things I needed so I grabbed another 100 pcs. Ill watch them.

Thank you!

CW
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Re: FTX Bullets Comparison

Postby Moore77 » Tue Mar 12, 2019 8:00 am

Thank you for the in depth look at these bullets. I'm new to the 450 Bushmaster world but I want to start reloading and develop my own load for hunting.
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Re: FTX Bullets Comparison

Postby Smithjdsr » Tue Jun 16, 2020 9:57 am

This thread answers a lot of questions. I’ve loaded the 225’s and 250’s quite successfully. I like the idea of a lighter, faster round, but it’s still hard to beat the 250 grain that’s point-blank for deer out past 200 yards. The 225’s are way cheaper for range shooting than the 250’s, but for 1 or 2 critical shots per year, I’ve still preferred the 250’s for hunting. Since the 200’s aren’t much cheaper, there’s no range shooting advantage, and since I’m probably not a good enough shot to hunt much beyond 200 yards, I might leave the 200’s in theory and keep hunting with the heavier bullets.
John

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Re: FTX Bullets Comparison

Postby jmbod » Thu Mar 18, 2021 6:28 pm

fast forward to March 18th 2021, and the FTX 250 is still the most common for commercial Hornaday loading , although federal sells a 300 grainer as their standard. I will make a few separate points:

1. Complaints on the performance of the 250 FTX are circulating, then a year of so ago Hornaday introduced the 245 grain interlock for the Bushmaster: it has the exposed lead tip with a bc of approx 1.65, less than the ftx. I have not looked into reviews on its performance. I killed one deer, a pass through at about 100 (250 ftx), quarter size exit; Impossible to critique the opinions on bullet criticisms due to non bullet variables that may cause problems.
2. Before during and after the Presidential Election gun sales and ammunition sales have apparently mushroomed, causing the ammo shortage and gun shortage. 9mm fmjs selling for 44.95, most calibers of loaded ammo couldnt be found. Same for powders, most on line places are out of stock on everything. Long guns if u can find one had a third mark up around this writing.
3. Hoarding mode. With powders and components unpredictable, many reloaders are sort of conserving their stock to make sure they have enough for the fall 2021 hunting seasons, not knowing when shortages will ease.
4. A few friends have been caught empty handed in the shortage--all out of rounds. Now the requests have trickled in about reloads. I will wait this out and see if availability improves, otherwise I may help them out, although reloaders are cautioned to review their skill level and tolerances of the 450 to make sure they can produce a consistent, chamberable round. Test chambering loaded round esp in Single shots and semi-autos are important, verify before loading a batch. U want cartridge to eject easily, as in unloading a live round at the end of the day. A caliper is critical to get case mouth tolerances to spec.so mouth headspaces correctly, or if too small may cause light primer strikes. No need to max load, keep within specs for powder and bullet oal, case mouth, optional crimping.
5. I realize the authoritative types may flame me for loading for others, for me listing proper caveats of handling reloads and risks before they commit is the way to go,, friends can walk if they choose, no offense taken.
6. Reflecting on my slug hunting--short range--days and moving to a NEF single 20 g sabot was a big sea change, but the 450 has been an improvement: great hunting experience.
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Re: FTX Bullets Comparison

Postby SAWMAN » Mon Jun 21, 2021 11:26 am

I will start reloaing for my CVA Hunter in a couple weeks or so.
Finally got everything on order. Found new AND once fired brass. Got 4 different bullets coming. Have had the appropriate powders.
This will be a dedicated hog gun. Critters down our way can get 300lbs. Have killed multiple hogs that were >250 with another chambering.
I just wanted to thank the above posters with the information provided. It is extremely important to me as I seem to always get overly "deep" into all my reloading practices.
Thanks again gentlemen. --- SAWMAN
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Re: FTX Bullets Comparison

Postby jmbod » Fri Oct 29, 2021 9:21 am

The ftx 225 is rated by Hornaday as a colt bullet with velocities of 900 in pistol and 1300 or so in rifles.

This bullet is one of a handful listed with recipes in Hodgdon 450 busmaster powder data and listing velocities of 2200-2400 fps. This raises a flag for me, but I do have a lot of faith in Hodgdon testing. Wont dwell on this cause who can find these anyway, its a get whats available now, watch the on line retailers.

Questions:

Close up shots with 225: will be way over colt velocities and what effect on deer sized game? {especially for a max loading near 2400 fps +)
The velocity window for the proper expansion of the bullet.

Caution Use

Slow it down, with lowest published data, or trail boss. This bullet going 2000 or so would be fine out to 125 + yds.
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