Bushmaster 450!!

7876 Views 16 Replies 0 Participants Last post by deepdiver, May 1, 2007

Discussion Starter · Jan 13, 2007

Wow! I know what I want for next Christmas!!!!

http://hornady.com/story.php?s=543

450 Bushmaster
Hornady introduces big bore performance for the AR platform.

Nicknamed "The Thumper," the new 450 Bushmaster is the most radical cartridge ever chambered in production AR-15 type firearms. Hornady brings big bore performance to the most popular semi-automatic rifle in America — opening a whole new world of hunting to the battle-proven platform.

Hornady engineers worked closely with the Bushmaster design team building the cartridge to wring every last ounce of performance from the AR-15 without sacrificing any strength or reliability.

Well suited to hunt any North American game, the 450 Bushmaster will quickly become a favorite of bear country guides. By simply switching uppers, shooters can go from the prairie dog towns of South Dakota to bear country in the north woods!

The 450 Bushmaster fires Hornady’s 0.452” 250 gr. SST-ML featuring Hornady’s Flex Tip™ technology.
The overall cartridge matches the 223 Remington at 2.250”, but uses a specially designed magazine.
The SST’s sleek profile makes for surprisingly flat trajectories and tremendous downrange energy.
Put it all together, and you have a cartridge that gives your AR series rifle a serious attitude adjustment!

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Discussion Starter · #2 · Jan 14, 2007

I'm a bit suprised that no one is as excited about this as I am...

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Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 14, 2007

I wonder if everytime you pull the trigger on that, does it go BOOM or cha-CHING!

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Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 14, 2007

While it may be nice to show off at the range or maybe try hunting with one of the fad cartridges (.458socom, .500beowulf, .450bushmaster, etc etc), they just don't appeal to me. I can pretty much cover all bases with 5.56nato and 7.62nato, if I need something a little more stout then there's always a bolt action in 7mm mag or .300winmag. I don't do much tank or helo hunting anymore, so no need for .50bmg (shot it in the military before they started mass issuing Barretts, it was pretty punishing without any recoil dampening on a bolt action rifle).

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Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 14, 2007

They designed the tip of that round so it could be fired in Lever type rifles. I have no clue why they would do that for an AR? Money?

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Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 14, 2007

griz said:
I wonder if everytime you pull the trigger on that, does it go BOOM or cha-CHING!

It definetly goes cha-CHING.

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Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 14, 2007

Paul said:
They designed the tip of that round so it could be fired in Lever type rifles. I have no clue why they would do that for an AR? Money?

The round will be able to be used in pistols, lever action rifles and now ARs. I think it's pretty cool. It may tempt me into bear hunting.

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Discussion Starter · #8 · Jan 14, 2007

Paul said:
They designed the tip of that round so it could be fired in Lever type rifles. I have no clue why they would do that for an AR? Money?

Because that bullet was designed for use in lever-action 45-70s.

PackerfanXD said:
The round will be able to be used in pistols, lever action rifles and now ARs. I think it's pretty cool. It may tempt me into bear hunting.

I doubt you'll see the 450 Bushmaster in pistols (except maybe single shots). It's too long for semi-auto pistols, and the lack of a rim makes it ill-suited to a revolver. And almost certainly not in lever rifles since it's got a recessed rim, and most lever actions require a rimmed cartridge.

I'm not excited about this because I didn't get my AR to hunt with. Plus I stay away from exotic cartridges. I have no firearm chambered for a cartridge less than 50 years old. Well, OK the 223 is only 40-some years old but since it's the standard US military rifle caliber I made an exception.

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Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 14, 2007

AKM said:
Because that bullet was designed for use in lever-action 45-70s.

I'm not excited about this because I didn't get my AR to hunt with. Plus I stay away from exotic cartridges. I have no firearm chambered for a cartridge less than 50 years old. Well, OK the 223 is only 40-some years old but since it's the standard US military rifle caliber I made an exception.

I do too. I am a firm believer that 9mm, .45, .223, .308 etc. are the ones to stay with. I only stock up on 9mm and .223. I carry a XD40sc but I rarely shoot it and have a limited stock pile of ammo for it. But I do like the option for different uppers for the AR. The more modular the better. I don't think having a special AR upper for big game is a bad thing; especially if you love the platform.

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Discussion Starter · #10 · Jan 14, 2007

I'm sure it does go "cha-CHING"...everytime they ring up a box at the cash register.

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Discussion Starter · #11 · Jan 14, 2007

Yup. About $54/20rds.

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Discussion Starter · #12 · Jan 14, 2007

Yeah, I started to reply yesterday and then deleted it - I'm trying to be more positive about things. I like to see manufacturers start to think outside the box, especially when it concerns a cool gun like the AR.

That being said, what type of bear are they talking about? If it's baited black bear, it seems like overkill. If you're spot-and-stalking grizzlies, I sure as heck am not going to be the reliability guinea pig that walks up on a griz and hopes that this new cartridge works and works well out of a platform not designed for it.

And over-marketing really turns me off. I suppose they're using the .458 diameter elastomer tip bullet for the 45-70? That's great if you have a Marlin guide gun or some other lever action. It's pointless for this platform though, and Hornady's acting like it's some super-duper benefit. Nothing beneficial about the tip here except that Hornady can charge more for it.

Give me a controlled round, claw extractor Mauser action for dangerous game please. Sorry for the rant!

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Discussion Starter · #13 · Jan 14, 2007

Yup. About $54/20rds.

Wha??? Well, I guess that at $2.70/rnd, it effectively eliminates the temptation to rapid fire off a full mag!

The plus side is that the sound of cha-CHING is more of a pleasant sound to the ears though drastically more devastating to the wallet.

While this seems to be a very interesting combo, I just can't see it being a very popular seller and will probably become a novelty and rare to find.

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Discussion Starter · #14 · Jan 14, 2007

griz said:
Wha??? Well, I guess that at $2.70/rnd, it effectively eliminates the temptation to rapid fire off a full mag!

That's why my FIL got his reloading equiptment.

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Discussion Starter · #15 · May 1, 2007

I'm a pistol nut ,an when they came out with the big S&Ws'; I thought of Bill Ruger ,saying ; A handgun of .50, might as well be a carbine .I liked the .460S&w,a 454 casull magnum ,magnum and said I'd get one in a carbine if someone brings one out. I've got the 25wssm Oli, an really like it.; So (to thine on self be true) I can use the same projectles in my 454 casull (a ruger) Those bullets are pointed For a ballistic advantage,that will improove the casull cart. some ; whenever they let em out to reloaders. The 450 bushmaster is about a460 S&W that is rimless and the case head nowhere as big as a wssm which works perfect in my ar. Reloaders (who Hornady stands by the most ) can make these about as cheap as any other big .45 ; Cases from 284 win. Just more reloading work = more afordable fodder.;-)

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Discussion Starter · #16 · May 1, 2007

griz said:
Wha??? Well, I guess that at $2.70/rnd, it effectively eliminates the temptation to rapid fire off a full mag!

I can get 50 BMG for less than that, shipped!

Sadly the day of the $1.50/rnd 50 BMG went away when Talon got shut down.

I am going to wait to see which AR 'wildcat' catches on. Then it will be a realistic price to shot. 6.8PPC, now this.......meh

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Discussion Starter · #17 · May 1, 2007

griz said:
I wonder if everytime you pull the trigger on that, does it go BOOM or cha-CHING!

Funniest thing I have read today.

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