Bear Loads for a 450 Bushmaster Bolt Action Rifle

[@roryaumiller2025]

Just picked up same rifle this week. Brass delivered today. Doing research for bullets and powder and loading tips. (Only done 38/357, 308, 22-250. This was very informative. Watched your other video too. Thank you for sharing.

[@30-06john]

Thanks for watching! In this video, my loads are actually above published data since they are in a bolt action that is usually for .308, and not an AR-15. Plenty of good load data out there. Good luck!

[@stevennikolopoulos1572]

Hi John, thanks for posting, I know this is an older posting. Since then Buffalo bore has come out with a 360 gr Hard cast round. Please give your thoughts on this, not a reloader so I'm bound to at the moment with factory ammo. Would you recommend this for defense and hunting dangerous game?

[@30-06john]

Sorry for the late reply, some how your comment did not initially show up. Looking at that ammo, it should be fine since it was tested in a bolt action and AR-15 style rifles. The biggest concern would be reliable feeding. Thanks for watching!

[@claiborneeastjr4129]

I have this same rifle. My handloads go up to the Lyman 335 FNGC cast bullet, plus Montana Bullet Works and Cast Performance 300 FNGC. It shoots all of them very well. Can't believe Ruger sells this gun for $500 (at least when mine was bought two years ago).

[@30-06john]

Yeah, I rather like my Ruger 450Bushmaster. I have worked up some heavy HC lead bullet loads, but they were finicky about feeding from the magazine. I have some of the Hornady 395 sub-x bullets and I worked up a subsonic load, those shoot good too. Hey, appreciate you watching!

[@Northeastdeerhunter]

This thing is a beast, accurate, and easy to carry. I love mine for the Maine woods. I was wondering if people use this for big bear protection in Alaska. Great to know.

[@30-06john]

A few people do, but not as common as other cartridges. Thanks for watching!

[@michaelrandell4021]

The 225 grain 452 diameter Hornady bullet is the sweet spot on velocity and muzzle energy. 2495 fps, 3110 lbs muzzle energy. Checked on Ballistic 101 web site for muzzle energy. Hodgdon load data on line with Lil' gun powder. Out of a 24" barrel. I size down 458 diameter bullets down to 452 diameter with Lee sizing die the 458 bullets are constructed tougher. 300 grain flatnose hollow point Hornady sized down @1900 fps. Should do the trick, on bear. It rolls hog over here in Fla. No problem. If you jump to a 20" barrel you gain 100" fps. Mossberg Patriot rifle 450 Bushmaster. Velocity kills, plus just a little flatter shooting. Hope this helps.

[@30-06john]

Thanks for the info. Foe Bear protection, I am talking Brown/Grizzlies, deep penetration bullets are needed. That is why I use the Barnes Buster bullet. The 300 gr Hornady sized down may be OK. Maybe I should size down the 350 gr.! Also, my loads exceed published load data since I am using them in a bolt action rifle and not an AR-15. Thanks for watching!

[@DummyRound]

Great stuff, that gun can shoot! I've always been interested in 450BM, thanks for sharing.👍👊🇺🇸

[@30-06john]

Thanks! I rather like this Ranch rifle, one of my favorites!

[@motorgearhead]

Hi, not sure if you’ve seen this before. It’s a modded .45/70 lee FCD. Links to instructions and other resources included. 450 Bushmaster - Side Roll Crimp - Mod 45/70 FCD kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKfTXmeBe8RqosU

[@30-06john]

Yeah, I have seen a few process to increase the crimp on the 450BM, I really have not needed anything more than the Hornady crimp die yet. Thanks for watching!

[@garyhill9516]

If a5.56 runs at 53000 to 60,000 and a 450bm at 38,500. Explain to me why can't you surpass loading data safely?

[@30-06john]

I assume it is because a 450BM has a bigger bolt face therefore the bolt and chamber has less steel around it. The 458 SOCOM and .50 Beowulf are also limited for the same reason. Hey, thanks for watching.

[@ocean374]

Awesome I enjoy my 450 bushmaster

[@30-06john]

Yes, a very nice cartridge! Thanks for watching!

[@mitchellzajac4059]

I came up with an 100 yard 1/2 inch group with 300gr xtp using 1680 loaded longer than the Crimp ring I still felt the xtp expanded way to rapidly at 100 yards and I switched over to Speer deep curl 300 gr .452 diameter also tuning at 1900 fps

[@mitchellzajac4059]

With a expansion to .900” at 100 yards perfect mushroom

[@30-06john]

Glad you are having success in reloading for the 450 Bushmaster! I have reloaded the Speer Deep Curl in the past but I have not seen any lately. On the Hornady 300 XTP, was that XTP or XTP MAG? The XTP is for 45 Colt, while the XTP MAG is for the 454 and 460, heavier constructed. Looks like you haver a good load with 1680 and the Deep Curl bullet! Hey, thanks for the info and watching!

[@mitchellzajac4059]

Any time midway USA I was scrolling for bullets during the height of the pandemic and found 500 bullets of 300 grain deep curl for a mind blowing $75 and they do free shipping for $49 or more on and off all year round

[@markwhitteck6055]

I have played with loads using the 300MP powder. Seems to work best with heavier bullets and hotter loads. Like he said , do not shoot in an AR platform rifle.

[@30-06john]

In some applications, 300-MP is very good! Thanks for watching!

[@carlh7795]

I shoot them hot in my basic AR-15. Same rim diameter as the 6.5 Grendel, and that's commonly loaded to 50,000+ psi for AR's. Also, the Grendel is bottlenecked which means more bolt thrust than the 450 Bushy loaded to the same pressure. Of course, I can't suggest others do the same... but I'm entirely comfortable with it and have had no issues.

[@30-06john]

Please be safe and careful! All of the big bore AR cartridges are factory loaded to no more than 40,000PSI. The smaller calibers, 6.5 Grendel, 350 Legend and such are loaded to about 55,000PSI. Thanks for watching!

[@carlh7795]

@@30-06john agreed... to some extent. But the Grendel has the same rim diameter and body as the 450 Bushmaster. It's also necked down which creates MORE direct force against the bolt lugs than the 450 Bushmaster when loaded to the same pressure (Bernoulli Effect). The weak areas of the AR-15 are the bolt lugs, and in the case of very large diameter casings, the thickness of the barrel in the barrel nut area. I would not run the .458 socom or the .50 Beo at more than 40Kpsi in the AR-15, due to the thinner thickness at the barrel nut (this is why the 30 Remington AR chambered guns had their own specific upper receiver and larger barrel nut). However, the 450 Bushmaster chamber leaves this area substantially thicker than those other two big bores.

[@chadhaupt472]

Iam shooting a 250gr barnes bullet with 40gr of lilgun with no signs of pressure! And 275 gr barnes over max as well with no pressure signs!

[@30-06john]

Yeah, the 450Bushmaster is spec'd for about 38,000psi for use in an AR platform rifle. In a bolt action rifle that operates at a much higher pressure, easy to handload over what the reloading manuals have. Also the cartridge overall length comes into play, one can seat longer in a bolt rifle, usually. Please keep checking for pressure signs and stay safe! Hey thanks for watching and the info!

[@tristanhendrickson627]

Are you in the interior or coastal??

[@30-06john]

I live in Anchorage, but I have traveled throughout Alaska for many years. I have had bear encounters with coastal Brown bears and interior Grizzlies. Not that I am any type of expert, just part of living in Alaska. Thanks for watching!

[@waynekaye6883]

You're wasting every ones time ! If you won't give out the loads, what's the point of your vid ?

[@30-06john]

There is a liability, especially on media, about publishing unsafe things. If it was commercially published data, I could. This is to show that it is possible, but for experienced handloaders following standard safety practices. Thanks for watching.