.45 Raptor - Looking For Load Info

[725franky]

Hi guys and gals,

Over the next month I will be putting together my .45 Raptor bolt action hunting rifle. I have some reloading supplies on hand and some on the way presently. I am looking for any tips, recommendations, and cool load info that anyone might be willing to share.

Let's see those recipes!!

I very much appreciate any help that is given.

 

[725franky]

To provide a little additional info in the direction I am heading:

I am looking to load 250 gr. Speer DeepCurls for general shooting, and to load 275 gr. Barnes TSX for Whitetail hunting. I have some Ramshot Enforcer on hand that I'll probably start out with as far a powder goes.

 

[725franky]

Anyone here loading this caliber?

 

[Raffica762]

I load some I just took the data off from the website..45 Raptor is a great cartridge..perfect hunting for around here in the South East i did a sub sonic cast loading I do need to get back to work on some ammo

 

[Doctorhvac]

Use 460 S&W load data. It is the same cartridge just minus the rim.

 

[Raffica762]

The raptor is becoming my favorite for sure

 

[Raptor77]

Finnishing up my LR308 in 45 Raptor. Long term project but having some recent success. Subsonic loads that cycle. can't wait to get my suppressor!

 

[Raffica762]

More on your sub sonic please

 

[Raptor77]

More on your sub sonic please

To get the AR to cycle with subsonic speed, you need a heavier bullet than I could find in .452 cal. I bought some 480g bullets in .458 cal and two lee bullet shrink dies. Use imperial sizing wax and size bullets through .454 die and again through .451 die. /end result is .452 to .4525 bullets. Loaded over 20.1g of h110 and shot through chronograph. 1045 fps at 52 degrees. Ejected and fed, but bolt didn"t lock open on the last round. Gas block was opened all the way, but I also have other mods that may make mine function different such as titanium bcg, 10 oz buffer and heavy buffer spring. More work to do but it looks promising.

 

[westford86]

To get the AR to cycle with subsonic speed, you need a heavier bullet than I could find in .452 cal. I bought some 480g bullets in .458 cal and two lee bullet shrink dies. Use imperial sizing wax and size bullets through .454 die and again through .451 die. /end result is .452 to .4525 bullets. Loaded over 20.1g of h110 and shot through chronograph. 1045 fps at 52 degrees. Ejected and fed, but bolt didn"t lock open on the last round. Gas block was opened all the way, but I also have other mods that may make mine function different such as titanium bcg, 10 oz buffer and heavy buffer spring. More work to do but it looks promising.

Could you provide more info on the dies you used to get the .458 bullets down to .452? I looked on the Lee sight and didn't find anything, and google wasn't helpful when I searched "lee bullet shrink dies." I could just be bad at the internet.

I am going to re-barrel my 45 Raptor SBS and and want to develop subsonic loads, but the lack of heavy .452 bullets is infuriating!

 

[Raptor77]

Could you provide more info on the dies you used to get the .458 bullets down to .452? I looked on the Lee sight and didn't find anything, and google wasn't helpful when I searched "lee bullet shrink dies." I could just be bad at the internet.

I am going to re-barrel my 45 Raptor SBS and and want to develop subsonic loads, but the lack of heavy .452 bullets is infuriating!

https://leeprecision.com/new-lube-size-kit-.454.html These and the .451 dies are the ones I used and they have been great. Bolt locked open on the last round now. Made many tweeks and it is finally done.

 

[westford86]

https://leeprecision.com/new-lube-size-kit-.454.html These and the .451 dies are the ones I used and they have been great. Bolt locked open on the last round now. Made many tweeks and it is finally done.

Thanks for the link! Are you resizing lead projectiles or jacketed ones? I am guessing lead since I can't imagine most copper jackets are thick enough to be thinned down without compromising performance. On the same note if it's a gas-gun I would image you're using jacketed projectiles?

Also, what kind of accuracy are you getting from your rifle?

 

[Raptor77]

Thanks for the link! Are you resizing lead projectiles or jacketed ones? I am guessing lead since I can't imagine most copper jackets are thick enough to be thinned down without compromising performance. On the same note if it's a gas-gun I would image you're using jacketed projectiles?

Also, what kind of accuracy are you getting from your rifle?

Yes it is a gas gun and yes they are jacketed bullets. I bought them as factory seconds but by the looks of them I would say they are Hornady DGX bullets. Takes some force to size them but I lube with Imperial sizing die wax. As for accuracy, I'm not shooting several hundred yards. That would be foolish with subsonic. I use this rifle in the woods for whitetail deer where I'm lucky to get a 100 yard shot. Groups around two inches at that range. I zero at 50 and drop at 100 is 6-7 inches.

 

[sdraptor]

I purchased an X caliber 18" barrel with a mid length gas tube and put an adjustable gas block on it. It is on a Stag AR10 lower. It is LH for what thats worth. I have not had good luck making a mag that cycles to a decent degree just yet so I decided to just work on single shot load development. I have shot 240 XTP, and 250 FTX, 200XPB and currently I'm reloading Hornady 395 Sub-X at supersonic velocities. Using H4227 has got me around 1730 FPS. Doesn't seem too fast but it would be quite lethal to 300 yds if you get the range and drop right. I verified with a tech at Horn that it would perform ok to 2300 fps. I loaded up some CFE BLK tonight to try next time I can get to the range. It is supposed to generate more velocity with less pressure. Never a bad thing. I ordered some 250 and 275 maker bullets in hope they will work out. In my opinion, one of the major drawbacks of the caliber is the need to seat bullets so deep that it limits the powder types and volume you can use. You have to load the 395 SX all the way to the cannelure. That means .6 into the case. If you load it farther, it will not chamber. If you could load a longer bullet, you might not need a specialized mag. To do that, you would need a bullet of longer length that had a significantly tapered nose so it would work in the mag and fit the chamber. I saw the you tube where a guy was using a 500" gr bullet that the manufacturer does not list in the their listing. The H4227 load that is listed in Hogdon Reloading center for 460 sw is for a lead 395gr bullet and my load is actually has a little more powder than that. Start low and work up. When the buffer makes contact with the end of the tube next to your shoulder, you know you are shooting something. I have got some 2" groups with this load. Its fun but challenging.

 

[Romeo458]

I'm in the 45 Raptor club now myself. The website only comes up with an error message and I don't remember what all I read. Is it all 460 S&W based for dies and data? Did those of you with the AR10 have to do any changes with buffer weight?

 

[Marksman]

What types of velocities are people getting with 24"-26" barrels? I'm getting really interested in this cartridge.

 

[Earnhardt]

What types of velocities are people getting with 24"-26" barrels? I'm getting really interested in this cartridge.

24" barrel
Rifle gas system...I tried mid-length on another barrel..it sucked

~2600 fps with a 255 Grain Fury 2 bullet

-"everyone says that W296, H110 and Alliant 300-MP are the exact same powder"....they are mistaken.

They are very similar...but 300-MP is BY FAR the best powder for the 45 Raptor and the 450 Bushmaster in an AR.

300-MP is NOT effected by temp sensitivity like H110 and W296 are.

 

[Earnhardt]

I'm in the 45 Raptor club now myself. The website only comes up with an error message and I don't remember what all I read. Is it all 460 S&W based for dies and data? Did those of you with the AR10 have to do any changes with buffer weight?

...24" barrel, rifle gas length, rifle length buffer tube...

I've tried Titanium BCG's and the JP-SCS buffer, it just didn't work

FOR ME...
The easy button for the 45 Raptor is a rifle length tube/ buffer- 9 oz.
-Tubbs Flat wire
-Full mass BCG ~ 18 oz.

 

[Just plainBill]

Hello, I am new to the forum and read your post about using the Alliant mp300 powder. I am very interested in this powder and want to order some. I ordered a 45 Raptor Varmint contour bbl from X-caliber for my Savage model 12 Target Action (large Shank)
Looking at load information on the 45 Raptor I see most use the 460 S&W data. I checked on Hodgdon's site and found using H110/Win296 gives the highest velocity with a 46.0 gr. charge using a 260 gr. bullet. On Alliant's site they only use 38 gr. of the MP-300 powder.
I see on the burn rate charts the MP-300 is a little slower burn than the other two.
Here is my question, Can you get more velocity using less powder with the MP-300 than H-110/Win296?
I also like that the MP-300 is less temperature sensitive. I am building this to hunt deer in my straight wall case county.
If you could share what load you use in your gun i sure would appreciate it or should I just follow the 460 S&W data on the Alliant site.

 

[Raptor77]

I've never used MP-300 powder. I use H-110 exclusively in a 16" bbl. My current loads are 44.2g H-110 for 240g Hornady XTP Mag @2500fps and 38.5g H-110 for 300g Hornady XTP Mag @2100 fps. I also have a subsonic load of 20.0g H-110 for 480g and 500g pills @1050 fps.
I hope this information helps and happy hunting.

 

[Raptor77]

I'm in the 45 Raptor club now myself. The website only comes up with an error message and I don't remember what all I read. Is it all 460 S&W based for dies and data? Did those of you with the AR10 have to do any changes with buffer weight?

Mine is something of a Frankenstein so I doubt you'll want to go this way but I'm running an A-5 buffer system with a titanium bcg and 10 oz buffer with adjustable gas. Runs great though.

 

[Romeo458]

Mine is something of a Frankenstein so I doubt you'll want to go this way but I'm running an A-5 buffer system with a titanium bcg and 10 oz buffer with adjustable gas. Runs great though.

I was able to access some info from the 45 raptor site using the way back machine. It looks like a standard AR10 buffer should work. My next challenge is headspace before I shoot it.

 

[Ramrod00]

Any more bolt gun data. Getting ready to start working on a 300 parker load. Want to stretch this things legs!

 

[Earnhardt]

Any more bolt gun data. Getting ready to start working on a 300 parker load. Want to stretch this things legs!

300 Parker muzzle loader bullet?
Jacket thickness?
Are they rated for centerfire use?

 

[Ramrod00]

They told me they would be fine. I use them in my smokless muzzlerloader running 2600 fps

 

[RampedRaptor]

I have a bolt action 45 raptor currently being chambered and will report back with load data.

 

[Ramrod00]

Anyone running a raptor with parker bullets?