450Bushmaster.net

Guy's, I'm looking for any experience with lower nodes using Lil Gun and the 245 Interlock/250 FTX. Running 7.5 primer/Horn case. Bolt gun. Looking for advice on how low I can go with LG and maintain decent accuracy, Or is this powder simply not going to group well below the normal 37.5-38.0 grain loads?? Hornady manuals says 25.2 is starting load and good for 1700, and that's more than enough inside 100yds for my 16 yo to take deer, but I also don't want to waste time and powder if Lil Gun doesn't do well with anything besides full power loads.

One thing to remember....loading the 450 BM to factory specifications pressure is going to be around 38'000 psi low pressure for a modern centerfire cartridge compared to close to 60'000 psi for most....
you can start by loading down 10% with load data....
One thing to remember trying to get a lower recoiling load by lowering the powder charge will work OK but also using a lower weight bullet will help a lot....all of the Factory ammo made for low recoiling loads use a lighter weight bullets to keep recoil down and also reduced velocity....

A great bullet to use is Cutting Edge Bullets 160 gr. Raptor even pushed close to maximum loads of 38-000 psi recoil felt is much less and is the best bullet I have ever used to shoot game animals....I use for working up loads or just to put holes in paper MagTec 165 gr all copper bullets. they come in a 100 pcs. in a plastic bag... MagTec bullets they are a good bullet I would never use one on a game animal but punching round holes its great in paper and milk jugs full of water are fun to shoot....even push to higher velocities around 2700 fps recoil is very mild compared to 245 gr, bullets ....on several Youth Deer Hunts I have used CEB 160 gr bullets allowing 8-10 years old hunters to use them they have worked great....

For a sub-sonic load I have used Cutting Edge Bullets .452" 250 gr. Handgun Raptor with a plastic-tip added to shoot deer....I keep all shot under 70 yards.....its very quiet and deer go only a couple yards after putting one in there lungs....recoil is very light and super quiet with a suppresser bullets will open up down to 800 fps....

That's a great suggestion for future use. I have the 245's here and need the loads by Saturday for Youth season.

Try the low end loads, might not be bughole accurate but should be minute of deer.

Al in Mi wrote:Try the low end loads, might not be bughole accurate but should be minute of deer.

Hornady says 25.2gr start & Hogdon says 35.0 for Lil Gun...I already have a nice load with 35.4 and 275 TSX that he shot well2 years ago, so I planned on running the 35.4gr with the 245 bullet and seeing if it groups as well as the 275 TSX.

I just wondered if anyone had any experience with loads using the 25-35gr range? Again bolt gun, so I don't care about cycling.

cljohnson24 wrote:

Al in Mi wrote:Try the low end loads, might not be bughole accurate but should be minute of deer.

Hornady says 25.2gr start & Hogdon says 35.0 for Lil Gun...I already have a nice load with 35.4 and 275 TSX that he shot well2 years ago, so I planned on running the 35.4gr with the 245 bullet and seeing if it groups as well as the 275 TSX.

I just wondered if anyone had any experience with loads using the 25-35gr range? Again bolt gun, so I don't care about cycling.

Hold on for a while if you haven't started.

Hoot

Hoot wrote:

cljohnson24 wrote:

Al in Mi wrote:Try the low end loads, might not be bughole accurate but should be minute of deer.

Hornady says 25.2gr start & Hogdon says 35.0 for Lil Gun...I already have a nice load with 35.4 and 275 TSX that he shot well2 years ago, so I planned on running the 35.4gr with the 245 bullet and seeing if it groups as well as the 275 TSX.

I just wondered if anyone had any experience with loads using the 25-35gr range? Again bolt gun, so I don't care about cycling.

Hold on for a while if you haven't started. I'll run it through QuickLoad. I know it can do better without going too high.

Hoot

Thanks. I appreciate it. I haven't loaded any yet, but will have to pick a couple to test tomorrow and choose one. I thought of trying a 25.2(Hornady Min) a 30.0gr and the 35.0gr(Hogdon min).

cljohnson24 wrote:Thanks. I appreciate it. I haven't loaded any yet, but will have to pick a couple to test tomorrow and choose one. I thought of trying a 25.2(Hornady Min) a 30.0gr and the 35.0gr(Hogdon min).

According to QuickLoad, pushing that 275 TSX over 35.4 gr Lil Gun is not a reduced load by any standard. If your son tolerated that okay, no need to keep that same charge with the lighter 245gr Interlock.
QuickLoad says that loading that 245gr bullet over 38gr Lil Gun is actually less chamber pressure and 100 fps faster than that TSX load you were using. The resultant recoil should be close. Possibly less at 2.26 COL. The plus side is that 38gr recipe lands smack dab on top of an OBT accuracy node for that bullet in a 16" barrel. That's what I would use if I were shooting that bullet for deer.

The next OBT accuracy node occurs at 36gr of Lil Gun. That one is definitely a reduced power load.

Hoot

How much speed could I expect to lose with the 36gr load vs the 38gr load?

His barrel is 18" if that makes any difference.