Larger Caliber Bolt Gun

[NesikaPPC]

I have recently gotten a place to big game hunt that has caliber restrictions; that being said, none of my rifles fit the bill. Has anyone ever made a .450 Bushmaster bolt gun? I have limited knowledge of this round other than it is known as an AR-15 case. Does this case headspace off of the rim, a belt, ? Any help or pointers would be much appreciated.

 

[Butch Lambert]

I would chamber or build a commercial cartridge rather than a wildcat. Several reasons, factory ammo, factory brass, and resale value. If you are interested in one of these send me a PM.

 

[JerrySharrett]

If you want big bore and AR-15 size look at the 458 SOCOM. Fits on the AR-15.

Wideners Reloading did have a good supply of brass for this. Matter of fact Stan Widener built a couple to hunt with himself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.458_SOCOM

 

[MilGunsmith]

There is a thread over on the PM Gunsmith board about building a .458SOCOM on a M98 action.

 

[fireball168]

The 450 Bushmaster headspaces on the case mouth. The GO gauge is 1.700", the longest new Hornady brass I've ever measured is 1.695". A good bit of the once fired brass measures 1.687". They shoot pretty well with the 18 twist barrels.

PTG can set you up with a reamer and gauges.

They feed pretty well out of a factory centerfeed Savage 308 magazine box, depending on your intended projectile - may need to fabricate a Delrin ramp at the front of the magazine box to pop the front of the cartridge up out of the box.

Have sold a good bit of prefit Savage barrels in both 450 Bushmaster and 458 SOCOM-BFG here in Indiana, as they bolt fall into the "pistol caliber rifle" definition for whitetail. The 458 uses a WSM magazine box, and if shooting anything other than the LeverRevolution projectiles, you'll pretty much need the ramp in the front of the box.