Some initial success. Black hunting, fun, rifle

WB
[subject]
Sunday, December 08, 2019, 19:54 (2453 days ago)

This is more about the new cartridge than my particular platform. A factory Stag Arms with a BCA top half. I guess it technically is a carbine, 16". Using some .357 Maximum data in a slightly larger case the 350 pushed the 200 gr. Hornady RN at 2040 fps on the first try using AA1680. I think the painted cast 200 gr. RCBS will easily be a bit over 2100 with the same load. Yipee!

Recoil is very light and it indeed mimic's factory .35 Remington loads. Since the 350 is rated to a much higher pressure, and being a little smaller. The brass seems to be lots easier to see ejected into the leaves too! I verified the factory 145 gr. ball ammo at 2050 fps and my test 155 gr. SWC at 2080 using a lighter load in the 16" barrel. I don't see a huge increase past this initial satisfactory first effort. I'm sure I can do a bit more, but I'm quite happy now.

I stuck a serviceable old scope on it to test. Next will come some longer rage accuracy testing, today I was whacking steel. I've had a ball with the old .351 Winchester and this promised to offer more options in a much safer (locked bolt/gas impingement or bolt) platform. A modern recreation of a 115 yr. old idea.

The handgun use of the .357 Maximum is documented out the whazoo and this is just a little bit more to spare. A 16" barrel gas gun should be about what a locked breach hunting handgun should do. No earth shattering surprises there.

I wanted a fun "hunting" type AR and hope to leave it pretty much like it is, maybe a scope upgrade. With a 10-shot mag tucked up close it is a pretty handy truck gun.

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I see BCA has a pistol upper in 350 now, may have to get one

Derek
[subject]
Monday, December 09, 2019, 07:22 (2452 days ago) @ WB

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Just be realistic about what power you expect

WB
[subject]
Monday, December 09, 2019, 07:38 (2452 days ago) @ Derek

I’m eyeing that .450 now in a pistol. I got a Palmetto SB4 brace multi-lower headed to my LGS. The twist on the 450 will not allow too heavy a slug for subsonic, maybe 405 gr, but that’s plenty big, isn’t it? If you want heavy bullets you need the .458 SOCOM with its much faster twist. I’m interested in a compact “pistol” that can pump out my .45 Colt projectiles at .454 speeds and not hurt me. I shot a .50 BW at the Confederate Sixgunner’s shoot. Bangs around the aluminum chassis pretty good, and I’m not big on the .501 anyway. All my stuff is .510”.

This AR stuff is just a modern type of saddle gun thing. As I’ve crowed before the 350 and 450, are to me, just modern versions of the 1907 .351 WSL and 1910 .401 WSL.

On the 450 BM

Gus S.
[subject]
Monday, December 09, 2019, 08:55 (2452 days ago) @ WB

A friend and I built a 450BM pistol several years ago. The only limiting factor of the pistol is the brace. When you load up hard and shoot heavy bullets, its got a little sting. Personally, I think you'd love a 16" 450 even though you're a hardcore pistol shootin' misfit. The ammo that was released was far far beneath what bushmaster successfully tested and intended for the cartridge. Do some quick googling for load data and you'll be surprised at what folks have done. However the 450 is plenty impressive as it is and comfortable to shoot with the pistol brace with standard ammo.

It all goes back to that Jeff Cooper thing

WB
[subject]
Monday, December 09, 2019, 09:08 (2452 days ago) @ Gus S.

the one he called "fireplug". Supposed to be a handy stopping rifle of general use. It was based on the .284 Winchester case adjusted to .452" bullets. They did shorten it just a little to make it fit the AR magazines. That is what we know as Hornady's Bushmaster. All you need supposedly to make a AR mag work is a "single shot" flat follower. That is handy.

I bet recoil is indeed a consideration! It has .444 Marlin power and then some! But even the "pistol" version weighs about 6 lbs. I ordered the latest and greatest brace unit, bottom half, they market. It looks like it would mitigate recoil better than earlier designs. I bet a "blade" type brace would be brutal!

I wanted to experience a side charging style but the exact configuration I desire is not offered. I will inquire with the manufacturer what can be done. So far I have fun little collection of AR platform stuff. HBAR in 5.56, 5.56 Pistol Kase built, a 9mm very small pistol version, and the .350 carbine. Roman is into AK stuff and I'm about done with my SKS there. I'm more of a shooter and like the hunting type stuff. I'm not very tactical minded. Of course if you can bust up a pack of running hogs I figure it would manage on some bad types too.

I've got a Ruger #1 in 450 Bushmaster...

Huey
[subject]
Monday, December 09, 2019, 09:18 (2452 days ago) @ WB

It'll push a 300 grn to 2000 fps. Good for anything the 45-70 works for. Interesting variation of the Ruger #1 too.

Yeah, I looked at the Ruger American Ranch too.

WB
[subject]
Monday, December 09, 2019, 10:13 (2452 days ago) @ Huey

And I think Ruger makes a real fancy "Scout" type rifle to suit the Cooper concept. I know Savage and Mossberg do too, but not sure if they chamber .450.

I just need something I can play and tinker with. It might be fun to shoot painted and encapsulated cast bullets out of, a gas operated rig.

Mossberg and Savage do chamber 450 Bm

Bucky
[subject]
Monday, December 09, 2019, 10:42 (2452 days ago) @ WB

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450 is on my bucket list

Derek
[subject]
Monday, December 09, 2019, 12:05 (2452 days ago) @ Bucky

Don't know whether it will be an upper or one those Ruger or Mossberg bolt actions.

I bought Brady the Ranch Rifle 450 Bushmaster...

Huey
[subject]
Monday, December 09, 2019, 10:50 (2452 days ago) @ WB

It groups great at 100 yards. Recoil isn't bad at all considering the light weight.

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