papajohn wrote:I've been all over the Interwebz tonight seeking suitable bullets for further experimentation, there is a 300-grain Speer Soft-point that Graf's carries with a current listed price of $12.49 for 50, which is almost unheard of these days, so I'm going to order a hundred or more tomorrow and see where that takes me. I've always been a cheap so-and-so (just ask my exes....) and I appreciate a good bargain, but only if it shoots well and does the job I ask of it.
HOOT, like you I have a 20" Bushmaster upper, and I also tested some loads with 230 FMJ bullets.......44 grains of Accurate 1680 gave me far better accuracy than I expected, mostly because they were cheapo Armscor bullets, but I figured 2-3" groups at 100 yards were plenty good enough for my initial test loads. The other test loads were a mix of 230 XTP's and Sierra 230 JHP's, and none of those were significantly better. At that point I was worried a lot more about the mag issues I was having, of the three Bushmaster mags I had only one was reliable, and shooting good groups when you constantly have to deal with feeding/jamming issues is a study in frustration. Things are getting better with the mags, but I'd be a lot happier if I could figure out how to tear the mags down and polish a few things. In spite of what others claim, I'm not OCD. No, really, I'm NOT. Stop grinning like that.
I have a major love affair going with my Marlin 45-70 Guide Gun, and the primary reason for getting the 450BM was because it's kind of like a 45-70 in an AR Platform. I've had a dozen or more AR's, I like the platform a lot, and decided that in case wild pigs ever overrun St Louis, a man ought to have a Thumper, just to be on the safe side. That's my justification, and I'm sticking with it. I've certainly heard a lot sillier reasons for buying a gun than that, and so have you.
I appreciate the feedback I've gotten here, I love being a part of a forum where everyone is a handloader, because as a general rule we like to tinker and figure things out and try new stuff. For a dozen years I was the Reloading Forum moderator on a popular site, and fielding questions from new guys was always fun and challenging. Now I'm the newbie, dealing with all the weird variables in a round that isn't like what I'm used to dealing with, and it's comforting to know that y'all (or ALL y'all) have already been down the same road I've just stumbled across.
I don't hunt anymore, never hunted a lot, and denied my craving for big-bore rifles for years. Then one day I was offered a sweet deal on a 45-70, bought it, and realized all the fun I'd been missing for years. Adding the 450 BashMonster was just a natural next step. I'd love to get back to hunting, but I'm older and lazier and won't do it unless it's something I want to eat, and I really like venison and pork. If wild porkers ever get up this far north (I'm not talking about the inner-city hogs, they've been here for years) I would love to do some real hunting, a 200-pound sow would be the best target I could find in my crosshairs.
Sorry for rambling, I don't get online much these days, hip/back issues preclude sitting for long. But it's fun getting onto a forum where we have a favorite caliber in common.
I like it here. You guys are cool.
Interesting that you use AA1680 with such a light bullet as the 230 fmj. I would never have tried that as QuickLoad says that 17% of the powder blows out the barrel unburned. Even I can still learn a thing or two. I've always just used Lil Gun (both the older and newer). My issue with the 230 fmj is that they are a dense bullet, not having any hollow cavity and as such, they're short for their weight. That doesn't afford much bearing surface down in the case, even when seated to 2.05 COL. Translation, its hard to get a good hold on them with just the taper crimp. Several members swear by the side (stab) crimp to keep them from pulling each time they're chambered, not to mention jumping too easily before the powder gets really cooking. If I were going to guess a candidate for hang fires, that recipe would be right up near the top. Again, you're never too old to learn. If you ever get tired of the "War of the Mags" and want to just buy your way out, the Bartz mags are custom made for the 450b, not re-tasked 5.56 mags and I've had great success with them, right out of the box.
While this caliber certainly has a few peccadilos, the bigger sense I get from it is its forgiving nature and the ability to make the shooter look like they know what they're doing on the firing line.
Off to the shower, then fight my way into work on the heels of an Historic April Snow Storm (20 incher). 2-1/2 years until I can retire and go shooting whenever I please. I count every day.
Hoot