450Bushmaster.net

I loaded up some 250 grain xtp i used 32.5 grains of little gun. I seated to the cantaler. Cartridge overall length of 2.0345.

How likely is detonation with little gunpowder at this charge? I noticed after I reloaded when I move the cartridge in my hand sounds like a half full salt shaker.

Seems like it's got a lot less powder than what I'm used to.

I probably should have went with 37 grains like I had intended. I did not want to push the velocity of this bullet in my AR rifle.

The Hornady online app list the following for the FTX bullets.

I probably should have went with 37 grains like I had intended. I did not want to push the velocity of this bullet in my AR rifle.

I load 38 grains. You aren't going to blow your gun up with 37. I wonder if 32.5 will cycle the bolt.

I don’t think you’re going to like it. The pressure will be so low, it will soot pretty bad and probably won’t cycle the action. You need to have at least enough pressure to seal the case against the chamber wall. Until you reach that pressure, sooting is gonna be pretty bad.

Thanks I think I'm going to rework them to 37 grains just for Peace of mind.

My local range isn't that great they sold me a membership for the outdoor range which is closed often during the winter plus they won't allow the use of a chronograph.

My concern was running the xtp bullets at too high a velocity. But it sounds like they hold up okay.

This summer I'll go to the range out in the country that allows chronographs. It'd be interesting to see what velocity I get.

In my AR, a 1:24 twist 20” barrel with carbine gas impingement system my sooting stops around 39.5 grains of LilGun.
YMMV

Crimp effectiveness factors in as well. The longer you can hold the bullet back, the more time the case gets to enlarge and seal off the sidewalls. Not night and day but still a factor.
IME, other than monolithic copper or brass ones, pulled and reused bullets don't behave as well as ones that have never been used. If you can see a reduction in diameter, even slight once pulled, its enough of a difference to impact their neck tension the next time you use them. Again, that has been my experience. Yours may vary. I do however save pulled bullets for verifying stab crimp depth. Ditto for sub par cases.

Hoot

Hoot wrote:Crimp effectiveness factors in as well. The longer you can hold the bullet back, the more time the case gets to enlarge and seal off the sidewalls. Not night and day but still a factor.
IME, other than monolithic copper or brass ones, pulled and reused bullets don't behave as well as ones that have never been used. If you can see a reduction in diameter, even slight once pulled, its enough of a difference to impact their neck tension the next time you use them. Again, that has been my experience. Yours may vary. I do however save pulled bullets for verifying stab crimp depth. Ditto for sub par cases.

Hoot

I hear what you are saying. Makes sense to me. As I only loaded 10 no big loss. I did make 10 more at 36 grain. They sound good when shaked lol. Less bullet to powder gap.

Range report update.

I was able to take out the 36 grain lilgun/Hornady xtp bullets to the range.

I am very pleased to report exceptional results at 50 yards where I was. I got there late I wanted to move to 100 but just didn't have the time. I'm certain they will perform well.

At 50 yards there was one jagged hole which is kind of what I expected. I'll know for sure how well they do when I push them out to 100.

That brings me to the second experiment using the berrys 230 grain. This for me was a huge failure. I think my load was potentially dangerous.. I could hear a pop and then a secondary explosion. When I look down the barrel there was a trail of unburnt powder.

This to me suggests that the bullet dislodged upon primer strike while the powder was not fully combusted. It was a kind of a light pop followed by a second pop. The point of impact was way lower than the xtp bullets.

I'll probably just save the berrys 45 for my muzzleloader.

Yikes. Yeah. Berry bullets are plated…. Not jacketed. Plated lead bullets are extremely undesirable for the 450 Bushmaster under any configuration. But we’ve been warning everyone about plated bullets for at least a decade. My range reports on the FMJ 230 grain bullets have plenty of discussion on why we don’t use plated bullets for the 450 Bushmaster. I’m just relieved that you and your gun are safe.
Pull down any remaining plated loads and scrap the lead. Berry bullets are best left to pistol pressures.

Texas Sheepdawg wrote:...snip...
Pull down any remaining plated loads and scrap the lead...snip

Those pulled down Berry's make excellent slingshot projectiles!

Hoot