AR-15 hunting rifle idea

[lucasphi20]

After hunting only with the 450 Bushmaster this deer season, I realized how much I liked my AR better than my "deer" rifle. The light weight, compact design and pistol grip make it so much nicer. Plus after all those years carrying it in the military it seems so natural for me to use it in the woods vs my bolt action rifle. I love the 450 Bushmaster, I think its a great round, I easily shot it out to 200 yards at the range. Now I know Wildcatter has mentioned shooting to 600 yards, but I really don't think the 450 is a long range hunting round, more like a "brush gun." So I've been thinking, how can I get "rifle" performance in a lightweight AR15 (not a heavy/expensive/bulky AR-10)? I have no experience wildcatting, but I envision a .277 - .308 caliber. I've looked at cartridges and the .284 seems the best choice. It has the widest case size with a 30-06 rim, and the bolt from the 450 already is set for this. I doubt the non-belted magnum's or short magnum's rim could be adapted for the AR-15 bolt face. My idea is to take the .284 cut off and sized to .277, .284 or .308, but blow out the case making it straight walled or very slight case taper with a sharp "Ackley Improved" style shoulder, short neck and deep seated bullet. Make the OAL 2.315 (same as the 6.8SPC), hopefully with the increased case capacity I could get the round up to par with other hunting rounds deemed "appropriate" for North American game. I have to save up some money and find a gunsmith who will help, right now its a pipe dream.

[Hoot]

So something like the .30 RAR but necked down further to .284? I suspect that may already be on someone's drawing board, but it's just a suspicion.

Hoot

[bushmeister]

or just find out how load the 450 up to 2800 fps safely, and you got 1500 lbs of knockdown power out to 400 yds.

[wildcatter]

So something like the .30 RAR but necked down further to .284? I suspect that may already be on someone's drawing board, but it's just a suspicion.

Hoot

or just find out how load the 450 up to 2800 fps safely, and you got 1500 lbs of knockdown power out to 400 yds. It is true that our poison of choice is not a long range gun, like say the various 338's are, but then again with the Bushmeister's idea, at 400 yds the 450b will still kill everything you need dead..t

Yuppers lucasphi20, I'm on it. On my drawing boards are theses and many more. The 450b to all cals up and down and many other cartridge-cases as well. When I get done, the AR platform will be like the 700 Remmy and it's plethora of choices..t

[Texas Sheepdawg]

I was contemplating a 284 case cut down like the 450B
but instead of a .452, I wondered what if I could create
a shouldered case with the same COL as the 5.56mm
So it would feed through a standard AR 15... But
Necked to a 41 caliber or 10mm 150-185 grain.
Just a fantasy cartridge.... I haven't had this in my head
long enough to actually put it on my mechanical drawing
Table yet.

[wildcatter]

I was contemplating a 284 case cut down like the 450B
but instead of a .452, I wondered what if I could create
a shouldered case with the same COL as the 5.56mm
So it would feed through a standard AR 15... But
Necked to a 41 caliber or 10mm 150-185 grain.
Just a fantasy cartridge.... I haven't had this in my head
long enough to actually put it on my mechanical drawing
Table yet.

Your fantasy is going to come true, in both 41 &40 and way more calibers, try everything from 475 to 17 cal. Those 90gr .224 Sierra MatchKings ought to be interesting, but then again, I've got some other cartridges, not based on the 284 that will knock your socks off, wait until you see "My" version of the 50cal (remember after the socom/beowulf folks interviewed me, they decided to try and one-up me, however, their mere low pressure pistol case, with no-usable parent case, extreme high cost, and terrible availability, falls far short) and, .."Coming to a Godzilla near you", try a .530 bullet, at our speeds..t

[lawle102]

Wildcatter,

So you are saying you plan for something in 500 or larger, runs in the ar-15 platform, and will push 450 velocities? Sign me up! Can we call it the 530 HOG, Hammer of God?

[bushmeister]

Wildcatter,
Can we call it the 530 HOG, Hammer of God?

I love it!

[BillytheKid]

I'm trying to keep the saliva from running , , , drool drool drool!

LOL

[Hoot]

Personally, I'd like to see a .44 caliber thumpette based upon a .308 case cut off at the shoulder. Brass would be abundant and would not cost $1.00 each, which pretty much guarantees no manufacturer would consider it. On second thought, they could modify the .308 case such that if you wanted to make your own from surplus .308 cases you'd have to buy reamers and perform tedious touch labor to recreate it.

EDIT: The .308 case diameter where the shoulder starts is the same as the .444 marlin (.453) so seating a .44 caliber (.429) bullet has already been demonstrated. It wouldn't hold as much powder as the .444 Marlin since the case would only be 1.56" long as opposed to 2.25, but still a lot more than the .44 Magnum at 1.28".

Hoot