450 Bushmaster reloading

I recommend against cast lead in a gas operated rifle. Some use them with no issues, more power to them, others have build up in the gas tube near the port. I've heard of some that have satisfactory results using cast lead bullets with a coating and some that have used plated bullets from Berry's.

I've never used Rel 7, only powder I've used for 450 BM is W296, which works well for me with the Hornady 250gr Flex Tip.

An economical way to get 450 BM bullets is to wait til Midway has the Hornady 250gr flex tip blems, then stock up. That's what I do. On their blems, per agreement with the manufacturer, they don't list the manufacturer, but it's pretty easy to identify a 250gr Hornady Flex tip when Midway posts them.

I don't see any data for reloader 7. I can find data for the following
Aac-9, little gun, enforcer, w296, h110, imr 4227 for 250 & 300 grain hornady bullets.

I reload 450 Bushmaster and have for a while now.

SidecarFlip said:

I reload 450 Bushmaster and have for a while now.

Click to expand...

Do you have any Reloader 7 data you can share with me?

ptmn said:

I recommend against cast lead in a gas operated rifle. Some use them with no issues, more power to them, others have build up in the gas tube near the port. I've heard of some that have satisfactory results using cast lead bullets with a coating and some that have used plated bullets from Berry's.

I've never used Rel 7, only powder I've used for 450 BM is W296, which works well for me with the Hornady 250gr Flex Tip.

An economical way to get 450 BM bullets is to wait til Midway has the Hornady 250gr flex tip blems, then stock up. That's what I do. On their blems, per agreement with the manufacturer, they don't list the manufacturer, but it's pretty easy to identify a 250gr Hornady Flex tip when Midway posts them.

Click to expand...

For fifty I've used my cast bullets in Ruger 44 cabines , AR's, M1 carbines and M1 Garands....Nevr clogged a port and never will.....Have you ever clogged a gas port? Or you just repeating a worn out fable?

According to the burn chart reloader 7 is somewhat slower than all the listed powders in published data

59dexta said:

According to the burn chart reloader 7 is somewhat slower than all the listed powders in published data

Click to expand...

When you get up to 300gr bullets I have data that includes H4198 that is slower than Reloader 7. With 300 gr bullets IMR4227 tops out at 35gr and H4198 starts at 39gr and goes to 42.8grs, so I think I can start at 37gr with Reloader 7 and work up from there safely. I just like to be able to cross reference with some loads that have been tried. I've been loading for almost 50 years, started at 14 years old, and I'm no stranger to load development. I even created my own wildcat when I was younger, and less cautious. I was just hoping someone else had tried it already.

I subscribe to " load data" from hand loader magazine they only have one load table for the bushmaster. My Lyman data book is similar. On me if you want any published data I my have
Dan

The Happy Kaboomer said:

For fifty I've used my cast bullets in Ruger 44 cabines , AR's, M1 carbines and M1 Garands....Nevr clogged a port and never will.....Have you ever clogged a gas port? Or you just repeating a worn out fable?

Click to expand...

I have never fully clogged my gas port, since I noticed the build up before it fully clogged and I removed it, so not repeating an internet fable in my case.

It was actually pretty easy to notice the start of the build up, when I was cleaning my M1 Carbine. Usually I see the gas piston move when I push a wet patch through the bore, but I noticed it wasn't doing that after shooting some 115gr Missouri Cast bullets I started reloading with. I removed the piston and noticed the lead build up, removed it and the piston moved freely again. Then I had to re-stake the gas piston nut in place.

I have no gripe with Missouri Bullets, I use them for loading a lot of 380, 9mm, 40, 38 and 45 pistol rounds. Besides, it was my own fault, they sell the same 115gr M1 Carbine bullet with coating for only a few dollars more, but I tried to be cheap, since others like you have shot lead in gas operated rifles with no gas port build up.

59dexta said:

I subscribe to " load data" from hand loader magazine they only have one load table for the bushmaster. My Lyman data book is similar. On me if you want any published data I my have
Dan

Click to expand...

Thanks. I've got data for 3 of the powders I have on hand, but I have a lot of Reloader 7 powder and would prefer to use what I have the most of. So, it's just Reloader 7 data I'm looking for.