450Bushmaster.net

Thanks for the info. Will stir that into the pot.

Jim;

5th post from the top of This thread. Seat them until you just barely bury the cannelure somewhere around 2.10-2.15 COL. These give me the most accurate load for my 450b, delivering MOA or smaller groups reliably (if I do my part) at 100 yards. They're no slouch either, in terms of velocity, faster than the factory 250 load. They are what I took deer hunting this past November. No matter what load I'm experimenting with at the local range, I always take a handful of them along in case a fellow member want to try the gun. Might as well leave a lasting first impression.

Hoot

I load the 225s to the same COAL as the 250s: 1.260 I completely ignore the the cannelure and use a body crimp. The groups speak for themselves. All of the FTX bullets I've tried shoot best at the max overall length the magazine will feed reliably. These 225s used to be a good deal, with 100 going for the same price as 50 of the 250s. Unfortunately that no longer seems to be the case, so in the future I'll probably stick with the 250s as they shoot farther better, and stay on the BDC scope settings.
BD

BD1 wrote:...snip...These 225s used to be a good deal, with 100 going for the same price as 50 of the 250s. Unfortunately that no longer seems to be the case, so in the future I'll probably stick with the 250s as they shoot farther better, and stay on the BDC scope settings.
BD

50) 250 FTX at Midway 28.49
100) 225 FTX at Midway 29.49

Similar pricing at the local watering hole as well. How far off do the 225s track from the 250s with the Omega dots?

Hoot

I'll have to look at Midway, My last natchez circular listed them in 50 round boxes like the 250s. To clarify the OALs in the picture above, the OAL shown is using a stoney point tool. I set the 225s at the same length to the ogive as the 250s, the actual COAL is a little shorter as the 225s have a more blunt nose.

In my rifle using the BDC reticule the 225s print a little high and left at 100, 5" high and a little left at 200, and a 6" group slightly low at 300.

I checked with Hornady tech support and they do not recommend loading the 225 grain 45 Colt bullet on the 450 Bushmaster brass, provide no information in their Handbook, and definitely won't even give a hint on the phone. Of course "we" (on this board) know that it can and has been done. However, after talking to sales, they will exchange the 45 Colt bullets they sent me for the 450 BM bullets, so all will be well - except for the shipping charges, of course.

Anyway, my suggestion for people new to reloading (like me) is to stick with the factory components to start with and leave the experimental stuff to those who know what they are doing.

BTW, in addition to finding the 450 BM bullets on gunbroker.com, a day or so later - and two months ahead of their estimated date - Midway advised me that the 450 BM bullets were in stock, so now I have plenty to get started with.

Newbie question. Is Hornady the only manufacturer of .452 bullets?

Fyi, the .452 225gr FTX 100 per box are in stock and on sale at Cabelas right now.

You know, I bought two more Hornady New Dimension Custom Dies sets in the last three months and one last year. If they'd mentioned that you could get 450b bullets, maybe I would have sent in the documentation for a couple.

Hoot

I got the 225's for my hornady dies promotion.I had to pay 9 bucks extra and shipping.I don't see why they wouldn't work,if you can use XTP's and bullets for the 45acp then the 225's should work also.