Okay....I am old but I have been building AR's since 1994. First off building rifles for DCM/CMP match rifles and I did very well with them. I have also built NM M1's and M1A rifles. I made Distinguished and the Presidents 100 all with the "black rifle". I have built or rather "assembled" every configuration imaginable in 223/5.56 for myself and numerous friends. That said, being bored, I strayed away from the norm with the 300 Blackout and I'll say...it is what it is for it's intended purpose. Then moved on to the 6.5 Grendel. Accuracy ....so, so after two barrels. Almost total frustration with this caliber / platform. The first barrel was a 2 m.o.a. at BEST and also anemic velocity over my chronograph with a 20" barrel" barrel for ringing gongs beyond 600 yards. Again it is what it is!
Moving on....I went into debt with the 450 Bushmaster caliber. Dies, brass, bullets, barrel, BCG etc. The barrel and BCG, are from Midway USA....whoever makes them which they label "AR Stoner". This barrel, under the naked eye has "chatter" marks on the lands through out it's 16" length. Worked up numerous loads with Hodgdon Lil Gun powder, CCI 41, Rem. 7 1/2 and WW small pistol primers in new Star Line brass. Bullets were 240 gr. Hornady XTP Mag, Hornady 250 gr. FTX and Hornady 300 gr. XTP Mag. bullets. Charges were to max. out of the Hornady loading manual. This was a day at the range and I have no problem with that because any day at the range is better than a day at work!
So.....my results are and I must say....very disappointing with the 450 Bushmaster caliber! Short stroking leaving a spent round in the chamber or mostly with the bolt half way open with a spent case ready to chamber without a HINT of ejecting it! Accuracy at 50 yards.....1/2 MOA. At 100 yards.....from 1 1/2 moa to 3 1/2 moa depending on the bullets I named.
Now I am wondering where did I miss any info on the internet telling me that on the standard AR15 upper receiver that it's ejection port (Anderson upper) will be too small for ejection of spent rounds. Hey.....I can rack the bolt back sharply with the charging handle and a empty case just turns around on top of the mag. at best but does not EJECT, It gets caught / hung up inside the upper receiver!
Well, I hope that I have missed something along the way and I am open for suggestion. I certainly hope there is a simple solution because I am at a loss both in finances and the logic of this "routine" build.
Wrangler