Why do I want one? New Ruger GSR in .450 Bushmaster

[Jason_W]

The .450 BM was definitely choked down to be safe in the AR15 platform with the 55,000 psi .223 Rem and 38,500 psi .450 BM resulting in very similar bolt thrust values. I still don't see how 2,400 fps would be possible from a 16" barrel, even at 63,000 psi. According to QL I'd need about 43.0gr of H110 to get a 275gr XPB up to 2,275 fps at 63,249 psi from a 16" barrel. The same load would get me 2,356 fps from a 20" barrel and 2,415 fps from a 24" barrel. I use H110 in my .450 BM but other popular powders include Lil'Gun, Accurate 1680 and IMR 4227 but none of them will get a 270gr bullet up to 2,400 fps from a 16" barrel.

That's very possible. I didn't run any numbers and was just throwing a hopeful figure out there. Still, a 275 grain .45 cal slug is nothing to scoff at at even if muzzle velocity is hovering around 2K. It will never be an ultra long range round, but sometimes that's not needed.

It will definitely be interesting to see what sort of "Ruger only" loads emerge as the bolt guns for the round hit the market.

 

[MCMXI]

Still, a 275 grain .45 cal slug is nothing to scoff at at even if muzzle velocity is hovering around 2K.

I agree 100%.

It will definitely be interesting to see what sort of "Ruger only" loads emerge as the bolt guns for the round hit the market.

I enjoy playing with QuickLOAD to see what will or won't work in theory but I certainly look forward to hearing more about this as new owners start developing their own loads.

Before I left Remington I scored many hundreds of the 260gr Premier Accutip bonded bullets so I won't be trying much else. I do have some Barnes bullets as well but the .450 BM isn't a priority right now.

https://www.remington.com/ammunition/centerfire-rifle/premier-accutip-450-bushmaster

 

[JeffG]

http://www.ruger-firearms.com/products/gunsiteScoutRifle/specSheets/6837.html

It would be a completely impractical gun for me. Expensive, hard to find ammo, rainbow trajectory, and way too much gun for the paper punching I do.

Still, it's a really cool looking and there's just something about bore diameters over .40 that call to me.

Justification time: Cast bullet handloads could make it a little less expensive to shoot once a decent supply of brass is on hand.

I think I may be getting talked into one....

 

[CraigC]

I got notice that they came in stock at Davidson's less than an hour ago and by the time I checked it, they were gone.

 

[Jason_W]

I got notice that they came in stock at Davidson's less than an hour ago and by the time I checked it, they were gone.

I think when/if I can afford one, I'll get one. Screw practicality. A load development project for it will be interesting enough to make the purchase worthwhile. Might also be a nice conversation starter at the range.

 

[mainecoon]

Add $1000 to the cost for trips to the chiropractor after range sessions...

 

[CraigC]

Add $1000 to the cost for trips to the chiropractor after range sessions...

Why is that? Shouldn't be any more punishing than your average .30-06.

 

[Jason_W]

Add $1000 to the cost for trips to the chiropractor after range sessions...

Why is that? Shouldn't be any more punishing than your average .30-06.

And since it's a bolt gun, light .45 lc level loads could be cooked up for range fun. I really like the idea of sighting the ghost ring for light loads and having an optic on a QD mount for more serious work.

 

[ECVMatt]

Ok, having read this thread through a few times...I think an American Ranch in .450 would make a great bear calling rifle for out here in crappy California where we must use non-lead ammo. I have always used leverguns and love them, but a light bolt action with a short barrel would be pretty nice as well. I usually hike into my calling spots and then pack out the bear when I am successful. This tends to beat up my rifle pretty good. I have become more hesitant to beat up my Marlins. A Ranch, with a good low powered scope, that shoots lead-free bullets pretty much spot on to 150 would be just about perfect.

 

[Monster Zero]

In terms of terminal performance, .458 rifle bullets are technically superior, but if it's only light skinned medium game on the menu, the difference is academic. It would be like the difference between a pedestrian getting hit by a pickup truck going 50 MPH or a big rig going 50 MPH.

From the perspective of a handloader, straight walled cases are way more fun to work with as you can skip the step of adding and then removing case lube. Additionally, so people simply prefer a bolt action for hunting. Don't get me wrong, I love lever actions, but it is admittedly way more convenient to be able to unload at the end of a hunt by simply removing a magazine than by working each round through the chamber.

None of this is really enough to justify it my case. I don't hunt enough to need a dedicated big game rifle that takes rare ammo/components and would ultimately be used occasionally to poke expensive .45 cal holes in paper. I just really like the concept and if I still lived and hunted the thick woods, I'd be all over it.

Don't forget to take the round out of the chamber. Just sayin'.

 

[SigsNCigs]

The price of .450 ammo gives me nightmares

 

[Jason_W]

The price of .450 ammo gives me nightmares

True. Unless you have money to burn, it's really a handloader's round at this point.

 

[marksman13]

I understand why they went with the 450 Bushmaster, but I'll never buy this rifle in that chambering. If, however, Ruger was to build this rifle in 458 SOCOM, i'd probably have to have one.

 

[bannockburn]

Don't have any pressing need for a rifle in .450 Bushmaster but I do like the looks of that walnut stock, matte black finish, and short 4 round magazine. Sort of reminds me of a Lee Enfield No.5 Mk.I Jungle Carbine. Would find it very tempting in .308.

 

[CoalTrain49]

I'm not exactly sure why this cartridge would be successful but it might be. It certainly gives the AR better all around performance. It might be one of those situations like the 6.5 Grendel and the AR. The cartridge is becoming popular in bolt guns because it works in both platforms pretty well. It does have some appeal to me as a straight walled cartridge in a bolt gun but it would have to be a lot more popular. The big reason I'm not too wild about any of these new cartridges is the cost of components. At 0.50 a pop for brass and 0.20 for a bullet it really shuts down one's enthusiasm to shoot 100 rounds a week.

When ammo is cheap (less than 0.20 a round) the fun factor goes way up.

 

[CraigC]

Forty five bullets are expensive, relatively speaking?

 

[R.W.Dale]

Even though I already have a 45/70 bolt gun but as a handloader and bullet caster the American in this clambering appeals to me greatly.

You'd have the run of bullet molds from light ACP to heavy 460/454 with no bore diameter mold diameter mismatch hanky panky 45/70 suffers from. For the handloader this would be a dirt cheap to shoot big bore

Plus suppression is getting more n more common.

 

[ruger1228]

I live in Southern Michigan where for years we were restricted to use shotguns or muzzle loaders to hunt deer. Three years ago they passed a regulation allowing straight walled cartridges of 35 caliber or larger with a case length maximum of 1.8. Therefore, we are not allowed to use a 45/70 due to case length limitation.
The 450 BM is an amazing cartridge. Accuracy is unbelievable out to 300 yards. 3 shot cloverleaf group. I have a Bushmaster 450BM 20" barrel.
Earlier this spring, I went to Randy's Hunting Center in Bad Axe, MI. He had 16" blued and stainless ranch rifles and also 22" blued and stainless rifles in 450BM. I really didn't care for the ranch rifle. But when he got the Ruger GSR in, I bought the first one he sold.
It is a beautiful rifle, fit and finish is exceptional, and it is a tack driver. With the "Hybrid" Muzzle brake they put on it, the recoil is lighter than a 20 gauge shotgun shooting slugs.
I mounted a Nikon Monarch 3 4-16x42mm on it. It is a joy to shoot. If you are a reloader, it is not that expensive to spend time on the range.
It is an attention getter at the range.
My buddy, his son, and myself all got a deer with our 450s last fall. All were 1 shot kills.
It may not be the perfect cartridge for everyone, but for us Michigan hunters it is sure beats hunting with a slug shotgun.