450 Bushmaster bolt action rifle

[NovaHunter]

Have a good friend who lives in Michigan, and is limited to hunting with straightwalled rifle calibers. He is looking for a 450 Bushmaster bolt action rifle. He'd like something a little higher quality than a production rifle. Lighter weight for hiking around with. Budget is about $2k.

Bergara looks like they make a rifle, and MSRP is $1960.

I also found this company:

http://www.precisionriflecompany.com/450-bushmaster-bolt-action.html but don't know anything about them.

There doesn't seem to be alot of information regarding custom or semi-custom rifles in this caliber.

Does anyone have any recommendations or experience building a rifle in this caliber, or any experience with either option listed above?

 

[trob_205]

I have a Christensen Arms Mesa in 450 Bushmaster for that very thing. If i was to spend a little bit more I’d get thier Ridgeline rifle with a carbon barrel. I believe that comes in under the 2K budget. My Mesa shoots lights out. I sold the factory stock have it dropped in a KRG Bravo chassis. Harvested my first deer with it this year as well.

 

[NovaHunter]

I have a Christensen Arms Mesa in 450 Bushmaster for that very thing. If i was to spend a little bit more I’d get thier Ridgeline rifle with a carbon barrel. I believe that comes in under the 2K budget. My Mesa shoots lights out. I sold the factory stock have it dropped in a KRG Bravo chassis. Harvested my first deer with it this year as well.

I have no experience with Christensen Arms myself and good to hear that rifle worked well. I read in the past they had some trouble with their carbon fiber barrels, so was a bit hesitant to recommend them. Have any quality issues been worked out there (or were those issues overblown in the first place)?

 

[Wyfox]

Precision Rifle Company is good to go, I'll vouch for them.
The rifles in Mcmillans SHOT show booth were built by them too. I have alot of friends in Mich who shoot their 450 bolt guns too and there all great shooting rifles.

 

[trob_205]

I’m not going to say they were overblown. The big thread on here was on thier MPR and it started stringing shots the hotter it got. CA worked with the guy and he got it fixed up. In a hunting gun I’m really not too worried about it walking after it getting hot because I really don’t plan on getting it hot. Even though my Mesa doesn’t have any such problems. I went 4 for 5 at 400 on a 8” plate with it. 4 for 4 I’d you exclude the first round ? the shop were I got mine and work part time at sold the snot out of the Mesa and Ridgeline this year and never had any come back to them.

Or Hell honesty just pick up a good short action with a 308 bolt face and have a custom gun spun up. That shop headed up a couple project for guys and got them sent in the right direction before the recent offerings of CA.

 

[Wyfox]

FYI read Christenson Arms fine print, no MOA guarantee on their 450's...

 

[dmtsc]

I have a Christensen Arms Mesa in 450 Bushmaster for that very thing. If i was to spend a little bit more I’d get thier Ridgeline rifle with a carbon barrel. I believe that comes in under the 2K budget. My Mesa shoots lights out. I sold the factory stock have it dropped in a KRG Bravo chassis. Harvested my first deer with it this year as well.

That’s a thick deer, very nice!

 

[Adam B]

If your going to build one build a 45 Raptor.

http://www.45raptor.com/45RAPTOR/

 

[NovaHunter]

If your going to build one build a 45 Raptor.

http://www.45raptor.com/45RAPTOR/

Have to stick with factory ammo, he isn't a reloader at this time.

 

[Wyfox]

Here is a couple groups with a Precision Rifle Co 450 bolt gun with factory ammo.

 

[Wyfox]

If your going to build one build a 45 Raptor.

http://www.45raptor.com/45RAPTOR/

My dad bought a reamer and shit ton of brass in the 45 Raptor, it sits in a box now. The 450 Bushmaster shoots better and had higher velocity, juice wasn't worth the squeeze on that one.

 

[trob_205]

FYI read Christenson Arms fine print, no MOA guarantee on their 450's...

They say it’s because of not being able to get a true headspace number on it. But here’s the Hornady Custom 250 FTX box ammo

40.1 grains of Lil Gun under a 250 FTX shoots better and is about 250 FPS faster than box ammo. But I’d def work up to that though lol. I don’t have any pressure signs with it.

 

[Adam B]

Have to stick with factory ammo, he isn't a reloader at this time.

https://www.midwayusa.com/45-raptor/br?cid=23752
https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/category/ammunition/rifle/45-raptor.do

 

[Adam B]

My dad bought a reamer and shit ton of brass in the 45 Raptor, it sits in a box now. The 450 Bushmaster shoots better and had higher velocity, juice wasn't worth the squeeze on that one.

Interesting, we have both the Raptor and BM and have found the Raptor to be better both ballistically and accuracy wise.

 

[trob_205]

https://www.midwayusa.com/45-raptor/br?cid=23752
https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/category/ammunition/rifle/45-raptor.do

Damn didn’t know that was a thing. Hornady Custom is $27-32/box of 20 tho

 

[Adam B]

Damn didn’t know that was a thing. Hornady Custom is $27-32/box of 20 tho

I didn't either until the hunting season when my Dad's buddy had some.

 

[Wyfox]

Interesting, we have both the Raptor and BM and have found the Raptor to be better both ballistically and accuracy wise.

I think he still has 1000 pieces of brass laying around if you're interested.

 

[Adam B]

My dad bought a reamer and shit ton of brass in the 45 Raptor, it sits in a box now. The 450 Bushmaster shoots better and had higher velocity, juice wasn't worth the squeeze on that one.

Curious to know how you weren't able to obtain a higher velocity with the Raptor?

 

[NovaHunter]

https://www.midwayusa.com/45-raptor/br?cid=23752
https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/category/ammunition/rifle/45-raptor.do

That's pretty cool. I've never heard of it and just figured it was a wildcat you had to load for.

 

[Adam B]

That's pretty cool. I've never heard of it and just figured it was a wildcat you had to load for.

It is essentially a wildcat still, at least until one of the major players load ammo for it (Hornady, Remington or Winchester)

 

[trob_205]

That’s a thick deer, very nice!

Thank you!

 

[Wyfox]

Curious to know how you weren't able to obtain a higher velocity with the Raptor?

I'll have to call him tomorrow and ask what the numbers were, I just know that he stuck with 450's and told me he didnt see any gain with the 45 Raptor. I know he has a 24" Lothar Walther barrel on his 450, most 450's seem to be shorter.

 

[Adam B]

I'll have to call him tomorrow and ask what the numbers were, I just know that he stuck with 450's and told me he didnt see any gain with the 45 Raptor. I know he has a 24" Lothar Walther barrel on his 450, most 450's seem to be shorter.

Thanks, I am real curious about that. I have a Raptor in an AR platform and am going to build a bolt gun soon but no point in doing so if you have had bad results.

 

[trob_205]

Thanks, I am real curious about that. I have a Raptor in an AR platform and am going to build a bolt gun soon but no point in doing so if you have had bad results.

I would guess its barrel length but I’ll be fallowing to find out more as well. I can push a 250 FTX @ 2460 with handloads out of 450BM w/ 20” accurately but I’m not willing to push past that with a gun I paid for lol

 

[S12A]

Ruger make their gunsite scout in .450 Bushmaster, could drop it in a mcmillan stock for something a bit nicer.

 

[NovaHunter]

Definitely got a few ideas, and I'll have him take a 2nd look at Christiansen Arms. Thanks everyone!