.450 Bushmaster Ruger Scout

Hopefully they make this in Lefty so I can have one

It's a much better version of a scout rifle than the scout rifle that steyr produces.

I have one in .308 that is very accurate. Was going to put an eotech on it but decided on a 3-9x40.

I think the .450 would be fun for a deer blind

I think it would be a great one bears over the hounds.

Or still hunting the hogs in the thick stuff.

saw it today in an ad... ive got both the .223 and .308... both wear ziess conquest 3-9x40's... the only magazine available for the .223 is a 10 round huge steel affair... on the other hand, the .308 has a 10, 5 and 3 round...the smaller mags make it easier to carry... I don't care for the .450 bushy... not enuf bullet choices... I'd much rather see a .458 socom..anything from a 180 gr, to a 600.... but wait, ive got one of those in a nice howa 1500...threaded bull barrel, 16 1/2"..

The .450 BM makes sense in a standard production rifle. The ammo costs about half what the 458 SOCOM ammo does. The 458 SOCOM is a proprietary round with associated royalties working to drive prices of both rifles and ammo up.

The .458 SOCOM is not a SAAMI standard round and brass is exclusively produced by Starline. The Bushmaster is a standard SAAMI cartridge. Unlike the Bushmaster, the SOCOM can be loaded with bullets larger than 300 grains but the velocities are low. With bullets of 300 grains or less the .450 Bushmaster equals or exceeds .458 SOCOM velocities and energy. The SOCOM uses unmodified AR magazines but standard AR magazines don't work in Ruger rifles anyway.

I think Ruger has made a good choice.

I need to put in a vote for the Steyr .308 TACTICAL scout rifle. The round headed knob that sticks out proud of the rifle's side makes all the difference. I have a leather Ching Sling (Named for its developer, Eric Ching, may he rest in peace.)

I have a Leupold Scout Scope mounted forward, and I zeroed it on the 200 yard/meter targets. It has been very accurate, quick to bring into action, and fast to cycle. I may sell it so I can get one of the new models with a fatter barrel that is threaded for a suppressor.

If something bigger might be on the menu, I have a Steyr plastic hunting rifle (SBS) in .376 Steyr. That is a wonderful cartridge, especially when loaded with premium 260 to 270-grain bullets. I only wish there was a stiffer stock option. I would pop for a fiberglass/kevlar/carbon fiber/aramid stock in a heartbeat.

I don't often use the bipod on the Steyr Scout Rifle. It is extremely accurate shooting from the sitting position with the Ching Sling.

It's ugly.

quote:

Originally posted by richj:
It's ugly.

This. Is Ruger not even concerned with making attractive guns anymore? All of their rifles lately are either cheap-ass synthetic stocks or tons of tacked-on accessories.

It does look a little like Buck Rogers' golf club.

quote:

Originally posted by richj:
It's ugly.

A little camouflage paint will fix that.

If they chose .45/70 instead of .450 Bushmaster I'd buy two

Makes sense, since they're producing a 450 BM in the American line.

quote:

Originally posted by Buglemintoday:
If they chose .45/70 instead of .450 Bushmaster I'd buy two

Bingo!

quote:

Originally posted by Buglemintoday:
If they chose .45/70 instead of .450 Bushmaster I'd buy two

458 socom, i'd buy two

At a gun show I looked at a (custom barrel) Ruger 77 in 450 Marlin, I should have bought it.

M

Does anyone have a dimensional drawing of the 450 Bushmaster?

Jeffe.... we need to put together another shoot... For Keith.... i'll bring my .458 socom in the howa 1500.....

Thank you kindly Grenadier,

Schtumpy McBullethead. This may be the hot thing for two years or so.

I have a 416 Taylor reamer. It may be time (next year or so) to put a 22" barrel on a VZ 24/38, and a red dot sight on the front receiver ring. Certainly good for zero to 200 meters. Attach some picatinny rail above the middle of the barrel with 8-40 screws and LocTite (Just in case I want to use my scout scope). The laminated wood stock is a good idea if things degenerate into trench warfare.

Actually, I'm serious about the .416 Taylor. I have unfired Jamison factory brass, 350 grain bullets, and I'll let my gunsmith cut you a chamber with no charge for reamer rental.

These are F-4 E Phantom IIs climbing out of St. Louis Lambert field in the winter during the mid 1980s. Picture is courtesy of a good friend, Brigadier General R. "Craig" Nafziger, (RET). He is a great guy, and took me under his wing when I started flying good old "Double Ugly."

quote:

Schtumpy McBullethead

???

Sorry "G" man. That phrase is what jumped into my mind when I saw the line drawing of the cartridge. Can you fill me in on the cartridges particulars? Was it made to fit in an AR-10 style of rifle? I'm assuming it holds a bunch of RL-7 to launch a 350-grain blivet at 1,900 fps, to do great damage from 1 to 100 meters (or so).

That's when I jumped to the idea of using the 416 Taylor in a compact format.

Today has been filled with a lot of stream of consciousness writing.

So is it a .452 or .458 ? What velocity does it get with a 300 gr bullet.
Ruger SHOULD have brought out an 18" barreled GS Scout rifle in SS and 6.5 Creedmoor.
Oh well , they can't always hit it out of the park.

It is a .452 caliber cartridge made to fit the basic AR15 platform, not AR10. The action Ruger is using for this is a .223 length action and not the .308 sized action that they would have needed for building a 6.5 Creedmoore or .458 Taylor. It looks like Ruger is building this on the same Scout rifle action as their .308 Scout Rifle.

I had a .450 Bushmaster but I don't have it any more. It was a lovely AR15 carbine with a 16" barrel and a scope I had Leupold set up with turrets calibrated for shooting the cartridge in that rifle. It was very accurate.

The reason I no longer have it is because, a few years ago, one of my sons was shooting several rifles with me and I told him to choose one and he could have it. He chose the Bushmaster. I guess I'll have to get another one at some point.

In addition to the Gunsite Scout, Ruger is offering a 5.5 pound 16" barreled American Ranch Rifle in this caliber. Yes, 5-1/2 pounds.

Review here:

Part 1 - http://www.realguns.com/articles/883.htm

Part 2 - http://www.realguns.com/articles/884.htm

If you want to maximise the full potential of the Ruger gunsite scout, buy the .308 version, throw away the barrel and fit a .458 barrel with the chamber reamed with one of these

https://www.midwayusa.com/prod...reamer-45-blaser-cip

So long as you don't mind the occasional split case on second firing, Bertram brass is easily sourced and can be used to spit out 400g Woodleighs at 2100fps+ which is stepping into Kynoch .404J territory only downside is you no longer fit 10 in the mag

Quality Cartridge also does 45 Blaser, and Horneber.

Looks like Ruger modeled after 303 British carbine .Ruger is making lots of cheap guns these days .I.have a bunch of the original Ruger 77 rifles and a few stainless 77 .I.hardly see any Ruger guns I want these days .Bill Ruger would not.like the cheap junk guns like the Ruger American which is ugly as son.I am glad I.bought.a bunch of Rugers while Bill Ruger was running things still !

quote:

Originally posted by dgr416:
Looks like Ruger modeled after 303 British carbine .Ruger is making lots of cheap guns these days .I.have a bunch of the original Ruger 77 rifles and a few stainless 77 .I.hardly see any Ruger guns I want these days .Bill Ruger would not.like the cheap junk guns like the Ruger American which is ugly as son.I am glad I.bought.a bunch of Rugers while Bill Ruger was running things still !

Happily they are still making some beautiful rifles as well as the lower priced American line. There is obviously a market for both and they are in business to make money. I am pretty sure that old Bill would be quite pleased with the 1/4 to 1/2 MOA performance that those "cheap junk" guns are routinely turning in when in the hands of a competent shooter!

Cold Trigger Finger: Check out the web site for Grice Gun Shop In Clearfield, PA. I believe they are offering the scout rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor for $900. Limited availability!

quote:

Originally posted by JCS271:

quote:

Originally posted by dgr416:
Looks like Ruger modeled after 303 British carbine .Ruger is making lots of cheap guns these days .I.have a bunch of the original Ruger 77 rifles and a few stainless 77 .I.hardly see any Ruger guns I want these days .Bill Ruger would not.like the cheap junk guns like the Ruger American which is ugly as son.I am glad I.bought.a bunch of Rugers while Bill Ruger was running things still !

Happily they are still making some beautiful rifles as well as the lower priced American line. There is obviously a market for both and they are in business to make money. I am pretty sure that old Bill would be quite pleased with the 1/4 to 1/2 MOA performance that those "cheap junk" guns are routinely turning in when in the hands of a competent shooter!

I have owned several tang safety M77R's, and several red pad Ruger #1s.

None of those shot half of what my newer Mark II's shot.

Just saying.

Nothing against the Blaser round but isn't rebarreling a new Ruger rifle for it sort of defeating the reason people are attracted to the Ruger rifle? Why take a $529, 5.5 pound American Ranch Rifle that shoots common ammunition and add $300-$400 of blued barrel to make it a 5.5 pound hard kicking rifle that shoots an esoteric cartridge you MUST handload?

As I posted, the Gunsite scout would be worthy of a rebarrel, the 5.5lb American no thanks. My point was why restrict a .308 action with a .452" supposed thumper designed (restricted) to fit AR15 mags when there is a better .458" round designed to fit in a .308 action?
Ammo availability is a relative concept - never seen a .450 bushmaster round at my local Kmart - your Walmart might be different

I think I will look further into the idea of a downloaded 416 taylor in a 7.5# rifle. With larger cartridge comes the need for more weight. I think the good Colonel acknowledged that necessity. This would be a scout for the thick stuff in Africa. Thinking about this brought me back to the .376 Steyr, which was designed for this project from the get go. Perfect cartridge to go bowling for porkers up to any weight.

The 450 Bushmaster is a North American game round. It would be out of place in Africa. Contrarily, the .416 Taylor and .376 Steyr were both designed with Africa in mind. I understand Cooper considered the .376 as the maximum recoiling cartridge practicable for his scout rifle. But recoil is subjective.

Lawndart, have I got a deal for you.
I have a FN mil 98, D&T, a brownels model 70 type bolt handle on it. It has a 24" Green Mt barrel short chambered in 416 Taylor, all in one of Ramlines finest shit stock.
I have shot it a few times, as .338 brass necked up fits perfect, but is not quite a .416 Taylor. $275 and shipping. It's just an accumulation of parts and pieces accumulated over the years, but could be turned into something like your scout gun. I might even have a set of Lee or something .416 dies around somewhere.

quote:

Originally posted by Grenadier:
Nothing against the Blaser round but isn't rebarreling a new Ruger rifle for it sort of defeating the reason people are attracted to the Ruger rifle? Why take a $529, 5.5 pound American Ranch Rifle that shoots common ammunition and add $300-$400 of blued barrel to make it a 5.5 pound hard kicking rifle that shoots an esoteric cartridge you MUST handload?

one isn't required to reload socom - commercial ammo is available.

i, myself, in percentage terms of ammo i've shot in the last 30 years, other than 22 or blaster ammo (7.62x39, for example) ... i've likely reloaded at least 80%, if not 85%, of all center fire rifle and pistol .. i've shot a bunch of 308 and 9mm that i hadn't loaded ...

the kajillion 45colt rounds i've shot .. less than 100 have been factory rounds .. and ZERO 454

in other words, odds on, i shoot my own loads...

I am NOT a bushmaster fan, in rifles .. yes, i'd shoot one .. but i'd PREFER a 458 socom, where i can chunk 405 remingtons at 1000 FPS all day long

I was speaking of the .45 Blaser. Yes, 458 SOCOM ammo is available and .450 Bushmaster ammo is available. But the same thing goes for buying one of the .450 Bushmaster scout rifles just to re-barrel it to .458 SOCOM. Why bother? And then what about the magazine? I don't know if the magazines would work. Ruger doesn't use AR magazines in the Scout rifle and the Ranch rifle uses plastic magazines with plastic feed lips. And all for what, a .458 caliber cartridge instead of a .452 caliber cartridge plus no more energy or velocity with equal weight bullets, maybe less? It would make just as much sense as buying a rifle in .458 SOCOM so you could re-barrel it to .450 Bushmaster.

it's not about equal bullet weights --
you can run a 405 rem over 1500 fps in a socom, and a 600gr at 1000 .. this is WAY past the end of what a bushmaster can do ....

a 405 at 1000 fps is subsonic, could be suppressed, and hits pigs with the hand of god ... having shot pigs with 250s and 405s at this speed, 1000fps, they are WAY more impressed with the later.

the 405's i have (and a bunch of them) i bought for about 12.5 cents each ...i think they are 35 cents each today .... the ability to hit hard, agreed at 150 yards or closer, and even suppressed.. well...

let's agree that the bushmaster tops out where the socom begins...

basically the same thing as a 45/70 vs a 458 winmag ..

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
--------

a 405 at 1000 fps is subsonic, could be suppressed, and hits pigs with the hand of god ... having shot pigs with 250s and 405s at this speed, 1000fps, they are WAY more impressed with the later.

.... the ability to hit hard, agreed at 150 yards or closer, and even suppressed.. well...

let's agree that the bushmaster tops out where the socom begins...

basically the same thing as a 45/70 vs a 458 winmag ..

having run all 4 cartridges,
I second Jeffeoso's thoughts
And
The 405's are quite good and -
cheap

The SOCOM has the advantage with big bullets and subsonic ammunition. No argument there. But at 300gr and lighter the Bushmaster does just as well or better. If you aren't going to go suppressed then I think it's a tossup. Which brings us back to the point. Ruger is offering a couple of inexpensive rifles in the .450 Bushmaster. I think they made a good choice for those. Remember, the .458 SOCOM is proprietary. Maybe Ruger couldn't make the right deal to keep the prices where they wanted, maybe there was some other reason. Brass for the SOCOM is also proprietary but not so for the .450 Bushmaster. Maybe that was factored in. Or maybe Ruger wanted to use a SAAMI standardized cartridge. The .458 SOCOM is not a SAAMI cartridge. Still, if Ruger had made these rifles in .458 SOCOM I would be telling you they are a nice idea and it would be silly to buy one just to re-barrel it to .450 Bushmaster.

When you look at the SOCOM compared to the Bushmaster it looks like a much bigger and formidable cartridge. It's got that oohhh! factor. But it's all show. Because of the extra girth the SOCOM's pressure must be held back to prevent excessive backthrust. So, while the .450 Bushmaster is a 40,000 psi cartridge the .458 SOCOM is only a 35,000 psi cartridge. That evens them up pretty well. As to availability of .452" bullets, they are ubiquitous in weights up to 300 grains but that's about it. If there were some easily obtainable 350, 400 and 450 grain bullets in .452" then the two cartridges would be virtually identical in performance across the board.