I made some mistakes in the course of converting my AR from 5.56 to 450B, I should have known better in some respects and others were just plain learning. Sharing this nighmare to help others learn from my mistakes.
With Ohio's deer gun season quickly approaching I saw one of those Bear Creek 450B uppers at a good price ($200). I have a Delton Sport II which as been little more than a range toy and knowing my father had an old scope laying around, thought it might be a good way to get into a good deer rifle for a decent price.
Afterall plenty of people both on this site & others have spoke highly of the Bear Creek Uppers.
Well its been more expensive and caused me a lot more stress than anticipated. As a former Army Infantryman who grew up on a farm hunting, I THOUGHT I knew what I was doing and I did NOT.
The upper is just ONE of the components you should budget for. In addition to the upper you should factor in the following things. Magazines: You'll want at least two. The five round Bushmater brands are $30 a piece. Buffer: An H3 will go for $30-$40 off the shelf. SCOPE & Rings: This is what bit me and I'll elaborate on this but budget $100-$150.
This upper had no front sight post, just a rail. The scope I had was just some random thing Pops had bought several years ago out of a bargin bin, there was no manual or anything for it. I had to try three different sets at $20 a piece before getting it properly mounted, which having no vice or leveler was a PAIN.
After going through all of this, took it out to the range and after 12 rounds, it bashed me in the face and the crosshairs broke loose. My face will heal but there's no fixing that scope. I took the peep sight from my 5.56 upper mounted it on but because I have to back the stock to its furtherest setting to shoot 450B, I couldnt really set it to where I felt it would possibly work.
So I hauled the gun to a shop my friends recommended to see what could be done. He found a Bushnel brand scope for $95 that he promises will hold up with 450B. With another set of rings along with mounting and bore sighting, I'm into this for a total of $125.
Still not very confident this Delton lower is going to hold up but monetarily I'm already into this deal $200 too deep given my finances already. At this point I'm hoping it will last long enough to get the gun dialed in and a deer in the pot. I'll replace by summer next year.
Lessons Learned: Midlevel quality scopes retail for $100 give or take. Cheap scopes are too expensive to use on big bore guns. If you don't buy enough guns to justify the expensive of a gun vice, scope leveler, and bore sight kit, buy your scope from a reputible dealer at an actual "brick & motor" store. Most will have the equipment and knowledge to do this for you and get the eye relief right.
For the money I have into this gun, I could have bought a Ruger bolt gun or a CVA in 450B and probably saved myself a lot of stress & heartburn.
I wouldn't be taking a backup shotgun with me to the range next week incase this lower fails when I try to dial this gun in either. I'll update you on how this story ends.