Loading heavy 330gr - 535gr cast bullets ???

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Loading heavy 330gr - 535gr cast bullets ???

Postby Camp Cook » Mon Dec 11, 2017 8:19 am

I'm new to the forum and new to the 450 Bushmaster having just ordered a Ruger American Ranch in 450 Bushmaster last week just waiting for dies to arrive at store before they ship.

I've been loading heavy 330gr - 405gr bullets in 45 Colt and 454 Casull for years even bought a box of 50 Ranch Dog 535gr thumpers but these are to long to fit any of my 454 Casull M92 rifle or handguns I was looking to buy a T/C Prohunter barrel in 460S&W but then started hearing about the 450 BM and wanted a bolt action rifle over another single shot.

I'm looking for loading data and/or experiences with heavy WLNGC and WFNGC bullets 330gr - 345gr - 360gr - 395gr - 405gr - 535gr in the 450 Bushmaster.

I have Blue Dot - AA-9 - 2400 - H110 - LilGun powders on the shelf

I bought this rifle/cartridge combo to be used for fun/camp defence/animal defence/hunting out to 200 yards plan on mounting a Leupold VX1 2-7x LR reticle scope.

I also have 200gr - 225gr - 250gr FTX and 240gr - 300gr XTP-Mags on the shelf I see there is already data available for these bullets though.

Thanks for looking and for any thoughts or experiences.
CC
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Re: Loading heavy 330gr - 535gr cast bullets ???

Postby Hoot » Mon Dec 11, 2017 11:25 am

Welcome Aboard Cooky!

For heavy jacketed projectiles in the weight range you listed, the only powder I saw you mention, that would be useful was the H110 and then only with the lighter "heavy" bullets. I don't do cast boolits, but I've been told that nude lead bullets use a slightly faster powder than their copper jacketed equivalents, so Lil Gun may work also and possibly AA9. You're going to have to work the recipes out however. Blue Dot and 2400 are pretty much too fast.

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Re: Loading heavy 330gr - 535gr cast bullets ???

Postby plant_one » Mon Dec 11, 2017 11:43 am

be careful with lil gun and non gas-checked bullets. its known to burn hot (temp wise)

burning as warm as it does can easily lead to gas cutting and leading. i even had a problem with some coated bullet loads literally spraying lead out the end of my barrel on my 300 blk when doing some testing with them. had to scrape it off my magnetospeed bayo :/

4227 solved the issue for me though.


dunno if it was from the gas port or what, but thankfully i noticed it relatively early and didnt lead up my bore too bad - or plug my gas port/tube!

its worth keeping an eye out for sure.
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Re: Loading heavy 330gr - 535gr cast bullets ???

Postby Camp Cook » Mon Dec 11, 2017 6:16 pm

All of my cast bullets have gas checks so no issue there and I will buy another powder if something is better than what I have for these heavier bullet loads.

I'm not new to reloading being doing it for 35 years now = oh man I'll old... :o

I'm thinking that the data for my 454 Casull loads can be used for comparison purposes but I need to check pressures before I go further I'm loading my 454 Casull 405gr WLNGC to 1330fps in my shortened to 4.25" Ruger Super Redhawk.

What are the top pressures the 450 Bushmaster designed for?
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Re: Loading heavy 330gr - 535gr cast bullets ???

Postby Al in Mi » Mon Dec 11, 2017 7:42 pm

When I had my fa 454 all.I shot was 340gr cast
and h110 or a case full of 1680. If you can get some 1680 there it might be worth a go.

The 450 has .200 of free bore so you might be able to stretch them big pills out some.
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Re: Loading heavy 330gr - 535gr cast bullets ???

Postby plant_one » Mon Dec 11, 2017 10:40 pm

SAAMI spec on the 450 is 38,500 PSI max
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Re: Loading heavy 330gr - 535gr cast bullets ???

Postby cowboybart » Tue Dec 26, 2017 11:48 am

I'd like to see how this works as I want to use 360 - 380gr cast in an AR platform. Gas checks and powder coated.
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Re: Loading heavy 330gr - 535gr cast bullets ???

Postby TT92 » Fri Feb 01, 2019 8:25 am

Reviving this old post.

I am wanting to load heavy, hard-cast, gas-checked bullets in my 450 BM Ruger American Ranch. Seems to be a lack of data and experiences posted doing so, or perhaps I just haven't found them yet. Seems like it should be similar to loading the 460 S&W, no?

For discussion's sake, let's say a bullet like this: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/10107 ... ad-reviews

Anybody shooting heavy lead?
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