450Bushmaster.net

Acquired 40 projectile and there is zero load data available. I called the manufacturer and they suggested using Barnes data for 250g.
Barnes data for the 250g tax is max charge of lil gun at 34.1g

Have to admit I’m a bit nervous not having any data whatsoever. I intend to shoot these from a CVA stalker V2; 24” barrel. I loaded 8 rounds, starting at 32.4g, working up in .3g increments till I arrived at 34.6g.

The load; 1x hornandy brass; case length 1.690
Powder - lil gun
Primer - Rem 7.5
COAL - 2.250
Taper crimp at .475

If anyone can share experience I’d appreciate it. I probably won’t be able to get to the range to test until next week.

Just did a pressure test on these based on Barnes data for 250g ttsx. Chronograph was a Caldwell precision; rifle was a CVA Stalker V2 24” barrel. 1x Hornandy brass at 1.690 case length; rem 7.5 primer, 2.250 COAL with a taper crimp at .475 at the case mouth.
Started at 32.5G lil gun and worked up to 34.6g. Varied the charge by 0.3. Per load.
No pressure signs on any of the cases.
32.5G and 33.1g both grouped 2” high and 2” right.
The remaining charges all grouped within 2” of each other. Low velocity was 2156, high velocity was 2307.
Charges 33.4, 33.7, and 34.0 velocity were within 25fps of each other. 2227, 2216, and 2237 respectively.
I could go higher on the charges as no pressure signs were noted.
I will test again, loading 3 charges of 34.6 and 34.9.
2300 FPS is fast enough.

I am assuming Barnes data is for AR platforms, so please work up charges. The above testing was not in an AR platform.

Another update. Tested as above to find that 35.5g lil gun is as high as I need to go. Primers started showing signs of pressure.
With that said the velocities were 2370 FPS average over 3 loads and held a 1.2 MOA group. I’m satisfied with the development so now to test on a whitetail.

I posted yesterday asking for information on the Maker bullets and just now found your post. I've read some information on a 450 Reloading group from a guy I've talked to several times. He's shooting a 16' Ruger Ranch and has achieved 1" groups at 100 with 38.5 gr of Lil Gun with no sign of pressure. No information of velocity . If I talk to him again , I'll get his COAL . His normal crimp is .475. I normally run the Barnes 250 from my Ranch and the 275 out of my Haymaker but they are just not out there. Good luck with the development. When I started with the Barnes 250 , I went from 35gr of Lil Gun to 38.5 settling at 38.

Moore 77, what was your coal with 38 gr of lil gun?

One thing to remember is all data from a manufacture will be limited to 38'500 psi....if you go over in a BOLT ACTION no problem but be safe....

The 450 Bushmaster is sort of dumb proof loading in a BOLT ACTION you can load it to maximum found in any load manual and be safe....

When I developed the Cutting Edge Bullets 160 gr. Raptor there was no data available for the bullet at all....it took a little work to get it going in a AR-15 in a bolt action its smoking at 3000 fps...