The up and coming 350 Legend and 450 Bushmaster cartridges. Why?

[someguy2800]

The suggestion that an AR15 is only good for high volume inaccurate fire is like saying the majority of people who street race do so in sports cars, therefor all sports car owners are street racers.

 

[Varminterror]

@mcb & @someguy2800 - the funniest part to me, the part he quoted to make the snide “spray and pray” remark was comparing bolt guns and leverguns...

 

[Alaskan Ironworker]

For the record, you can “custom tailor” any firearm to fit you.

 

[Jack Ryan]

Hmm ok
I live in a straight wall state that just changed its laws 2-3 years ago, I own a 450 bushmaster Ar-15.
Some people don't like bolt guns or lever guns. Can you custom tailor your bolt or lever to fit you and how you plan on shooting like I can with an Ar, I don't think so.

Yes you can
. It has been done for a hundred years.

 

[Jack Ryan]

Where is that idea coming from? That seems like an broad brush you are using. There has been no talk of spraying and praying here. Just because a cartridge is used in and popular in an AR does not mean it requires such derided tactics. I have killed 3 critters with my 450 Bushmaster and did it with only three rounds.

From the manufactures advertising and stated promotions when they were introduced. The whole motivation behind their introduction is to allow them to be used in an AR platform and AR magazines. They said it flat out. Not much other reason the world would need another under powered 35 cal cartridge.

 

[mcb]

From the manufactures advertising and stated promotions when they were introduced. The whole motivation behind their introduction is to allow them to be used in an AR platform and AR magazines. They said it flat out. Not much other reason the world would need another under powered 35 cal cartridge.

Agreed the 450 Bushmaster and 350 Legend were both designed with the AR platform and magazine in mind. What does that have to do with "spray and pray”?

 

[BigBore44]

Agreed the 450 Bushmaster and 350 Legend were both designed with the AR platform and magazine in mind. What does that have to do with "spray and pray”?

Nothing unless you just want to spend a lot of money on ammunition just to say you did.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Yes you can
. It has been done for a hundred years.

I agree but the AR can be set up to fit nearly anyone with the purchase of a few relatively inexpensive parts as opposed to custom fitting a more traditional gun to just one person.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I'm getting right at 1" grouping with my .50 Beowulf out of an AR platform at 100 yards with a 350 GR Hornady XTP bullet and am working up loads in .450 Bushmaster now for a buddy's AR. So far its showing promise with 300 Gr Speer bullets and H110. Not sure I'd have any interest in the 350 though.

 

[cougar1717]

Do people who would purchase a straight-walled chambered rifle prefer bolt action instead of lever action these days?

It doesn't take much to take a deer. MSR (AR-15) hunters who can't use 6.8spc or 6.5G or a host of other bottleneck AR cartridges due to their state's ammo regulations have found a sweet spot in the straight wall 450BM and 350L. They are rebated rim and rimless, respectively, so it's not typical to find either in a lever action. Probably 95% of the ones out there are in MSR's. Ruger also makes bolt actions for both in case you desire a bolt action or have a no semi-auto restriction in addition to the straight wall restriction.

https://www.ruger.com/products/americanRifleRanch/models.html

If you don't live in an area with ammo restrictions for deer hunting (other than basic ones like centerfire or caliber above .224"), you have more than 31 flavors, so something with the equivalent energy/ballistics of a trapdoor 45-70 or a 357max isn't that appealing when compared to most bottleneck rifle cartridges.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I’m going through an experimental phase right now but for me, hunting in both a straight wall state and unrestricted rifle state, the 450 BM is a good one gun option. I don’t shoot past 200 usually and that is where the Bushy starts losing its MPBR. Perfect for me. I just wish the Bushy came in a gun I like to hunt with such as a pump or lever. I’m feeling the pain of a custom build coming on soon.....

 

[bearcreek]

Do people who would purchase a straight-walled chambered rifle prefer bolt action instead of lever action these days?

Many do. They're simpler (and consequently often more reliable), in some cases easier to mount an optic to, less expensive, and work just as well for deer hunting. They're also more commonly available with threaded barrels, which is a factor given the increasing popularity of suppressors for hunting. I'm a single shot fan myself but with those becoming harder to find for reasonable prices I'd be getting a bolt action if I didn't already have my deer rifle.

 

[bearcreek]

For the record, you can “custom tailor” any firearm to fit you.

You can, it's just normally far more expensive to do with most rifles than it is with an AR. Lots of the time it's not something that can be done at home by the average person either.

 

[bearcreek]

Double post

 

[PapaG]

I am still holding my breath (really blue by now) for Illinois to enter the current century and make the straight wall cartridges legal. Dad's 94 Win 44, brothers 94 Marlin 44 and 336 444 and my Win 92 357 are all oiled, sighted in and ready. Even have a 45-70. I would like to give a bolt gun in 350 a workout. Oh, well, slugs again this year. My 220 actually shoots 45 caliber bullets so I'm close.